Written. (JB//Complete)

Chapter 32.

As I'm scrawling on a sheet of paper, enjoying the slight breeze my open window is letting in, my phone buzzes. I look to my side only to see that it's an unknown number, I don't bother answering it. Instead, I continue writing down whatever I can.

No matter how much I love you, I've spent too long watching, waiting, and standing behind you, who has lied, forced things upon me, and taken me for granted. It seems like an endless cycle until I either lose, win, give up, or die.

When I hear all the empty promises and lies, they leave behind shattered lives and broken voices. I, as a matter of fact, have found both been dug deep inside of me, resulting in me being as broken and shattered as those lives and voices. I've forgiven your mistakes for so long, I've trusted you for too long, and yet it all never stops. All this pain, this agony, this twinge, I've dealt with it all much too long. And as much as I want it all to vanish, to leave my soul forever just as anyone else would, I just can't seem to rid of your all-at-once lovely being. And it's all too hard for me to handle, all this torture and envy and pain and love. But maybe with your help, if you're willing, you could help me get through this, since you were the cause of all this.

Otherwise, I give up.

Just as I finish, my cell rings once again; unknown number. This time I pick it up, looking at it once more, debating whether or not I should answer it. Knowing the person on the other line is most likely impatient, and I'm curious, I hesitantly answer it.

"Hello?"

"Scarlett," the voice muses.

"Justin?" I unsurely ask, feeling some tension between the call.

The person on the other end laughs and I swear, it sounds almost just like Justin's... almost. (Since I've deleted Justin's number from my contacts, it's hard to determine whether it is him or not. I still recognize his number, though.)

"You would be expecting Justin, wouldn't you, babe?" That is not Justin.

The instant I realize who I'm speaking to, I almost drop my phone to the carpet. He's found out.

"J-James?"

"We've got a winner," he sing-songs, and I can hear his hideous smirk through the phone. When it seems I've lost my voice, he speaks up again.

"W-why do you have Justin's phone?"

"That's none of your business now, is it?" he tsks, but then after a few long seconds, chooses to explain. "During Justin's absence in the course of his visit to my place, he left his phone unattended and I thought I'd make a quick call." He doesn't put a hint of delight in his tone for a single moment, urging me on to hang up even more than I'd already planned.

"Anyways, you and I have a bit of business to talk about, don't we?"

I gulp, hopefully not loud enough for him to hear, and I nod. "I think so."

I know he's grinning, and he lightly claps his hands together. "Alright... Now, where should we start? Oh! Right, at the part where you and Justin have been communicating with eachother quite frequently now, am I right?"

I don't answer him, afraid to say the wrong words.

"I'll take that as a yes. Well, I mean, I guess your response wouldn't matter anyway because I know the truth." He shuffles a bit, talking quieter now. "Why is that?"

"W-why is what?" I ask.

"Oh, please," he chuckles. "You're a smart girl, Scarlett, I know that. Don't play dumb with me. I thought we made a deal." He pauses, sucking in a breath and I do the same. "You know... I take deals real seriously. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about this..."