VilandraofAntar ((I think I have to pose the eternal question, was he hot? But I admire you for getting your money back, I have no spine and I would have let him walk off with it in his pants. I'm trying to think of angry lyrics that could go with Darius' Poppin' A Vein but I challenged when it comes to rhyming...that isn't spelled right. I'm like a step away from the title 'illiterate' how funny. I took ballet for a week and then I dropped out because the teacher said I need to find some common sense. I wanted to punch her but I didn't I just left. After years of the flute I decided to switch to guitar, and yes it is all Jude Harrison's fault, and it's been sitting in my basement since my mom made me move it out of my car because it was 'too distracting'. I don't even know how to strike a chrod and I refuse to take lessons. So I'm fickle and insane. It's a great combination. I'm glad you liked the chapter though!))
thatgirlyoucanttrust ((I don't think Juderman will ever really die, they merely take a backseat to Jommy. I sorta like Juderman, even now because I'm kinda on the 'bash Tommy's brains' boat. I think Spied really should find his super power because I would laugh at his attempts to find it.))
tommys21 ((I loved the noodle dance and summer just reminds me of that show all the time. I need to find Mason a man, he keeps praying on the guys. But I think Craig needs a turn on the Mason action too lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter!))
jackjackio ((I can't even get over that cliffhanger. It made me so mad and blah. So I felt like it was my duty to touch on it lol. Jamie is like the number one Dork. Well not physically anymore since he got hot lol. I really enjoy seeing Tommy squirm, but I think Jude squirming could be hilarious, I'm just trying to think of a plausible way to get them all...squrimish lol.))
Tanya50801 ((PB and J Otter was like my favorite show ever...wait is it still on? I must go find it right now! Ok, I can wait lol. I'm so glad you like the story!))
angellicious02 ((Oh I have such plans to make him whimper it's pretty evil. Tommy and Jude actually did get it on this is the sequel to Bang Theory and I think they do it in like chapters 11 and 12 lol. I couldn't resist, I just love them too much.))
Judeh05 ((I have been calling Angelina a homewrecker since Brad and Jen broke up! I think what she does for impoverished countries to excellent but she totally stole Brad and no one can tell me different. Go Team Aniston! I could definitely see Jude's head bashing, it's kinda funny actually lol. I always thought Tommy was kinda mean when he said that so I was like Jude should stick up for herself lol. And I don't want you to die, so I tried for a speedy update lol))
hmgirl8192 ((Spiederman is a great target for Mason, I can really picture it happening so I try to make it happen as often as possible. There is never such thing as 'too much sugar'! Never ever can one have too much of the wonderful substance! lol, obviously I can. Never feel bad about rambling, I love to read rambles they make me happy! So please ramble on!))
Latisha C ((I picture Jamie as a lightweight and mixed with his girlfriend who seems to be a veteran I think alot could happen after a beer. I love you, I thought I was the only one in the world who watches Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David is my life. And I think the only episode that topped the massage one was when he stabbed Ben Stiller in the eyeball with a stick or whatever that was. Or when he cut that little girl's doll's hair and then at the end he had a water bottle down his pants when he was hugging her...that was midly disturbing lol. I'm so glad you like my writing so much, I hope this chapter doesn't dissapoint!))
I live for your reviews, seriously. I love you guys so I hope you guys are still liking the story so much! But enough of me!
Chapter 7: The Unforgettable Fire
With Tommy downstairs, I sat in my chair for at least ten minutes trying to breathe. I felt quite yoga-y but without the pants. Which sorta sucks because those pants are comfy. I stole a pair of Sadie's once and I wanted to live in them. But when I was in the shower she stole them back, she is evil.
Once I had successfully inhaled and exhaled to the best of my ability I made my way downstairs. The bitch-switch is so going back on. I'm not going to be some stupid girl that believes every word a guy says and then gets heartbroken again. I'm not going to be Sadie and let him persuade me with a few well-thought, well-rehearsed, already-used words. I won't.
I hobbled down the last step and walked to own of the benches, laying lengthwise on my back and turning my head away from him. As I was staring in fascination at J.Lo's booty I felt his presence and then heard him breathe loudly.
"Congested much, Quincy?"
"What's your problem?" He scoffed, sounding too much like Spied for his own good. Really, sounding like Spied at all can only mean bad bad things. For everyone involved.
"We're stuck you idiot, would you like to go walk back?" I was starting to not believe that they would actually forget about us. I mean Tommy was the one who had driven there and I was the one who always ran my mouth. Whatever. "We can just call them." He told me. With what, asshole?
"Well I didn't bring my cell."
"Why not? It's practically attached to you."
"Oh shove it Quincy." I told him.
"No really. I encourage you to shove whatever the hell is up your ass, a little bit further. Because as of right now, I can't see it coming back out your mouth." I continued.
I do not want to be stuck with him. If we had still been whatever we were, I would be fine with it. I would be happy about it. Hell I would have probably locked us up in here on purpose. But right now, I just want to scream at him. And hit him in the face. And I want to kiss him too, but no one needs to know about that.
"Or we could just…talk." He suggested. Yea ok, I'm gonna chat with Tom. Pssht, yea right.
"Well good, I always wanted to know you curl your eyelashes so precisely."
"That's not what I meant." I lifted myself up and stood up in front of him. It was a shameless attempt to stare at him without him catching me. What? He's nice to look at.
"Are they your throwback to Wesley Snipes, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar era? Because you are really pulling it off." I told him as my mocking applause filled the tensing air. No really, the air right now should be clientele of Darius' masseuse.
"I thought we could talk about something different." He said.
"Have the Maybelline people heard about you?"
"Jude, I was being serious."
"Well I guess they've heard of you. But that's probably only because you've fuc-"
"Can we just talk about us for one minute?" He shouted over me.
"No we cannot."
"Why is that your decision to make?"
"There is no us."
"Yes there is." He insisted.
"No! There is no Tommy and Jude anymore. There is no Jommy. Jommy is dead! And I am never going to have this fight with you ever again. And even if I were, we would not have it while we're stuck in this hellhole ALL ALONE! How cliché would that be?"
"Probably just enough for Miss Harrison." I am going to look past that unneeded and snarky remark and move on to his evident illiteracy.
"Do you know how to read?" He gave me a look that told me he was insulted that I would think that he couldn't.
"Then why do you say my name like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're hacking up a fur ball in the first syllable. And when you say the second one, your teeth are so close together that they squish the sound and it looks like you are trying to grind your teeth into some kinda of powder that you will probably smoke or snuff later."
"Well I wasn't aware that I did." He said through clinched teeth and forced a grin.
"I can see right through that. Plus you're clenching your fists. Tell tale sign of repressed anger. But I love that you underestimate how well I can read you. I bet it'll come in handy sometime. And can I just say one more thing?"
I wasn't going to wait for an answer but he grumbled an 'I don't think I can stop you' that he totally thought I didn't hear. But I did.
"I hate the way you say my first name."
That is a lie. A bald face lie. I swear lightening will come down and strike my while I lie to him. Whatever.
"You say the u like you have a vibrator in your mouth or something." I told him matter-of-factly.
Wait…why did I just say that? I guess Tommy doesn't know either since he's looking at me like I'm insane. Well I am. And I am also dropping this subject.
"Or a penis." I mumbled almost inaudibly.
Ok I lied again; I'm not dropping the subject.
I watched him flip his head towards me violently with a crazed look in his eyes.
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing."
I'm a liar.
"I'm pretty sure I heard penis."
"No you didn't."
I'm a liar.
"Are you ever going to stop being pissed at me?" He wanted to know.
"I'm over it Tommy."
I'm a liar.
"No actually I'm more over you than the situation."
I'm a liar.
"But I still can't really get over how well you play the game. My sister fell for it. And here I am, trying to pick myself up after that catastrophic tumble."
Ok, I wasn't lying there.
I realized I had dropped my gaze towards the floor so I looked back up to see if he had anything to say. He stood there gaping at me, his mouth slightly open and his eyes pentrating. And not in a dirty way. I don't think like that all the time.
Actually the only person I know, besides Spied, that thinks like that all the time is Hal Sparks. I wanted to marry him after I saw an episode of Queer As Folk and after some research he found out that he guest starred on Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman. Plus he's on VH1 all the time and the man really has the mind of Jay and Silent Bob mashed together with Kathy Griffin. It's ridiculous.
I sat back down, biting my nails ferociously, like Tom Hanks ate that coconut in Castaway or like Brooke Shields in half the scenes of Blue Lagoon, and sighed discontentedly. I could feel him watching me, and it only made me madder. And it only made me huff louder. And it only made me slowly turn into a raging bull. Except I learned that all bulls are boys. And the most incredible epiphany that rooted from the discovery was that all cows are girls! Seriously, I never knew that. Well I guess I just didn't think about it.
"Go away Quincy." I growled at my teeth whittled away my cuticles. Tommy seemed to get the picture that I kinda hated him, or at least he got the picture I was trying to convey.
Honestly, I knew I didn't hate him. I knew I couldn't hate him. But it was still fun.
I watched him saunter over towards Kyle's drums and rattle a soft beat, tap-tap-tapping the sticks repeatedly. I made my way over and sat myself on the floor across from him. When I heard a faint hum, I plastered a fake grin on my face and cleared my throat pointedly.
"You taught me three things Quincy and I won't ever forget them. 'Never make a concept album. Never let the drummer sing.'" I told him, mocking his stern voice and lecturing facial expressions.
Even though I always thought Kyle would be hurt if he heard that. And anyways, how the hell would Tommy know? His band didn't even play instruments. They learned dance moves and lip synced on stage. There are no grounds for his proclamation against drummers. Actually I don't think I would really know, because I don't know how long he had actually been producing before Instant Star. Whatever.
"That's only two girl. I believe the one you're missing is 'Never romance within the band'."
"Banish those dirty thoughts YoKo." I told him with a roll of my eyes.
"Well I was right. Wasn't I? I don't see things goin' so hot with Spiederman right now."
"Oh shut up Quincy, before your head gets any fatter."
"I'm just sayin'." He said innocently and held up his palms to show me they were clean. I didn't care what he said or what he did. It was his fault I couldn't be with Spied. And I was getting mad.
"No you were not just saying anything. You were insinuating because you know that no matter how hard I try I can't get past you. And I can't seem to ever get over you. First it was Shay then it was Jamie and you had to ruin whatever I had with Spied too." I shouted angrily and waving my hands at him like a crazy person. I watched him wheeze like a fish out of water at least four times before turning fiercely on my heel and storming away.
"Thanks Quincy." I called and stomped for my bench again. As soon as I felt my butt make contact with the hard wood and I closed my eyes. As I rested my head against the wall, I could feel him near me.
"Leave me be Tom."
"Talk to me."
"What part of leave me be do you not get? I am currently mourning the past relationships you ruined." I cracked an eye open to see him sway one foot through the air and shove his hands in his pocket.
Dr. Phil would have a field day with him.
"I wouldn't have ruined them if you hadn't let me. You know that."
WTF? I was ready to tell him to go get some ass-sex but he cut me off.
"Before you tell me to go find a male hooker let me say one last thing. It's always you and me. And whoever gets between us inevitably gets burned. Look at Shay, look at Jamie, look at Spied, and look at Sadie. And I don't wanna get burned and leave what we have untouched. I want to be with you Jude."
The Unforgettable Fire anyone?
It's really a surprise that I can call up a U2 album from like 16 years ago while I'm fighting with Tommy and I can't even remember who my biggest musical influence is when Vanessa Milano asks me.
"I was going to say call boy since Patricia Arquette was offended by the term hooker in True Romance. But let me say something too. Nothing is ever inevitable. There is always a way to evade it. And if you want me to believe anything you say, you have to stop lying Tom." I told him solemnly.
"Who says I'm lying."
"I am."
"How do you know Jude?"
"I just do."
"But how?" He almost pleaded. I looked up at him and stood up and pushed myself as close to him as I could get. I felt him tense and exhale against my skin as I opened my lips, hovering above the sensitive skin between his ear and his neck.
"Because you can't tell the truth to save your life Quincy." I whispered and pulled away to sit down. "I'm tired of fighting with you." I watched his eyes light up as he opened his mouth to say something. "But I'm not going to break. You can't come back in." I told him and I meant it.
But even as the words flew from my unthinking lips I knew that he had already wormed back under my skin.
I need some Raid damn it!
"You don't want to be with me or you wouldn't have said the things you said. You wouldn't have played off all the things you know that I was most afraid of. You wouldn't be acting the way you're acting if you care at all. You know you don't. I know you don't. J.Lo's ass knows you don't!" I shouted as I pointed to the poster of her. I opened my mouth but found no second wind. So I sat my ass down again and purposefully looked at anything but him.
"Jude come on. We could be spending our time in a much more useful way than fighting like this." He coaxed and kneeled next to me.
"Why do you think you can still play me like before?"
"What's so different about now than then?" He wanted to know.
"You are the biggest asshole I have ever had the displeasure to meet."
"Well I'm glad you'll remember me for something." He told me cheekily.
"Forget it Quincy." I watched him look at me disbelievingly and it only made me ever more mad.
I was like a raging G.I. Jane. I knew I was moments away from telling Tommy to 'Suck. My. Dick.' I didn't really want to sink that low, so I let the first thought fly out of my open mouth. And just a btw-Have you ever been told to say something seven times if your head before saying them out loud? Best advice I ever got.
"I've got a new boyfriend and now you're just old news. And I do mean old." I spat back.
Oops, lie.
"Well fine then. Why don't you have us meet him at this ball?" He said and made a face when he said ball and flung his hands in the arm. I am sure he's not mocking the wonderful dance steps we learned today.
"Fine then. I most certainly will!"
Oops, lie.
I don't have a boyfriend. Uh-oh. It looks like I may have dug a little hole for myself. I will currently jump in as I attempt to insert my foot into my mouth.
Suck on that David Blaine. I bet he couldn't even do that. Stupid man, tricking me like that! I stayed tuned for like eleven hours, because he promised he was going to set himself on fire live. And I played into it; and then when the program had like 20 seconds left, the crew wrapped him in a non-flammable blanket. And then they set him on fire. DUH, he wasn't really on fire. The damn blanket wasn't even on fire. Only a little bit of the ground him was on fire. Needless to say but it totally sucked. And the worst part of the whole ordeal was that David actually screamed and moaned about. He actually complained that it was "HOT! HOT!" HE WAS NOT ON FIRE! I want those hours back. I want to live like two hours longer. I WANT THEM BACK DAVID BLAINE! He should be sleeping with a pistol, because I will totally come find him.
No really… how did I get on the tangent-train? I definitely don't remember the whistle blowing, signaling the arrival. And I totally don't remember the conductor asking for my ticket.
Well whatever, the fact of the matter is that I am stuck with Tommy.
Tommy Quincy, who just broke my heart.
Tommy Quincy, who looks devilishly good-looking right now.
Damn him and his sexy aura. But I mean, my God, the aura does not leave him. Ever. I have never seen him not sexy. Even when he's trying to be not sexy and trying to get me to take him seriously, he's still totally sexy. I felt him watching me bashfully and I realized that I had finally put him in his place. With a lie. What is with me? I sighed loudly and joined him on the ground.
"Truce?" I offered as I extended my hand. I watched him eye me for a moment before he huffed similarly and grasped my hand back. I am going to choose to ignore that jolt I felt and move on.
"Wanna hear a joke?"
"No."
"Why not."
"Why don't you ask a ninja. I hear those pod-casts are really popular. They have a cool theme song and everything."
"Why not Jude?"
"Well I am ninja."
"It's funny."
"He is ninja, she is ninja too."
"I say knock, knock,"
"I am ninja, we are ninja."
"You say who's there?"
"Und I believe that you are ninja too." I am not going to listen to this man.
"Why couldn't the witch have babies?"
Oh I know…wait. No I don't know that one. I looked up with see him staring intently down at me with a smile. Oh fine!
"Why?" I asked with a faked smile. I watched him laugh and felt my smile break wider and truer before I realized it. But when I caught it, I was back on my way to the Heart Break Hotel.
Ok not really, but I love Elvis.I forced my face back into the perpetual Quincy induced scowl and looked down at my bare feet.
"Because the wizard had a Hallow Weenie!" He said on a jolly laugh. Ok that was funny. I giggled along sporadically with Tommy, but it only seemed to encourage him. Who remembers that episode of 7th Heaven where Matt and his girlfriend fight about hope vs. false hope? I don't completely remember it, but I kinda felt like I was giving Tommy false hope. Maybe that truce was false hope for him too. Or maybe myself, but I don't care because I can always lie to me. Tommy catches on too quickly.
"Ok, ok" He started between his dying giggles and snorts. I will touch on that later because my oh my! It is weird to hear his weird giggly/snorty thing. "So two muffins are sitting in an oven and one says to the other 'man it's hot in here' and the other goes 'AH a talking muffin!'" He said changing his inflections for each muffin, like they were a person.
I wonder what I would name my muffins if they were alive…no I don't think I would name them because I would be too busy throwing them to the floor and running away because of a human muffin thing trying to talk to me. I looked down at my feet, willing my frown not to break but when he nudged my shoulder slightly it faltered and then broke into a grin and then fell away to my soft giggles. Ok I am such a girl.
"Alright Mister. I've got one, all those years at camp helped me out." I started, trying to think of one.
I never wanted to go to camp. I was actually afraid because I saw that Kevin Bacon movie White Water Summer, where everyone is at camp and they all die. I think Kevin died while he was having sex but I don't really remember. But whenever it was suggested in the summer, I always threw a fit and had a tantrum. And I usually tried to have them in public places to embarrass my parents because I was really an evil child. Now, I'm never home so that don't even know. Well my mom isn't even back from where ever Don yet, so I guess it's my dad that doesn't know.
But a joke…OH YEAH!
"Alright, ok. Alright, what did the girl melon say to the boy melon when he proposed?" I asked, stuttering with laughter in the beginning.
"I dunno, what?" Tommy asked, his mouth open and his eyes still laughing.
"We're too young! We cantaloupe!" I cried and swung my feet off the ground and over my head as I laughed. I heard Tommy laughing similarly and I stopped to wonder why we were laughing so hard.
These jokes weren't very funny. I looked back at him, about to say something, when he cut me off.
"Where do bees go on their days off?" He asked me with a small laugh.
"I don't know. Where?" I asked, much more soberly than before.
"The Wax museum." He said with a laugh that was so infectious that I joined in.
"I've got one." I announced as I straightened myself up.
"A polar bear walks into a bar and yes says 'I'll have a gin…and tonic.'" I started and raised my hands in the air like I had bear claws and paused between gin and tonic. "And the bartender goes 'What's with the pause?' And the polar bear says, 'I dunno. I've had them all my life!'" I said and burst into peels of laughter again.
I could tell that Tommy was at least two minutes away from tickling so I started again with a clear of my throat. "What's in the middle of nowhere?" I asked. I saw him watch me seriously, never even blinking as he quietly responded.
"I dunno, what?" He asked in a whisper.
"An H!" I almost screamed, trying to drown out the deafening silence. I didn't even wait for the laugh that barely came as I told another.
"Two guys walk into a bar. The third one ducks." I giggled weakly and felt it die away when I looked at Tommy's contemplative expression.
I could feel him studying me and watching me, and it all suddenly grew serious as he brought his face all too close to mine. But I liked it there and I wasn't going to move.
"Knock, knock." He whispered, inches from my lips. I felt his breath blistering against my lips, like the hard skin of a Granny Smith apple after two bites. But I wanted more.
"Who's there?" I questioned in a similar whisper, slowly inching forwards and letting my breath hover over his skin like a soft blanket. I inched closer as I felt his hand snake around my back, pulling me even more forwards. Just as I saw him close his eyes and inhale something clicked in my head and flew back, surprising both of us. Hmmm, it's kinda nice to be the one to pull back. To be the one in control.
"Who's there?" I asked again with more force. I watched him stutter stupidly in front of me, drawing a small chuckle from the pit of my stomach. I like to see him squirm.
Later that Day…"You make me wanna lala."
"Stop it Jude." He warned me. Whatever.
"In the kitchen." "Jude." He said again.
Yes, tis my name.
"On the floor." I got up and shimmed at him.
"I'll be your French maid."
"It was a simple question."
"And this is a simple, lyrical answer. Now where was I?" I stroked my chin as if I were thinking with another small laugh.
"Was it Pieces of Me or was it Autobiography?" I posed out loud, feigning real thought. I looked down at Tommy from the stage and saw him shrug his shoulders exaggeratedly. Oh he knows. He so knows.
"You're right. I don't remember either. Why don't I just go for the whole damn medley you know you wanna hear?"
"Jude, do not do this to me."
"I am not the one who asked what your favorite Ashlee Simpson song is. This is your doing Tommy." I chided lightly. Now let me think…
"Nobody's really seen my million subtleties…got stains on my t-shirt and I'm the big-gest flirt. Right now I'm solo but that will be changin' eventually,"
I shouted while I thrashed my hair in a way that would make the Headbanger's Ballers pretty damn proud.
"Here I am. Perfect as I'm ever gonna be. Stick around; I'm not the kind of girl you wanna leave. You'll see. -
So what's my damage today? Don't let me get in your way. Let it out like you always do, the trouble between me and you is-
Better off every day. When I'm standin' in the pourin' rain. I don't mind. I think of you and everything's-
Tragic, stumblin' through all this static. I just wanna talk to you. But my broken heart just has no use. And I guess promises are better left-
bad. Got me heals overhead. You got me easy. You got me easy. You got me easy. You got me -
On a Monday. I am waiting. And by Tuesday, I am fading and by Wednesday-
I'm broken in two. All the things left undiscovered, leave me empty and left to wonder. I need you. All the things left undiscovered. Leave me waiting and left to wonder. I need-"
Believe me, I would have continued on with Ashlee's Autobiography but Tom stopped me.
"Girl, I think you know what I'm going to ask you now."
"How can you get a nose as good as Ash's. I heard Liam wondering about the same thing earlier. Actually no…no he wasn't. He was wondering which enhancer would help him most. You know…" I held a cupped hand to the side of my mouth and motioned to keep it all the Down Low while I whispered, "his penis."
I watched Tommy cringe and shift while I said it and really, it only egged me on further.
"His wiener. Liam Junior, if you will.
His man candy.
The garden snake.
That slithers where the sun don't shine." I said in a stage whisper and obvious winks.
"Jude, really you are taking away my will to live."
"Oh come, it's not anything you haven't seen." I said off-handedly.
"Well, maybe you have. I'm not saying that you have."
Oops, ma bee.
I watched his eyes bug as I giggled myself silly and dropped down to the edge of stage and he hopped up to join me. I watched my feet swing back and forth, hitting the wood lightly each time.
"So what's his name?" Tommy asked in a strained voice.
"Whose?" I asked as I looked up, flipping hair from my face to look at him. I saw him watch the wave of blonde that barely grazed his face. He lifted his hand to a strand that laid lone on my shoulder, twirling it between his fingers. I watched him run a tender finger through the split ends as he brought it to his lips. I felt a small tug as he ran a lock of my hair against his lips gently. I wanted nothing more than to run my own lips along his but I shook myself lightly as he let my hair drop back again.
"Your boyfriend's." He said simply, looking at my in the eyes. With a stare that made me weak. I gulped loudly as I stuttered over a name.
"It's uh…um…a secret."