Chapter Three
It was dark and chilly. He wasn't even aware of the time. With a soft sigh, he moved back and forth on the old tire swing, looking up at the star-lit sky. He was due to return home the next morning to California, to Britney. However, he wasn't sure if he was ready to leave yet. He felt like there was so much that had been left unresolved, and he had absolutely no way to fix it. Lowering his gaze to the ground, he kicked the dirt under his feet and then stood, running a hand through his short hair. He frowned. No more curls. That had been Britney's idea. Looking around the deserted park, he couldn't help but feel a dull ache in his heart. He'd spent a lot of time here with Angel. It had always been their "special spot" and now... well, it was just a reminder of the past he'd left behind long ago.
"Justin?" He turned quickly. He'd not expected to hear a voice, especially hers.
"Angel..." the name came out in nothing more than a whisper. His blue eyes were wide as he looked her over. "What are you doing here?"
"I... went by the house and Lisa said you'd gone out. I thought I might find you here," she said, offering him a smile. A soft smile touched his own lips. She knew him too well. Even after all this time. He turned all the way so that he was facing her. She looked good, considering she'd just attended the funeral of her grandmother. He looked her over from head to toe, just taking in how beautiful she'd become. He couldn't believe this was HIS Angel. So much had changed in just a few years.
She took the seat he'd vacated on the tire swing and kicked her feet a little, setting the swing into a gentle rocking motion. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. He'd been the world to her from the time she was nothing more than a toddler up until he'd completely destroyed her by not caring. He moved and took the place behind her, pushing her gently, her laughter being like music to his ears. It'd been so long since he heard that laugh.
"Push me higher," she demanded, throwing her head back to laugh when he complied with her request. For just a moment, it was like nothing had changed. It was like they were back to normal, before he went away.
~*~
"Justin! Push it higher!" She squealed. Rolling his eyes at the 8 year old, her did as she requested.
"You better hang on, Angel! If you fall off, I'm not picking you up!" He called to her, a scowl on his face. His warning was lost when she squealed. His angry expression completely melted away when he heard her laughter. He shook his head and pushed her a few more times.
"Oh Justin! I'm gonna be sick!" She called, though she was laughing. Shaking his head, laughed and slowed the swing down until she could jump off safely. Landing roughly in the grass, she rolled onto her back, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. He ran to her and dropped beside her, his arm cushioning his head against the hard ground as he looked up at the sky. With a loud yawn, Angel rolled onto her side to face him, her head propped up on her hand. Though the sun was still in the sky, it was nearing supper time, meaning the end of their day in the park.
"Can we come back tomorrow?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. Hearing the question, Justin couldn't help but laugh.
"Angel, we're here every day. Aren't you tired of coming to the park?" He asked, sitting up a little. She shook her head vigorously and gave him the saddest face she could muster. He groaned and fell back onto ground, looking up at her in a beaten manner. "I'm going to regret showing you how to make the face for the rest of my life, aren't I?" Pushing himself to his feet, he didn't wait for an answer as he held a hand out to help her to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he looked down at her with a grin. "I'll bring you here anytime you want, Squirt."
~*~
As the swing slowed to a gentle rocking motion once again, she turned her head to look back at him, a hint of a smile on her face.
"I'm glad you're back," she said softly. "I really appreciate that you came today," she told him honestly. He nodded and offered her his own smile.
"I know that we've kind of... fallen away from each other over the years... but you're still my best friend Angel. And I'll always be here for you," he promised. "Always. All you gotta do is call me and I'm here," he told her, clamping a hand onto her shoulder to squeeze it gently. The two of them fell silent, unable to think of a single thing that would give them back all the years that they missed together.
Author's Note: I understand that this chapter is much shorter than the others, but I really felt that this was a good place to stop. Think of this as more of an... interlude, if you will, rather than a full chapter. Cheers!
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