Chapter 37 – Pink Roses

Lance watched his father slam the door. He stood there shaking, waving his cane around like a crazy person.

David: "The nerve of him. He wants me dead." he mumbled. Lance had no words of comfort for his father. The truth was, as much as Lance didn't want his father to die he understood Tommy. He didn't want Jude to do this and Lance didn't either. Lance cared about Jude, truly cared and if he had cared about her this much than he couldn't imagine what Tommy must be feeling. So instead of trying to calm David down, Lance made his way up the stairs while David headed for the living room still cursing under his breath. Half way up the door bell rang. Lance turned around thinking it was Tommy again and opened the door.

Lance: "Jess!" he stood there shocked. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her blond hair with blue ends was gone shining into a light shade of brown. She smiled revealing her deep dimples. Her brown eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. She looked older wearing a simple, black, v-neck shirt with a light jacket over it and some faded jeans. He looked her up and down still trying to take in that she was really there. When she raised her arm and waved at him, her shirt rose up to reveal her pieced bellybutton. A pink rose dangled from it. She was breathtaking. His smile turned into a frown. And it hurt. It hurt to remember all over again. How could she? Resentment surfaced. Why couldn't he understand she was just a child? Hell, he was just a child.

Jess: "Aren't you going to invite me in?" she asked looking over his shoulder after noticing his frown. She knew what he had looked at. She knew what he was thinking.

Lance: "No, let's sit in the back yard." He said still a little shocked.

Jess: "I forgot. You're parents were never fond of me."

Lance: "Yeah well, after all the things we did, I don't have to explain why." He said passing by her. They walked to the back in silence, her following close behind him. Once they reached the bench they took seats next to each other. She shrugged smelling the cool, fresh air.

Jess: "Just let me explain. Don't say anything. Just listen to me and than if you don't ever want to see me again, I'll understand and I'll leave you alone. I swear." She said trying to get through it as quickly as possible. Lance nodded. He couldn't speak. He was still angry but he didn't want to lash out at her. He was hurting but he didn't want her to see it. He didn't want her knowing what a wrack she had made out of him. So he just sat there wanting to run but not being able to move one inch. He sat there helplessly watching the love of his life but yet, his biggest enemy.

Back To Jude

It was getting dark. Jude was talking to EJ in the lobby about some promotion they would be doing for her new song. She wasn't really paying attention. Instead, she concentrated on the window behind EJ. It had started to rain lightly and she wondered where Tommy was. He hadn't called the whole day. She didn't want to call him so she made Kwest do it. He didn't answer. She was worried.

EJ: "Jude, are you listening to me?"

Jude: "What? Uh yes. Big party." She said smiling a fake smile.

EJ: "No Jude, Tommy's birthday. Any ideas?" she asked. Jude snapped out of it right away. Tommy birthday? He never even told her when his birthday was.

Jude: "When is his birthday?" she asked now fully there.

EJ: "You mean you don't know?" Jude shook her head.

EJ: "This is a shocker. It's next week."

Jude: "Next week? Already?" she asked.

EJ: "Yeah. Big 23. Any plans? I was thinking of throwing him a surprise party."

Jude: "No party. Tommy doesn't like surprises and if he knew about a party he'd still not show up." She said.

EJ: "If you come up with something better, let me know. Oh shhhhhhhh, here he comes." She said. Jude quickly turned around and there he was. On the other side of the lobby talking to Kwest. Jude looked at him. He was alright. A few minutes later he looked at Jude and nodded for her to follow him to the studio. She watched him walk inside their studio and she immediately followed. She noticed him take a seat on a chair with his back to her.

Tommy: "Close the door." He said. How did he know she was there? She obeyed and took a seat across from him on the couch. He picked up her guitar and handed it to her. Jude looked at him. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept for days. The bags under his eyes made him look older.

Tommy: "Kwest said you started working on a new song. Let me hear what you got." He said looking at her for the first time. His face softened. His deep frown turned into a little smile.

Jude: "You look tired. Maybe we should work on it tomorrow so you can get some rest tonight." She said tenderly.

Tommy: "It's nice of you to worry about me but I'm alright. Just sing for me, girl." He said. She placed the guitar in her lap and opened her journal placing it on the table before her. Biting her lip she began to strum the cords.

Jude: "Mmmmmmmm, two of us alone again, everyone knows our falls-."

Tommy: "Stop right there, girl." He said putting his hand over hers on the guitar. He knew who this song was about.

Jude: "I knew this sucked. Something's missing." She said.

Tommy: "It doesn't suck. I think you have something there. It just needs a little emotion." He said and got up. Tommy walked over and stopped behind her. He leaned down and put his arms around her from the back. He placed his hands gently on hers as his mouth pressed tenderly against her ear.

Tommy: "Play as if you're just playing for me." He whispered. Jude felt tingles run all down her body but she began to play with his hands still over hers. This time she didn't sing. A few seconds into the melody Tommy took over.

Tommy: "It's the two of us alone again, staring blankly at these walls, day in and day out everyone knows we've made our falls." He sang into her ear. Jude closed her eyes just listening to his voice so close by, his warm breath in her ear. She heard him reach for her notebook and motioned for her to keep on playing while he still remained hovering over her. Jude turned her head to him, eye for an eye; they were only about an inch apart.

Jude: "You lean over me, our eyes instantly meet,

I've lost myself all over again, is this the feeling of defeat?

Brushed up against me so close I smelled your cologne,

I heard the beat oh so faint, it's your heart of stone." She sang. She had no idea where that had come from. Those weren't the lyrics she had written out. Tommy pulled back when she finished. He sat back down on his chair. Jude stopped playing. They looked at each other, neither saying a word.

Back To Lance

Jess: "I was young and scared. We were both young. How were we going to take care of a baby?"

Lance: "We could have managed. I would have gotten a job."

Jess: "Baby, we couldn't even take care of ourselves. I'm sorry. I messed up."

Lance: "You messed up?" he asked getting up. "You had an ABORTION. How can I forgive you for something like that? You killed our child." He yelled.

Jess: "I was 17. I didn't know any better."

Lance: "What do you want from me?"

Jess got up: "A chance. I know we can be happy. I love you and I know you still love me. Just give me a chance. Let me prove it to you."

Lance: "Did you know I'm going back to college? I've finally cleaned up my life. I don't want trouble."

Jess: "You're not going to have trouble. Look at me! I don't run with the old crew any more. I've changed because I want to be with you." She said as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "You don't think it was hard for me to give up our baby? It was the hardest thing I ever did and I didn't even have you there. I still have nightmares, being alone in that cold and empty hospital bed."

Lance: "Don't blame this on me."

Jess: "I'm not. I have nothing else to say to you. You've heard it all before. I've apologized. Just give me a call." She said and turned to leave but then stopped "I will always love you." She said. Lance watched her slowly walking away until he snapped out of his daze.

Lance: "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU TOO, Jess." He yelled after her. She stopped and smiled, then ran to him. He picked her up and kissed her deeply. And in that instant, he knew that this was where he was meant to be; with Jess.