Too Dumb to Figure Out I'm a Girl, Huh, JB? (Original Version)

Too Dumb to Figure Out I'm a Girl, Huh, JB? part 22

Justin's POV

If this is how AJ felt all of those years, I don't blame her for moving on. It hurts. Really bad.

I was sitting in my room with Toffee in my lap, looking out the window. AJ and Taylor were playing a game where Taylor would chase her, catch her, and spin her around, laughing. I felt awful for it, but I seriously didn't want her to laugh. I wish she would save her smiles for me.

'She used to,' my subconscious told me. I sighed. What's that saying that AJ posted on Twitter? "How come when I like you, you don't like me back, but when I finally get over you, you like me"? Well, it's something like that.

I should probably text Selena, but I couldn't find the energy. It was HER stupid manager's fault we were in this mess! I buried my face in my pillow, groaning about why I was such an idiot.

It had been about three months since Selena and I had started "dating". What it really has been was me moping about AJ and Selena moping about me. It's been four months since graduation. Poor Ty and Christian were being homeschooled. AJ and the girls were taking a few classes at Rosewood, the California branch of Juliard. She was doing amazing.

I can't believe I am so imperceptive. Not only was my best friend since diaper rash a girl, but she was also a musical prodigy and a genius. No wonder she was always willing to help others through tutoring. Knowing her, she probably thought she had an unfair advantage.

I went downstairs to get a poptart, but immediately regretted it. Taylor was in the living room in the beanbag chair and AJ was sitting in his lap. She looked happy, as if she had finally gotten something good out of her life. I grabbed some Swedish fish instead, and tried to sneak back up the stairs, but I overheard Taylor say something that made me freeze.

"AJ, will you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

AJ's POV

I felt Justin sneaking up the stairs behind us. I didn't want to say yes to Taylor because I was trying to make Justin jealous.

"Can I get back to you on that? I need to know I'm doing it for the right reasons," I told him. His face fell, but he smiled shyly.

"Atleast I still have a chance," he told me honestly. I giggled. I felt so safe and protected with Taylor. He never pushed me into anything, and he always had my back. I pressed my lips to his cheek. It was time for him to go.

I waved from the door, a genuine smile on my face. I really did like him, I just had to grow to love him. Knowing me, it wouldn't take too long. I love, trust, and protect people easily. Very few times will it comes back to haunt me. But there are those few instances that it does, and I don't know if my heart could take that more.

As soon as Taylor was out of sight, I closed the door and slid to the floor. The second I touched the ground, Lexxi was there.

"Hey."

"Hi," I murmured, dropping my face in my hands. She rubbed my back and let me think. "He loves me, I can see it," I told her, "but I'm not sure if I could ever love him back. He deserves someone who will love him unconditionally, not someone who's been broken and can't be fixed!" I ranted. I sighed.

"What do you feel when he's near you?" She asked. I snapped my head up and furrowed my brow, puzzled.

"I feel like I could smile forever," I whispered eventually. Suddenly, I lit up. "Oh, my gosh, I do love him! I've just been hurt so many times, I'm doubting myself!" I jumped up, smile back in place. "I've got to go tell him yes, that I love him!"

I ran to find my cell phone, but behind me, I swore I heard Lexxi say, "I wish I could, too."