The Boy Next Door

"Well, It all Started When..."

"Brooke, you have to eat. You've been laying in bed for the last week." Justin talks softly to me, with a tray of food in his hands. I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

"I'm not hungry okay? I just want to lay down. I'm tired, I'm depressed, and I don't need you bothering me." I replied.

Justin had been sleeping in Madison's and I's room. I didn't mind it at all, because he keeps me company.

"Look, I don't care what you say. You're going to eat. Do you hear me? Now stop being stubborn and sit up so you can eat this breakfast I got you." Justin demanded.

I looked over to Madison and she nodded at me. Her and I got a little closer after Aria died. She was there for me, and I didn't see the point in taking it for granted.

"If I eat it, will you leave me alone?"

"Kindly."

I rolled my eyes, and took the tray from Justin's hands. The tray consisted of a bowl of cereal, a glass of milk, toast, and an orange.

"Brooke, I'm just doing this to help you okay? I know it's going to be hard, and you're been through hell and back, but you're gonna make it. I promise, and I'm going to be here for you. Even if you don't want me there, I'm not going anywhere baby." Justin added. Sitting down beside me on the bed. I turned to him and a slight smile spread my face.

"I hope so Justin." I replied, pouring the milk into the cereal bowl, drowning the cereal.

"You don't have to hope."

"Well, I'm just going to go catch up with everyone else and let you guys have a little privacy." Madison announced, getting up from her bed and walking over to the door. "Oh and I heard we're leaving for New York tonight. I can't wait."

I shot my head to look at Justin and he gave me a crooked smile.

"I was going to tell you earlier, but I didn't really know how to say it." Justin confessed.

I just gave him a hard stare before Madison had broke the silence that entered the room.

"What? Am I missing something?" She questioned.

"No. It's all good. We'll see you later. We're probably just going to stay in bed and watch tv." I nodded my head, agreeing with what Justin had suggested, and we both said our goodbyes to Madison before she disappeared from sight, and the door clicked shut.

"I'm finished." I replied simply, looking at justin with the empty cereal bowl in my hands.

"You only ate your cereal and a bite of toast. Are you sure you're done?"

"I'm done." I responded sternly. Justin shot his hands up in defense and I lightly giggled at him.

"You know, that's the first time I've heard you laugh in the last week."

"Yeah. There hasn't really been anything to laugh at recently. I just miss her ya know? She was my baby." I replied, my throat felt tense and it hurt to swallow. I was trying to force myself to keep the tears back. I had done nothing the last week but stay in the bed and cry for hours.

"Brooke, it's okay to cry. I want you to know that." Justin spoke, grabbing ahold of my hand. I looked down at it and smiled as my eyes filled with tears.

"I don't want to look weak in front of you. I don't want you to think I'm this weak little fragile girl because I'm not. I was. I was so concerned about feeling love and accepted that I forgot what the meaning of love was, and went out with Dylan. I was weak and you see how that turned out. I don't need the same thing happening between you and I. I won't have the same thing happen."