Crash ~Justin Bieber~

Chapter 19 ~ Take A Fear, Make It Your Friend

(Rachel's POV)

We were leaving for the snow trip at five the next morning. This way we could avoid the paparazzi and any fans that might follow Justin's car. It was freezing outside and I was grateful at least that this meant we could expect good ski weather.

When I got downstairs Justin was standing in front of his Range Rover in the hotel driveway. He looked unusually energetic for someone who was not a morning person.

"Hey," he smiled, "Cold?"

I nodded standing beside him, "Where are the others?"

"Getting coffees to go"

He opened the backseat passenger door.

"Get in, the heats on"

He helped me climb into the backseat and the warmth of the heating welcomed me immediately.

Justin's car was very nice. The seats were detailed and the leather was soft and expensive. I shuffled along to the opposite window seat, but I stopped suddenly.

There was a gift box on the seat opposite me. It was too small to be covering a dress and too large to be a shoebox.

'FAO Schwartz'

The box was white with gold embossed writing. Under the large sparkling bow, there was a tag with my name on it.

I opened the box cautiously, unfolding the silver tissue paper.

A plush, white, stuffed toy mouse stared up at me, beautiful, and soft.

The mouse was wearing a scarf and hat, looking ready for a snow trip. A card lay on its chest. I picked it up and read it.

Mouse,

This is for all of the birthdays that I missed.

I love you

Justin.

I hugged it under my chin. It was probably the most thoughtful gift that I had ever been given.

I was called 'Mouse' years ago, before I ever knew what 'losing' someone really meant. I was 'Mouse' before I lost Will, before I lost Randy, and before I lost Justin. The darkness took all nicknames away. It took everything away.

But now, here I was. I was sitting in Justin's car, about to spend a whole week with him and the darkness was finally ending.

I got out of the car, the mouse tucked under my arm.

Justin was leaning against the driver's door, a hopeful look on his face. Words didn't sound right after his words had been written so perfectly. I hugged him instead, the mouse held between us.

"I love it. That was so sweet,"

Justin squeezed me tighter then, "I won't miss anything ever again..."

I nodded an okay into his chest.

"And now you owe me a birthday present?" he teased, "You could bake me some brownies?"

"You always know how to ruin a moment...."

"I'm just saying - I like you better when you're high"

"Shut up"

Randy returned with the coffees and Rob, and slowly we all climbed into the car.

"I don't want to drink this in your car dude," Rob admitted, "I'm scared of it"

"You can drink it, just don't spill it"

"I spill everything,"

Even I knew that. Rob had knocked over so many drinks at dinnertime that Justin said it was almost a punishment to sit next to him.

"Don't spill it on my Mouse," I warned as Rob scooted beside me in the backseat.

"Can I have the Mouse," he asked, "I need a pillow"

"No," I snuggled into its fur, "It's my mouse"

Justin smiled back at me from the drivers seat, "You like him?"

"It's a her and her name is Susan"

"Good - we needed more women in this car"

Randy buckled his seatbelt and looked back from the front passenger seat, "You still think of the worst names possible, why Susan?"

"Susan is a good name!"

"Nope. Susan is a crappy name"

"Shut up, your full name is Randall!"

"Good call," Justin laughed starting the car.

"It's a family name! I had no choice!"

I liked car trips but this was by far the best car trip I had ever taken. The car was so comfortable that the entire trip was easy and enjoyable.

After the first hour I fell asleep against my window. I drifted in and out of the friendly conversation that Justin was keeping up with Randy. They were talking about Blaine.

"You were right about Blaine - I want nothing to do with him"




"Good" Justin replied.

"He worked with Tanner all week and he never told me"

"He's a shady guy"

"How could he shake hands with someone who nearly broke my sisters wrist?"

"He's a rat"

They talked about the snow trip too and their excitement and enthusiasm woke Rob up. He wanted to join us, but it was out of the question. He had to be home for his grandfather's eightieth birthday.

"We will bring you back a key chain,"

"Justin - shut up!"

A few hours later we arrived at Rob's family home where he invited us to stay for lunch. His family was large and welcoming, and we ate fine Italian cuisine over friendly conversation. When we left it was nearly one and we still had another two hours of driving ahead of us.

"I like this car" I noted.

"Do you?" Justin looked back in his rear vision mirror "When do you get your license"

"Never" Randy answered for me.

"He won't let me"

Justin said nothing more about it until he thought that I had again fallen asleep.

"Do you drive ?" he asked Randy.

"Um - I have my license"

"But do you drive?"

"Sometimes"

"When did you last drive?"

"A month ago. I just do little trips when I have to"

The car pulled off to the side of the road and I peeked once or twice to see that Randy and Justin had switched seats.

"Justin - I don't think I should..."

"Just start the car,"

"No - you should drive"

"Well I'm not going to, so I guess we're going to be sitting here for a while..."

"But - but you will tell me if we are going to hit something..."

"Nah I wont - it's not like that would be in my best interest too..."

He got Randy laughing and soon we were moving again.

Justin sat in the passenger seat entertaining Randy with jokes and music for the rest of the trip. Randy relaxed and soon he was chatting and joking right back.

I realized something about Justin. When he had a fear he took control of it and made it his friend.

He took the bathtub that frightened me and made it fun.

And now he was taking the act of driving that had terrified my brother and was making it his friend to.

Justin was cleverer then I thought.