Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 20.

      I sit cross-legged on my newly made bed studying for my Calculus final which is coming up exceedingly soon; after all, it is towards the end of the year, tons of other exams and important events to come too. I dig my hand into the plastic bag beside me filled with roasted almonds and pop one nut into my mouth. Then I try figuring out a problem on polar coordinates, but I'm stuck on it. Luckily, my phone rings to stop my brain from overheating.

"Hey, Ryan."

"You wanna grab some lunch? Paradise Bakery maybe?" I can hear his smile on the other end.

"I'd really love to, you know how much I love that place." I sigh. "But my mother grounded me from going out."

"Really? You? Grounded?" he lightly laughs in disbelief. He must think I'm joking. When I'm silent, he realizes it's true. "Oh, you're serious? What happened?"

"Is that even a question?" I imitatedly say. He laughs. "Justin happened."

"Of course," he muses. "For how long?" he asks, referring to the amount of time to my grounding.

"A month. So I'm pretty much grounded until school ends."

He groans. "That's so long. You'll be able to go to Prom and stuff though, right?"

"Probably."

"Good." He groans. "Ugh, what am I supposed to do now?"

I laugh. "Oh please, you have other friends that you can do whatever your heart desires with."

"Whatever," he laughs.

"Well you go grab some lunch yourself, I have to get studying for my math exam," I shoo him away.

"Alright, I'll stop by later if that's fine with your mom."

"Okay," I smile. "Bye."

I set my cell down and focus back on my math problems, although it's hard to because of the thousands of other things on my mind. First of all, James scared the living daylights out of me, and I thought he was joking when he first said he'd see me again. But boy, was I wrong. And yet, he said it again not too long ago, and I doubt he was lying. It only makes a million times harder now that I can't get out of the house. What if he comes to my house and breaks in?

You know what, I'm totally overthinking everything. It may not even be such a huge deal. Justin said he'd keep me safe anyway.

What if I lose my trust in him though?

I can't trust anyone now-a-days.

I've grown completely out of my study mode and slam my textbook shut, the worksheet saving its place. I heavily sigh, looking around the room for something to do. I could read, but I was going to check out another book from the bookstore yesterday. That's not going to happen anymore. Chaz probably thinks I'm crazy now, too. Ugh, why can't my life be as easy as it used to be?

I flop onto my back, my head landing on the soft, luxurious comforter beneath me. Just as I'm about to rest for a while, there's tapping against my window. I get up and meander to the window, wondering why Ryan doesn't just use the front door like he usually does. And I know he said he'd be here later, but I didn't think it would have been this soon.

A mischevious grin grows on my lips just before I open the lemon colored curtains, but it fades when I reveal someone who is far from Ryan. I slide open the window after unintentionally staring at the figure for longer than I'd thought.

"Justin? What are you doing here?"

He smirks, placing his large palms onto the windowsill. "Why do you always ask so many questions?"