Seven

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It's been a while since the party and once again, I haven't had the chance to see Justin again. Maverick was out of town for what he called a "small vacation" for a week and even when he returned almost a week ago, he never came home. He's been staying elsewhere as far as I can see. Either way, it's kept Justin from being at the house and that's the only possible way I'd be able to see him.

Do I even want to see him? I have no idea. And if I do, I don't know why. He's obviously just a player trying to get into another girls pants. I think Justin's working with Maverick more than ever before. It would explain why they're always together after work or how they're whispering before anyone comes into the room. It would make sense. I can't think of anything else being so right.

My foot slips shortly, bringing me out of my thoughts making my shake my head at my clumsiness. I set the tray on the counter looking over at my phone. I turn my music up, letting it come through the bluetooth speaker on the counter on the other side of the room.

OH TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, I NEED SOMEONE ON DAYS LIKE THIS I DO, ON DAYS LIKE THIS, OH TELL ME YOU LOVE ME

Picking up the spatula from beside me, I begin to transfer the cookies to the cooling rack, wanting to start making more. Suddenly, the music stops and my phone starts to ring, vibrating wildly against the counter. I smile immediately, answering the FaceTime call with a silly face plastered on.

"Hey silly." Camila says, laughing.

"Hey babe." I say, smiling. "What's up?"

"We just haven't talked in a couple days so I wanted to check up on you." she shrugs before giggling. "Why do you have flour on your shirt?"

"Oh." I reply, laughing. "I'm baking."

She gasps. "You're baking!?"

I nod. "Yeah, I asked my dad earlier if I could and he told me I was more than welcome to. It's the first time I've been like really happy to be here. It'll only last a couple hours but hey, if I get to be happy for a little bit, that's all."

"That's good. I'm glad you have something to get your through another boring ass day." she says, shrugging.

I nod, smiling. "What's your plan for the day?"

"Netflix and food." she shrugs. "Me and the girls have been spending a lot of time together so we decided to take a few days off." she giggles.

I nod. "That's good. Maybe a few days alone will be fun. You can do what I do and stay in bed all the time."

She laughs, letting her head tilt back as she does so.

"I miss you guys. Like so much. I took being about to see y'all all the time for granted." I shrug. "I need to make friends here if I'm gonna be here for the rest of the summer."

She giggles. "True. I mean, what's the point of being in a new place if you have no friends to show you around or enjoy it with."

"Exactly." I nod. "Alright, I'm going to get back to baking. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

She nods. "Okay, no problem, have fun."

"Bye." I grin, smiling over at her and hanging up. I then put my music back on, turning it up even more and starting to dance to the new song.

REGRET IN YOUR TEARS, KNOW YOU TASTE 'EM, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW I DON'T CHASE, I REPLACE 'EM, DON'T RUSH, TAKE TIME, TAKE SOME, I JUST WANTED MEMORIES, TRIED TO MAKE SOME WITH YOU

I put a new pan of cookies in the oven, putting on the timer and eating a spoonful of dough, dancing stupidly around the kitchen. Suddenly, I spin around, jumping and turning the music down. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." he says, chuckling.

"Justin." I reply, tilting my head the side a little. "Can you like, not be mysterious for once?"

He smirks. "I apologize, I'm not capable."

I lick my lips, looking away before returning my gaze to him. "How'd you get in? The door was locked."

"I have a key." he answers, the smirk falling from his lips. "Your dad gave it to me in case I needed to come in and no one was here."

"Oh." I say, biting the inside of my cheek.

He watches me and I can't help but wonder what he's thinking.

I clear my throat, "Um, Mav's not here. I don't know if that's why you-"

"I know he's not here." he shrugs. "I figured I'd wait for him. My parents were pissing me off."

I nod, shrugging at the same time. "Well, do what you want... I don't care. As long as you don't stand there and stare at me the entire time."

He chuckles, nodding and actually smiling for once. "I think I can handle that circumstance."

I grin, liking his response.

"By the way," he starts, turning back to me after starting to turn away. "You're cute when you think you're alone." With that, he turns and leaves the room, glancing at me once more before making his way to Maverick's room.

Sighing out of relief, I turn around, leaning back against the counter and letting my body relax.

Thank god he's upstairs now.

Placing the last of the cookie dough in round shapes on the last sheet, I place it in the oven, putting the second timer on.

As the rest of the cookies are finished, I let them cool and play on my phone before placing the cooled cookies in a tupperware container. I then turn on the water in the sink, grabbing the first dish to start washing.

"Hey, is Justin here?"

I glance behind me, nodding at Maverick. "Yeah, he went to your room."

"Kay, thanks." he replies, leaving the kitchen and making his way upstairs.

After finishing the dishes, I dry them and put them away before walking to the living room just as the boys come out of Mav's room.

"Bye Hadlee." Maverick tells me, causing me to smile and mumble a 'bye'.

Soon, I exit Instagram and click on Camila's name, hitting the camera next.

"Hey babe, didn't we just talk?" she says, answering the call almost immediately.

"Oh, if you don't wanna talk." I start, pretending to bring my finger towards the 'end' button.

"No! I was just confused. Bored?"

I giggle, nodding. "Yeah. Justin showed up earlier." I shrug.

"While you were still baking?" she asks.

I nod. "Yeah, actually almost right after you hung up. He kinda just showed up and scared the hell out of me."

"What was he doing there though? You said no one was home." he says.

"Apparently his parents were pissing him off and he had a key so he figured he'd come wait for Maverick. They just left, actually." I shrug. "No big deal. He just scared me."

"But he was just sitting there watching you?" she asks.

I shrug. "I don't know how long he was there. Although he did say I'm cute when I think I'm alone."

"He called you cute? I don't even know how to explain that. Maybe he's just trying to get in your pants?" she says, rolling her eyes.

"Is it that crazy to think he might actually like me?" I scoff.

"No, babe, that's not what I mean. I mean, you said he doesn't seem like a relationship type of guy so that's the only explanation I can think of." she explains. "Why'd you get so defensive? Do you actually like him?"

I sigh. "I don't know. I mean, when he's around my stomach gets all fluttery and my brain gets all jumbled. Not that that's a lot." I shrug.

"Lee.. you like him." she sighs. "And from what you told us when you first met him, he seems like bad news. Stay away from him... please. I don't want you to get hurt. I know that's not what you want to hear but it's the truth."

I sigh, disappointed although I attempt to hide it. "I know. I get it. But hey, I um, I gotta go shower before everyone gets home. That way they can after dinner."

"Okay." she replies softly, obviously looking through my act.

I nod, mumbling a 'bye' and hanging up. Forcing myself off the couch, I go upstairs and shower, dressing in a tshirt and sweats just as the door slams downstairs.

"Honey! Dinner!" my father yells, causing me to jog downstairs.

I soon jog down the stairs, my phone in hand as I enter the kitchen and sit at the table with Annabell, Reece and my father.

"How was work today?" I ask, digging into my dinner.

"Good. Thanks for asking." Annabell says, smiling.

"Yeah, it was decent." my father nods. "Did you end up baking?"

I nod. "Yeah, the cookies are over there in the tupperware. I already cleaned up."

They nod and we all eat, small chatter coming up every once in a while.

"Alright, I'm really tired for some reason." I begin after finishing my plate. "Annabell, would you like some help cleaning up before I go to bed?"

She shakes her head. "No, honey, go right ahead."

"Goodnight." I tell them, leaving the room and going up to my bedroom.

I plop into the beanbag chair, relaxing into it and scrolling through the many social media apps on my phone, not paying attention as I get lost in my thoughts as always.

Is Camila right? Am I crazy to think that Justin could actually like me? I mean, it is a little out there. He really doesn't seem like a relationship type of guy and he could very well be trying to get to know me so I fall for his game and allow him to have sex with me. Which I don't want. The last thing I want this summer is to lose my virginity to a boy who couldn't give two shits about someone else in his life. The last thing I think is possible is making Justin Bieber fall in love with me and give up his free to do whatever he wants lifestyle. Even if I wanted to make it happen, there's no way it ever would. He doesn't seem to want to change either. There's no point to trying to figure out why he's this way or how I can change him. I don't know why I'm wasting my time.

Shaking my head at my thoughts, I get up from my seat and go downstairs yet again, grabbing a water bottle and going back to my room. I set the bottle on my bedside table and walk into my bathroom, brushing my teeth and braiding my hair back. I then wash my face and put moisturizer on, not wanting my face to dry out like it normally does. I close my bathroom door as I leave, walking over to my bed and starting to take the decorative pillows off when something catches my eye. My brows furrow as I pick up the piece of paper, reading it to myself.

xxx-xxx-xxxx

like I said, youre cute when you think youre alone... text me. Just dont tell Mav. Shh;)

***

Hey everyone!

Thank you so much for reading the new chapter!

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QUESTIONS:

1. What was your favorite part of this chapter? Least favorite?

2. What are your predictions for next chapter?

3. If you could change one thing about the story so far, what would you change?

much love,

Shan:)