Emotionless

Chapter Nine

Jude hung up the phone angrily and turned to Tommy, "Michael won't answer his phone. I called it like 14 times."

Tommy smiled sadly at her and shrugged, he obviously didn't know what to do. Jude looked at him and held up her hand expectantly, "That's it? He's your son, we have no idea where he is and you don't care?"

Tommy rose from his place at the island in the kitchen and put his hands on Jude's hips; Jude reluctantly put her hands on his shoulders and welcomed his embrace. He always made her feel better. Tommy nuzzled her hair and whispered in her ear, "Michael wants nothing to do with me. Plus, you are way better at this whole parenting thing. I am always going to be here though." Jude nodded and tears welled up in her eyes. Then she realized that this was the same man that cheated on her, he broke her heart. Plus he still doesn't know about Vincent and Madison so he will most likely hate her.

Jude pulled away and wiped her eyes quickly. "Tommy, I think I know where he is. But I need to go alone."

Tommy just furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her.

'Ding, Dong'

A peppy blonde opened the door and smiled widely, jumping into the man's arms before her. "Michael!!"

Michael hugged her back and when he set her on the ground he planted a sound kiss on her lips, "Hey Annabel, miss me?"

Annabel kissed him again and smiled, giving him his answer. Michael looked down at his adorable little girlfriend; Annabel had long, straight, blonde hair with some darker low lights. She was a little on the short side, small frame, and was wearing a tight, blue t-shirt with a black design that looked like a tie on it, black jean cuffed short shorts, and black fishnet stocking with white high socks and sneakers ((picture Avril Lavigne in her 'Girlfriend' Video)).

Michael picked her up again, "You have no idea how much Toronto has sucked while you are here taking California by storm."

Annabel laughed, "Please, I've barely taken anything by storm except the stores. Shopping around here is awesome."

Michael smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders; he picked up his guitar case and let Annabel lead them into her large house. Annabel's dad came around the corner from the hallway with a file in his hands; he looked up and smiled, "Annabel, you didn't tell me Michael was coming."

Annabel smiled, "I thought he was coming next week." Annabel looked up at Michael and saw a slightly pained expression cross his face. She frowned a little and led Michael upstairs, "I'll show him the guestroom Daddy!" she yelled.

Michael allowed himself to be taken up the stairs and then shoved onto the bed in the guestroom. Annabel flopped down beside him. "So, you going to tell me what's going on?"

Michael turned to her and shrugged, "What? I can't just want to see my girlfriend?"

Annabel straddled and kissed him, "Am I going to have to tickle it out of you?" She asked a smiled growing on her face. Michael's eyes lit up and he started laughing as Annabel startled him and started to tickle his sides. Michael started laughing and finally gave in. Annabel smiled and climbed off him, collapsing onto the bed next to him.

Annabel stroked Michael's cheek as he told her his story; "I found my dad…" he started. His phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Michael looked at it and sighed, "Mom…" He said to Annabel. She smiled and grabbed his phone, answering it. Annabel and Jude and really bonded, Annabel was interested in fashion design. She thought that more punk should be seen on the red carpet and talked to Jude a lot about what was hot in the industry and Jude wore her designs a few times. Annabel flipped open Michael's phone and smiled, "Hi Jude!"

Jude looked to the phone and smiled, "Annabel? So I was right, Michael's with you?"

Annabel smiled happily and looked at Michael, "Yes he is, he didn't tell you he was coming?"

"No, he didn't. Can you hit him for me please?" Annabel laughed and turned to Michael, slapping him upside the head, "Done." She told Jude. Jude smiled, "Listen, Annabel, we decided to let him stay there for about a week and then I am going to fly out there. Is that okay? Am I interrupting any plans?" Annabel smiled again, "No! Not at all! I would love to have you here. You can check out some of my new sketches, California has really inspired me."

"That's good honey, is Michael there? Can I talk to him?" Annabel looked at Michael and saw him looking away, his eyes slightly glassy with tears. Annabel's happiness rushed out of her voice, "Um…no, he's sleeping. He was feeling pretty jet-lagged when he got here." Jude nodded, "Alright, well tell him the plans and I'll keep in touch."

"Sure bye Jude."

"Bye Annabel."

Jude hung up the phone and looked at Tommy. "He's in California…"

Tommy looked at her angry, "You sent him?!"

Jude looked at him like he was crazy, "Send him? What are you talking about?"

Tommy looked at her like she was insane now, "Michael said that you were thinking about sending him to California, I just can't believe you actually did it…"

Jude put a hand on her hip, "Excuse me, but Michael asked me to go to California for a weekend to visit his girlfriend Annabel, a very sweet girl, who just moved away. He left early, probably to get away from all the chaos here." Jude ran a hand through her hair and then dropped it; she walked into her bedroom and slammed the door. Tommy sighed and showed himself out.

Annabel propped her head up with her hand, resting her elbow on the bed below her. "So, you found your dad? And? That's gotta be exciting…"

Michael sighed and turned to her, "Yeah I guess. I was excited. I even wrote him a song. You know how I always told you that my mom took me away from my dad? Because she wasn't happy with him anymore?" Annabel nodded, "Well, I was way off. It turns out my dad cheated, or was about to cheat and my mom caught them. When she told me I felt so horrible, but I sent my dad the song anyway. He called me into the studio he worked at and offered me a contract."

Annabel smiled, "That's amazing!"

Michael sighed, "Yeah you would think, except when he called me in, it was just for the contract. He didn't know I was his son. Even when he saw me he didn't figure it out. When he did he went to Brad's place during our rehearsal and basically forced a conversation on me." Annabel smiled sadly and ran a gentle hand though his hair. "I'm sorry, that must have been hard." Michael nodded.

"Anything else happen?" Annabel asked. Michael sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Yeah…"

"My dad stayed through our rehearsal and they brought in a new singer, Brad's cousin Kristen. She's quite the character." Annabel raised her eyebrows, "Really?"

Michael gave her a look, "Not like that. Dan basically suckered me into taking her to the dance. The casual one. She dressed like a slut and I found out she just wanted to sleep with my dad. She kept giving him this sex look when we were practicing."

Annabel gave him another sad smiled, "Well at least she didn't hit on you. I would have to kick her ass."

Michael laughed, "Don't worry you have nothing to worry about. I'm all yours girl." Annabel smiled and gave him a little Eskimo kiss before covering his lips with hers.

Jude woke up the next morning and sighed, things were getting really out of hand. She heard a knock on her bedroom door and knitted her eyebrows. "Um…come in?"

The door opened and Tommy walked in smiling. Jude sighed, "What do you want?"

Tommy hung his head, "You're still mad at me?"

Jude folder her arms over her chest, "For cheating on me or for accusing me of sending our son away?" she asked with attitude.

Tommy sighed, "Both…?"

Jude just rolled her eyes, finding it best not to answer. Tommy flopped down on her bed and handed her an envelope. Jude looked at it before taking it and opening it. "Two plane tickets?" She asked in confusion. Tommy sighed, "To California…" He explained.

Jude smiled slightly and kissed his cheek quickly before getting up to get dressed.