Chapter 11
"Oh my goodness! Jamie!" Jude yelled, feeling relief wash over her. "What are you doing here!" She demanded.
"I heard some noises over here and I came to check it out." Jamie said simply, running a hand under his nose and checked it for blood. "You're lucky you didn't give me a bloody nose." He said, wincing slightly.
Jude launched herself into his arms and hugged him in relief.
"I thought someone was in the house…"
"There was someone. I came in and he ran out the back. I didn't see who it was." Jude gaped at Jamie. "Jude is there something…?"
"No."
Oh goodness, she thought, I have a stalker! What do I do! I can't tell mom, she'll just freak, hell, everyone will freak! It'll be a freak fest!
"Does anyone else have access to your house or…"
"I don't know Jamie. It was probably a burglar or something and you scared them off." Jude said, trying to sound casual. "No sense in worrying right?" She said her voice tight.
"Jude…"
"Thanks for coming over Jamie, but I'm fine. I'll see you later." Jude said, shoving him towards the door.
"OK, OK, I can take a hint." Jamie said, crossing to the door. "You sure you're ok?" He asked. Jude nodded and Jamie left the house. Once Jamie was outside, Jude slumped against the door and let out a sigh. She quickly ran to the phone and dialed a number frantically.
Pick up…Pick up…She thought
"'lo?" A sleepy voice answered on the 5th ring.
"I woke you up." Jude said, feeling bad.
"Jude it's…1:30 in the morning…" His voice trailed off "What's wrong?" Tommy said, his voice sounding slightly panicked.
"Can I…can we talk somewhere?" Jude asked, wrapping her arm around herself.
"Now?" Jude nodded and then realized she was on the phone.
"Yes now…why else would I call?" She said, her voice sounding mousy. Tommy paused.
"At 1:30 in the morning?" he asked.
"Let's meet at the studio." Jude said, quickly. She grabbed her keys off the table and frowned. "Tommy?"
"I'm here." Tommy said his voice groggy.
"I guess it can wait…"
"No, I'll meet you at the studio in 15." Tommy said.
"Thanks." Jude said. Tommy just grunted in response. "See ya in a few." She said and Tommy gave her a "yeah" as a response and she hung up. Jude quickly dashed out the door, not bothering to put her shoes on. She raced to her car and started it. She pulled out the driveway and sped away as quickly as her car would go.
Jude parked close to the back door of the studio. She turned off the ignition and sat in her car for a moment before stepping out into the pouring rain. While she was driving, the skies had opened up and pelted water down on the unsuspecting earth below. She jogged to the door, water sloshing over her bare feet as she ran though the mud puddles.
Jude fumbled with her keys and found the studio key Georgia had gave to her three years earlier. She twisted the key and turned the lock and dashed into the building, closing the door behind her. As she walked through the studio, she dripped water all over the tiled floor and her wet feet almost slipped a couple different times. She quickly entered the alarm code and entered the kitchen, turning on the light as she sat down on a stool next to the counter and waited anxiously for Tommy to arrive.
Jude shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, attempting to get warm. A crash of thunder made Jude jump and the answering lightning strike cut the power. Jude jumped off the stool, causing it to topple to the floor with a bang. Jude jumped at the noise.
Stop it Jude, it's just the storm. She thought.
"Jude?" A voice said. Jude gasped and spun around. The flash of lighting lit up the sky and she found herself face-to-face with Tommy. Jude launched herself into his arms, nearly knocking an unsuspecting Tommy over. He wrapped his arms around her as he stumbled back a step and steadied himself. "Jude, are you ok?" Tommy asked. She looked up at him and pulled away slightly. As she left his arms, she immediately felt cold again and shivered.
"You're soaked girl." Tommy said, taking his coat off and draping it over her shoulders.
"I feel so stupid." Jude muttered, looking away from him.
"Hey, you are not stupid Jude. Don't you ever think that." Tommy said, sternly. Jude sniffed and pulled Tommy's coat closer.
"There was someone in the house." Jude began after a moment of silence. "I came home and I feel asleep waiting for mom and Sadie to come home. I woke up to a crash and I got scared. I thought someone was in the house…" Jude shuddered and tears stung her eyes.
"I'm sure it was…"
"No Tommy. I think I do have to worry." Jude whispered and looked away from him again.
"Jude?" Tommy placed a hand under her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. "You can tell me." Tommy said, worried about what spooked her so much.
"I've been getting phone calls from someone. At first, I thought it was just an obsessed fan I met on tour or something…but now…" Jude said, tears falling down her face.
"You think you have a stalker." Tommy stated. Jude nodded and sniffed again.
"I just…I didn't want to be home. I didn't feel safe." Jude said, looking away from him again and stared at the floor and her bare feet which were frozen.
"Come on Jude, I'll take you" Tommy stopped when he saw the look of panic come on her features. He'd never seen Jude like this. He's seen her nervous, pissed, in love, broken, sad, and insanely happy. He had never seen Jude like this, so scared and fragile. For once, he could be her salvation; the role in her life he'd always denied both of them. Tommy sighed. "If you don't want to go home, you can come back to my place…" Tommy said and added quickly "as a friend. Cuz…that's what friends do…"
Jude's head snapped up at Tommy's suggestion and she stared back at him and nodded slightly. Another boom of thunder roared and Jude jumped slightly. Tommy put his arm around her shoulder, a pang hitting his heart again as she showed her vulnerability. He moved his arm so it circled her shoulders. Jude laid her head on his shoulder and they walked out of the studio together and to the Viper that was parked next to Jude's car. Jude got in and Tommy started the car and pulled out into the dark night.