Played.

36: "Candice."

My eyes slowly fluttered open to find that it was the next mornig. I must have fallen asleep while watching movies with Justin and Marcus last night, as my head was now resting on Justin's chest. Looking over Justin to the opposite side of the bed, I saw Marcus sleeping peacefully.

Without disturbing either of them, I carefully slid out of the bed, and made my way toward the shower.

Steping out of the shower once I was done, I wrapped a towel around myself and went to change. Just as I was about to begin changing, I realized I had forgot to bring in clean underwear.

I pulled the towel tight around myself, and cautiously re-entered the room.

"Morning." A raspy voice stopped me in my tracks.

Turning toward the bed, my eyes landed on Justin, who was sitting up, awake.

"You scared me." I jumped a little, my hand flying to my chest.

"I didn't mean to."

I quickly scanned the room, trying to find something to wear. I could feel Justin's eyes on me the whole time, burning through my skin.

"Looking for something?" He spoke again, his voice still dry and deep.

"Uh, yeah. I need clean underwear." I replied, suddenly remembering there was probably some here already. "There might be some in Marcus' room, I'll go and check."

"You can just borrow some of mine. Top draw on the left." He pointed to a dresser.

"Thanks." I said, feeling slightly uncomfortable as I sifted through the draw.

"The red ones are the most comfy." He added, as I lifted a pair up.

"Think they'd look cute on me?" I held them against myself.

"Adorable." He smirked.

I laughed, taking them back into the bathroom and getting changed. I picked up my dirty clothes, carrying them back into the room.

"I'm going to make breakfast, want some?" I asked Justin.

"Yes, please."

"Alright, I'll bring it up to you." I left the room, heading down to make the food.

I came back up, balancing the food, that was looking pretty good, if I do say so myself, on a tray. I set the tray down on a side table.

"Mind if we eat outside? I don't want to wake Marcus." Justin gestured to the window, outside which was a rooftop.

"Sure." I picked the tray up again, opening the window, and taking it outside with me.

I went back in, helping Justin to hop out to the rooftop. We sat facing opposite each other on the floor, the tray in between us.

"Can you play?" I questioned, upon noticing a tan guitar balanced against the wall inside.

"A little." He gestured for me to bring it over.

I obeyed, bringing it back and placing it in his arms.

"What song would you like, my lady?"

"Surprise me."

He plucked at the strings, creating a beautiful tune that my ears had never had the pleasure of encountering before.

"Justin, that was amazing! Why have you never played for me before?"

"You've never asked." He looked at the ground, his cheeks reddened.

"Teach me."

"Come over here."

I shuffled over, sitting between his legs, as he fixed the guitar in front of me.

"Put this hand here," He placed my right hand at the top of the guitar. "and this one here." And my left hand on the strings.

"Okay, move your fingers like this...that's it. Now, keep doing that, and hold these fingers here...perfect." I felt his breath on my shoulder, and his chest moving against my back, due to the close proximity we were in.

"When did you learn to play?" I asked, intrigued, as we continued to strum.

"When I was about ten."

"And you've been playing ever since?"

"Well, actually, that's the first time I've played in ages. The last time I played was when I -...nothing."

"No, tell me." I stopped playing, turning to face him.

He sighed, hesitating at first. I got the feeling he didn't want to tell me, and I didn't want to seem forceful.

"Justin, it's fine if -."

"When I was still with my girlfriend." He started.

"What happened?" I instantly regretted asking, seeing the change in his facial expression.

He sighed again. It was silent for a few seconds, but it felt like forever.

"I loved her. I still do. I don't know." He couldn't look me in the eyes, speaking very slow.

"Her name was Candice. She was beautiful; blue eyes, blonde hair, tan skin. She was perfect. Her smile, her laugh, her personality. Everything.

"It was at a performance we met. My performance, last summer. See, I was in a band, The Grizzles. Stupid name, I know, but we were Canadian and proud.

"I remember it. I saw her in the crowd, and knew one day she'd be mine. And she was. Everything was perfect. I didn't think life could get any better. She was my everything, my reason. I was so in love with her.

"Then all of a sudden, she says she can't do it anymore. She can't be with me anymore. Obviously, I was confused. I thought everything was great, everything was perfect.

"That's when she told me the truth. It was all a lie." He sighed, much heavier this time. "Our whole relationship was a lie. She'd been so desperate to get a boyfriend, to get back at her old one, and show her friends she could actually do it, that she'd got with me. She said it could have been anyone, it just happened to be me.

"There was actually money in it. Her friends had bet her a thousand dollars that she couldn't do it. She wanted to prove them wrong, and I was the victim.

"The selfish bitch used me, and then just left me. She left me for the money and her ex. I felt like shit. The worst part is, I actually believed what we had was real, everything she said. I actually believed she loved me. I was such a dumbass, and I hate myself for it.

"From then on everything went downhill, I quit the band, it reminded me too much of her. I basically isolated myself from everyone and everything. I acted like a total dick, pushing people away because I was afraid of trusting anyone, because I knew I'd only get hurt again. I just -. I don't think I can ever love anyone the way I loved her, and it just hurts. It hurts because she didn't feel the same."

I leaned forward and hugged him, I hugged him long and tight.

It all made sense now. His behavior, his attitude, the way he treated people. That time in the diner, the way he acted toward the waitress. The way he acted when I first met him. It all made sense.

Justin had finally let his guard down and opened up to me. I could actually see how vulnerable and lost he was. How much he needed someone, someone he could trust.