Breaking Point

Mistakes

As Jennifer was headed deeper into the trees, where she could hear the water running downstream, she thought of plenty different scenarios in which her confrontation-a word in which she decided to call it-would happen with Justin, and eventually Selena.

As she moved closer, she heard the voices of Maribelle and Celeste screaming, then water splashing. When she finally appeared from behind a huge maple tree, she saw that Justin was sitting on a nearby rock, staring down at the water as it rushed past the rocks and plants. He was at least fifteen up on the huge wet rock, but he didn't seem to notice.

After taking a deep breath, Jennifer made her way toward Justin, nearly breaking her ankle in the process. When he saw her, he helped her up his rock before she could seriously injure herself.

"Careful. This rock is slippery." Justin said after Jennifer lost her purchase on the slippery surface. She gave him a sarcastic look and he cracked a smile. "Just letting you know."

When she was safely up, Justin had adjusted her position to where she was sitting in between his legs with her back pressed against his front. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"Before I say anything Jen, I just wanted to let you know how much I love you." He started, and Jennifer felt her heart drop. She turned slightly so that she could see his face and his expression was that of pain, remorse, sadness, and tiredness.

"What's wrong Justin? You know you can tell me anything." Jennifer said, though by then she had already knew what Justin was going to say, and she didn't know how to prepare herself for hearing it uttered out loud.

A thin layer of sweat had started to form on Justin's forehead, and he felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Well... um... basically when you were outside with everyone... um... Selena came into the bus, and I thought she was you, but she wasn't... and she tried to get me to sleep with her, but I told her no and basically... uh... she... she kissed me." Justin said rushedly, and despite the fact that she already knew, Jennifer's stomach clenched, her breathing hitched in her throat, and her heart felt like it relocated itself in her stomach.

She took her hands from Justin's and looked down at the huge rock. Justin, desperate for some understanding, some anger, something, anything other than silence from Jennifer, continued talking.

"I didn't kiss her back Jen, I swear. I would never do that to you." He rambled on, but Jennifer finally tuned him out. Hearing it said out loud made it a reality for Jennifer, just the fact that someone else's lips were on his, made her feel like he didn't belong to her anymore.

After a few minutes, Justin leaned over to look her in the eyes. "Can you say something please?"

Jennifer looked up at him sadly. "I don't-I don't know what to say..." she said quietly, and it was Justin's turn to feel his heart drop.

"Say something, please?" he begged, and took both her hands in his, kissing the tips of her fingers.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked with a nonchalant shrug. Justin sighed.

"You're doing it again." He said, and Jennifer looked up at him in confusion.

"Doing what?"

"You're being Fifty Shades of Jen. Would you please tell me what's on your mind? 'Cause I'm sort of losing mine right now."

Jennifer cracked a smile as she interlaced Justin's fingers with her. "I'm thinking... that I'm not gonna let this one mistake get between us. I'm happy now, Justin, and I don't want anything to ruin that."

Justin gave Jennifer a small smile and a kiss on the cheek. "Good. I'm glad." He said, even though he was every positive emotion to ever exist at the fact that Jennifer forgave him, without even putting up a fight.

"Oh, but believe me: if it happens again, Justin. We're over." Jennifer said, and Justin raised his eyebrows at how blunt she was being. "I don't have any toleration for cheaters."

"It won't happen again, Jen. I promise." Justin said, and gave Jennifer a kiss on the cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too," Jennifer mumbled, and Justin chuckled.

"What was that, Jen?" he asked playfully, and poked Jennifer on her side, causing her to flinch away.

"I love you too," Jennifer repeated, a little louder.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you, what was that?" Justin asked, repeatedly poking her in her side, causing her to laugh and flinch away from him.

"I love you too!" Jennifer gasped between giggles.

Justin stopped tickling her to look at her seriously. His hazel-brown caramel-colored eyes bored themselves into her crystal blue ones. Jennifer pulled herself closer to him and he tightly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Want to do something tomorrow?" Justin breathed, their faces only inches from each other. Jennifer nodded, her eyes drooping slightly the closer they got to each other. "What do you want to do?"

"First, I want to spend the day with you, without any interruptions. Then... I want to dance." Jennifer breathed, and Justin smiled.

"Your wish is my command." He whispered in her ear, causing her to blush. "But maybe it should be the other way around."

"Dancing first?" Jennifer asked, and Justin nodded. "I'm okay with that." The two laughed and Justin gave Jennifer a kiss on her jawbone.

The two watched their friends play in the ice-cold water for a while, until everybody was to head back on the bus so that they'd be able to go to the hotel.

"Good night, babygirl." Justin mumbled in the darkness, and Jennifer smiled shyly.

The next day, Justin woke up after a nightmare, consisting of Jennifer getting into a car accident, and he was in no way fit to save her.

He looked down at her face, so peaceful in her sleep, and gave her forehead a kiss. he brushed a strand of hair out of her face and gave her forehead another kiss.

"If only you knew how beautiful you are, Jennifer Mendoza." He mumbled, and Jennifer stirred in her sleep. "And if only you knew how much I love you."