Chapter 20

3:15 am

The phone ringing jarred him out of a deep sleep. Tom Quincy reached over to his night stand and answered the phone, glancing at the time, sleepily as he did so. Who the hell would be calling at 3:00 am, he wondered with his sleep filled brain.

"Hello?" Tommy said, his voice heavy from sleep.

"Mr. Quincy?"

"Yes?" Tommy said, feeling his eyes get heavy.

"I'm from Toronto City Bailiff, Mr. Quincy, we have a Ms. Harrison here who said we could contact you to pay her bail."

"ok…wait, WHAT!" Tommy said, suddenly waking up fully and hearing what the man was saying. Jude Harrison, his Jude, was arrested! Tommy listened as the man explained that Jude Harrison was picked up from a bar in Toronto for underage drinking and domestic dispute. Tommy told the man he'd be there and jumped out of bed, throwing clothes on himself. He grabbed his jacket and keys as he left the apartment, feeling pissed about his three am wake up.

25 mins later

Tommy was led through the holding cell that Jude was being held. Once he stopped before the cell, he had to laugh. Jude was lying on the bed, her head dangling off the edge, her blonde hair spilling onto the floor. She stared at Tommy, and grinned. "Tommmmmeeeeee!" She slurred out, sitting up quickly and swaying slightly. The officer unlocked the cell and held it open. Tommy, deciding Jude probably shouldn't be walking unaided, stepped into the cell and stood before the 16-year-old.

"Come on Jude, let's go home." He said, and Jude nodded and stood up. She swayed and grabbed onto Tommy. She smiled coyly at him and giggled.

"I knew you'd come…" She said, tapping him on the nose with her finger.

"Come on Jude." Tommy said, leading her out of the cell. Tommy thanked the officer and led Jude, rather awkwardly, out of the police station, as she was hanging on Tommy's arm, in an odd sort-of way.

Tommy led Jude out to the Viper, and handed her a bucket.

"Don't throw up" He said, glaring at her. Jude giggled, and watched as he strapped her in. She pulled his face to hers and gave him a wet kiss. She pulled back quickly and shoved him away with considerable force. Tommy shook his head, letting her antics slide and closed the door and walked over to the driver's side. He got in, and started the car.

"I love you Tommy." Jude stated.

"No you don't." Tommy said, looking sadly at her. Jude reached over and tried to give him a hug, but Tommy shoved her back into her seat. Jude pouted.

"Yes I do…I've loved you since…" Jude had to stop and think and she giggled to herself. "I've loved you since I won this competition." She giggled insanely and Tommy watched her out of the corner of his eyes.

"You may say so tonight, but you won't in the morning." Tommy said, looking sad once again.

"I heard what you said…" Jude said, staring dreamily at him.

"What did I say?" Tommy asked, sighing and going along with her game.

"To Kwest, before my 16th." Jude stated, looking pleased with herself.

"What did I say to Kwest?" Tommy asked, panicking slightly. He knew she heard. He knew exactly what she was talking about.

"That, I'm the coolest chick you know…" Jude trailed off, and quoted the whole quote back to him. "…'That the coolest chick I know, the girl that gets me the most, is sixteen? Give me a break, man. She's out of bounds and I'm not that guy'." Silence filled the car, and a moment later, Jude started to giggle insanely again. "You love me." Jude said her voice dreamy. Tommy just stared sadly back at her and then back at the road. He couldn't say thing to her. He couldn't. She wouldn't remember anything the next morning and if she did…they would ignore it. Pretend it never happened. Just like they always did. And this, he couldn't do it to himself. Not now, not again, and definitely not to Jude, especially in her…impaired condition.

The rest of the car ride wasn't that eventful. Tommy pulled up in front of his apartment building and turned off the car. Jude stared back at him, smirking as well as she could through her drunken stupor.

"Come on." Tommy said, getting out of the car.

"At your place, Tommy?" Jude said, her voice seductive. She giggled throatily and grabbed onto his arm.

"No Jude." Tommy said, letting her grip on his arm stay, but led her into the building. Jude giggled.

"You want me." Jude said, pressing herself into his side.

"Jude," Tommy said, his voice a low growl, finding it hard to resist her.

They made it into the elevator and Jude turned to Tommy. She moved before him and pinned him against the wall.

"Jude, what are you doing?" Tommy asked, and she placed her fingers on his lips. She trailed her finger down from his lips to his throat to the bottom of his sweater. Her fingers played with the bottom of the hem. Tommy grabbed her hands and pushed her back away from him. Jude smiled seductively at him.

"You know you want me…I could feel it." Jude said, giggling once again, and coming closer to him. "Come on Tommy, just give in." She said, pressing herself against him once again and running her tongue on her bottom lip. Tommy stared at her, finding his resolve cracking. The elevator doors opened with a ding and Tommy quickly pushed her back and exited the elevator before Jude could pull him back in. Jude followed him with a disappointed look on her face. Tommy opened his apartment door and closed it behind them. Jude glanced around, and turned back to Tommy.

"Tommy…" She said, looking slightly pale and swayed slightly. Tommy caught her before she hit the floor as she passed out. Tommy picked her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He lay her carefully down on the bed and brushed her hair out of her face. He pulled back the comforter and covered her small frame with it. He stepped back and stared at her, sleeping soundly in his bed. Tommy sighed as he remembered her antics of the evening. He wished she felt that way about him, but he knew it was only the ramblings of a drunk. He sighed once more and left the room, closing the door behind him. It was going to be a long time before dawn.