Chapter 5
"So she's with him, because…"
Tommy shrugged. "I think she just doesn't want to be alone right now." He was having his daily lunch break with Kwest, informing him about last night's events. "And as she told me, she really likes to kiss him." The way his voice turned sour and unconvinced made any attempt to make it sound he didn't care, useless.
Grinning, Kwest couldn't help himself but ask, "You're okay with that? She's your girl…"
"Do I have a choice? She m-" As he spoke a familiar flash of blond hair appeared outside the diner. "Is that Jude?" His mind got sidetracked when he looked out of the window of the booth they sat in, seeing his girl in the distant. Kwest followed his gaze.
"And David. Doesn't that guy have school?"
"Until four. That's what D told me, because Jude would go and meet him afterwards." Tommy checked his phone, wondering if he had missed a call to inform him about a change of plans. The diner was only two blocks away from G-Major and maybe they were now looking for them? Though technically, Jude was supposed to do some PR work right now.
"It doesn't seem like they're here for us." Kwest chuckled when he spotted Jude pointing towards a red Chevrolet cabriolet with two girls in it, dressed as cheerleaders. Tommy and Kwest watched the scene in interest. The cabriolet was trying to park in the spot behind a silver Porsche Turbo, having severe issues with that and Tommy couldn't deny feeling reminded of that old prejudice that women were bad drivers. He faintly recalled Jude mentioning something about David driving a Porsche. How come high school students had that much money?
The girls walked up to David and Jude after having finally parked the car, not looking pleased. Quite the contrary was the case, and one of the girls made a gesture that didn't leave much room for interpretation. The middle finger was such a lame way of expressing opinions. "Think one of them is David's ex?" Kwest had always had a thing for other people's lives. Tommy merely laughed at his friend's eagerness to find out. Shifting his attention back to the scene he saw how Jude hauled David's head in for one of those kisses David had given Jude just yesterday. This time though, the 'little punk' as Tommy labeled him in increasing resentment took a firm and daring grope at Jude's butt before letting his hand trail down her bare thigh. He'd really have to talk to Portia about Jude's new outfits. She shouldn't look like that with sixteen. Not when he tried to remember that Jude indeed only was sixteen, despite her mature moments. Last night she had astounded him by how calm she had talked to him and explained to him how she had felt.
"I just can't imagine they're making out like that just for show," Kwest muttered. "I mean the sparks are flying so hard between them!"
"NO, there aren't any sparks!" Tommy declared it a little too firmly to not raise suspicion in Kwest. He took in how Jude's hand was driving through David's really thin and badly cut hair. If he'd take a closer look, Tommy was sure to find bold spots on that guy's scalp, maybe even hints of gray hair! When Jude's fingertips began to dance across David's neck, just then rising the wish in him to experience the very same caress, he snapped his head away from the too public display of fake affection. No sparks at all! Not even warm temperature! "See, she's…"
"…Still kissing him although the girls are gone?" Kwest laughed. "You're screwed. She's really getting over you!"
Tommy roughly readjusted in his seat, trying his best not to have any sort of sight at what was happening between his girl and the little punk. "Can we talk about something else than Jude?"
"How are things with Sadie?"
"Why are we friends again?"
###
"They're coming," Jude told David, even excited about the fact. David had told her that Amanda and a friend of hers always sneaked out during the lunch break between classes to get some Starbucks coffee. It was the stereotypical Styrofoam container that was the 'new chic' these days. It even replaced the Gucci handbag! Jude had suggested to show up near the Starbucks, making out when they came by. Truth was, after yesterday's kiss, she couldn't wait to kiss him again. He had some really talented lips!
Amanda showed up, and now Jude's arm was tightly locked around David's neck to keep his lips as firm as possible on hers. David didn't hesitate to return the kiss, sharing the liking for those moments. It wasn't the departure of his ex that made him part from Jude, but the need for air. He wiped Jude's strawberry lip-gloss from his smirking lips. "Damn, Harrison. We're getting good at this!"
"We really do!" Jude wasn't blushing, or ashamed. Not even shy. "It's weird. I'm not in love with you, but kissing you really is fun!"
"Tell me about it," he agreed, hauling her mouth against his right again. He slowly trailed his hand from her lower back towards her ass, testing out her reaction. She didn't stop him and he followed the appealing curves of her body down towards the exposed skin of her bare thigh. He could feel Jude smile into the kiss, and he gently raked his fingertips along her leg with a little more intensity. After a few seconds, Jude giggled and playfully pushed him away from her.
"I'm not going to do this in public!"
"So how about we do this later tonight at my place?"
Now Jude blushed. Looking away and beginning to play with a loose seam of her shirt, she procrastinated to answer.
"We don't have to." David reached for her hand, tugging on it so she'd look up at him. She did. "I like your lips. I like kissing you. I'm…not in love you," he confessed.
"Me neither. And, I really don't want to fall in love right now!" She was still suffering from the last time that happened.
"Neither do I. But, we can enjoy the perks of being single, can't we? Having fun, no strings attached?"
"That's like the ultimate male-fantasy, isn't it?"
"Absolutely," David admitted with a sly grin. "So?"
"Let's have fun." Jude wondered what she had just agreed to, but another part of her was looking forward to explore some new boundaries, and even looking forward to find out what lay behind them. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the time. "Class is starting in ten minutes! You need to go." Lucky for Jude, she still had off this week. G-Major had wanted her to record first and the first week of school was never that important. Jude didn't dare to object!
"Hop in, then. I'll drop you off at the studio." He headed for his car, almost stumbling when Jude out of nowhere jumped his back and wrapped her arms around him.
"Let's start early with the fun and let me drive."
He held up the keys. "I get a kiss for that…"
Jude's mouth met his fiercely, short and intense. "I get to drive fast for that…"
###
"You're sure you don't want to know what's happening?" Kwest was still watching Jude and David.
"Yes! And I'd appreciate if you could stop eyeing them like a hyena!"
Kwest chuckled. "They annoy you, don't they?"
"No!"
"Yes they do!"
"If you know the answer, why do you ask?"
"I enjoy seeing you suffering." A big part of their friendship had always been honesty. Kwest and Tommy might not always agree on things, but they never kept secrets from another. "Come on, you earn this!"
"Thanks for reminding me."
"You should take her as an example. She's making an effort in getting over you. Try the same."
"That effort caused the whole mess," he strongly reminded Kwest. His annoyance turned into helplessness. "Jude told me to decide. Sadie, or not Sadie."
"Smart girl."
"And she made me promise not to consider her feelings in that decision."
"Wow! Big girl." Kwest was stunned. That level of maturity most grown-ups didn't even possess. But then again, Jude had always amazed him by her mature moments. It was what made her so special. One moment she was laughing her ass off over a silly cartoon and the next moment she'd slip some smart comment that had you speechless. "Do, or don't you like Sadie? Guess that's the question."
"I don't know. You should have seen Jude last night. It took all of her to tell me that. I know her, Kwest. Seeing me with her sister is tough on her."
Kwest shook his head, leaned back in his seat and watched the world outside the diner. "It's not about Sadie, is it? It's about running away from what you feel for Jude! Geez, that girl is sixteen and accepting life as it is. You're twenty-three, can literally chose from life's finest, and you can't even admit to yourself that you want Jude! Something's wrong with that!"
"So what," Tommy barked. "What if I want her? It can't happen! And I don't not like Sadie."
"She's right. You need to make up your mind."
"I'm trying!"
###
"And then I run into Amanda when I waited for you and you should have heard how she bitched at me! Seriously, that girl is such a freak!" Jude stated. She and David were just walking into G-Major.
"She really likes to scream. It's in her blood," David commented a little too happily for Jude's taste. She saw the smudgy grin on his face, and started laughing, playfully slapping his chest.
"I don't want to know what she does in bed!"
"Not just in bed…"
"EW!"
"Damn it," Tommy grumbled annoyed when he saw Jude and David entering. He had just picked up his mail at the reception when Jude's giggling had him lose his patience. "Can't she go anywhere without him anymore?"
"Why," Portia, who stood next to him, questioned. She had always been good in telling when Tommy was caring a little too much for women he shouldn't care about. It had become her specialty during their brief, but eventful marriage. "Jealous?"
"Nosy much," he countered sharply.
Portia only laughed. "Oh how mature you are these days… Oh look!" She grinned seeing Jude coming towards them. "She's wearing the blue skirt I gave her. Damn, she has pretty legs!"
"Yeah…" The soft admittance came too quickly.
Portia's head shot to Tommy, an open jaw dangling from her face. "You're-"
"Shut up," he quickly warned, not needing his ex-wife to point out to him how he paid too much attention to an inappropriately young protégé's legs. He sat on a fake and flaky smile and greeted both Jude and David. "Hey you two. Brought him again," he addressed Jude sneeringly, purposely ignoring David.
Jude gave him a weird look. "Yes!" When Tommy hardly reacted, but simply walked away without another word, Jude looked at Portia. "What's his problem?"
Laughing, Portia shrugged. "Life. You look pretty today!"
David smiled, and wrapped an arm around Jude, letting it drift dangerously low towards said skirt. "I say she looks stunning!"
Jude smiled, blushing under all those compliments. "Can we focus again? I need to record my new single today and need some support!"
"Compliments aren't the right support?" David wondered.
Jude smiled. "I prefer sugar. In form of chocolate." When she recorded singles, Jude always grew nervous. Especially now, with already one flopped album on her shoulders, she wanted the song to be a kick ass-hit and nothing like the failures her last songs turned out to be. Chocolate always helped in those moments.
"Two hours ago, we still had Brownies. Good luck finding one now," Portia quipped before leaving.
"Great. Brownies here never last!" Jude sighed. "Never mind. Let's go." She pulled David with her into Studio A. Tommy and Kwest were already done setting up when they entered. "You can stay here. I try to be done quickly." She was a little uncomfortable with David being alone with Kwest, and especially with Tommy.
"Don't hurry," he reassured, taking a seat on the couch in the back of the room. "I'll be okay."
"Okay." She quickly took off her jacket and got rid of her bag and guitar case before heading for the booth. Just when she was about to enter, she spotted a plate on the soundboard, a whole Brownie sitting upon it. Her mouth filled with saliva as hunger overcame her. "Whose is this?" And more important, could she have it?
Tommy barely looked at her when nudging the plate towards her hand, whose fingers he knew must have been itching for it by now. "Yours."
Jude didn't allow herself to smile, but she offered a polite "Thank you." For the tiniest moment, she locked eyes with Tommy before taking the Brownie into her hand, eating it with her fingers while entering the booth and taking a seat on the stool in front of the mic.
"That was very nice of you," Kwest told Tommy, allowing a sarcasm to make it a jest.
"Just start counting her in!"
Two hours later, Kwest was on a break for a sandwich and Jude used the moment to make a quick run to the bathroom, leaving Tommy and David behind alone. She didn't like the idea, but she needed to pee and that had priority!
"So… Dating Jude now?" Tommy knew they weren't in love. Jude had confessed that to him last night. But, he also knew she 'liked kissing him' and that she had kissed him several times today already, since he had been the unlucky witness.
David nodded. "Yep. Dating her sister now," he asked in return.
"…Yeah…" Something like that. The little punk didn't need to hear the whole confusing and unresolved story of how that had happened. "Jude mentioned you drive a Porsche?" Cars were a good topic, Tommy figured. He had plenty of them and could easily outdo Jude's little friend.
"Not just one. But, I guess she's referring to the silver Porsche Turbo. Got it tuned. It's going 200mph. Tested it out in a race this summer."
"You do street races?" Tommy had known there was a reason he hated this guy! He was bad influence for Jude!
"No. Friend of mine owns a racing club. Lets me occasionally use their speedway. My Dad used to be their sponsor."
"So you're driving Daddy's car?"
"No. My father died a few years ago, along with my mother. Inherited the whole fortune. That, and two Porsche, two Ferarris and a couple of Lexus and Benz."
"Oh." Dead parents and too much money! Oh yeah, Tommy really hated this guy! "So, where you're living. Relatives?"
"Penthouse in the city. You know that new apartment tower they built a couple of years ago? The big one, next to the little tower? It's also part of my heritage."
Yeah, Tommy knew that one. His own penthouse was in the little tower. Every morning when he woke up, a giant annoying shadow fell over his window, coming from the 'big tower'. It also blocked the perfect view he used to have at the lake. Okay, so maybe he hadn't had the look at the lake for he moved in while the tower was already in construction, but there used to be a view of the lake and he missed that! And, now that he thought about it, the gray color of that building's stones were truly ugly! Yeah, he had always hated the 'big tower'. He had already hated the 'big tower' when he had made an offer to buy its penthouse! "I know the tower."
"You wouldn't believe how many people are trying to buy it from me! A couple of years ago, there was this guy…" David laughed, still remembering that story from his lawyer Laura, who had told him. "Anyway, there was this guy who really wanted the penthouse. He even seduced my lawyer for that. He took her out for six dates and she shamelessly let him buy her the most expensive things, all the while leaving him with the hope I'd sell. I never did, and she made a fortune out of dating him!
Yeah. He had fond memories of Laura, too. Fucking fond memories!
"Hey…" Kwest carefully interrupted when he came back with his sandwich and some fresh brew of coffee. "David, Jude asked for you. She's in the kitchenette."
David left immediately. Tommy spun back around, facing the soundboard. It didn't need much more and he'd bang his head on the board. "He has the bigger one."
A fair amount of coffee shot from Kwest's mouth straight against the glass window in front of him, leaving one ugly looking mess there. "What?!"
Tommy looked in shock at the disaster that Kwest had just produced. "What the fuck?"
"The bigger one…"
Deep lines of horror furrowed into Tommy's face at what Kwest had just implied. "Holy shit, fuck no! I meant his apartment! What the fuck did you think we were doing in here?!"
"No idea! I just hoped neither of you brought a ruler along!"
Tommy jumped out of his seat. "You have one sick mind!"
"Says the guy who's sleeping with one sister to forget the other one!"
Punch him. Tommy really, really wanted to punch him. If only his friend wouldn't have such made a goddamned good point! "I need a break!"
"Don't buy a fucking castle just to outdo Jude's high school boyfriend!" Kwest called after him.
Jude and David came back, holding hands. When Jude noticed Tommy gone, she looked at Kwest for answers. "Where did he go? And does it mean I have off, now?"
"No idea, and no."
"He's behaving weird all day! What's his friggin' problem?"
Kwest shrugged. "Size, I think. Go in, I'll step in until he's back." And with that she resumed recording.
###
Tommy sat in his favorite bar, drinking. In the back of his head he wondered how Sadie had wound up next to him, but there was just too much liquor inside him to answer that. "Looking good tonight, Sadie." He slurred the compliment, if it was even meant as one. Why not enjoy that she wanted him? Jude had made one hell of a statement by making out with David any given second of free time that she did not want Tommy anymore. So why shouldn't he be with Sadie? Was he doomed to spend his life alone from now on? Or even this night?
Jude didn't even want him as her friend anymore! Sure, she was being over-dramatic and making entirely too much out of one mistake, but had he expected any less from her? After all, wasn't it exactly that what made him care so much about her friendship? That she was so unforgiving at times? She challenged him, making him want to be better for her. Worthy of her. What for, he now wondered. One mistake and she cut him from her life! What a friend was that?
He was too drunk to answer those questions. "Looking really good tonight, Sadie…" It wasn't a lie. Sadie was one nice girl. It didn't matter that during the sex with her Jude's face had flashed up in front of his eyes more than just one time. It had shocked him. Well, not really… But, it had confused him! No, it hadn't done that, either. At least not much. He figured it was the guilt. But, might as well face some truth. It's not like he had never dreamt about Jude before. As a matter of fact, Jude had made several appearances in his fantasies up to now. Was he proud of that? Hell no! Could he help himself? No! Even when he was guilty about having hurt her, he couldn't fight his dreams. In the middle of the night, when he was in deep sleep, Jude would show up, smile at him and then he'd find himself kissing her. Most of the times she'd wear that green dress she wore on her sweet sixteen, and they'd be at the very same place on the outside of G-Major. Only those times, he wasn't telling her to go inside after the first rush of want had passed. No. He'd go for her lips over and over again. Yeah, it was probably guilt for having ended things that night the wrong way, for having pushed her sweet, chocolate flavored lips away from him.
Chocolate… He thought about the smile on her lips, earlier this day, when he had offered her the Brownie. She hadn't wanted to smile, but he had seen the tiny little curl of her mouth so clearly. He knew she was nervous when she produced songs that would become a single. Those were the songs she was measured at, and he could understand her fear of them being bad. Although, there was no song of her he'd ever call bad. She had released four singles the last year. The first time she had nearly vomited in his car, and after finally admitting what was going on, she had told him about said nervousness and he had made a habit of inviting her out before those recordings. He'd take her to some fancy restaurant and they'd spend entirely too much time eating a chocolate fondue. He usually hated chocolate, but in those moments even he loved it.
While drowning just another beer, he found Sadie's hand covering his. Not trusting himself around her, he warily warned. "Sadie…"
She nervously looked at him, shyly smiling. "You're telling me again how good I look?"
"No." Brushing a strand of hair out of her face, he smiled apologetically. "I think you're a nice girl. Sweet and funny…"
"That's the start of good news, isn't it?"
"I'm not in…"
"Love with me? I feared so. I'm not asking for a marriage, Tom. Just for a few more dates."
"Why?"
"Because I know you must have had some reason to be with me, other than just sex. You could have gotten that everywhere."
"Sadie…"
"You're drunk! Don't make any decisions now, okay?"
And he didn't.
"I have to go. I called you a cab, which will take you home. Call me…"
###
"Stop it, stop it… Ha ha ha…" Jude held her stomach, curling her body into the cushions of the fierce red couch in the lobby, while trying to hold her laughter. "You suck, David!"
"At least I don't drool!" He had caught her sitting on the couch a minute ago, drinking a coke. Mid-sip he had tickled her sides and not long later the coke had begun to search a way out of Jude's nose.
"Not fair! You made me!"
Kwest chuckled at the sight in front of him when he walked up to them. "I think it's fair to say Quincy is not coming back. Let's quit for toda…" When Kwest couldn't finish the word, Jude looked up while wiping her face clean, seeing what her caused her engineer to be speechless. "Oh boy."
David just leaned back and enjoyed the moment of amusement, while both Jude and Kwest hurried over to the stumbling figure at the reception.
"What the hell did you do, Tommy?" Jude tried to steady him, but couldn't do it herself without Kwest's help.
"I'm…oudda monney. Cab driver… Takes no credit ca's."
When Jude's pleading look reached him, David got up and nodded. "I'll take care of it."
"Thanks," Jude mouthed, smiling sweetly. Only to wrinkle her nose when Tommy opened his mouth to speak again. He was stinking like an ashtray lost in a brewery!
"You blond…" His hand unsteadily reached for one of Jude's curls, tugging on it. She yelped when he pulled to hard.
"Ouch! Yes I'm blond," she snapped. "You already knew that! And the hair is part of my head. You pull it out, it hurts!" She doubted he had understood. "What are we going to do with him," she asked Kwest.
"Get him into his office. I'll take care of him." Friendship was bitch! "He was gone for two hours. How'd he get so drunk?"
Jude shrugged. "Don't ask me!"
"Youa pritty blon…"
"What a compliment!" Jude took this moment with sarcasm. "Who doesn't want to be called 'pritty'!"
Kwest chuckled, which turned out to be a mistake because now Tommy started laughing, too. "Why we laughin…" Tommy stopped laughing. "Is so sad…"
"What is sad?" Kwest wondered while trying to make Tommy take the steps to his office. Better keep a conversation with him before he'd fall asleep right there. Tommy began to trip over the stairs and Kwest once again got reminded that liquor and stairs didn't combine well!
"Life…" Tommy was a depressive drunk, and not a funny one. His heavily lidded eyes looked up to Jude. "He has a bigger one than I. Did you know that? Have you seen his? It's so big…"
The way he said had Jude gasping in shock. He better not had done something truly stupid! When her cheeks turned a heavy red shade, Kwest could tell she was having the same wrong thought he had had before. "It's not what he means," he quickly corrected. "He's talking about apartments!"
"Whose apartment," Jude asked in irritation, yet highly relieved about her wrong-proven assumption. "Whoa," she shot, holding the banister when Tommy nearly stumbled and with that risked their all lives. "Watch it, drunkie!" Tommy didn't react. All his last strength was needed to focus on lifting one foot, and then the other, and then the first one again. Steps were a tricky thing.
"David's apartment. It's in the big tower, next to Tommy's little tower. He's a guy. He can't help but compare size!" The finally made it to the top, and Kwest kicked Tommy's ajar office door open with one foot. "Just help me drop him on the couch."
Once Tommy hit the cushions, he was asleep almost right away. But not before tugging on Jude's arm to pull her down to him, whispering, "I'm sorry…"
She sighed and shook her head, forlornly looking at Kwest. "Why is he doing this to himself?" Unconsciously her palm caressed Tommy's forehead gingerly. Sometimes Tommy reminded her of a two-year old, alone, and helpless in the big, mean world.
Kwest returned the questioning gaze. "Why do you care? I thought you were done doing that."
Jude stepped away from Tommy, realizing what she had done with her hand. As much as she was hurt, and as hard as she had tried to hate him for being so careless about the consequences of his actions, she just couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "I'm trying, Kwest. It isn't easy."
"I know. That's why he's doing what he's doing. Take off tomorrow. He won't be able to produce anyway, and let's start fresh next week."
Jude nodded, noticing that David was standing in the doorway. "I paid the cab," he told her. "You're ready to go?"
"Yeah. Let's go. Call me if you need my help, Kwest."
"Will do."
###
It was raining again. Cold air hit his skin when he stepped out of the door, a thin layer of water immediately covering his face. He didn't know why, or how, but he knew he was on the staircase again, in the back of the G-Major building, and that somewhere behind the thick curtain of raindrops pouring from the sky was Jude, crying and sad. He knew what would happen next, without being able to explain why. He liked what would happen next.
Not looking where he was stepping, he walked with secure steps through the foggy and nearly pitch black night. He had been in this situation before, he recalled faintly, but never before had it been so dark. After a couple of steps, it wasn't Jude he found. It was more black, more rain, and complete silence. Instinctively, he called her name. "Jude?" Worry laced his words, and he had not known he was worried until he had heard it in his own voice. "Jude, are you here?" She was supposed to be there, just why – that he couldn't explain. "Jude?" His way through the thick darkness continued and suddenly he saw flashes of soft light, not bright, and barely visible, and yet a stark contrast to the black he felt trapped in.
Another breeze of light appeared and he found himself walking towards it, fast and eager. Something was going on inside him. He knew what would await him, and yet he didn't. A sort of strangeness had settled inside of him. Those indescribable tugs one occasionally feels when one has an unexplainable fear that something bad was about to happen. Only he wasn't afraid. It wasn't bad. "Jude," he called again, still convinced she was near.
Suddenly, he found himself standing in his bedroom, with all darkness gone. In the center of his bed was a naked woman. She was resting on her stomach, arms curled around a pillow on which her head was resting. Long golden curly hair was spread around her like a halo, the softest sounds of breathing were audible. He couldn't even gulp anymore, so enthralled by the beauty of the girl in front of her he was. Slender curves highlighted her glorious body, a tiny waist, long legs, a firm butt, perfectly shaped, leaving him with the wish to take a small bite. One leg began to move, bending as she rolled over to her back, shamelessly allowing him to take in her front. Small feet, curling toes, more of those incredibly long legs…
His eyes were glued to her naked body, wandering from her creamy thighs to her most private area, noticing how no pubic hair was hiding anything from him. As if she knew what he desired to see, she rubbed her legs along each other, while she gave the most erotic little purr he had ever heard. The voice sounded familiar, and he found himself more intrigued by her face. As his eyes roamed higher, he admired small but perfect breasts, soft rosy nipples, hard and erect as he then noticed he was, too.
"I've been waiting for you," the girl whispered, raising one hand, curling a finger as if to say 'come here'. Tommy stepped closer to the foot of the bed, allowing his hand to touch her. First her lower leg, then the knee, then higher. He had not felt skin so silken and soft before, and he knew he never wanted to feel anything else again. His fingers curved around the beginning of her thigh, caressing towards the back of it, while with the other he held himself up as he crawled on top of her. Fingertips darted out, digging into her flesh. She felt hot under his palm, heated, as he knew he was too. An unknown sense of want captured his will. His head leaned closer towards her, his nostrils catching her scent. It was deep, alluring, musky, and unlike anything else. It was the desire, he smelled, her longing for him.
"Tommy…" she purred, eyes closed as she arched her back under his teasing. Then he saw it, those eyes, big though closed, the soft red mouth, too mesmerizing not to kiss, the small nose, flushed cheeks.
"Jude," he breathed, even more aroused as he was before. His sex was engorged with blood, with want, with the thirst to have her in any way possible. It strained his pants, and he reached for the snap of his jeans unsteadily, wanting to free himself.
Slender fingers covered his hand, and she began to help him. "Hurry, please hurry…" The keening sound coming from her throat made him throb, her fingers so close, yet so far made him desperate. "Ohhh…" she breathed full of longing, sultrier than he had believed was possible, "take me. Take me now!" Once more legs rubbed together, and he wished for nothing more than to be between, deep inside, surrounded by her. He became annoyed, helpless, and vigorous in his attempts to get his pants out of the way. "I can't wait any longer," she crooned, eyes tightly shut, "I'm so wet for you. Why can't you take me, Tommy? Why can't you make me yours?"
He wanted to speak, wanted to tell her he yearned for nothing more than that. He wanted to kiss her ruby lips, wanted to feel the velvet insides of her female gender, he wanted to make her scream his name over and over again, until she couldn't scream any longer, when suddenly – she was gone. He was back in the darkness, surrounded by rain. He could hardly stand still, the neglected erection in his pants painful by now. "Jude?! Jude, where are you," he called, wanting back the one thing he needed more than anything else ever before, "Jude?!"
"It's Kwest," a voice intruded his dream, startling him. "Wake up already!"
And then there was light, bright ceiling light, and a stiffness he couldn't quite place. While his mind still tried to make sense of his surroundings, he heard Kwest's voice again. And it was a harsh voice.
Kwest had thought about leaving him alone in the office, and just go home, but he had promised to take care of Quincy. When his friend's little dream had turned an unwelcome shade, at least for him, he had left the office and waited outside. Jude's name though had been clearly audible, even through closed doors! Lucky for them, they were the only ones left in the office. "Just to clarify something," Kwest threatened. "You ever have a wet dream again when I'm around, we're done being friends! I'll be waiting at the car until your ready."
Ready? Tommy didn't understand the meaning until he sat up, noticing a wet stain down his pants, at a very distinctive spot. "Shit!" What the fuck? That hadn't happened since he was a teenager! He was past that phase of wet dreams and sticky sheets. He took care of his needs now! In the middle of his irritation his conscience was hit by the memories of his dream, and it felt like a sucker punch into his gut. Holy fucking shit! Not that he wasn't used to sexual dreams, and despite the fact that he should be ashamed about it, the fact that it was Jude wasn't that startling either. It was the intensity of the dream, the way he could still palpate the longing he had experienced when her yearning body had writhed beneath him. His cock twitched at the thought, and he growled in protest. He needed to get out of here, and he needed a cold shower. A long, hard, icy shower!
Chapter 6
Both Harrison sisters stood in the hallway downstairs of their home on Monday morning, eying the small table there, and more important the big flower bouquet on top of it. It had arrived this morning, and Victoria had welcomed it. Sadly, the delivery clerk had informed her that there had been a card with the flowers. But two blocks away, at a red light, there had been a small accident and three bouquets had fallen from the usually secure shelf of the delivery van they were transported in. Therefore, the adjoining card was only a small piece of wet, unreadable paper with a strange looking picture in front and some indecipherable scribbles on the insides.
Sadie sneered, her mood around Jude lately at a steady level of annoyance. "I bet they are from David. My ex likes sending flowers."
Jude rolled her eyes and took the piece of paper with the aim to discard it. "Your ex? You mean the guy that you dated four times? Only because he is the captain of the football team and you were the head-cheerleader? That ex? I'm damn sure I remember the countless occasions that guy sent you flowers! Wait – was it…zero times?"
Scoffing, Sadie fished the gooey remains of the card out of Jude's hands. "Maybe they are from Tommy!" He was drunk the last time she had seen him, and maybe now he had finally made up his mind. It was possible, wasn't it?
"Whatever," Jude brushed her off. The honking noise outside was her savior, and she grabbed her new leather jacket before sprinting towards David's deep-red Lexus cabriolet. "Fancy ride…" she grinned.
"Ain't it? Haven't seen you in while." After having taken Jude home last Thursday after the drunken-Tommy incident, David had not seen Jude again. Friday she had missed school to sleep in and the weekend he had been away with some friends. "How are things at the Quincy-frontier?"
"He called twice, trying to find out if he said something embarrassing the other day. He wrapped it up in apologies, though. Portia called several times, begging me to come by and test out some more miniskirts, and I even got a call from my cell phone company, informing me that I paid 13 cents too much on my last bill!"
"No way," he chuckled. "What'cha gonna do with that sudden fortune?"
"Spending it all at once by buying something really fancy!"
"Like?"
"Half a bugglegum?" Both laughed. "How's Amanda? I heard she gave you a call this weekend!"
"How'd you find out?" David was impressed.
"I have my sources." He was skeptical. "Okay, I was at McDonald's, and she was standing right in front of me when she called you. She only noticed me after the call, and I'm not sure what you've told her but it surely had her embarrassed when she found out I had listened."
He laughed. "I told her to stop calling me, then she begged me to reconsider our relationship. She mumbled something about mistakes and 'sluts in short skirts', which I assume was a pick at you, and then she kept telling me stories about how much fun we used to have together. I hardly listened to her in the end, but couldn't bring myself to just hang up."
"So you're over her?"
"Yes. When you think about your ex and the things you loved the most about your time with her are the moments that you didn't spend together, it's a sign it's not meant to be."
"Amen! Sorry about last Thursday. We had plans and…"
"Don't worry. No strings, remember? That means no guilt, either!"
"I like that! But, I also like kissing you and…" she grinned when he stopped the car at the next stop sign, leaning over and gracing her lips with a soft but perfect kiss.
"Should have done that earlier," he mused.
"Definitely," Jude agreed.
###
Jude and David entered the school together, holding hands. It was the first time Jude was here since coming back from tour. No one had seen her new style yet and so far, from the little reactions she had caught, it promised to be a small shock for everyone. They were both late, deciding that missing the first hour of the day would only make their appearance more surprising. No one really cared for Jude to show up, but David was the 'cool guy with the leather jacket' and 'everyone' would look when he arrived.
"You're ready," he asked Jude whisperingly. "Five minutes and class is over." Then their show would start. A heavy make out session in the biggest and most used hallway in school. They were looking forward getting caught.
"I'm ready." Jude smirked and wrapped an arm around David. "Let's take the remaining five minutes to warm up…" With that she pressed her lips on his and he grinned into the kiss, not minding her idea at all. Once their mouths fused, it didn't take long for them to forget time and space. In no time David had her pushed up against the lockers, one of her legs angled around his waist, holding it there, while the other one gently caressed Jude's neck.
They didn't hear the whistles, nor noticed the crowd building around them. They did notice the principal though, and how he threatened them with severe punishment, shouldn't they stop immediately. David and Jude parted, slightly out of breath. With a blush Jude noticed how the lower button of the plain black short-sleeved blouse she was wearing had come undone. And how her skirt had hitched up to reveal quite a lot of her legs!
"Follow me now," The principal sternly demanded. "Better be prepared for your parents. No one has sex in my hallways!"
Jude rolled her eyes, and David scoffed. "It wasn't sex. Trust me, you would have noticed the difference!"
Sticking out her tongue behind the principal's back, Jude liked how fearless David spoke up. Sure, with all the money and connections he had he didn't really need to finish high school to get by, but still – not everyone was this fierce! "Who'll he call for you?" Jude wondered, knowing about his dead parents.
"No one. He'll realize I'm eighteen when he begins to search for a phone number to call. You?"
"My Dad is on business and my mom went to play Tennis this morning. Sadie? No idea. Don't really care."
The 'don't really care'-comment turned into quite the opposite when Jude found out who had been called. "What are you doing here, Tommy?"
"Ms. Harrison," Principal Fuller warned. "You've already rebelled enough today, don't you think? Mr. Quincy is here because we needed someone responsible to pick you up. You refuse to apologize for what you and Mr. Moore did. That means you get suspended for the rest of the day!"
"Suspended?"
"Yeah, suspended?" Tommy repeated questioningly, not knowing why he was here other than that Darius had gotten a call from Jude's school, had turned angry and had demanded Tommy to take care of it. Now he was here, clueless. "What did they do?"
"I believe the current term is 'dry-humping'. Ms. Harrison and Mr. Moore were caught almost having sex in the middle of the hallway after class. Each also missed the first class. And, both refuse to apologize. Now, Mr. Moore is already on his way home after I informed him that Jude's label would take care of her for the rest of the morning."
Somewhere after 'dry-humping', Tommy had stopped listening. Instead, his eyes were on Jude. Memories of his dream from last week hit him so sharp that he nearly flushed red. It hadn't stayed one dream. That night he had found himself in the very same location, doing the very same thing and being just as unable to finish it as he had been the first time. He ordered himself to not think about that now, and instead speechlessness overcame him when he tried to make sense of what she was doing lately. It couldn't all be because of him, could it? In school this morning, he hadn't even been around. And, from the shocked look on her face when she saw him entering, he assumed she had not planned for him to find out, either.
"Well, are you taking her with you now? I'm sorry, but I have a class to teach, myself."
"Sure," Tommy affirmed, snapping out of his confusion. He signed the piece of paper that confirmed he would take Jude with him, and then went ahead to the car, not looking at her. He knew she was following from the angry stomps of her heels. Those heels, which made Jude's dangerously, appealing legs even longer, had him – again – reminded of another dream. This morning. Again, no finish, but she had teased the hell out of him by stretching on his soundboard like a purring kitten in the sun, wearing nothing but heels. Shiny black sling sandals. Her little toes had wiggled in anticipation when he had trailed his fingertips up the inside of her thighs, wanting to reach the hot core but being unable to due to whatever wicked dream-reasons there were! Dreams were supposed to be nice; to allow you to do things reality kept you from. But, his dreams seemed to play against him. Teasing – yes, action – no. If only he could file a complaint!
When they reached his car, Jude wordlessly entered, not bothering to even say 'Hi', which she hadn't said so far. Two minutes later, Tommy was back on the street, but not taking the road to G-Major. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere. I don't know yet. Darius doesn't want you around right now." "Are you kidding? He doesn't want me to record? I could make him money as we speak!"
Tommy shook his head, unable to fathom how she could completely tune out the reasons why she was here in the first place. "Darius cares about a good education more than anything! You can be grateful when he's not going to rip your head off once we're back! He told me to talk some sense into you, afraid you're going to risk your career over being in love."
"That's not what this was about," Jude corrected offended, mildly hurt in her pride that people assumed she'd actually be that stupid. "David and I weren't even dry-humping!" She defensively crossed her arms in front of her, occasionally pulling the edges of her skirt down just a little further. Now that she was alone in a car with Tommy, the outfit seemed scarily revealing. She had forgotten her jacket in David's car and really regretted not wearing jeans today! "We just kissed…"
"Must have been one hell of a kiss to get suspended for it!" He chimed sardonically.
Jude noticed how Tommy tried not to look at her, and wondered why he did so. She was locked inside a car with him. Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity for him to keep on apologizing for his mistake? She could get angry with him then, and tell him to shut up. Now, she just felt bad. She realized she had gone too far this morning, but it had all seemed so cool and right just then. Now she dreaded ever going home again. The bad grades from last year still had her mother disappointed; starting the new year with a suspension would only make Victoria even madder.
"If we're not going anywhere particular, can we get some breakfast? I'm hungry, and I haven't eaten all day."
He barely nodded. "I guess there's some strip club still open somewhere."
Jude's stubbornly moping eyes shot at him in fury. "What?"
"You look like some cheap hook-up, Jude." He could only laugh, almost sad, when he caught her pulling the skirt down her legs to make at least the impression she was wearing something with actual fabric. Not that she didn't look good! But, she didn't look like the girl he used to know. Then again, neither did the Jude he saw each night in his dreams, naked and begging. Feeling how an unwelcome heat floated over his skin, he shook his head. Get a grip, he told himself. "Is it even a skirt, or just a belt?"
"It was a skirt this morning," she mumbled, causing him to chuckle. When Jude heard, she cracked a smile herself. Where was the gain in getting angry when he did have a point!
"What happened?" he teased. He wasn't sure if she'd take up the bait, or just tell him to shut up again. But, he needed to try. "You lost half of it?"
"Funny! No. This morning it looked decent. I guess those sort of skirts aren't made to sit in." Not the banter-starting reply he had hoped for, but at least she had answered. Even with a slight smile. He wasn't sure if he should pursue a conversation for they were sitting in a somewhat peaceful silence. But, Jude was never one to enjoy that. "I need to ask you something, and please be honest. Please." He nodded warily. Every time she highlighted the words 'honest' and 'please' he remembered how he had lied to her before. Guilt sucked!
"We got a flower bouquet this morning. With a card. But, the delivery guy messed up in front of a red light and the card ended up in a puddle of water. The point is, we don't know where those flowers came from, and for whom they are. Did you send them to Sadie? She looked sad this weekend, and maybe you wanted to apologize for something."
"They weren't for Sadie," he admitted. Jude sighed and gave him an accusing look, one that led him to instantly defend himself. "I didn't send them as another apology. I get it, okay? Right now you don't like me, and you need time. I listened the other night. But, Kwest kept making hints that I completely made a fool of myself Thursday, being drunk and…" He really hoped Jude wasn't around at the time of his dirty dreaming. "I know I asked you before, but I didn't say anything stupid to you that day, did I?"
Jude's eyes turned a jesting manner, which surprised him. "So basically, you sent me flowers with a card to ask me whether you did something stupid? Could have just called, Quincy."
"I did. Twice! I asked, you hung up!"
"Oh," she sheepishly gave away. "Right. I forgot. No, you didn't say anything more stupid than usual."
"Did you just quip, Harrison?"
"I used to do that often," she recalled.
"Pre-hating-me."
Jude looked away, not sure what to reply. "I tried hating you, Tommy. It's not working. I told you that maybe I can be friends with you again someday."
"If I break up with Sadie."
She laughed bitterly. "I hope that has nothing to do with me, because if you break up with her only so I stop being mad at you – it's not working. If you really care for her, be with her."
Hadn't he been driving just then, he'd have thrown his hands up in frustration. "You're kidding me, right?" Jude looked at him startled. "One moment you say I should have never started something with her, because of you, and the next moment you say that I shouldn't even consider you in my decisions anymore!"
"Are you in love with Sadie? When you look at her," Jude angrily asked, "do you feel butterflies in your stomach? When you close your eyes, is it her face you see then? When think about tomorrow, is the first thought you have to spend time with her? Because if that's the case, then no, I'm the very last person who should be on your mind when deciding whether or not to keep dating her! Do you feel all those things for Sadie?"
"No."
"Then you should have asked yourself, is it worth risking our friendship to get laid! You think I want to keep you from falling in love? Gosh, Tommy! As hard as it is, I don't want you to be alone for the rest of your life, just because it's not me you want! But, I mean you have a book full of numbers of hot girls you know! And, if the only reason you're with my sister is because your stupid boner needed some attention, then would it have been too much to ask to NOT fuck MY sister?"
"That's not what it is about!" He barked back.
"Then what is it about? Tell me because I don't understand! You don't love Sadie, yet you spent the summer with her! You also go and tell me you would do SO MUCH for me, because I'm your best friend! Not to forget the whole 'I'd never touched her, if had known the consequences'-crap you said. I don't get the connection, Tommy. If it's me you care about, how come you chose her? And don't tell me it's because of the sex! Because if you traded me for that, I'm not going to have any problems any longer with hating you!"
He didn't know what to say. So he changed the topic, foolishly asking, "I thought you were mad at me for lying?"
"Asshole!" She snapped angrily.
"Hey!" He warned.
"What? Want me to use a 'nicer' word," she challenged, feeling the rage running through her veins. He was simply incapable of being honest, was he? "How about loser? Or coward? Hey, let's try dick-head, or sex-junkie! We can also try some food things – have you ever been called a bratwurst before? Or something funny… You're a brainless little turtle who is so slow to catch on to things that even yesterday's newspaper would win a race against you!" Jude took a deep breath and smirked devilishly, seeing that Tommy's little vein on his forehead had started throbbing as it always did when she was annoying him. "And now that we're done with the nice things to say, let me try the facts. Yes, he does have a bigger one!"
So far Tommy had just been pissed off and annoyed to no end. He had not known how to explain to her why he dated Sadie, so why was it such a bad thing to change the topic? But, Jude's little rant had him forgetting his guilt and when her last words hit his ears, he was only able to slam the breaks and turn to her with unconcealed acrimony. "SHUT UP!"
"Why," Jude kept peeving, not at all caring. "Did I hit home? Can't bring yourself to accept things, huh? I've noticed!" She hadn't meant to belittle his 'size', not that she had any idea is 'it' could be belittled. But, then she had remembered Kwest's words from last week. With guys, it was all about size. And she really wanted to make a point here!
"You don't even know what you're talking about," he hissed. Cars behind him began to honk, but he was too caught up in his agitation. "I don't know why I am with Sadie! And why didn't I tell you I am? Because, I knew you'd make a huge deal out of it. Am I feeling sorry for everything? Yes. Would I do it again? No. But, do I need to endure your little outburst? NO!"
"Yes, you do," Jude shot back.
"NO I DON'T!"
"YES!"
"HEY!" Suddenly, both Jude and Tommy's heads whipped to the side, staring at the big and angry man at Tommy's door, looking like he was about to explode. "You two mind fighting somewhere else and not in the middle of the street with a fucking traffic jam building behind you?!"
Wordlessly, Tommy started the car again and drove further down the street, coming to a stop at a near restaurant. He parked in a free spot, turned the engine off, and looked over to Jude, who looked back at him. Her eyes were big and confused and just plain lost. And just like that, they both started laughing.
###
"Felt good, didn't it?" Tommy sat down on the bench of one of the booths, Jude sitting down across from him.
"Yelling at you? Definitely." She pulled the menu out of his hands, not caring that she had her own one in front of her. "So what'cha gonna pick?"
"I'd tell you, but someone just stole my menu."
Jude grinned, still reading the items on the card in her hand. "How mean! Wonder what made that person do such a mean thing?"
"Oh, I wasn't very considerate lately, so I guess it's her way of punishing me." He scooted closer to her, tapping his finger on one side of the menu. Jude still didn't look at him, but allowed him to get a look at what she was reading. "There's another menu," she informed him dryly. "Why do you need to read in mine?"
"It's my menu. You just stole it. If you want one for yourself, take the other menu. If not, accept to share. I'm sorry for everything, Jude."
She slouched down into the seat, facing away from him. "Tommy… I'm here. You're here. I'm not yelling at you, and neither am I telling you to leave. Why can't you just be happy with the little things?"
"I can't be happy as long as I know you're mad at me." He wanted to brush the little strand of hair out of her face. He wanted to tilt her chin upwards, making her look at him with those beautiful, big blue orbs that he missed staring into so much. But, one wrong touch, one inappropriate gesture, and he feared she'd run. "Forgive me, Jude. I don't expect you to trust me right away. And, I don't expect us to be as close as we used to be, again immediately. But please, forgive me."
"You're stealing Brian Adams' words," she pointed out. Her look at him was scolding, the corners of her eyes crinkling in that teasing way he longed to see so badly. With relieve he began to hope that she was having a tougher time than she let on, staying mad at him.
"I can sing them for you, if that helps my case!" He innocently offered.
"Don't you dare!" He was desperate, and she didn't trust his actions in those moments! Jude scooted away from him when she became aware of how close they were sitting next to each other, and how his upper arm was touching hers. It was a warm summer's day, and neither one wore something long-sleeved. Skin in contact was something she couldn't bare these days. Not with him.
"It's the flirting."
He looked up at her, patiently waiting for her to elaborate, ignoring the startling amount of tingles the touch of her skin had made him feel.
"It's gone. I thought about it, you know…the things that we did last year and that made me have so much hope? It was the flirting. They way we talked; the way we goofed around. I've never acted like that with any of my other friends. And most of them are guys, too. That's what you miss, Tommy. That's what 'normal' was for us. I can't go back there."
"That's bad. Because I don't know how not to do those things around you," he confessed in slight despair. "We click, Jude. You say something, and I reply, and that's enough to start one of those moments that you don't want. I cannot promise you that it won't happen again, and neither can you."
"I say we're doomed, then." She cracked a smile from beneath the curtain of hair she was hiding after.
Silence overcame them until the waitress arrived. "You picked yet?"
"Two coffee," Tommy began to order, "some toast, strawberries, a chocolate muffin, extra peanut butter, and extra jelly. Oh, and some omelets. You want anything else," he asked almost absentmindedly, taking the menu to skim it one last time, not that he needed to. It was a weird habit of them to read menus though they usually knew what they wanted, no matter if the menu even offered it.
"No," Jude sadly smiled. It was the first time Tommy had ever ordered for her. "That's all." A heavy load of emotions overcame her, and she barely contained her tears as she hurried out of the restaurant, back to the car. The fact that he knew what she wanted even without asking was just too much. A moment later Tommy was at her side again, not caring for her protest when he wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her objecting fragile frame for a long while. Eventually she stopped pushing him away, and pulled him closer instead. Her nose buried into his shoulder, taking a twisted satisfaction in smelling his familiar scent, while her tears dampened the shirt he wore. He couldn't care less.
"Shh," he soothed, stroking her silken hair with one hand while the other one traced the softest circles on her lower back. As he held her, he found that her hair had a different scent than it used to have. Maybe it was the different hair color, or she had just changed her shampoo. For him, it was just another change in her life he had missed, even though it was something so blatantly unimportant. Occasionally, his lips would place an almost impalpable little peck on her cheek, which only made her cry harder as he noticed after a while. Leaning back, he cupped her tear-strained cheek sweetly. "What's going on?"
Jude sputtered a laugh, and pushed him away. This time he let her. She wiped her face quickly, and hoped she wasn't too much of a walking mess. "Stupid question, Quincy! You happened! Do you even know how hard it is to get over you?" There were moments when he was so incredibly sweet to her that she had troubles breathing.
He wanted to pull her into his arms, kiss her deeper than David ever could, and tell her that getting over him was the very last thing he'd ever want her to do. And that thought shocked him to the bone. Sexual attraction was one thing, needing her emotionally a completely different one! He wasn't sure he could handle those feelings at the moment, and so he quickly brushed them off his mind, ignoring them. She was too young, and he was too jaded. Therefore, they'd never match as a couple anyway! Looking at her, he found her waiting for his reaction. He just said what he had been saying so often lately, he had even lost count. "Sorry…"
Another laugh from Jude. Maybe it was a bit of giving up. She had seen the turmoil of thoughts in his deep cerulean eyes and known he was hiding things from her. Feelings, facts,… She didn't know what it was, only that she would never find out. Tom Quincy wasn't a man of many words, let alone of explanations, so why was she still hoping for him to explain his complicated self to her? As she tried to take slower breaths, she felt tears returning to her eyes. "I miss you." It was so hard staying mad at him.
Never before had he been happier. He felt the biggest rock of the earth falling from his sore shoulders, having feared he'd never hear her say anything nice to him anymore. "Me too, girl."
Wanting to put an end to all the drama in her life, she offered a new beginning. "You have to stop apologizing. I've heard you the first time." Taking the paper tissue he handed her, she deftly cleaned her nose. "I meant what I said. If we just return to what we were before all this happened, I'm only ending up hurt again."
"Let's make baby steps, then. You stop yelling and bitching at me, and I try and not to be myself around you."
"That's ridiculous! Just…let me find you, okay? Don't beg me to be friends with you. Don't send me flowers. And don't pretend you don't remember what you said last Thursday while you were drunk! I'm not stupid, okay? If you really were afraid of having embarrassed yourself, you'd be asking Kwest for reminders! You just think I'm having pity with you, or something!"
"No, I don't," he muttered, fearing he was even blushing. It wasn't the drunken slurs he was afraid of, but the part that followed once he had been out and asleep. Not used to embarrassment, he busied himself with straightening his clothes.
"Honesty – Quincy. Stop being afraid of how I will react. If you lie to me one more time, you and I are done for good." He had never heard her being more serious.
"I promise."
"Good. Then let's start over." She held out her hand, and he chuckled, accepting it. A confirming handshake later, he nodded towards the restaurant. "Our breakfast is waiting."
"Oh God, I totally forgot!"
"You never cease to amaze me!"
"Careful, Quincy."
"Honesty – remember?"