“Look, man, I know that its late, but I’ve come all the way from California for this.
Is Gabrielle Reynolds here?"
Stepping back, Justin let the late night guest into the house, as Gabby
sunk back into a wall. Her voice came out in a croak, “Brett? Oh...oh my...what
are you doing here?”
Walking over to her, he asked, “Did you think I wouldn’t come Gabby?
I’ve been searching for you ever since you left. What did you think that if you
left them, you could forget about everyone else in turn?”
Her face became flushed as she looked to Justin for help. “Brett, the past
is the past. I have a new life going on here. I’m...I’m very happy.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Were you just going to forget that all of
the rest of us existed because of your parents?”
She met his glare, “No. I’d never forget any of you. Why’d you come
here, Brett? Did you come here to rub it in? Rub it in that you’ve got your
parents' fortune in a nest just like I used to, but I lost it?”
Justin was enjoying every moment of the conversation, although he did
feel bad for Gabby. It was like taking a giant leap into her life- a life that she
wasn’t willing to share.
“I’d never do that to you. And you could have had the world if you didn’t
leave Gabby.”
Throwing her hands up, she bit back, “Could have had the world? What
world? Their world? I don’t want their world! There used to be a time when you
understood that. When you understood me. But look at you. You’ve become
just like all of them. I coulda sworn that you were different. That you knew the
real me, and I knew the real you. But you,” she pointed her finger at Brett, “You
weren’t real. You were someone that I created. Someone who played the game
well. Acted exactly like I wanted you to. Now I see you for what you are though.
I really see your true colors shining through.”
By then, Justin was completely puzzled as to who this guy was, and what
he meant to Gabby.
Brett gazed into her deep blue eyes for a moment and he said, “You knew
me then. You may not think that you know me now, but you do. And Gabby.... I
still know you. I know you very well.”
Sighing she stated, “See this guy here...” she pointed to Justin, “He
probably knows me better than you do, Brett.”
“You’re no different than you were before...” he said softly.
Shaking her head, Gabrielle announced, “Oh, but how mistaken you are.
All that I worried about then was what people thought of me. I didn’t have any
goal. After all, I had my parents money. But then...” Gabby pointed to her head,
“I woke up. I realized that I had a whole life in front of me, and I could be or do
whatever I wanted. So here I am Brett. And I am different. Because, I’m
stronger. I’ve got dreams. And I’m going to accomplish those dreams, no matter
what it takes. And if that means leaving all of you behind, that’s what’s going to
happen.”
“Please...just come home. Stop this fantasy.” Brett requested.
Gabby walked over and pulled the door open, rain rushing in, “Out. Get
out, Brett, and don’t come back. Ever. I’m going to make it on my own. Some
day, you’ll see...”
With that, Gabby sent Brett out to fair the storm. After she shut the door,
a sigh escaped her mouth, as her eyes met Justin’s.
Frowning he said, “Raise you’re hand if you have no clue what’s going
on!” Justin raised his hand and wiggled it in the air. “I have no clue what’s
going on.”
Feeling like she might as well be up front with him, she began to tell the
story. “That was Brett. He lives in California. That’s where I’m from. We grew
up together. Our parents were of what you would call the ‘upper class society’.
Somehow, one day in like...third grade, we decided that we were best friends.
Ever since, I’ve seen him as someone like me. Back then, he was like me. He
was....free. His family and my family became close, and it was like we were all
one big family. One day, I started to think about life. Started to realize that I just
didn’t want to be some girl that inherited the fortune. I wanted to be the girl that
earned the fortune. Of course, my parents didn’t approve of that. They said that
they would never back me up, and if I wanted to pursue my dreams, I wouldn’t be
doing it in their house. So, I bought a bus ticket to Orlando, and packed my
bags... Next thing I knew, I had left my entire world behind. Including Brett. At
first... I missed him so much that I would cry myself to sleep at night. But,
gradually I began to move on, and set my sights on higher things. I really
thought that they wouldn’t find me. I thought that I was leaving that world behind
for good....”
“You can make it without them, you know.” Justin added.
“Yea. I know that now. For awhile, I thought I couldn’t. I mean, please...I
was going nowhere fast. I wanted to become a singer, and next thing I know, I’m
working the Graveyard shift at Valu Mart. And I hate it there. I’m getting so sick
of it. I’m starting to make myself believe that.... believe that I’m some kind of a
failure.”
Shaking his curly-topped head, Justin shot back, “You can’t start out a
star. I mean, the guys and I started out singing anywhere and everywhere.
Birthday parties, stadiums, you name it, we’ve been there, done that. You’re
starting out the right way. If.. If-” Justin cut himself off for fear that he would say
something that he regretted later.
“If what?” Gabby asked, feeling much more comfortable around him then
she did beforehand.
“If that guy believed in you enough, he wouldn’t have shot out that door.
So forget him. Little thug...I could take him on any day!” That broke a smile
onto her face. Justin exploded, ”You laughed! You laughed at one uh mah
jokes!”
Once again becoming quiet, Gabby said softly, “Thank you. Thank you
for making me feel better. You... you didn’t have to do that.”
“Hey...what can I say girl?...I make friends with people I like fast. Very
fast.”
Laughing, Gabby picked up Tinkerbell, who was trying to bite Justin’s
shoelace. Coming face to face with the little kitten, in a motherly tone, she
announced, “No biting shoelaces, little one.” Tinkerbell meowed in response.
“Now that you know my entire life story, Justin, how about you tell me a little
about yourself?”
In a phony French accent, Justin replied, “Buttt of courssse madam!”
Never in her life had Gabrielle met someone who made her just constantly
want to smile when she was in their presence. Never until Justin Randall
Timberlake came into her life, that is. Justin was good for her. More good than
she cared to admit.
Luckily enough, the storm did not reach it’s predicted amount of
devastation, but passed right overhead, leaving a trail of thunder showers.
Gabby and Justin sat on the floor of her living room, surrounded by emergency
candles due to the fact the electricity had gone out. Justin was speaking
animatedly of a time when an overly devoted fan had thrown herself down a
luggage shoot in order to get near them. When telling the story, the light cast a
glow upon his blue eyes, making the story seem even more humorous.
“Yea, so sometimes, it just gets a little weird Gabby,” he told her.
Smirking she said, “Awww, poor Justin. Did the little girl scare you?” In
the seven hours that they had been waiting for the storm to end, she had
warmed up to him. They found that, aside from singing, they had a great deal in
common.
“Girl, would you ever jump down a luggage shoot for a band?” he
questioned.
She shook her head, “I don’t think that I would ever in my life jump down a
luggage shoot for anyone. It just seems...weird. I mean, how crazy do you have
to be to do that?”
“I could see you now. Get you a little purple cape with a sunshine on it.
You can do a little Valu Mart advertising as you dramatically throw yourself down
a shoot to get near us.”
After releasing a sigh, she begged sarcastically, “Oh, please, oh please,
Justin.... Don’t ever make me want to get near you wonderful heroes so much
that I jump down a shoot for you.”
Laughing, he then shook his head, and said, “I’m sorry, my charm may
just overwhelm you. Kinda like Prince Charming.” There was a moment of
silence, and then Justin asked, “I have a favor to ask you.”
Shrugging, she said, “Name it.”
“Let’s hear ya sing already.”
Rolling her eyes she groaned, “Justin, couldn’t you have just forgotten
this at Valu Mart?”
Justin shook his head, “Oh please! I’ve been working on asking you
since we got the boot outta Valu Mart. Let’s hear it. Ya can really tell if
somebody can sign when there’s no music. How about I pick the song?”
Gabby shook her head, “I DO NOT trust your choice of music. ‘You’s a
big fine woman, won’t you back that thang up’ is not my definition of a heartfelt
ballad.”
A fit of laughter struck Justin, and once he was over it, he asked, “How
about ‘Breathe’ by Faith Hill?”
“Hmmm....maybe your choice of music isn’t so bad as I initially thought,
Timberland.” she announced.
Tapping his fingers impatiently on the coffee table next to him, he stated,
“I’m waiting. I’m waiting and you, girl, are stalling.”
