Justin: Cowboy At Heart

Part 5

((Hope all are enjoying!  Sorry it's taking so long.  Got a bit of a brain freeze there for a bit, but I think I'm back on track now!!  Let me know what ya'll think of Justin and Dusti!))

~*~

            A knock sounded at the door followed by the sound of squeaky hinges as the door opened.  Justin jumped awake and fell off the couch with a loud thud.

            “Dang it!” he groaned, pushing himself up on an elbow.  His eyes narrowed when he heard laughter and rubbed the back of his head where a knot was beginning to form.  “Colton!” he shouted at his brother.

            “Sheesh, Just, since when are you so jumpy?” Colt asked, walking into Justin’s line of vision.  “You haven’t been yourself since we got home.  What’s going on?”

            Justin ignored his brother as he climbed back to his feet and sat down on the edge of the couch.  He scrubbed at his face, ignoring the slight headache he had, noticing instead that he really needed to shave.  The couch moved under Colt’s added weight as he sat down, but Justin refused to look over.  He should have known his siblings would send Colt to do the dirty work.  The two of them had become close since they had traveled the circuit together.

            “Come on, Just, something’s bothering you,” Colt said gently.  “Talk to me.  Does this have anything to do with Dusti?”  Justin tensed up at the sound of her name.  He felt Colt’s comforting hand on his shoulder.  “Justin?”

            “I’ve ruined her life,” he whispered, his voice cracking.  “She was always happy and laughing when we were first together.  What have I done?”

            Colt sighed softly.  Justin got up and started pacing.  He had been trying not to think about Dusti, but now her face flashed into his mind, all the sadness and anger present in her beautiful green eyes.  He cursed angrily under his breath and kept pacing.  Colt got up and quickly blocked his brother’s path.  Justin looked up in alarm.

            “Get outta my way, Colt.”   

            “No.  You need to calm down.”

            “Calm down?  How am I supposed to do that?  I ruined her life!”

            “Justin!  Listen to yourself.  You’re not thinking straight,” he said, grabbing Justin by the shoulders.  “She was my friend too.”

            Justin wasn’t thinking clearly at the moment as he pulled away from his brother.  Colt tried to get back in front of Justin.  Justin spun around and slugged his brother, laying him out flat.

            “Geez, Justin!” Colt groaned, his hands going to his now bleeding nose as he laid his head back on the hardwood floor.  “What is your problem?”

            Justin’s eyes widened as soon as he realized what he had done.  “Colt…” he started, stepping toward his brother to help him.

            Colt held up one bloody hand.  “Don’t,” he mumbled, his voice sounding funny as he moved his left hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.  “Get me something to clean up with,” he said, closing his eyes.

            Colt remained laying on the floor, not wanting to move in case it caused light-headedness.  Justin quickly moved to the bathroom to get a wet cloth.  He couldn’t believe he had just hit his brother.  What was wrong with him?  This wasn’t him at all.

            Justin leaned on the sink and looked into the mirror.  Dark circles were visible under his dark blue eyes and made him look much older then his 31 years.  Man, he really needed to pull himself together.  He quickly splashed cool water on his face before getting a warm washcloth for Colt.  He returned to his brother and knelt down beside him.