FROZEN IN BETWEEN

YOU'RE NOT SORRY

JUSTINE'S P.O.V

"Thank you guys for coming today!"  I went to hug some friends.

"This is an amazing party, Justine!  You did it!"  They cheered.

"Yay thank you!  Til next time guys!"  I waved as they drove away.

"Girl, you sure you don't want to go home with us?"  Dad hugged me. 

"No, I think I want to spend some time with Danny first.  But can you leave the car with me?"  I begged, blinking like a puppy.

"Hahaha.  Okay darling.  Thank you again for throwing me a party."  Mom kissed my cheek.  "Joan and Mark invite us for an extended party..."

"Adults only."  I nodded.  "Alright.  Take care!"

"You too sweetheart, don't take too long."  Mom waved at me.

I walked inside the cafe with this car key inside my pocket.  With this, I can just go home at anytime I want.  I personally wanted to thank Danny first for his tremendous job and the fact that he stayed longer than he should.  It's all for me, because he promised me the best party of the year.  And he did.  There was a couple of instruments too at the corner of the rooftop, where the guys played a song or two for my Mom.  Even though I didn't really care about it, especially to Toby, but they pulled it off too.  It went smooth, surprisingly.

"We need to talk."  Toby suddenly pulled my hand to the corner of this rooftop while I helped Danny and some people to clean up the mess.

"What?"  I stared at his eyes.

"Because we didn't talk normally since I came back here this afternoon."  Toby sound so demanding.

"I'm pretty sure we are.  Nothing to concern about."  I took my hand off.

"Justine!"  He ran again after me, this time with a louder voice.  "What happened to you?"

I looked at everybody else.  The guys stared at me, even though they're trying not to look that obvious.  Gladly that he has driven Sheryl home earlier so she's not here.

"I'm perfectly fine.  Please, I need to hurry."  I slowly took my hand off from him, sighed, and walked away.

Danny glanced at me too as we're working on the same table.  I let us having this unspoken conversation, where I exactly knew that he understand the complication that I have inside my head.  I don't hate anybody.  It's just hard.  I don't know what's hard.  Maybe stuck in between is hard.

"Thank you Dan for everything.  It's a blast."  I hugged him tightly.

"No problem, sweetness.  Let me know if anything I can do later."  He replied.

"Definitely.  It's still far from over."  I chuckled.

"Be strong."  Danny whispered.  "Of course, yeah, will wait for it."

"Bye bye."  I waved to the carpark and ready to go home.

"I drive."  Toby rudely took the car key inside my pocket, just because he saw where I kept it.

"You're not.  I want to go home by myself."  I tried to take it back.

"I've known you like for 16 years and I can tell there's something about it.  So no, you're not driving alone.  I'll drive, then I'll go home."  Toby insisted.

I just sighed and climbed to the passenger seat.  I didn't need him at all but he forced, so let's see how it goes.  It already pissed me off how my party turned into a perfect date for him and Sheryl.  Maybe I'm only like a party planner for him.  And that hurts.

"Start ranting."   He cleared his throat.

"I'm not ranting anything Toby, because I have nothing to tell you."  I chuckled.

"You sure?  I don't remember the last time we hide something from each other." 

"And we still don't."  I made up a perfect lie.  "Leave your curiousity.  It's nothing."

"Okay then, I buy it."

"Good."

I stared at the street outside.  Dang.  I don't know that getting in the same car, being driven by Toby could be this awkward and I could be this nervous.  Last time I checked, we laughed and screamed happily over some favorite songs on the radio.  Never been this quiet before.  See, how much a feeling can turn your life upside down?

"How you would go home?"  I asked him as he pulled over at my carpark.

"I'll just walk.  Most importantly, you're home."  Toby smiled.  "See you later."

"See you." 

He kissed my forehead and walked away.  Why he would always do that.  I'm not asking for one more heart attack. 

I was about to go upstairs to shower and change, but then something told me to go outside again and drive.  Toby must be just passed the corner of the street, I can still catch him.  But it would cause too much noise.  So I decided to go by feet.  I wore my hoodie, and headphones, then walked toward Toby's direction because I saw where he's going.

And yes, of course. where else he would go.  Stupid, Justine.  So stupid.  Of course, it's still all about Sheryl and second date at Sheryl's house.