My Friend Justin

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN <3

BIEBER FEVER IS SPREADING
 
Justin shows me the newspaper headline proudly as we walk to the studio. It was a really nice day out, so we skipped that day off school to head on over to record the final few songs for the album.
 
I read the news story.
 
Internet sensation Justin Bieber has  got almost 1 million subscribers in the  space of one day. A twitter frenzy caused the young teenager to be passed on from computer to computer, gaining him a very popular status. But how will he handle all this attention?
 
I say the last bit out loud.
 
He starts to swagger down the road. "Girl, you know how we do it."
 
I hand back the newspaper before crossing the road. If anyone asks, I don't know who he is. But he follows me. He puts his face right next to mine.
"What, are you embarrassed by me?"
 
 
"Kinda." I shift awkwardly away from him, but he grabs my hand, serenading me with oprah.
 
I try to shake my hand loose, but he's holding on too damn tight.
 
I smile at him mischievously, bringing his hand up to my face. Before he has time to react, I bite down. Hard. He yelps in pain, snatching it away and comforting it.
 
"Ouch! What was that for?!"
 
 
"Weirding me out."
 
 
As we near the studio, Justin looks over to me.
"Is it ok if I've brought another friend with us?"
 
 
I pause hesitantly. "Uh, yeah that's fine."
I hope it's not Jade.  Or worse. Lucy.
 
 
Leaning against the wall is a guy dressed a lot like Justin, but with his own style of it. (if that makes sense?) When he sees us, he smiles shyly. It's infectious, and has me beaming back at him.
 
 
"Justin! Whats up man?"
 
 
"Yo, Austin! Not much bro."
 
They do that bro handshake hug thing that boys do whilst I stand there.
 

"Ash, this is Austin. Austin, Ashleigh."  Justin grins.
 
 
I hold out my hand for him to shake it , but instead  he pulls me into a soft hug.
"Hey Ashleigh." he smiles his cute smile again. Butterflies.
 
 
We all head into the room Scooter was waiting for us in. Justin puts on his headphones before walking into the recording studio. I sit right next to Austin. Wow. He smells really good. Oh god. I hope he hasn't realised I'm smelling him. Wait. He can't read thoughts right? I flicker my eyes towards him, but he's concentrating on his phone.  Id say it would be save to steal another glance, so I do. His long eyelashes brush together as he squints in confusion.
 
 
"Oh um, I'll be right back." he rushes out of the room before I can ask what's up. Oh god. He probably read my mind.
 
 
Justin starts off his session with common denominator. It sounds really good. I take photos of him singing for the scrapbook.
 
 
Austin walks back in with red eyes, he'd obviously been crying. I touch his shoulder comfortingly.
 
 
"What's up?" I whisper softly.
 
 
He looks at me with a grim expression. "Oh, it's nothing, just got dumped for another guy by my girl- ex girlfriend."
 
 
"That's terrible! What a bitch. What's her name?"
 
 
"Lucy. Lucy Connors."
 
 
"I know her! Shes horrid, you're much better off without her."
 
 
"I know, but I really did like her." Austin's face crumpled.
 
 
"Hey, hey shhh...don't get upset, there's plenty more decent girls out there." I put my arm around him, squeezing him gently.
 
 
"Thanks Ash, I appreciate it."
 

****
Justin had finished his album after a couple more hours, so in celebration, we go to starbucks. We order our drinks as I get a message from my phone, telling me i’ve been mentioned in a tweet.


“Just finished my album #myworld. Thanks to @austinmahone & @ashattack for being there. <3 you guys. #swag”


I retweet it, smiling. Justin has over 5 million twitter followers now. I’ve started to get more mentions, more people asking me to get Justin to follow them. Luckily, my phone only messages me the ones from people i follow. Which is only Justin. I decide to follow Austin aswell, checking his latest tweets.


“Just keep swimming.(:” he posted about 5 minutes ago.  I glance over to him from across the table, his the corners of his mouth lifts as he types stuff into his phone.


Bleeeeep. *New Message*


“Hey Ash. Got your number off Justin. Hope that’s okay.(:” I look up to see him staring at me. I nod at him, typing back:


“You could of just asked me y’know, but that’s okay :) x”


“Hey!” Justin snaps his fingers in front of my face to grab my attention. “What’s making you so distracted you can actually look away from my face?”


I lock the screen and put it back in my pocket. “Oh, nothing. Just scanning twitter quickly.”


“Your drinks, sir.” The waitress places our order on the table, giving Justin a secret glance, before flouncing off back to the counter to watch him from afar.


He frowns at me before grabbing his milkshake, directing his eyes towards the floor.


Hmm. He’s acting a bit strange today. Maybe the nerves of the new album are starting to get to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was what was up, since if i was about to start up with a fresh new album, i would want people to enjoy it. I’d hate to think there’s a whole lot of strangers out there criticizing my work that i’d put so much effort into. That’s why i will not ever make it as a musician. But i know Justin is much stronger than me, so he will pull through. Wow. That was a big thought.


I take a sip of my hot chocolate, letting the warm gooey-ness (is that a word?) wash over my worries.
Ah. Chocolate solves everything.


Austin’s decided with the healthier option, choosing a mango smoothie. He swirls the slushi round with his straw, opening and closing his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

“So Austin.” I start. “What school do you go to? Do you live near here?”


“I don’t go to school, i’m home-schooled. There’s this whole school network internet thingy, where i can just hook my webcam up, and be taught form there.” He explains. “Actually, i don’t live too far from you i’ve been told!”


“That’s pretty cool!” I reply brightly. “Also, i’ve been meaning to ask, how did you two meet?”


They both look at eachother and grin.


“Well..” Justin starts. “I was kinda looking around on youtube when i found Austin’s videos. I thought he seemed kinda cool, so i messaged him. It just kinda went from there.”


Austin nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, that’s it basically.”


“Ahh! That reminds me. I found this girl called Amy the other day, i said that we’d meet up with her soon J. She’s really talented. I have her phone number and everything.” I say quickly, excitedly.


Justin takes another gulp of his shake. “Really? Awesome! How did you find her?”


“Well, she’s one of your beliebers who messaged you...”


“Hang on. Belieber? What’s that?”


“A Justin Bieber believer. A belieber. See? How cool is that?”


His mouth curves upwards. “That’s actually pretty cool. Yeah, we’ll have to organize something with her then.”


After we’d all finished our drinks, and had a long chat about Justin’s album, beliebers and chocolate, we decided to leave, making our way back to Justin’s house. A couple of people recognized J, asking for his autograph and photo. It feels nice to know he’s finally getting noticed. They managed to stay quite calm compared to most fans though. They just approached him, asked if he was “JB” then asked for a photo, before making a few squawky sounds when they thought we were out of earshot. Heh.

*******

“Would you rather, eat your own earwax, or make out with a donkey?” Justin’s balanced on his head on the sofa, wearing only his jeans. He’s directed the question at Austin. He frowns at him.


“But isn’t eating your earwax bad for you?”


“...Probably.”

Austin sighs. “Fine. The earwax one. No way am i making out with a donkey.”


“EWWWWW.” Me and Justin both go, giggling.


“My turn. Right, Ashleigh.” Austin faces me, his eyes flicker to mine. I feel slightly uncomfortable, but in a nice way, my belly fills with butterflies. He has really nice eyes. Oh crap. I haven’t been listening to what he’s been saying. He’s been talking this entire time and i haven’t paid attention.


I shake my head to bring me back to reality. “I’m sorry what?”


“I said, would you rather pour hot sauce down your throat, or eat a worm.”


“...How big is the hot sauce bottle?”


“”This tall.” He brings his hands to about 30cm apart. That’s a big bottle.


“And the worm?”


“Just your average size.”


“Urm.” I look away, thinking hard. “Probably eat a worm. It’s a delicacy in some countries right?”


“EWWWWW.” Austin and Justin shout in my face. tehe.


Bleeeeep. *New Message*


“Hi Ash, could you come home for dinner now? Mom x”


“Oh sorry guys, i have to go now.” I say apologetically.


“Need me to walk you home?” Justin gets up to try and find a shirt, but Austin steps in.


“No, it’s okay, i can take her, i only live up the road anyways.”


Oh my god oh my god oh my god. This could be amazing. Or awkward. Or both.


“Ah okay man, see you later Yeti!” He gives me a hug.


“Bye, Bieber!”

We walk home slowly, my feet dragging across the ground. I don’t want this to be over too soon, so i try to conjure words inside my head to make me sound smart and witty.

“So Austin, you make youtube videos? What are they about?” Wow. How witty was that.


“Well, i kinda sing.”  he shrugs, re adjusting his hat.


“Really? That’s awesome! I’ll have to watch them when i get back.”


“Oh geez, please don’t! That’d be so embarrassing.” He says quickly.

Did i mention how good his voice sounded? No? Good. It was smooth and velvety, his braces giving him a cute lisp. I steal his hat off him, placing it onto my head.


“Ah, but you can’t stop me.” I grin at him, dancing and dodging out of his way so he can’t get the hat back. It’s only when we reach my houset that i squash it back onto his hair.

“Listen...Ashleigh..” He pauses, looking straight into my eyes again. “I think i like you... a lot. Would you like to go on a date sometime?”


I blink. For reals? OH WOW. I nod slowly, a smile forming on my lips.


“That sounds great. I’d love to.”


He does his cute grin thing, before saying. “Awesome, i’ll call you.” He kisses my cheek, before making his way back up the drive again.


Well this has been an eventful night. I go into my house feeling so happy.