true colors - jb & ag 《completed》

{five}

''Do you think he'll come back here?" Lisa asked as she laid a slinky black skirt on top of the growing pile of clothes in Ariana's arms.

The logical part of Ariana's brain told her Justin would never return—to the scene of the crime, where Daniel's parents still grieved, where he would forever be seen as a criminal. But the part of her that knew Justin Bieber better than anyone else on the planet knew he'd never run from a challenge in his life.

The question that wouldn't stop playing through her mind since she'd heard he was released, since she'd seen that freaking candy wrapper, was whether or not she wanted him to return. She'd tried to reach him for almost a year after his conviction, but with every day she didn't hear from him, her heart had broken a little more. And even though she'd never admit it to anyone, she began to wonder if the darkness she'd seen growing in him after her father passed had eclipsed the Justin she used to know—the boy in her daydreams.

"Ariana?"

Recalling the shadowed figure she'd seen watching the house, Ariana suppressed a shiver and forced her attention back to her friend.

"Or will he go to . . . Where did you say his parents moved—Columbus?"

"Cincinnati," Ariana corrected. "Not sure." Ariana mouthed a relieved "thank you" as she unloaded her burdens into the arms of a clerk.

"What's your favorite color?" Lisa called from behind a multihued display. "Or more importantly, what's Brayden's favorite color?"

"I have no idea." A scarlet halter dress appeared in her arms as if by magic.

"All boys like red," Lisa pronounced as she flounced over to the jewelry counter.

They were shopping for her date—even if she didn't know if that's what it was—at the only upscale boutique in town. Lisa had turned her nose up at every other clothing store they entered, declaring them "too hippie," "too vintage," "too . . . disgusting!"

Unemployed—again. The money Ariana had managed to scrounge together wouldn't go far. She turned toward the fitting rooms. "I'm going to start trying stuff on."

Lisa was close behind. "I found the perfect necklace for that dress!"

Ariana stared at the rainbow of clothing hanging in her fitting room. The majority of it was way out of her comfort zone. She gravitated toward muted colors and comfortable fabrics. But she had to admit, the jewel tones Lisa had picked out for her were gorgeous. She selected a sapphire-blue sweater and held it up under her chin.

Lisa yanked open the door and appeared in the mirror behind her. "That blue really makes your eyes pop. Try it on," she ordered as she slammed the door.

Ariana drew her loose gray shirt over her head.

"And take those glasses off!"

"Oh. My. Gosh. Bossy much?" Ariana laughed as she removed her cat-eye frames and placed them in her purse. Ever since Lisa learned the glasses were only for seeing at a distance, she'd been bugging her to ditch them. Ariana slipped on a pair of soft charcoal leggings and turned to admire how long they made her legs look. And they were comfortable.

She opened the door and met Lisa at the three-way mirror. Her friend wore a sleeveless jumpsuit that managed to look relaxed and chic at the same time.

"That really is your color. Wait—" A blast of bass shook the mirrors in front of them.

"What's up there? A rave? It's five o'clock on a Wednesday. Geez, this town is weird." Lisa turned and looked over her shoulder to check out the back view of her outfit.

"It's a record store." Ariana adjusted the belt on her hips. "I love that jumper, by the way. I could never pull it off, but it looks great on you."

Lisa's blue eyes met hers in the mirror. "A record of what?"

"You know, albums. Are you sure you're from a big city?"

"Yes, genius, but record stores are only for stoners and old guys reliving their glory days." Lisa smirked. "Now go try on that sexy red dress."

Ariana did as ordered, and after ten more outfit changes they were at the checkout. The prices more reasonable than anticipated, she decided on the leggings and blue sweater, as well as the scarlet halter dress. She had no clue when she would wear it, but it actually made her look curvy instead of like a stick figure.

"Want to grab dinner?" Lisa asked as she paid for her jumper and three other outfits with matching accessories.

"Can't. I've got homework." Anxiety churned in Ariana's gut. For the second night in a row, she'd barely slept, and now she had at least three hours of studying ahead of her. A huge yawn escaped and she covered her mouth. If she didn't fall asleep first. This was exactly why she never procrastinated.

Ready to be home, Ariana gathered her bags and they made their way toward the door.

"Do you want to go to the game with me Friday night?" Lisa asked, stopping to admire a black tulle skirt. "Oh, I love this!"

"I think you've bought enough, and that's way too Madonna," Ariana teased as she tugged Lisa away. "And yes, going to the game sounds fun." After talking to Brayden yesterday, she'd realized she'd spent too much time worrying about what other people thought of her. She had a new friend and a date with one of the most popular boys in school. It was time to let go of the past and live her life. Enjoy her senior year.

"You should come to my house first. I'll do your makeup for your date with Braaayden."

"If you say his name like that again, deal's off," Ariana threatened.

Just as they reached the cramped entryway, a guy came out of the stairwell from the record shop. Tall with the lean muscles of an athlete, his T-shirt stretched tight across his chest and shoulders, a black baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. Something about the way his hair laid against the skin of his neck, the way he moved . . . she knew him. As he reached out to push open the door, he turned, and Ariana's heart dropped into her feet.

Justin.

Time seemed to stop as they stared at one another.

He was still Justin, but transformed, as if a sculptor had chiseled away the softness of his face to reveal the sharp angles beneath. Broad cheekbones, strong chin, square jaw clenched tight. But his eyes were the same deep brown of a chocolate brownie. He was Justin all right, but all grown up.

Then something clicked behind his gaze and turned hot like a gas flame igniting. Ariana sucked in a sharp breath as the planes of his face hardened into a mask of rage.

And for the first time in four years, Ariana believed Justin Bieber was capable of murder.

so how will their reunion work out???

and why is Justin acting like this??

let me know ur thoughts

oh and tysm for 300 reads and 40+ votes