Chapter 7: Home Away Inn
I'd been joking when I made that comment to Sadie about hiring a private detective but the more I thought about it the more tempting it became. Didn't I have a right to know why Tommy left? (Maybe don't answer that...) But then I got to thinking, I've watched a good few episodes of Veronica Mars, shouldn't I be able to uncover something myself?
I started out by making a list of all the motels and hotels in the city. Chances were with his apartment leased out he'd have to be staying at a hotel. I knew from wathing tv that hotels couldn't give out information about how was staying with them so I deliberated and eventually decided to call and ask to be connected to Tom Quincy's room, if he wasn't at that hotel I'd apologize and say I must have got my hotels mixed up and try the next one.
I must have called at least twenty motels that night before finally getting somewhere. I'd called a cheap hotel down town called 'Home Away Inn' and asked to speak to Tom Quincy when the receptionist asked "In room 101?"
I nodded (forgetting she couldn't see me), "Yes, please"
She connected me through and I gulped as the phone rang, I hadn't thought this far ahead. The phone rang a couple more times and then he answered. I hadn't recognized that voice when I was drunk, confused and scared but I recognized it now. I felt my mouth go dry and I didn't dare speak "Hello?" He asked again, a note of impatience creeping into his voice. There was a lot of commotion in the background and I could hear cartoons playing loudly. I can't say I ever imagined Tommy to be the kind of person who watched Cartoons. "I'm hanging up now" He said a few seconds later.
I wanted to scream 'No, Wait!' but I didn't. I heard the click as he hung up, a sound filled with finality and then the dial tone. Resignedly I took the phone from my ear and placed it down in its cradle.
"What's up?" Sadie asked as she walked into the kitchen and began making herself a coffee.
Making a mental note to never make another phone call like that in the kitchen I shook my head "Nothing". I grabbed a notepad and quickly scribbled down 'Home Away Inn. Room 101' then folded the paper and slipped it in my pocket, "I'm going to take a shower"
Sadie nodded as I left the room "Fine. Just don't use up all the hot water again!" She called after me.
---
It was the final day of shooting for my new video and there was excitement in the air. Today Guy and I were shooting numerous flashback scenes of the two of us together as a happy couple. The scenes would be brief and appear throughout the video, interlaced with my solo scene on the swing and at the lake and with Guy's solo scenes on the bridge and in an empty house. We went from location to location filming these brief 'candid' glimpses of the two of us hanging out and acting in love.
There was a scene of the two of us walking out of the movie theatre, his arm around my shoulder. I had to smile when we shot that scene because it reminded me so much of our first date (Without Tommy speeding down the street, however.), there was another scene of us having a picnic at the park, a couple of scenes of us painting and decorating 'our apartment' and finally just a scene of us walking down the street hand in hand.
The final scene was our last shoot of the day. It was dusk and everyone was itching to get home. Kwest took us to a remote part of town that I'd never really been to before. I gulped as our minivan pulled up in front of none other then the 'Home Away Inn'. I felt self-conscious as I waited on the street for the camera crew to shoot the scene. I wondered which window belonged to Tommy's room and if he was watching us now.
Guy was talking about the video and how much fun he was having shooting it. I could tell he was wondering why I'd been so distant lately but ever since that night at the club when Tommy turned up I'd been feeling a little romantically turned off toward Guy.
"Maybe we could even tour together someday," Guy was saying, "What's it like anyone?"
"Huh? What?" I determined to concentrate fully on what he was saying and to stop daydreaming about Tommy.
"Touring; is it all it's cracked up to be?"
I frowned in thought, "I guess it's up to your attitude. If you take it what it is and accept the constant upheaval and drudgery of moving from place to place along with the excitement of performing in front of excited fans then, yeah, it's great." I smiled, "I can't wait to tour again. I really need to get out of town for awhile."
"Maybe you and I could go away for a weekend or something sometime" Guy suggested casually.
Say What? Where did that come from? "Guys! We're ready, lets get this thing done" Even Kwest was losing his childlike optimism regarding the shoot.
"Just think" I said as I walked over to him, "Tomorrow you get to start hours and hours of editing. Won't that be fun?"
He glared at me in response.
I tried my best not to look up at the Home Away Inn as Guy and I walked past it. Every time I'd looked in its direction since we arrived I'd been certain I could see someone at a window watching us, then I'd convince myself it was merely coincedence and that to assume it was Tommy would be naive. Instead, I concentrated on gazing adoringly at Guy and when he leaned down to kiss me passionately, I did my very best to not pull away. It was for the video, it was necessary I kept telling myself. So why did I feel so dishonest and unfaithful?
---
After the shoot everyone packed up quickly and made their way to the respective minibuses we'd arrived in, I hung back hoping no one would notice but knowing that idea was delusional.
"Jude, you coming?" Sadie asked from her position in the front seat of the minivan. Behind her Guy looked at me questioningly.
"Um," I glanced around me, "I was just thinking of... I don't know, maybe walking home?"
"Jude!" Sadie was astonished "It's half way across town!"
"I could use the exercise?" I said weakly.
"It's ok hun" Kwest said as he walked over to us. "I've got my car, I can give Jude a ride home"
"Ok then" Sadie slowly closed her door, all the while looking at me as if I were crazy. The car finally drove away and I turned to face Kwest.
"What's up Jude?" He asked.
I shrugged. Kwest's presence was ruining my plan, though as I thought about it I realized my 'plan' was little more then an idea I'd been toying with in the back of mind. I couldn't pass up the opportunity of being so close to the Home Away Inn and not trying to find out something more regarding Tommy's presence. I wasn't sure if I was quite bold enough to go in there and knock on his door but I'd figured I'd take it one step at a time.
"I don't believe you want to walk half way across town at this time of night." He said.
I shrugged again, "Well why are you here?" I asked.
"I have my car." He said pointing behind me.
"Why is that?" I asked again, "There was plenty of room in the minibus. Why didn't you drive with them?"
"Because I had something to do after." He said simply.
I smiled sarcastically, "Well so do I"
"What Jude?" He was frowning now and looking a little more then impatient.
I sighed. What happened to the supportive Kwest who was always there to play big brother? I didn't like the overly prying one who seemed to be seeing right through me.
"Come on Jude, let's not beat around the bush. I know something is-"
"I know Tommy's staying here!" I said finally, cutting him off mid-sentence, "And judging from your reaction" I said slowly, "so do you"
It was his turn to sigh, "I think we need to talk" He said finally.