Road Trip (original version)

Chapter 25- Guilty

I placed Ethan's bowl in the sink and walked over to help him put on his backpack. "Have fun in school okay kiddo?"

"No one ever has fun in school Essa." I smiled at his nickname for me.
"Will you try to have fun for me?" I asked as I walked him to the door where the school bus was waiting for him.
"Fine, only if you take me to the park soon?" His big eyes smiled up at me. The bus beeped its horn and I rolled my eyes, glad I don't have to go to school anymore.
"Promise. See you later bud." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and sent him off, waving goodbye as the bus drove off. I shut the door once I heard my cell phone ringing. Making my way to the kitchen, I pick it up off the counter furrowing my eyebrows at the Florida number.

"Hello?" I answer, confusion clear in my voice.

"Vanessa," I hear Justin let out a sigh of relief. "It's so good to hear your voice baby."

"Justin? Why are you calling me from a different number?"
He takes a deep breath before answering. "Listen, I got arrested. I'm in Miami Police department."

"Oh my God Justin what happened?" I paced back and forth around my kitchen.

"It's complicated Nessa, I just need you to come get me okay?" A voice was heard in the background telling Justin to hurry up.

I contemplated what to do in my head. "Justin you had one call and you decide to call me? I'm in Phoenix, I can't do anything. Why don't you call that Chantel girl you were with last night?" I rolled my eyes before hanging up on him. I shook my head and turned on my laptop that was on the kitchen table. Googling "Justin Bieber", I watch as article after article pop up about him and Khalil getting arrested.

"Vanessa, don't go to Miami. Let him learn his lesson." I look up at my older brother who was leaning against the kitchen doorway and sigh.

"Jason, I can't just leave him in there." I shake my head.

"You think he doesn't have people that can bail him out? He probably has a hundred. You don't need to get involved." He shrugged his shoulders. "I saw it on the news Nessa, DUI, drag racing, resisting arrest? He needs to be there if he's out of contro-"

"He's not out of control Jason, don't you dare say that."

"I don't want you seeing him." He crossed his arms.

"Excuse me?" I step closer to him.

"If dad was here he would do the same thing. And wasn't he with another girl last night Nessa? You deserve better." He clarified.

"Stop Jason, please. Not you too.. No one understands us." I tried to reason with him. People don't know him. They think they do but they don't.

"I also heard that he had drugs on him, Xanax or something, he was abusing them and-"

"You heard? You heard wrong. He has anxiety problems Jason." I unlock my phone and call Scooter, ignoring Jason's words. He answers on the second ring.

"Scooter Braun." He answers smoothly.

"Scooter? It's Vanessa. Justin called me from the jail asking me to go get him and-"

"He called you to go get him? He already knows that I bailed him out Vanessa. He should be released in the next hour." Scooter sighed. "I'm on my way to get him now. He must feel guilty. Look, I know you and Justin have a thing going on so I'm just gonna tell you, he likes reassurance. He needs it. And I know he was with another girl last night, which is probably why he called you to go get him. Truthfully, I think he needs you. So please, just bare with him Vanessa. He's gonna make mistakes but just be open minded for his sake okay?" I didn't know what to say to that.

"Um, alright Scooter." I said softly.

"I'll see you soon." He stated. "Oh and, please, stay off of social media." He said before hanging up. I need my girls.

----

Justin.

"What the hell were you thinking." I heard Scooters voice as I climbed into the passenger seat, waving goodbye to the fans, I shut the door. I smiled at Scooter and took down my hood. I just pulled an MJ by sitting on the top of the car.

"I was thinking, I'm young, and I'm only gonna live once. Not to mention Vanessa wasn't by my side." Scooter swerved through the crowd, beeping the horn.

"You're going on vacation. Private island. You need a break. You can bring your close friends, the ones I approve of." Scooter says sternly.

"The ones you approve of?" I raise an eyebrow.

"If you don't wanna go to therapy like I suggested, then your gonna hang out with the right people got it?" I stood silent and nodded my head. Private island with close friends? Dont have to tell me twice.

Vanessa.

"What did I get myself into? I wanna help Justin, I do but.. what if I cant?" I sighed and looked up at my three best friends.

"We all met somebody that means more to us than we expected in that house. They're not normal.. they're famous. They live differently than we do. You're not expected to help him Nessa." Alex stated.

"Don't overthink this." Carter said simply.

"Khalil got arrested too, I know how you feel girl." Mya took a deep breath.

"What do we do though? Like do we just wait for them to call us?"

"Oh I'm gonna call Khalil. He's gonna hear my mouth." We all let out a laugh at Myas smart remark.

"You miss him don't you?" Alex asked her.

"More than you think." Mya sighed.

"Guys!" Carter jumped up, looking at her phone. "Alfredo just texted me saying that he can't wait to see me." Carter squeled. "Does this mean they're coming or something?"

"I havent heard from anyone.." I trailed off in thought. "Scooter did tell me that he'll see me soon though." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Guys, Ryan just texted me saying that he hopes we can fix things and he'll see me soon." Alex spoke up, eyebrows raised.

"What the heck, this is some Pretty Little Liars type shit." I laughed at my own joke. "Are they coming to Phoenix?" I wondered out loud. My phone rang loud and clear, Justin's ringtone this time. I licked my lips, debating whether or not to answer.

"Just answer." Carter smiled at me in support. I nodded my head and tapped the 'accept' button.

"Hello?"

"Nessie, you hung up on me earlier. But it's okay, Scooter got me." He said too sweetly.

"Justin.. Why were you with her?" I got up and walked out of the room, I needed to have this conversation with him alone, even if it was over the phone.

"Because I couldn't be with you." He said simply. "I missed you. I was used to being with you everyday Nessie then it just stopped. I miss touching you, having you by my side. I needed a distraction."

"But I'm not gonna be there all the time Justin, what if I can't go somewhere you go, are you just gonna get another girl?" I worried.

"Look, we can talk in person okay? Scooter wants us to go away for a while. All of us. On a private island Nessie. Please tell me you and the girls will come."

"We just got back.. We start college soon Justin."

"You'll have bigger opportunities with us. You all have a talent right? So if you come I'll help each of you chase your dream. Just come please. I need you." He pleaded. I thought back to Scooters earlier words. I need to bare with him.. Help him. And just like that Justin Bieber was taking control over my life. And my heart.

"Okay Justin.. I'll see you soon."