"Unhinged"

Part Five

Jamie's eyes darkened at the mention of Tommy. "How could I forget!" And then his mood had cracked and angry Jamie was slowly beginning to resurface. "Tommy always finds a way to ruin everything!"

"Hey! That's not true. If you would only take the time to get to know him instead of judging him. I think you guys could be friends." Jude replied.

Jamie scoffed in answer. He and Tommy friends? Snowballs chance in hell. The day he and Tommy shared tales over a cold beer was the day hell froze over. Tommy was a bastard. He was everything Jamie hated in a man. Then there was the one fact that Tommy had the one thing Jamie always wanted. The one thing Jamie could never have because Tommy always stole her away. Jude. His Jude, not Tommy's; his. "I'd rather walk off the side of a cliff than be friends with him."

"That's an awful thing to say Jamie," Jude snapped in reply. "Tommy at least makes an effort to be nice to you. He tries to be friendly but you always act like a bastard."

"Oh I'm the bastard?" Jamie howled in laughter. "That's hilarious Jude! God I never knew you were so damn funny!" Wiping away a tear Jamie continued to chuckle, even more when he noticed Jude's glare. Nothing made her more mad than picking on perfect little Tommy Q. His favorite thing to do.

Jude's anger started to rise again. Jamie was a roller-coaster of emotions and he was taking her for the ride. "Why do you always make me choose?" she began to ask. Her voice rising slightly. "you can't be happy for me as long as I'm with Tommy, right? But if I were to dump him you'd be my best friend again!"

"No one wants to be your friend when you're with him Jude!" Jamie yelled back. "He's an obsession to you and you can't think about anyone else but Tommy and how much you love him! It's messed up."

"That's not true!"

"You forget about everyone but him Jude. You can't even see what he's done to you!" Jude glared at him in a way only she could. Jamie glanced away before he lost his nerve and ended up kissing her again. "this is what he wants, he wants you to drop everyone but him. He's stealing you, and you're letting him."

"You have no idea what you are talking about." Jude shook her head to clear away the frustration building. A major headache was starting to thump against her temples. Work had been stressful as of late, the last thing she needed was for Jamie to freak out on her. Perfect way to end an un-perfect day. Where the hell was Tommy?

"You have no idea what you are talking about," Jamie threw back at her. "but you never do when Tommy is involved. He has you wrapped so tightly around his greedy fingers you'll do and say anything the master tells you." Tommy. Tommy. Tommy! Jude only cared about one person besides herself. Tommy freaking Q. Jamie knew he was losing her the day she ditched him at school to spend the afternoon with Tommy on the pier. All Jude had cared about was how cute they had looked on the cover of all those tabloids. Tommy did something to her, he changed Jude from the sweet girl who would do anything for her friends… into some stuck up boy band loving trader.

Staring at her from across the room Jamie felt the last few years of hurt and betrayal simmer back to the surface. The pot was about to boil over.

"I refuse to stay here and listen to you talk about him that way." Hurt filled Jude's eyes as she quickly bent over to pick up her fallen cell phone. Clutching it carefully in her grasp she glanced over at Jamie before stepping towards the door. "Tommy's a good man. He works hard for everyone at the studio, even you…" Jude paused mid-sentence as Jamie's eyes darkened an angry shade that sent shivers throughout her body. He'd always been jealous of Tommy, but she refused to standby and let him talk about her boyfriend as if he were a pile of trash. "if it wasn't for him you wouldn't even have a job there. None of us would. Instead of acting like a brat why don't you man up and thank him."

"How about no?"

"Goodbye Jamie," turning Jude continued to walk to the door. Her heart was beating rapidly and her head was pounding behind her eyes. She needed to get out of here and find Tommy. Something didn't feel right… something was really wrong with Jamie and she knew staying their alone with him didn't feel safe. Tommy would know what to do. He always had ways of solving problems. Maybe he could talk to Jamie and get to the bottom of what was bothering him. Some things guys were better at fixing.

If she walks out that door I'll never have the courage to confront her again. I'll never know what it feels like to be free of all this pain she has caused me. Stop her you idiot. Stop staring as she walks out the door. Go after her! Jamie's thoughts ran wild as Jude pulled the door open and stepped out into the hall. He was frozen, held down in place by his anger and love. Knowing he needed to do something and to do it fast he tried calling out to her. "Ju---," he croaked unable to form her name completely on his lips. Stop her already! The voice in his head called again. An inner battle that always ran wild within his mind. Some days he fought so hard to calm the voices from overtaking his thoughts completely. Some days he let them battle it out and hoped for good results.

"Jude!" Jamie's voice shouted. Finally he was able to form the name. Now he needed to stop Jude from leaving. Stepping away from his spot in the rehearsal space Jamie strode towards the open door. His eyes never once leaving the back of Jude's retreating form. "Jude! Don't you dare walk away from me," he yelled. His anger echoed off the walls in the hallway.

Another wave of chills ran cold up Jude's spine as Jamie started after her. Panic over took her and the need to escape had never been more strong. Her cell phone burned against her palm as her fingers tightened around the rough surface. "Jude!" Jamie's voice sounded closer this time and Jude picked up her pace. Her legs shook as her boot covered feet carried her not fast enough towards the elevator shaft. "I told you not to leave!"

Jude's vision blurred, tears fought their way towards the surface, threatening to spill over. Her body screamed at her to stop, her legs were shaking too badly, her head hurt; pounding against her tear filled eyes; clouding her vision. Sniffling loudly Jude pushed her terrified body down the hall. Why did the hall look never ending?

Jamie ran through the open green doors and took off down the hall. He had never been more upset in his life, not even at the death of his parents when he was four. Not after his Pappy died when he was ten. Not even when Patsy died. Jude walking away from him caused anger he never knew one single person could hold to rise. He didn't care what happened to her now. Just as long as she never walked away from him again.

Jude was almost to the elevator when Jamie reached out for her. His hands grasped her right shoulder roughly swinging her around he was met with Jude's loud scream. Their eyes met. One set livid. The other panicked.

Jude's heart dropped as her escape folded. Jamie wasn't going to let her go. This man who had been her best friend since they were in diapers had met his breaking point… for some reason all of it was aimed at her. The look in his eyes was un-like anything she had ever seen. The devils glare burned her heart.

Before Jude could scream again Jamie's sweaty hand came up and covered her mouth, leaving just enough room to allow air through her nose. "I told you not to leave," Jamie's voice whispered harshly against her ear. "I dare you to pull a stunt like that again!" Grabbing hold of her left arm with his free hand Jamie pulled Jude close against his body.

Jude's eyes widened in fear and all he did was smile down at her.

To be continued…