Lexi seemingly ignored Amber’s constant complaining as she scribbled furiously in her
journal.
Maybe my what the annoying little voice iside my head was telling me was
right. Maybe I don’t belong here. The trip started off beautifully...Lucy I’m
not likely to forget anytime soon. I’ve never had such an open
conversation with a stranger before. It was as though she actually cared.
Now I’m finding myself riding in a limo, the spawn of Satan mercilessly
barking in my ear. I feel like I’m on a one way trip to hell. He’s my best
friend.. and I’ve never seen a weakness of his more visible than her.
Apparently, when you become a pop superstar, and not just little Justin
from across the street, looks are more important than anything in the
world, even your dignity. Who knows how long it’ll take the little bird to
see the radiant light.
His arms circled her waist, pulling her onto his lap like he had so many times before, and
he hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils
and he smiled contently. “Still use Pert Plus for Kids, don’t you Lex?”
She giggled and leaned back against him contently. “Of course.”
Lexi could rell the rumble of his body as he laughed, and she asked, “What are you
laughing at, Timberlake?”
A hearty grin came to his face as he announced, “I’m just remembering that one birthday
of yours. With the pink dress.. Remember it?” She felt her cheeks flush as she thought back.
The toes of her patent leather shoe gently kicked the leg of the table as she watched the
room around her. Her eyes landed on the cake on the table, a large Barbie cake with the doll’s
fake- as a 3 dollar bill smile, and sparkling eyes. “Happy 8th Birthday Lexi” was written on the
top of the cake in hot pink icing. Hot pink baloons floated from long white strings with bows on
them. A Barbie party.
Her attention diverted from her surroundings to the dress that she wore that her mother
had summed up as being “Simply darling.” Darling was far from the word for it. Light pink fabric
was topped off by a body of bows and lace. A large floppy white bow was clipped in her neatly
combed hair. Her shining white patent leather Mary Jane’s had golden buckles which sparkled.
Then, of course there were the “Simply Darling” white stockings graced by tiny hearts. Lexi was
hating every moment of wearing the outfit. She wanted her blue jeans and her worn out Mickey
and Minnie sweatshirt. Being an 8 year old was such a responsibility. She felt as though she
were a grown up.
Then her eyes roamed to search the room. Grandma Anderson, who smelled of
mothballs and cough drops.. Grandpa Anderson, who told endless war stories.. Grammy
Peterson, the cheek pincher... Grampy Peterson, who endlessly griped about the current state of
the economy... a room full of old people. There were other family members, and the neighbors,
but no where in sight was Justin. Uncle Randy was there. He claimed Justin told him that he
had a big surprise for her.
And, oh!, did he. Donning a Robin Hood costume left over from Halloween, he soared
through the front door, grabbed a hold of her. “I’m savvvvving you!”
Once they were outside, she frowned and whined, “What are you doing, Justo?!
Mommy’s gonna be mad at me!” She giggled when she looked at him. He was even wearing the
green tights and pointed shoes that went along with the costume.
Without a word, both started running towards the playground. Somewhere along the
way, Justin tripped, taking Lexi down with him. Once they were down, they kept rolling.. all the
way into a large mud puddle.
Once they were on their feet, Justin’s eyes took in the sight she made. The large bow
was now lolling to the side, her shoes scuffed and coated in mud, and the tights ripped. Then
there was the pink, or now brown, dress. The lace was ripped, several of the bows left in the
mud.
Lexi peered right back at him. The feather that was once in the hat had tilted to the side,
and was heavy with mud sticking to his forehead. The sleeves of the costume were ripped, and
the tights tattered. He only wore one shoe, the other stuck in the mud.
Justin frowned, expecting her to cry, but the sound of her laughter filled his ears like
church bells. Beautiful.
They walked hand in hand, back to her house, picking dried mud off of their arms as they
went. And oh, the punishment they got!
Lexi smiled fondly and said “What made you think of that Justo?”
He laughed heartily once again, “The Pert Plus for Kids... You went through four bottles
of it trying to get the mud all the way out of your hair.”
“Hey Justin?” She asked, looking at him intently.
“Yes Lex?”
“You know that you still owe me the money for the cost of all that shampoo? I mean
since you kidnapped me and all...”
His grin grew crooked, “I saved you, Lex, and you know it!”
“You’re a gazillionaire like I always knew you would be, Justin. A cheap one. Can’t even
pay your debts to your bestest friend in the whole wide world!”
He smiled, and brushed his hand across her cheek. “You’re finally here Lex.
Everybody’s been missing you.”
She smiled and ruffled Justin’s hair, her eye caught by Lonnie, who was waving his
hands in front of her face from the next seat. “Hi Lex!”
Grinning, she catapulted off of Justin’s lap in the moving limo and rocketed over the seat
to find herself a heap in Lonnie’s lap. “Bunnnnnny man!” He laughed, hugging her tiny body to
his large one.
“Finally back, huh, Lex? We were about to shove Justin in a cardboard box and see if
we could make a trade in for you.” He smiled, looking back at Justin, who glared back at Lonnie,
a smirk on his face.
“You’ll pay for that one, Lonnie.”
In all the years that Lonnie had been assigned to watch over Justin, whenever Lexi was
nearby, he seemed to make her his priority. He cared for her as though she was a sister, and
hated the bitterness which some of Justin’s executives and business partners met her with.
Never did he comprehend why Justin allowed her to be treated in the way she was. She didn’t
deserve it. No one that put up with the perils of having Justin Timberlake for her best friend did.
