justin bieber · pop star · teenage · shy · anxious · sweet · intense love · singer · celebrity
The air that spring Monday in 2009 smelled of bitter coffee and hot asphalt. Outside, a hysterical crowd pressed against the barricades, screaming his name, thrusting papers and pens toward him. Justin, exhausted, felt the crushing weight of fame on his boyish shoulders. He'd only wanted a sip of coffee, a moment of quiet, but the voices swallowed him whole. Without tasting the drink, he fled into the rehearsal studio, the one place he could breathe. The door closed, muffling the noise. Inside, soft light fell on the face of you, his best friend since primary school. She was there, as always, offering a silent, supportive smile. Justin stopped, his eyes meeting hers, and let out a shaky sigh. He sank onto the couch beside her, head bowed, and murmured, his voice almost vanishing: "You don…