No further thinking involved, she blurted out, “I’m going home.”
His jaw dropping, Justin yelled, “You’re what?!? This is crazy,
Gabrielle!!!!”
Bowing her head, she answered softly, “It’s just for a few days Justin. I
have to clear things up. I can’t let this hang over my head forever. The hurt
can’t go away without seeing them one last time. Maybe...maybe if they see how
far I’ve come then there won’t be any more problems.”
Propelled by some unknown force, Justin reached his hand up and gently
tilted Gabby’s chin up so they were eye to eye. “I’ve gotten to know you so well
over the past two months, Gabby. We both know that. I don’t wanna see you
get hurt again. It took you so long to open up before...”
“Justin, you’ve never before told me that there was something that I
couldn’t do. This, I need to do though. Johnny is giving me two weeks off, if I
get back sooner, then I’ll start recording. He said that if you-” Gabrielle was
halted when Justin abruptly cut her off.
“I’m going. I don’t care who’s got a problem with it. You need me.”
Gently brushing his arms, Gabby leaned over to a sleeping Justin. “Jus,
we’re gonna be landing. You gotta put your seat up.”
He didn’t flinch, so Gabby leaned over to Lani (note: wow, an actual
bodyguard in here for a change!), who was sitting ahead of them. All of the
bodyguards had grown to have a sense of devotion to Gabby, since the guys
were around her so much. “Lani?” Gabby asked softly.
Lani turned around in his seat, “Yeah Gab?”
“Can you tell Justin he’s gotta sit up? Boy won't get up no matter what I
try.” Gabby asked.
Lani’s load roaring voice boomed, “Yo! You little fro rat. Get your seat up
right now!”
Jerking awake, Justin looked at Lani’s serious expression and pulled his
seat up. Gabby tried- but failed not to smile, and said, “Thanks Lani. Owe ya
one!”
“Awww. You don’t own me nothing, Gabby.”
Aggravated, Justin debated, “You were just so pushy with me, and you
can be so nice to her, dude? That’s-”
Smiling at Gabby, Lani filled in, “That’s LIFE!”
“This is the life,” House (another bodyguard) announced.
Frowning, Gabby said softly, “It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Trust
me, House.”
“This house is incredible, Gab.”
Once they all arrived at the front door, Justin’s hold on Gabby’s hand
tightened, and he questioned again, “Are you sure that you’re ready to do this,
Gabby?”
Without answered him, she placed her finger on the doorbell, and
pressed. It took everything in her to ring that doorbell, and her three
companions could tell. Breathing deeply, she held back the tears that were
ready to flow from her eyes. The stress of the situation was taking its toll on her.
Holmes, the butler answered the door, an overjoyed look crossing his face
when he saw her. The older man with a receding hairline had been working for
the Reynolds family longer than Gabby could remember. He donned her the
name, “Princess.” It tore the older man apart inside when Gabby left. He just
did not understand her wistfullness towards the music buisness. Many years
ago, he may have, but now he was just a product of his employers, taught to
think just as they did. Now, finally, after so many sleepless nights, there
Gabrielle stood in her glory.
“Princess! You’re back! Oh, I missed you so much!” His eyes fell upon
Justin, Lani, and House, and he asked, “Who did you bring with you, Princess?”
After stepping in the doorway, she announced, “Holmes, please meet
Justin Timberlake, a very good friend of mine, and Lani and House. Justin’s...”
Seeing her writhe at trying to explain his situation, Justin affirmatively
filled in, “My bodyguards, sir.”
Holmes raised his eyebrows and it was at that moment that Justin Randall
Timberlake knew exactly how Gabby was feeling. Dissaproval hung thick in the
air- and he didn’t like it one bit.
