In the end, Gabby slept 17 straight hours. Of course, Justin was there when she
woke up. “Hey,” she murmured softly, quickly captivating his attention.
A wide grin spread across Justin’s face, as his eyes met with hers. “Gab!
How do you feel?”
Shrugging, she asked, “What happened?”
“You got sick, girl. Sick as a dog. Thought you were gonna barf in the
Mercedes.” he said, jokingly.
Gabby slowly came around to remember when Justin had called her baby,
and a sweet smile crossed her featrues. “How long have I been asleep?”
Before Justin could answer, the doctor came in on his rounds. Glad to
see that Gabby had come around he announced to her, “If it wasn’t for your
boyfriend here, my dear, things would have been much worse.”
Justin and Gabby exchanged a look, and Justin told him, “I’m not her
boyfriend, Dr. Potter.”
A puzzled look came across the older man’s face. Gabby filled in, “He’s
my best friend.”
“Oh my, don’t I feel foolish? Please forgive me. I’ve just never before
seen someone so dedicated to ‘just a friend.’ You’re a good man, Justin.”
As soon as the doctor left the room, Gabby looked back over at Justin,
“On a first name basis with the doctor, Jus?”
Shrugging, he answered, “I couldn’t just leave you here all by yourself.”
“You just never stop, do you?” Gabrielle questioned softly.
Confused, Justin asked, “Stop what? Girl, are those drugs you’re on
makin’ you nuts?”
A grin spread across Gabby’s face, “Possibly, but not in this case.
Just...you’re always here when I.... when I need you.” she answered, sleepily.
Shaking his head, he replied softly, ”Stop thanking me, sweetie.”
The drugs controlling her finally, she answered again, “Mmmmkhay
hunny...”
Patting her hand gently, he replied, “Get better, girl. Then you can argue
with me all that you want. I may even let you drive the Mercedes.”
Popping her eyes open suddenly, she answered, “Fat chance.”
In a few weeks, Gabrielle had finally felt completely recooperated, and
then and only then, Johnny let her go back into the studio. Justin had spoken to
her father, insisting that it would be best if he allow Justin to take care of her. It
seemed only natural that he be the one to take care of her, considering how long
he had been already.
Peering up from a bowl of cereal, Justin gazed intently at Gabby. How
much her beauty had come out. He once dull eyes now sparkled, her hair
accented by her new wardrobe. Somewhere deep inside, Justin knew that it was
nothing that he had not already seen. The second that Gabby’s eyes fell upon
him, he knew that there was something special about her.
Not looking up from her Pop Tart (a Justin Timberlake Original, of
course), Gabrielle asked, “Why are you staring at me, Ju?” The radio played
softly in the background, a ballad by Brian McKnight.
Choosing his words carefully, he replied, “People are gonna start talkin’
about us, girl.”
Those few words caught her attention, and Gabrielle questioned, “What
do you mean? Why would anyone talk about us?”
“I’ve been doin’ a lot of thinkin’, Gabby..” he trailed off.
Sarcastically, she replied, “Well, isn’t that good to hear?”
A stern look crossed his features, and he replied, “I can’t go on like this,
Gabby. We both feel it. I know that we do. I... I just can’t stand to ignore it
anymore. I’ve given my heart away too quickly before, but... this isn’t too early.”
“Justin....” she began
He shook his head, “No. Let me finish. I’m gonna say it now, or I’m
gonna say it later. I was blessed by God the day I met you. I met the girl that I
can’t live without. I thought I’d met the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life
with before, but nothing compares to you, Gabby. I need you in my life. I need
you as more than just a friend.” Shocked, Gabby couldn’t speak. After the
events that had transpired on the airplane, nothing was followed up by it, due to
her illness, Instead, Justin continued. “The first time that I knew... that i really
knew... was when i was talkin’ to JC before we went to see your parents.”
His hand faling on top of hers, she stared down in it. It was always
something she had noticed in a man. Hands told a great story. Some hands
were soft and well manicured, and some hands were rough and callous-ridden.
In her sincere opinion, Justin’s were perfect. Before he could continue his
endless stream of babble, Gabby blurted out, “Just say it, Justin. Say... uhh...
whatever you have to say.”
Some nights, he stood in front of thousands of screaming teenagers, all
there to see him. Fear had never consumed him then as bad as it was at that
moment. One girl. One compassionate, and attractive girl had Justin
Timberlake tongue tied. Her deep blue eyes met with his, and he stated softly,
“I’ve thought of so many ways to say this... Somehow, none of them seem
appropriate now. So.. here goes nothing...”
Before he could continue, their
attention was captivated by the small radio on the counter. Softly the words
came out...
I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face and I've
Never been this swept away
All my thoughts seem to settle on the breeze
When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear
Is the beating of your heart
Turning back to her, a smile lightly on his face, Justin stated, “I love you,
Gabby.”
Never before in her life had Gabby truly related to and understood exactly
what someone was feeling. For her many weeks of reccouperation, she had
tried to muster up the courage to tell Justin, to no avail. Her voice thick with
happiness, she answered, “I love you too, Justin.”
He tried to lean across the table towards her, but failed, his shirt getting
sopped with milk from his cereal. Her eyes never faultering from him, Gabby
tried to anticipate his next move, a small laugh escaping her. Neither moved, for
fear of ruining the moment, and he said softly, “Mmm...that awkward moment.
It’s like the only one we’ve ever had... Probably the only one we ever will. You
know...”
Tired of the nervous babbling, Gabby stood up, still clasping Jusitn’s
hand. He rose to his feet also, startling Tinkerbell, who was laying on his foot.
“Justin... shut up.” Their lips met, softly brushing at first, then the kiss growing
with intensity. Once they pulled away, Gabby rested her head on Justin’s
shoulder.
Tears fell from her eyes, and she sobbed silently. Justin, feeling her
shoulders heave, pulled away and asked, “Baby, what’s wrong?!?” A hand
smacked to his forehead, “What’ve I done now?!?!”
Smiling through her tears, she replied, “i’m happy, Justin. For the first
time ever, I’m really happy.”
Running his fingers through his curly hair, he laughed, “Oh girl! That’s it?
Don’t cry over me.” An amused expression crossed his face, and he muttered, “I
feel like I’m talking to an obsessed ten year old!”
Catching everything he said, she looked up, wiping the tears away, and
hollered, “Oh! I’m openin’ up a can of major whoop ass now!” With that, she
took off, chasing Justin around the tiny apartement.
