She whirled around and looked him in the eye. "What are you going to do, Tommy? Fly down to Californa and beat him up because he said a bunch of nasty stuff about me?" She asked him, trying to be rational. She was angry with what Chris said about her, but if she let Tommy know that he'd only be worse.

"Do you see what hes doing to you?" He asked her."He's trying to break you."

"No Tommy, I'm dumb and I have no idea." She said sarcastically and gave him a look. "Of course I do! And I wanna take my hands and wrap them around his throat for saying something about Sadie too, but what good is that going to do for me?" She looked at Tommy for an answer, but he wasn't able to give one. "Exactly, so I just need to let it die." She said calmly, hoping to convince Tommy, hoping to convince herself.

"You said that before Jude, but this thing has yet to do that." Tommy countered harshly

"Damn it, I know that!" She exclaimed, suddenly becoming angry with him. "But I have to hope that it will, okay? It's easier than facing the truth and realizing that Chris is trying to ruin my life. I was in love with him three weeks ago, Tommy. Three weeks ago!" She repeated louder. "Now, I cant stand to say his name after tonight." She spoke truthfully. "He said I was good for one thing, just one thing, Tommy" She murmured this time as she started to feel her throat close, and tears spring into the corner of her eyes. Her anger had dissipated and now she was feeling incredibly melancholy.

"He said it on national television, where anyone I know could have heard it." She spoke, dejectedly. She thought of Jamie, Kat, Georgia, her mom, even her dad. How would they react to the lies Chris spewed? He'd managed to taint her name with a few cold, calculated sentences. She then looked at Tommy and suddenly felt embarrassed. He heard it too. 'Oh God, what does he think of me?' She wondered miserably as she made her way towards the couch, and numbly sat down. She cradled her head in her hands as she felt the slow trail of tears down her arms.

If there was one thing Tommy Quincy hated, it was seeing Jude cry. 'Especially over some snot nose punk' He thought bitterly. He sighed heavily as he walked towards her slowly and put his arm around her. He drew her into him as she welcomed his comfort. He ran his hand up and down Jude's hair soothingly. Jude pulled away slightly from him as she wiped away her tears.

"I know I deserved all that, after Chris caught us and all, but it stings, you know?" She sniffed slightly as she looked Tommy in the eye. "And I know he just said it cause he's angry, but he made me feel so dirty. He made me feel so worthless." She choked out the word, as she felt the water rush to her eyes again. She bent her head down, not being able to look at him.

Tommy would have none of that. He gripped her chin with his thumb and index finger, forcing her to bring her head up. "Look at me, Jude." When she tried to move her head out of his grasp, he held it more strongly. "Look at me." He repeated again, his voice more firm this time. She finally relented and met him eye to eye, waiting for him to continue. "You are worth so much, worth more than an idiot like Chris could ever comprehend." He fiercly proclaimed. When she was about to disagree, Tommy shook his head. "No listen to me, would I be here right now with you if you weren't worth it? You have no idea how special you are to me, Jude. No idea." He whispered to her, trying to make her understand, needing to make her understand. He moved his other hand to the side of her face as he softly caressed it.

Jude closed her eyes briefly, reveling in his touch. They fluttered open as she spoke. "Then show me." She murmured back as she leaned in towards him. Instinctively, Tommy brought his body closer to hers, and closed his eyes. They were inches apart as Jude brought her lips to his. At the last minute Tommy's eyes flew open and he turned his head slightly, causing Jude to miss his lips and brush his cheek.

When she pulled away from him, she looked bewildered and hurt. 'Why did he do that? Why didn't he want to kiss me?' She wondered silently. Tommy took a deep breath and puffed out his chest in agitation. He quickly got up from the couch and ran his hand through his hair as he put the other hand on his hip, needing to distance himself from her. He was supposed to be giving her space.

"I don't get you, Tommy." Jude spoke, breaking the awkward silence. "I just don't get you." She repeated, feeling like a fool. "You say im special, but you can't even kiss me. You act like you want me, but since the first night here, you've done nothing about it." She slowly explained, as she shifted on the couch. "You run hot and cold, and I'm tired of it. Why do you do that with me?" She questioned earnestly. She searched his face for answers, but found none.

Tommy exhaled as he brought his hand behind his head and rubbed his neck. He offered nothing as Jude stared at him.

"This whole time we've been up here you haven't made a move on me." She said, becoming frustrated. She could feel the heat run through her veins. She was at her breaking point, and had enough with it all. "Yet, the night before we left you asked me to be with you, Tommy. What changed? Did I miss something?" She demanded to know. She didn't get it. It made no sense in her mind. 'When I was with somebody, he wanted me, and now that I'm not-' She stopped her thinking when it hit her like a ton of bricks. She looked at him as if she finally realized it all. "I think I know what changed." She spoke softly as she shook her finger at him lightly. "When you came back, I was with Chris, so for you it was like a chase, maybe even a game." When Tommy looked at her confused, she continued as she walked the floor. "You know, 'see if I still get to Jude like I've always had.' I bet it made you made that I was able to forget about Lil Tommy Q." She bit out his name angrily. "That I could find someone else, and move on with my life instead of forever wishing that we had something between us. Silly me for ever thinking that, huh?" She gave a hollow laugh as she slanted her head. "Game set and match, Tommy. You win." She bitterly threw at him as she stormed past him, knocking her shoulder into his. The lights flickered but it didnt't break Jude's stride towards the stairs. She opted for the right set, forgoing the left as she climbed the first few steps. A window flew open, causing her to jump slightly. The wind gave the curtains life as they flapped viscously against the wall. She played with the idea of trying to wrestle it shut, before she finally backtracked a few steps and went to close it. All she wanted to do was go into her room, slam the door, and brood.

Tommy stood in the living room as he felt the blood rushed to his head. There was no way he was going to let Jude have the last word. He stalked out of the room and made his way to the left side of the grand staircase. He took the steps two at a time. "Jude!" He called out as he spotted her across the stairs, trying to force a window shut. She was about 9 steps up from him. When she heard her name, she abandoned it as she quickly walked up the steps.

"Oh no you don't. You don't get to spew all this crap about what you think I feel without hearing me out!" He yelled over to her, his voice riviling against the booming thunder.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, but continued up the stairs. "I don't want to hear it!" She shouted back as the lights went out again. She lost her footing as she tripped over a step. When they came back on, Tommy was directly across from her on the opposite side of the stair case.

"You'll hear it and you'll listen." He demanded as he stopped on the steps as he looked over at her. She had paused at his words and stared back. "You think I wanted to be this close to you these past few days, but not be able to hold you or touch you? You think this what I have in mind as a 'good time'?" He resumed his journey up, and Jude took cue and ran up the rest of the way, hoping to beat him to the landing. "You actually think this was all just cause of chris? That I just wanted you because somebody else had you?" He fired at her. She was forced to slow her pace as she came to the last few steps. The lights danced on and off above them, leaving her vision impaired. "This would have been a helluva alot easier if it wasn't for Chris. He forced me to wait it out and i'm still waiting for you Jude." They both hit the landing as the lights went off for good. Jude walked blindly towards the left, where her room was. She couldn't see or hear Tommy. Knowing that this was her chance to bypass him and get to her room safely, she made her way across the carpeted floor as soundlessly as possible. All of a sudden she felt someone lightly tackle her, pinning her against the wall.
A huge burst of lightening illuminated the room, revealing Tommy whose arms stuck out quickly and grabbed her waist, pulling her towards him. They breathe heavily as the darkness enveloped them again. She couldn't see him, but she knew what he was feeling, she felt it too. "Now I'm done waiting." He murmured as he drew her even closer and pressed his lips on hers.