Abandoned

chapter eighteen.

"I guess I should get her to bed." I said, looking over at Rose passed out on the couch.

"Yeah. Big day tomorrow, exploring the city and all." He said, leaning back to get up.

"Wait, Justin?" I stopped him.

"Yeah?"

"What happened to your dad?" I came right out with it, hoping for the best. He sighed quietly and glanced down, like he was deciding how to respond.

"I told you about that day I came home and saw the car, it was really quiet?" He looked up to me. I nodded.

"I walked into my parent's bathroom and found him... he was dead. Shot himself." He said bluntly. I felt myself bring my hand to my mouth, relatively shocked..

"That must've been..." I trailed off, hardly being able to even imagine.

"It wasn't pretty." He shook his head.

"Did he leave anything? A note?" He gave me a pretty pitiful look, slowly shaking his head no.

"God, Justin." I looked at him. "I'm sorry." He gave me a sincere look, thanking me silently. I noticed his sudden muteness.

"Um, sorry. You don't have to talk about it anymore." I stood. "Carry her up for me?"

"Sure." He said and picked Rose up, following me up the stairs and into our guest room. He laid her down carefully on the bed and walked out to stand right outside of the doorway, turning to face me.

"Thanks." I said, leaning against the doorframe.

"No problem." He gave a not too convincing smile, standing there with his hands in his pockets. "So, you're not gonna act different around me now that I told you what happened, right?"

"No way. I know how bad getting fake kindness out of pity sucks." I said. "And nothing can change the fact that you are still an ass." I joked, smiling. He laughed and dropped his head down.

"Thank you." He looked up again.

"No problem." I mimicked him.

"Goodnight, Ray."

"Night, Justin."

***

The next morning I was woken up bright and early, much to my displeasure. Before I could even get ready I was pulled down into the kitchen for breakfast where everyone seemed to be fighting to get their portion of eggs and bacon.

As I stood back against the wall, waiting for everyone to clear out, I noticed Justin standing up from the table in sweats, a t-shirt, and wildly unmanaged hair.

"Morning, babe." He said as he approached me, leaning down to bring his lips closer to mine. Instinctively I gave him a glare and shoved him in the chest before he could reach me.

"What the-" I started, but stopped myself. Justin raised his brows in a questioning look, and the wheels in my brain started to churn. I rubbed my head. I'm an idiot. Why does my brain take a whole ten minutes to start functioning in the morning?

"Gotcha!" I pretended to laugh, though it didn't sound all too real. Glad that no one seems to be paying attention to us, I leaned up and pecked his lips as quickly as possible, wishing with everything in me that this damn trip could be over.

I ate quickly and went back upstairs to get ready. Somehow I ended up being rushed once again, having to throw my hair in braid.

Tanya decided she'd love to take on the task of taking us sightseeing. So Justin, Pattie, Rose, and I rode in Tanya's van along with another aunt and her husband as she drove us all around town. First was this ridiculously tall building that apparently had an observation deck, which didn't sound all that appealing to me.