Author's Note: Well, here's to another day. I'm going to try and upload a few chapters on each story at a time today. In this one, I just wanted to thank everyone again for the reviews. I love this story only because it is as painful and angry as it is funny. I know what it is to endure grief--it'll make you angry and completely turn around your personality at times. I see that happening for Tom in the new season because I feel like something bad is going to happen for him in Montana that he has to work through when he returns. Who knows. Let's hope he doesn't drink like he did in the episode where Chaz came onto the show. Jude's also enduring pain from abandonment issues and etc. This is their way of finding thier way through it. Hope you stick with it. Please R&R. Angel422. Disclaimer...I do not own Instant Star or its characters.
Jude…
"I feel like a kid again." Tommy stated with a laugh as he tied the bandana around my ankle and his—tightening it enough that it wouldn't slip as we ran. I just rolled my eyes at him.
"When did you ever stop being one?" I asked him caustically as he lifted a brow at me before taking a very definitive big step forward. I yelped as I tripped before landing on my butt near his foot.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Jude. I didn't hear you. What did you say again?" Tommy asked sweetly as I just stood up and brushed myself off while muttering under my breath.
"The animal part of this event is in the woods, Tom. I think I hear them calling to you. You weren't raised by wolves were you?" I remarked with a growl as he chuckled and started to take another step forward. This time I anticipated his movements and grabbed onto his arm to keep myself from falling.
"Weren't thinking about tripping me again now were you?" I asked with a wry raise of my brow as Tommy shrugged.
"Who me?" He asked innocently as I looked up into his face curiously. What was wrong with him today? It was almost as if he were a different man—less angry but no less determined. It intrigued me. And worried me too. Because now he wouldn't be so easy to resist. Chris was leaving in a couple of days and the thought of having Tom to myself again was chilling. There was too much baggage between us.
"You're right, I feel like a kid again." I said on a laugh as the picnic announcer (Kwest) called for us to head towards the starting line--only Tommy and I couldn't seem to make it an inch without tripping. Jamie and Patsy scooted by while giving us the thumbs down sign as I just held my stomach from the pain caused in it by my chuckles. I pulled Tommy's arm around my shoulder.
"Okay…now let's just take each step on the count of 'one two, one two'--our tied feet and then our loose feet. Okay?" I asked between gasps as Tommy just shrugged.
"Whatever you say, mam." Tommy replied just as Spied and Wally tripped over beside us. At this point, I didn't think any of us were going to make it to the starting point. The small cancer patients were loving it—cheering from the sidelines and laughing, and I smiled over at a few of them tenderly.
"That's makes me sad." I said to Tommy in a whisper as we made our way slowly this time to where we were supposed to be. Tom just looked down at me a moment soberly.
"Maybe this childhood blast from the past we're being made to endure will be their ticket home." Tommy answered with a small smile as he glanced over to the sidelines too. His smile was sadder than mine. It made me wonder if part of his anger was a way to cover up grief. Had he lost someone? Was that why he had left? I didn't get a chance to ask him because Kwest began the count down just as we reached the line and Tommy and I both smiled suddenly. This really was a way to just let loose.
"Go!" Kwest shouted and we started running—well sort of limping toward the finish—tripping only half way through on top of each other, and I couldn't help but gasp as Tommy's elbow knocked the breath out of me.
"Okay, I've officially decided I'm too old for this." I said on a chuckle while trying to catch my breath as we all looked up to see Patsy and Jamie cross the line first. Oh yeah, those two were something else.
"You and me both." Tommy replied as we practically crawled into last place before lying down on the grass with a new round of laughter.
"Just untie the thing." I stated ruefully as Tommy sat up to untie the cloth. I looked over at him then as he smiled boyishly at me and I realized something.
"I'll be right back." I told him quietly as he pulled off the bandana. He just frowned at me before nodding, and I looked down at him confused. I guess I had expected him to fight with me about that, but he didn't. So I turned and walked away.
