AN: Welcome back again everyone! Thank you so much for all your reviews! I hope to see a few more this chapter! I love knowing how my readers are enjoying my work. I know things are a little slow right now but things will pick up soon and drama will prevail! The song used in this chapter is You Belong to Me by Lifehouse. Enjoy! Ciao!
Heaven Sent
By An American Mom
Chapter Five: School Hard
"Hey Kwest, I'll see you after school, Speid's here and we're walking today!" Jude calls up the stairs before walking out her front door with her backpack slung over one shoulder, the hood on her hoodie drawn up around her face to shield her hair from the rain that's currently pouring out of dark grey clouds above them. She hadn't waited for an answer not wanting him to drive them to school today. Actually she'd sort of been avoiding spending too much time with Kwest since he moved in a week ago when her dad had made the move to Montreal. She knows something's wrong but she doesn't want to make a big thing of it. She's trying to simply take care of it herself and keep distracted until Tommy comes home, though she's working even harder to keep him from finding out.
She hasn't been well since that day a week or so ago with Speid in her living room when she'd fallen asleep on his shoulder during the movie. She'd been much warmer than she should and he'd voiced his concern, both Stuart and Kwest had taken it to heart and kept an eye on her. The problem was she'd started hiding more and more, avoiding prolonged contact, stayed far more upbeat than normal. Anything she could think of to keep them from realizing how miserable she actually was physically. She didn't want anyone, especially Tommy to be worrying about her.
Half way to school she throws her hood back to let the rain fall on her face and her hair, it felt so good to have the cold rain on her scorching skin as she listened to Speid prattle on about some video game he'd beaten Kyle and Wally on at Wally's house the night before. She'd actually allowed herself to become so absorbed in the rain it wasn't until Speid nudged her she realized he'd changed topics.
"Any idea when Squinty's coming home?" Speid questions as he puts his hands back into his pockets.
"When I talked to him last night he sounded hopeful that he'd be able to come home time around the middle of next week, but it's only a guess right now." She shrugs slightly trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
"You really miss him don't you?"
"Yeah, but it's okay. Once he comes home he'll move into the house with Kwest and me so it'll be okay."
"Is Jamie still being a prick about the whole thing?"
"Of course. He still thinks he can bring up every mistake Tommy's made like it's going to change something. I don't know what to do Speid. I mean he's my neighbor and my friend, I want to stay friends with him but how can I when he continues to rip apart my entire world?"
"Wow, flare for the dramatic there Harrison?" He nudges her before shrugging. "Don't let him get to you dude, if he can't accept you and Squinty then he needs to get lost but it's his loss, not yours. Hey I'll see you after homeroom dude."
She waves as Speid races off towards one of the few classes they don't have together. She walks in to her own homeroom and takes a seat in the back. Sadly while Speid doesn't share this classroom with her, Jamie does. She rolls her eyes as Jamie takes his usual seat next to her acting as though their fight the night before had never happened. But then that's Jamie Andrews for you, he always pretended like nothing has changed when they fight over Tommy's presence in her life.
Her expression changes as her friend Kat, a girl she rarely spends time with outside of school, sits down on her other side and hands her a folded piece of paper. She arches a brow before discretely unfolding it to discover a sketch of a very wicked outfit obviously designed for her. Jude then quietly pulls a piece of paper from her notebook and scribbles a note to Kat, 'did you design this for me? -JH' She hands the note to her underneath the desk keeping her bright blue eyes on the teacher that has just walked in.
'Of course! Jamie and Speid have been talking non-stop for the last two days about your under the mic performance tonight. Thought you could use a new and original look, especially with your PR AWOL along with your beaux. - KB' Kat writes back quickly waiting until their teacher is seated at his desk with his face buried in the news paper before passing it over to Jude. They spend the next few minutes passing the paper back and forth.
'It's down right wicked Kat, thanks! Are you coming tonight? –JH'
'Absolutely! Do you want me to come over after school to do a final fitting? I've got most of your measurements so it shouldn't take much in the way of last minute touch ups to be absolutely perfect! –KB'
'Totally! Why don't you walk home with Speid and me? –JH'
'What about Andrews, doesn't he walk with you guys? –KB'
'Not usually, especially not when I'm mad at him! –JH'
'Tried to get in between you and Tommy Q? –KB'
'As usual, yes! –JH'
Before Kat can respond the bell rings signifying the end of homeroom. Both girls gather their things without even acknowledging Jamie who briefly tries to gain permission to walk Jude to her next class. Thankfully for her Speid's class had gotten out a few minutes early so he was already waiting outside of the room for her and the two instantly start discussing their under the mic performance and the outfits designed by Kat for them all.
--
Jude stands in front of a full length mirror admiring the outfit Kat had designed for her again, her hands roaming over the black and pink fabric. The outfit consists of a short black net skirt beneath a pink and black stripped cotton skirt, a pair of black leggings, a new pair of black converse, and a black tank top with her initials sewn into the front across the bust and beneath that the name of Speiderman's band. Her fiery red hair is hanging loose around her features in lazy waves with the barest amount of make-up. The make-up artist had actually kept it all very natural looking, only a bit of cherry red lipstick to bring out her full lips and gloss for the shimmer effect.
She looks towards the door of her dressing room now as someone on the other side knocks loudly and calls through the door, "Three minute warning Miss Harrison." Then the sound of their feet stomping noisily away heading off, she assumes, to let the guys know it's almost time for them to go on.
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes for a moment reaching up to touch the locket she still wears hoping silently that he'll be watching tonight. She needs to believe he is out there watching her from wherever he is; it's the only way she gets through these performances while he's away.
The interview goes by in a blur for her of laughter and the guys being as goofy as ever, a fake smile plastered on her own exhausted face. She's trying so hard to keep going though she's sick and tired, trying so hard to hide either fact. She's grateful when the show winds down and it's time for them to close with a song. "This is a new song that I wrote during the absence of our producer actually. Speid helped perfect the music, I hope everyone likes it. I wrote it for someone very special, they know who they are." She smiles and turns towards the audience as she begins strumming the acoustic in her hands, Speid coming in softly behind her.
See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise from the tropic isle
Just remember darling all the while
You belong to me
See the market place in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
And I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome, too
Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember 'til you're home again
You belong to me
And I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome, too
Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember 'til you're home again
You belong to me