Digital Strings Attached

Epilogue - Justin's POV

"You didn't say you're sorry
I don't understand
You don't care that you hurt me
And now I'm half the man
That I used to be when it was you and me
You didn't love me enough 

My heart may never mend

And you'll never get to love me

Again"

   --- Never Again, Justified

Justin hummed as he strummed his guitar. It had been months since he last saw Georgia.. since he last begged. 

He shut his eyes and harked back to those last weeks their relationship had been in a muddle...

"I want to end this!" Georgia snapped. He had been going back and forth to Georgia's apartment after the Extra magazine released a photo of him and B engaged in a kiss. 

He flew back to New York with his bandmates from Las Vegas in hopes of fixing what needed to be fixed. The instability of their relationship after New Year brought Justin out of focus so he ardently requested a break.

Seeing Justin's frustrations with every call that was unanswered by Georgia, all the texts and emails that were not read or worse, delivered, Mr. Wright gave in to Justin's demand without hesitation. He knew the band specifically Justin needed the downtime desperately. For weeks, Justin had endured it. Dispirited, yet still trying his best to deliver on his priorities-- work and career. 

"It's not going to work out, J. Let's not prolong it. I want a break from all of this!"  Georgia said in between sobbing.  Seeing her cry that instant breaks his heart, but her wanting to end their relationship, and the thought of not being with her in the future at all feels like his heart might go flatline.

Justin clenched his wrist and breathed hard, trying to stop his mind from reliving the details of that day. He turned to reach for his bottled water and was startled to see JC standing with his arms crossed. "Didn't notice you're here," Justin muttered. 

"Sure you didn't. You were busy.... playing the guitar?" JC replied, making the last words sound like a question to prevent Justin from picking up that he had witnessed him struggling with his emotions."You've been writing songs?", he walked towards Justin and asked, fully aware of his friend's agony, but has been masking it with writing songs and preferring to be alone inside his apartment most of the time. 

Justin took a sip of his water, nodded, and sat down. "You wanna hear it? " Then he began playing the song and guitar for JC, which eventually ended with both of them singing, filling the halls with the echoes of their perfectly blended harmonies. 

Weeks after...

"So, subsequently following the release of the album, we'll be back on tour again?"  Joey clarified, looking at his bandmates during their meeting with their Manager for the upcoming release of their next Album. 

Comfortably seated on his swivel chair, Mr. Wright, answered firmly, "Yes. That's been on the table since." he looked at the boys, "And I expect everyone to be conditioned. Now, I know you are all physically fit..." he stopped and eyed Justin as he spoke again, "...what I mean is emotionally and mentally conditioned once the rehearsals start." 

Everyone inside the room turned their heads towards Justin. He bowed his head in shame, snorted, and nodded. Looking down at the floor, he wished he had stayed at his flat and skipped the meeting, but of course, he couldn't do just that.

.....

Dressed in baggy gray sweatpants, a white fitted Calvin Klein sleeveless muscle shirt with a gray hoodie, Justin was running out of breath when he decided to put a halt on his jog, on a Tuesday morning. He felt his whole body working. His leg muscles running warm so he bent down and put his arms to his knees for support as he grasped for some air, sweat racing down from his forehead to his lips, and even dropped a few on the ground while he looked down.