A/N: I was going to post this on Thursday, but when I looked at it I realized that the ending had not been finished. Well, this thing has been sitting here for 2 years so it took me awhile to get back into this 'place' so I had to wait until now. Sorry!
This chapter is in the top 5, fyi. ;]
THANKS:
Amanjot22: I'm so glad. Dinner makes me laugh. Sadie being a blabber mouth is part true and not just because there's a lot of stuff she shouldn't be talking about. Jude and Tommy would be one of those things. ;]
Thanks to Carlz02 – I'm assuming you're the person who left the review two chapters ago without a name because you're the only person who has left a fave/least fave part in your reviews – ever. lol. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the whole thing. I hope you like this chapter too! :]
Disclaimer: Frisco's (it's a So Cal thing – like an old-fashioned diner). Sour Patch Kids. Rosie O'Donnell. MASH. Shirley Temples. (I know, a very odd combo of stuff, but just trust me.)
I hope you like it!
R&R or R&L please.
THANKS MUCHO!
Teach Me
Chapter Nine
"A Night at Frisco's"
~T~ - March 2010
I watch as her head falls back, a throaty laugh echoing through the diner. I know a few patrons are staring, but I don't care. Seeing her laugh makes me smile. Something I need desperately after the evening I've had.
Let's recap, shall we?
I almost kissed Jude at Starbucks. I would have had her damn cell phone not interrupted us. I had wanted to. Badly. I mean, she – her hands are magic. I know I pushed it when I laid down, but I didn't care. The worst that could have happened was she could have pushed me away. But she didn't.
And just laying there. God. So when she stopped massaging, I was curious. And then, seeing her in pain wasn't fun at all. So I thought I could help her out, but then she bit her bottom lip and I – I went freakin' crazy.
I know from the look in her eyes that she wanted me to kiss her. And I'm a people pleaser, so of course I was gonna give her what she wanted.
God, that sounds so wrong. Like I'm a fucking sleaze.
I'm not. At least not usually. Shit.
My head's all messed up.
And it's not just because we almost kissed.
It's because of what happened when I got home.
My head was swarmed with thoughts of Jude as I drove home. I mean, I've barely talked to the girl for the past 12 years and then all of the sudden we've been hanging out almost every day. And then I almost kissed her. So obviously this thing is a little weird for me.
Pulling into the driveway of my house I saw two cars. My mom's and someone else's. But it wasn't surprising. My mom has clients over all the time.
I got out of the car and headed up to the front door. It was dead silent, which isn't unusual, but I figured I'd hear something since my mom was home.
I placed my bag on the island in the kitchen and pulled a water bottle out of the fridge. I had already finished most of my homework, so I was going to go to my room and call Kwest, letting him know he had nothing to worry about. I just wasn't going to tell him about the almost kiss cause then he'd be worried and I don't think it'll happen again so it's okay.
But something stopped me. I was walking down the hallway towards my room when I heard a slight crash. It sounded as if it was coming from the entertainment room. I pushed open the door, but nothing. Everything was where it should have been and it was completely void of any and all people. Then I heard the sound again.
And I realized it was coming from the room next door, which is my mom's office.
I crept up to the door and listened for the sound again. It happened once more before I gently pushed the door open. It moved a few centimeters and I glanced at the mirror on the opposite wall of the office.
The bile in my stomach rose up to my mouth. I felt my face heat up and my anger started to rise.
My mom was still on her desk, her so-called client in front of her. And I had bet they weren't working on paperwork. They were working each other.
For a split second I debated whether or not to make my presence known. Then my anger took over. I unscrewed the cap to my water bottle, pushed open the door completely and emptied my water on both of them.
All I saw was red and I could hear my mom gasp, finally yelling "Tommy!" as I turned around and walked away.
I ran into the kitchen, got my bag, and dashed out the door.
I had to get out of there.
I don't remember much else except for the driving. I drove for what felt like forever, but it was barely an hour.
By then, my anger had dissipated and I was breathing normal again. But I knew I couldn't go home. I couldn't face my mom. After what I saw. What she had been doing.
I mean, she's my mom. I've always looked up to her. She's been my rock.
I just – I don't know what to do. Because there's more to what happened than just seeing her in the act. It's the fact that though my mom cheated, she's not the only one.
My dad has been cheating on my mom since I was five years old. I know because I was there when it first happened. When I got older and understood what was happening, he swore me to secrecy in exchange for the Viper I had been eying. When I had gotten my permit, he went out and bought it for me.
And though I knew that even if he hadn't, I'd never have the heart to tell my mom. It would destroy her.
Well, apparently not now.
I didn't know what else to do, so I thought about calling Kwest. But then I knew he'd grill me about Jude and I didn't want to deal with it. Then I remembered I had her schedule. And that's why I called her.
I needed a way out. A distraction. Something to get my mind off of what I saw.
And here we are, sitting at Frisco's, drinking Shirley Temples and waiting for our burgers.
Jude eyes me curiously as I stare at the Formica table in front of us.
"You're awfully quiet. Something wrong?" she asks.
I glance up at her and shake my head. "Nothing's wrong. I just don't have anything to say."
"Well, you make great dinner company."
I smile. "I know, huh? Sorry."
"Don't."
"Sss – I won't."
She smirks. "Thank you."
"No, thank you." And then I realize, I actually mean it. Even the meaningless conversation is taking my mind off of things on the home front. I see Jude raise an eyebrow quizzically. "I wouldn't want another cell phone to the head," I say.
She casts her eyes down and a sheepish grin forms on her face. "I didn't mean to throw it. It just happened."
"Mmhmm," I sound, somewhat unconvinced.
She rolls her eyes. "Okay, fine. I did."
"I know."
"Shut up."
"I will now. Our food's here." I can see our waitress skating down towards us.
"Oooh."
Our waitress stops at our table, placing our burgers down in front of us. Jude and I ordered the same thing; except she asked for a side salad and I got fries. The waitress adds a side of ranch next to my plate and walks away, giving me a wink. My head turns as I watch her skate away.
"Kwest says you should go for it."
I turn my head around, a guilty look on my face. "Kwest doesn't know what he's talking about."
"I beg to differ." Jude reaches over and steals a fry from my plate.
"And since when are you and Kwest agreeing?"
Jude dips the fry in ranch. "Since he said Angie's a bitch."
I sigh. "Look, you don't know her like I do." I don't know why I'm even defending Ang as she probably wouldn't do the same for me.
"And I don't want to," she says as she puts the fry in her mouth.
"How about we just – leave this subject alone for now?" I pull my burger closer to me.
"Fine by me." She shrugs and picks up her cup of dressing.
"So what do you want to talk about?"
-M-
"Mash, Bash, or Cash," Jude asks for the fiftieth time in a matter of minutes. Instead of finishing up her conclusion, we've been playing Mash, which is quite a lot of fun – if you're a girl.
Which I don't happen to be. Believe me.
I shake my head. "I don't want to play."
"Come on, one more game," she says, sticking out her bottom lip. If I had a choice, I'd rather be sucking on her bottom lip than figuring out my non-existent future. But I don't, so guess what I'm going to be doing…
Yeah, that's right.
"Fine. Bash."
"Okay, but this time you can only choose two of each."
"Just two?" I ask with mock astonishment.
Jude senses it and rolls her eyes. "Yes, then I get to pick the other two."
"Fine."
"Okay, girls. One celeb, one reg."
"Hmmm," I sound, feigning deep thoughts. I already know my answer. "Angelina Jolie."
She groans loudly, writing it down. "You've picked her every single time we've played."
"Yeah, and maybe this time I'll actually get her."
Jude's face breaks out into a smile and a soft laugh passes through her lips. "Maybe."
I smirk widely as she taps her pen against her notebook, waiting for my next answer. I pause, thinking about how cliché it would be to add the head cheerleader's name to my Bash seeing as I am the Captain of the football team. And the basketball team. And the baseball team.
I like sports, sue me.
Instantly, I throw the name out. My attention is elsewhere. I watch Jude as she places the end of her pen in between her lips, moving her head to some silent beat. Her eyes are bright and a rosy blush forms on her face as she glances at me from the corner of her eye. She knows I had been watching. She pulls the pen out of her mouth, a shy smile spreading on her face.
"Sorry," she whispers.
My breath catches in my throat and I instantly know what to say. "H," I murmur.
Her eyebrows furrow incredibly. "H?"
I nod. "H."
"But I don't know who that is."
"That's the point."
She rolls her eyes and reluctantly scribbles down a "H" on her paper. Suddenly she glances up at me and then gazes back at her notebook.
Oh shit.
I can see the glint in her eye. And I don't like it.
"Whatever you're thinking…un-think it."
"Not possible, Quincy. It's already been written down."
I roll my eyes. Dumb immature rules.
"Cars."
"Lola and Lola."
"You're so predictable."
"I can be spontaneous…when I want to be."
Jude gives me a pointed look. "Whatever Quincy."
"Kids."
"Zero and zero."
"Not even one?"
I glance at Jude who's staring at me. Well…maybe. "Okay, one."
"Tell me when to st – "
"Stop."
Jude's head is down and she's covered the paper with her hand. "Give me a sec."
I sit and watch as Jude carefully presides over the decision of my future. Her eyes narrow and her lips purse as they silently count out the magic number. She makes a few scratches and then a wide smile forms on her face.
"Do I even wanna know?" I raise my eyebrows.
"You'll find out."
She goes back to plotting for a few more seconds before she clears her throat and lifts her head. "Now for your results."
"I can hardly wait," I deadpan.
She gives me a light kick in the shin underneath the table and I grimace.
That freakin' hurt. Damnit.
"You are rich, married and driving Lola. Living in a beach house, you and H have 15 boys and girls."
My eyes widen. "Let me see that."
She happily hands me the scrap of paper and my eyes glance over the page. On the left hand side, the letter H is circled a few times in black. Underneath that I see the number 15 circled heavily.
Jude's choice for the number of kids obviously.
And even with that notion, I can't help but smile.
I toss the paper on the table and glance up at Jude. She eyes me curiously, a smirk on her face.
A few silent seconds pass. "So, 15 kids?" she says, a devilish smile on her face.
I roll my eyes. "I could deal."
"With H?"
"That I could most definitely deal with."
"At least you wouldn't have to deal with Rosie O'Donnell."
"What?" I grab the piece of paper again and the fourth choice for girls is no other than Rosie. I shudder.
"That'd be hard to imagine," she says, looking up to the ceiling as if she's really imagining my life with Ro.
I stare at her. "Right now I'm trying to imagine if they'll have your eyes or mine."
She glances back at me. "What?"
"H…"
She stares for a few more seconds before it clicks. "…is for Harrison."
I smile. "You're smarter than you look."
She flips me the bird. "If I had to choose, I'd pick mine. They're prettier than yours."
My eyes narrow. "I don't want my boys to have pretty eyes!"
She rolls her eyes. "Girls like pretty eyes, Quincy."
"Whatever. As long as they have the sport talent to back up their pretty eyes, I don't care."
She rolls her eyes again. "You're such a man."
"Yes, yes I am." I flex my right arm and Jude starts to laugh. Then she reaches out for her drink.
She takes a swig and swallows before saying, "So, um. I'm going to ask you a question?"
I nod as I pick up my drink. "Mmhmm."
"And you're free to say no. I just kind of hope you wouldn't." She's talking faster than she normally does.
"Okay." I narrow my eyes trying to figure out what Jude's angle is.
"So, um, I was, um, thinking – "
What the shit? "Wow, this must be big if you're freaking like this cause usually you don't know when to shut up."
Jude arches an eyebrow. "I'm gonna let that one slide, for now."
"Oh thanks," I say sardonically.
"Okay, so, remember the very first day we started talking?"
"Uh huh." I nod.
"And you were looking for me, for something?"
"Yeah." I take a sip of soda.
"And then I told you no. And then, uh, Cat found out?"
I smile because it all finally clicks. "Okay."
"So, she, um, told me that it was mandatory for me to, um, um, - "
Jude sputtering is cute, but we'll be here forever if she has to actually form the words to ask me what she's looking for. "I'll put you out of your misery and say yes, I'll tutor you."
"Oh thank God," she exclaims. "You were gonna make me say it, weren't you?"
I smile, placing my cup on the table. "I was really just waiting for, I was wrong and you rule, Quincy, but you were taking too long."
Jude simply laughs.
I stick my hands in the pockets of my jacket. "Is it really that hard to ask for help?"
Jude shrugs. "Kind of."
"Why?" I ask.
"It's just, I'm pretty self-sufficient, you know. My parents are always gone with work and Sadie does her own thing, so it's just kind of me."
I know that feeling. It's worse when you're an only child – which I happen to be. "What about your friends?"
"Well, they do their own stuff too. I mean, Jamie is the only who has Cat as a teacher and everyone else is a reg, so it's kind of hard bringing them into that world, you know?"
I nod. Thank god Kwest is as smart as I am or I'd be even more screwed. "Yeah."
"What about your parents?"
I pick my glass and take a sip. "My dad is a lawyer and my mom works for a firm, so they're always gone. But they bring me awesome presents?"
"Like your Viper?" She comments. There's something different in her voice when she says it, but I don't have the energy to say anything about it.
"You could say that."
She clears her throat, as if she's ashamed. But I know she's not. She looks away and starts playing with the sugar packets. Silence envelopes our table and I start to wonder how we got to this place where we're quiet, yet oddly comfortable. Jude flicks a packet me and sails over my shoulder. She smiles at the table – one of those really genuine smiles cause I can see it in her eyes – and then looks up at me.
I smile back – maybe not as genuine, I don't know – and her smile vanishes. My eyes narrow. What's going on?
She picks up her drink and takes a sip before saying, "I think we should find a neutral tutoring location."
I pull my hands out of my jacket pockets and lean the elbows against the edge of our table. "Okay."
"I was think Starbucks or something." She's not looking at me. She's playing with her straw wrapper. "Something away from school."
"Right." I'm starting to see her line of thought. School just causes unnecessary drama. Or maybe it's the people there. I don't know.
"Cause the craziness that will ensue of people see us together – I mean, more than they have been – is not something I'd like to endure. It's as if us talking is like us making out in the halls."
Excuse me? Did she just say us and making out in the same sentence?
Before I can comment, she's talking again. Her voice is starting to get faster the more she talks. I don't know if this is a good thing. "I mean it's like the same thing. What we're doing."
I raise my eyebrows in disbelief. Real, honest disbelief. "Really?"
"Yeah, us talking is like making out. I mean, you see two people making out in the halls, it doesn't matter who it is, you're going to look, stare. And with us, just talking is going to make people stop and stare."
She still hasn't looked at me. I glance at the table and see her straw wrapper in shreds between her fingers. This subject is making her nervous. I reach out and put my hand over hers and then she looks up at me.
"Well that fucking sucks," I say softly.
She starts to pull away and says, "Yeah."
I let go of her hands and pick up my cup. "No. I mean, I mean I don't want us talking to be compared to making out." Somehow my voice has gotten a little louder. Oops. "I'd rather make out than talk you know. That's what I'd want to do: make out." My hand drops and my cup makes a loud sound against the table. Jude jumps.
"Well, okay then," she says, a faint smirk on her lips.
"I didn't mean it like – " I start to stutter.
"No, I get it," she says, shaking her head. "I just – wow."
"Yeah, sorry."
She kicks me in the shin and a full blown smile is painted on her face.
Her smiles make me a little nervous and I rub the back of my neck. "Well, since I've just embarrassed myself, how about we go now before I start dancing on tables or something."
Jude grabs her bag and then says, "You would do that?"
I stand up next to our table, my bag in my hand. "I meant it when I said I could be spontaneous."
-M-
Thirty minutes later, we're sitting in the driveway of Jude's house and I'm showing Jude just how spontaneous I can be.
We're kissing. Or making out.
Cue a collective aww or whatever it is you girls do.