A/N – Thanks for everyone's support! It means a lot! I got 10 more reviews than I asked for! (heart) I love you guys! Here's chapter 14!
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Chapter Fourteen…Is This My Lesson?
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Jude was lost in oblivion. Her thoughts consumed her and she felt alone.
Cancer? In my throat? Will I be able to sing again?
A harsh voice in the back of her mind chided her, 'You haven't recorded in years. Why do you care?'
I care. I always wanted to sing again. You knew that.
'But did you?'
I did! That's not fair. Music was all that ever mattered to me. Of course I wanted to sing again. I was just helping Tommy with his career. I…I…
'Yeah, yeah…keep telling yourself that…' The voice in the back of her mind faded, but the words stuck with her.
Keep telling yourself that…---
Sadie rolled over and looked at Mitchem asleep on his bed next to her. A still, calm look was on his face and she smiled.
This was how her life was supposed to be. Not what it had been. But now, with Mitchem, she could finally get back to her normal life. Without her whiny sister, dead mother, and funeral plans to deal with. Just her happiness and carefree life again.
"Hey…" Mitchem's deep voice startled her out of her thoughts. Her vision focused and she noticed he had a sad look behind his eyes.
"Hi…How are you?" she mumbled.
He smiled at her, sleep still on his face. "Fine, Sadie Harrison. How are you?"
"Good…"
"This was fun," he commented offhandedly.
She paused. "Yeah. It was."
Fun. That was the feeling she used to know so well. But now she was getting back there. Finally.
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Jude's reality came back into focus and she groaned. It felt like someone had stomped on her head repeatedly.
"Jude?" Tom's soft voice floated to her ears and she looked over to her left, where he was holding her up. His one hand caressed her back comfortingly while the other was propping her up.
She moaned, trying to remember anything that had happened in the past few minutes. Glancing around, she remembered the doctor's office waiting room and sighed, memories of the fateful news drifting back to her. Clearing her throat, she asked throatily, "How long was I out?"
"A few minutes," Dr. Brown piped in, eyeing her nervously. "I'm sorry, Jude. I really am. But, your cancer might be benign and you'll be fine. But we need to do a biopsy and try to remove as much as we can. Just to be safe."
She shrugged and swallowed hard. "Whatever." She looked over at Tom, a steely mask forming behind her once cheerful blue eyes.
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Kwest pulled his car into the Harrison's driveway, idling it and throwing on the emergency brake. Hopping out, he made his way over to the door. As he lifted his hand to knock, he paused.
Why am I here? If Sadie wanted to talk to me, she'd call. If she wanted to see me, she knows where to find me.
But it's Sadie.
He knocked on the door a few times, but got no response. He tried again, but there was nothing.
Kwest hung his head and made his way back to his car, settling into the driver's seat. But he couldn't bring himself to leave. Something in the back of his head was urging him to stay and fight for her. That she was worth it.
Torn between his heart and his brain, he did the only thing he could do. He turned off his engine and reclined his seat, waiting for her to return.
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Sadie stayed in Mitchem's bed until the sun was shining bright outside his window. He had long since gotten up, but she felt safe and warm in his bed. He stuck his head inside his door. "I should get you home."
She nodded, not wanting this fairy tale to end. But it doesn't have to end here, she reminded herself, smiling. "Okay."
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Mitchem pulled onto Sadie's street, driving slowly and enjoying the company. Sadie froze at the sight at her house, down a ways. "You can drop me off here. I have to ask my neighbor something," she said suddenly.
"Okay." Mitchem frowned at her, but stopped his car. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks for last night." She smiled at him and leaned over, kissing him gently on the cheek. "Call me."
"I will," he insisted, as she got out of his car and started up a driveway. He watched her retreating back, shaking his head. "What am I getting myself into?"
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Sadie walked slowly up her neighbor's driveway until she saw Mitchem's car disappear around the corner. Changing directions, she jogged to her house.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, rushing over to Kwest's driver-side door.
He locked eyes with her, relief flooding his expression. "You're okay?"
"I'd be better if you weren't ruining the end of my date, yeah," she muttered, breaking their eye contact. "Why are you here?"
"Waiting for you. I thought we could go out and get coffee?" He grinned at her, a hopeful look crossing his face.
"Look, I don't know if I gave you the wrong impression before. I'm glad you were there for me after my mom died. I appreciate it. But I'm fine now, so you don't have to be concerned anymore."
"It wasn't just concern, Sadie." He looked up at her, his gaze soft. "I really like you. I thought we had something."
"We barely even talk!" she groaned.
He frowned at her, starting his car in a huff. "Then you need to stop sending me mixed signals, Sadie. That's not fair."
Sadie scoffed. "No, Kwest. There were no mixed signals. They were all 'no's."
"I hope he makes you happy, Sadie. Whoever the jackass is." Without another word, he pulled his car out of her driveway and sped off down the road.
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Sadie collapsed on her couch, exhaustion setting in.
Who did Kwest think he was? Just showing up at her house uninvited and demanding more than she was willing to give. That wasn't fair.
A loud ringing made her jump. Reaching for the phone, she turned it on. "Hello?"
"Sadie Harrison." Mitchem's deep voice made her smile. "You told me to call."
"And that you did. How are you?"
"Sad since you left." His charm was enough to make a girl faint.
"I had fun last night," she said, hoping he felt the same.
"Me too." He chuckled and she wished she could see him again. "So, tomorrow? Your place this time?"
Sadie smiled to herself. "You read my mind."
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Tom pulled his Viper into his apartment complex's parking lot, shutting off the engine. He and Jude had ridden home in silence and it seemed like nothing was going to break it.
Dr. Brown had given her some pamphlets to go over before their meeting in two days. But all Jude had done with them so far was twist them into sweaty messes.
Tom wasn't sure what to do. This was big. He admitted that, at least. But he knew that if Jude could just open up and lean on him, things would be easier to deal with—for both of them.
He looked over at her, setting a hand on her shoulder. She didn't shrug him off this time. That was a step.
"Jude, we'll be fine," he assured her, rubbing her back gently.
She glared at him, gaze icy. She cleared her throat before speaking, "No. You'll be fine. You're not the one with cancer."
Before Tom could respond, Jude was out his door, slamming it behind her. He sank into his seat and sighed, tears forming in his eyes. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
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A/N – Did we like? 220 reviews for the next installment! Tell me what song "Is This My Lesson?" is from to get a preview!
-JQ-