Tommy held Jude's hand as they once again found themselves winding their way through the crowd at Patricia's party. Once they had crossed into the front part of the house and out onto the winding driveway the crowd became less dense and proper space allowance could be attained.
"I don't think I've ever been to a more extravagant children's party" sighed Jude in exhaustion leaning her head against Tommy's shoulder as they continued to walk down the driveway and away from the guests.
Tommy chuckled "You should have seen Shay's fifth birthday". Jude felt herself tense at the sound of Shay's name. She had been trying to block out the hallway events for the past two hours and keep her mind on Karen before she did something drastic to grab Tommy's attention. "Jude?" asked Tommy slowing and looking down at her.
Jude stood their silently as they stopped. She cast her eyes to the ground not wanting to look at him. She had done nothing wrong…but it still felt wrong. "What?" Jude breathed looking up at Tommy slowly.
"What's wrong Bella" whispered Tommy, reaching up and rubbing Jude's cheek with his thumb.
Jude closed her eyes and focused on his soft skin against hers "Can we just go home, I don't feel good" Jude whispered opening her eyes slowly and gazing up at Tommy.
"Yeah" said Tommy still looking at Jude concerned. Then he opened his mouth to say something and hesitated. A range of emotions ran across his face in the next ten seconds till he was just looking down at Jude. His thumb had stopped its movements so that they both just stood there perfectly still gazing into each other's eyes. "He…Shay…he didn't…he didn't do anything but kiss you right?" asked Tommy staring at Jude.
"Tommy…" Jude sighed looking away so that his hand separated from her face.
"Jude!" said Tommy trying to catch her eyes again "Come on I need to know!"
"Nothing happened!" said Jude tilting her chin up to the sky to stop the tears currently doing a balancing act on her lower lids.
"Jude look at me!" said Tommy louder taking his hand and physically moving her face.
"Don't touch me!" Jude yelled as a moment of anger coursed through her veins before her face crumpled at the sight of Tommy's confusion and anxiety.
"What did he do to you?" Tommy whispered.
"Nothing" whispered Jude wiping her eyes as two tears traced lines down her face.
"You were yelling at him to never touch you again!" yelled Tommy reaching up and grabbing Jude's checks and pressing his forehead against hers "Tell me Jude" he whispered "Tell me he only kissed you, tell me…tell me he didn't touch you" he breathed.
Jude felt Tommy's breath hot on her face, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that were threatening to keep falling. "He kissed me" whispered Jude.
"That's it, that's the only thing that happened?" breathed Tommy holding Jude's cheeks in his hands his forehead pressed harder than ever before to hers.
"That's it" choked out Jude.
"Thank god" Tommy whispered folding his face down and kissed Jude on the lips. Jude wrapped her arms up around Tommy's neck as he held her around the waist. "I would have killed him" breathed Tommy into Jude's lips "if he ever touched you".
"Thank you" breathed Jude breaking away and resting her forehead against Tommy's as he held her…kept her safe…protected her from all the people, who just couldn't move on.
"I'll hurt anyone who hurts you" whispered Tommy.
"Quincy" Jude breathed.
"What?" whispered Tommy reaching up and holding Jude's hair in his hand.
"…You always have".
Author Note:
"I'll hurt anyone who hurts you"...that's what Tommy promised. But can he keep that promise when the bar is raised? Can he do that when the situation is ten times worse? This is going to be a very important line to remember hint hint, nudge nudge
So fabulous readers thanks for all the reviews! Love them, keep them coming!! Also it's my birthday tomorrow (aka, Sunday...16 finally! Yeah bet a bunch of you did not think I was that young, LOL) (Please don't let that turn you off, I write way more mature than my age...because I just am.) Love you all!
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