Lyrics by Uncle Kracker, "Don't Cry"
Author: Andrea cali02@shawneelink.net
Disclaimer: I don't know Justin. I don't own Justin. Jayla, Kelsie and Jayden are all fictional characters. Any similarities in names and/or personalities and events are coincidental. Plaguerism is a crime and if you steal this story, you will pay. :)
Warning: Contains adult situations (Not sexual)
Rating: R
Everything has a reason
At least that's what they all say
And I've lost my count of the seasons
I dont know what's been makin' me stay
Jayla came to a sudden stop at the door of the club she and her fiance, known by millions as Justin Timberlake, frequented often. Her mouth gaped open in disbelief as she surveyed the scene taking place a mere twenty feet away from her.
The tip off from her best friend hadn't been enough. She had to see it for herself. She'd been fearing this exact moment from the very beginning of her relationship with Justin. He'd leave early in the morning promising to return that evening but evening always turned into night and it would be two or three in the morning before she finally felt his weight drop onto their bed.
She had been blind to say the least. She didn't want to believe that the scent she smelled on Justin's clothes was the perfume of another woman. She didn't want to believe that the red smudge on his neck came from the lipstick of another woman. The wrinkled clothes and disheveled hair were brushed off as mere indications of his long days at the studio or promoting his third solo album.
The sudden realization that their child was sitting at home with her best friend, not knowing where his dad was, hit her so hard she had to walk out into the lobby. She had given birth to this man's son and he had the audacity to humiliate her by making out with another woman in public.
She couldn't even cry. Tears would come later. Right now she just had to get herself and their son, Jayden, out of this situation. She'd completely lost track of everything important in her life because she had been worrying about Justin. That wouldn't suffice at this point. Justin wasn't important anymore. He had thrown their relationship into the dirt and walked all over it as far as she was concerned. She couldn't just sit back and take it anymore.
Many a time that you've hurt me
That's just the way that you live
Many a time is forgotten
But I never said that I can forgive
Justin caught a glimpse of his brunette fiance making her way across the club as soon as she walked back through the doors. When envisioning this situation in his head he had pictured her in tears or screaming. Nothing could have prepared him for the calm, smug expression she wore as she approached them.
He prayed Jayla hadn't seen him kissing Nikole as he stood up from the booth and excused himself. He met Jayla halfway across the room, an explanation ready.
"What are you doing here, baby?" he asked, trying to keep his voice even.
"That's not important right now," Jayla responded, her voice as cold as ice. "You're going to listen to me for once, Justin."
The color drained from Justin's face as she began speaking.
"You've hurt me one too many times. I don't know what's even made me stay this long...I guess it's because I don't want Jayden to grow up without his daddy but that's a sacrifice I have to make..."
"Baby, I can explain if you'll just give me a few minutes," Justin replied, his crystal blue eyes softening.
Jayla raised her hand to silence him. "I can't forgive you, Justin. I haven't even forgiven you for any of the things you've done to me. I let them go but I didn't forgive. I won't be at the house when you get back...if you were even planning on coming back tonight," She said, motioning towards the blonde seated in the booth who was nonchalantly inspecting her fingernails.
"You can't take Jayden away from me!" Justin shouted, his eagerness to resolve the situation fading into anger. "You can't support him without me...it's my money you're living off of!" He added, his voice much lower as heads began to swivel in their direction.
Jayla sighed and shook her head. "We'll make it, Justin. You're never there for him anyway so what's the point in fighting for him?"
Without another word she turned and started to walk away but Justin grabbed ahold of her shoulder and spun her back around. A few tears had welled up in his eyes and were threatening to spill onto his cheeks. It was like deja vu...the same look she saw every time he was on the verge of losing her. This time it didn't have any effect...
So baby don't cry
Cry me a river
And baby dont try
To wash over me
Baby don't cry
My ship is now sailing
And I've wasted all my time in your sea
Jayla pushed her way through the crowd before the tears began cascading down her cheeks. Her whole body racked with sobs as she fell back against the cool marble siding of the club. Cars flew by on the street and people walked past her on the sidewalk, no one acknowledging her existence...everyone ignoring her pain. She kept glancing towards the doors to see if Justin was going to come out but he never did. No doubt he was back in there being comforted by the bitch that had stolen him from her.
Jayla straightened up and reached into her purse, extracting her cell phone. She dialed the number to the house she and Justin shared. It was answered by her best friend, Kelsie, on the first ring.
"Kels?" Jayla brought her hand up to wipe away the smudged mascara. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Anything!" Kelsie assured her. "Is everything alright?"
"It will be," Jayla replied, a new calmness evident in her voice. "I need you to take Jayden home with you tonight. Tell him...tell him that I love him, okay?"
"I will," Kelsie promised. "Are you sure everything is alright? Did you see Justin?"
"Yeah, I saw him," Jayla replied. "I'm taking care of everything though."
"I can keep Jay as long as you need me too," Kelsie offered. "Just call me if you need anything at all, alright?"
"You know I will," Jayla assured her. "Bye Kels." She hung up the phone before any more words could be exchanged. When one last glance at the door revealed no sign of Justin, Jayla walked around to the corner parking lot and dropped into the driver seat of her Mercedes Benz...a gift from Justin to make up for his never being there for her. She kept her eyes glued to Justin's Escilade which was parked a few spaces down. After fifteen minutes there was still no sign of him.
Jayla turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the parking spot. She was home in 10 minutes and the darkened house sitting before her indicated that Kelsie had already left with Jayden. She got out of her car and walked straight to the twelve-car garage, peering into the darkness as the doors lifted. She flipped a switch, illuminating all of Justin's toys. His cars were his pride and joy...
She spotted a baseball bat propped against the wall and before she could talk herself out of it, the bat connected with the hood of Justin's Corvette. The windshield followed, glass pouring into the front of the car. Jayla worked her way down the line of cars, damaging each of them in one way or another. When she was finished, she threw the bat against the wall and pushed his motorcycles over before storming back into the house.
Now that your toys have been broken
I guess you want company
There is no point in you callin'
Cause I'm headed for my own destiny
Jayla climbed the winding staircase to the second floor. Moonlight poured in through the balcony doors as she walked into the bedroom she and Justin shared.
As if on cue her cell phone rang, Justin's cell number flashing incessantly on the screen. For a split second she debated answering it and trying to work things out once again.
She bit her bottom lip and watched the number fade from the screen. He would probably leave a voicemail but she couldn't listen to it. It would be full of apologies and charm and she couldn't deal with that now. She had put up with too much for too long and now that she had a solution, she was going to solve the problem once and for all...
Now everyone has a problem
Lord knows you've always been mine
The nights are always the hardest
But tonight somehow I know I'll be fine
Jayla pulled a notebook from the drawer of her nightstand and walked out onto the balcony, sinking into a plush chair. She opened the first page and let the words pour out of her...
Justin,
It's after midnight at this point. You just called my cell phone a few minutes ago but there's no point in answering it...
I've made my decision. You've hurt me so bad, J. I haven't had an easy life. I've been abused in every way possible...you know that. That's why I can't believe you'd do this to me.
When you're actually around...you're an amazing man. You're full of love and you're such a good daddy to Jayden but it's what you do when you're not around that hurts me. I've sat up too many nights, crying and seeking comfort from our son being in the crib beside our bed because that's all I've got anymore.
I've hurt for too long and I can't take it anymore. That's why I'm leaving...
Jayden is with Kelsie. I want her to keep him because you can't do it. You still want to live this high life and I know you don't have time to grow up and raise this baby. When you're man enough to set a good example for him then you can work that out. I know he'd have a good life with you but you need to finish living first.
I know you're going to think I was weak...I took the easy way out. What else can I do though, J? I've put up with it for years and I can't do it anymore.
I love you...I always did. I loved you when you hurt me. I loved you when you made me cry. I loved you when you blessed me with our son but never stuck around to help me out with him. I even loved you when you cheated on me. I just wish things could have been different.
After 26 years of hurt, I can't handle another year. I'm sorry, J. Please let Jayden know that his mommy loved him more than life itself. He'll have a better life without me...I know he will.
I wish you the best of luck, Justin. I hope you find someone that makes you happy...someone you won't have to hurt...
Baby don't cry
Cry me a river
Baby don't try
To wash over me
Baby don't cry
My ship is now sailing
And I've wasted all my time in your sea
Baby don't cry
Cry me a river
Baby don't try to wash over me
Baby don't cry
My ship is now sailing
And I've wasted all my time in your sea
And I've wasted all my time in your sea
