affiance

Justin jerks awake suddenly. Looking around the room, he stops and smiles softly to see Brian sleeping beside him. Touching his cheek, he can’t help but wonder how Brian found him. But that would have to wait. Grabbing his sweatpants, he quickly puts them on before heading to Molly’s room. “Moll? Are you awake?” Entering the room, he sees the plates with pizza sitting on the table. Molly is sitting on the bed, her face blotched with tears. “You wouldn’t answer your door, so the guy brought the food here.” Biting his lower lip, Justin sits down beside her, “I’m sorry, Molly.” She looks over at him, “I went to your room to tell you that the food was here… and…” she wipes her nose with her hand before continuing, “I saw you sleeping with Brian. Brian came to get you and now you’re leaving. You’re going to leave me!” Justin’s eyes widen, “Molly, I am not leaving! I would never leave you!” She shakes her head, “I’m not going back to Pittsburgh!” Her whole body begins to shake as sobs erupt from her small body. Helpless, Justin immediately pulls her into a tight embrace, “Molly, honey, please… listen to me, are you listening?” She nods her head, hiccupping against his chest. “I told you we wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want to do. And trust me, Molly, I have no plans to return to Pittsburgh.” “Really?” He kisses her forehead, tilting her chin up to look at him, “Really. The plan hasn’t changed. We’re in London and we’re staying: Team Taylor, right?” Smiling, she nods, “Team Taylor,” then looking past her brother at the door, she asks, “What about Brian?” Justin looks down at his hands for a moment. He didn’t have an answer for that. “I love him, Molly.” She nods, “He’ll want you to go back to Pittsburgh with him.” He shakes his head, “I won’t go.” “He loves you.” She states matter-of-factly, “Why else would he travel so far to get you?” There is a hint of bitterness in her voice. Smiling softly, Justin agrees, “He does love me. And I love him. But that doesn’t mean I want to move back to Pittsburgh.” She smiles back, sadly, “I don’t want you to hate me.” “Molly, I could never hate you! Why would you think that?” “You’re going to blame me for things not working out between you and Brian.” He shakes his head, “Molly, if it doesn’t work out, it’s not because of you.” She wipes another tear from her cheek, “He’ll want you to go back to Pittsburgh with him.” “I know.” “He’ll be mad, and sad, and he’ll blame me.” “He won’t blame you,” Justin assures her. Sighing, he gets up and brings the pizza over, “Did you already eat yours?” “Duh,” she mutters. “I wasn’t going to wait for you, I was hungry.” He smiles, taking a bite of his before returning to the conversation. “I love Brian. I’ve always loved him.” “I know.” He nods, “But I can’t go back to Pittsburgh, Molly. You understand my reasons, because they’re the same reasons you don’t want to move back there too.” She nods, new tears forming, “Mom and Dad.” He forces the pizza down. “It’s just too hard… I can’t… I won’t be able to deal with those memories, no matter how supportive Brian will be about it.” She nods again, “Every time I go to sleep, I dream that they are still alive…” Taking her hand in his, he holds on tight, “I miss them too.” “It isn’t fair…” “I know it isn’t.” Clearing her throat, she gestures to the left over slices, “You should give some to Brian. He’s probably hungry too.” Forcing a smile, Justin gets up and puts a few slices on a plate before heading to the adjoining door, “Do you want to join us?” She shakes her head, “No, I’m going to go back to sleep.” He gives her a worried expression, and then says, “We’re going out tomorrow. You need fresh air.” She gives a sad laugh, “Mom used to say that.” “That you need fresh air?” She nods, “Because I was always indoors.” With a small smile, he nods back, “Good night, Molly.” “Good night, Justin.”