Lonely Together II (Sequel)

Chapter 38

"Rise and shine!" I flicked Justin's light on and twirled over to his bed.

He groaned and pulled a pillow over his head. "Five more minutes."

"Not today, because guess who has a very important interview that she can't be late for?" I batted my eyelashes while sitting next to him on the corner of his bed, feeling on top of the world. "Me!"

"Okay, okay," Justin sat up in his bed, putting his hand on my knee. "Just please, leave for a few minutes."

I giggled and stood up, not being able to wipe the smile off my face. "You have exactly 8 minutes before we're taking off in a cab. It's going to be a great day!" I said rather loudly before Justin's bedroom door was shut in my face.

I continued to grin all the way to the kitchen, taking a seat at the counter. I picked up the newspaper and glanced at it, but couldn't even pay attention because of how ecstatic I was.

"Jess?" Justin called from his room. "Have you seen my jacket anywhere?"

Looking around the kitchen, I saw it across the room hanging by the door. "It's out here," I called back.

Walking towards his jacket's direction, I snatched it off the hook to bring it to him. I was about to take off to his room when I heard something fall out of his jacket pocket and make a small clinking sound on the floor. Spinning around, I saw a shiny gold ring lying still on the hardwood.

Keeping an eye on Justin's door, I rushed over and onto the ground to inspect it further. It was most definitely a woman's ring, and it was obviously worn in. Whose ring was this?

I felt my stomach flop. Was Justin seeing other people? Did a girl leave this at his house? So many thoughts rushed through my mind.

"Jess?" Justin called again. "My jacket?"

Rushing up and off the ground, I shoved the ring into the back pocket of my pants and walked towards Justin's bedroom door. "I got it!"

Justin's door flew open, his hair slightly damp while he buttoned the last three buttons of his light blue shirt. He took the jacket from my hands and walked past me. "God, thank you. You ready to go?" 

I eagerly nodded, trying to push the image of Justin with another girl out of my mind. "Absolutely."

We walked out of his apartment door, Justin turning around to lock it behind him. I took a deep breath and convinced myself I wasn't going to let this get to me. I didn't even know anything for sure, and today was too important to think of anything besides the interview.

Justin followed closely behind me on the staircase, his cologne filling the air around us. I glanced behind me to look at him. He had no flaws whatsoever. He had an amazing sense of humor and a smile that could win anyone over. Any girl would be lucky to have him.

I pushed the main door of the apartment building open to find that it was slightly sprinkling outside. My heels clicked on the cracked sidewalk that led to our cab. Justin placed his hand on my back before opening the door to the backseat, allowing me to step in before him.

After giving the taxi driver directions, Justin slouched next to me and looked over in my direction. "You ready?"

"No," I answered almost immediately. "I'm not. What if I don't get it, Justin? I'd be heartbroken, and-"

"You'll do fine," Justin placed his hand on my knee, making me forget what I was even talking about in the first place. "Don't focus on that right now. Focus on doing your best. Be yourself today, okay?"

I was sort of at a loss for words, for no reason in particular. I tore my eyes away from his and straight ahead to look out the window. I nodded.

The rainy city of New York still amazed me more and more everyday. Staring out the window almost helped calm me down, if anything. It was an amazing place.