When In Paris

Chapter 18

CRYSTAL

We sit in silence for god knows how long before Justin finally speaks. "What do you mean terrible things happened to you," he says as he turns to me and looks at me. "You said nothing about this the night you called me after you found out about me paying for the tuition."

"With good reason I was mad at you for paying my tuition and I didn't want to worry you," I say. "It seemed like you moved on and were happy without worry about me and having to deal with my problems like old time."

He clenches his jaw. "Beautiful – " he stops and then sighs. " You should've told me on that night. There was nothing I would've not done for you, and I still would now."

I nod. "I know." Then sigh." But back then I didn't know the truth to you leaving. So I just assumed you moved on from me," I say looking down from him.

He places his thumb under my chin and lifts my face up so I'm looking at him. His eyes soften as they roam my face. We stare at each other for awhile before he reaches out and strokes my cheek with his thumb. "I didn't move on... I was simply surviving without you Beautiful," he says sadly. I look at him in disbelief and I'm about to ask what he means by that but then he continues. "Your nanna is right we are destined for each other and us being back together now years later just proves that. Even though it was painful being away from you all those years ago I truly believe it needed to happen for us to have a real chance at being together."

I pull away from him and look at him again in disbelief. "Do you really mean all of that?"

 He nods. "Yeah, I do, Beautiful."

I faintly smile at him. "Then I guess all the pain I went through was worth it then," I say sadly.

Justin frowns and then sighs. "Yeah... but I wish it could've been avoided and if there was a way, I could've prevented all that pain I would've done it..." he pauses and then reaches for my hand and looks up and I can see the sadness in his eyes which breaks my heart. " Because it broke my heart seeing you in all that pain and it being my fault."

"I just wish you told me about all of it before you left," I say sighing. "Because even if it hurt being away from you for a bit I would've done it in a heartbeat because anything would've been better then you just leaving without a word and having me think you moved on when in fact you were just as miserable as me without you," I say imagining a miserable Justin back then. 

He faintly smiles at me. "Yeah, I won't lie telling you did cross my mind," he says then shakes his head. "But you were so young and would've not understood any of it and even if it hurt having you angry at me gave me the guarantee that you wouldn't start looking for me. Because as much as I would've loved that we both had growing up to do."

I sigh. "Yeah, I guess."

"So, what kind of terrible things happened after I paid for your tuition?" He asks afterwhile.

I look up at him and then shake my head. "It doesn't matter anymore it happened so long ago and I dealt with it."

"I'd like to be the judge of that," he says looking at me. "So please tell me, Beautiful."

I look down from him and purse my lips nervously. "There was just some rumours circling around about us."

"What kind of rumours about us?"

I fall silent and suddenly look away. Justin then reaches out and turns my face back to him. "Please tell me," he pleads. 

I sigh. "Oh, you know just that I must've been sleeping with you to climb my way up the ladder for you to pay for my tuition and that I only got my spot at 'Beauty School' because I knew you. Which of course isn't true, but you know how quick people believe something without the truth and proof," I say with a shrug.