Stuck in Traffic!
I'm not finished with this story yet but I wanted to do a trial run of the first chapter to see if anyone likes it. "Stuck in Traffic" is a short story about Jude and Tommy on a road trip home for Christmas. The idea came to me about a month ago, I wasn't going to write it until I kept coming up with situations to put those two in. Chapter one begins on December 21st, the last chapter will end on December 24th (Christmas Eve) giving four days to have this trip be fun and funny as Jude and Tommy find themselves in the wrong (and maybe right) places at the wrong times.
Chapter One
December 21st
Sitting in my car, on a jam packed highway, early evening, feeling my nerves twisting and turning in ways that make me grumpier than Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau in their hit movie. Oh yeah, to top it off king of all cranky pants is sitting with me, only this time he is actually in a pretty good mood, which only seems to be fueling my current frazzled mind.
After Darius brilliantly suggested me and Tommy take a vacation before Christmas, we both gladly accepted; no two people needed one more than the two of us, after the hell we put up with at work day in and day out. Every year around December something or other G Major turns into Scrooge--- Liam's angry fire filled stares could melt poor Frosty with one look; leaving behind his, "Two eyes made out of coal." Tommy thinks we should hang a stocking in the lobby, glitter Liam's name on the front and stuff it with chocolate covered laxatives, "That way it would be faster for him to shit out the stick he has rammed up his butt," Ah, leave it to my dear prince Tommy to be sosweet.
It becomes so stressful to work in the studio anyone will agree to do almost anything to escape the madness. Kwest offered his sandwich (which he spent almost a half hour preparing) to janitor Bob just so he could sit in the closet for five minutes. Portia allowed me to go on camera, I repeat on cameradressed in ripped jeans and a band t-shirt, because she was on the verge of poking her eyes out with her sewing needle. Sadie went two full hours without shopping online from her desk, instead she finished all her calls, reports and pie charts on time so she would not have to face Scrooge and Grinch. Jamie and Patsy kept their hands to themselves. Does anyone know what a relief that is? Having to walk into rooms only to be mortified over and over by the sight of Patsy spanking Jamie, while making animals sounds is enough to send anyone running to their therapist. And my favorite of all, Spied, Wally and Kyle all took an oath to be mute for one hour. One hour of pure bliss!
Now that vacation sounds like Heaven, right? It was until I may have suggested a tiny thought to Tommy. It was something I always wanted to do, at least once before I die. Here comes my idea: "How about we take a road trip, in the Mustang!" What the hell was I thinking?!
Tommy had been so excited about getting away from G Major he agreed to go on a road trip, without putting thought into it. It wasn't until we were packed, in the car and on the road before Tommy realized what he had gotten himself into. December Seventeenth will always be a day in which I became the one and onlywitness to Little Tommy Q's biggest bitch fit ever.
Bleeding ears and a hoarse voice later I came to an agreement with Tommy; December Seventeenth until December Twenty-first we stayed in a very fancy luxury resort. One that allowed Princess Tom to sleep in a real bed, have breakfast, lunch and dinner ordered in, massages at his beck and call, and of course free reign over the suites remote control. Six cups of coffee and yet another argument later I was able to drag Tommy away and into the car, now we are on our way to my mom's house for Christmas--- leaving us three full days to enjoy the snowy slick roads and Christmas cheer.
"If you hit that horn one more time Jude," Tommy spoke through gritted teeth, "I'll kick you out of the car and lock the doors."
"How could you even do that? I'm driving," Needing to make my point clear I slammed my fist against the leather covered horn once again, feeling instant gratification when the squeaky sound joined the chorus of other car horns blaring around us, "Besides everyone else is doing it."
Scoffing Tommy dragged in a calming breath, "What good is it doing Jude? I mean look around," Waving his arms about trying to prove a point, "We're stuck in traffic, making all that noise will not get us any further."
"How do you know that?" Turning my head I pinned Tommy with a questioning glare. I believe his good mood was beginning to break away, damn he had been good company so far this afternoon.
Shaking his head Tommy dismissed my question, choosing instead to look out the passenger window. Closing my eyes briefly I once again looked over to Tommy, "I'm sorry, okay?" Tommy nodded silently. Argh! Just look at me dammit! I wanted to shout, instead opting for the more rational approach, "You know how I get when I'm grumpy. I hate traffic, I'm starting to get hungry, I wish all these cars would disappear."
"I would have unlocked the door eventually," Tommy finally spoke as he shifted in his seat so he could see me, "After I felt you could be a good girl and come back inside," Flashing his million dollar smile at me I felt my frazzled state melt away some.
"After my nose turned red?" I asked smiling.
"After I cracked the window and sang Rudolf to you."
Unable to control myself I laughed, more like giggled, in a really girlish way. How can one guy make me turn into a blushing grade school girl all over again? Like how it was when I realized not all boys had cooties unlike I had previously thought..
Covering my face with my hands I tried to stifle the giggle, hoping Tommy would think I was coughing instead, "You okay over there?" Tommy asked, his tone full of laughter. Spreading my fingers slightly I peeked through them pinning Tommy with a glare, he smirked before blowing me a kiss.
One…two…three…four…five. Five seconds I remained calm before heat flushed my entire face, spreading down my neck, not the good kind, the kind in which Tommy should be fearing. Not only had he laughed at me in my embarrassment, he rubbed it in by blowing me a kiss. No one blew me a kiss while in the mist of laughing AT me. Tommy's laughter filled my small classic car, mocking me from the passengers seat. Oh he was in for it, the longer he laughed the more pain he would have to endure. Did he not know we were stuck in traffic for God knows how long? Just me and him, alone, with my anger and hot temper and his gorgeous ass chuckling at me.
Tommy ran his hand through his hair as his laughter began to quiet down, "What-cha thinking about Jude?"
Oh he did not just speak to me! My hands balling into fists briefly before I remembered I was driving. Ha, funny, I guess one hand should be on the wheel, since we are moving slightly. Griping the wheel with my left hand I raised my right and socked Tommy on the arm. Hard.
"Damn!" Tommy bit out a slew of curses before pinning me with a fire laced glare, "What the hell was that for?"
"What was what for?" Smiling innocently at him, I grinned inward. Dancing around, proud of remaining semi calm in the heat of my rising temper. My teeth dug into my bottom lip as I tried to keep for laughing at Tommy's facial expressions. He went from angry to confused to full on pissed in record breaking time.
"You socked me! You full on socked me and I'm not afraid to admit it hurt!" Rubbing his hand over his leather jacket in hopes of soothing the pain in his arm Tommy cursed under his breath before glaring over at me again, "First you're happy, then you're grumpy, then you're happy again, and now you're what? Psycho? I mean who goes from laughing one minute to punching someone the next?"
"You deserved it," I huffed out. Keeping my eyes on the road ahead of me. Traffic was definitely a bitch to be driving in right now. Christmas right around the corner was sure bringing out the people in droves.
The weather was scary, it had been snowing lightly all day, causing the roads to be slick from the sheet of ice left on the roads. Tommy and I had made sure the Mustang had snow chains put on before we set out on our adventure. Way before Tommy realized I seriously meant road trip--- After pulling away from the resort we had been staying at I offered to drive, thinking Tommy would say no because of the change in weather, surprisingly he agreed, saying he was exhausted, and could use the rest as we headed home for the holiday. Two hours into the drive dark clouds had drifted in front of the sun, darkening the sky, presenting an eerie look as I drove in silence across the highway.
Tommy's light snores from the passenger seat had filled my ears and made my heart smile. He was so handsome, even when he slept, maybe even more so. The way his long black eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks, the way his lips puckered, as if even in dreams he was ready to be kissed. His black leather jacket zipped almost all the way up lay snug against his body as he curled into the seat for a more comfortable position.
Somewhere in the days we were at the resort I began to regret our trip, it had been fun, but it was normal to stay at a hotel, I wanted to do something completely different from what I had done before. Slowly I began to resent Tommy every time he spoke non stop about how much he loved the resort and how nice the staff was when he asked for something. By the time I drove off I was ready to stick one of my dirty socks in his mouth, then he had fallen asleep and my heart melted at the sight of his sleeping form. How could I be mad at someone as gorgeous and sweet as him?
As we made our way closer to Toronto the snow had fallen pretty heavily in some areas before finally stopping altogether, the sky remained dark and gloomy, the weather was still cold. I fought with the heater and defroster in the car, one minute I was freezing, but the heater would make me sweat and fog up the windows, so I turned the air on to clear them up, repeating the cycle over and over. All before I noticed traffic building and slowing down. By this time Tommy had woken up and the sight and sounds of him stretching; his jacket and shirt lifting enough to show off a hint of his stomach distracted me so much I briefly forgot I was driving. Darting across three lanes and almost wiping out cars in the process. Tommy's panicked yelling and the horns of my victims cars blaring pulled me out of my heaven. Note to self: Never check out hot boy-bander while operating a vehicle. Could kill self and others. Although I'd die a very happy girl.
"I deserved it?!" Tommy threw his hands up in frustration. "You're crazy! You punch me then tell me I did something to warrant that kind of treatment," Pinning me with a heated gaze he continued his rant. "I'd blame it on PMS but I happen to know you went through that last week when you so kindly ordered me to leave the studio to buy you tampons!"
"Don't bring that one up again Quincy! It was an emergency," Sucking in a deep breath to keep my cool, I ignored Tommy's eyes rolling. "Besides, Portia was in a meeting and I was desperate"
"I still don't see why I had to do it. Why not Sadie? Or Patsy?"
Snorting in an un-ladylike fashion I slowed the car down even further as traffic continued to build. "Patsy?! Oh come on! She would have suggested I paste erasers together to make a barrier. The last time I asked her for help my pants had ripped, you want to know what she did?"
"What? Glue a 'More Beer for Me' button to your ass?" Tommy asked. A hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Smiling against my better wishes I turned away from Tommy, once again eyeing the slick roads ahead. "No. She took out a black permanent marker and colored on my skin saying no one would ever know I tore my nice dress pants!"
Tommy's semi-smile turned into a full on grin, before spinning into laughter. His laugh filled the car, and once again I felt my heart swell. Just being around him, hearing his voice, hearing his laugh, everything about Tommy turned me into a puddle.
"Where the hell was I when this happened?" His voice breaking me from my thoughts, I chose not to answer his question. Truth is Tommy had been there. He along with all the other male staff failed to notice the difference between my skin being doodled on and the hole in my pants. "If I'd had known I could have used that hole as an easy access point," Tommy whispered in his sexy voice… next to my ear, right near the one spot that drove me wild. Mama Mia, I'm too young to be having a hot flash.
"So not funny Quincy," I spoke through gritted teeth.