How To Love

Chapter 11: I'm Never Letting You Go

Only a few minutes had passed since that incredible moment...one you wouldn't ever forget for as long as you lived. In that sudden moment Justin had shut you up. Silenced all your anxieties. And he kissed you. But it was more than that, in that specific moment, you felt his true love and affection. It wasn't your imagination, it was there, he was really there, giving himself as much as you were. And in that moment was when you fell, and you fell hard. You were all in, and his love felt so good you were completely ready to be vulnerable.

"I love you." Justin puffed, his breath making a cloud in the brisk air. "I love you too." Shivering, you ran your hands over your arms. "C'mere." Justin brought you in his arms and you snuggled into his chest. "Ya know we could just go inside to get warm." Pulling away Justin looked down at you smirking. "Oh yeah?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "Pshh no, you creep." You flicked your hair and walked toward stairs. You were definitely an expert at being the stupidest flirt. But it was apparent that Justin loved it. "So I can't come in anymore?" He pouted his lip. "Um, I'm not too sure." You winked, giggling. "You can...if you can catch me!" With that you grabbed the railing, swinging around the metal banister running, taking two steps at a time. You didn't hear him behind you as you sped up the stairs. Your heart pumping in your chest you barely reached the top stair when two arms wrapped around you. Screaming you flailed about trying to get out of his grasp. He chuckled kissing above your ear. "Not fair!" You huffed his grip not letting you go. "How is that not fair sweetheart...you had a head start." Turning you around his eyes glistened, dancing with playfulness. "Because I'm faster." You pouted jokingly. "Nuh uh!" He poked your sides brushing his nose against yours. "Ugh fineee." Pretending to be annoyed you wiggled out of his hold, unlocking the door. Walking in ahead of him you turned on the lights. "You're not really mad are ya?" He asked stepping inside and closing the door. Not answering his question you sat on the couch turning on the TV. Justin glanced around. "I've never been in here except for pickin you up!" He randomly stated, smiling to himself. "Why are you ignoring me for no reason?" Justin said as he scrunched his face into a smirk, standing in front of you. Shrugging you tried not to crack a smile, you didn't know why you were teasing him but he was so much fun to mess with. "You know how I can tell that you're not mad?" He said leaning closer to you. "How?" You leaned back on the couch scooting farther away from him. You now wiggled your eyebrows in success. Quickly resting his arm above your head leaning closer, he fell on top of you, making sure not to crush you by his weight, pressing his lips on yours. He gave you the opportunity to pull away but you didn't. You moved so that you were laying flat on the couch. Justin rested his hands on both sides of you supporting himself. He was the the most amazing kisser, like the kind that take your breath away, flip your stomach, and make you crave more. He leaned into you moving his lips slow and intentional. Pausing for breath Justin smirked down at you a look of satisfaction and love spread across his face. "That's how I know." He whispered next to your ear in his husky voice. Hovering over you he began kissing your jawline then your neck. Butterflies wouldn't stop fluttering in your stomach. Closing your eyes your shuttered at the feeling. In the heat of the moment you both didn't hear the jangle of keys in the doorway.

"Gracie I'm hom..." Your eyes shot open at the sound of Lily's voice. Justin groaned against your shoulder, moving his head from the crook of your neck. Quickly shoving Justin off, you both sat up awkwardly. "Hey Lily! Uh, I forgot your shifts ended earlier now." "Well I can see that." She rolled her eyes, scowling at Justin. He stood up running his fingers through his messy hair. "Sorry about this Lily, I'm sure it looked questionable, and." Lily interrupted him, "Of course it did and if I had come any later..." "Lily please. We were just saying goodbye so chill out." You got up, standing next to Justin. "Hmph, 'saying goodbye my elbow' why are you here anyways?" Lily frowned staring at Justin up and down. "I was dropping Gracie off after we had dinner with her parents." He wrapped his arm around your shoulder. "I suppose you can leave now?" She put her purse down glancing at you. "No, he doesn't always have to leave when you're around...you two have hardly met, only whenever he comes and gets me. And it's really rude that you force him to leave." You were more than done with Lily not hiding her disapproval of you two. And she never gave a reason except that she "doesn't want you to get hurt" and now you could care less what she thought about it. She could at least be supportive of you and it honestly hurt your feelings. "Babe I think I should go." Justin whispered against your ear. Shaking your head you hoped he wouldn't. "No! I wanna sort this out...what is your problem Lily? And don't say it's nothing." You stood your ground staring Lily firmly in the eye. "You want the truth? Because it's not something either of you are gonna want to hear." Lily crossed her arms over her chest. "Whatever, just please can we end this conflict?" You sighed curious as to what she was going to say. "Gracie. You've changed. I've seen it happen over the course of these last few months. You never would come home late. You would always make time for just me and you, and you never were so combative as you are now. That all happened when he came around." She darted her eyes to Justin. You opened your mouth in surprise. "Lily...just because I've had to spread out my time doesn't mean I still don't care for you, all those things are minor problems that I could easily fix if you had just told me. That doesn't mean I have changed?" You were confused that Lily was only mad about those things. "Well it's not just that." Lily sighed plopping down on the couch."Well speak it." You scowled folding your arms. Lily placed a hand on forehead thinking, before standing up and wiping her hands on her blue jeans. You felt Justin's hand slip around the small of your back, slowly tracing circles in a calm motion trying to help you relax. "I wouldn't being saying these things if I didn't have a gut feeling about it. You both are not good for each other. And I'm not just trying to be argumentative. He's trouble...and you know it. I see it happen to so many good people, celebrities like Justin use people because they can. He can get whatever he wants and faces no consequences. And I'm not just "believing what the media says" I've seen it happen working with celebrities at my job. It's inevitable. They only look out for themselves. He's gonna tell you you're different from the others, I bet he already has...until he gets what he wants. You're not different Gracie, he's gonna leave you and break your heart and I don't want to stand by and watch. Because you'll just end up back to where you were when all of this could've been avoided if you found a good solid man to settle down with. Either he's going to get himself in serious trouble one day or you will be the victim of it. I don't say these things lightly, and I'm sorry but that's what I feel so strongly, I wouldn't be saying it in front of BOTH of you if I didn't." She huffed avoiding your hard eyes.