Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Twenty-One

BACK ALLEY
IMOGEN'S POV

I found Justin in a back alley of where he used to get high and I saw the needle in his hand which made me sigh. I know Diego called him a junkie, and that was rude. His mother died, and he's probably reached the point where he doesn't know how to cope. I don't want him to relapse, but if he has... I understand why. When Justin heard my footsteps, I saw him toss the needle and he looked away from me.

"Hey... hi. Uh..." He said.

"You're supposed to be at work. But... they told me that you don't work there anymore?" I said and Justin shook his head.

"I quit." He said.

"They also told me you got fired," I said while I took a step closer to him. "Justin..." I hated seeing him like this. I didn't know what to do. You can't stop an addict from doing drugs, they have to find it in themselves to stop, and Justin was doing so well.

"Yeah, whatever," Justin said as he laughed a little, and then he took in a deep breath. "I saw you with Diego today. In study hall. You actually like him." Justin said and he started to laugh. He was high, so I wasn't going to get mad at him.

"That's bullshit and you know it," I said.

"Tell me you don't," Justin said as he looked back at me. "'Cause I can...-I can see it. You think he's like hot, or whatever, and I'm a fucking mess." Justin said and he was laughing, but I know that he doesn't think this is actually funny.

"I don't fucking think that at all, Justin!" I said.

"Well, I am. And I'm not gonna get better, so... so, better to be with him than to, um... just sit around and wait for me to OD." Justin said and it truly broke my heart that he would say that to me.

"So don't OD!" I said. I laid my hand on his shoulder which made him jump so I quickly pulled my hand back.

"Get... get the fuck outta here, okay? I didn't ask you to come looking for me. I came to the fucking alley for a fucking reason." Justin said and I shook my head.

"I'll always come looking for you," I said.

"That's fucking pathetic." He said. One thing I've learned is to never take what an addict says to heart. They'll tell you that they hate you and they love you in the same breath. "Go," Justin said.

"No..." I said.

"Go!" He repeated and I shook my head and didn't move. I am not going to leave him alone out here. "Go, Imogen. Go fuck, Diego!" Justin exclaimed and that did make me start crying but I shook my head. "Go!" He said as he lightly hit me on my thigh. He didn't hit me hard, he wasn't trying to be abusive, he just wanted me to go away.

"Fine..."

―

JENSEN DINING ROOM
IMOGEN'S POV

"You wanted to see us?" Clay asked our parents when they came downstairs. I could slightly hear some of their argument. Justin finally made it back home and he had on his black zip-up jacket with the hood on.

"Yes, uh, we are on our way out for date night." Mom said which I thought was really cute.

"Why so many date nights lately?" Clay asked.

"Clay, what's wrong with them going on dates? They've raised us for 18 years, they deserve their own time together." I said and Clay looked at me which made me shrug my shoulders.

"And what commitment did you make?" Clay asked.

"Oh, we're committed to keeping the romance alive," Dad said before he pulled some money from his pocket and set it down on the table. "Here is some money for pizza." He said.