A/N: Because you guys commented like crazy, I figured I'd be nice and give you two chapters in one day. So, here is chapter three. See what happens when I'm happy?
After I fumbled with the keys to my front door, I finally found it. I plowed through the door and dropped my belongings once I entered, not caring where or how they landed. I stumbled over to the nook like a drunk; Tommy. I couldn't focus because my thought's were swirling around him. He always seems to squirm his way into my thought process.
I was about to get ready for a shower but a knock on my door stopped me from doing so. I shuffled over towards the wooden contraption and slowly swung it open, partially afraid as to what was behind it. I felt relief wash over me as I noticed a delivery boy with a few pimples on his cheeks behind the door instead of who I originally thought it was.
"Um, Mrs. Harrison?" The boy called me Mrs. Well, normally I wouldn't care what he called me but today is different. You see, I would be called Mrs. Something else had a special someone not screwed up what we had. But I couldn't go off on the poor boy, he was just doing his job.
"Yes, that's me." Just then he pulled an average sized bouquet of assorted flowers from behind his back and extended his arm towards me.
"These are for you."
I smiled in response and took the flowers from the young teen and said a quick thank you to him before shutting the door. I peered through the lillies and daisies in search for a card but I couldn't find one. So, I shrugged my shoulders and walked over to the cupboards in search for a vase. After finding one, I filled it half way with water and placed the bouquet in the vase. I then placed the vase in the center of the nook before retreating to my room to gather my clothes for a well deserved shower.
As I walked into my bedroom I took note of my bed spread, lavender. It was the color Tommy had picked out for the room once we decided on taking this apartment. I was quite shocked to hear that a guy would live in a lavender colored space but he said it was only because it was what I liked. Note to self: change room colors. I shook my head in an effort to rid my mind of the memories fighting to be relived.
Instead of reliving the past, I walked over to my bureau and pulled out an over-sized t-shirt and a pair of underwear before heading into the bathroom. Once inside, I debated on whether to take a shower or treat myself to a nice bath. After considering the day I had, I went with option two. Nothing clears a womans mind better than a nice relaxing bath.
It took me a few minutes to get the bath water to a nice warm temperature and the bubbles to cover the length and width of the tub. I quickly stripped myself from my clothing and slipped into the welcoming treat. As soon as I started to fully relax and enjoy my bath time, the memories that tried to break through a few minutes ago finally broke free and covered my mind.
"Tommy?" I walked into our apartment after a long day at work and Tommy wasn't at the nook waiting for me like he usually was.
"Tommy?" I called his name again and I heard his soft voice.
"I'm over here." I followed the sound of his voice until I finally found him. He was crouched over the bathtub drawing a bath for me.
"What are you doing?" It was quite obvious what he was doing but for some reason I needed to ask.
"I thought you'd like to relax. I know Darius is driving you into the ground waiting for a new song and I know it's stressful. So this is to help you relax and de-stress yourself from today." He started to take slow strides towards me but I met him half way so that wait wasn't that long. Once we reached each other, he slid his arms around my waist and mine found a home around his neck. He leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips before pulling away.
"I don't want to ruin your relaxation process." I frowned slightly but Tommy made a smile re-appear on my face. "Call me when your through, maybe I'll help you get dressed." He gave me a mischievious smile and then left me alone to take my bath.
I squeezed my eyes tight, willing my memory of us as a happy couple away...it didn't work.
I heard a soft knock on the door before replying, "Come in," softly. Tommy had come in with two large towels.
"Are you through?" he asked me sweetly.
"What makes you think I want to get out already?" I knew he knew the answer but my asking always helped with the friendly banter between us.
"Because, you don't like to stay in the tub for more than ten minutes for the fear of coming out all 'pruney,' as you put it." I matched his smile with one of my own before standing up inside the tub. Tommy, being the gentleman that he was, at the time anyway, lightly shut his eyes and held the towel out within the span of his arms. It wasn't until he felt my body against his that he opened his eyes before wrapping the towel around my body. He tied the towel in a loose knot so it would stay up around my body. He then took the second towel and began to dry my hair for me.
"It's tmes like these that I'll cherish the most," he whispered. I felt my heart flutter with hope for the future at his statement. I had never felt more content in my entire life than I did at that moment.
Once Tommy was certain my hair was only damp instead of sopping wet, he dropped the second towel from his grasp and brought his hands to my waist. His forehead rested on mine for a brief moment before he admitted his feelings to me for the first time since becoming a couple.
"I love you, Jude." My eye fluttered open showing off my newly formed unshed tears, brimming on my lids. It was then that he gently kissed the space beneath my eyes, waiting to catch my tears on his lips. I shut my eyes again, allowing the tears to finally fall.
"I love you, too." I felt Tommy's lips curve into a smile on my face before he placed his lips on mine for a passionate and gentle kiss.
My sniffles brought me back to reality. I wiped away the unshed tears from my eyes and stood from the tub. I drained the water from the tub and reached for a towel so I could dry off.
It only took me about a minute to dry up and get changed into my pajamas before re-entering my bedroom. I didn't care that it was only seven-thirty at night but I was going to bed. I crawled into my full sized bed and curled up beneath the blanket. Eventhough Tommy and I have been over for a week, I still sleep in the same position I always did. I laid on my side facing the empty space on my bed that was once filled by him.
I missed him immensly and it was only then, at the moment I realized I was going to sleep alone again, that I had come to one conclusion. Tommy was gone and it was time for me to stop dwelling on the memories we shared and get over it. It was time for me to start standing on my own two feet for once and stop relying on Tommy to be my rock. It was time for me to get over Tom Quincy...
