Digital Strings Attached

Chapter 19

"What's up with you?" Jovie gave her a look and asked, as they walked around campus, heading back to their flat, a few weeks after New Year. 

"Nothing" she replied apathetically and shrugged, barely looking at her best friend and keeping her eyes straight. Truth was, she was still bothered as to why many people pumped Justin about Britney at the party she and Justin went to, the night after the Ball Drop. Questions like her whereabouts, why wasn't she there, why wasn't she there with him?? The thought of it bugs her.

Sometimes, I just want to punch some people and tell them, 'Can't you see? I am with him, I AM THE GIRLFRIEND!!' in their faces, she thought. 

"I am not buying it.", Jovie shook her head, giving her side glances, and observing her frowning face while adjusting her Body Bag. 

They walked in silence, with Jovie giving her space to contemplate. She gazed around her, everyone who passed by them seemed to be in a hurry, at a fast pace on a bright, Friday afternoon. Why is everything at full throttle? , she thought. Perhaps, it is true? What started fast, may end sooner than we expected, she told herself. 

Jovie sat down on one of the benches at Central Park, "Mind if we stay for a while? It's still early."

"Good idea" Georgia replied, sitting down. 

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Jovie asked, a solicitude was building up inside her as the look of agony on her best friend, Georgia's face was evident.

She breathed hard as she answered dryly. "It's nothing, really. I am just weighing things." she kept her face straight and avoided looking at her best friend, shunning Jovie from seeing right through her. 

It has been weeks after the New Year's Eve party. When she asked Justin about it, he brushed her off by saying that, maybe it was just because of their appearances with Britney that made people see their closeness as something else.  But for her, it felt different. 

....

"Hello, babe!" Justin greeted her as she picked up his call, Sunday night. "How is my Georgie doing?" 

Warmth surged through her as she heard him say My Georgie. "I'm tired, babe, so much schoolwork and stuff. We have an upcoming exam next week and I have a report that is also due. But I feel relaxed now that I hear your voice." she said, smiling. 

"Aww, I promise I'll fly as soon as I can, babe. What can I do for now?" Justin asked.

"Don't worry about it. Are you recording songs right now?" she asked, upon hearing the music from the background. 

"Yup, we're listening to some demos, too. And--" Then she heard a woman's voice from the background who sounded familiar. 

"Is that Britney?" she cut Justin off, as she felt a pang of resentment bite her. 

"Uhm, yeah. She's around the city, so she visited, babe." Justin answered reluctantly.

"You sound dubious" she snapped, failing to control the jealousy that had been building up in the past weeks. 

"Babe."

"HMMM??" she answered wryly. "Listen, I have to go. I have loads of stuff to do.", ending the call without letting Justin speak.

...

That same night, she lay on her bed. She was twisting and turning as sleep refused to come, rereading Justin's text messages right after she dropped the call hours ago.