Road Trip (original version)

Chapter 27- Leaving

One thing I did not expect is to see Scooter Braun standing at my door at nine a.m. But then again if a year ago someone told me I would be dating Justin Bieber I would have laughed and then slapped the person for messing with my fangirl head. Now here I am starring at Scooter with his khaki shorts and polo shirt like a fool. Good thing I decided to shower and dress early today or else I would have answered the door in footie pjs.

"H-Hi, what are you doing here?" He eyed me suspiciously and laughed at my expression.

"I told you I would see you soon right?" I motioned for him to come inside, looking outside for any sign of Justin. "The guys will catch up in a second, they're in a different car." I nodded my head and let the screen door shut behind him, leaving the door open for when Justin comes. I cant wait to see him. "You have a nice place here." I guided Scooter to the living room and smiled at him.

"Thanks, its small but its cozy. Do you want anything to drink?"

"Water if you don't mind." He spoke, following me to the kitchen. I walked to the refrigerator, pulling out a water bottle for the two of us. "Starting early I see?" He gestured to the vodka bottle and half empty cup on the table. Dang it.

"What? No. That's my mothers." I laughed. "Im not old enough to drink."

"That's for damn sure." I look to the kitchen entryway and sigh. There my mother was with smeared black makeup under her eyes and a messy pony tail. Speak of the devil and she shall appear. And here I thought she was knocked out upstairs. "Who is this man?" She looked at me and crossed her arms.

"This is Scooter Braun. He.." I trailed off trying to find the words, afraid that the mention of Justin will make her spaz out.

"I'm Justin Bieber's manager, It's nice to meet you." Scooter held out his hand and I winced when she ignored it.

"Get him out Vanessa. You should be lucky I'm even letting you stay here. If it weren't for Jason your ass would be out on the street." She walked across the kitchen and poured more vodka in her cup, taking a sip. I give Scooter an apologetic look. He shakes his head and stands up straight.

"I came here to talk to you about Justin taking your daughter on a vacation, she isn't a minor but out of respect I wanted to ask you anyway. I have all the information I can tell yo-"

"Why are you still talking? Just take her. I don't need her here talking shit about my drinking anyway." Mom sighs and stares me up and down. "I can see why the Bieber kid likes you, you have my ass. Congrats kid." She laughs to herself and takes another sip of her drink.

"That's it? You don't want to know where she will be?" Scooter furrows his eyebrows.

"Listen, just take the girl and get out of my house before I change my mind." She half yells then looks my way. "If you leave kid, thats on you. Don't ask me for any money and don't ask me to come back here."

"Vanessa can we talk outside for a minute?" I nod my head at Scooter and lead the way outside, pushing through the screen door with him right behind me. As I step outside into the hot Arizona sun, I hope my mother doesn't follow us out here. I lead the way to the two lounge chairs that sat on our porch and sit. "What's your situation here? Why do you still live with her?" My jaw dropped a little at Scooter's bluntness but I quickly recovered when I saw the worry in his eyes.

"I have a nephew, his name is Ethan and he lives here with her. While we went on our little road trip my older brother Jason took care of him, he's trying to get custody of him but it's difficult because of his work hours."

"Now where are Ethan's parents?" Scooter furrowed his eyebrows and leaned forward in his chair, starring intensely at me.

"My sister and her husband died in a car accident, along with my father." I looked anywhere but at Scooter's face, afraid to see the sympathy I knew was there.