What Do You Mean?

Chapter 6

"Let me know when you can get shit right..." I call over my shoulder when the track freezes up once again, heading over to my chair off to the side. "How the fuck am I supposed to rehearse if no one can get the fucking music figured out? How hard is it?"
I slump down in my chair, shaking my head in great annoyance. If I'm just going to sit around and wait I might as well go home. That's where I should be anyway.
My thoughts drift to yesterday, and how B questioned me over and over...
"Why did Scooter really call last night, J? Why would he call you about a venue issue? If anything he would have called me to discuss that."

I avoid her by playing dumb "I don't know, B? It's Scoot, why's he do half the shit he does."

I pull my phone out, pretending to check something out but it doesn't work.

"You're lying to me." She folds her arms "I know you too well for you to even bother. Tell me. Or I can just call Scooter myself, or check my phone that you've been not so subtly trying to keep me off all morning."

Shit. I don't want her finding out that way. I don't know what my plan has been...and now I realize I never had a plan to begin with. I reach for her, but she holds her stance and I settle for brushing my hand over her arm "Come here..."

"No. Tell me."

"I'm going to, but come on..." I nod my head towards the doorway "Let's go upstairs and talk."

Her eyes register panic and a slight hint of fear "We need to be alone for this?" her voice sounds as if she's sorry she even asked.

I cast my eyes to the ceiling, willing myself not to lie again...I want to tell her everything is fine...but that won't help or change anything. "Probably best."

Her hands reach for mine "Oh my god, J...what is it?"

"Come on." I tug her along with me, staying silent until we reach our bedroom even though she keeps pressing for details.

Her face is filled with fear, and her eyes...her eyes kill me. They cast an air of preparing for the worst.

This wouldn't be happening to her if she were with anyone else, she wouldn't be dealing with this mess my fame had once again made of her life.

"Justin," she presses "You're starting to scare me..."

"Ok, so first off, our lawyers are all over this, alright? Seriously, all fucking over this..." I stress, trying to reassure her a bit. Also, probably stalling a bit.

"All over what?" She pulls her hands from mine "That's it...I'm calling Scooter since you seem to be dead set on dragging this out..."

"No..." I grab her hip lightly and draw in a deep breath "I just wanted you to know they were on it. The pictures, the one's they took of you at the hospital..."

Her hand goes to her mouth in silent horror "Oh my god..."

"Yeah." I cast my eyes over her shoulder, unable to look her in the eye for a moment. I don't need to say anything more. She's been in this game with me long enough to know. This is all my fault.

"Who has them?" her voice has climbed to a higher, more panicked pitch than normal "How much do they want for them? Fucking pay them!"

"I would have, baby..." I wrap my arms around her, trying to calm her "I would've given them every fucking dime I have, but it was too late. By the time we found out, TMZ already had them."

"TMZ?!" She's yelling now, with wild eyes...clearly bordering on a complete breakdown. "So they're everywhere, then? Is that what you're telling me? Oh my god...oh my fucking god! How could they even leak? It's a goddamn hospital, there are fucking laws against that! Who leaked them?"