Chapter 17

12/27/2056

Justin carried two packed apple boxes to their car while Chad packed up his stuff.

"How much more do we have?" Justin asked as he entered the bedroom.

"Just my painting supplies and the leftovers that were given to us," Chad said.

"Okay, I'll double-check everything," Justin said. There was a soft knock on the door, and Nicole peeked her head inside.

"Are you boys doing okay?" she asked.

"We've got it all handled, Mrs. Musa," Chad said.

"I've told you several times to call me mom," she said. "You're family," she said.

Justin walked in as Chad hugged Justin's mother. He stood there and smiled at the scene he was witnessing.

***cough***

"It's best that we go before it gets too late," Justin said.

"Don't be strangers," she said.

"We won't," Justin said.

"And you guys can visit," Chad said. Before they left, they went into the living room, where Selene sat on the couch.

"I'll miss you, Nanna," Justin said.

"I'll miss you also," she said. "At least I'll see you when we visit each other," she said, hugging the boys.

Ten minutes later, the boys were on the road, heading to their new home. The roads were a bit icy, so Chad drove slowly.

"Where are you going to put your painting supplies?" Justin asked.

"In the sunroom," Chad said. "It has good lighting," he said. Chad noticed that Justin was acting spacy.

"Are you alright?" Chad asked.

"Yeah, I'm just waiting for everything to just disappear," Justin said. "It's so surreal," he said.

"Nothing is going to happen," Chad said as he pulled into the driveway. "No more bad thoughts," Chad said. "Let's get this stuff inside," he said.

Justin carried in the leftovers and put them in the fridge. He stepped up to the thermostat and switched on the heat. He went back outside and helped bring in the rest of the stuff.

"The house is toasty warm," Chad said.

"Yeah, I turned on the heat," Justin said. They stopped long enough to grab something to eat before resuming their unpacking.

"I'm going to make a ham sandwich," Justin said. "Do you want one?" he asked.

"Sure," Chad said, nodding his head. "Just don't forget the mayo," he said.

Justin made sandwiches for Chad and himself. Instead of drinking orange juice, Justin heated up some apple juice.

"Since when do you drink hot apple juice?" Chad asked.

"Since I left the orphanage," Justin said.

"Oh," Chad said, raising an eyebrow in interest. "Is it good?" he asked.

"Yes," Justin said, nodding his head. "It's quite soothing on cold days," he said, sitting at the dining room table.

"I'll have to try it sometime," Chad said, sitting down beside him.

"Just remember, when you're heating it up, do it for only two minutes and let the cup cool," Justin said.

When the clock struck 2 p.m. Everything had been unpacked and was in its proper place. Justin sat on the couch with Chad, watching movies.

"I'm thinking I'll start looking for floral shops to apply to around the first of the year," Justin said.

"Well, good luck," Chad concluded. "I'll be cheering you on," he said.

"If I get a job, I might have to use the car," Justin said.

"That's fine," Chad said.

1/1/2057

Justin sat at the desk in the study with his laptop, which Daiki had given him for Christmas. He bit his lower lip as he wrote up his resume. Once finished, he read over it and made sure that everything was to his liking. The door opened and Chad walked in.

"Babe, take a break and eat something," he said.

"I've got to make sure this is good," Justin said.

"Justin, that resume is perfect," Chad said. "Stop pushing yourself so hard," he said. "Plus, I refuse to eat alone," he said, kissing Justin on the cheek.

Justin switched off the laptop, scooted away from the desk, and stood up. "I guess you're right," he said. "I'm just being a perfectionist again,"

"Perfectionist or not, I still love you," Chad said.

"I love you. to," Justin said, wrapping his arms around Chad's neck and kissing him. They headed into the dining room and sat down at the table.

A bowl of chicken Alfredo and a plate of garlic bread sat in the middle of the table.

"Have you decided on a job?" Justin asked, filling his plate.

"I haven't decided whether I want to cook or paint," he said. "I want a job that doesn't take my time away from you and your needs," Chad said.

"I'll be fine," Justin said. "Find something you like to do," he said.

"I was trying to cheer you up, and here you are helping me," Chad said, kissing Justin on his cheek.

The next day, Chad wrote up his resume after Justin sent it to two flower shops that were in town via email.

"Do you have any ideas about who you will send it to?" Justin asked.

"I have one, but I have to see if they'll let me work part-time so I can master my painting," Chad said.

"Oh, where?" Justin asked.

"Starbucks," he said.

"Oooh, free coffee," Justin said, grinning.

"So, you drink coffee?" Chad asked.

"Who doesn't?" Justin asked.

"I am learning lots about you," Chad said.

Justin was lying on the bed when his phone beeped, telling him that he had received an email. He grabbed his phone and opened the email app. With shaky hands, he clicked on the message.

Dear Mr. Musa,

I am writing to say that we looked over your resume. We are pleased that you are interested in working for us. Unfortunately, with your lack of experience, we can't hire you. I'm sorry; maybe when you have more job experience, we can hire you.

Justin checked the other email and found the same response. His world came crashing down twice. He felt like he had been sucker punched. He pulled his knees to his chest and laid his head on them. As if sensing that something was wrong, the door opened, and Chad rushed inside.

"Babe, what's wrong?" he asked, sitting next to him.

"My resume," Justin stammered. As tears rolled down his cheeks, Justin said, "They both rejected me," and sobbed. Chad wasn't sure what to say, so he pulled Justin into his arms and held him while he cried himself to sleep.