"Hey," Stuart Harrison greeted as her eyes met his.
Jude looked down and shuffled her bangs between her fingers. "I-I need to get to the studio." She tried to walk away, but he grabbed her arm to stop her.
He sighed and pleaded, "Please, Jude. I've been waiting here all morning for the chance to talk to you."
Pulling her arm away from his grasp, Jude crossed her arms across her chest. She tried to stay calm with obvious pain and stated, "Then talk."
Stuart cleared his throat. He was planning on easing into the conversation, but he could tell Jude was in no mood for small talk. "Let me give you a rid e to the studio." He turned to his car and opened the door to the passenger's seat. He glanced back at Jude and pleaded, "Please?"
Making her way past him, she got into the car and shoved her guitar in the back. She then put her seatbelt on and crossed her arms across her chest. She looked over at her dad, standing in the open door way, staring at her. "I'm gonna be late," Jude said with a touch of bitterness.
"Oh," he said as he closed the door and ran around the car. He climbed into the driver's seat and started the car.
Stuart pulled out and stopped at the first stop sign. He glanced over at Jude before he proceeded to pass the intersection. "How's school?"
Jude kept her eyes focused on the road. "Fine."
She bit her bottom lip as she felt tears begin to form. It was hard enough dealing with all the changed she was already going through, but it was hardest with her dad. It broke her heat that she couldn't talk to her oldest and once truest friend anymore. It was like she was lost in the world without him, but she still couldn't let him into her heart.
"It's really hard for me to make up for what I've done, Jude," Stuart finally stated, breaking the awkward silence. "But I can't lose you. You're my daughter, and I love you more than you'll ever know. Sadie too."
Blinking away tears, Jude stayed focused out the window. "Maybe you should've thought of that earlier."
Stuart nodded, repeatedly glancing over his shoulder at Jude. "Not that it's an excuse, but sometimes people tend to do things without thinking about the consequences. And people tend to make mistakes." Stuart sighed as he came to a stop behind a red light. "Even parents."
Jude sniffled as the sun created a glare on the window. She caught her own reflection, as well as her father's behind her. Jude exhaled deeply as the car started moving again. "I never said you were perfect, Dad."
They pulled into G Major and Stuart parked his car next to the front steps. "Honey, I'm sorry. I just-- I hope that one day you and your sister can forgive me because I can't live without my girls."
"One day," Jude stated quietly. She opened her door and slid out of the car. She leaned her head in and added, "I could live without you, Dad…" Just closed the door and took a step back. She opened the back door to get her guitar and looked her dad dead in the eye. "I just don't want to."
She got her stuff and stood at the passenger window, looking in at her father. She smiled as kindly as she could before she started up the steps and he took off.