- Christina's POV -
"That was such a good movie!" Rachel said as we walked out the cinema.
"Yeah it was pretty cool. I think we better go find mom and the others."
"Yeah, alright."
Rachel and I walked around for a bit before we spotted everyone else in the food court.
"Look who decided to finally join us." Stephanie laughed.
"Christina!" Mikey screamed as he ran up to me.
"Mikey, keep it down." Rachel hissed as we soon found almost everyone staring at us.
"It's fine. Just pretend they're not looking." I whispered in Rachel's ear as I took Mikey's hand and walked to our table.
"So, what did you guys get up to?" Casey asked as Rachel and I sat down.
"We just, you know, hung out." I shrugged.
"Yeah. What about you guys?" Rachel asked.
"Dad took us to the arcade!" Mikey exclaimed as I laughed.
"Where's Jordan?" I asked, noticing that he was missing from the table, along with my mother.
"Oh, he's with you're mom." Stephanie said.
"And we are here." My mom said, walking towards our table. My eyes fell on Jordan who looked comfortable walking beside her. It bothered me. How could he be so calm when I was sure that my mother had just gone in for round 2 of her attack.
I gritted my teeth as they both sat down at our table. To say I was furious with my mother would of been an understatement. It was the fact that she had singled him out when I wasn't there, that's what pissed me off the most.
"Relax, she was fine." Jordan whispered in my ear as he placed his hand on my lower back. Although, that didn't do much to calm me as I was still staring daggers at my mom.
"So," Rachel said, cutting the tension,"Where did you guys go?"
"We just walked around for a little bit, got to know each other better." Mom said, before turning to me, "You know, he's a great guy. I really don't know why you're not together."
I clenched my fists before smiling at her, "You really don't know anything do you?"
"Christina, don't." Jordan whispered in my ear again.
"Alright, who wants some lunch?" My step-dad asked.
"It's 4pm." I replied, still glaring at my mother. At this point I think there was steam rising from my head.
"Alright, who wants early dinner?" He asked again.
"I'll help you get it." Stephanie said.
"Yeah, me too." Casey said.
"Me three!" Rachel said.
"I think I'll go too. C'mon, Mikey." Jordan said as he got up and followed the rest of them, no one wanting to be present for the obvious war of words that was about to take place.
"You know, if you didn't want me to talk to Jordan then you could of just said so." My mom said, interrupting the silence.
"The way you acted last night, I think it was a given." I shot back.
"I was just trying to get to know him."
"By almost ruining what we had? He almost left because of you, some kind of mother you are."
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself, I've always been there for you."
"Not when I needed it most. Where have you been these past two years? Do you know anything that's happened in my life?"
"Of course I do."
"Did you know I almost died?"
"What?!"
"Yeah, overdose on anti-depressants. Oh, wait, do you even know I have depression?"
"Christina, I'm sorry."
"I don't want your apology. I just thought you should know." I said as I stood up and walked out. I hate fighting with my mom but sometimes she just pushes me too far. She doesn't know when to stop, but neither do I. I guess that's something I inherited from her. The last two years it's like I meant nothing to her, she was never around, no one was around. I was alone.
- Jordan's POV -
We searched everywhere for Christina. We searched all through the mall and the surrounding area. We even went back to the house and she still wasn't there. I tried my hardest to think where she could have gone. My mind took me back to a conversation I had with Christina a few months earlier.
*Flashback*
"What are you doing up here?" I asked as I climbed to the roof and took a seat next to Christina.
"I don't know. I usually just come up here when I'm sad or need to think things over. I just feel like I can breathe up here, you know."
"Yeah but why the roof?"
"I guess I've never really though about that, huh? It might have something to do with the feeling of flying or soaring, I usually only get that when I'm singing or listening to records. Which is why I guess back in Pittsburgh, I used the record store as my escape."
*End Of Flashback*
"The record store." I mumbled.
"What?" Shelly asked.
"The record store," I said again, though this time a lot clearer, "The record store that Christina used to go to, just take me there."
"If you say so." Her dad shrugged as he turned the car around.
The car ride to the record store was silent. I was full of hope. Full of hope that Christina would be there. I was worried sick about her, knowing her, she could of done anything.
"Here it is." Jim said as the car stopped, "Are you sure she's here?"
"I hope so." I mumbled as I got out the car.
I walked in and immediately scanned the store for Christina. There was no sight of her anywhere. Shit.
"Can I help you?" An employee asked as he walked over to me.
"Yeah, um, was there a girl that came in here recently?"
"You have to be more specific than that." He laughed.
"Short, black hair, super hot, kind of looks like Christina Aguilera."
"Oh, her. Yeah, she asked me if she could go on the roof for a bit."
"Is she up there now?"
"Yeah, you can go right on up there if you want." He said as he motioned to the back of the store.
"Thanks man." I smiled as I ran towards the door he pointed at.
I walked out onto the roof and saw Christina laying down and looking up at the sky.
"Hey." I said as I laid down next to her.
"Hey." She said softly, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Can you promise me that you'll always be here for me?"
"Of course."
"You have to promise."
"I promise. How could I leave my girlfriend anyway?"
"Girlfriend?" She asked, now turning her head to look at me.
"Yes, girlfriend. Christina Maria Aguilera, you are my girlfriend and there are no if's or but's about it."
"Finally, I thought you'd never get the hint." She laughed.
"You know, instead of leaving a trail of hints, you could of just asked.
"Now where's the fun in that?" She asked as I laughed.
"C'mon, we better get going. Everyone else is down in the car." I said as I stood up.
"I don't want to go."
"Christina, everyone is waiting for you. Do you know how worried they were?"
"I can't talk to my mom."
"Then don't. Wait until the time is right, then you can sort all of this out, but for now, you're going to have to suck it up and go get in that car."
"Fine." She said as she took a hold of my out stretched hand and pulled herself up.
- Christina's POV -
"Hey." I breathed out as I stepped out onto the porch where my mother was standing.
"Hi." She said, not making eye contact.
"You know, we haven't had a proper talk in a while. I think it's about time we did." I said as I took a step closer to her.
"What's there to talk about? I've failed as a mom. I was too busy focusing on my life I had no idea what was going on in your life."
"It's not your fault. I should of told you what was happening, but I didn't, and I'm sorry for that. I was in a really messed up place, I didn't know what I was doing, mom. I needed help but I was too afraid to ask for it, but more importantly, too afraid to come to you."
"You're ok now, hun. That's all that matters." She said as she pulled me in for a hug.
"I love you, mom." I said.
"I love you too, baby."
****
"Have a safe flight, honey!" My mom said through tears as I gave her a goodbye hug, "You too, Jordan!" She shouted as she let go of me.
"It's been nice having you back, the real you. I haven't seen the real Christina in a while." Rachel smiled, giving me a hug.
"It's nice to be back." I smiled back as I felt a tugging at my leg.
I looked down and saw Mikey clung to my leg, "Please don't go, Christina!"
I bent down to his level and smiled at him,"I don't want to go but I have to, Mikey. I'll be back soon, I promise, but until then you need to stay here and look after everyone else. Ok?"
"Ok, but I'm still gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you too, buddy." I said as I gave him one last hug before heading towards the limo with Jordan. I gave one last wave to my family before getting inside.
"You have a great family." Jordan smiled.
"Don't worry you'll be seeing a lot more of them, they said they like you."
"Not as much as I like you."
"Only like?" I pouted playfully.
"Sorry, not as much as I love you."
"That's better, I love you too." I smiled.
"I never get tired of hearing you say that." He laughed.
"Me neither."
"Say it again?" He asked as I rolled my eyes.
Jordan smiled as he kissed me and I knew then that never again would I be alone.
- The End -