Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 22-23 We're Not Together/ Into The Stars

"My reaction when I noticed the Ativan wasn't working as well. How I couldn't reel it in or control my emotions."

"One, it was your addiction that took over. Two, you're Julia Moretti. You can't control your emotions regardless of your addiction." I nudge her a little and she breaks a smile.

"Can't I just put you and Nate together to make one perfect boyfriend?"

"Um, no. I'm already perfect and Nate would just ruin that for me." I laugh. Julia rolls her eyes at me and rests her head on my shoulder.

"Where is Mr. Celebrity anyway?"

"He had some interview. Paul and Trisha are with him. Jonah and Casey just came back from walking Maggie, so I thought I'd come in and check on you." I nudge her with my nose a little and she lifts her head off my shoulder. When Julia does that, I focus on her lips and feel all sorts of stirring inside from how close we are.

I brush my lips against hers and Julia doesn't back away. So, I go a step further. I lean into her ear to whisper, "I could be the perfect boyfriend..." I pause. "If you gave me the chance."

"James knock it off." Julia whispers but keeps her eyes closed and tilts her neck to give me more access.

"What? I'm not doing anything." I flirt and kiss up her neck and across her jawline. I can tell it's affecting her by the way she stiffens up and squeezes her thighs together. Being this close to her is sure affecting me, that much I can feel.

"That.. what you're doing right now."

"We're just talking." I swipe my lips against hers.

"James..."

"Julia."

"You always have to go that one step too far." She whispers but I stop her by kissing her. She kisses me back.... at first.... but then gains self-control and backs away breathlessly.

"You're trouble, Mr. Gallo." She says, making me laugh as I shift in my seat a little due to the semi she just gave me.

We stopped the flirting just in time as Jonah swings the door open.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" He asks as he walks in and sits down across from us.

"I need to get off this shit, Jonah. I'm only getting worse. I was doing so good staying away from it for so long. I never asked for this."

"I know. At the time we had no other options, Julia. Jeremy thought maybe you'd be ok on a low dose long term." Jonah replies with a look of regret on his face.

"Jeremy was wrong. I'm not ok. Now my body just wants more and more. You can't just give someone a low dose of what they're addicted to and think they can continue the low dose. That's like giving someone just a little heroin instead of the whole injection." Julia says in frustration.

"You check in with Jeremy daily, correct? Let's sit down together with him today and figure this out. Detoxing while on tour may not be the best idea but maybe we can pick his brain on different ways to get you through this." Jonah has always been willing to help and try to figure things out for Julia. Fingers crossed he can figure this out because she's only gonna get worse.

*****

*Trisha*

I wait in the dressing room with Leslie while Nate wraps up the interview.

"No, really. You should see this reporter, Leslie." I whisper as we sit on the couch together. "Like real hot."

The door opens and Nate and the guy walk in together while in mid-conversation still. Apparently, Nate hit it off with the kid and it's like they're old friends or something. He never walks in with a reporter after the interview is over. Ever.