Chapter Twenty-Five: Summertime Sadness Part 1

The past two weeks have been driving Jude absolutely crazy. Tom had been heading to visit his mother ever day for hours and never once did he invite Jude or fill her in on what was really going on. Every day she got the same excuse how he just was not ready and it was wearing her down. She stared at her phone as she slumped in a studio chair at G Major. It was almost two, which meant Tom would be heading out soon to visit his mom. Today Jude had a plan.

A warm kiss was placed to the top of Jude's forehead by Tom who was bent down, "I'm about to head out, is Mason taking you back or do you need a ride?"

Jude looked up to Tom from her chair with demanding eyes, "I was thinking I'd come with today."

"Jude-" Tom groaned, ready to explain, but he was cut off.

"Tom this is affecting our time here. We came here to get away and make beautiful music. Now you're leaving me everyday for hours." Jude complained while crossing her arms.

"I'm not ready." He simply mumbled letting his head drop.

Jude let out an angry exhale, "Let me in Tom. What are you so afraid of? I know everyone has problems; I'm not going to run away because of your family. I stayed through so much-"

Tom interjected shaking his head, "Just drop it."

"Whatever." Jude muttered letting him believe she accepted defeat.

Tom leaned down and tried kissing Jude hard and passionately, but she barely budged. "I love you Jude," he spoke quietly knowing he was treading on thin ice.

"I love you too." She whispered as he began to walk away.

Just then Jude jumped from her seat and ran to find Mason. She had decided if he was not going to take her, she was going to show up. She was tired of feeling like there was a whole part of the man she loved that she would never get to know. When she spotted Mason in the hospitality area her pace sped up.

Out of breath Jude began to speak, "We're following Tom. Quick! Let's go!"

Mason tried to speak, but Jude just roughly grabbed him by the hand and began sprinting towards to parking lot exit. He caught up to her hastiness and trailed right behind her.

As soon as he reached the car he found his voice, "We're following Tom?"

"I need to be there for him, he just doesn't know it yet." Jude asserted confidently opening the passenger door.

Mason groaned, "Jude-"

"Please Mase." Her lips pouted and he gave in immediately.

They pulled out of the parking lot and spotted Tom's car turning at the light. Jude was shaking realizing the moment she had been waiting for this whole vacation was about to happen. The pair kept a safe distance in Mason's car, but stayed close enough to know where he was going. Eventually they arrived in a parking lot of a large rehabilitation facility. Jude had waited a few minutes, to let Tom get in successfully so he couldn't spot her and force her to leave right away.

"You nervous?" Mason questioned as he watched Jude peer out the window biting her nails.

Jude's leg was fidgeting and she nodded her head, "A little, but I'm not backing down."

Jude insecurely walked towards the front desk. She kept wondering if they'd even let her in without knowing Tom's mother's full name.

"I'm looking for-" But Jude was cut off.

"Visitation room," The secretary rudely chomped on her gum while pointing her pen in the direction of where Jude needed to be.

Jude nodded her head and faced the recreational room across from the lobby. She hesitantly walked towards the door. Her eyes gawked through the large window and she spotted Tom sitting across from a frail looking woman. Her hair was a light brown, borderline dirty blonde. She couldn't take in much of the woman's physical features from such a distance, but she could notice how thin she had been. Jude took a deep breath before entering the recreation center. As soon as Tom's eyes met hers, she could see the anger, but he didn't move from his seat.

"Hi Tom," Jude uttered shyly.

Tom's eyes darkened as his head refused to face her and acknowledge her sudden presence, but his mom did. Her head peaked up to see the woman who addressed her son, "Tommy who is this?"

Tom's breathing was heavy, "Just a friend who shouldn't be here."

Jude was taken back by her tone and decided to introduce herself, "I'm Jude Harrison, Tom's girlfriend."

A smile grew on the woman's lips and Jude felt calmer, "Girlfriend? Tom why haven't you mentioned something sooner?" The woman stood up to hug Jude, "I'm Madeline; it's such a pleasure to meet you."

Jude took her embrace warmly and searched Tom's eyes for happiness, but he was still cold. When they pulled apart Quincy decided to stand up. Before either woman could speak he exited the room in a frustrated manor.

Jude sighed as she took a seat across from his mother. Madeline began to speak, "He's always so selfish."

"What do you mean?" Jude questioned.

"For one he put me in this place!" Madeline exclaimed with an irritated tone, "He left me here and never visited. He ruined my relationships by being selfish. If it wasn't about him or his brother they left. And now he leaves again!"

Jude didn't really know what to say, she wasn't sure of the background story. "Oh."

I can't believe he hadn't mentioned you at all. He's been here the past days, but he never wants to be. He's plotting with my doctor's I swear it. They're always talking." Jude could see the insane side that Tom had warned creeping out, but Madeline's facial expression changed as she touched Jude's hand, "You're such a lovely girl. He really doesn't deserve you. He'll throw you away too for the enemy. Over and Over just like Milo." Madeline looked at Jude with sincerity; she truly believed her sons were terrible people.

Jude shook her head, "No Mrs. Quincy, he's an amazing man. I don't know about his past, but I can assure you he's changed. Him and Milo are very nice young men with great careers. Maybe it's time to forgive and forget, ya know move on and get better."

"No, Tom and him will never change." Madeline half yelled.

Just then Tom came back after attempting to cool down, but the conversation he walked in on only made it worse, "Mom you know nothing!"

"You ruined my life!" Madeline screamed and quickly security rushed around her. They grabbed her arms as she tried to flail and lunge towards Tom. Quincy put his head down and sighed.

"You should leave now Mr. Quincy." One of the hefty men holding his mother back said.

Tom nodded his head and turned to walk out without a fight. Jude looked to his mother than him and quickly began to follow Tom out.

"Tommy I'm sorry, I didn't know-"

"That's right Jude you didn't know shit! My mom thinks I'm an awful person maybe I am. She blames me and my brothers for Darius leaving and she despises us for accepting his jobs. But we needed money! She turned to heavy drugs and stopped working. I had no choice!" Tom shouted at Jude as soon as they exited the building, "Are you happy? You met my wonderful mother and got to watch her tear me apart!"

"Tom, I'm so sorry." Jude pleaded feeling her eyes burn.

Tom shook his head, "You came here without permission and metaled in my life. Fuck off Jude."

"Tom I don't believe her!" Jude argued back trying to grab ahold of him.

He dodged her touch and laughed manically, "No Jude, she's right. You deserve better you always did."

"When are you going to understand you're better than anything I could have ever imagined? I fucking love you Tommy!" Jude cries became louder.

"You're just young and stupid." Tom spat out emotionlessly, "You'll be better off without me."

Jude began to sob and cry into her hands not able to form sentences any longer as Tom feverishly walked away. She took his advice to fuck off and decided to have Mason take her back to their vacation home. Jude didn't speak during the car ride and Mason kept looking over to her as she cried, but he knew she would speak when she was ready. He followed her into the house when they both noticed Tom's car was not home. Jude eagerly made her way to the bedroom and began to throw her clothes into a suitcase.

"Woah, woah, woah Jude what's going on?" Mason asked worried about the scene before him.

Jude had tears streaming down her face and makeup everywhere, "I'm going home Mase. He doesn't want me here!"

"Jude stop, you guys can work it out." Mason begged as Jude frantically began gathering more of her belongings, "I don't want you to leave, at least stay for me."

Jude shook her head violently falling into his arms, "Mase you can visit whenever. I just need my friends and family right now."

After Jude had packed completely she lugged her bags into Mason's car. He solemnly agreed to drive her to the airport and wait with her until the next available flight. Jude decided to let Tom know through text message because he refused to pick up her phone calls.

I'm going back home Tom. I didn't do anything wrong today. I just wanted you to open up because I love you. You walked away again today without any emotion at all. I'm hurt and confused. When you're ready to talk you know where to find me.

Tom arrived back at the house later that night and hadn't been able to check his messages due to throwing his phone in anger. He had felt some remorse towards treating Jude the way he did and he was prepared to sit and actually talk about it. Tom believed he fully overly reacted. He called her name and didn't get a response. Initially he assumed she was with Mason and he automatically regretted destroying his phone. He entered the bedroom to change and search for a house phone and that's when he realized Jude's bags were gone. He frantically checked the drawers, no clothes. Then he made his way to bathroom and all of her essentials were missing. Tom didn't mean to break up with her or make her feel as if she had to leave, he was just angry and his words were misconstrued. He felt his chest tighten and an urge to cry. He walked to the bedroom and fell to the mattress, what had he done?

Sadie awaited Jude's arrival at the airport in Toronto. She had been briefly filled in on why Jude departed early and was anxious to support her baby sister. By her side was Kwest. Ever since the night of Jude and Tom's send off party they had really hit it off and he too was curious on what had caused the once power couple to fall in a day.

Jude entered the terminal still sniffling and ran to Sadie dropping her bags beside her. She rushed into her sister's embrace and broke down. Kwest patted Jude's back as the scene played out, "He hates me."

"Jude that's impossible." Sadie cooed placing a hand in Jude' hair.

"She's right blondie, Tom loves you." Kwest added trying to comfort her.

Jude shook her head; "He called me stupid and too young and told me to fuck off!"

"Those are just angry words," Sadie attempted to reassure Jude.

"He hasn't even tried getting in touch with me. I was at the airport for hours before I left and not a word." Jude cried deeper. As Sadie comforted her sister she shared a worried look with Kwest. They both never thought Tom wouldn't fight for Jude to stay.

Tom laid in bed quietly sobbing to himself. Truthfully he wanted to run home and get Jude back, but he was obligated through contract to be in LA for another few weeks. Although he felt anger towards Jude for leaving right away, he didn't fully blame her. Tom was determined to fix things; it would just unfortunately have to wait.