Author's note: Hey guys! Wow! My computer has been completely down for days so I have quite a few new chapters to post. Bear with me. I am so excited that my story has turned out so much like the show. I had already written four new chapters when the Friday episode played and they were so very similar, I couldn't help but be excited. When I saw Sadie get hired as a secretary at G Majors though I did go back to a chapter I had written and added that. However, I have some major drama coming to the story that will excite you all (I hope) that probably won't be in the show. Please review guys. I have missed the reviews these past four days. So R&R. Smiles.
The house was quiet when we arrived—almost as if it were a tomb designated for burial, and Sadie parked in the driveway while both of us just stared at the window to the darkening sky beyond speechlessly. Now what?
"I feel like I'm in a Wes Craven horror movie, and mom's going to walk out as part of the living dead." I said softly as Sadie threw me an 'oh please' look before slowly lifting the handle to open her door. I just shrugged and followed suit—just about to throw open my own door and step into the drive when my phone started vibrating wildly. Glancing at it, I sighed in trepidation as I flipped it open and, listening to the silent screams that vibrated throughout my head, I answered it woodenly.
"Do I get an award for best daughter day or something because there must be some reason that I warrant a phone call? Don't tell me you're in prison." I said sarcastically as Sadie paused in the drive to stare at me in disbelief. Oh, I suddenly felt very very sick.
"Jude, I'm just trying to make sure that you and Sadie are fine. I'm in California right now about to board a plane to Tahiti—Tahiti. Can you believe it?" Mom said in a rush as I just stared at the receiver in disbelief. She couldn't be serious, could she?
Mom, are you drunk?" I asked point blank as she grew silent a moment before laughing raucously.
"Of course not sweetie. I'm just delirious from happiness." She said a little too loudly as I held the phone away from my ears enough to keep them from throbbing. She must have expected me to say something then because the next thing I knew the line had grown deathly still.
"I'm sorry, Jude." She said in a whisper as I leaned against the side of the car heavily, barely able to move. I still couldn't say anything.
"It's not you or Sadie. You two had nothing to do with my decision. I…I just needed to get away for a little while—a vacation of sorts to clear up my head and keep myself from spiraling even further into manic depression. I won't be gone forever, Jude. Please, I just need a little time to breathe and accept what happened between your dad and I before I can function the way I should as your mother." Mom said quietly as I felt tears well up at the back of my throat. I knew she was right—she needed that time to heal, and the chaos of our lives couldn't give her that. Oh, how I wished I could hate her for it.
"When are you coming back?" I asked in a low tone as mom sighed on the other end.
"I don't expect to be gone longer than a couple of months. Can you and Sadie handle being alone that long? If you can't, Jude, I'll make some kind of arrangements for you." Mom said insistently as I shifted uncomfortably on the metal hood as Sadie began to circle me anxiously.
"It's fine, mom—we'll be fine, but what about the house? Why did you sell the house?" I asked emphatically as I kicked Sadie on the side of the leg to keep her from pacing. Between her and mom, they were driving me nuts. Mom just sighed again.
"We couldn't afford it, Jude. There was no way we could swing the mortgage and the bills on that place. I'm just sorry that I didn't manage things better. I didn't expect the house to sale until after I had returned. You know how long it takes for those kinds of things to go on the market. I just assumed I would have time to clear my head while people got a good look at the house and then I could worry about closing the deal when I got home. But, all in all, I guess it worked out for the best. I heard about Tommy Quincy buying the property, Jude. I was really impressed at the depth of his feelings for this family." Mom stated quickly as I stared disbelievingly at the phone. She was impressed? Damn, I was just plain floored. Sadie must have gotten tired of watching a one-sided conversation because she suddenly yanked the phone out of my grasp before pacing the lawn while launching into a tirade that could seriously break windows. I sighed heavily as I pushed away from the vehicle, stopping Sadie by grabbing her by the elbow before taking the phone back, telling mom to enjoy herself and be safe, and hanging the call up with a click. Sadie just gaped at me.
"What the hell did you do that for?" She asked just a little beyond being angry—more like completely furious. I just shrugged.
"Just let it go, Sades. She needs the time away. We can't change that. Hell, we're even old enough to understand it for that matter." I said with a slow shake of my head as I walked toward the dark house, thinking once again how forlorn and desolate it looked. Yep, just like a horror movie. I shivered at the thought before walking into the abode and slamming the door resolutely behind me. I had a song to perform tomorrow, and I was determined to be ready for it. No matter the conflict in my life. I was really really steaming by the time I reached my room—angry mostly at the fact that I was angry to begin with—when my phone suddenly vibrated again against my hip. I picked it up nonchalantly, expecting either Spied, Jamie, or dad to be on the other end.
"What?" I answered shortly as I sprawled out backwards on my comforter, trying my best to let the tensions just drain out of me. But it only took an instant for me to spring upward again like a damn jack-in-the-box when I realized belatedly just who was on the other end of the line.
"Teaches me to inquire after my favorite artist." Tommy said teasingly as I let myself recline again before answering.
"You caught me by surprise. I thought you were Spied." I said on a sigh as Tommy laughed.
"Remind me not to envy your significant other." He said on a chuckle as I smiled at my side of the phone.
"So, what are calling for big boy? Am I needed in the studio or something?" I asked as I sat up to turn on my bedroom lamp as shadows began to lengthen the room.
"Look out your bedroom window." Tom said cryptically as I glanced up at my curtains with a look of expectation. No, he couldn't be. Leaping up, I ran over to the casement before lifting the edge of the fringe enough to notice the blue color of his viper in the setting sun.
"I see the curtains moving, Jude." Tom said with a laugh as I quirked a brow at the glass panes.
"What are you doing here? If Sadie catches you, it'll be the start of World War III." I said caustically as Tommy sighed. I just stared down at his car with a look of wonder. When had Tommy ever just come up to the house of his own accord—never. Which meant either he needed something or something was up.
"Come down will ya? Catch a ride with me somewhere. I have something to show you." He said vaguely as I turned around and rushed towards my bedroom door.
"Hold on a minute." I whispered as I hid the phone behind my back and sneaked down the stairs as silently as I could before squeezing through the doorway without even missing a beat.
"You can hang up now." I said as I edged up to him from the side of my house. He flipped shut his phone and grinned at me before standing aside and holding open the door of his Viper. He was being suave. Oh yeah, he wanted something. The quandary was—what could it be?