Ch. 52 - Accusations

 ~ Chapter 52: Accusations  ~

[ Justin’s POV: ]

I clenched my fists, my mind wandering into angry thoughts. Does this mean Katie lied to me? How’s it possible that I’ve been living a lie these past few months? If the baby really isn’t mine, I want an explanation for this shit. How, all this time, I’ve been walking around thinking that Katie’s pregnant with my child.

I’m not gonna lie, though. There’s this sense of relief rushing throughout me. My fears of being a father are subsiding and I feel just a little bit less stressed. But that wasn’t changing the fact that I was still angry.

I charged out of my room and sped down the hallway, making it into the living room in time to see Katie curled up on the couch. She lifted her head and noticed me staring at her. I was about to speak, but she beat me to it.

“I’m sorry..” she whispered.

I stopped. Which part of her wrong-doings is she apologizing for?

“I shouldn’t have said that back there,” she added. “Um.. Said that I love you.”

“Katie,” I stopped her, slowly approaching where she sat. “I’m going to ask you one question. I’d like you to answer me and I’d like you to do it honestly. Got it?”

She blinked in confusion. “Wait—What?”

“Is that baby… the one growing inside you as we speak… Is it mine?” I asked her straightforward.

“Uh, I thought we were past this?” she said. “Are you doubting me? You think I’m… lying to you?”

I paused, thinking of ways to reply to that.

“Yeah, actually. I do think that,” I clarified, leaning closer to her. “Am I.. wrong to think that?”

She looked me in the eyes. “Justin, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” I played dumb.

“You’re suddenly questioning me after I told you everything I’m sure about.”

“And you’re sure you’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. Why would you lie to me, eh?”

“I’m not.”

“Katie..”

“Justin..”

I sighed, leaning back and crossing my arms. “So do you want to explain to me why the test came out negative?” I sat down across from her. “I’ve got all the time in the world to hear it.”

She raised her eyebrows. “W-What?”

“Scooter called me a few minutes ago. He said the paternity test says I’m not the father.”

Katie’s eyes widened, her face going slightly pale. “W-What?” she repeated, gasping the words. “H-How? I don’t-.. understand..”

“Cut the crap, Katie. I want you to explain and I want an explanation right now.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know how that could be,” she said. “I honestly thought… I just…”

“So there’s no one else you think could possibly be the father?” I scoffed. “Gimme a break. Before I met you, weren’t you some sort of lost cause?”

Katie narrowed her eyes at me, a look of hurt spreading across her features. “Lost cause?”

“You know… Going to every party, getting drunk or high all the time, screwing around with men—that sort of thing.”

“I..—”

“Sorry,” I sighed again. “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant is that this could be some other guy’s baby you’re carrying around. You never know. Either way, Scooter wants you out. He thinks you played me—used me for your benefit. He doesn’t want you around us anymore.”

“Ha, I see,” Katie scoffed bitterly. “And haven’t you ever thought that Scooter could be lying to you?!” she yelled.

I stood up, approaching her again. “What do you mean he’s lying to me?”

“Well, maybe he just told you the test came out negative for your own benefit because he cares about your career’s well-being. Having a baby with me isn’t exactly good publicity, is it? And I don’t mind that he doesn’t give a shit about how I feel about all this because no one ever does. I’m used to this happening to me all fucking the time. I’m used to people putting me down like this and turning against me. And you know what? FINE. If you guys want me out, I’ll leave!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face. She stood up without a warning and grabbed her stuff, pushing past me towards the door. She turned the doorknob and paused, glancing at me one last time. “And I don’t give a fuck if you don’t care about the baby anymore, but I was gonna tell you I think Zoe’s a pretty name for her,” she said softly, a final tear escaping her eyes before she disappeared out the door.

I stood there frozen, looking at the front door where she had left as I tried ignoring this indescribable feeling inside my heart.

Zoe?

That’s a beautiful name..

—

[ Jackie’s POV: ]

“You ready?” Tyler smirked, opening the back of the car vault and taking out a picnic basket, a blanket wrapped around the handle.

“We’re having a picnic?!” my eyes sparkled at the idea.

“Yeah, you didn’t notice we’re near the park?” he teased.

“I wasn’t really paying attention to it, but I guess,” I rolled my eyes.

“Well let’s go,” he kissed my cheek, grabbing my hand and leading me inside the park.

It was such a beautiful day out, and I realized now that a picnic was the perfect way to spend it. I followed Tyler as he held my hand with his right and held the picnic basket with his left hand.

I’ve been feeling pretty guilty lately. Guilty that, at times, when I’d be spending the day with Tyler, my mind would drift off to think about Justin. I found it unfair that I was on Tyler’s mind 24/7, but he was hardly ever in mine, even when I’m with him. I’ve been trying to get rid of this habit, but despite all my mixed feelings on Justin, I still miss him. He is my idol after all. But he’s also so much more..

I guess I’ve been trying to forget him for the way he rejected me. But as the days go by, I’m starting to care less and less about that. I still love him the same and my offer still stands. I want to help him. I want to be the one to show him that life can be beautiful, the same way he did for me. But I know thinking that way is nothing but daydreams. I can’t be the person to do that for him. I’m just me, compared to him. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but it makes more than perfect sense to me.

“Hey, Tyler!” a young voice called out from behind us. We stopped and turned around and I saw a boy that looked a few years younger than us, approach Tyler and I. “Long time no see!”

“Oh my god, it’s little Kyle,” Tyler smiled at the young boy, doing a quick handshake with him. “How have you been?”

“Good, how about you?” the boy’s smile was enormous.

“Great, is your whole family around here?”

“Yeah, it’s sorta a birthday party,” he nodded.

Tyler looked at me, knowing I was probably wondering who the boy was. “Kyle, this is my lovely girly friend Jackie,” he introduced us. “Jackie, this is Kyle, a boy I used to babysit for a while.”

“Nice to meet you,” the boy held up his hand and I gladly shook it.

“Nice to meet you too,” I smiled back.

Tyler handed me the picnic basket and looked at me. “If you want, you can go set up. I’m gonna say quick hellos to everyone and I’ll come right back. I’ll be quick, I promise.”

“Okay,” I slowly nodded. And with that, Tyler followed Kyle to what must’ve been where his family was, and I looked for a spot with a nice shade not too far from where we were, and unwrapped the blanket from the basket.

I leaned down and laid out the blanket across the grass, sitting down on it and leaning against the tree. I looked out at everyone at the park. There were all kinds of people: children playing and running around, elderly playing board games while the couples held hands, adults eating while some of them watched their kids play. It was a beautiful sight.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in before closing my eyes peacefully. I took in the slightly chilly breeze for a second before opening my eyes again and spotting someone strolling slowly down the park.

He or she was wearing a light hoodie over their head and seemed lost in thought about something. When they slightly turned, my heart skipped a beat.

No. way.

J-Justin?

Is that Justin?

I could recognize that face from miles away, but… How? Ugh, I forgot he’s in San Diego but why here, of all places?

Is that really Justin? What should I do? Tyler’ll be back any second now. But I… I want to talk to him… Don’t I?

Don’t I want to be able to have a conversation with Justin again?

************************

Well, oh shit…

WWJD?

What Would Jackie Do? ;)

Hmm….

- Nina xx