This has been one hell of a chapter to write. This is my third – count it with me now: 1, 2, 3 – time to write it (i.e. from the beginning) and it's just been... hell. Going through countless titles, ideas, and plot twists, I knew it had to be some simblence of good. It's the jump off for the resolve; everything up to this point has built up to this moment. (It won't feel like it, but trust me.) I kept questioning whether or not I REALLY wanted to play the cards I was wanting to, and... well... I am. Because, DAMMIT. This is my story and be damned if I second-guess myself. (Now you see how I'm so "good" at writing Jude's insanity. lol)

I cannot say it's going to be the best chapter since toast, but... I'm trying. Consider this one of those bad chapters that's necessary to push the story ahead. I'm sorry in advance for it sucking so much.

There is a good bit left to this bad boy and... just keep on the look out.

I want to thank everyone now for all of the comments I've been receiving. It's an ego boost to know people really are enjoying something you put out there, even if it is just fan fiction. It... It feels good. The end. Thank you everyone.

So yes... On to today's traffic...

Chapter 22 / 3 ½ Times Blue Monday

Everything after Sadie's call was a blur. He vaguely remembered giving Stuart "another time" to finish their discussion and quickly bolted out of the door. He jumped in his car and the simple seven minute drive turned into a dizzying half hour excursion, turns missed and lights run. He'd tried calling her himself, hoping she wasn't answering because she thought it was either Sadie or her mother trying to reach her, praying that she'd answer for him. It wouldn't make a difference. The same ghostly message repeated itself to their planned upon audience.

"It was so simple; I loved you Tom Quincy." Loved? That's past tense. She must have meant "love".

He couldn't shake the connotations of goodbye, their previous altercation rushing back and on top of him, guilt soon following suit. He smacked his forehead in frustration, damn near sprinting inside of G Major. Pacing took up the free time before Sadie arrived, and when she did, he nearly jumped on top of her.

"Sadie! Have you gotten in touch with her?"

She just rolled her eyes.

"No, Tom, I haven't. Hello to you, too."

"Sorry, sorry." He began pacing yet again; he didn't know what else to do.

"Mind telling me what she meant?" She crossed her arms over her stomach in her signature fashion. "I know Jude's weird and all, but that was just... creepy."

"We got into it, sort of, and I just had to get air. She begged me not to, but I had to. She kept calling and I wouldn't answer. Oh, god Sadie. You should've seen her face when I left. It was just like last time." He looked up from his incoherency, finally noticing the way she wasn't paying attention. "Sadie? Are you even listening?"

"Yeah. You two fought, you left, and she went all super psycho. Mmmhmm."

"Yeah..." He searched her face to figure out what she was thinking, nothing to coming to him in her blank stares. "Tell me something – do you even care?"

"You kind of have to look at who you're telling this to."

"Sadie..."

"We both know Jude and how she's overly emotional. More than likely, she turned off her phone and is sitting in the park with her guitar, writing yet another song."

To say her apathy pissed him off would have nullified the feeling. Didn't she hear what Jude said at all? She was beginning to creep onto his bad side.

"I have a feeling this is worse than her turning off her phone to write a song."

"But she's always like this! I know it. You know it. I don't know why you're freaking out. It's Jude for Christ's sake!"

"Have you talked to her lately? At all? She's not good, Sadie."

"Of course not." She gave him a slight sneer.

"I can't believe you don't fucking care!"

"I don't care because this is the same drama card she pulls every damn time something goes wrong!"

Tommy fought the urge to yell, composing himself and thoughtfully choosing his words.

"If this is about what happened between us, don't take it out on her."

Sadie laughed at his idea, throwing her hands in the air.

"This isn't about us, Tom! This is about Jude and the same old games of hers. She gets upset, cries a little, and everyone is falling at her feet. I'm sorry if I'm not one of them! I love my sister, sure, but it doesn't mean I have to like her or care for her."

Tommy was shocked at her profession. He'd always known that Sadie's and Jude's relationship was strained, even more so after he'd broken up with Sadie, but to know she didn't care for her sister wasn't the easiest pill to swallow.

"That's low even for you."

"No, Tommy, it's the truth." She walked closer to him, narrowing her eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll be going now. I'm not in the mood for another round of Jude's games. I'll see you later, Tommy."

Sadie didn't look back at Tommy as she coolly and confidently strolled out of G Major. She found herself driving towards the park hoping to prove herself right. She drove around it's perimeter a few times and there was no Jude. In fact, she found the entire place was empty. It didn't sway her opinion on the matter, though, as she turned to go home. In Sadie's mind, she was correct in her assumptions and Jude would show up within a day or two to usher in even more dramatics. She'd done it when she'd run off weeks before, and it was just another day in the life.

Sadie lied through her teeth when she told Tommy it wasn't about them, but she just couldn't let him know it. Seeing him worked up over her sister infuriated her and killed the loving feelings she had for him for the moment. It didn't help her case any, every disgusted look her threw at her caught and filed away. Some small part of her felt bad, but self-made justification overrode most of the feeling. She shook her head to free her mind from the entire thought, talking herself down from the mild guilt that threatened to overtake her. I will not feel bad for her. She's always overreacting. Besides, Jude took what was mine and I'll be damned if she doesn't get at least a small taste of revenge. If I can't have him, neither can you.

Sadie arrived home, pulling up beside her newly arrived mother. It hadn't dawned on her until then what her plan of action would be but now she knew. She hopped out of the car, and merrily walked to and inside of her home.

"Mom!"

"I'm in here, honey!"

She walked towards the kitchen, smiling to herself and the deviousness she found delicious. Sorry, Jude. A girl has to do what she has to do. Just remember, you brought this on yourself.

"Guess what, Mom?"