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Selena's POV:
I didn't wait for them. I felt like going so I did. But at the same time, I was scared. It wasn't as if that's where all my bullying had taken place but at the same time, it is where I went to get away from it all. I missed it, no doubt about that. I missed the place so much that it hurt. So I was going back. Don't get me wrong, it isn't some beautiful place like the one Justin showed me. It's pretty simple and not at all fancy but it held a special value to me.You know that old toy that you have in your back cupboard that you don't want to give away because it means too much? Well that's pretty much the way I felt. I guess you could say that it was sort of my getaway paradise/vacation or whatever. "Sel wait-hold on a second." I turned my head to see Justin running towards me. I was so distracted I hadn't even realised I was at the school gates. "Yeah?" I asked. "I'm coming with you." He stated, trying to catch his breath. I didn't know if I wanted him to come. I hadn't showed anyone this place. Not even Renee and Marie. But then again, there was something about him that I couldn't help but trust. "You don't have to." I say. "But I want to." he says. "I'm serious." I added. "So am I. Besides, who doesn't want to miss school?" He had a good point there. "I guess you can come." I say. "I never asked for your permission." He smirked. I didn't know what to say so I just rolled my eyes and began walking again. As soon as I turned my back I couldn't help but smile. I know I wasn't supposed to like it, but his demeanor was definitely entertaining. "So where are we going?" he asked me. "You'll see when we get there." I tell him. "You mean we have to fucking walk?" I gave him an amused smile. "I never took you for being lazy, Justin." I tease. "I'm not lazy just sensible." I scoff. "Oh yeah? How?" I ask. "If we have a vehicle, we may as well use it otherwise we are wasting God's gifts." He mocked a religious stance. I let myself dissolve into a fit of giggles. He was really amusing sometimes. "Uh-huh sure." I turned away from him and muttered; "Lazy." I joke. "I heard that!" he says. "I don't know what you are talking about." I fluttered my eyelashes innocently and tried to hide a smirk. "You are just-" he started. "Amazing, I know, thanks." I say, cutting him off. "You really are a whole lot cockier." he says. "You are a bad influence." I tell him. "Anything else I can influence you to do?" I glared at him and he simply shrugged at me. "No need to get pissy, it was just a suggestion." he says. "One I hope, that you will not repeat." I say. "Can't help it, babe." he says. Babe. The sound of the word on his lips made my heart flutter. What the hell? No way did I just say that. That was-that was just no. Gross. Put it out of your mind OJ Girl. Oh great, now I was using the nickname he gave me. "OJ Girl, hey, anyone there?" Justin waved a hand in front of my face. "Right sorry." I snapped back. "What were you thinking about?" He glanced curiously at me. "Oh nothing important." I shrugged. He raised his eyebrows disbelievingly at me. I shook my head and he sighed. "When are we going to get there?" He asked me. "Soon." I say. "Will you tell me where we're going?" he says. "No." I say. "Why not?" he asks. "It's a surprise." I tell him. "I hate surprises." I laugh. "That's too bad then." He huffed. "You're mean." he says. "And you are a two year old." I tell him. "Please, I'm fully grown. Want to see?" he teased. "No thanks. I'm good." I looked away from him wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at me. I glanced around at my surroundings to see if I could pin-point exactly how much more we had to walk to get there. Sure enough, the old -now slightly faded- sign came into view again and my panic mode turned on. I wasn't sure if I could handle this. What if they hated me for not coming around so often (or maybe never) anymore? Oh my God, what would Justin think? "Hey, Sel? You okay? You look like you're going to start hyperventilating." he tells me. "I-I'm fine Justin. Don't worry about it." I mustered up a fake smile. I got a flat look in response. "Don't give me that I'm-okay-no-problem fake smile, Sel. I'm not stupid." My smile fell. "Okay, so I'm a little nervous." I admit. "Why would you be nervous?" He looked generally confused. I sighed. "I just- I haven't been here in a while. I dropped by a few times over the past couple of years but before, I used to go everyday. I stopped going after-" I cut myself off. He gave me a sympathetic look that made me want to scowl in annoyance of how weak he plainly thought I was and smile because it meant he cared. I settled for scowling. "Why are you glaring at me?" he asks. "Stop looking at me like that." I snapped. "What?" He asked, flabbergastered. "I'm not looking at you like anything!" he protests. "I don't want pity." I turned away from him. He stood for a while, processing what I said before coming closer. He bumped my shoulder with his. "Hey, I don't pity you." He said, softly. "Good." He grinned at me. "Glad you aren't mad." he chuckles. "I wasn't mad, just a little annoyed." We walked in a comfortable silence. The faded yellow sign getting closer and closer until it was staring me smack in the face. Literally. I toppled backwards hitting the floor on my bum. I groaned in pain but my companion didn't do anything. Well he did do something- if you count laughing that is. "You are just so fucking clumsy." He snorted through his laughter. I glared at him. "Are you going to help me up or not?" I grumbled. "Sorry." He was still trying to contain his smile. He reached down and held out his hand and I grabbed it, hauling myself upwards. I dusted myself down with my hands as he took a step back. "Julie's Café." He read. "Is this where we were heading?" he asks. "Pretty much." I didn't wait for another comment or question, I just walked straight in. The cold air hit my face and the familiar smell of hot chocolate floated through. The place hadn't changed a bit. The green booths lined up against both sides with tables cluttered across the middle. The counter still as shiny as ever so I realised something that made me smile. "Selena!" Maggie greeted. She rushed towards me and gave me a massive hug. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her back with the same enthusiasm, if not more. "You haven't been around for ages!" I took a step back and smiled at her. "I'm sorry, Maggie. There was just a lot of stuff going on." I tell her. "I figured." She teased. "Selena!" James rushed towards me and swept me up in his arms. "I missed you!" he tells me. "Missed you too, James." Someone cleared their throat behind me and I gave them an apologetic smile. "Justin, this is Maggie. Maggie, Justin." I introduced. "Hello, dear." Maggie gave him a bright smile. "Hi." he smiled back at her. "How do you know Selena?" she asked Justin. "She's a friend from school." I felt a pang in my heart when he said friend. "Forgetting me already?" James teased. "Sorry Jay. Justin this is James, he's-" I started, but got cut off. "Selena's ex-boyfriend." James finished putting his arm over my shoulders. Oh, not this again. James should know by now that he's really bad at acting. Every time I introduce him to a guy- "Her what?!" Justin all but shouted. Did he really believe James? This was too good. Either James has gotten really good at acting or Justin is way to gullible. I glanced up at James's apparently serious face but saw that he was trying really heard not to laugh. "Her ex-boyfriend." James said seriously. "How come you didn't tell me?" Justin whipped his head around to face me. It was to hard to resist. My reserve broke and I went off into peals of laughter. James didn't hesitate to join me. I clutched at my stomach, hoping it wouldn't burst from how much it ached. Justin looked confused, his gaze moving from me to James and back again. "What's going on?" He asked. "Holy shit, dude. You're so gullible." James gasped. "I can't believe that you-that you-" I broke off. "As awesome as Sel is, she's not my type." James grinned. "Huh?" Justin asked, still dazed. "I have a different preference in gender." he says. "You mean-you-" Justin said. "Yeah," I turned to James, a soft smile gracing my lips. "You let it out?" I asked. He grinned down at me. "After your outburst, I knew I couldn't hide it anymore."
