After Justin got off the phone with Michelle, he walked back into the livingroom and sat the phone down on the table. Peeking up over the top of the chair was a very intrigued Trace who patiently awaited to hear exactly what it was that had Justin grinning from ear to ear.

"Dude, don't make me ask you. What's going on?"

Justin laughed at the fact that he was annoying Trace by keeping quiet about the call. He wanted nothing more than to get him fired up and tell him he had called Michelle, but at the same time he really didn't feel like getting a lecture concerning his morals either.

"Nothing. Nothing is going on. Look man, a bunch of us are hitting the Lotus later on tonight to unwind before the tour starts. You coming or not?" Justin asked, as he walked around and sat on the sofa opposite Trace.

"A bunch of us. Meaning?" Trace asked, knowing damn well that Michelle was probably one of the 'bunch'. 

"Meaning a group of people. What the hell is up with the twenty questions?" 

"Well, to be honest.....I really don't wanna play witness to this disaster your stirring up. I can guarantee Michelle is gonna be there and I know how you play this game. I've seen you do it before and I just don't wanna watch this go down. I told you before I don't think this is right." 

"Whatever. Then don't go. I don't give a shit. It's not like I am asking you to be a part of this and I certainly don't need your permission to do it." 

Trace sat there and shook his head. Justin had been so hurt by Britney's betrayal with Wade that the only think he was thinking about was the effect it would have on Wade. He tried to get him to see that he would end up hurting Michelle as well, but it didn't work. Justin had it set in his mind that she would be a willing playmate, but he saw something else. She wasn't like that. He could tell.

"I didn't say you needed my permission dude. Why don't you just relax. Your getting so fired up and defensive about this shit!"

"Whatever." Justin said, and he stood up and walked down the hall. He had heard enough. As far as he was concerned, Trace had no idea how it felt to have a close friend betray him and therefore had no right to tell him how to deal with the situation.

Watching Justin walk down the hall, Trace couldn't help but wonder if he should go tonight to at least keep an eye on the events of the evening. He knew he couldn't stop Justin from doing what he wanted, but he hoped that if he was there it might deter Justin from going ahead with his plan. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Michelle walked up the stairs, the realization hit her that at some point she would have to go back into her bedroom and clean up the mess the Wade made the last time they were there. She knew it was going to be extremely painful to do, but she also knew she didn't have a choice. It wasn't going to go away on it's own. 

Taking a deep breath, she walked into the room and wondered how it had all gone unnoticed until earlier. She had walked right past the glass on the floor and hadn't even noticed it. Looking back, she was thankful that she didn't see it. If she had, she would have never been able to fall asleep in that room feeling what she felt now.

Slowly she walked over to her dresser and grabbed a tie to hold her hair. After quickly pulling it back into a ponytail, she bent down and grabbed her dress off of the floor. Without even looking to see if it could be saved, she tossed it in the trash along with the towel that sat on her dresser. The quicker she got the room cleaned the better she would feel.

After a quick scan of the room, she headed back downstairs and grabbed a few things that she would need to get it back in order. Just as she was about to head back upstairs, she heard a knock at her door. Startled, she dropped the cleaner and quickly turned around. Again she heard a knock, but this time it was accompanied with a familiar voice.

"Michelle, it's Chantal."

Leaning the broom up against the stairs, she picked up the cleaner and walked over to the door. As she looked through the peep hole she saw that it was in fact Chantal so she unlocked the door and opened it up. The second Chantal saw the look on her face, she was glad she stopped when she did.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm not thinking." Michelle said, stepping back so that Chantal could walk inside.

Once Michelle had shut the door, she headed over to where Chantal was standing.

"You wanna sit down?" 

"Yeah thanks." Chantal said as she followed Michelle into the livingroom and took a seat on the sofa.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"No thanks." Chantal said, as she looked up at Michelle. "Are you ok?"

Shaking her head 'no' Michelle sat down on the sofa next to Chantal.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"There really isn't much to say. I mean what's done is done. I left Wade and I'm trying to move on."

"Yeah, he called me this morning and told me you left him. He said when he woke up you were gone. He's a mess. I mean he really took it hard."

"You wanna know what's hard? Walking into my bedroom and seeing all the busted glass from your brother throwing a tequila bottle at me or seeing the handcuffs still attatched to my bed from the night he beat me and left me there for hours. That's what hard!" 

Chantal sat there for a second completely in shock. She couldn't believe the things she was saying about Wade. Her brother may have made some mistakes in his life, hitting her being one of those things, but what she was describing was inconcievable.

"What? You don't believe me?!" Michelle asked, as she studied the look of disbelief on Chantal's face.

"Wade would NEVER do anything like that. I know he hit you, but BEAT you? Don't you think your stretching things a bit?"

"Yeah, well your just one of many people who still see Wade through those rose-colored glasses."

"You know Wade wanted me to stop by and make sure you were ok. You seem to be just fine. I mean you don't seem to have a problem bashing him or anything so I guess it's a good thing it's over between you two." 

"It's a very good thing." Michelle said, as she got up and headed over to the door.

Taking her cue that she was no longer welcome, Chantal stood up and walked over to the door.

"I'm sorry my brother hurt you, but dragging his name through the dirt like this won't make things better. I hope you know that."

Completely disguisted, Michelle watched Chantal walked out the door and down the stairs. She couldn't believe that Chantal would actually think she made that stuff up. Especially after she saw what he had done to her the other night. Either way, it didn't matter anymore. She knew the truth and so did Wade. What happened between them was there business and now that it was over, it was all in the past. 

CHAPTER 52

After Chantal left, Michelle headed back upstairs to finish the job she had started only a short time ago. 

Sweeping up the broken glass, Michelle struggled to keep herself together. It was almost worse than going through the nightmare in the first place. Her subconscious had blocked out parts of the evening as a defense mechanism to the pain, but now with a clear mind she was seeing it all. Every detail, every heinous act that was done to her she was feeling full force. She couldn't believe that Wade could do something so cruel and brutal to her, but he had. He had done it and the marks left from that night will forever scar her body and soul.

Crouching down, she looked at the stained handcuffs still attatched to ber footboard and began to shake. She knew that this one reminder would have to remain. Atleast for now. She had no idea of what Wade had done with the key and she had no way of removing them otherwise.

Grabbing a scarf from her closet, she quickly tied them around the handcuffs in an attempt to keep them from her view. She hoped that if they were out of sight, they would be out mind. A hard task to do, but she had to atleast try.

After dealing with the nightmare recap cleaning up the mess, she was looking forward to getting out of the house. She wasn't sure she would be up for dancing but atleast she would be in an environment that would help keep her mind busy.

Once she was finished, Michelle headed into her closet to look for something to wear that could hide the marks on her neck. She thought that they weren't visable in a regular shirt, but Marty had obviously saw them. She knew that she would have to find something that came up higher on her neck or she wouldn't be able to go. The last thing she wanted was for Justin or anyone else to find out what had been going on between her and Wade. She just couldn't live with the embarassment.

After trying on several outfits, she finally found something that did the trick. Laying it across her bed, she headed into the bathroom to get a shower. She knew she couldn't wash away the feeling of emptiness she felt inside, but she hoped that the hot water would atleast relax her some before she got ready to head out. In a matter of hours, she would be on her way to the club to start her life over in LA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Michelle walked into the club, she began to scan through the crowd for Justin. She knew that the best thing she could do for herself was to get out of the house and move on without Wade, but she just couldn't seem to get him out of her mind. Lost in her thoughts, she was completely unaware that Justin had been trying to get her attention. After his attempts went unnoticed, he knew he was going to have to go down and get her.

"Hey man, Michelle's here. I'm going to go down and get her. I'll be right back." Justin said as he sat the drink down on the table and headed towards her.

Leaning forward, Trace watched as Justin made his way through the crowd and over to where she was standing. He knew that Justin was most likely to throw out his "A" game tonight with her, but what Justin didn't know was that he had a plan of his own.

"You know normally I don't have to work this hard to get a girl's attention." he said, as he popped up behind her and slid his hand under her hair to the back of her neck. 

Completely caught off guard, she looked over her shoulder and saw Justin standing behind her with his trademark smile.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little out of it tonight."

"Obviously, I've been trying to get your attention since you walked in the club. C'mon. We're sitting over here." he said, as he removed his hand from her neck and gently took a hold of her hand to lead her back through the crowd.

Once they got to the table, Trace stood up to greet Michelle.

"You remember Trace right?" 

"Yeah, we met at the party at your house." she said. "Nice to see you again."

"Same here." Trace said, as he glanced up and saw Justin smirking over her shoulder. Normally he would have thought this was funny, but he just couldn't shake the feeling that Justin was about to set off a chain reaction of events he wasn't prepared for.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Justin asked, as he reached for his nearly empty glass on the table.

"Yeah, I'll have what ever your having."

"Ok. I'll be right back. Try not to miss me too much." he said, as he backed away from the table and gave Trace a look that clearly said he was going to enjoy this game of cat and mouse more than he thought.

Humoring Justin, Trace smiled back and then proceeded to put his own plan into action. As much as he wanted to come right out and tell Michelle that Justin had alterior motives for inviting her tonight, he would never betray his friend like that. He would however, try to do his best to keep her occupied so that Justin would be limited to the time he could spend with her. Atleast that is what he hoped he could accomplish. 

He knew that if Wade found out what Justin was up to, or worse found out what Justin had done, all hell would break loose. Not that he cared as far as Wade was concerned, but the last thing Justin needed was a repeat media frezy over his personal life. If Justin would just stop to think, he would realize that he was just asking for trouble by heading back down this road.

As the two waited for Justin to return, Trace immeadiately brought up the one topic of conversation he could contribute to with her. That being the upcoming Justified Tour.

"So, J tells me that you and Wade put together some kick ass choreography for the tour. Can't wait to see it."

"Yeah. He seemed pretty impressed when we showed it to him. I mean, this is the first time I have even done anything like this and to have it be for Justin is such an honor."

Great. An honor to work with Justin. Not what he wanted to hear. Justin would be the first to admit that he would exploit any angle that could get him where he wanted to be. Unfortunetly, the place he wanted to get this time was in her pants.

"Yeah, J's a great guy to work with." Trace said, spotting Justin walking back over to the table drinks in hand.

"So, what did I miss?" 

"Not much. Just talking about the tour." 

"Man, this is susposed to be a night to relax and let loose before the tour starts. That's the last I want to here about work. We're here to have a good time."

Just then Justin's cell phone rang.

"Excuse me. This will just take a minute." he said, as he glanced down at his caller ID and walked away from the table. The last thing he wanted to do was let Wade find out that he had his girlfriend out at the club. One call could set his whole plan back.

As he placed his phone to his ear, he tried placed his other hand over his ear to try to block out the music from the club.

"Hello."

"Hey J, it's Wade."

"Hey man, what's up?"

"Not much. Just trying to recover from jet lag. The flight to NY killed me."

"Yeah, I hear ya man. I did that shit a few weeks ago." 

"Anyway, the reason I called was I wanted to know if you could do me a favor?"

"I can try my best. What do you need?" 

"Michelle hasn't been on her own much since she moved to LA, and I was hoping you could look out for her while I'm gone. I don't know if you'll run into her outside of working on the tour or not, but if you do,could you make sure she is alright?"

Justin looked up at Michelle sitting at the table talking to Trace and smirked at the fact that he was doing just that. He was going to keep a very good eye on her. 

"Yeah, not a problem. If I run into her I'll make sure she is ok, but you sound worried. Do you need me to go and check on her or something?"

"No, nothing like that. I just figured she might hit the club scene and I don't want her to have to deal with any assholes."

"Oh, ok. Well, consider it done then." Justin said, as he tried to keep from laughing at the fact that Wade had just given him the perfect excuse to stay close to her.

"Alright, thanks man. I'm gonna go make a few phone calls. If you need anything, or run into any problems with the choreography, you have my cell number."

"Yeah, I have it. Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

"Alright, I'll see you when I get back. Take it easy."

"You too."

With that Justin flipped his phone shut and shoved in back into his pocket. He couldn't help but laugh. He already had plans on keeping his eye on Michelle while Wade was away. Not to mention that if everything went as planned, he would have more than his eyes on her by the time Wade returned from NY. 

Rubbing his hands together in anticipation of the evening ahead of him, he headed back to the table to put his plan into action.

CHAPTER 53

After Wade hung up the phone with Justin, he dialed the number to Chantal's cell phone. He had only talked to her briefly before he left for NY and right now he really needed someone to talk to. Not to mention the fact that he was eager to find out if she had talked to Michelle.

After a few rings, she picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey sis, it's me."

"Hey. How was your flight?"

"Horrible. I'll be glad when this shoot is over and I can come back home."

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah. That bad." he snickered and then proceeded directly into the one question that was on his mind. 

"Did you happen to talk to Michelle yet?" 

Chantal knew Wade would be calling to find out how Michelle was, but she wasn't sure she wanted to discuss with him what she had heard. She knew despite all his mistakes and misguided intentions, Wade really loved this girl. She didn't want to be the one to inform him of Michelle's accusations, but she also knew it wasn't right to keep it from him either.

"Yeah. I actually stopped over her place earlier today. She seems to be doing just fine." she said sarcastically, and Wade knowing his sister as well as he did, immeadiately picked up on it. 

"What's that susposed to mean?" 

"Well, when she answered the door, I was kinda shocked. She looked like she was really having a hard time with everything. I mean, she is the one who left you. I just didn't expect her to seem so...... lost I guess."

Wade's heart sunk to his stomach. He knew he should have postponed his flight and went straight over to her apartment the second he knew she was gone. That is what his heart told him to do. Unfortunetly, he decided that if she walked out on him, she needed some time alone. That's what he had given her. Time alone. Now he was listening to Chantal tell him how bad she looked and he knew he made the wrong decision........yet again.

"Ok, you said you were worried about her. So, then why all the sarcasim?"

"Well, she definetly looked lost, but when it came to talking about you, she had no problem pulling herself togther. I mean the things she said about you Wade really upset me. If you ask my opinion, I think it's for the best that it's over between you two."

"Wait, first of all.......it's not over between us. I refuse to believe that. I love her. She just needs some time, that's all. Second, what could she have possibly said about me that would make you upset?" he asked, completely unaware of what Michelle had revealed to his sister.

"It's not important. Trust me. Just let her go on with her life and you move on with yours. I know there are plenty of girls who will be glad to hear you back on the market."

"Did you even listen to anything I said? I'm not giving up on her." Wade said rather annoyed. He thought his sister would support him and help him get his life back on track so that he could once again have her in his life. Not tell him that he was better off without her. 

"Look. This girl, who you claim to love, sat right beside me and began to tell me lie after lie about you. To my face Wade! What the hell kind of person is she?"

"You know what, this is the second time you mentioned that she said something to you. What the hell did she say?!"

"You know, I can't even believe I am even saying this shit, but if you want to know...I'll tell you. She said you broke a bottle by throwing it at her or something and then she had the nerve to say you beat her and handcuffed her to the bed! Do you believe that shit! Now do you see why you are better off without her. She's fuckin crazy!"

As Wade sat there, he could feel the color drain from his face and he felt like he was going to be sick. Yet again, without the presence of alcohol to cloud his mind, the vivid images of that night flooded his mind.

"See! Your in shock too! Do you belive she said that shit about you? I mean c'mon!"

Wade was completely silent. He had told Chantal that he hit Michelle, but he convienently left out the details of just how bad he had hurt her and how.

"Wade? You still there?" Chantal asked, confused by the silence on the other end of the line.

Clearing his throat, he answered her.

"Yeah, Im here."

"Well? Don't you think that's fuckin pathetic?!"

"Yeah, not because she said it though."

"What do you mean not because she said it?"

"It's pathetic because it's true."

This time her end of the line was silent, and Wade knew she had to be in shock from hearing his confession. 

"Look, I did alot of things I regret. I really didn't see the point in going over every detail of what happened in my relationship with Michelle with you. That's not something I wanted you to know." 

"So, let me get this straight. Your telling me that you DID do these things to her?! That you BEAT her. Not hit her Wade, but beat her?!"

He could tell by the tone in her voice that she was angry as much as she was upset.

"I did alot of things Chantal."

"Answer the damn question Wade! Did you beat this girl? Was she telling me the truth?!"

"YEAH! She was telling the truth! Are you happy now? Huh? What....you want ALL the details!? You wanna know how I beat her time and time again!?! Huh? Wanna know that even after she begged me to stop I didn't or that there were times I hurt her so bad that she could barely move!?! Or how about the fact that, she constantly cried herself to sleep because of me or pain I inflicted on her!! Is that what you wanna hear!?!" he yelled, as his emotions began to get the best of him.

"Well!?! Is that what you wanted!?!" he continued to yell, as tears formed in his eyes.

"I don't even know who you are anymore. I just...I can't talk to you right now. I...have to go." 

As Wade sat on the edge of the bed, he heard Chantal hang up the phone and knew he had crossed the line by going off on her like that. It wasn't her fault that he did those things to Michelle. She was merely informing him what she had heard. Now, he had pushed away the one person he was counting on to help him turn his life around.

Standing up, he let out a scream and then proceeded to shove the contents on the top of the dresser to the floor. Again, he messed up and did the wrong thing. He should never have told Chantal the details of what happened, yet alone yell at her because she questioned him. 

Pacing the room, he knew he had to get his temper in check or he would never have the chance to get Michelle back into his life. Michelle. God, how he wished he was back in LA. He knew she was hurting and there wasn't anything he could do. 

Looking down at his cell phone still in hand, he decided that if he couldn't be there to physcially comfort her, he would atleast try to talk to her. She still loved him, he knew that. He just needed to tell her everything that had been going on with him and hopefully she would understand and they could work it out together. 

Dialing the number to her apartment, he prayed that she would pick it up. He didn't want to have to leave a message on her machine about what was going on. What he really needed to do was tell her face to face, like he had planned to do before he left for NY. Unfortunetly, she didn't give him the chance. 

After the phone rang a few more times, her machine picked up. Just hearing the sound of her voice broke his heart. He had only been away from her for a matter of hours and he missed her more than he could have ever imagined. He couldn't help but feel like a part of him was missing. A part that had been completely filled by her when she was in his life.

Refusing to leave a message, he hung up the phone and headed to bed. He knew that tomorrow wasn't going to be any better. Until he returned to LA, he was going to feel this void that only she could fill.

Laying his head down on the pillow, he knew that he couldn't bear to lose her. He had to get her back. No matter what the cost. 

CHAPTER 54

Walking back to the table, Justin couldn't help but smile. He thought that this was going to be an easy mission to begin with, but now that Wade had asked him to look out for Michelle it was going to be even easier.

As he approached the table, he heard her laughing with Trace and was eager to find out just what was so funny.

"Ok, so I see ya started the party without me. What did I miss?"

As Michelle try to control her laughter, Trace just shrugged his shoulders like he had no idea what she was laughing at. Immeadiately that stuck him as odd. Trace had obviously been sitting at the table the entire time and he undoubtedly knew what she was laughing at.

Finally after a few seconds Michelle pulled herself together and began to fill Justin in.

"Trace was just telling me about the time you...." she started to say but before she could finish, Justin cut her off.

"Ah, I don't want to know. Whatever Trace says...don't believe him. He has a tendency of trying to make me look bad in front of beautiful ladies."

Trace just laughed and then proceeded to grab her empty glass and walk towards the bar.

"Will you excuse me for a minute?" Justin said, as he watched Trace walk away.

"Yeah, I'm not going anywhere." she giggled, then turned her attention to the dance floor. 

As Justin walked after Trace, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell his problem was. Trace had been around long enough to know that when Justin was on the prowl not to say anything to make him look bad, yet for some reason he said it anyway.

Finally reaching the bar, Justin walked up to Trace and spun him around.

"Yo dude, what the fuck is your problem?"

"What? What did I do?" he asked innocently before grabbing the two glasses off the bar.

"You know exactly what you did. What are you trying to ruin this for me? Are you like her designated watchdog?!"

"Man, why don't you see what the hell you are doing. Did you even stop to think what this might do to her? No, of course not or if you did you just don't care cause your 'Justin Timberlake' right?"

"Man, do you even hear the shit coming out of your mouth right now? Why all of a sudden is this such a probelm? What makes her any different?"

"You know what, if you don't see what your doing then why bother. Just remember, when this explodes back in your face, which I am sure it will, don't expect me to help you. Here, enjoy the drinks, I'm not going to stay here and watch this shit."

The second Trace handed Justin the drinks, he headed back over to the table to tell Michelle he was leaving.

"Hey, I'm heading out. I'm suddenly not feeling so well. It was nice seeing you again."

"Your leaving?" she asked, as she watched Justin walked up behind him.

"Yeah, but don't worry. J here will keep ya company." he said, as he turned and brushed past Justin's shoulder nearly causing him to spill the drinks.

"Whoa man, watch where the hell your going." 

"Is eveything ok? I mean Trace seemed fine a few seconds ago."

"Yeah, everything's fine. That just Trace."

Sitting the drinks down on the table, he noticed that the look of enjoyment he saw on her face only a short time ago was gone.

"C'mon, don't let Trace ruin the evening. He's has more moods swings that any female I know." he said, laughing.

"Are you sure I had nothing to do with it?" 

"I'm sure. Trust me. Do you want to dance?"

"No, not right now, but don't let me stop you. I'll be fine. Go dance."

Justin stood there with his hands on his hips like a pouting child and she couldn't help but laugh. 

"Well, if your not going to join me, I'll dance right here."

As Michelle sat on the chair, Justin moved closer to her and began to do the stupidest dance she had ever saw.

"You know what, that isn't dancing." she laughed, as she put her hands on his chest and shoved him backwards.

Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed her hands and pulled her off the chair and over to the dance floor.

"You know you wanna dance girl, c'mon."

"Do you always get what you want?"

"To be honest.......yes."

"Well, then I guess there is a first for everything isn't there." she said, as she playfully pulled her hands away from him and turned to head back to the table.

"Oh no you don't." he said, as he ran up behind her and grabbed her around her waist.

She couldn't help but laugh at him. He just had this energy around him that sucked you right in. It was impossible to be around him and not have a good time. She enjoyed that. She missed that feeling in her life.

"Ok, you win. I'll dance."

The two continued to dance throughout the evening and for the first time, she wasn't thinking about Wade. Dancing had always helped clear her mind, but the fact that she had been pounding down drink after drink since she got there probably played a major part in it too. She was living her life for herself and it felt good.

Finally needing a break, the two headed back to the table where a few of Justin's dancers had retired only moments ago.

"You want another drink?" Justin asked Michelle, as he looked for the waitress.

"Hey J, we were just thinking of jumping clubs. You and Michelle wanna come?"

"Where are ya headed?" Justin asked, as he turned his attention back to the table.

"We're not sure yet, maybe IVAR."

Just then Michelle chimed in. "I'm game if you are."

"Girl, at this point I think you would be game for anything. How many drinks have you had so far?" 

"Not enough. I'm still standing." she said laughing, and then got back up to dance.

Justin watched her walk back to the dance floor and felt himself growing excited. The way she danced was enough to drive any man nuts.

"J, did she drive here with you?"

Completely consumed with her dancing, he was unaware that he was being spoken to.

"Hello? Justin?"

"What? I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Laughing the girls looked at him and shook their head.

"We asked if Michelle drove here with you."

"Oh. No she didn't. Why?"

"I don't think she is capable of driving herself home."

"Yeah, I noticed. Don't worry, I'll get her home. You girls should know me better than that."

"Are you sure your ok to drive?"

"Yeah, I only had...." he began saying when he heard Michelle on the dance floor.

"I said get the fuck off of me."

Quickly Justin turned around a saw a guy hovering over Michelle trying to pull her close to him. Her body language was enough for anyone to see that his advances weren't welcome. The fact that she told the guy to fuck off and he didn't listen pissed Justin off. Immeadiately, he stood up and headed onto the dance floor.

"Hey man, she said back off." 

"Yeah, well the way she's dancing I think she wants the attention."

"Yo dude, I'm not gonna tell you again. Get your hands off her."

Seeing the situation start to escalate, Justin's security stepped in.

"Hey man, the gentleman asked you to take your hands off of the young lady."

"Hey, whatever dude. Maybe you should just learn to keep your tramp on a leash." he said, as he let go of Michelle and pushed her into Justin.

"Man, get this joker out of here."

"Alright man, let's go. We don't want any trouble in here." the club security said as they walked up behind him.

"What?! Mr Big time celebrity wants me gone and I'm out of here?! Man, that's bullshit!"

"You just shoved that young lady. We don't tolerate that in here. That's why you are leaving." the bouncer said, taking the guy by the back of his arm and leading him to the door.

"Psh, whatever!"

After the guy was out of sight, Justin looked down at her and saw tears in her eyes.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?"

"No, no I''m fine. I think I am just going to call it a night." she said, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Ok, I'll drive you home."

"I drove myself here, remember?

"Yeah, I know. Just let me take you home. I don't think your in any condition to drive. Ok?"

Knowing Justin had a point, Michelle just nodded her head in agreement and headed back to the table to grab her purse. Pulling out her keys, she handed them to Justin.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to tell security what's going on."

At a loss for words again, she simply nodded her head. Her perfectly good evening without thinking about Wade had been ruined. Just having that guy grab on her like that brought back the feelings of fear she felt around Wade.

Lost deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice Justin walking back towards her until he was standing face to face with her.

"Are you sure your alright?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine." she said matter of factly. A general statement to him, but to her it had an underlying meaning. She promised herself that she would be fine without Wade....and she would. This was only a minor set back.

"Ok, just give me your address and securtiy will pick me up there."

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean it seems like a big hassle if you ask me."

"Girl, I offered. It's no hassle at all."

Grabbing a piece of paper from her purse, she wrote her address down and handed it to Justin. 

"We're out of here girl. Let's go" he said, as he took a hold of her hand and headed towards the door where two of his securtiy members were waiting. Wrapping his arm around her, Justin's security escorted them through the parking lot and over to Michelle's car.

Walking around to the passenger side of the car, he unlocked her door and held it open for her so she could get in.

"Here's the address. I'll see you in a few." Justin said, handing the piece of paper to one of his security members.

"Alright J. If you need us gives us a call."

After acknowledging the comment, Justin unlocked the drivers side door and then got in. This was just going to be too easy, he thought to himself as he started her car and pulled out of the parking lot. His security knew the routine. They would convienently break down on the way to pick him up, or so he would tell her and that would give him plenty of time to work his magic with her.

CHAPTER 55

"Alright girl, gimme some directions here. I'm not psychic." he laughed, as he turned to look at her. When she looked back at him he could see the hurt in her eyes and wondered what was going through her mind. She had been in a good mood before that guy put his hands on her at the club. Now she was a mess. She wasn't the same person who had walked into the club hours ago.

"I'm sorry. I'm not thinking." she said, as she sat her purse on the floor and gave him directions to her apartment.

"Are you sure your ok?" Justin asked, as he placed his hand over hers on her thigh.

Immeadiately her gaze dropped to his hand. The entire time they were at the club she hadn't once thought about the night at Justin's place when they kissed. Now, for some reason, that was all she could think about. She had enjoyed that kiss. A little too much if you ask her, and now here they were on the way back to her apartment. Looking back, she knew now that this wasn't a good decision on her part.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she said, pulling her hand away from his. As much as she enjoyed his gentle touch, she knew that it was not the path she wanted to go down. She had already made one mistake with Wade. She definetly didn't want to make another.

Kinda shocked that she quickly withdrew from his touch, Justin was starting to have doubts that he would be able to pull this off tonight. Maybe Trace had been right. Maybe she wouldn't be an easy conquest. Not that he would mind the challenge, because as far as he was concerned, the harder the mission...the more fun it was. He just wanted to have as much fun as possible before Wade returned from NY.

"Make a left right here." she said, pointing down the street that lead to her apartment building.

Once Justin had parked her car, they walked up the stairs to her apartment and she hoped that Justin's security would arrive soon so that she could go to bed. Well, that and the fact that she was worried that something would happen between them.

Once they were inside her apartment, Michelle sat her purse down on the table and headed for the kitchen. 

"Can I get you something to drink while you wait?" 

"No, I'm good. Thanks."

Sitting her keys down on the table, Justin proceeded to join her in the kitchen. He was starting to have second thoughts about going through with this tonight. Something wasn't quite right. Not that getting her in bed for revenge against Wade was right, but something told him that tonight was going to be an uphill battle.

Grabbing a bottle of liquor from her cabinet, she poured herself a glass and then sat the bottle back down. Leaning against the counter, Michelle chugged down the contents of her glass and was about to pour another when Justin stopped her.

"Girl, I think you have had enough already. Why don't you gimme the glass and let's call it a night." he said, reaching to take the glass from her. She held onto it tightly for a second before finally letting Justin have it. After he sat the glass down in the sink, he placed his hands on the counter around her and leaned in. 

"You know, I think you short changed me the last time we were this close."

"Excuse me?" she said, startled by the brashness of his comment. She knew exactly what he meant, but she couldn't believe he actually had the nerve to say it. Well, then again, she shouldn't be surprised. She was sure there weren't many girls...if any...that would walk out on the advances of Justin Timberlake. 

"I said, I think you short changed me. The party at my place. Any of it sound vaguely familiar?" he chuckled, as he leaned in even closer.

Her heart was racing at the thought that he was actually here to finish what he had started. How did she let this happen. Had she given him any indication that she might possibly be interested in resuming the events of that night. Quickly her mind replayed the events from the club. She didn't recall saying or doing anything that would give him that impression, yet here he was confident that she would let him pick up where he left off.

"Uh...Justin, don't get me wrong. Your a great guy and all, but I can't do this."

"Do what?" he asked, more smuggly than she would have liked. God, did he really think she let him come back here to have sex with her. 

Trying to put any amount of distance between them, she pressed herself away from the counter and stood up straight. Unfortunetly, the second she moved, he moved as well. Now only mere inches from him, she knew that she needed to be completely firm about the fact that this was not what she had in mind when she allowed him to drive her home.

"Look Justin, I'm sorry if I did something or said something to make you think that anything was going to happen between us, because it's not." 

Completely ignoring her comment, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. He knew that she said it wasn't going to happen, but the look on her face told him the opposite. He had been witness to that look many times before and he knew without a doubt that she wanted it as much as he did. She just needed a little push.

Quickly he bent down and kissed her, trying his best to hold her between him and the counter. He had to let her feel how much he wanted her, despite the fact that she was trying her hardest to push him away. He only had once chance to get this right. If he messed up, she would never allow herself to be put in this position again. That much he was sure of.

Knowing he had to get her mind focusing on the pleasure of him and not so much the fact that what was happening was wrong, he slid his hand down between her legs. Instantly the feel of him there caused her to gasp against his lips, and whatever strength she had to resist him was now gone. The hands that tried to hold him back slowly softened and fell to her sides and he knew he had won the battle. She was now his for the taking.

"You were saying?" he said playfully, as he continued to rub his hand against her.

Feeling herself slip away, she closed her eyes and tried to fight the feelings that were growing insider her. Feelings of lust and pleasure that were slowly becoming more that she could handle. 

"Justin...please stop. I......can't do this." 

"Yes you can. It's easy...watch." he said, as slid his hand up and unfastened the button on her jeans. "Just relax, I promise you won't regret it." he said, unzipping her jeans and again leaning in to kiss her. 

At first he thought he was wrong about her. That maybe he didn't quite have her to the point he wanted, but that thought quickly faded when she finally began to kiss him back. 

"See, told you it was easy." he said, as he playfully bit her bottom lip. "Don't think about it so much. Just let it happen." 

So consumed with feelings of hurt and betrayal with Wade, she just wanted to escape it all. Just completely feel what it was like to be held and made love to and Justin was here offering that to her. In the back of her mind somewhere, she knew this behavior wasn't typical of her and normally she wouldn't allow such a thing to happen. Unfortunetly, whatever common sense she had about her left the moment he touched her. Now, she wanted it as much as he did.

Pressing herself away from the counter, she walked around him and headed towards the stairs. She didn't want to wait any longer for fear that she would lose her nerve. Plus, she didn't want Justin seeing the marks that Wade had placed on her. Upstairs, the only lights would be those from the city in the distance and she was sure that it wouldn't be enough light to make them visable. Walking up the stairs, she didn't bother to look back at Justin. She knew that he would undoubtedly know where she was heading.

Without waiting for the invite, Justin tossed his cell phone on the counter and followed after her, wanting her now more than ever.