A few hours later…
"So you're saying what exactly?" Mason asked me curiously as he watched me pace the room slowly while staring at the packed bag now on my bed as if it were some form of devil incarnate. I didn't even look over at him as he swore.
"Jesus, Jude! This is madness. Do you even have any idea what you are doing? Any idea at all? I mean, come on…Jude? Are you even listening to me?" Mason continued as I just reached for the cell phone in my pocket for the second time in two hours to confirm the plans I had made. Mason groaned as he suddenly gripped me by the shoulders—turning me around so that I was forced to face him—so that I was forced to look directly into his eyes. I stared back into his incredulous gaze with unblinking intensity—letting him see the seriousness that resonated in my pupils. He swore again.
"The studio Jude…..Darius expects you back…your family….I mean, come on. You can't do something like this alone…." He began as I shook my head slowly before backing away from him—pressing the 'send' button on my phone as I shrugged.
"Then come with me." I muttered as a voice on the other end of my wireless contraption transferred merrily along the line. Mason slumped down onto the end of my bed in resignation. He knew me—knew the way my mind worked—knew what I was like when I had my mind set on something. My resolve was like steel, both unbendable and unbreakable. I would not capitulate. I looked up at Mason questioningly as the lady asked me something over the phone, and I smiled as Mason nodded before answering.
"I'm going to need two please." I replied as Mason ran a weary hand over his face while I finished the rest of the conversation before clicking shut my phone. And then I smiled.
"Just think of it this way, you and I will be two stalwart friends on the beginnings of an adventure." I remarked as Mason rolled his eyes—recognizing the line I had just used out of the 'Shrek' movie fame.
"Makes sense I guess. I certainly feel like an ass right now." Mason stated simply as I chuckled. Oh, but what would I do without the boy. Seriously, he was one of the best friends a gal could have, and thanks to G Major Studios and their little Instant Star contest, he had entered my life accordingly just when I needed him the most. I walked over to him and sat down beside him before draping an arm across his shoulder.
"I'm guessing that makes me an ogre then?" I asked helpfully as he frowned before looking over at the closed wooden door—sealing us into this room like two devious spies.
"I could ravish you now, my dear, but I'm afraid lover boy would come in here and make me regret it. Oh, but that is a marvelous idea. Let me ravish you." Mason countered as I laughed. I knew that statement was his way of lightening the mood—breaking the tension that flowed through us both as I dropped my arm and grabbed my suitcase. We both knew Tommy wasn't here, and I silently apologizing to him as I headed toward the door with Mason right behind me. We didn't have much time. Tom would be back from town any minute.
"You have everything?" I asked Mason quietly as I dropped the note I had written to Tom neatly into the center of my bed before exiting the house. Mason just nodded mutely as if speaking would break the quiet spell that had fallen over the place after Tom had asked his family to go home. I glanced back at the empty structure one last time as I climbed into the back of the taxi I had called earlier. Yes, a taxi. Believe it or not, even this little town had a service. Oh, what was I doing?