He entered the ballroom dressed in a button-up shirt and jeans. He was late for his best friend’s engagement party, but at least he made it. The party was held at the Four Seasons in Miami and he luckily was able to take four days off of filming his new movie in Los Angeles to attend it. His tardiness went unnoticed, thankfully, but sending his bags up and not getting to check out his room and take a shower before was not on his agenda.
“Justin, glad you made it man. There for a second I was getting worried that you had forgotten about the party or had better things to do.” Trace said sarcastically.
“Man you know I wouldn’t miss your and Bri’s engagement party.” he said as he turned towards the crowd to see who all had showed up. As he was looking around he noticed her. Her as in his ex-girlfriend who he had dated for a year and just recently broke up with 4 months ago. Even though her back was to him he knew it was her. Her long brown hair was curled, wearing a short black lacy cocktail dress, with black heels. Trace noticed Justin’s attention on her.
“Man I’m sorry Haley’s here but she is Brianna’s best friend so we had to invite her.”
Justin turned back at Trace, looking unaffected by her presence even though he was dying to see and talk to her. “It’s not a problem. She might be a little pissed to see me though.”
Haley and Justin had met through Trace and Brianna and ended up dating for a little over a year. They hit it off instantly and Justin loved her more than anything but a mistake happened, which ended up costing him his relationship with her.
“Nah I doubt she will cause a scene…she will probably just ignore you like she has been” Trace laughed.
“Thanks Trace, way to make me feel more comfortable… anyways I’m gonna go hit the bar and get a drink. Congratulations, bro.”
As Justin walked over to the bar area Haley noticed him. “Shit Bri…you didn’t tell me he was coming!”
“I told you we invited him but I honestly didn’t think he would actually show…I thought Trace said he was filming some movie or something.” Brianna said patting her friend on the shoulder. “Besides, maybe you call could rekindle or something? This is a party and you know how you get when you have a few drinks” Bri said jokingly to Haley.
Haley could tell her friend was drunk when she made that comment to her, but laughed. “Whatever Bri… I would never consider him ever again. He ruined that when I caught him with Jessica. It doesn‘t matter though. This is YOUR engagement party/weekend and I am not going to let him ruin the fun.” She quickly eyed him, noticing he was dressed more casual than most people there. He must have just gotten here because the Justin she knew would have dressed more formal for an opening party like this. He looked sexier than ever though.
“Well you did say he was good in bed…maybe a good night would do you good.” Bri said laughing. “But thanks anyways girl. I hope he doesn’t ruin your weekend, we are going to have fun!”
“Of course Bri…shit here he comes.” Haley and Bri turn around to find Justin standing right behind them.
“Congratulations Bri…” he said nervously as both girls looked at him.
“Thanks Justin. I’m glad you were able to make it to the party, Trace was getting a little worried.” Bri said laughing, even though she was a little serious.
Haley figured the first time she would see him, since their big fight and break-up, that she would react in a way that would cause another fight, but surprisingly she was calm and actually a little nervous. Justin had tried calling and texting her numerous times since their break-up but she had ignored him.
Bri could tell it was an awkward moment between the two and her. Luckily one of the waiters was walking by with some drinks. “You guys want a drink?” Bri figured and knew Haley pretty well and thought if she had a few drinks in her that thing would be at a little more ease.
“Yea that would be great right now” Haley said while looking at Justin.
********
The welcoming party was about to end and everyone was almost or completely drunk by the end of the night. Justin was more than ready to go back to the room, especially since he had been up since 5 that morning. Plus, seeing Haley just strained him more. She was cordial to him when he tried to talk to her, just answering with simple one word responses. He could tell she was drunk by her eyes and how she was so at ease when he was around her.
He figured he might as well call it a night. “Congratulations guys, the welcoming party was really fun.” he said to Trace and Brianna who were standing near the exit, thanking their guests for coming this weekend.
“No problem…you just wait. The fun hasn’t even began yet!” Trace said cheerfully.
“Thanks for coming Justin” Brianna said pulling him into a hug.
“I will see you guys tomorrow. What’s the plan?” he questioned Trace.
“The guys are playing golf tomorrow. Our tee time is at 10 I think? We will just meet in the lobby and they are supposed to have a car pick us up.”
“That sounds great…see you in the morning.” Justin headed back to his room. It was a standard room, with one king sized bed. Trace and Brianna had made everyone’s room arrangements prior to this weekend and even though he was used to staying in suites, he had to admit that the room wasn’t that bad. As he started to unpack, he noticed another suitcase beside his and clothes already hanging in the closet. “Shit.”
He noticed it was female clothes and as soon as he seen the Louis Vuitton suitcase he knew exactly who that female was. It was Haley’s suitcase, and he knew this because he had bought it for her and had her initials engraved on the front. Brianna must have reserved that room when they were still together.
He picked up the phone and called the front desk, hoping they would have another room available that he could move into. He knew Haley would flip her lid if she found out her and Justin were sharing a room for four days and he really didn’t want to deal with that right now.
“Thank you for calling the front desk, how may I help you?” the woman said cheerfully.
“Um yes, I was wondering if you had any rooms available I could move into?”
“Is there something wrong with your room sir?” the woman asked.
“No…it’s fine. It ‘s just I think this room was reserved a few months ago and it was scheduled with me sharing it with someone and I would like to have a private room if that is possible.”
“The room name is under Timberlake/Miller…is that correct sir?”
“Yes…it’s not a big deal. I was just curious if I could move into another room if there is one available.” He knew this hotel was packed and he prayed to himself they had a open room. He didn’t give a shit if it was the most expensive suite in the hotel, he would pay for it just as long as he and Haley could at least get along this weekend for Trace and Brianna‘s sake.
The woman took a few seconds to respond and he could tell by the length of her silence while she checked for another available room was slim. “I’m sorry sir, the hotel is completely booked up until Monday.”
“You mean every room is booked? It doesn’t matter if it is the President’s suite…”
“Yes, I am sorry sir. There are a large amount of banquets and ceremonies being celebrated here this weekend which have made all of the rooms here used. Is there anything else that I can do for you sir?”
“Um, no thanks. I guess I will just sleep on the couch…” Justin said hanging up the phone. “That’s if she even lets me stay on the couch” he thought to himself.
He figured he might as well get in the shower before she kicks him out. He might end up rooming with Trace and Brianna or even at another hotel and didn’t even bother unpacking his suitcase. “This is going to be a long weekend” he thought to himself as he stepped in the shower, letting the hot water go all over his body.
*******
Haley had just finished telling everyone goodbye and was in the elevator, heading back to her room. She was exhausted, physically and mentally. She never thought she would feel the way she did when she first saw Justin at the party. It was a mixture of sadness, happiness, and anger. She didn’t understand where the sad or happiness came from, but she did miss him. More than anything. And not seeing or talking to someone you are used to everyday for that long of time is hard. It was so hard for her to not answer his calls and respond to his pleading voicemails he left her.
Laying her head against the wall of the elevator, her mind went back to that night. The night she caught him with his ex-girlfriend in his house.
She walked into the huge foyer of his house, noticing the lit up kitchen and living room. She wanted to surprise him. He thought she was out of town, doing a photo shoot because she was a model, which she was but it ended up wrapping up earlier than planned. As she was walking into the kitchen she noticed some noises coming from his bedroom upstairs.
She made her way quietly up the steps, cautious so she could surprise him. What was odd though was that she was the one in for the surprise. She walked in his bedroom, getting ready to surprise him but as she stood at the doorway her mouth flew open.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!” she said angrily, as Justin was there standing with Jessica, their lips connected in a kiss.
“HALEY! IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!” he said pushing Jessica off and away from him. “JESSICA GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!” he said running after Haley who had now retreated in the living room.
He walked up behind her, hearing her sobs and placed his hand gently on her arm. “Haley, look at me.” he said trying to turn her around and get her to look at him. “It’s not what it looked like. She showed up here, unannounced and I was arguing with her telling her to leave and the next thing I know…”
She quickly interrupted him. “Whatever Justin, you knew I was out of town and figured you could pull something like this and that I would probably never find out! I cannot believe that you would do this to me!” she started crying again and pushing him away.
“Haley… I swear to god it wasn’t what it looked like! I told her to fucking leave and she wouldn’t! You know I would never do anything like that to you…”
“Well Justin if she showed up here unannounced, why the fuck did you let her in the house? Huh?!”
“She still had her key and I didn‘t know… I was in my bedroom getting ready to take a shower and she fuckin’ shows up in there starting her shit!”
“So she was starting her shit and you decided to kiss her right?!”
“NO! She fucking planted one on me out of no where and the next thing I know you are at the door screaming!”“Whatever Justin! It was obvious what was going on and what would’ve happened if I hadn’t showed up! I’m done! I CAN NEVER TRUST YOU AGAIN! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS!!??” Haley shrieked, turning towards the front door to leave.
“HALEY! HALEY!” he jogged up to her and planted his fist against the door, not allowing her to open it and leave. “Please don’t leave. I SWEAR TO GOD I DIDN’T AND WASN’T GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH HER! I LOVE YOU AND ONLY YOU!”
“Justin, move your hand and let me leave. Now.” she said to him calmly, even though tears were falling out of her eyes like a waterfall. And with that he moved his hand and she exited his house not bothering to get her things she kept there.
The loud ding of the elevator woke her from her memory. That night was the last time she had spoken to or seen him in months. He called her non-stop that night, leaving voicemail after voicemail but she was so hurt she couldn’t answer or call him back. It took the life out of her to even listen to his pleading voicemails he left.
She was thankful though that she was going to her room. At least that would be a break from him, since she would be seeing him for the next four days.
