Is This the End?

Chapter Five

"I wonder when the quickest we can get to Vegas is," Justin said.

"Don't you have anything or anyone to say goodbye to before we leave?" asked Nick.

"Just my mom and Molly, really." Now that Justin had decided to go to Vegas, he was eager to leave Pittsburgh behind. "I'll go and do that, now," he added.

"Want me to come with you?" asked Greg.

Justin shook his head. "No. This is something I need to do alone. Besides all of the crying would probably creep you out."

"I have an idea," said Nick. When Justin and Greg looked at him with questioning eyes, he continued. "How about we rent a car and drive back to Vegas?"

"Drive?" asked Justin.

"Yeah. It'll take a little over a day and we could all take our time getting there."

"It would be nice," said Greg. "Besides, I'm not in a huge hurry to see Grissom anytime soon."

After a moment, Justin agreed. "Cool, let's do it. I should be back in a couple of hours. If I'm not, send the Marines in case mom has kidnapped me."

Greg laughed. "Justin... always the dramatic one."

Justin just shrugged in a 'what-can-I-say gesture' and walked out of the apartment. A few minutes later, Nick and Greg were also gone. After, of course, Greg left a note for Ethan. Fuck you, Rat!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

JENNIFER TAYLOR'S CONDO

Even though Justin was determined that he was going to Vegas, he was nervous about telling his mother. It was short notice, after all!

After a moment of waiting having knocked on the front door, the door opened and Justin was greeted with his mother's smiling face. "Hey, sweetie!"

"Hi, Mom," he replied as he hugged her.

"What's wrong?" she immediately asked.

"How do you do that?"

"It's a mother thing. Now, answer my question."

Justin and Jennifer walked into the living room, where Molly was watching television. Justin turned it off.

"Hey!" his younger sister Molly protested.

Justin ignored her and started talking. "Mom... Molly... I'm moving. To Vegas." Justin figured telling his mother the news was like ripping off a bandaid. Do it quick.

It took Jennifer a moment to process the news, but when she did, she looked at her only son with shock. "You're what?!"

Justin let out a deep breath. "I'm moving to Vegas. Where Greg is."

"Why? What about Ethan?"

"He kicked me out. He accused me of still being in love with Brian."

"Are you?" Jennifer softly asked.

"Yeah. But it doesn't matter." Justin paused a moment, then continued, "Mom, I want to do this. I need to do this. I need a fresh start. Please don't be mad at me."

"Oh, honey. I'm not mad at you. I love you. And, I'm going to miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Mom." Justin said with slightly watery eyes.

"What about Debbie and the gang? When are you going to tell them?"

"Well, I'm leaving today. In a couple of hours, actually. Nick, Greg and I are driving down. So, I'll tell them when I get there. I doubt they'll miss me, too much, anyway. Not after what happened with Brian."

Justin stayed and spent his last couple of hours in Pittsburgh with his mother and sister. When he was ready to leave, he gave his mother a tight hug. He hugged his sister and swung her around. When he sat her back on her feet, she looked him in the eye. "I love you, Juster."

"I love you, too, Mollusk." It was with a bittersweet feeling that he walked away from his mother's condo. He hated to see her cry, but he felt free. Las Vegas was what he needed. It was going to be a fresh start.
 

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