Stuck in the Middle

Sorry

(*Mariah's POV*)

I stopped in the hallway, Caleb and Tyler were on either side of me.

"What the hell is he doing here!?!" I asked Tyler.

He followed my gaze and stepped in front of me protectively. Caleb caught on and grabbed my hand.

Justin walked up to me, and I instinctively moved closer to Tyler, grabbing Caleb.

Justin stopped in front of us and cleared his throat. "Can I talk to you?" He asked me, looking at Caleb and Tyler "Alone."

I moved away from them, I felt Caleb squeeze my hand and Tyler's hand on the small of my back.

"Its OK." I told them.

Justin and I walked down the hallway. I kept my arms crossed. I waited patiently for him to talk, my mind began to wander to Caleb and Tyler and what they were doing right now, I smiled at the thought of them trying to be friends when I'm not around.

"So..." Justin started

"Huh, oh sorry." I told him, snapping out of my thoughts.

He cleared his throat "I'm back for good." He told me.

I stopped walking, Justin is back, for good. No this can't be happening, I can't live with seeing Justin every single day.

"You ok?" He asked me, stopping.

"No I'm not ok. THIS." I pointed to him, "is NOT OK."

"I thought you were over me." He whispered, putting his hand in his pocket.

"I AM over you." I whispered.

He walked up to me and held a locket in front of my face.

"Do you remember this?" He asked me.

I consciously put my hand on my chest. Remembering what it felt like to wear the locket.

He smiled and grabbed my hand, gently placing the necklace in my palm.

I closed my hand around it, bringing it closer to my eyes, it was beautiful, it was heart shaped, with little vines bordering the edge, I opened it and there was a picture of us on both sides. On the left, we were both smiling at the camera and on the right side, we were kissing. We looked happy. We were happy.

I flipped it over and felt the engraving 'Forever Yours, Justin' He gave it to me on our 6 month-iversary. I tried to give it back to him.

"Keep it." He said.

"There was a reason I gave it back to you in the first place..." My voice was barely a whisper.

"Why? Because you wanted to forget about me?" He seemed upset now.

I looked at him and I could see tears on the edge of his eyes.

"Yes" I told him."because remembering was too hard."

I looked him in the eyes."You have NO idea what I went through when you left." I told him, my voice shaking, I could feel tears coming on, I looked away.

"You think leaving was MY decision?" He asked, coming closer.

"I have ALWAYS loved you Mariah, even when I left, I never stopped thinking about you." He finished. Putting a stray hair back in its place.

"You never called back..." I told him, choking up.

"I know. And I'm sorry." He whispered, touching my face with his hand, God I missed his touch. I stepped back.

"Sorry isn't good enough anymore." I told him, letting a tear escape my eye.

I heard him come closer and wipe the tear away.

"Kiss me." He whispered.

"What?" I asked him.

"Kiss me, and I'll show you how sorry I am."

"I am NOT going to kiss you." I told him, crossing my arms in front of me.

"You used to beg me for kisses." He whispered in my ear. I bit my lip. He always did that to get what he wants.

I smirked and turned so my face was inches away from his.

I heard him suck in a breath.

I smiled playfully and cradled his face in my hand like I used to.

"You want this?" I whispered, looking at his lips.

He nodded and cleared his throat.

"D-do you?" He asked, stuttering. He always stutters when he's nervous.

"Maybe." I said, itching closer. I kissed him on the cheek, a trick I learned from Caleb. I turned around and walked down the hall where I saw Tyler and Caleb watching us.

I smiled at them. Tyler nodded towards Justin."What was that about?" He asked.

I shrugged my shoulders."Nothing much." I smirked.

"Did you um kiss him?" It was Caleb.

"Yeah." I said walking away.

I didn't see them walking with me so I turned around.

"On the cheek." I told them, laughing.

I saw them relax and walk by my sides, me in the middle. I put my hand in my pocket where the necklace was. I rubbed my hand against the engraving. He isn't one of those guys that I thought I loved. I did love him, but, do I still love him?..