Thanks for the reviews. : )
I've got some of chapter three written and a lot more planned.
I would adore some constructive criticism on this, especially towards the end, but any reviews are welcome. And I promise I'll get to what happened to Jude in the next chapter.
Enjoy!
"Hi Mol," he says weakly, and falls forward into her arms.
Molly stares down at him in utter disbelief, recoiling slightly at the smell.
She puts an arm around him and props him back onto his feet.
"Jude...I don't know what you're doing here, but you can't..."
But she trails off as he looks back at her with desperation.
"Please Molly love," Jude says, his smile not quite reaching his eyes, "I've got no-one else."
She opens her mouth to retort but as she looks back into his eyes, which plead with her in desperation, Molly can feel herself falling for his old charm again.
"Sit down," she says; sighing once more, "I'll make you some tea."
It seems like no time has passed since Jude sang, intoxicated, to her in the alley after that night at the Cavern. As usual, he is slumped at the table, sipping tea and complaining bitterly about his inevitable hangover.
"Well y'shouldn't have bloody drank so much then!" she exclaims, shaking her head. "It's completely your own fault!"
Jude grins handsomely. "I've missed you Moll. You and your anger p-problems."
Molly stares back into his eyes gormlessly, remembering how big and brown they are and how they turn her to jelly. But the loving reply on the tip of her tongue is diminished when she characteristically brings herself back to reality.
Her ex-boyfriend, who ignored her letters for some American; who was possibly the least faithful person in the world, and who also happened to be the most charming boy in Liverpool, was slumped at her kitchen table, drunk as hell. Yet however charming and good looking he may be, once more, Molly will be taken for granted. And she will not stand for it.
"Jude, what the hell are you doin' here?"
He sits up slightly straighter and his grin slides off his face.
"B-bad things, love." He slurs, "Lucy...she..."
Molly winces at the mention of "The reason he stopped writing."
"Lucy?" she asks softly, "What happened to her, Judey?"
"Judey?" he whispers, "M-max, Max....he's....he's..."
He trails off, and falls back onto his front, sobbing.
Forgetting every previous promise she made to herself not to let him use her, or, more importantly, to fall under Jude's spell, Molly jumps up and wraps her arms around him, stroking his hair and murmuring comforting words into his shoulder. After a moment, Jude returns the hug awkwardly but gratefully, planting a kiss on her forehead.
They break apart, and an uncomfortable silence follows.
"Jude, you should get some sleep, it'll make you feel better."
He is curled up on the sofa like a baby. Molly drapes a huge woollen blanket over him.
"Get some sleep, alright?"
He nods gently, reaches up and pulls her into his arms once more.
"Thanks. Y-you're still my Molly, y'know."
Molly smiles, her head spinning and feeling a familiar fluttering that only Jude Feeney could be responsible for.