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Bella leaned against the sink, still feeling the dizziness from the alcohol.
She glanced at Justin through the reflection in the mirror, her eyes unfocused.
“You think I wanted this?” she muttered, her voice weak and slurred.
“You think I wanted to feel this way? I was just trying to forget.
.
.
everything.
“
Justin didn’t respond immediately, watching her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and tried to steady herself, but her legs were still uncooperative.
He stepped forward, his hand reaching out as if instinctively to steady her.
Bella jerked away, looking at him with a mixture of defiance and bitterness.
“Don’t touch me.
Don’t act like you care.
I don’t need your pity.
“
His gaze softened just a little, but it was fleeting.
“I’m not pitying you,” he said quietly, his voice almost like a growl.
“I’m pissed off at you, Bella.
You’re throwing your life away.
“
She snorted, rolling her eyes.
“Throwing my life away? And what about you, huh? Are you the picture of a perfect life?” Her words were laced with anger, but there was also pain.
“You don’t get to lecture me about how I should live my life.
“
Justin’s jaw tightened, his fingers gripping the edge of the doorframe as if to restrain himself.
The air between them crackled with tension.
“You think I’m perfect?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“You think I’ve got everything figured out? Well, guess what? I don’t.
But I’m not out here making a damn mess of everything just because I can’t deal with my emotions.
“
Bella scoffed.
“Like you ever gave a damn about my emotions.
“
The words stung more than she realized, but she didn’t show it.
Instead, she turned away, pulling herself together as best as she could, still struggling to steady her breath.
She looked at herself in the mirror again, as if trying to find a piece of the woman she used to be—the woman who wasn’t so broken.
Justin watched her for a moment before stepping forward, his voice suddenly more measured.
“Look, I’m not here to fight with you.
But you need to stop running away from everything, Bella.
You’ve got a lot of people who care about you, including me.
“
Bella’s heart skipped at the last part, but she kept her gaze firmly on the mirror, unwilling to acknowledge it.
“I don’t need anyone,” she muttered, almost to herself.
“I don’t need you.
“
Justin’s eyes darkened at her words, his hand reaching out to grip her shoulder gently, forcing her to face him.
“Then stop acting like you’re fine when you’re not.
Stop pushing everyone away.
Especially me.
“
Bella felt a mix of emotions swirl inside her, but she pushed them down as best as she could.
She looked at him, her face flushed from the alcohol and the emotions that had been stirred up.
“You don’t get it, do you? You were never there when I needed you.
You left me with nothing, and now you think you can just swoop in and fix it all?”
Justin’s grip on her shoulder tightened slightly.
“I wasn’t there, but I’m here now.
“
Bella’s breath hitched in her throat, and she pulled away from him, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
“You don’t get to come back and pretend like everything is okay.
“
With that, she turned abruptly, stumbling slightly as she made her way out of the bathroom, leaving Justin standing there, staring after her, feeling more helpless than he ever had before.
