Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 15.

      My eyes widen when they're met with the person in front of me. I'm not exactly scared, I'm just shocked; but then again, thankful. Not because I get to see the person, but because I know it's my advantage to getting what I want from them.

"Oh, uh, Justin," I stutter.

His expression is blank; he looks anywhere but me after a few seconds of shock evident in his features.

"Hey," he lowly, and practically avoidingly says. He looks almost anxious to get away from me.

Now that I'm in the moment, it does suddenly seem extremely awkward.

"Um, how've you been?" I ask.

He nods. "Alright. You?"

"Fine." Horrible.

He nods again. There's a few moments of silence, both of us looking anywhere but each other. Justin looks rather paranoid as if he were searching for something or hoping that that something wouldn't find him. Is he hiding something? Meanwhile, my eyes try focusing on the many rushing cars and people revolving around us, but the tension prevents the distractions from helping me.

My mind tells me that it's a good idea to bring up my journal, and I nervously agree with it. I hesitate before bringing it up.

"So, uh, do you by any chance have—"

Just then, the bookstore's glass doors swing open with the little bell sounding that someone has exited. It brings both mine and Justin's attention toward the cause.

"Scarlett, uh, you left a paper here, with your work on it? Thought you might need it," Chaz says with, evidently, my physics worksheet.

I look over to Justin and his eyes are a bit squinted, concentrating on Chaz, slightly confused. I think I even know what he's thinking right now.

I step toward Chaz and shake on a smile, grabbing the paper from him.

"Oh, um, thanks."

He nods and smiles, looking as if he were going to turn away, but before he does so, he gets a look at Justin. Don't talk to him, don't talk to him, don't talk to him, I mentally repeat to Chaz over and over. But unfortunately he doesn't hear and introduces himself. Why, why, why?

"Hey, mate. I'm Chaz." He sticks out his hand for Justin to shake, but Justin just stares with his eyebrows furrowed and doesn't even bother looking at Chaz's hand. Chaz gives him a twisted look wondering why Justin is doing what he's doing and lightly chuckles, bringing his hand back to his side.

Since Justin is being rude, I introduce him myself.

"Uh, this is Justin," I say, looking over to Justin.

Chaz awkwardly nods and shoves his hands in his pockets.

"So, how do you two know eachother?" he asks, obviously curious on why somone like me would be with someone like Justin.

"Shouldn't you be working?" Justin apathetically says.

He's acting strange; not exactly infuriated, but I do sense a feeling of dislike that he has toward Chaz. Why does he have to do this? He doesn't even know Chaz. Then again, neither do I. Maybe Justin senses something wrong with Chaz, but who am I to think that? He isn't psychic. And even if that's the case, I could hang out with Chaz if I wanted to. He does seem really nice, despite his appearance.

I flash a confused look to Justin and lightly nudge at his arm with my elbow to get his attention; he doesn't even acknowledge me.

Chaz breathes out an irritated laugh. "Eh, there are other employees in there. They can handle it."