Chapter 6 / Lost
"Yeah, Kwest man. I was just talking to Georgia. Yeah... yeah... I heard she was missing. Yeah... Georgia said no one's seen her since late last night. Yeah... Uh huh..." Tommy stomped his foot from impatience as he leaned back against the hood of his car. He ran his hand thru his mussed brown hair. Shut already!
"You don't seem very concerned there, man. You and her have a falling out?"
"No. Nothing like that." He was growing tired of the inquisition. Georgia had called him frantic, something completely out of character for her. She gave him the story and told him everyone was worried about her; even mentioned that they may call the cops if she didn't show soon. Tommy convinced her it was just a Jude thing and that she'd show up when she felt it was right. Georgia, persistence was her virtue of choice. She pressed the issue until Tommy had to cut her off with a lie about some plans he needed to attend to.
"You know where she is, huh?" Kwest's accusation startled him back into reality. He choked on his own air.
"What?"
"It's completely off the record, Quincy. I know you well enough to tell when you have information." Tommy laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I know."
"She's with you." Tommy gritted his teeth and pounded his fist against the Viper.
"Yeah."
"I knew it! Haha... Man, you're-"
"Listen, you can't say anything."
"Where are you two?"
"That doesn't matter. She just needed to get away. I picked her up last night and we just... went. And before you say it, I know it's crazy and she probably should tell people where she is, but she'll do it when she's ready. Right now," He sighed deeply into his cell. He scanned the open space around him, taking the fresh air deep within his lungs. "I think she's losing it. Or lost it. Or something. I'm worried about her."
"I won't say anything. You know that. But make sure she calls her mom at least. People on this end are trippin'. I'll think of something to tell Georgia. And Tommy?"
"Yeah, man?"
"Be careful. Let's not do anything stupid." Tommy hung up his phone and shoved it into his jeans. Be careful. Sure...He looked behind him, Jude asleep in the passenger side seat. She lay splayed on the center console, the sun and wind turning her hair into a copper whirlwind around her face. She had his jacket draped over her, lost in its black confines. He tilted his head, mentally examining situations past and present; their past, present, possible future.
It was so cliché, he knew that. He also knew that he loved her in his way. It made him feel inadequate. A girl had gotten into his head, into his heart. It wasn't the same this time as it always had been. She didn't try. He had to. She would pour her heart out in a breathless notion. He had to fight to answer simple questions. She gave him feelings and thoughts and ideas no one else did and it made him wonder what he gave her, other than blows to the heart he'd broken. He was afraid of having her love him. Screw legalities and everyone around him. Her loving him would mean that he'd inevitably hurt her and he'd have to watch as she crumbled to his feet, the world burning around them.