Jude sat quietly beside Tom. He looked exactly as she remembered him, only a little more facial hair than usual. She could almost remember all those old feelings for him, but these days she'd become too numb to feel them herself. She watched as he spoke to Sadie and Kwest, wondering when her phone would ring. Just as she wondered when it would- her ringtone of Tommy's new song blasted.
Tommy turned to her and smiled, his heart pounded as he realized she'd still been thinking of him. Jude spoke quietly and made plans to meet someone in an hour. Tommy felt a pang in his chest as he realized she was leaving before he could even explain. There was so much going on, and so much that Tommy himself barely understood.
When she hung up she could feel glares from Kwest and Sadie. Only they would assume the worst Jude thought. "So Tommy, hows New York City treating you?" Jude asked. She tried to sound happy, but the anger in the back of her mind was trickling into her speech.
Where was her excitement? Tommy asked himself. Where was her bubbly personality? She always had the ability to brighten even his worst days, even if he didn't always show it. She looked gorgeous. Her long blonde hair, her petite body, the fact that she still made his heart race just by locking eyes with him. It was her voice though, and drooping eyes that made him suddenly feel sad for her. "New York's good. It's treating me okay," He answered. He focused on her hands, he desperately wanted to reach out and hold them. Beg her to tell him everything. He wondered in that instant if this was all his doing.
"Just okay?" Jude asked with a little more excitement to her voice, she was really trying now. She could see his confusion, and she knew the act to make herself look as she used to. She might not have the same feelings, but she knew how to make it look real.
Sadie stepped in, putting her hand on Jude's shoulder. "Hey, I need to talk to you. Let's go to the ladies room."
"Alright." Jude said as she followed Sadie to the bathroom.
Kwest turned to Tommy, Tommy saw the seriousness in his face, "I was hoping I didn't have to tell you this," Kwest started saying, "But Jude has been messed up for a long time."
Tommy knew it, he knew it as soon as she started talking. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"It wouldn't of brought you back." Kwest said flatly. "You were gone and Jude got sick."
"Wait. What's wrong?"
"Jude needs to tell you herself though. It's not my place to say. She wants to tell you. It's just hard for her."
"Well, she's trying to leave."
"Tell her not to go." Kwest said dryly staring down at his drink. "Just- just tell her not to go."