Chapter 2
Tangled Up In Me
Tommy awoke to find Jude in his arms. He breathed slowly, trying not to wake her. After all it had been a while since he just held her in his arms. They used to wake up like this every morning, oh how he missed that. This was how it was supposed to be. His fingers were gently tangled in her hair and his other arm was around her protectively, the way any husband would hold his wife. However, he wasn't any husband, and if things kept up she wouldn't be his wife for much longer. He could feel the armrest next to the aisle poking uncomfortably into his back, but he didn't dare move.
Jude woke up soon after and subconsciously rubbed her hand up and down his chest a couple of times, her natural method of calming both of them. However, in less than a minute her sleepiness was gone and she was once again shooting daggers at him.
"How cliché, Tommy! Did you plan that out all by yourself?" without waiting for an answer she scooted into her seat, slammed the armrest down between them, and forcefully put her headphones on her ears before turning to look out of the window. Tommy simply sighed in defeat and put his own headphones on, listening as her newest single filtered from the Mp3 player on his lap.
The rest of the trip passed by in relative quietness. Each time Jude had to go to the bathroom she made Tommy get up and move into the aisle, refusing to touch him in the slightest. She did this at least fifteen times, and by the end Tommy was positive she was just testing his patience. He kept his head though, remembering each time that she had a right to be as upset, even pissed off. He just didn't know how he could redeem himself.
Flashback::
Jude walked into the bar. Tommy and she had just had their first fight as a married couple and Jude was ready to apologize. Frankly, Jude couldn't really remember what they had been fighting about. The cold air swirled around her as she pulled the door open and stepped inside. It was crowded but she could just barely make out Tommy's dark hair at a back table. Jude pushed through the dance floor and made her way back. She was about to open her mouth to speak when she noticed that there was a fake, platinum, blonde sitting at the table with him, and she was attached to his lips.
"Tommy?" Jude asked in disbelief praying that it was some other guy. Deep down she knew it wasn't, she knew every inch of Tommy and even in the dim-lighted, crowded bar she was sure it was her husband. Tommy detached himself and spun to look at Jude. It was clear he was drunk.
"Jude… hey sweetie…" he began attempting to stand. Jude shoved him back down into his seat. The blonde was staring in disbelief; she couldn't have been more than a year older than Jude.
"Don't "sweetie" me!" she threw the blonde a dirty look, "I think it's time you left." She enunciated, venom seeping into her tone. The lady got up, grabbed her purse and dashed away. Jude turned her glare to Tommy. "What do you think you're doing? We have one fight, you come here and get plastered, and then I find you all over another girl? You're supposed to be my husband!" Tommy stood up fully and moved close to her. Jude took a step away, willing herself not to give in.
"You're supposed to be my wife and understand!" he snapped back.
"Understand what?! That you were two margaritas from cheating on me?!" Tommy once more tried to advance on her, but Jude was faster.
"It was a harmless kiss!"
"Harmless kisses don't exist when you're married! You remember our wedding vows? When you promised to be faithful?! What a way to start our life out together!" she hitched her purse higher on her shoulder and pulled up the tank top strap that had slid down her arm. "I don't want to look at you right now, I'm going home." Tommy tried to follow her but the alcohol was consuming him again and he instead found the way back to his table.
Five hours later Jude was sitting in the family room staring at the clock. The VCR/DVD player read 4:08 a.m. when the door finally creaked open and Tommy came slinking in. Jude fully intended to rip him a new one and got up to meet him.
The outside streetlight perfectly framed the picture Jude saw. Tommy was in the center with his arms around two more blondes. These ones could definitely pass as models, if they weren't for real. Tommy was sucking on one of their necks and his other hand was busy roaming the other girl's back side. "You girls ever tried a three-some?" he asked breathily pausing a moment before continuing kissing her neck, totally oblivious to Jude's presence. The two girls however stood completely still and kept throwing wary glances at each other. Tommy looked up when he noticed they had stopped returning his gestures. "What's the matter…?" He followed their gaze to Jude, and as soon as he dropped his arms in surprise they were back out the front door. "Jude…" he started but she shook her head.
Jude walked over matter-of-factly and slapped him across his face. Tears fell and in a great, heaving, sob she darted for the stairs and locked the door to their room.
Tommy spent the night on the couch, becoming more and more upset as the alcohol wore off. Jude spent the night crying, and only came out the next day when she was sure Tommy was gone.
Jude didn't ask for a divorce, but she had been cold and distant ever since, and that was worse than any signed papers.
End of Flashback
