The Monster | j.b (under editing)

Chapter 2

Cara

I woke up with the sun shining through the blinds. I smiled. Today is going to be beautiful.

And I got to spend it with Justin.

Excited, I went into the bathroom and took a shower. When I finished, I got ready for the day. I was planning to go to the mall with Justin. He wouldn't get so much attention anyways. The media would make something up, but nobody would chase him there.

Justin was sitting in the kitchen with wet hair. I smiled at him. "Good morning." I kissed his cheek, just to cheer him up a little. He smiled, but his eyes were emotionless. I made myself a coffee. "Why are you wearing a sweater? It's hot." He pressed his lips together and shrugged.

Then it hit me like a ball. "You ... you did it again, didn't you?" He looked away and nodded. I sighed and sat beside him. I laid my arm around his back and placed my head on his shoulder. "Why didn't you talk to me?" I asked and took his hand in mine. "They wouldn't let me." I knew what he was talking about. "Don't you think it's time for professional help?" I asked firmly and he shook his head. "That's what the media needs. Me taking therapy. Then they achieved their goal." Sighing, I stood up and made us pancakes. "The media shouldn't matter so much. Justin, you used to make music. But your depressions swallowed you. While everyone is swimming in the ocean, you're drowning. And I'm telling you now, I'm a good swimmer and I won't let you drown." I mixed the ingredients and looked over at Justin who stood up and came beside me. "You don't know how it is." The hurt in his eyes made my heart ache. "You don't know how it is to drown in thoughts. To be left alone. The odd one out. The fame changed me. To the better. But when everything's good, then you wait for the plot twist. And I waited for it. I knew it would come. The media pissed me off so much. I started to get depressions. Drugs, alcohol and party's were everything I cared for." I stared at him. I felt so sorry for him. "Then I started to hear voices. They told me how worthless I am." I already had tears in my eyes. It hurt me so much that this boy had so much to deal with. I wish I just could take his worries and depression away. "I'm so so sorry", I whispered and stroked his upper arms with both of my hands. "You don't deserve that." Then I pulled him in for a hug.

"Let's go to the mall." Justin nodded and put on his shoes.

When we arrived, some people turned around to us. "Let's go in there." I pulled him in a toy store. We stood in front of the toys for five year old's. We had fun and when I looked in Justin's eyes, I knew he forgot about his depressions a little. "Hey, you both!" A man walked towards us. "Please leave this store." Justin pulled me out and started laughing again. "I never got kicked out of a toy store." I laughed. "Neither did I." We made our way towards a cafè were we ordered a slice of cake and something to drink. I looked around and catched people staring at us. Justin looked uncomfortable and shifted in his seat. "There are papz out there." He pointed to the window and I turned around. "Don't give them attention. We were happy before. Don't let them bring us down." Justin then nodded and smiled. He placed his hand on mine and I smiled shyly and looked down at my cake. We talked about different things. But only about those who made us happy.

"You." I looked up at him and furrowed my eyebrows. "What me?" I asked and he chuckled. "You make me happy." I looked at him with big eyes and started smiling like I haven't in a long time. "You make me happy too." Now it was him who smiled. "Let's go?" He nodded and we stood up. Followed by the eyes of people we walked out of the cafè.

"Thank you for taking me out. I guess I needed it." I nodded and bit my lower lip. "Do you know that you're even more beautiful when you smile?" I asked and he blushed and looked away. I wasn't used to a guy blushing. Normally they'd give you a cocky answer and smirk. But Justin didn't do that. "The same for you", he whispered and made an attempt to hug me, but he was too shy. I giggled and threw my arms around his torso. "Thank you." We stood there for like twenty seconds.