Chapter Four
A Month Later...
Stepping into her New York apartment, she could hardly juggle the bags she carried in her hands as she fumbled around, trying to find her cell phone. She'd just gotten back into the city after spending a week in California with Justin. After the funeral, the two of them managed to work things out and get their friendship back on track. It was almost like no time had passed, that the two of them had always been friends.
"Shit!" She cursed, dropping her duffle bag onto her foot as she managed to pull her cell phone out of her purse. "Hello?" She asked, slightly out of breath as she reached a hand up to push a stray piece of brown hair out of her face. She smiled when she heard his voice.
"I just wanted to make sure you got back alright. You were supposed to call me when the plane landed," he accused, the slightest hint of a pout in his voice. Angel couldn't help but laugh at his worried tone.
"Stop pouting!"
"I'm no--"
"Don't argue with me Justin," she laughed, shaking her head. "I know you! Anyway, I just stepped into my apartment," she told him, digging her keys out and unlocking the door before she shoved it open. She brought her foot up, kicking her duffle bag in as she walked over and plopped down on the couch, letting out a big breath. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about the trip to California. Though she'd been annoyed at first when she realized that she had to spend some time with Britney, it hadn't been as bad as she thought. In fact, if she was honest with herself, she actually kind of liked Britney. While she wasn't exactly the brightest person in the world, she was such a sweetheart.
"Did you hear me?" Angel bit her lip. She hadn't even realized he'd been speaking.
"No," she said with a laugh, imagining the outraged look on his face at her declaration.
"I asked if you had a good time," he repeated, shaking his head as he looked over to Britney with a smile, who couldn't help but smile back. She thought it was nice that Justin had gotten his best friend back. She recalled how he would get so upset at small things that set off a memory of something he'd done with Angel. She'd heard all about this girl, and was glad that she'd had the chance to actually meet her.
"I had a wonderful time," she told him honestly, stretching out on the couch to get comfortable. "Next time you and Brit are in New York, you'll have to stop by here, okay?" She asked, smiling to herself. She really hated herself for having grown so attached to the other woman who'd stolen Justin's attention from her, but she couldn't help herself. Something about that damn southern charm, the southern belle qualities of Britney, something that years of being a tomboy had robbed her of.
"Alright squirt. Well look, I'm gonna get off of here, alright? I'll call you tomorrow," he promised, a smile on his face. "Love ya, kiddo."
"Love you too, Justin. Talk to you later," she said, hanging up the phone with a loud sigh. She couldn't keep the smile from her lips as she thought about all the things that had happened in the past month. She finally felt like she was filling the emptiness in her heart that she'd felt for so many years.
~*~
The next day...
"And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! It's official! Justin and Britney are officially engaged. Official statements have been released from both parties this morning. Congratulations, Justin and Britney! And next, we have news on--"
She was completely dumbfounded. There was no way to describe what she was feeling at that moment. Her best friend! Best friend! She'd spent an entire week with him and that... that... hussy! An entire week and there had not been one word about the engagement! Anger quickly replaced the hurt she felt at being kept out of the loop as she searched for her cell phone, her hands shaking as she dialed his number. She couldn't believe this! When he picked up the phone, she scowled at how happy he sounded!
"Justin Timberlake! How dare you!" She snarled. "How dare you not tell me that you're engaged! Did you think I was never going to find out?!" She shrieked, pretty sure that she was being overly irrational about this. But at this point, she didn't care. She was flat out hurt that he'd not told her.
"Angel I can ex--"
"No! You save your stupid explanations! You save them for someone who cares, because I'll tell you right now buddy boy, I sure as hell don't care! I can't believe you wouldn't tell me something like this! When have we ever kept secrets, Justin? When?"
On the other end of the line, Justin cringed at the harsh tone his best friend took with him. She was right though. There had never been a time when he'd kept things from her, especially not something this big. He looked over to Britney and shook his head. He had wanted to tell her when she'd come to visit, but he didn't want to just blurt it out! And then, before he knew it, the week was over and she was none the wiser.
"Please just let me--"
"No! I'm finished with you Justin! Do you hear me? Finished! I'm so tired of your bull shit!" She yelled into the phone, before snapping it closed.
To say that Justin was surprised would have been an understatement. He'd been surprised to hear the anger in her voice, and he'd been crushed when she announced that she was threw with him. He dropped his phone onto the couch next to him and slumped over, looking sadly at Britney.
"I screwed up baby," he said with a sigh.
"J, I'm sure she'll come around," Britney cooed softly, rubbing his back gently. He shook his head and pushed her hand away, standing up.
"You just don't... you don't understand," he sighed before he grabbed his keys and headed out to his car, just needed to get away from everything for awhile.
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