"Justin... do you really have to go?"
Eleven year old Justin Timberlake looked up at the question. He closed his eyes against the cool breeze that tickled his face before he opened his eyes, turning to look at Angel. He gave her a soft smile and shifted on the front step to lean against the white railing.
"You know I do," he said softly, bringing his hand up to run his fingers through his unruly curls. "Momma said it's the chance of a lifetime, or somethin' like that," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides, I'm gonna be on TV, Ang! Everyone's gonna know who I am!" He told her with a smile. Ever since he was just a toddler, everyone knew that Justin was meant for bigger things than Millington Tennessee. When the chance for him to join Disney's Mickey Mouse Club came along, his mother Lynn jumped on it immediately.
Angel sighed sadly and looked down, suddenly becoming interested in a scab on her knee as she picked at it relentlessly with her small hand. Her long brown hair fell down over her face, though she didn't bother to brush it back. Anything to help hide the tears that had begun to slide down her cheek was a welcome disguise. However, knowing her like he did, Justin already knew she was crying.
"Stop picking at that scab. It's never going to heal if you keep pullin' it off," he told her, grabbing her hand to pull it away from her injured knee. He pushed her hair back behind her ears and wiped her tears away.
"C'mon Ang. It's not that bad. I'm not even leavin' til Saturday! We got a whole week! And besides, I'll be back," he told her with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's not like I'm gonna leave ya forever," he told her, rubbing his own dirt-smudged face. He completely understood why she was upset. The two of them had been friends for years. Even though she was a year younger than him and a girl, he didn't mind. She was his best friend, even closer to him than any of his boy friends in his grade. He was just as upset as she was, though he was trying to be strong... for her. He was surprised when she shoved his hands away from her and stood up.
"Saturday? Who cares when you're leaving Justin? The point is you're leaving!" She cried, bringing her arm up to swipe the tears away angrily. She didn't miss the hurt look on his face.
"Angel! Come on! It's not like I'm goin' away forever!" He told her. "Mom already told you that you could come visit, and I'm gonna be back," he said, grabbing her arm gently. He watched as she sat down on the front step dejectedly, propping her elbows on her knees, and lowering her head to her hands.
"Then why does it feel like I'm never gonna see you again?"
~*~
"Bye mom! Bye dad!" Angel called on her way out of the house. Both of her parents shook their heads with a knowing smile. Only one thing could get their daughter up at 7:30 on a Saturday morning: Justin was home.
By the time Angel reached the Timberlake home where Justin was visiting with his dad, she was completely out of breath. Her chest was heaving when she ran up the back steps to the screen door, pressing her face against it to peer inside. Her smile brightened when she saw Lisa, Justin's step mother at the stove, preparing breakfast. The older woman turned and smiled, shaking her head at the little girl.
"He's still asleep honey," she said, her smile faltering when she saw the little girl back away dejectedly. "Angel?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Go on up and wake him up. He'll be happy to see you," she said, her smile returning as she walked over to pull the screen door open for the girl. Angel threw her arms around Lisa's waist before she took off running up the back stairs to Justin's room. She threw the door open and smirked when she saw him sprawled out on his stomach, his face buried in the pillow, his chest rising and falling slowly. He looked so peaceful, and that simply wasn't acceptable. With a great leap, Angel jumped, landing on the bed, practically on top of him.
"Huh? Wha?" Justin pushed himself up, so completely confused and disoriented. Seeing the expression on his face, Angel collapsed into a heap of giggles, her arm wrapped around her stomach as she laughed. Though he was normally very cranky in the morning, the sight of his best friend quickly brought a smile to his face as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"You have exactly five minutes to get ready, mister. Then you're mine for the rest of the day!" She informed him, before she climbed off of his bed. She started to the door and pulled it open, turning around once more to give him a smile. "It's good to have you home, J."
When he descended the steps, he smiled when he saw Angel sitting at the kitchen table, a bowl of cereal in front of her. He was glad to see that some things never changed. Just about every morning before school, she'd come over and have cereal with him before they caught the bus together. He was glad for a bit of normalcy in his life after the hectic year he'd had in Florida. Though he promised to visit often, his busy schedule just didn't allow it. He was more than thrilled to be back in Tennessee, even if it was just for the summer. He walked over to the table and sat himself down across from her, thanking Lisa with a smile when she put his cereal in front of him.
"Whawedoday?" His eyes widened when he realized that Angel had been attempting to communicate with him around the cereal she had in her mouth. He let a little snort escape when he saw the milk dribbling down her chin.
"Didn't your mama ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?" he teased, shaking his head playfully. He couldn't help but laugh at the scowl she tossed him as she brought her hand up to wipe the milk away from her mouth.
"I said," she began as she cleared her throat, "what are we doing today?" He offered her a shrug as he took a bite of his own cereal. She stuck his tongue out him playfully.
"It's good to be back," he laughed as she picked up a handful of dry cereal and chunked it in his general direction.
~*~
"Angel?" She looked up at the voice and offered her dad a weak smile.
"Yes sir?"
"Isn't that boy back in town this week?" He didn't miss the sad expression that overtook his daughter's features at just the mention of Justin.
"His new girlfriend's here with him," she said, scowling at the thought. She'd shown up at Justin's house the previous Saturday morning and had been crushed to see him taking her into their tree house. She'd been beyond hurt as she quickly turned and fled, heading home immediately before he even realized she'd been there. She knew all about this girl. Every time the two of them spoke on the phone, all he did was gush about some girl named Britney, a girl that was on the MMC with him.
Jonathan couldn't help but hide his smile at the scowl that covered his daughter's face.
"He did, huh? Did he tell you that he didn't want you hanging around while she was here?" He asked. He'd spoken to Lisa earlier in the week, who'd called to see if Angel was alright. She'd seen her run from the house and she was afraid that maybe something had happened between her and Justin.
"Well not exactly, but daddy, I don't wanna be around them if they're doing gross... kissy things! She's a girl!" A low chuckle escaped from his chest when she revealed that.
"So are you," he pointed out. A crimson blush quickly covered her cheeks. She was the biggest tomboy in Millington, hands down. Sometimes, it was almost as if she forgot that she was a girl.
"That's not the point!" She said, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff. "He promised that things weren't going to change!" She said tearfully, cringing when she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She brought her hand up and swiped at it angrily.
"Angel... people change," he said softly, holding his arms out for his daughter. He wrapped her up in a big bear hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "People change honey. What can you expect? You're here, living your life, and Justin is there living his."
"He promised," she managed to get out weakly, her arms wrapping around him weakly as she wept pitifully. "He promised."
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