~ Chapter 41: Belieb In The Biebs  ~

[ Jackie’s POV: ]

“I change my mind,” Tyler said, “We’re going to a secret location.”

I put my jacket on, eyeing him suspiciously. “What do you mean ‘secret location’?”

“I mean, you can’t know where we’re going,” he smiled lightly. “Don’t worry, I’m not kidnapping you or anything. It’s not far from here.”

I picked up my purse and looked at him. “You’re lucky I trust you,” I giggled.

“You trust me? We just met yesterday,” he pointed out.

“I don’t care. You’re an awesome guy,” I ended the argument, snatching my keys from the table and skipping towards the front door.

As soon as we exited my house, Tyler took my hand in his. I felt butterflies swarm my stomach, but I held his hand back. We made it out of the front yard and I looked back at him.

“Don’t even bother looking for my car,” he smirked, “We’re walking. The moon’s out and so are the stars, so it’s pretty nice outside.”

“Works for me,” I smiled, “I like just walking.”

“Good.”

We began strolling down the street, talking about our plans and hopes for the future.

“I really want to save up my money to buy my mom a great house,” he muttered. “Growing up, I lived in a tiny apartment and it was just me and her. We didn’t have much, but she managed to do everything in her power to put me first. I want to pay her back for all she’s done for me.”

I bit my lip. Why does that remind me so much of a guy I’m trying not to think about right now?

“And your dad?” I asked, stroking his thumb.

“My dad, umm… He died when I was 3. I don’t remember much about him. I only know from things my mom tells me.”

“Aww, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,” I internally slapped myself.

“No, it’s fine,” he shook his head. “It didn’t bother me at all.”

I bit my lip harder. “And your mom never thought about… re-marrying?”

He shook his head again. “She says she’s never found a man that made her feel quite like my father used to.”

I was about to ask how exactly his dad died, but decided it was too soon and I’ll just sound snoopy.

“That makes total sense,” I sighed.

“What about your parents?”

“Mine? Umm, there’s nothing really interesting about my family. My parents just travel a lot, that’s all. Whether it’s job-related or not,” I shrugged.

“You’re home alone often?”

“I hang out with Robin a lot. She comes over or I sleepover her house. I’m not lonely, really.”

“That’s good,” he whispered, squeezing my hand.

Sooner or later, we found ourselves in front of a small cafe. Tyler led me inside and we ordered what we wanted before sitting by a table near the window.

“Why’d you bring me here specifically?” I asked. I couldn’t help but feel curious.

Tyler looked out the window before staring down at his drink. “It used to be my dad’s…”

My eyes widened. “Your dad owned this place?”

He nodded quietly.

“Well… Who owns it now?”

“Just my uncle. He’s not here right now — it’s his day off.”

“You didn’t have to bring me here if it’s such a touchy subject…” I whispered.

“No, I want to,” he protested. “As a matter of fact, I trust you too and, to be quite honest, I should get used to being here. My uncle said that when I’m old enough and ready, this place is all mine.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s so… cute.”

He eyed me teasingly. “Cute? I prefer something more manly, you know,” he smirked.

“Oh drop it, we both know cute is the word for this,” I laughed.

As Tyler began laughing along with me, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and soon enough, my ringtone filled the air. Which just so happened to be Rollercoaster.

I felt my cheeks blush red and I quickly pulled out my phone. “Sorry, I have to take this,” I told Tyler, right when I saw Robin’s name on the caller I.D.

I stood up and went to the bathroom so I could hear things better.

“Robin?” I answered the call.

“Jackie, have you been on Twitter lately?” my best friend’s voice filled my ear.

“Listen, now’s not a good time,” I sighed.

“What? Why? You’d want to hear this, trust me,” I could picture her frowning.

“Because I’m with Tyler,” I told her.

“Tyler? Is it… A date?”

“I’ll explain everything later, Robin. I really gotta go.”

“No, wait! Justin—”

“—I don’t need to think about him right now. Weren’t you the one who tried to get me to move on from him?” I pointed out.

“But, Jackie, it’s important!”

“Then you can tell me when I get home. Now I need to go,” I said, not giving her a chance to retaliate before I hung up.

I quickly fixed my hair before exiting the bathroom and sitting right back across from Tyler.

“Who was that?” Tyler asked innocently, taking a sip from his frappuccino.

I shrugged. “Just Robin wanting to come over. I told her I’m busy.”

Tyler chuckled. “And from your ringtone, I can see you belieb in the Biebs, huh?”

“What?” I laughed. “No one says that.”

“Really? I thought that was a thing,” he winked.

“No,” I shook my head. “No one asks me if I belieb in the Biebs, Tyler.”

“Well do you?” he asked teasingly. “Are you a Belieber?”

I blushed. “Is that such a bad thing?”

“I’m not a hater or anything, but I don’t exactly worship the guy,” he admitted. “I try to stay away from anything Bieber-related.”

“Are you implying you could be convinced to like his music?” I teased.

“Gee, I don’t know,” he sucked in a breath of air. “But if it means getting to know something you’re into, then I’ll take the risk. Just for you.”

“Be careful when you tell me things like that because I will send you a whole playlist of just Justin Bieber songs,” I giggled.

“I don’t mind,” he reached across the table and took my hand. “It just means I’m getting somewhere with you.”

I gazed into his eyes, realizing how serious he was about all this. He was willing to do anything if it meant spending time with me, or getting to know me. Why does he have to be so damn sweet?

“Well,” I cleared my throat, “I guess we’ll have something else to talk about.”

Tyler grinned. “I guess we will.”

He let go of my hand and took a bite of a brownie he had ordered. As I sat there, I began to think to myself that I probably will never actually end up giving him that playlist I told him I might send him. Just because even though Justin’s my idol, what he and I went through is something I’m trying hard to forget. I’m just trying to move on because I know what I’m hoping for is never going to happen. Me, out of all the Beliebers, gets a happy life with him? It just seems impossible. Not to mention how much explaining he owes me if we ever do encounter each other again.

Tyler, however, seems like the most logical choice. He’s normal, just like me. And maybe that’s the reason why we work so well. However, I’d be lying if I said part of me isn’t still hoping that one day, I’ll see Justin again. Or that one day, I’ll mean something to him.

—

At around a quarter past 10pm, Tyler walked me home. We stood on my front porch for a while and he kissed me before leaving to his car. I got inside my house and locked the front door before standing there, thinking about our date.

Soon enough, I took off my jacket and lazily plopped down on the couch. I pulled out my phone and dialed Robin to find out what she wanted from me when she last called.

“Hello?” I heard her voice.

“Hey, what’d you want to tell me before? I’m at home now,” I said, leaning back on a pillow.

“Just thought you might have wanted to know something, but I guess it’s not important,” she mocked.

“No, seriously, what was so important that you didn’t want to wait?”

She sighed. “Did you know today was the first date of Justin’s tour?”

“Yeah… So?” I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“He fainted on stage,” she said. “I just thought you should know.”

“What?” I asked in shock.

“I know it’s happened before, but this time it was worse. He was out for a while. They had to cancel the show and they’re planning on rescheduling. Those poor fans..”

“And you’re just now telling me this?!”

“Jackie, don’t give me that crap, you know I tried to tell you,” she scoffed.

I let out a deep breath. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I just… This is shocking.”

“I thought you would know this by now, considering you’re the Belieber,” she said.

“Yeah, I’m the Belieber who just so happens to have his heart broken by him,” I rolled my eyes. “But it doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. Oh my god, is he okay?”

“I don’t know, you tell me,” she muttered. “All I know is he fainted and he was out for a while, and that the show was canceled. It’s all I know.”

I felt my heart skip a beat. He even texted me earlier today and I couldn’t even bring myself to text back a simple reply. Anything would’ve been enough, but I didn’t.

And boy, do I regret it deeply.

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

What do you think is gonna happen? Hmm… ;)

- Nina xx