I want to thank everyone for the lovely comments. It really pushes me along. Thank you.

I've been pretty stuck lately even if I do have ideas for days. One thing that's been bugging me is the chapters to come. Ch. 6, 7, and 8 are all there to set a tone. No real action, but progression will be killer in terms of emotions. (Hopefully) But yeah... ON WITH IT!

Chapter 7 / Come Again

Another evening, another hotel, another night with him. Two days had made things ritualistic - drive, sleep, wake up. She savored every waking moment as if it were her last. Though their drives tended to be filled with silence, the quiet was a warm, friendly feeling. They didn't need to verbalize their understanding of one another and their situation. She enjoyed it, possibly too much.

Jude lay haphazardly on the drab double bed, leaned into Tommy. She had her arm above her, wrapped around his side, holding him as if to make sure he wouldn't go anywhere. She held her cell phone away from her ear, mind elsewhere than the futile conversation with her mother. It'd taken every bit of energy and adrenaline to make the call in the first place. She knew her mom would be pissed, but fear of her reaction had been replaced with annoyance quickly.

"JUDE HARRISON! Where the hell are you?" The usually mild-manned woman screeched into the phone. You couldn't help but visualize her face turning cherry red, eyes about to pop out of her head. "You've been gone for two days!"

"I had to get away, Mom. I need to get my head right..." The statement trailed off slightly as she contemplated what she'd just said. Get my head right. She had to admit that, even though the past few days had been easy and comfortable, it did absolutely nothing to rid her mind of the riddles and enigmas still buried deep within her mind.

"I want you home today." Jude expected this one so it didn't surprise her. She just sighed, thinking over the idea for a split second, shaking her head against Tommy's abdomen.

"I can't do that." Her mother huffed in disdainful shock.

"You are SEVENTEEN and what I say..."

"I'm not coming home. Not right now." Jude massaged the middle of her forehead. "I've gotta go now, Mom. I'll try and call you soon. Don't worry about me, though. I'm ok. Love you..."

"Jude..." Jude snapped both sides of her phone together, disconnecting her mother before anymore could be said and before her headache could progress any farther. She stared into the empty space of the ceiling, taking a few deep breaths to quiet her inner voices.

"Bad?" Tommy stroked her bangs along to one side. She took his hand, bringing it to her chest, hugging it tightly.

"She wants me at home. Tomorrow. I told her I couldn't." She again shook her head. "Why in God's name does she want me back?" Tommy was taken aback slightly. He gripped onto her hand, squeezing it for reassurance.

"We could go back, in the morning."

"I don't want to go back." She looked up at him, tears forming along the inner rims of her eyes. She blinked hard, swallowing the lump of emotions pooling in the back of her throat. "I may never want to go back. How sad is that?"

"It isn't, but you'll have to at some point. Listen," he moved his arm to pull her closer into him. "Let's just go back in the morning. It'll be easier for everyone that way." Except me, she thought bitterly.

She traced her fingers along his forearm, remembering everything she'd run away from just days earlier. In those two days, she'd made herself not think about her parents or her sister or the fact that her and Tommy wouldn't be able to be what they were now, not in front of people at least. The latter, she realized, would be worse than the most brutal of tortures. I will never again hide my feelings for him. A part of her knew he was right. They could come up with something to excuse their absence now, but if it continued any longer, neither could explain how they disappeared. So many voices filtered through her mind, each screaming something different. He isn't right! THIS is right! No, you have to go home! This is just trouble. Don't end it! If you return, you will lose him! It's different this time. Everything is different. Everything is the same! She growled under her breath, pushing her thoughts deep within her consciousness.

"Fine, Tommy. We'll leave in the morning but promise me you're in my corner. Promise me you won't change your mind about us." He smiled softly, eyes melting into a state of dusky affection.

"I promise, Jude."

"Good." She closed her eyes, exhaling loudly. "Good."