Emotionless

Chapter Eight

Michael snuck into the house and looked around. It was dark so he turned to Dan and held a finger to his lips, telling him to be quiet. Jude came in from the kitchen and spotted them, "Hi boys." She took a sip from her coffee cup and smiled, "How are you Dan?" Dan smiled at her, "I'm great, how are you?" She just smiled and nodded.

"Michael, Vincent said you promised to sing him a song tonight but when you were late I had to do it…" Michael sighed, "That's why he called me." Jude waved him off, "Well he's sleeping now so don't worry about it."

"Oh!" Jude said after a few minutes of silence, "I picked up that shirt you said you wanted. For the dance tomorrow?" Michael smiled, "You found it?" Jude smiled, "Yeah." She walked over to the hall closet and pulled out a shopping bad. Jude pulled out a black t-shirt that said Pandora's Box on it with a box and curses were seeping out of the creases. Michael smiled and held it up to him. Dan smiled, "Dude, where'd you find that?" Michael smiled, "Internet." He kissed his mom's cheek, "Thanks mom."

Jude smiled and pulled out another shirt. It was the same only Pandora's Box was in a different place with different font and she handed it to Dan. Dan smiled and kissed her cheek too, "Thanks mom." He mocked. Michael sent him a warning look, telling him to back away from his mom. Jude laughed, "No problem guys. Now head up to bed. You have school tomorrow and then a late night at the dance."

Michael shrugged, "The dance isn't a big deal." Jude put a hand on his arm, "Because Annabel moved away?" Dan smiled, "Nah, I got him another date." Jude smiled and turned to Michael with her eyebrows raised. "Oh really?"

Michael shrugged, "He suckered me into it, and I don't even like the girl. It's Brad's cousin, Kristen, she's got a great voice and yeah she's gorgeous but, I don't know, we don't really connect on anything. Like when was the last time we played pop?" Michael asked Dan, who just shrugged.

Jude smiled, "Just don't let things get too out of hand. I would hate for you to go to California thinking about another girl." Michael looked at his mom who just tried to hide her smiled behind her coffee cup. "Seriously? I can go?" Jude nodded and Michael hugged her. "Thanks so much!!"

Jude just patted his back, "Shhh, your brother and sister are sleeping."

Michael smiled and just walked into his room, Dan smiled at Jude before following.

Michael and Dan walked into Michael's house the next day, dropping their book bags onto the ground. Dan smiled, "Only two weeks left of school. Then we can all get out of here!"

Michael smiled and nodded, "Mom?!" He called throughout the house. When no one answered Michael shrugged, "Must be at the studio." Michael and Dan walked up to Michael's room and started coming up with some new songs. Michael heard his mom walk in with his brother and sister and just continued to get ready for the dance. Michael pulled on the t-shirt that he got yesterday and slid the belt around his jeans. Michael tucked in the t-shirt just in front to expose the plain belt buckle.

Michael moved from the mirror and sprayed on some cologne. Dan then stepped in front of the mirror and adjusted his t-shirt. Michael smiled and clasped a hand onto Dan's shoulder, "You ready?" Dan smiled and nodded.

The guys pulled on their black suit jackets and sauntered down the stairs. Jude smiled, "You guys look great." Michael smiled and Dan did a little spin, "You think so?" Dan popped his collar and did a little moonwalk. "Yeah I guess I look pretty fly, and it's all for you hot momma." Jude raised her eyebrows at Dan and Michael smacked him in the back of the head. Jude laughed, "Dan, the first time you came to my house you had an accident and I needed to change you." Vincent and Madison started snickering and Dan paled. Michael turned to his friend and started laughing, "Oh yeah I remember that." Dan just lowered his gaze and walked out the door. Jude smiled sadly and turned to Michael, "I didn't mean to make him feel bad." Michael just laughed, "Mom, you just totally damaged his ego."

Jude chuckled, "Well tell him I'm sorry." Michael nodded, kissed her cheek and started toward the door but someone opened it from the outside, almost knocking Michael in the nose. When the person came into view Michael sighed, "Kristen, what are you doing here?"

Kristen smiled sweetly, "We're going to the dance, right?" Michael sighed, "I told you we would pick you up at Brad's."

Kristen pushed her way into the house and sighed, "I forgot." Michael noticed her attire; it was not casual, nor appropriate for a high school dance.

Her dress was a fiery red and off the shoulders with a sweetheart bodice, the skirt had three ruffled layers that barely covered anything. She turned to Michael and licked her lips, "Is your dad here?"

Jude, who was in the kitchen, heard people talking and walked into the hallway. "Why would my dad be here?" Michael asked, Jude looked confused and continued on into the hallway. She noticed the slut talking to her son and she didn't like it, "Michael…" Michael turned around and looked at him mother, "Mom, this is Kristen. She's the new singer of our band, sort of…" Jude nodded, and sent Michael a look, "Kristen, this is my mom."

Kristen sauntered over to Jude and stuck out her hand, "So you're married to Tom Quincy? Oh no, wait…you're the idiot that divorced him."

Jude tightened her grip on the girl's hand but quickly took a deep breath and counted to ten. She released the girl's hand and Kristen let it drop to her side, unfazed.

Jude wiped the bangs from her eyes and looked at Michael, "Michael, why don't you guys get going. The dance is going to start soon." Michael smiled and grabbed Kristen's hand, dragging her out the door.

'Why would she think that Tommy's here?' Jude thought as she walked back into the kitchen.

A few hours later the doorbell rings and Jude goes to answer it. "Hey Kwest, the kids are all ready."

Kwest smiled and grabbed the little Batman suitcase and Disney Princess suitcase and brought them to his car. Jude crossed her arms over her chest, "You know since Sadie wanted to see them, I could bring them. I know things are tense between you two."

Kwest sighed, "Well, things are a little awkward but we both knew the divorce was for the best. Besides, you deserve a night off." Kwest kissed her cheek and grabbed the twin's hands and brought them over to his car to take them to visit their Auntie Sadie.

Jude smiled and waved to her children as the car pulls away, when they are out of site she walks up to her room and slides into the bathtub that she had set up for herself. Jude smiled and she relaxed in the hot water.

Jude eventually got out of the warm haven and wrapped herself in a robe. She heard the phone ring so she walks over to get it, "Hello?" Jude hears someone knock at the front door and walks over to the window. She peers out and saw a Viper sitting in the driveway. "What's Michael doing home so soon?"

Jude turns her attention back to the phone as she walks over to the door, "Hi Vinny, how's Auntie Sadie's?" Her robe slid off her shoulder slightly as she continued to listen to Vincent talk. Jude finally reached the door and swings it open.

Not standing alone
Not standing around
While they sit there and wait until I lose my ground
Not letting it go
Won't leave it behind
Won't pass me by no not this time
Not standing alone
Not standing around
Not letting it go
Won't leave it behind

Not standing around no no no
Not standing around no no no
Not standing around no no no
Not standing around no no no

Not standing around

not standing around
Not standing around no no no

Michael listened to his mother's voice fade out. He sighed and walked away from Kristen, they had been dancing but he really didn't want to be there with her.

Kristen sighed and followed him to the concession stand, "You really are no fun are you?" Michael sighed and turned to her, "You treated my mom like crap, you hit on my father, and I really didn't want to come here with you. Under other circumstances, yeah, I'm a lot of fun." Kristen just sighed and walked away. Michael rolled his eyes at how dramatic she was. He grabbed his coat and walked out, shooting Dan a look who just nodded and waved as he left. Michael got in his car and headed home, it was no fun without Annabel anyway.

Jude opened the door and almost dropped the phone. "Tommy…?" Tommy just smiled, slightly and invited himself in. "Mommy?" Jude heard in her ear, she shut the door behind Tommy and followed him into the living room. She watched him looked around and she turned back to the phone, "Vin, honey…Yeah I know…let me call you back a little later…everything's fine baby…alright, I love you…bye." Tommy turned to her with his eyebrows raised. He heard Michael talking to a Vincent too, 'was this Jude's new boyfriend…husband?!' Tommy thought to himself looking around.

Jude put a hand on her hip, "What are you doing here Tommy? You aren't welcome…"

Tommy shrugged, "That never stopped either one of us before."

Jude sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Look, now isn't a good time." Tommy looked around, "You're obviously home alone, you don't look like you're on your way out, what else could you possibly be doing? I think you are just avoiding talking to me." Jude dropped her hands to her sides, "So what if I am…neither over us were ever much of talkers Tommy."

Tommy sighed and motioned to the phone, "Vincent, as in Vincent Spiederman? You still talk to him? And you could never even call me…" Jude sighed, "I wasn't talking to Spiederman, but yes I do still talk to him." Tommy sighed, "So who was it?"

Jude sighed, she didn't want to tell Tommy about Vincent and Madison yet, "No one for you to worry about Tommy."

Tommy rubbed his eyes, "Can we please act like adults?! You won't talk to me, only give me bitter comments about what happened almost ten years ago!"

Jude sighed, "I am not bitter, I am just pissed. You want to act like adults? I find that funny. Sadie and Kwest, they handled their marriages like adults. She still loved you, so she talked to Kwest and they decided a divorce was for the better. She didn't jump in bed with someone and then leave Kwest to find it…" Tommy sighed, "Jude, I'm sorry okay?! That was the single most stupid thing I've ever done!! Every other thing I've ever done in my life isn't stupid at all compared to losing you and Michael!"

Jude rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "You have quite a way of showing it."

Tommy ran a hand through his hair, "Jude, what is it going to take to prove it to you?! I made a mistake!! I still regret it! Just like I still love you!! Nothing's changed!!"

Jude still stood her ground but lowered her gaze to the floor, "If nothing's changed then what's stopping you from cheating again?"

Jude turned to walk back to the kitchen but Tommy grabbed her arm and spun her around, he crashed his lips onto hers before she could protest. He made sure to put all the regret and pain he felt into the kiss, along with all the love he felt for her. Jude resisted but then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back. She wanted him to feel all her pain, the pain she still felt.

Tommy's hands went to her lower back, pulling her closer and Jude just kissed him harder.

Michael sighed and slammed his door shut. What he really needed right now was one of his mom's home baked cookies and his guitar. Michael opened his door shut and felt like he was going to die when he saw his mom and dad kissing in the living room. Michael just stood there in shock for a minute, and then he saw his father's hands move to his mom's ass. 'First Dan says he's into her and now this?! Why do I need to know things about my mom's sex life? Better question, how can she be standing there kissing him? He broke our family! How can she just forgive him like that?'

Michael turned on his heel and slammed the front door on his way out.

Jude and Tommy quickly broke apart when they heard the front door. Jude jumped away from Tommy and wiped her mouth. 'Oh god, what did I just do?' Jude sighed and rubbed her eyes. She looked out the window and saw Michael driving away in his Viper. "Damnit." She mumbled. Tommy just looked at her, a sorry expression on his face.

"Just one sir?"

Michael smiled and handed the airline attendant the money, "Just one, nonstop to California please." The young woman smiled and handed him his ticket, "Enjoy your trip sir." Michael nodded before picking up his guitar case and heading over to airport security.