~ Chapter 24: Allegations  ~

[ Alfredo’s POV: ]

The minute Justin burst through the door, the entire atmosphere of the hotel suite changed. I was laying down on the couch, were I had fallen asleep last night watching movies, and had woken up two hours ago. The silence in the room when I had woken up already let me know that Justin wasn’t home yet, and I didn’t have a doubt in my mind about it—even if there was a possibility he came back really late and crashed in his bedroom.

“Fredo!” He took one look at me and yelled my name, happiness surrounding his tone. I hadn’t seen him this happy since forever, and it didn’t even feel like genuine happiness.

“Justin?” I asked, starting to get concerned. Don’t get me wrong, only because Justin’s been down lately doesn’t mean it’s weird if he ever gets happy again… It’s just that something seems off.

“How are ya?” Justin skipped across the room and tackled me in a hug. I furrowed my eyebrows together and attempted to hug him back, taking in his scent. Except… it didn’t exactly smelled like his natural scent. It smelled like Justin’s scent combined with lots and lots of weed.

He reeked of weed.

“Justin?” I asked again, this time more serious. I took off the covers that had kept me warm all night and sat up. Justin took a seat next to me and he looked like a puppy wagging its tail for food. “What happened at that party?”

“I-It was fun, I met some great people, everyone had nicknames and Lil Twist even gave me one,” he chirped like a school girl, disturbing me in ways you don’t even understand. He’s definitely high, which worried me because I thought he’d never smoke again.

“Justin,” I sighed, “Listen to me—”

“Nah, nah, chill out, Fredo,” he smiled lightly. “Just go back to watching whatever you were watching. Here, I’ll join you. We’ll watch some movies and make up for that guy’s night we never got to have.” He wrapped an arm around me and forced me to lay down. “Relax, and I’ll go get some food for us.”

I opened my mouth to protest but ultimately decided against it. There was no use trying to talk some sense into him or lecture him while he’s under the influence of marijuana. It’s as pointless as trying to teach a newborn baby calculus and have them learn it perfectly. So, instead, I watched as he disappeared into the kitchen to fetch some snacks.

I guess the only good thing about this is that he’s actually calm and happy. He hasn’t been this relaxed in ages, but I’d like to see this side of him come out naturally without him having to smoke pot in order to achieve calmness.

“Popcorn?” he shouted from the kitchen, “Or candy?”

“Popcorn’s fine,” I called back, and he let out a loud laugh.

“Fredo, I don’t know how to pop corn. Do you pop it with a hammer?” he giggled.

“Dear Jesus, give me strength,” I mumbled to myself before standing up and following his past footsteps towards the kitchen. I snatched the popcorn bag from his hand and folded it so it was somewhat closed again before stuffing it into the microwave and setting up the time. “The microwave pops it for us, remember?” I told him.

He smirked. “Microwaves have hammers?”

I lightly slapped his cheek in a playful manner, but on the inside I wanted to punch the high right out of him and go on a rant about his behavior. I know I’m not his mother, considering he’s always yelling at me that I don’t have that kind of power over him, but I’m still his best friend. I still genuinely care for his health and happiness. I know he’s always pushing me away but keeping inside his troubles won’t help him. They would only bubble up inside of him until he explodes, and then he’d really be done.

Ding!

The popcorn was ready and I saw Justin grab his head at the sound of the microwave beeping, as if he got a headache from it.

“Fuck,” he smirked, watching me open the microwave and take the popcorn out before pouring it into a bowl.

“Come on,” I sighed, handing him the bowl. “Let’s go watch a movie.”

He winked and nodded, heading straight back towards the living room. I followed behind him and we sat down on the couch again. We found a random movie to watch and about five minutes into the movie, Justin had already consumed all the popcorn.

“You were pretty hungry there,” I commented, chuckling to myself. Justin grinned and stretched his arms out before wrapping one around me.

“I was starving,” he breathed out, the smell of weed tickling my nose. I coughed twice before pretending I didn’t smell anything.

Around twenty minutes into the movie, Justin was already asleep on my shoulder. I had predicted all of it—that he was going to finish the popcorn quickly all by himself and then become sleepy straight afterwards. That’s how he is when he’s high. I also learned from Twist—who’s always hungry and thirsty when he’s high too. Justin just happens to be the sleepy kind.

I sighed for the billionth time and turned off the television before carefully maneuvering my way out of Justin’s grip on me. I replaced my spot with a large pillow and he adjusted quickly, resting his head on the cushion comfortably. I then carefully took his shoes off for him and placed them on the floor next to the couch. Running a hand over my face, I proceeded towards my room before pulling out my phone from my pocket.

---

[ Jackie’s POV: ]

I was stirring myself some coffee for Robin and I while she cooked pancakes. We were chatting about random things that morning before there was a comfortable silence and my phone rang. Confusion spread across my face and I looked at the caller I.D:

Alfredo Flores

For a second, my heartbeat picked up its pace and I thought: oh my god, Alfredo Flores is CALLING ME!!! Then I remembered that I wasn’t just a Belieber anymore, considering Justin pretty much confessed his feelings for me and I’ve met up with him and Fredo a couple of times now. I guess you just don’t get used to stuff like that.

“Hello?” I answered, stepping out to the hallway for a bit more privacy.

“Jackie?” Alfredo’s voice rang in my ears and my heart sank. He sounded upset.

“Fredo? You okay?” I asked softly.

“Not really… That’s why I kinda needed to talk to you,” he sighed. He’s calling me because he’s down? Why am I so damn special all of a sudden?

“Sure, umm… What’s up?” I prompted him.

“It’s about Justin.” My heart fluttered at the sound of his name. “I’m worried for him.”

“Why, what happened?”

“I didn’t want to have to ever say this out loud and… I was kinda hoping this day wouldn’t have to come but… I think he’s at his breaking point.”

My heart shattered. “W-What? What are you talking about? What do you mean he’s at his breaking point?”

“He went to a party yesterday and came back about an hour ago smelling like weed. He was higher than a fucking skyscraper.”

I felt my body shake. “H-… How is he n-now?”

“He fell asleep on the couch. I know he gets pretty sleepy after a while so I agreed to watching a movie with him so he’d sleep it off. But, listen… I need your help,” he whispered.

“My help? What could I possibly do to help?” I stuttered.

“I’m pretty sure you’re the only one who can get him back on a good path,” he explained, “To set his mind straight and remind him of who he is.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love Justin but the way Alfredo said that scared the shit out of me. That sounds like a huge responsibility. To have Justin’s emotional state be in my hands? What if I mess up? What if I just end up breaking him more than he is right now?

Damn it, but wasn’t that what I wanted to do? Wasn’t what I wanted was to be with him? Regardless the consequences?

“Fredo, I–…”

“–Jackie please. You’re the only one who can do it. Not only does he have feelings for you in his broken heart, but you’re also a Belieber. You’d be good for him,” he begged. “Please do it. Please.”

I paused. “Okay,” I said quietly.

“Okay?” he asked, slightly surprised that I actually agreed.

“Like you said, I’m a Belieber. You think Beliebers would step back and watch Justin suffer when we know we could do something about it?”

“Not that I know of, no,” I could just picture the smirk on Fredo’s face.

“Exactly,” I smiled to myself.

“Alright, so is it cool if we come by and visit tomorrow?” he asked, with high hopes I’d say yes.

“Of course. You guys are always invited,” I nodded, even though he can’t see me.

Shortly after that, Alfredo and I hung up. I was about to burst in the kitchen and tell Robin that she has to sleepover one more night so she could be here when they come, but something inside of me told me to freeze for a minute.

If what Alfredo told me about Justin is true, I could only imagine the things being said about him in the media now. I hesitantly searched for the celebrity gossips website and there, on the home page, was a huge headline titled: Justin Bieber caught partying with friend Lil Twist and alleged weed smoking.

Alleged… Right.

I scrolled down to see more headlines about him, ones in which made me sick to my stomach.

Updates about Justin Bieber’s mystery girl spotted last week.

Getting back together with an ex? Justin Bieber spotted at hotel Alicia Louise is staying at.

Bieber breaks promises! Anonymous claims to have seen Justin Bieber smoking pot... again.

Justin Bieber allegedly hooks up with yet another mystery girl at friend’s birthday party.

Anonymous claims to have seen Justin Bieber verbally abuse an innocent party goer, saying, “he was definitely high.”

I stopped after reading that last one. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was upset, but you don’t see these people picking on other celebrities to this extreme. Justin’s only human. Why are they trying to break him apart? What has he done to anyone?

If Alfredo was serious when he said that Justin’s at his breaking point, what happens if all this hate continues?

*************************

Poor Justin… :(

What do you think is going to happen? Will Jackie save Justin in time or will she be the cause of his breaking point?

Oh and, just out of curiosity, what is your favorite chapter of the book so far and why? :)

- Nina xx