Chapter 11

"Jude? Why aren't you sleeping?" Tommy asked after opening his door. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hand and then blinked several times, trying to discern if it really was me.

"Here." I said, shoving the award at him.

He looked down at it, but didn't take it. "Huh? What's going on, Jude?"

"I think you should have this." Tommy began shaking his head in refusal. "Seriously, Tommy. You worked just as hard on that album as I did, if not more so."

He still made no move to take the object in my hands. "Please?" I begged, hoping he wouldn't fight me on this.

"Jude..." Tommy began in a patient voice, although I could tell how truly irritated he was.

"Tommy, just take it." I demanded, almost jabbing him in the stomach with the award. That got his attention at least, if not his cooperation.

"No, Jude. That award is yours--you earned it." His eyes turned soft and gooey, like a chocolate chip cookie that just came out of the oven. Except cookies aren't blue. But still. "Now what's this really about?"

"You won't take it? Fine." I snapped before marching back down the hall to my room, leaving him standing flabbergasted in the doorway to his room as he watched me stalk away like a five year.

I stormed into my room after slipping in the magnetized key card, then slammed the door behind me. I yanked the zipper on my suitcase with more force than necessary, almost jamming it. Articles of clothing starting flying everywhere as I dug carelessly through the pile of neatly packed clothes for my prey, not caring how much of a mess I was making. Finding my quarry, I stripped and slipped into it. Grabbing something from the bathroom, I disappeared from my room, the award in tow once again.

x.xxx.x

I loved the feeling of my hair streaming behind me as I glided through the water. The only lights on were those in the pool and a couple of ones near the doors; I was alone. It was past eleven--the pool had closed over an hour ago. It's amazing what a little flirting will get one, especially if you're a celebrity and the employee you're trying to persuade is about the same age as you. It's especially helpful when you give him a peck on the cheek and you're wearing a bikini. Then again, it could've been the cash I slipped into his hand, too. Either way, I had gotten what I wanted. The pool was all mine for the night.

I was doing laps, just back and forth, back and forth from one end of the pool to another. It was monotonous, but I could probably do it for hours. Maybe even days, given how I was feeling.

And how I was feeling was numb.

What else could I be? If I let myself experience all of the emotions I felt about my father and sister, I think the pain would literally kill me.

Whoever says you can't die of a broken heart obviously doesn't have one, or they've been lucky enough to have it remain untouched. Then again, maybe that's not a good thing; how boring a life like that would be.

Numb was good. Numb was how I was going to survive. Numb was just...numb. Nothing.

That was all I could handle. Anything more, and I would crack--no, break--beyond repair.

I was on my seventh lap when I saw a figure in the doorway. It was too dark to distinguish features, but I didn't need light to show me who was coming in--Tommy.

Quickly I swam to the side of the pool that was nearest to the door. Taking a deep breath, I disappeared below the surface just as the door opened and he walked in.

I was crouched against the side of the wall, trying to be as invisible as possible. I'd been swimming for years; add into that the fact that I was a singer, and I had a pretty darn good lung capacity. But I didn't know if it would last longer than Tommy's stubbornness.

A shadow fell nearby, and I looked up, seeing the distorted outline of Tommy's top half. Good, he wasn't close enough to the edge to look down and see me. Finally he turned away, and I waited as long as I could for him to leave through the door again before coming back up. My lungs were on fire, and I gasped as new oxygen soothed the burning.

Glancing around, I was thankful to find him gone. I was not in the mood to talk to him, by any means.

Before I'd fully caught my breath again, something latched onto my ankles and yanked down--hard. I was submerged as something continued to drag me down in the water, despite my frantic kicking and flailing. Finally I felt my foot make contact with something and my ankles were released. I propelled myself back to the surface and flung myself out of the pool, my hands supporting me as I coughed and sputtered because of the water I'd inhaled into my lungs during the unexpected assault.

Regaining the ability to breath, I turned back to the pool to find a laughing Tommy treading water not ten feet away from me.

I shot a glare that could crack diamonds at him. "You think that was fucking funny, Quincy!" I shrieked, my voice echoing off the walls. I didn't care--the walls were made to absorb sound since little kids constantly screamed in pools while they were playing.

Tommy must've finally noticed that I wasn't finding his childish antics the least bit funny, because he abruptly quit laughing. Still, a smile lingered on his face.

God, what a bastard.

There I was, practically choking to death because of something he did, and he actually had the nerve to laugh about it. The man was practically wishing to never have kids by pulling stunts like that, and at the moment I was perfectly inclined to make sure that wish came true.

"Jude." Tommy called as I levered myself off the ground and stood up. How many freakin' times a day could the man 'Jude' me, seriously?

Ignoring him, I purposefully strode towards the exit. "Jude, come on. I'm sorry." He tried again, but I could still detect the smile in his voice, indicating that he wasn't sorry at all. Or, if he was, it was because of how pissed off I'd become, not because he might have actually done something wrong.

"You're sorry!" I screeched as I whirled on him. However, I forgot just how slippery the floor was since I was dripping wet, and I went down, unable to finish my rant. I managed to land on my rear, but it still wasn't a pleasant experience in the least.

Tommy, of course, couldn't help but break out into hysterics at this as well. I'd fallen on my butt plenty of times before, but I guess this one was funnier than all the other times--combined--since Tommy could barely stay afloat because almost all of his energy was devoted to the waves of laughter assaulting him. Well, I'm glad I could provide some comic relief for somebody.

I suddenly found my eyes full of water--and not from the pool. Tears were threatening to fall down my face. What the hell was this? One little tumble and I was going to release the waterworks I'd desperately been trying to hold in? Uh-uh. Now was not the time.

I didn't notice that Tommy had removed himself from the pool, but he appeared beside me.

Shit, please don't let him notice...I begged inside of my mind.

"Jude, what's wrong?" Tommy asked gently as he knelt down beside me.

Crap--he noticed.

I sniffed and rolled my eyes in response--what wasn't wrong?

"Are you hurt?" He probed, moving even closer. Tommy maneuvered an arm as if he was going to wrap it around my shoulders.

"Don't touch me." I uttered harshly in a whisper when it was a couple of inches away from touching my bare skin.

Obediently he dropped his arm, but I could see the anger starting to broil through his veins. Tommy stood up and took a couple steps away before turning back to stare in my face. He shook his head several times as though debating himself before speaking.

"My God, Jude, what is wrong with you? Huh? I'm just trying to help you--that's all I've been doing. But you just keep pushing me away! You'll cry in the arms of a stranger, but not in mine. I've seen you at your best and your worst; what's changed? What's so different now? All you do is push me away--why?" Tommy shouted, and I could hear the hurt he felt in every syllable that escaped his lips. I didn't answer him; I just drew my knees up to my chest and curled my arms around them in a protective manner.

"Dammit, Jude, why won't you let me in?" He cried, sounding like he was near tears.

I couldn't take it anymore. Standing up, I practically ran at him. He looked surprised, but didn't have any time to react.

Because I'd already sent us flying into the pool.

Part of my reason for doing that was payback--I'd never liked being dunked, and that was still true today. I guess I shoving Tommy into the pool was my way of releasing some of my emotions. Anger, pain, confusion, all rolled into one. Those were just the ones on the surface, and they'd finally boiled over so I had to do something.

We crashed into the water, breaking the previously calm surface. I had fallen on top of him as we went under, and after a few seconds of blind chaos we managed to untangle ourselves. For some reason, though, we both held on to each other.

And then, somehow, our lips met.

Tanya50801 -- Thanks! I'll try and get another chapter out soon. Please continue to review!

cecapo3610 -- That's what I like to here! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much! xD

riotgirllina -- Aw, thank you! It is sad, but there's sort of a reason for it. As for Tommy and Jude growing closer...you'll just have to keep reading to find out!

kolerox -- Haha, look at that! You got some Jommy action, finally. Thanks for the great review!

tommyandjude4ever -- Lol! I'm so happy that you like my story! And I don't know how I come up with everything, either. It's kind of scary, actually, I just start typing and see what comes out. Please keep reviewing, I really enjoy reading them!

squashstar -- I know, I felt so bad about doing that to Kwest:( He and Sadie are going to be so cute in Season 3! Thanks for the reading and leaving me a review!

scott4eva -- Poor Kwesty, I know. But he's not really going to be a big character in this story, lol, so you can imagine that he'll find someone new or something. Thanks for reviewing! Please keep doing so, I love them!

MyCrAzyWorld -- Ever notice on the show how Tommy is completely sweet and sour, like those little sour patch kids commercials you always see? You know, where it cuts off the girls hair while she's sleeping and then gives her a hug? For some reason, that reminds me of Tommy because he's always so hot and cold. Anyway, thanks for the great review! I hope you keep reading and reviewing the story!

Adrienne -- Aw, thank you! I'll try and get another chapter up soon!

Criminal Insanity -- Wow--I am absolutely flattered by your review! Thank you so much; I 'm glad you're really liking the story.

sigh. I love all my faithful reviewers...xD So what are your thoughts about the end of this chapter? Good? Bad? Evil?

xx