Don't Wanna Try No More
SS by Anne

8 o'clock and not one phone call. He was suppose to be there by 7 at the latest, dinner was getting cold. She hadn't heard from him all day but she thought it was part of one of his infamous surprises. But for some reason she felt the need to call him, just to check. 5 tries and each time she got his voicemail. This made her more concerned. Finally around 11pm she called again and got through.

"Hello"

"Where are you?" she asked worried.

"The studio....?" he said, confused as to why she asked. He figured she knew.

"When are you coming home?" she sighed.

"I don't think I'll make it home tonight, we're on a roll."

"Justin!! Have you totally forgot what today is?!" He could tell she was pissed now and tried thinking of what the date was. He caught a glimpse of the calendar and knew immediately.

"Oh shit! Brit I'm sorry, we just got caught up recording and...."

Click.

He knew he had to solve this in person now or she'd never forgive him. He wrapped things up and headed straight home. When he pulled into the driveway there wasn't one light on in the house. Passing the kitchen on his way up the stairs, he smelled peach cobbler and knew he really screwed up. She couldn't cook to save her life but she made that just for him on a special occasion. Slowly walking into their bedroom he saw her asleep, curled up into a ball in the blue teddy he gave her with tear stained cheeks. He pulled a chair up next to her side of the bed and tried to wake her up.

"Brit" he shook her shoulder. She woke up and rolled over away from him.

"Damnit Britney I forgot, I'm sorry." he said with his head in his hands. "What else do you want me to say? I just got caught up recording. This album is important to me."

"And I'm not?!" she rolled over quickly to stare him in the eye.

"I didn't say that. This is just my main focus right now."

"God Justin listen to yourself. We promised each other we would always be each other's main focus. We said we wouldn't put our careers above our relationship. I've held my tongue a lot lately because I see how important this album is to you, but this was our anniversary Justin. Our ANNI-VER-SARY. Doesn't that mean a damn thing to you anymore?" She was now sitting up on the bed, fuming mad.

"Yea but...."

"No!! There is no buts when it comes to love. I love you with all of my heart but I can't take being 2nd in your life right now. Maybe we should just take a break so you can concentrate completely on the music and not have to worry about me." She choked out.

"Wh-wh-what?! We don't need a damn break. We're FINE!"

"I don't see how you can say that. We're far from fine. You need your space so I'm going to give it to you."

"Who's the guy Britney?"

"What?"

"Just tell me!! There has to be somebody for you to be acting this way."

"You're talking stupid Justin, get out!" She yelled walking to the door and holding it open.

"Fine, if you can have whoever you want...so can I. I've had plenty of offers in my day, maybe now I'll get to take somebody up on it. And I can guarantee they'll be better fuck's than you ever were." And with that he stormed out of the house and squealed out of the driveway leaving her too stunned to move.

I can't believe you had the nerve to say the things you said
They hurt so bad that they ended our relationship
I can't believe it ...4 years go down the drain
Oh how I wish things would of happened so differently
I try'd to save it so many times but you still couldn't see
You kept insistin' and resistin' that you would not fall again

It had been over a year and she was finally starting to move on. She'd gone out on a few dates, went clubbing with the girls and tested the waters with all kinds of guys. Justin was with women in every country he visited, why was it so hard for her to do the same? She knew she was stronger than this and after a few good hardcore girl talks with her mom, Fe, and Laura Lynn....she knew she could get past this bump in the road. Her main focus right now was her album and getting back into the swing of things in the business.

There was a knock on the door and she immediately got aggravated because she told everyone she wanted the day to herself, no calls, no visits. Opening the door she was shocked with Justin standing there in bagging jeans barely hanging on his hips and a simple t-shirt.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, curious to his response.

His eyes traveled up and down her slim body leaning against the door many times until she broke his thought again.

"Justin?"

"Oh sorry, I just wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?" She couldn't read his voice or expressions.

"Fine but not for long, this is my only free day for a few weeks and I wanted to spend it without distraction."

He walked in through the foyer and carefully sat on the cough, avoiding her eyes. Britney sat in a chair across from him, not too far but not too close. She could tell he was focused on something and was surprised when he just blurted it out.

"Brit I think we should try things over again. I miss you and it's killing me to be on the road without you there to support me, at least mentally if not in person."

"No Justin" she said after a minute of soaking that in.

"What? Why not?"

"I'm finally starting to move on with my life and you want to bring back all the pain we went through?"

"I just..."

"No!! I'm at a good place in my career and my life. You're not going to bring me down again. We're both working our asses off on our music and you think we can start a relationship in the middle of that? Did you completely forget that's what broke us up in the first place? You were too damn focused on going solo and completely forgot about your friends and family.......and me."

"I never forgot about you!!"

"Oh yea? What about our anniversary? I had our room just perfect, made you dinner, and wore the nighty you gave me for my birthday. And what happened? Or have you already forgot about that too? Don't give me more bullshit Justin, we're over. We've BEEN over."

"I'm sorry" he said as he walked out of her house with his head hanging down. She fell back against the door and slid to the ground in tears.

And now you tryin' to tell me that your sorry
And your tryin' to come back home
Your tellin' me you really need me crying beggin both knees are on the floor
But baby I......
Don't wanna try don't wanna try don't wanna try no more
You keep insisting when you know our love is out the door
Don't wanna try don't wanna try cuz all we do is fight and say the things
I hurt you bad to when we both begin to cry
Don't wanna try don't wanna try I 'bout just had enough its been a rough road
Baby just let it go
Don't wanna try don't wanna try don't wanna try no more
Tell me whats the use of holdin' on when all we do is hurt our love

Flashback - December 2nd, 2002

Throwing one arm over her eyes to shield them from the bright morning sun, she reached out and grabbed the ringing phone with the other.

"Hello" Her voice was scratchy.

"Hey beautiful, Happy Birthday" he smiled knowing it would make her blush.

"Thanks, what's up?" She asked sitting up, giving him her full attention.

"Nothing, just wanted to be the first to wish you a great birthday. Hope I'm not too late."

"Nah, I was still asleep. But I'm glad I woke up this way. Thank you. Where are you by the way?"

"Anytime, I'm in the condo in Orlando." She sighed, realizing he hadn't sold the place yet. That's where they were going to start their family together.

"You ok?"

"Yea, just trying to wake up I guess."

"Ok, well I guess I'll let you go get a shower and do your morning routine of dancing to the radio while you get dressed." He grinned but then thought about when he said. "Oh I'm sorry, that's probably changed since we were together."

"No it's ok, I'm still the same." She smiled....he remembered.

"Ok, take care. Call me sometime, maybe we can have lunch or something."

"Sure, bye Justin."

You and I had many conversations on the telephone
Talks about one day we having a place of our own
Wake up in the morning and have breakfast ready on the table
But all of that just seems so far away from me
Had to wake up face reality
It all just seem to good to be true after all you put me through
And now you tryin' to tell me that you're sorry
And you tryin' to come back home
You tellin' me that you really need me crying beggin both knees are on the floor

"Brit" Laura Lynn said waving her hand in front of her cousin's face.

"Huh? Oh what now?" Britney tried focusing on what was going on around her. She, her cousin and 2 closest friends were getting ready to go clubbing and just finished with their hair and makeup.

"You were spaced out for a minute, you all ready to go?"

"Yea sure" she grabbed her cousin's hand and headed out the door.

"Let's go find us some men!" Courtney yelled and all of the girls giggled.

Don't wanna try don't wanna try
Don't wanna try no more
Don't wanna try don't wanna try..oooo