Temporary Bliss

Chapter 26

Justin leaned his forehead against the hallway wall as he let out a few breaths. He shut his eyes tight, trying to compress the anger and hatred toward himself at the moment so he could talk to her. After taking a few small breaths, he nodded as he pushed himself off the wall and turned around to head in the direction of the bedroom door. He wrapped his fingers around the knob, about to push it, but then stopped realizing that he should knock. He didn't want to alarm her.

He knocked twice and after his fist made the slight contact with the door, he cracked it open and let the light from the rest of the apartment lighten up a part of the dark room along with the light from outside.He saw a small lump on the bed and recognized that it was Selena. She was curled up on her bed with her petite arms tangled around a small pillow. Could she be on her period, Justin wondered. He shook his thoughts and wiped the small smirk that formed on his face off as his humor dissolved with it.

It didn't look like Selena was crying but when he walked closer to the bed, he saw her body shift in bed and heard a soft sniffle escape from her.

"Go away," she whispered. Justin ignored her and continued walking until he got to the edge. As he began to lay himself down, Selena turned on her side, back facing him. When the soft texture of the familiar mattress felt against his back, he scooted over to her and gently placed his arm around her, tugging her closer to him. She didn't resist and let her body fit next to his like a puzzle piece. Then, Selena did something that surprised Justin.

She scooted herself closer to him. He made sure to secure his arms around her tight and nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck from the side. He could feel her body move slowly as she breathed in and out, trying to get her thoughts together.

"I--" she began to speak, but Justin silenced her.He shook his head,

"Shh," he whispered, his hot breath tickling her skin. He brought his face up and pulled her closer. After a moment of silence, Justin began speaking.

"I've only ever connected with one person before," he spoke softly.

"But that," he shook his head and rest his head down on the pillow.

"That only happened because I fell for her. Not because I wanted to connect with her, but just because I fell," he looked at Selena who was looking away from him, her face still swollen from the crying.

Justin shrugged, tearing his gaze away from her and moving it to the ceiling. He studied the pattern of the sun's rays beaming around the ceiling fan.

"I guess... I've just now accepted that I had fallen for the wrong person." He glanced at Selena before looking back at the ceiling.

"Look, what I'm saying is that... sometimes you fall for the wrong people. But it's okay. I mean, I'm alive aren't I?" He chuckled slightly, gaining a sniffle from Selena.

He glanced her way again to find her deep, brown orbs to be looking into his. The mocha brown pools had a thin layer of gloss on them. Her eyes weren't clouded and distant anymore. Justin knew her guard wasn't up. He turned his torso onto his side slightly and reached out to touch the side of her cheek with his hand. His fingers graced the damp skin as he traced the pink trails formed on them from where the blotches had dimmed. She closed her eyes slowly, fluttering her thick lashes as she breathed out.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," she murmured.

"Yeah, but it kinda did, Gomez." Justin's grin slowly faded as he studied her facial features.         

"I want to connect with you, only you," he breathed.

Selena looked at him for a moment, trying to search his face with her eyes. She furrowed her eyebrows as she sniffed again, pulling herself closer to him and burying her head into his chest.

"If only it were that easy," she murmured into his shirt.

Yeah... Justin thought. If only.. . .Justin opened his eyes to a faintish gold glow shadowing across the room. He blinked a couple times before moving. But one move triggered the sleeping beauty next to him as she moved. Justin watched her as she turned on her side and preceded to resting, breathing in and out slowly.

She looked at peace when her thoughts were temporarily shut down. He wondered if he looked like that too. He sighed as he watched her. He had to do the right thing. And what he was doing right now wasn't right. Someone was going to get hurt, but he was willing to do anything to make sure that someone won't be Selena.

He dug his hand in his back pocket for the cellular device. Once he pulled it out, he began texting:

From Justin: We need to meet.. to talk.

A few moments went by in silence before the screen lit up.

From Miley: Same.