"Hey, this is Justin, I'm unavailable so leave a message."

Serrica sighed into the receiver, "Jay its Sara. I thought you were gonna come visit me today? I really miss you baby, but I guess you had something more important to do."

Salty hot tears slid down her pale face. She had been in the hospital for a week and no one had come to visit her. Justin promised he would come. So much for promises.

"Sara, baby, are you all right?"

"JC!" Serrica jumped off the bed into his warm embrace. "God I never thought I would miss you so much," she cried.

"I've missed you to Sara," he hugged her close, "how's everything going? They treating you good?" Her eyes reddened with tears and her bottom lip quivered.

"I wanna go home. Its not like I need to be here Jace. I don't have any serious problems, I just need rest."

"I know baby. You want me to call Silk and have everything arranged for you to leave?" JC questioned about Serrica's bodyguard.

"Naw, I wanna go back to Florida and stay with you and the guys," she looked up shyly. "If that's all right with you?"

"Now you know you're welcome at my house anytime you want to come and I'm sure it's the same way with all the guys. We love you Serrica. It's our job to help the ones we love."

JC and Serrica arrived in Orlando around eight that same evening. Her spirits had lifted so much just being out in the fresh air. Of course, word had spread of her discharge and a crowd of people gathered awaiting her arrival. Neither of them signed autographs or took any pictures but Serrica stopped to voice her thanks for all the support her fans had given her.

"And I just want you guys to know that ya'll mean the world to me and without you I might not be as strong as I am today. Thanks for all your letters, videotapes, and flowers. I loved it all," Serrica smiled brightly as JC pushed on her back lightly to keep her moving forward.

Justin sat with his head in his hands. Every now and then, he would glance up at the clock. He looked completely miserable.

"Man what's wrong with you?" Joey questioned sitting a bottle of beer down in front of Justin. The troubled man just shook his head. A few moments later he spoke.

"She's gonna kill me Joe."

"What? Who are you talking about, why are they gonna kill you?"

"Sara, she's gonna kill me this time. I've done something that I can't get out of."

"And this would be?"

"I slept with Michelle Rondez and I think, well she thinks she might be--"

"You slept with Michelle Rondez," Serrica's face was plastered with disgust. "What in the hell were you thinking?" She yelled throwing her hands in the air.

"Baby it's not what you're thinking. I--"

"Save the bullshit, Justin! Why would you do that to me? How could you do that to me?" Tears began to build in her eyes sporadically spilling their banks.

"I thought you loved me," she began to sob. " I actually thought you loved me," she whispered slowly backing through the house to collect her belongings.

"Serrica wait!"

Justin caught up with Serrica sitting on a mound of dirt beside Joey's pond. Cautiously he slid down next to her. Neither said a word until a puff of wind blew Serrica's sweet scent in Justin's direction.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Please don't do this to me Serrica. I love you," he took her hand in his, "I really truly love you." Her cold chocolate gaze turned, searching his cobalt eyes for some since of truth.

"If you love me then why do you hurt me?" Tears fell freely from her eyes that were all cried out. Justin tried to brush them away but she moved back so he could not touch her.

"Serrica I love you," he spoke. His words ripping her heart into a million pieces. She loved him to but he had hurt her too many times.

"Sometimes Justin, you think you love something but it just turns out that you were attached to it."

"Please--" she placed a single finger over his lips to silence him.

"It's my turn Justin," picking up his hand she began.

"I love you more than you'll probably ever know. Every night before I go to bed I thank God that he gave you to me. Even through the bad times," she wiped away a few stray tears, "but we need a break Justin. You know it just as well as I know it."

"But I love you Sara. I wanna be with you forever. I know we can make it work." Serrica stood and without a word she walked away, leaving Justin dumbfounded at what just occurred.

Chapter 3