Chapter Five --- Getting Smashed
A/N: Hey again!
Whoa, this was by far my favorite chapter to write. It's a little longer---hope you don't mind...heh-heh! But I think the extra length is worth it. It's THAT fun.
Enjoy! On with the fic!
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"What!" Sadie and Jude yelled in unison.
"Don't be angry, girls," Victoria said, calmly. "Your father and I have discussed this and we think it's for the best. He and Yvette are moving to Montreal in a few weeks and with Sadie leaving for college soon, this house is going to be too big for just me and Jude."
"But," Jude cried out, "where are we gonna live, Mom?"
"Jude, you have two options," her father explained. "Your mother will be moving across town. You can go with her or move in with me...and Yvette."
"Honey, it's totally your choice," Victoria said sweetly.
Two things crossed through her mind when she thought of moving---G Major and school. Or rather, Tommy and Jamie. She turned to her mother, "Mom, would I still be able to go to Carson Hill High?"
Smiling, she nodded, "Yes. We'd be just inside the limit. You'd still get to finish high school with your friends."
Sighing, she moved to her next problem, "What about G Major? Would I still be able to record?"
Victoria frowned at her daughter and shook her head sadly, "I'm afraid not, Jude. We'd be too far away for you to walk anymore."
Jude's jaw dropped, "What? So I have to give up my music!"
"No," her mother smiled. "There's a cute little studio just a little bit up the road. I'm sure you could talk to Darius and work something out."
Yeah...work out the end to my contract.
Turning to her dad, she could feel the heat rising in her face, "And with you I lose everything?"
"Jude," her father said, obviously wounded.
"And what about me?" Sadie asked, joining the conversation. "I move to college right away and that's it? I have a few weeks left and you're already forgetting about me, huh?"
"Actually, Sweetie," Victoria muttered, "that's another thing we had to talk about. We talked to the University and they agreed to house you early because of all this moving. They agreed to take you this weekend. Isn't that great?"
"Yeah, great," Sadie's face twisted in anger. "Ship me away early."
"Sadie, dear, it's not like that," her mother tried to convince her.
"No, Mom. It's like this. You want me out? You got your wish." Storming out of the kitchen, Sadie let the back door slam on its hinges as she rushed out.
"Jude, there's no rush on your choice, but your dad and Yvette are leaving this weekend too. They're going to set up their house early. If you want to go check it out...?" Victoria left it open.
"You're welcome to join, Jude," Stuart offered, helpfully.
"Well, it sure feels like it," Jude scoffed, grabbing her coat from the back of her stool. "When you guys stop being all buddy-buddy and deciding my life, let me know." Without another word, she left the kitchen. The last thing her parents heard was the front door slamming moments later.
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When Jude left her house, she wasn't quite sure where she was going to go. Pulling out her cell phone, she called the only person she could think of. Dialing from memory, she waited for an answer. When he picked up, she merely said, "Pick me up at G Major."
Walking in silence to the studio, she took a seat on the bench. Losing herself in thought, Jude relaxed for the first time in days.
Honk honk.
Jude looked up in the direction of the noise and she saw a familiar blue Viper idled at the curb in front of her. Standing, she strolled over, smiling slightly. "Thanks, Tommy."
"Sure, Jude. What's going on?" he asked, opening the passenger door for her, worried.
Getting into Tom's car, she settled herself into the plush seat, "My family," she said simply, buckling herself in. Tom pulled the car away from the curb and began down the road, not really sure where to go.
"Want to talk about it?" he offered, pulling onto the highway.
She shrugged, "My dad wants me to move to Montreal with him and Yvette. My mom wants me to move across town and leave G Major. I don't know what to do. And now Sadie is leaving this weekend for college and won't be back for months. And I...I just feel so alone," Jude hadn't meant to blurt this all out. And she sure as hell hadn't meant to start crying during her windy complaint. Especially not in front of Tommy.
He reached over and rested a hand on her shoulder, "It'll be okay, Jude." Smiling at her, he returned his hand to the steering wheel. Changing the subject, Tom turned on the radio, and waved his hand in the air whimsically, "Where to, miss?"
Jude glanced up, wiping tears from her eyes. "Will you take me anywhere?"
"Anywhere you want, miss. Your wish is my command," Tom grinned, adopting a taxicab driver air.
"Promise."
"On your voice," he said, completely serious. Tom looked over to her and she looked him right in the eyes,
"Take me to a bar."
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"I can't believe you made me promise," Tom groaned, glancing around the crowded, noisy bar nervously. They had just arrived and Jude was all smiles.
"Hey, you're the one who promised on my voice," Jude said, standing as close to Tom as possible while they waited for a bartender.
"I thought you were gonna say Chuck E. Cheese, or something. Not for me to take you out and break law." Tom looked back over his shoulder and put his arm on the small of Jude's back.
"What's that for?" she asked, surprised.
"Do you trust anyone here?" he asked, still glancing around uneasily.
"Tom, stop looking so obvious. How am I ever gonna get a drink if you keep drawing attention to us?" He relaxed slightly, removing his hand from Jude's back.
Jude smiled up at him and leaned into his ear. "Buy me a drink?" Seeing his apprehension return a little, she added, "Please...I really just need one day off. Please?"
Grabbing his wallet, Tom pulled out some bills and laid them on the bar, waving the bartender over. "Good man, can we get this girl a daiquiri, please?"
"Strawberry, please," Jude put in politely. The bartender looked her over quickly.
"ID, miss?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out the fake ID that her and Jamie had bought as a gag a few months ago. He glanced at it and then handed her a pale pink drink, "Enjoy. Anything for you?" he asked Tom.
"I'm fine." He smiled, "Designated driver, tonight." The bartender smiled knowingly.
It only took Jude a couple of minutes to finish her first daiquiri. When she was done, she demanded another. "I'll just pay for it," she warned.
"Fine, but one more and then I'm taking you home." Tom didn't like having to be the adult, especially not with Jude. But just looking at her, he could tell she needed a little time to settle down. He handed the bartender a bit more money and handed Jude her second daiquiri.
"Jude, I have to go to the bathroom. Do you want to come with me, or will you be fine here?" Tom looked around the bar. It had been pretty uneventful since they had arrived and Tom hoped that it stayed that way while he took care of business.
"I'm fine, Quincy," she smiled, standing on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. His skin burned a little from disbelief. "You just come back, okay?"
"I will," he promised, thoroughly enjoying seeing Jude having fun. Tom made his way to the back where the bathrooms were located. Stepping inside, he walked over to a urinal when he heard a scream come from outside the window.
"Hello?" he called.
"Ahhh!" a quiet voice yelled from outside the window. Worried, Tom headed back into the hallway and out the back door, into the parking lot. Glancing around, he heard some rustling near one of the walls.
"Hello?" he called a little louder. When no one answered, Tom looked around for something to protect himself with. Deciding on a sinister looking branch, he stepped carefully toward the shadowed wall. He waved the branch around in the bushes until he heard another scream.
Tom pulled away the bushes, ready to attack.
"What are you doing!" a low voice shouted, when a young man and woman were uncovered, naked. Tom lowered the branch, taking a deep breath.
"Sorry," he mumbled, looking away. The interrupted couple grabbed their clothes and headed out into the parking lot, in a huff. "God, get a room."
"If you...if you insist," a slurred voice murmured low behind him. Turning slowly, Tom found himself face-to-face with Jude.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, brow furrowed.
"Just gettin'...some...fresh...fresh air...you know?" She tried to take a step toward him but ended up tipping forward. Tom rushed up and caught her in his arms.
"Jude, I was only gone for a second! How many drinks did you have!" he demanded, setting her against the wall gently.
"Four...or five...or..." she swayed forward, losing her balance again. "Whoa..."
"Jude," he scolded quietly, more worried than anything. "What am I supposed to do with you now? I can't take you home!" He lifted her tenderly and carried her over to his Viper.
"Just...don't...take...advantage..." she murmured, sleep coming on fast.
"Jude..." Tom set her lovingly in the passenger seat of his car and belted her in. "What am I gonna do with you, girl?"
Getting in the driver's seat, Tom started the car and began to drive to his apartment.
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Tom opened the front door to his apartment, Jude in his arms. She hadn't stirred since he put her in his car and he knew better than to take her home. Shutting the door behind him with his foot, he laid her affectionately on his couch.
He glanced around for a blanket. "God, I am not used to this," he muttered, pacing his apartment. Deciding the only comforter he had was on his bed, he headed down the hallway to his bedroom. Grabbing the blanket off his bed, he turned around and found himself face-to-face with...
"Sadie!" Tom jumped back in shock, dropping the blanket, "What are you doing here?"
The older Harrison sister's eyes were puffy and red. She had obviously been crying. "I ran away from home and had nowhere else to go. I've been here all afternoon." Sadie collapsed in his arms, tears flowing from her eyes.
"Sadie..." He patted her back gently, stroking her hair. "It's fine. Is this about the move?"
She looked up at him, "Jude told you?" He sensed her stiffen up a bit.
"Uh, yeah," Tom ran a hand through his messy hair, trying not to think about the one Harrison sister he had in his bedroom and the other asleep on his couch.
"Did she also tell you I'm leaving for college in two days?" Sadie seemed to have left sadness and turned to anger instead.
"Yes," he said simply, stepping back from her.
"Well, I guess there's nothing left for me to say." Sadie grabbed her purse from Tom's chair. "Except goodbye." She turned on her heel and headed for the front door.
"No, Sadie, wait!" Tom rushed after her, hoping to stop her before she reached ---
"Jude!" Sadie's temper went through the roof. She faced Tom, red in the face, "Why is she here?"
"Because, she has it just as bad as you do, if not worse," Tom was getting just as angry. No wonder Jude felt alone. She had a sister who couldn't even understand her point of view, even if it was the same thing. She had two parents who only cared about themselves and didn't care enough about each other to stay faithful. And she had an ex-producer who wouldn't even stick up for her even if she meant the world to him. Who would treat herlike she didn't matter, even if nothing else did, and end up making her feel worthless.
"Don't you dare take her side, here!" Sadie raised her voice.
Glancing over at Jude to make sure she was still okay, Tom faced the older Harrison once more, "Sadie, don't do this. You know I care about you, but Jude...she's going through a tough time and she needs me."
"So do I, Tommy," Sadie said, voice breaking.
"Sadie, Jude...she needs me to be there for her...and I need you to understand that, okay?"
"Can you just answer me one question," Sadie edged toward the door. "Why can you make time to be there for Jude and not me?"
Tom was at a lost. Why could he make time for Jude, no matter when it was? Why did he make an effort to be there for her? And why did he want to take care of her morethan anything else in the world?"I don't know," he admitted, honestly. "I don't know."
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A/N: Done! Review, please. Chapter 6 is in the making as we speak. Reviews always speed me up! heh-heh! Hope you liked it and I'll see you next chapter. Jude Q