A Thousand Days

Chapter 22

AUDREY'S POV

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I just sat back. There was no point in trying to figure out where we were going. I was tired. Today has been emotionally and mentally exhausting. I went to sleep hoping to block out the stupid thoughts in my mind. I was stirred out of my sleep by Justin nudging me. He didn't say anything. He just grabbed my hand and we started walking. It looked like we were at the beach. We passed a sign that read Matheson Hammock Park and it looked pretty deserted. Privacy is exactly what we need.

"Talk to me." Justin said.

"What do you mean?" I replied.

"What are you thinking? I need to know what's going on, because everytime I feel like we're taking a step in the right direction you pull back and go down a different path. If we're gonna work, we need to talk to one another." I could tell he was frustrated. I would be too now that I think about it.

"I don't know. I have a lot on my mind." I said enjoying the view. It's actually really pretty here.

"You don't get it do you?" He let go of my hand and continued to walk.

"What do you want me to get? I wish you would get how all this feels for me." I shouted. He stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at me.

" I will never get it if you don't tell me." He said sighing.

"Look, this is a huge step. I've never gotten close with any guy so I'm not good at this kind of thing and it doesn't help that you are famous. I know that getting into a relationship changes my whole life. I no longer have a life, I will always be known as your girlfriend. Everything I do will be scrutinized. I won't have privacy. My family will be put in the limelight. There are so many other girls who would be willing to give it all up for you and I'm not. The fact that I can't makes me feel like I'm not right for you." I shouted.

"I get that trust me I do. My life will change if I'm in a relationship with you. I have a weakness now. People will do anything and everything to ruin me and that even means coming for the one person I love more than anyone. I'm giving up everything too. I know that our future family will never have privacy and actually be able to be a normal family, which is the one thing I want most. I know that I'll be away from you more than I want to, because of my job and that tears me apart, but I can't change it. What's worse is knowing that everything I do will reflect us. I no longer represent myself, but I'll be representing us to the world and that's pretty scary too. Just because I've been in relationships doesn't mean anything. What I want with you is different. I love you." He said with tears in his eyes.

"You love me?" I said.

"Yes." He said walking back to me.

"I-I love you too. I've known it since the first time we talked, but I thought I was crazy to be in love with someone so soon." I said with tears of joy in my eyes. His eyes had a certain sparkle in them now. He hugged me and picked me up. I only squeezed him tighter. While I was still in the air I gently leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips.

"Audrey, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked.

"Yes. Yes. Yes" I said in between kisses.

"Thank God. This means there's no more running away. Any problem you have I have." He said back.

We continued walking along the beach and decided how to handle the whole PR issue. I thought it was best we just admit it, but not now. There's no point in hiding the truth. Justin called Scooter and he said that we could announce our relationship when the time is right.