She knew it was him before she ever turned around. Her step-sister's shocked gasp led her to believe it was actually him. She hugged herself a little tighter as the cool air chilled her. He felt a hand on the small of her back, but didn't turn. The priest finished reading from the Bible and everyone who had gathered around watched as the casket was lowered into her ground. Her father had died from a long battle with a brain disease. McKennah had flown to Ohio to not only find that fact out, but to also find out her father had another family. She had a step-mother and two step-sisters. Her step-mother, Stephanie, was young, blonde and a complete snob. Her step sisters were 5 and 8; Caitlin the youngest, Madeline the oldest. They treated her like dirt. She never felt welcomed in the house, she felt like a stranger most of the time. Her father was glad she was there for the time that she was but her stepmother and stepsisters made her feel as if she should of just stayed in Orlando.
McKennah looked up to see people walking from the gravesite. Soon, it was just him, her, and Madeline. Stephanie took Caitlyn's hand and motioned for Madeline, "Come on dear, we must get back home."
Madeline immediately began to whine, "But mooooomm...Justin Timberlake is here!"
"I don't care if he's the King of England. McKennah, are you coming?"
McKennah didn't turn or even acknowledge she had heard the question. Justin turned and offered a small smile, "I'll make sure she gets home, ma'am."
"Who are you?," She asked.
"I'm Justin, a friend of McKennah's..I'll get her home, don't worry."
Stephanie laughed haughtily, "She's not MY daughter so I wouldn't give a care if she never came into my house ever again."
As Stephanie dragged Madeline down the hill, Madeline could be heard wondering, "Since when did McKennah actually KNOW Justin Timberlake?!"
Justin stepped beside McKennah, "I'm sorry Kennah."
"Why?"
"I know you loved your father, and you visited whenever you could."
"I know that."
"I'm trying here, McKennah."
She sighed and finally looked over at him, "So am I Justin. How'd you know?"
"Your mom called."
"Oh."
"I am sorry..he was nice and I know he loved you alot."
She wrapped her coat closer to her and turned from the gravesite, "Yeah..imagine my surprise to come up here and find he has a completely whole new family...they don't like me."
"Why do you say that?"
"Did you not hear what Stephanie said about me?"
"I heard."
"She's a bitch. I hate her. And Madeline and Caitlin are spoiled to the point it's annoying."
"Have you ever gone back home?"
She shook her head, "No. I was going to..when he was better...but he never got better..he just kept getting worse and worse...and Stephanie could give a shit. She just wants the money...I don't wanna go back there Justin."
He took her hand in his and she followed him down the hill, "Don't you hate me or something Justin?"
"I don't hate you McKennah...I should be the one asking you that."
"I don't hate you Justin..I could never hate you. Be mad and pissed off, yes, but hate is too much. I had too many things going on in my head then...I'm sorry."
He stopped at the car and turned to look at her, "Don't you ever be sorry. We both shouldn't of said the things we did, but we did and it's over. Let's move on."
"Ok."
"Are you okay McKennah?"
She shook her head as her eyes welled up with tears, "No."
Justin held her as all the months of pent up frustration, hurt, and sadness finally broke through. "It's okay McKennah..everything will be okay, I promise..."
She finally pulled away and wiped her face, "I'm sorry..I..I shouldn't of started to cry."
"It's okay..you're allowed to cry and be upset Kennah."
"I just...I've been so alone for so long...I'm so glad to see you."
"I'm glad to see you too Kennah..I've missed you."
"I missed you too..."
She walked around to the other side of the car and got in. Justin sat in the driver's seat and backed out of the parking spot he was in. "So..where to?"
"Home I guess..."
"Ok."
"Can you...stay? Or do you have to get back..right away?"
"I'm free for a couple months Kennah.."
She smiled finally, "Really?"
He nodded, "Yep..and I'm all yours."
"Can I pack my stuff...I don't have much...and drive back home?"
"Drive to Orlando? From here?"
She shrugged, "Just an idea..."
He smiled, "I kinda like that idea though....will that make you feel better?"
She nodded, "Yeah.."
"Then let's go for it...me and you; Roadtrip."
Once at the house, McKennah led Justin up the stairs to her room. Madeline almost immediately followed. "You are Justin Timberlake, right?"
He nodded, "That's what it says on my license."
"Man! My friends are SO not going to believe this. What are you doing McKennah?"
McKennah grabbed the suitcase from the closet and began putting her clothes into it. "I'm leaving and going home Madeline."
"You're leaving? FINALLY! HEY MOOOOMMM! MCKENNAH'S LEAVING!!!!!!!!!"
Stephanie was in the room within a minute, "You're doing what?!"
"I'm going home with Justin today Stephanie."
"But the will hasn't even been opened yet!"
McKennah shrugged, "So? I can still go home. I was never welcomed here and you all made damn sure that I knew it. So...I'm going home. Final."
"Your father would want you to stay here."
McKennah smiled a little, "The funny thing is, no he wouldn't. He'd want me to get on with my life..and if that means a road trip back to Orlando with my best friend, Justin, then what is what I am going to do and you can do nothing to stop me. You and your little spoiled daughters can stay here and mourn for years..I'm not."
The next day, they were somewhere in North Carolina. Justin was driving and he glanced over at McKennah as she finally had fallen asleep. She looked so exhausted that all he wanted to do was go hide her somewhere where no one could find her until she was all better. The dark circles under her eyes weren't as visible as they were the day before but they were there. She sighed and shifted in the seat, but stayed asleep. He smiled a little and concentrated on the road.
About a half hour later, McKennah woke up to find the car parked in one of the parking lots along the interstate. Justin wasn't in the car but he was leaning against the front end, a coke in his hand. She opened the door and got out, he turned and looked at her with a smile, "Have a good nap?"
She nodded, smiling, "Yeah..why are we stopped?"
He shrugged, "Got tired of driving so I parked for a little bit."
She nodded and zipped up her jacket, "Ohhh..I think I understand..."
He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer to him to keep her warm, "You feelin' any better?"
She nodded, leaning against him, "I think so..."
"I wish I had been there for you more McKennah.."
"Justin..I'm just glad you're here now.."
"You still going to live with your mom?"
She shrugged, "I don't know."
He smiled a little as he caught the scent of her shampoo: strawberries..he LOVED strawberries. "Well..you know...you could always come back and live with me.."
"Why?"
"Why? McKennah! Maybe because I want you to come back and live with me? I loved living with you...now, my house is so empty and so cold, I hate going there."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"Ok."
He smiled, "Really?"
"Sure..now, can we get back in the car? It's freezing out here."
He nodded, letting her go, "Sure..let's see if we can find a hotel soon and crash, then tomorrow we'll head for Orlando."
It was nearing 2 a.m. and McKennah couldn't sleep. The bathroom light was on, giving the rest of the tiny hotel room they had managed to find a light glow. She sighed and brought her long legs up under her and she looked over at the sleeping Justin. He was in the other bed, the covers down to his waist. He had no shirt on, not that that surprised her or anything, one arm was thrown off the side and the other was under his head on the pillow. It was definitely an adorable site. McKennah crawled out of the bed and into his bed, moving very very softly as not to wake him. He was usually a very light sleeper and woke up whenever a paper blew off a table but she guessed that driving all day tired him out. She was exhausted as well, but couldn't sleep for some reason. She leaned down to look at him; every single inch of his face was absolutely perfect. And it drove her up the wall. She had long ago admitted to having just a little, itty, bitty, tiny crush on Justin Timberlake. She finally saw what thousands, if not millions, of other girls saw.
But she also loved him for his personality. He was so sweet and so kind. She had to wonder why he often thought of others before himself. Hell, he flew to Ohio just to see her and make sure she was okay when he could of stayed home in sunny, cool Orlando with his family and friends. But yet, he had come to see her...to be there for her.
She softly brushed her hand across his face before sitting up on the bed and sighing. This was so frustrating! How was a girl supposed to act normal around him (she was his friend, first and foremost) when she was actually starting to like him?? She looked over at him, her head on her arms and whispered, "You are such a miracle Justin Timberlake...why doesn't everyone see that? You're normal but then again you're completely abnormal."
He suddenly groaned, "First I'm normal, then I'm adnormal, make up your mind Kennah."
McKennah gasped before hitting him in the stomach, "You were awake the whole time!"
"As soon as you moved. You know I sleep light."
"You suck Timberlake.," She said beginning to climb off the bed.
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back down with him, "McKennah...come on, why are you awake at 2 o'clock in the morning??"
She pouted, crossing her arms in front of her, "I can't sleep."
He yawned and pulled her down with him again, "Come on, lay down and try to fall asleep."
"I can't."
"Why not? You don't know until you try."
"Justin..."
"McKennah...we have a long day of driving and I know I am not going to drive all the way from here to Orlando, you're going to have to help."
"I know...I'll be fine."
"Is something wrong?"
"No..everything's fine Justin."
He sighed, not completely believing her, "McKennah..honey, you have got to get some sleep."
"I'm FINE Justin!"
"Then why did you fall asleep not four hours ago and then just wake up and suddenly can't sleep??"
"I don't want to sleep."
"Why not?"
She bit her lip and he could sense her hesitation. "McKennah?"
"I haven't slept good in months...I don't know why, I just can't. I'm so used to being up with my dad at like 2 o'clock that this...this just seems normal to be up this late. The night....the night he died..I was up with him. I was watching a movie when he just started coughing and wheezing..he..he kept grabbing at his chest and head as if they hurt and I thought maybe he was having a heart attack, then it occured to me...he was probably hemmorraging..so I called 911 and his doctor and then I got Stephanie up. He was gone by the time the ambulance got there...I watched my father die Justin....and everytime I try to sleep, I see him over and over..and the whole thing replays in my mind over and over again..what could I of done? Were there any signs he was going to die that night? Did I do something? I ask myself soooo many questions and none of them have answers....I'm so scared to go to sleep..I don't like seeing my father that way Justin...."
He leaned her against him and kissed the top of her head gently, "Why didn't you tell me?"
She shrugged, "I dunno...I never had anyone to tell.."
"You could of come home McKennah.."
She nodded, "I know."
"Maybe...you should see someone...when we get home.."
She snuggled against him more, "I think I need to..."
"I'm sorry you watched your dad die Kennah...I'm sure he didn't want you to see him like that at all...he loved you alot..I know he did. And I know he'd be very proud of you.."
"Why would he be proud of me?"
"Because..you've grown up so good...you're a goodhearted person, you're gorgeous and yet you don't think you are...you always think of other people's wellbeing before your own..."
"I wish you could of known him more."
"I met him enough to where he scared me shitless.."
She laughed, "Why?"
"There was one time, he was visiting, and you were out in the hall with someone, I can't remember who. But he came over to me, sat down beside me, and you know he's not a small man he's huge! Well, anyways, he asked me what my intentions were and I was like, huh? And he wanted to know why a pop star wanted his daughter. I told him that we had known each other for years and I had no intentions of hurting you or harming you in any way. He told me that if I ever thought of you in any sexual way at all that he would see to it that no girl would ever want to buy a poster with me on it ever again."
She laughed, "Did he really?"
He nodded, "Yep."
"He would say something like that.."
"He cared for you alot Kennah.."
"Thank you Justin."
"Now..can we get some sleep?"
She nodded and laid down, "Sure."
Sure enough, in just a few minutes, McKennah was out like a light. Justin smiled a little and pushed her hair off her neck softly. He sighed and the smile faded, just a little, before whispering, "I'm not the miracle Kennah, you are."
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