Crash ~Justin Bieber~

Chapter 12 ~ The Auction

(Rachel's POV)

I was eleven when he died. Randy was thirteen, so was Justin. William was sixteen. He would always be sixteen. Just like the little boy in the black coat would always be four, William would always be sixteen.

Justin held my hand at the funeral. Randy had stopped speaking and he wouldn't stand by us. He wouldn't stand by anyone, he wanted to stand-alone.

Justin told me that we had to give him space, and when I asked why, he said that he didn't know why, but that his mother had told him that it was the right thing to do. Randy had seen more then we had, and although we didn't know what he had seen, everyone assumed that it was bad. Randy had seen death.

"If you want to cry Rache - it's okay" Justin told me, "We are supposed to cry. I'll cry with you"

When I asked why we were suppose to cry, Justin told me it was to get the hurt out. I hoped that he was right about that, because the hurt was making me feel like I had no insides left. I worried that I would forever feel this way.

I hurt when I saw my dad place William's guitar on top of the coffin. I hurt when I saw William's photo pictured as a memory in a frame. I hurt when I saw his bed sheets still ruffled, still pressed in the outline of his body. And i hurt when i cried for him, because this was the first time he couldn't console me.

My dad told me that William was in heaven and that's why he couldn't talk to me, and he also said thats why we couldn't keep his guitar. He told me Will would need it more then us, because now he could play it every night and every day.

I thought of the little boy in the little black jacket. He was the only other person that I knew who lived in heaven. What would make the little boy happy? What was his guitar?

"Justin - do you remember the little boy - in the little black jacket?"

"Yes," he said.

"Is he in heaven too?"

"Yes - i think so,"

"I think he needed a new big brother. His old one wasn't very good was he?"

"Why do you say that?"

"He let him fall, didn't he? He didn't tell him to sit back like Will told me. I suppose God wanted him to have a new brother, a great big brother like Will?"

"Maybe,"

The thought made me sad. I was happy for the little boy but I was jealous that out of all of the brothers in the whole wide world, he had chosen mine.

"But I still needed him Justin - I still needed him to take care of me. Didn't God know that?"

He stared, thinking it over, not wanting to lie to me or make me feel any sadder.

"God must have known that you had me.... God must have known that you would be safe here without Will. He must have known that Will taught me and Randy how to take care of you - and he must have known that we were ready to do it on our own now. Will wouldn't have left otherwise. Not if he didn't think we were ready. We must be Rache. We're both going to take care of you now"

Justin took my hand, and we stood like that for a while.

We didn't know it then but our world was about to go black. Justin's last name would soon become a label, and Randy would soon become a villain. How oblivious i was, as i stood there and cried. Soon I would lose two more brothers, both painfully, both instantly, and both all at once.

~*~

The Ross Hotel's restaurant was closed that night and turned into a tasteful and elegant auction home. Businessmen and backers flocked to the many white tables, auction paddles in one hand and check books in the other. The ten of us Teen Vogue girls being auctioned readied ourselves in the private restaurant rooms, which had been changed into dressing rooms. We all looked dolled up and excited, but secretly everyone was in a bad mood and very depressed about what was going to happen.

"Where is he?"

"Rachel calm down," Jade sighed, "There is still ten minutes before they start"

I was peeking behind the curtain searching for Ben. He wasn't anywhere to be seen. All I could see were older men, creepy teenagers and Justin Bieber. Wait? Justin!

"Oh great! Like this is not humiliating enough!"

I ducked past the curtain barely avoiding tripping on my own feet, and made my way to him hoping that he knew where Ben was. Justin was signing his autograph for two Teen Vogue girls in the corner of the room, choosing to stand instead of sit at a table. I took his arm and pulled aside receiving resentful looks form Celia and Kristen.

"Do you want my autograph?" he teased.

"Where is Ben?"

"Ben is not coming. He is stuck at a radio station for an interview"

"What! No!"

"Calm down - he sent me"

"Ewe! You can not bid on me that's gross"

He pulled an envelope from his jacket.

"I am bidding on the behalf of Ben," he explained, "Don't worry. i wouldn't waste my own cash on you,"

The envelope was bulging with cash, hundred dollar notes inside. Ben had written clear instructions in black pen over the front of it 'No limits. Bid to win'. Justin then pulled out another envelope, equally as fat.

"The guy had a back up plan. He wants this date bad"

"Oh thank god - there are some seriously scary people here"

Justin agreed with me looking around the room. He told me that he disagreed with auctions like this altogether.

"I hate it when guys treat girls like they are a possession"

"Like you can talk"

"Excuse me?" he frowned, "I don't treat girls like a possession"

I rolled my eyes and he raised his eyebrows slighted, "You don't think that I treat girls nicely?"

"I know that you don't treat girls nicely"

"Oh you know that do you? And your basing this opinion off of what?"

"The photos"

I hit a nerve fast.

I could see it. Justin's stance told me that I was opening up a dangerous topic and that it was in my best interest to avoid it. But I had a big mouth.

"Guys who keep those kinds of photos think of girls as nothing but an object"

"Rachel, we are not talking about this"

"Why? You risked her career bringing those photos into the hotel"

"Drop it - now"

"But you didn't care, did you? Because she was nothing more then a pretty face to you. Just another trophy to put on your shelf"

"Rachel - shut up!"

His voice turned heads and table after table began to look in our direction. I knew I had crossed the line by several miles but hurting him felt so good. He had hurt me.

"Rachel, I came here to help you. But you know what? You can survive this little auction all on your own"

"Justin! I don't have time to go and find someone else to help me"

"Then apologize!" he turned, "Apologize or I go!"

I could stop him, I could say sorry and avoid being sold to the unknown, but my mouth seemed to have forgotten how to form those words. Why should I apologize after all he had done to me?

"Do what you always do Justin... Leave!"

And so he did.