“Who is it?” I asked, even though I knew who it was.

“It’s me,” I heard Justin say softly into the door.

“Come in,” I said, fidgeting with the friendship bracelet Stephanie had made for me two years ago. He twisted the knob and came in. I turned to my computer, and shut it down, and then rolled around in my chair so I was facing him. Some streaks of hair came into my eye, so I gently brushed them away. “So...” I started, not quite knowing what to say.

“Sophie.” He said.

“Yeah?” I asked curiously.

“I heard you.” He stated simply.

“You heard? What?” I asked, confused.

“Your phone conversation. I was gonna call Mom but I heard you talking to Vanessa.” He said. I gulped. “Is that really what’s going on?” He asked. All I could do was nod. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked softly. I opened my mouth to talk, but he put a finger to my lips. “Why didn’t you tell me? Now I know that to you, Britney is a living bitch from hell, I know that you think Melissa and Nick should get picked on, now is there anything else you want me to know? It’s all just you and me, because I have faith in this relasionship. I hope you do, too. So, what else?” He asked me. I paused a moment. I really should tell him. So I did.

“The newspapers, their bullshit gossip, Britney, Nick, Privacy, guys, everyone!” I exclaimed.

“Calm down. I know, the newspapers can be a pain, but I thought when we talked about it, you were fine.” He said.

“That was before Kandi.” I said bitterly. He winced. “Justin...” I started. His crystal clear blue eyes sank into mine.
”Yeah?” He asked.

“I think we should...” I started. I turned to my computer so he wouldn’t see me. “Break up,” I finished quietly. He sat there quietly for a minute. The tension in the room was so deathly—it scared me.

            “But...” He said—or rather ‘choked’, “why?”

“Because. I just don’t think I can cope with all of this; the media, you being away on tour—”

            “Sophie! That’s not true! Kate copes with Chris; Dani copes with Lance, so why can’t you cope with me? Don’t you know that I love you? I would never do anything to hurt you! Ever.” He said.

            “Justin, it’s two things: I am not Dani, nor Kate. I can’t cope! And secondly, that’s a lie coming out of your mouth! Do you know how hurt I was when you went “out” with Kandi? Do you know how much pain I went through when I found it all out—from Britney! Your former girlfriend! And now what happens if you go out with Britney?” I shouted, “huh?” I finished. I looked at him. His face was motionless, and I saw pain at the corner of his eye.

            “What about your birthday?” He asked.

            “Frankly, I don’t care. Look,” I said, softly. “Justin, I love you, more than you could ever know, but if you really loved me, why won’t you do this? For me? We could still be friends! It’s not like I’m asking you to leave and never come near me again; I’m asking for us to be friends.”

            “Well, if you want us to be friends, then why can’t we still be more than that? Don’t you love me enough to cope?”

            “Five months, with like 4 days in between to see you? Justin...” I said.

“Dani and Kate!” He objected.

“They have full-time jobs in the summer and they go to school. I have a part-time and go to school!” I said.

“You know what? You wanna be friends? Okay, let’s be friends.” With that, he lifted my hand to his hands and shook it—strong and firm, and turned to back out the door. As he turned, I couldn’t help but to feel bad, and instantly started to regret what I had done, when I saw tears come streaming down his face.