When The Snow Settles - Justin Bieber Fanfiction

Beneath the Frozen Night

As we approached my apartment building, I felt the night air settle, its chill biting through the silence between us. I turned to Justin, offering him a soft smile. "Thanks for walking me home. I had fun at the coffee shop," I said, thinking back to how we'd shared stories of our childhood like old friends. It had been easy, even after the strangeness of the last couple of days.

His gaze lingered on me, thoughtful, as if he wanted to say more. "Do you want me to walk you up?" he asked, his voice gentle but hesitant.

I paused, unsure for a moment. The apartment building was quiet, and the stairway leading up to my floor felt like a private passage into my world. But then I nodded. "Okay, if you want to."

We made our way up the creaky stairs, his footsteps matching mine as we ascended. The dim, yellow-tinted lights in the hallway cast soft shadows on the worn carpet, and I could almost hear the echoes of years gone by in this place. It wasn't glamorous, but it was mine.

We stopped at my door, and I turned the key in the lock, but before I could fully open it, I felt his hand gently graze my arm. Startled, I turned to face him. His hand rested there, light but deliberate, and for a moment, he just studied my face, like he was trying to memorize every detail.

"Will I see you tomorrow at the festival?" he asked softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

I swallowed, meeting his gaze, feeling something stir deep within me. "Yeah," I replied, my voice just as soft. "I'll see you there."

His thumb brushed against my arm in small, gentle circles, and my heart skipped. My eyes flicked to his hand, to the way it lingered on me, a gesture so simple, but full of meaning. When I looked back at him, the silence between us grew heavier, loaded with things left unsaid.

I could feel the warmth of his presence so close, the contrast of the cold night lingering behind him. Every inch of me seemed to react, my breath catching in my throat. For just a second, I wondered what might happen next.

Justin's Point of View:

I didn't know what I was thinking. One second, the air between us shifted, pulling me toward her, and the next, reality slammed into me. The weight of everything—Serena, this mess I've gotten myself into—yanked me back before I did something that could ruin it all. I let my hand drop from her arm, but the warmth of her skin stayed with me, like a reminder of how close I came to crossing a line.

I smiled softly, trying to keep it casual. "Good night, Emma."

She nodded, slowly, her eyes lingering on mine like she knew. She knew exactly what almost happened. There was something unspoken between us, something real, but fragile. She gave me a small smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes, and turned away. I watched her disappear inside, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

I just stood at her door, not moving, not thinking straight. My heart was pounding, and the thought of closing the distance between us—of kissing her—hit me hard. I could see it so clearly, feel it. But I couldn't. I couldn't do that. Not to her. Not to Serena. Not like this.

I forced myself to step back, to turn away, but each step felt like I was dragging myself through the snow. My body still buzzed from that moment, my mind replaying it over and over. I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to clear my head as I walked through the quiet streets toward my mom's. The cold air didn't even touch me; I was too wrapped up in thoughts of Emma.

I tried to push her out of my head, but it was useless. Tomorrow. I'll see her again tomorrow at the festival. The thought of seeing her again—it sent this weird mix of excitement and anxiety through me. I just hoped I could hold it together when I saw her.

________________________________________________________________

Emma's Point of View: