In Need of Our Sanity

Chapter 32: Dirty Tricks and lots of love

The moon hung in the misty night sky as Rachel sat alone on a log in a clearing, just to be free of Justin's snoring. As much as she loved him, he wasn't half disturbing at night. She knew that Logan wanted her, as much as the others thought she was stupid enough to be oblivious. She also noticed how childishly him and Justin were dealing with it. She didn't want to end their little war over each other just yet, for it was slightly entertaining for her. Plus, she thought they deserved to be unsure for a bit longer, Justin because of his lack of faith, and Logan because of the way he was messing with Justin's head. She was teasing Logan, caring for him like she had a crush on him, but found it silly how anyone in the world would believe she loved anyone except Justin Matthew Brown. She was so deep in thought she didn't notice the amused grin playing on her lips or Logan come up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. She knew it was Logan by the way he walked; it was boyish and just exactly not Justin. 

'What're you doing out here?' he asked, casually sitting beside her. 

'Oh nothing,' she replied 'Freeing myself from his bloody snoring!' she laughed.

'Ridiculous right? I can hardly rest!' he agreed. She heard him mutter on the side, 'Not a good quality for an ideal boyfriend.'

She pretended not to hear. 'Why are you out?'

'Looking for you, you worried me when I saw your...pile of leaves was empty.' 

It was true, since Logan dashed out on Yashita, they had to make temporary refuge elsewhere. 

She smiled, and looked at Logan. 'Alright then.' she giggled and rolled her eyes.

'You have such an adorable laugh.' he said softly, smiling too.

Again she rolled her eyes. She knew a player move when she saw one. Coming from Justin, she would probably have just kissed him there and then. 

'And when you roll your eyes.' he placed his hand beneath her chin and looked into her eyes. She tried to flinch away, but he turned her back. 'Look at me.' he said simply.

She turned her head so she could see his face, staring into his eyes confusedly. 'Why on ea-' she began, being cut off in a most surprising way. She jumped as she felt lips on hers. She wanted to shout at him or refuse him or something, but he was strong, and she was pretty much frozen with shock. 

***

Justin stirred, and rolled over. He was just waking up, though he wasn't sure why because the moon was still prominently glaring from the sky. He opened his eyes, yawning, and sat up. He saw straight away that Rachel wasn't there, and had to look around a bit to see that Logan wasn't either. His heart dropped, and he had a sick feeling in his gut. He leapt to his feet and bolted to the clearing where he was almost sure Rachel would be. Pushing himself through undergrowth and tree trunks, he halted at a sight that made his gut twist and his heart snap. He tried to move or speak but his mouth was dry as bone. In his numbness, he couldn't hold the tears back, and felt them slowly splashing from his tear ducts and down his face. Rachel, who seemed paralysed, finally recoiled and noticed Justin, her face twisting into a shock-stricken, pained, disbelieving expression as he shook his head slowly before turning, wrenching his gaze from the two traitors and carelessly wandered to the shore, where he sat himself down on the sand and just allowed himself to cry. He saw it coming, he saw the player with the dirty tricks claiming the girl in the end. They were high school aged, and it wasn't the movies. As he curled his legs to his chest and buried his face in his knees. He honestly thought she loved him, as much as he loved her. He heard her footsteps and knew she was coming toward him without looking up. 

'Come to gloat, eh?' he sobbed quietly. 

'W-w-what?' she gasped, sounding genuinely shocked.

'You've clearly moved on.' he raised his voice a bit. 'Too quickly, in my opinion.'

'Y-you don't think...You didn't...Y-...Wha-...No...' she stuttered, grasping his point. 

He kept silent to let his words process in her mind. 

'There is nothing between me and Logan.' she said firmly, regaining herself. 

'That isn't what it seemed like.' he replied coldly. 

Rachel sighed, her lyrical voice reduced to a whisper. 'Y-you know I love you.' 

'I did. But now I know that is a lie.' he growled, his teeth clenched to stop himself falling at her feet and begging her to say his eyes deceived him.

***

She regained her bearings as Logan pulled back. She stared at him, dumbstruck as he smiled cheekily at her. She was pulled from her trance as she heard an achingly familiar sobbing and knew it was all over. Justin. She turned to look at him, her face an apologetic mess, but he seemed to give up and just walked away. 

Logan smirked. 'Well that saves telling him you chose me.' 

Rachel snapped her head back to Logan, unable to put words for her hatred towards his heartless arrogance. How could he even think for a minute she'd take him over Justin? She slapped him hard across the face and ran to find Justin and explain it all. 

***

...He just said Rachel didn't love him. He couldn't say that! She'd been his girlfriend since she was 13! He couldn't say that! Logan was just a friend, if even that now he had potentially ruined her relationship. A bolt of anger coursed through her. He had done this to Justin as well as her, which really enraged her.

‘How. Could. You. Think. That?’ she said, spacing out every word and trying to keep her temper down.

He just shrugged, still sobbing. She sat down next to him on her knees, and felt bad for being so harsh. ‘He kissed me.’ She whispered. ‘I had no part in it.’

‘Yeah?’ he wept. ‘Well why didn’t you stop him then?!’

‘I-I was in shock...I still am...’ she grasped for words to say to make him believe her. Then she realised something. ‘Hey, you’re the one that’s jealous for no reason!’

He seemed to forget to cry. ‘What?’

‘You! You’re jealous of Logan trying to get to me when there’s really no need!’

He sighed and tried to object, but fell silent having been defeated.

She put her hand on his face. ‘Hey,’ she turned his head to look at her. ‘Logan might be a brave, buff islander, but not one guy in the world compares to you. I don’t love anyone else.’ She stopped and smiled. ‘I was just teasing Logan. Y’know, a little bit of playing with the player.’ She wiggled her eyebrows in a humorous fashion.

Justin rolled his eyes and smiled weakly at her. ‘It’s official. I’m an idiot.’ He laughed, and then said seriously. ‘I’m sorry Rach, I shouldn’t get jealous...I just care a lot, that’s all.’

‘I know, so do I. Would I be out here with you otherwise?’ Rachel turned to face him and kissed him full on the lips. She had done this many times before, but she loved the feel of their connection still, and it was like the first time all over again. She knew she loved him, and couldn’t imagine herself with anyone else.