What Happened to Perfect?

“Hello?” I had just got back home and my phone rang almost instantly.

“I like how you don’t have the decency to call me back or anything after having me worried about you all night long.” Selena immediately began.

“I’m sorry.” I bit my lip, knowing the worst has yet to come.

“And then I had to find out from Cam, that some stupid ass website knows more about what’s going on in your life right now than I do!” she continued “I mean Cam, really?”

Fuck Cam, I knew there was a reason I hated this guy so much, “Of course Cameron had something to do with this…” I mumbled.

“Oh what is that supposed to mean?”

“Cameron hates me! He’ll make up anything to get you upset with me.” I began pacing the living room.

“That’s not even true, he doesn’t hate you nor does he ever want to see me upset. He’s the one who called me last night to make sure everything was alright when you just left me to wallow in self-pity!”

“Listen, I’m sorry for just walking out on you like that, it was wrong but you just sprung the news on me and I admit that I overreacted, and I’m sorry but what you saw was not what it looked like.” I tried to explain.

“Mhm, so what exactly was going on?”

“Okay this is going to sound stupid but after you told me that you- that you’re—”

“Pregnant.”

“Right, and I left and went to the beach, to clear my mind you know. So I’m just walking along minding my own business and I trip over this girl and she’s all watch where you’re going and I’m like why are you sleeping on the beach and she told me she’s having problems at home—”

“So you decided it was your duty to take her to your place?” she sounded totally unconvinced.

“Exactly and at first she was hesitant, but eventually agreed and she slept in the living room and I slept in my room and nothing happened. The paparazzi just caught us when we were walking in, that’s all. She’s a cool girl really, easy to talk to but that’s it.” I sat on the couch only to find I had sat on something. Reaching down and grabbing the square object I realized it was Charlotte’s wallet and sighed inwardly.

“I find that incredibly hard to believe... and if it were anyone else but you I wouldn’t even buy it, but I trust you Justin.” Selena spoke softly.

“I’m glad you feel that way.” I almost smiled “Listen, I gotta go but I’ll call you as soon as I can okay?”

“Yeah talk to you later, babe”

“Love you, bye.” I hung up and dialed the last outgoing number on my phone. I heard Charlotte’s sing-songy voice answer and felt relief rush through me. “Hey um-Charlotte this is Justin.”

“Justin, I’m so glad you called!” Charlotte exclaimed. “I think I left my wallet in your car or at your place, I don’t know I can’t find it and I’m hoping I didn’t leave it on the be-”

I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself “Yeah I just got home and saw it laying on the couch, which is why I called you in the first place.”

“Don’t go sifting through it and stealing anything now! I know exactly how much money is in there.” She warned.

“Oh man, I don’t know I’m so tempted to take it all! Do you know how hard it is living off a pop stars paycheck nowadays?” I played along.

“Well $10.75 won’t do you any good.”

“Hey, that’s like two Happy Meals at McDonalds.”

“You would know that.” She laughed.

I couldn’t help but laugh, “Hey, I love my chicken nuggets.” There was a mutual, yet content silence, “So do you want me to just bring it to you or…?”

She sighed “Well your place is on my way to school so I’ll just hop off the bus and walk over and get it tomorrow morning, if that’s alright with you.”

“Nonsense” Why should she have to come here and get it when I’m the one who invited her over in the first place? “I’ll just drop it off later today.”

“Oh that’s great actually because I was lying about you being on my way to school.” She laughed. “What time will you be over?”

“Hmm I have a few things to handle but they should be over by at least 3 so… 3:30 sound good?”

“Awesome, see you then!”

“Alright, later.” I hung up the phone and couldn’t help the big smile that took over my face.

Later

“I’m outside” I called Charlotte when I arrived at her house later that day.

“Alright I’m on my way!” she said quickly before hanging up and running outside.

I smiled upon seeing her and reached to grab her wallet, “Here you are, all $10.75 is still in there. I didn’t even open it, you can check.” I rolled down the window and handed it to her and she looked it over.

“I know for a fact you didn’t because I lied, I’m poor, there’s actually like 3 dollars in here that’s why I’m so skinny I can’t afford to eat. Oh and my bus card is here and you would’ve known that if you looked in there, but thanks anyway.” She hugged me.

“No problem, Hop in lets go get you something to eat.”

“Are you trying to make me fat Justin?” she laughed “Or are you just bribing me with food to make me like you?”

“Ah you caught me, a little of both actually.”

“Well I’m down, let’s go!” she ran around the car and hopped in the passenger seat.

“Where to?” I asked.

“Oh I know this awesome little vegan café that you will just adore… and if you don’t, oh well you’re going to love it so whatever. It’s on Sunset and Santa Monica.”

We arrived at the café and I parked around the corner seeing how there was no valet and threw on my shades trying not to get caught by the paparazzi who just had to be around here somewhere. They’re fucking everywhere. When walking back to the café we passed a newsstand and Charlotte stopped short staring at one of the magazines.

“Oh my God dude we can’t keep hanging out.” She said grabbing the magazine and shoving it in my face.

On the cover was a picture of us from last night and a stupid headline about us dating. “Are you not allowed to have friends that are girls or something? It’s like oh we’re walking together we must be dating!” she exclaimed and threw the magazine down. “I don’t wanna be famous man, I see what you guys have to deal with, fuck that I’m fine with just being a nobody.”

I started walking again motioning for her to follow after a man had stopped reading his newspaper and had his phone pointed in our direction, most likely taking pictures or recording us, pretending to be texting. “It’s stupid, I know.” I mumbled before making a sharp turn into the café with every intent to hideaway for the rest of the day.

The Next Week

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked her quietly. Selena nodded quietly, her head low and eyes glued to our entwined fingers. “I mean you don’t have to do this for me… Is it safe? Are you sure this is what you really want to do?” Needless to say I was beyond nervous.

“Yes! Justin I’m sure that I want to do this. I’m doing it for us, not you, not me, but us… and I need to do this now, it’s been five weeks Justin, too much longer and this could be dangerous.” She spoke lowly, but with force so no one around us could hear.

We were at an abortion clinic, a higher class one but a clinic nonetheless. Selena was shaking from nervousness and clenching my hand with a near death grip, but she assured me “This is for the best Justin, trust me… We’re not ready for this yet.” So I had no other choice but to go along with her.

As we were sitting there in the waiting room I listened to the chatter among us, couples talking in hushed tones, and tried to avoid actually hearing Selena sniffle almost silently next to me. Relief came in the form of my phone vibrating and I reached with my hand that wasn’t being crushed to death in my pocket and grabbed it. The screen informed me that it was a text message from Charlotte. We had been talking a lot lately after hanging out last Sunday, and she was so excited when her parents actually bought her a cell phone that she has basically been texting me nonstop… not that I mind or anything. It’s been welcomed actually, anything to get my mind off of all the drama going on in my life right now.

“I saw this boy at work and instantly thought of you!” she sent a picture attached to the message of a little boy dressed in something I probably would (and probably did) wear at a concert. I couldn’t help the small smile and chuckle that slipped out of my mouth, which caught Selena’s attention. “Look babe, this is what our kid would look like.” I slid the phone in front of her and she glared at me.

“Do you think this is all just a joke?” she yanked her hand out of mine.

“What? No-”

“Because it’s not Justin! I’m pregnant with your child. Where did you find that stupid picture anyway?”

“Charlotte sent it to me…”

“Oh Charlotte, of course. The girl you met on the beach.”

“She’s just—”

“Save it.” Selena stormed out of the room after causing a huge scene.

I got up and followed her but she disappeared so quickly and I had no clue where to even look first. I stood outside the building for a few minutes just looking at the clouds and wondering Why? I looked down at the open text message and pressed the call button. She answered almost immediately, “Sup Bieber?

“Char,” I whined.

“Uh oh, what’s up? You never call me Char unless something’s wrong.” She sighed.

“It’s Selena…” I began “I showed her the picture you sent me and she got all mad and just stormed off. I don’t know why.”

“Oh my God Justin you’re so dumb!” she practically yelled, “This girl will be bearing your child soon and you go and show her a picture of a mini-you. I’d storm off too; her hormones are probably all over the place right now.” Charlotte is the only person other than Selena and I who know about her pregnancy, I haven’t even told Ryan or Chaz, I can’t bring myself to do it, but I haven’t told her about Selena wanting to get an abortion.

“Yeah well about that- actually I kinda showed her the picture while we were sitting in an abortion clinic… then she ran out.”

“UGH!” Charlotte groaned “You boys can’t do anything right. Justin I would hang up on you right now if I wasn’t bored and had nothing else to do right now.”

“You’re not really helping right now…”

“Well what did you call me for? You should be going to see if Selena is alright, considering you’re being a giant doucheface right now.”

I inwardly sighed, not wanting to admit that she was right. “Yeah, I’ll call you back later, I guess.” Charlotte told me not to fuck things up again and hung up. I went to look for Selena but had no clue where to go first. After standing in the same spot and staring at the same chunk of brick wall for what felt like hours I decided go sit in the car because I had a sneaky suspicion I was being watched. When I got to the car I went to pull my keys out of my pocket when I heard some sniffles and saw a limp body leaning on the rear passenger door.

“Selena?”

She looked up and sniffled again “I tried to get in but I didn’t realize it was your car until too late, and I couldn’t call you because I left my purse in the backseat.” She began bawling “I’m such a dumbass, I can’t do anything right.”

I rushed over and enveloped her in a tight embrace “Shh, don’t say that, those were honest mistakes.” I cooed in her ear as she shook and cried “This whole thing is my fault anyway. I’m the one that showed you the picture, and I’m the one who agreed to bring you here.”

“Yeah, only after I basically begged you to bring me!”

“But I could’ve said no and I didn’t so—”

“I would’ve ended up here anyway; this is in no way your fault.”

I hated how Selena always blamed herself for everything. I don’t get how she doesn’t see that flawless girl that I see every time I look at her when she looks in the mirror. She can do no wrong in my eyes, and I just wish she could feel the same way about herself as I felt about her. “There’s no use blaming ourselves,” I knew she would continue to blame herself if I let her, I knew, and although she wouldn’t admit it she knew this is my fault. I’m the one who got her pregnant in the first place.

“You’re right.” Selena bit her lip and looked me in the eyes “I do need to go in there and get this over with though.”

I grabbed her hand and intertwined our fingers in reassurance. “We need to go in there.” I corrected her.

“Right, we.” She failed at holding back a smile I was we walked back into the clinic.