The Vegas Series
An Instant Star Fanficton
Chapter Two
Stays in Vegas
Later That Morning: 24 Hours until I turn 18
When I awoke sometime around eleven, I was surprised to find myself alone. I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I was sore and limping slightly, but it was sooo wonderful. I looked at my reflection in the floor length mirror that was beside the door and was pleased to see a mark on my thigh and a love bite on my neck. Tommy had marked me. Marked me as his. I smiled and brushed my teeth before I jumped in the shower. After I was finished, I wrapped a towel around myself and walked back into the bedroom. On the pillow Tommy had slept on, there was a note. I walked over and grabbed it. In Tommy's sloppy scrawl was written:
Went to pack. We have a three o'clock flight ---T
I smiled, crumpled up the note, and tossed it back on the bed. I went to my suitcase and threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, grabbed my key card (and Tommy's), and left the room. I walked across the hall and unlocked Tommy's door. I went inside to find him sitting on the left side of his bed, leaving his back to me. I practically skipped across the room and got onto the bed.
"Good morning." I greeted him, wrapping an arm around his waist and kissing his neck.
"Jude, don't." he said softly, shouldering my face away gently, rebuffing me.
I immediately stiffened. "What?"
He brushed off my arm and got to his feet. He began to pace, his gaze not leaving the floor. Dread consumed me and I automatically felt like crying, I knew what was coming. Don't say it, Tommy. I prayed.
"What we did last night wasn't right, Jude." He said.
Fuck. Here it comes.
"What?" I gasped, unable to help myself, unable to brace myself.
"You're still only seventeen, Jude! I could be arrested for doing what I did!"
"What you did?" I cried, "What we did, Tommy! I wanted it! I wanted you! And you wanted me! It was consensual, if I remember correctly."
"You're right, Jude." He replied, still not looking at me, "It was, but that doesn't make it any better."
"Don't…don't tell me you regret it…please don't tell me you regret it." I pleaded, on the brink of tears.
Don't do this. There has to be another reason…
"A part of me does, Jude. And I don't like that feeling…this won't happen again."
"But…but I…I thought."
"I'm sorry, Jude. I can't…happen."
"But I'll be eighteen tomorrow, Tommy!" I cried, "It'll be okay then!"
"I'm sorry." He said again and crossed to the door.
Tommy sighed heavily and didn't say a word as he left the room. My happiness was destroyed and my hopes came crashing down. How could you do this to me? I wanted to scream, but instead, I broke down into tears. I curled up on the bed and buried my face into the comforter. I screamed into it and sobbed until there was nothing left. When I was finished, I felt empty and lost. I got up slowly and rubbed the tears from my face. I looked around the room and found the complimentary notepad on the desk in the corner and scribbled onto it:
Packing.
---J
I returned to my room and found my cell phone. I picked it up and hit Kat's speed dial number. I just needed to hear her voice. She always made me feel better. I got her voice mail and listened to her recording.
"Hi, this is Kat. I'm out, leave me a message and I'll cherish it forever."
I smiled despite myself and waited until the beep.
"Hey, Kat. I just wanted to say 'Hi' and I'll see you when I get home."
I flipped my phone shut and jammed it into my pocket. I didn't bother to make my bed. I grabbed my suitcases and shoved everything into them. When I was finished, they were bulging dangerously. But I didn't really give a damn. I just wanted to get the hell out of Vegas. I didn't love it so much anymore.
Tommy knocked at my hour a few hours later. We said nothing to each other all the way downstairs and in the lobby. The silence continued on the way to the airport in the taxi. More silence came as we waited for the plane, and then as we boarded. My seat was an aisle seat and Tommy got the window. His gaze was permanently glued to the outside. So, I did my part in the ignoring stage and put on my earphones and watched the in flight movie. It was Audrey Hepburn's movie, Charade. When we landed in Toronto, I unloaded my things from the overhead compartment and "accidentally" hit Tommy in the head with my heavy bag.
"Ooh, so sorry." I said unapologetically.
"Uh, my bad." He said, rubbing his head.
"You're right. It is your bad." I replied flippantly, whirling away and heading down the aisle.
Tommy caught up with me in the lobby. He grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. I kicked him in the shin. He released me.
"Don't ever touch me again, Quincy." I hissed.
"Jude, don't be like this." He said angrily.
"Be like what, Tommy? Used?!" I fired back, "You treated me like nothing. And now's it's your turn! How do you like it?"
I turned from him and headed to baggage claim. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and saw him limping over. When I found my luggage, I snatched it up, and bolted from the station. Kat and Jamie, who were officially back together as of 2006, were waiting for me downstairs and I wanted to get to them as quickly as I could. Unfortunately, before I could reach them, Tommy caught back up with me.
"We have to act like nothing happened, Jude." He hissed, "We don't want anyone to suspect a thing."
"I get it, Tommy." I replied through clenched teeth, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
I spotted my friends and ran to them. Jamie was holding a sign that said "The Rock Star's Entourage". I dropped my bags and hugged them both. Relief washed over me as I stayed in their embrace and I closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes, I saw Tommy walking out of the airport, but not before glancing back me.
"What happens in Vegas." He mouthed.
"Stays in Vegas." I mouthed back.
I watched him leave and once he was gone, I began to cry.
