A/N: Forgive me if I'm not all bubbly and excited right now (even though I have finished my last final…). I'm a little pissed off. The Mitchell Report came out Thursday (and I wrote this then). And I decided to download it. Really, someone should have reminded me that ignorance is bliss. Cause I got so pissed off reading it. Effing Paul Lo Duca! WTF?! Argh! Sorry. But I love him to death and now I am thoroughly disappointed in him. :[
Oh well. What I can do? Nothing. So I'll continue to write the next chapter! (That I'm sure you're happy about…)
So…what else was I going to say? LOL. I forgot, which is so normal. I think you guys know that too by now. :D
Oh well, forget whatever I was going to say.
This chapter is for theJommy faithful. Thank you for your patience. I really appreciate it and I hope you like this chapter as much as I have in the process of writing it! (Oh and I mean this more so now than I did in the last chapter. LOL. The kissing on the hand thing was cute, right? But I know you guys are waiting for more too…so yeah. hint hint :D)
But I guess I should also say that even though I was really excited about this chapter in the beginning, I'm not so excited now that I'm posting. I kind of don't like this chapter. The writing process got more difficult as I got deeper and deeper into it and it didn't come out as well as I wanted it to, so excuse me if I have a little bit of animosity towards this chapter. LOL. But I hope YOU like it:D
TA DA! I bring you "THE BIRTHDAY!" :D (Part 2)
Oh and this is the last part of the "Birthday" chapter. I made a 3rd chapter, but it isn't titled "The Birthday." It's something else, which you will see in the preview. :D
Thanks to Carlz02 for your input and thoughts about the preview(s). :D I REALLY appreciate it!
THANKS:
Princess of the Rogues: A heart attack?! I'm sorry. I wasn't looking for the reactions to be quite that dramatic. LOL. I'M SORRY!!! But I had to; it was the only way to make it work. But I hope you don't have another heart attack with this chapter. :D
Pip'235: The previews seem cute…I just hope the chapter doesn't disappoint. His "teachings" don't come until later. :D Thank you for loving this! I will always keep posting…that is until it actually ends. LOL. :D
kikiofberlin: Nope, not 18. Here is the next chapter! I hope you can read this (with your filter and all).
InStrFan: YAY! Really?! WOW. Thanks! That's something I really struggled with in this chapter, so I'm apologizing now. I don't think I hit the spot with all of the emotional part this around and that's one of the reasons why I kind of dislike this chapter. :[ Oh well, there's always another one, but it sucks because this one is so pivotal. But thank you because that is what I've been trying to do and I'm glad someone has noticed it. :D We all know Jude isn't a morning person, but I think the fact that she was wiped out from previous events made it funnier to have her wake up that way. I love pushing both their buttons. :D Thank you and I really really hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.
pwbhswriter2009: Awww…yay! I am posting it now! That's what – two days earlier – than usual? I'm on a roll! Thank you for loving this. :D
Carlz02: Thank you again! I know I said 3:30, but I got sidetracked with the preview, so…oops! It's 4 in the morning now. That bit was for the car-obsessed Tommy. :D I love doing that with the radio. LOL. It also kind of hints at something. But you'll have to wait for that later! I'd like to think I'm dedicated. :D Here's the new chapter!
JommyIS4ever: SHUT UP! YAY!! AHAHA! I know. :D I'm posting it now! It would have been up sooner, but I got a little frustrated and could write so…but it's here now. :D
love2burn4tim: It's understandable. Thanks! Yep, she is and he doesn't. Plus, I think they both like the chase. :D Intimacy? Yes, but not so much in this chapter…wait a few more. That all depends really on how much they can get away with and the outside forces that surround them. :D
hales03: I have compassion! I'm posting it earlier than I have in the past! Two days earlier! I don't think a week is that long, but I guess you're more invested than I thought. :D Thanks! AHAHA! I love it! What was your ending like? It might actually be better than what I have written. ;D
McDreamylvr: YAY! Here is more!
Scrubslover: I love leaving people intrigued. It's nice. He talks about…you'll just have to read the chapter for that. ;D Thank you!
101ISFAN: I'm trying! I really am! AHAHA! But being impatient is good…sometimes. :D This is as fast as I can go right now. But I'll have more time to write since school's out so hopefully I'll get to update FASTER!
bbybty9: It does! You gotta read it to understand. :D I can't speak for Tommy and Jude…you gotta read it. ;D YAY! Thanks! I try! AHAHAHAHA! Please, don't rip Angie's hair out! She spends so much time in the salon getting it done just the way Tom likes it. :D
Disclaimer: Don't own Sprinkles cupcakes (if you've never had one, you should try them. They're really sweet though…and don't look for my version in the store, they only have black and white). Or Lip Venom. I think that's it. But if you read something that sounds familiar, then I probably don't own it. :D
A/N: at the bottom (It's another preview!) :D
R&R or R&L please.
THANKS MUCHO!!
"The Birthday" (Part 1)
She waited for him. For whatever he was about to do. For whatever he was about to say.
She had done as he had asked and come with him.
Now he had to put the rest of his plan in motion.
Because they were finally at their end destination.
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Chapter 12
"The Birthday" (part 2)
The water crashed against the rocks below, creating a soothing rhythm. Despite the movement of the water, it was relatively quiet on the barren pier, although much colder than it had been when they stood on Jude's doorstep.
He leaned harder against the cold metal rail as he thought of the right words to say. He had left her in the Viper with "whatever."
Who did that?
A kid.
The same thing he had scolded Jude for being.
But now wasn't the time to think about the past and what had been said or done. Or what had not. It was about the present.
The time that Tom was trying desperately to keep between himself and Jude. To make something more of the little that they had.
But more importantly: to make her understand.
He sighed heavily, the weight of his plan resting on his shoulders.
"I used to come here when I was younger. It makes for some peaceful thinking," he said lowly, looking at the water, opening what would eventually become his confession.
Jude scoffed, her teeth chattering as she bounced from one heeled foot to the next to keep warm. "You call this peaceful thinking?"
She understood what he meant, but maybe at another time. Not when she was freezing her ass off in the Canadian winter.
Tom shook his head roughly. "No."
This would be easy for him, if she'd let it be. But he knew that was asking too much. His peaceful thinking would have to come at another time.
Jude rolled her eyes. "Then what are we doing here?" she asked loudly.
It wasn't that she wanted to go home; she wanted to be around Tom. But this place – this weather – was not letting her enjoy the moment. She was too worried about getting frostbite.
Tom turned his head and looked over his shoulder. "Getting to know me."
Jude feigned excitement and clapped her cold hands together. "Oh goody! What I've always wanted as a birthday present."
She wanted to get to know him. It was what she had asked, but the way he had gone about it was bizarre to her. Maybe she just didn't know what his full plan was?
Tom cocked his head to the right and stared at her, his eyes sad. "Jude," he said softly.
Jude clenched her jaw, trying hard not to give in. "Stop it. I get it," she said as she flashed a bare hand in Tom's direction.
"Do you?" he pressed. His thought processed quickened as an idea floated into his head. It was the only way he felt she could be truthful and let him understand as well. Then and only then would she be able to understand where he was coming from.
"Yeah," she muttered. "It's your idea of making this work." Jude looked away, down the pier at the yellow-orange lights that were one of the few forms of light on the pier.
"I guess," Tom stated.
Jude's head snapped back. She frowned slightly. "What else could it mean?" she asked, shrugging.
She didn't understand him. He was so sweet in the Viper and yet, here on the pier he was guarded and reluctant to give her anything.
"It could mean that I love you," he offered, hopeful on the outside, yet groaning internally. He knew what he was doing though.
Jude shook her head, sighing heavily, looking at the ground. "Seriously, stop it."
She didn't want to hear those three words for a while, if she could help it. At least not until she knew there was more than hot air behind them.
"Why?" he pressed as he completely turned around. "Why are you so afraid?"
Jude furrowed her eyebrows. His comments were not supposed to be coming from him; she was supposed to be asking these things. "I'm not afraid," she replied roughly, looking up.
"Really?" he asked indignantly.
Jude looked at him, confused. She didn't understand how he could question her feelings.
"I'm ready! I'm willing," she announced.
"You are?!" he pressed as if he had doubt in her words. Heat rose in Jude's body and she felt as if she needed to shed her peacoat, even in the frigid temperature around her. He was not doing this to her. He was not blaming her. He couldn't.
"Yeah. You're holding us back!" she yelled, glaring at him. She slightly gasped at her confession. She wouldn't have said it under normal circumstances. But this wasn't normal. This was their last chance. Who wants to hear they are the reason their relationship failed? No one.
Tom's eyes widened for a split second before they glanced at Jude. "Me?" he asked softly as if he was unsure of his words. As if he was unsure of his voice. But he wasn't. He was sure. Utterly and completely sure.
He slightly smirked. She had done what he had hoped she would. It was cowardly at best, he knew. She confessed what he should have been willing to. That the reason they weren't working was because of him.
"Yeah," she said, catching his smirk. It was oddly placed, that was for sure. And although she didn't understand his actions, she wanted to understand him.
He walked towards her, stopping suddenly. "I know," he said, nodding. He gazed at her, making her warm throughout her entire body and it was the second time that night she forgot about the cold.
She stared at him for a second, waiting for more, but he didn't say anything. He only gazed at her. She looked away, unable to hold his stare. "Then change that," she said, still looking away.
He stared at her, looking away from him. "I'm trying. That's what I'm trying to do," he said loudly.
She looked back at him quickly. "I told you I get it," she responded. He looked away and nodded.
A few silent seconds passed as Jude turned her back towards Tom, looking at the lights again.
He stood looking away from Jude, thinking. He had started saying what he thought she wanted to hear, but the more she spoke, the more he felt what he had to say wasn't good enough. As he stared at his Viper, lit up in yellow-orange light from the posts that lined the pier, he remembered the last time he had come to the pier. And it was then that he knew what to say.
"She's a friend," he said from over his shoulder.
Jude rolled her eyes as she heard him speak. She had heard that before. "That's it?" she called, not turning around.
"That's it," he remarked, turning around to face her. He stuck his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and waited for her to look at him.
She heard his feet scrape the concrete and decided to face him. She couldn't look at the lights all night. "Fine," she said, shrugging as she turned around. She cocked her head to side and gazed at him, hoping he'd give her more.
He nodded slightly. He knew what he had started with was not acceptable. It was the same lame excuse he had given to her before, the same one that had led her to break up with him. "Once upon a time she was more. But that was the past," he offered.
"The past," she repeated, staring at him. He nodded again.
Jude hoped his past would not affect their present.
"You are my present. Hopefully my future," he responded, walking closer to her.
Although Jude wanted to comment on his statement, she knew they were just words and other words that he had uttered carried much more weight in that moment. "How much more?" she asked.
Tom slightly looked away as he stopped short of entering her personal space. He took a deep breath as visions of Angie floated into his mind. Of when they were happy. Of when they were sad. Of the day she told him she was leaving him.
"I wanted to marry her. And I thought she wanted to marry me, but as you can see that never happened," he said lowly.
Jude watched Tom as his eyes became full of thoughts. The same thoughts his mind became full of. "Why not?"
"She cheated on me," he responded bluntly, looking Jude in the eyes.
Jude didn't have a verbal response as she was still processing Tom's willingness to be open with her, so she nodded instead. Her heart slightly sank for him. What kind of a person would cheat on Tom Quincy? A stupid one, that's who.
"And then she broke up with me because she said that she loved Michael more."
Michael? Jude thought.
Jude nodded again. This time it wasn't because she didn't have a response, it was because she didn't think he'd be appreciative of her thoughts, so nodding was her safest bet.
She clenched her jaw in anger at the woman they were talking about. She didn't even know her that well, but if she was standing before her, right then and there, Jude would have not held back. She would have slugged her.
Tom looked away again. "I loved her. At least I thought I did."
Jude frowned as her anger slipped into annoyance. She understood that the cheating Tom'sfriend had done had hurt him, but she hated when people said that. How can you be with someone and love them, but when you aren't with them anymore, you think you loved them? You either did or didn't. Not think. Otherwise, you never loved them in the first place. "Why do you say that?" she asked, still frowning.
Tom looked up and sighed as if he had read her mind. "I mean I did. I know I did, but what she did-"
"Yeah, I know," Jude said, nodding.
"You do?" he asked, hopeful. He hadn't thought about it before, but if Jude had been in the same situation or even something relatively similar, then things would be easier for him. For them.
Jude shook her head slightly. "I've never been in your situation, but I understand."
And she did to an extent. She didn't know what she would do if that ever happened to her, but she could imagine what it must have been like for him. She empathized. But what she didn't understand was that empathizing wasn't enough.
"Yeah," he responded, looking away again. He had thought wrong. She didn't know what he felt. She had never experienced it.
She watched him look away, still thinking.
"I was heartbroken," he commented softly, his voice slightly breaking. And he had been. His heart had been torn in two and up until recently, kept themselves on opposite sides of his body.
"I bet," she responded. He looked up at her and slightly glared.
"You think you understand, but you don't. Not for a second," he spat.
Jude's eyes widened at Tom's change in persona. She hadn't expected him to be so angry. "Okay," she whispered.
"I'm serious," he said sternly, boring holes into her.
"I can tell," she responded, scoffing slightly.
"Jude-" he started roughly, shaking his head, looking away slightly.
"Hey!" she yelled at him. He looked up for a second and then looked away again. She was done being nice and feeling empathetic. If he was going to be an ass because she didn't understand the way he thought she did, then she'd have to show him. "Look at me," she said through clenched teeth.
He looked up at the sky and sighed and then turned his sights on Jude who stood in front of him, slightly glaring at him. "If you think I'd ever do something like that to you, then you don't know me. Because I would never cheat on you. I couldn't," she said loudly, each of her words ringing in the quiet air.
Tom nodded, listening to her speak, but he knew he didn't trust her words. Not completely. Because like she had said, Tom didn't know Jude.
"I know," he said lowly.
Jude clenched her jaw, closing the space between them and got into Tom's face.
"If that's what's holding you back – what happened before – you need to find a way to let it go. I will help you in any way possible. You have to believe me. But first, you have to trust me," she said in a clear voice, her hands coming out of her peacoat as she used threw them about wildly, trying to get Tom to understand.
He nodded again, agreeing because he knew what she was saying was true. He had to give them a clean shot. For the both of them. Because it wasn't Jude's fault Angie had cheated on him. It was only Angie's.
She reached out and pulled him into an awkward hug because of their height difference. Although he was slightly taken aback by her abrupt action, he took his hands out of his jacket and wrapped them around Jude. He laid his head against her shoulder, listening to her steady breathing. Something he imagined he could fall asleep listening to. Her chin rested on his other shoulder as she glanced out into the water that extended far beyond her view. She missed having him close, having him near.
"I was gonna be father," he said softly, his jaw moving against her shoulder, vibrations sending chills down Jude's spine.
Jude pulled away suddenly, gazing into Tom's sorrowful eyes. He didn't repeat himself. There was no need to. Jude had heard him perfectly clear though she wished she hadn't.
"She told you?" she said after she took a deep breath.
He shook his head roughly. "I found the pregnancy test so I asked her."
"And-"
"And she said I was going to be a father," he said as he looked to the ground, that fateful day playing again in his mind.
One of Jude's eyebrows cocked up. "Was?"
"But she wasn't ready to be a mother, so she had it dealt with," he said softly, Angie's words still creating a hole in his heart.
Bile rose in Jude's throat and she wanted to cry. But she fought the urge. She knew Tom didn't want her tears. He didn't want her pity. He wanted her strength.
She pulled Tom closer to her, her grip on him surprisingly strong. Seconds passed before Jude could feel him let go. His body shook slightly and even in the silence of the night, she knew he was crying.
-+-+-+-+-+-
The grass was slightly dewy as the couple sat on opposite sides of a blue wool blanket set out in front of the water. The pier was slightly off to their side as they fell into a comfortable silence after what had been a very emotional talk. Tom cried for about five more minutes after his confession and then abruptly stopped, clearing his voice, wiping his face, and then pulling out of his hug with Jude. She stood on the pier by herself, utterly confused, as she watched him walk away from her towards his car. He walked back to the Viper, retrieved the basket and blanket from the backseat and then came back to her. She had thought he was going to leave her. She was almost sure of it, but then he motioned her to follow him. And she did. She followed him to the grass and they had been sitting there ever since, stealing sideways glances at each other every few seconds.
Tom looked down at his watch and realized there were only three more minutes before Jude's birthday was over, so he reached into the basket sitting next to him and pulled something out of it.
Jude tried to glance at the object, but Tom continually looked over his shoulder at her and smiled mischievously. She playfully glared at him as Tom reached into his left pocket and pulled out a lighter. He lit the candle and turned around, carrying the object in his hands.
"Happy 18th, Girl," Tom announced.
Jude smiled widely as she held back a chuckle, not having the heart to let Tom in on his little mistake. He smiled back in a similar fashion before Jude erupted in laughter. Tom eyed Jude suspiciously, wondering what was so emphatically funny. Jude took a deep breath and shook her head roughly as she gazed at Tom. She cleared her throat and breathed deeply again.
"Sorry," she responded, smiling widely to the point that her cheeks began to hurt.
"Don't be," he sardonically stated, holding out the red on black Sprinkles cupcake. The candle flickered and Jude quickly closed her eyes and blew it out, the smoke floating away towards the water. She didn't have to think about her wish anymore. It was coming true with each passing second.
Jude smirked as she stared at Tom who continued to look at her curiously. Tom pulled two forks out from his basket before turning to glance at Jude who continued to smirk.
Tom stabbed his side of the cupcake and placed it in his mouth before Jude spoke.
"I'm not 18," she said, the smirk falling from her face.
Tom's eyes widened suddenly at her confession. He nearly choked on the cupcake as he tried to speak. "Yo-you're not?"
"No," she responded with a straight face.
"17?" Tom asked hesitantly.
Jude shook her head and Tom's face slackened.
Tom took a deep breath before speaking again. "16?" he said lowly.
Jude shook her head again causing Tom to look away. His body fell as he heavily sighed. Jude stared at him and smiled widely. She got on her hands and knees as she crawled next to Tom, leaning into him, her face close to his.
"I'm 19," she whispered lowly.
Tom's head shot up suddenly, his face now mere centimeters from hers.
"You scared the shit out of me, you know that?" he responded lowly, his face colored.
Jude smiled as she backed up slightly, taking in Tom's face. "What? The thought of your precious fantasies not being able to play out for another few years freaks you out?"
Tom gaped as Jude situated herself more comfortably. "My fantasies? What about yours?"
Jude looked up as she fixed her dress, making sure she wasn't flashing anything. Yet. "Please. We both know I've been pretty up front about what I think about that. You just hint at it," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I-I-I-I-" he stuttered, unsure what to say.
"Yeah. I know when you're in your lonely bed at night you think about me," she said, eying him.
"Whatever," he said, rolling his eyes as he looked away, trying to lessen the blushing that was creeping onto his face.
Jude leaned into him slightly. "What am I wearing?" she whispered quickly.
"Black nightie," he responded.
Jude laughed loudly as she backed up. "I knew it!" she cried loudly.
Tom's eyes widened as he realized his slip and his face burned. He lowered his head in shame and groaned loudly. "Shut up, I did not just say that," he responded, looking at his hand.
"Oh, but you did," Jude said, smiling widely. She laughed slightly and shook her head. "You just admitted you think about me at night," she said in a sing song voice, teasing Tom who already felt ashamed.
Tom reluctantly looked up with a brave face. "Fine," he said. He put both of his hands up in defense as he stared at Jude. "You caught me, I do," he admitted.
Jude smirked as Tom shook his head slightly as he thought about the embarrassment he caused himself. "If it's any consolation, I think about you at night," Jude said, smiling.
Tom glanced at Jude and smirked. "Oh yeah, makes me feel loads better."
Jude scoffed and playfully pushed Tom as he picked up his forgotten fork, trying to retrieve another piece of cupcake. He eyed Jude, who stuck her tongue out at him, as he picked up a piece of cupcake and held it out in front of her. She looked at the fork and then back at Tom who urged her to take it. He brought the fork closer to her mouth in an attempt to feed her as she opened her mouth and took the remnants of the cupcake and ate them.
She moaned slightly at the wonder that was a Sprinkles cupcake and Tom eyed her curiously. She smirked and slapped him on the shoulder as he started to laugh.
"What?!" he asked through his laughs. "I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to. I know what you were thinking," she responded, shaking her head.
"So sue me," he said, shrugging. "Is it against the law for a boyfriend to think those kinds of things about his girlfriend?"
Jude cocked her head at his words and her eyes widened. "Girlfriend?"
Tom smirked widely and leaned towards Jude who suddenly sat up straight, noticing how close he was getting. He stared at her and smiled. She eyed him, wondering what he was thinking about. "Yeah. Or do you wanna be called something else?" he whispered.
A shiver went down Jude's spine as she silently shook her head. She gazed at him and leaned forward, having the sudden urge to touch him. With her lips.
Tom smirked widely, noticing Jude's actions. When Jude was close enough for their noses to touch, he opened his mouth. "You're a 19 year old senior. Care to explain?" he said lowly.
He couldn't let her have all the fun. That would be too easy. And he wanted to have the last laugh.
Jude's eyes widened at his question. He had ruined a perfectly opportune moment for a question like that? What?!
She clenched her jaw and backed away slightly, remembering his question. One of few she really didn't want to answer. Her cheeks started to burn and she looked away.
She couldn't believe she had to answer his question. She thought she'd have more time, but he was asking her. Right then and there. And she was forever embarrassed.
Tom slightly chuckled as he continued to eat Jude's cupcake.
Jude bit her bottom lip as she turned back towards Tom. He stared at her, waiting for her explanation.
"You can't laugh," she said, gazing at him. She knew it was wrong of her to ask him of that, but she thought that he might be sympathetic. After all, it was her birthday.
"I can't laugh?" he asked, slightly chuckling.
"No. You can't," she said, her face completely serious.
"Fine," he surrendered as he saw her stare at him. He wanted to know bad enough, so he decided it might as well give in.
She took a deep breath and then started. "I got held back," she muttered lowly as she looked away from him.
"Oh," he remarked, taken aback slightly. He didn't really have a response. It took him by surprise as he had Jude pegged as a pretty smart girl. Now he somewhat understood why.
"But not because I failed," she said, still looking away from him.
"Okay," he responded, his eyebrows furrowed. Now he was just lost. Utterly confused. If she hadn't failed, then what happened?
"But because I wanted to," she said quietly. She looked up at Tom whose eyes were wide. She sighed as she stared at him and his confused face.
Tom put his fork down in attempt to stop his mind from swirling. "Wait. Let me get this straight. You asked to be held back?"
"Yeah," she breathed, nodding.
Tom's eyes widened a bit and nodded his head. "Oh kay."
Jude rolled her eyes. "Just listen, alright?"
"I'm listening," he said, shrugging. He didn't really have any other choice.
"You know the people you met at the workshop?" Jude asked.
Tom furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to remember that day. Then it hit him. It had been a good day. "Yeah, that guy and girl?" he asked as he picked up his fork and took another piece of the cupcake.
"Yeah. They are my best friends, Kat and Jamie," Jude said, nodding. "And they are a year younger than I am."
Tom's eyebrows shot up in understanding. "Oh. So you-"
"So I was getting ready to enter kindergarten while they still had a year left of preschool before-"
"So you asked-" Tom cut Jude off.
Jude nodded. "My mom, if I could stay back a year to be with them."
Tom bit his bottom lip as he listened, trying to decide whether or not to ask his next question. Since the night was all about honesty, he figured he had nothing to lose. "And she said yes?!" he asked, surprisingly loud.
"I was five!" she shot back, throwing her hands up in the air. "She figured things would straighten themselves out when I got older, but they didn't," Jude cried. "I just got put in some honors classes and had a few with my original grade."
Tom slightly smirked as he fought back a laugh. He shook his head slightly. "So had you not asked to be held back, you would-"
"Yeah, I would have already graduated," Jude muttered. She rolled her eyes and sighed. It wasn't that big of deal, was it? So it was dumb in retrospect, but she was okay with it now.
Tom's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Okay, just wondering," Tom said, slightly smirking, bordering on laughter.
Jude sighed and rolled her eyes as she saw Tom was about to erupt in laughter. She tossed her hand up in his direction. "Yeah, go ahead and laugh now."
Tom smiled widely and started to chuckle. "Thanks for the permission."
Jude furrowed her eyebrows as Tom's laughter got louder and louder. "Shut up!"she whined as she looked away.
Tom tried to suppress his laughter and took a deep breath. He sighed to control himself and started to smile. "Come here, you big baby," he said, pulling Jude closer to him as she pouted, trying to continue to look away.
"No," she said, the ends of her mouth trying to form a smile, but she was fighting it.
"You can't fight me forever," he responded, finally getting her to loosen up her muscles. Jude fell into Tom as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Jude turned and looked up at him, raising her eyebrows. "Oh, I can't. Why's that?"
"Because then you won't get your birthday gift," he reminded her, his eyes sparkling.
Jude sat up straight instantly. "Did someone say birthday gift?"
Tom shook his head and smirked before taking a glance at his watch. "Well, since it's officially not your birthday anymore, I think you should have to wait until next year to get it."
"What? Who made up that lame ass rule?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"You're calling your boyfriend a lame ass?"
"If he made up that rule, then yeah!" she cried.
Tom gaped at Jude and feigned hurt as he placed his right hand over his heart.
"Now who's the cry baby?" she said, smirking. She didn't care if she didn't get a birthday gift. That moment, that night would be enough. It always would be.
Tom rolled his eyes and shook his head. Jude smiled and looked away, watching the water crash against the sand that met the grass that they were sitting on. She was content. And utterly happy. She was in love, she was sure.
She loved Tom Quincy.
And it felt so good.
Instinctively she turned around, thinking someone was watching her. And she was right.
His name was Tom Quincy.
Tom stared at Jude's back for a few seconds, willing her to face him. She eventually did and all he could do was gaze at her beautiful face.
She stared at him curiously, wondering why he continued to stare at her. But it wasn't that he just stared because he did that often. It was the way he was staring at her. She had seen the look in his eyes a few times, but it was usually fleeting. This time it was a permanent fixture. He was looking at her hungrily. And it was beginning to freak her out.
Jude looked away from Tom and back at the water.
It was as if she had been hit by a bolt of lightning when she finally understood why he was looking at her like that. What was about to happen.
When she turned to look at Tom again, she didn't have to go very far because as she turned, the corner of her caught him. He was sitting right behind her. Just staring. That same hungry stare.
Jude swallowed hard as she turned her head fully to look at him. Her breath hitched in her throat as he came closer to her, decreasing the amount of space between them. The amount of space she had to move. The amount of space she had to breath.
In the pit of her stomach, Jude could feel something. At first she couldn't put her finger on it, but then it hit her. Her stomach was starting to somersault. Like it used to when she was around him. Internally Jude grinned ear to ear. She was ready.
Tom continued to stare at Jude as he got closer, his stomach tying in knots, knowing what he was about to do. It was if his body was reacting to his first kiss all over again. And in a way it was. He was about to kiss Jude for the very first time. However, he was about to cross a line he had stopped himself from crossing before, but was completely and utterly okay with crossing at that moment. He knew he wouldn't be able to go back afterwards. And he was surprisingly calm about it.
Jude's eyes bored into Tom's as he was finally within millimeters of her face. She licked her lips subconsciously and Tom's breath caught in his throat at her action.
"Hi," she breathed, her breath brushing against Tom's face. His eyes stared at her for a few seconds before he slightly backed away.
Jude slightly frowned. "I thought-"
Tom suddenly grabbed her face with his rough hands and pulled it close to his. Jude's eyes widened at his touch, but instinctively closed once she felt his lips press against hers. Hard. Their noses crashed against each other as their faces melted against one another, each kiss growing faster and more intense then the last. She opened her mouth slightly, completely and utterly lost in the moment, letting her tongue slide across Tom's bottom lip. He opened his mouth slightly and Jude thought she had been granted access, but she hadn't. Instead, Tom took Jude's bottom lip into his mouth and sucked on it hard. Jude slightly whimpered as Tom let go and she opened her eyes reluctantly. His breathing was shallow and quick as he smiled widely at Jude, pressing his nose against hers, rubbing them together. Jude slightly chuckled at his cheesy move, but continued it nonetheless. He suddenly stopped his Eskimo kiss and pressed his forehead against hers, his breath starting to form white clouds in the early morning.
Jude stared into his eyes, getting lost in the wonder that was Tom Quincy when a thought entered her mind. She had just kissed Tom Quincy. Her teacher. And it was better than that Sprinkles cupcake. Much better.
"I love you," he said, gazing into Jude's bright eyes.
Jude smiled happily. She took a deep breath and stared at him. "I love you too," she whispered.
He smiled widely and he began to nuzzle at her face, his lips touching her jaw line, sending shivers down her spine.
She leaned into him, placing a kiss underneath his earlobe and he instinctively pressed against her, causing her to lean backwards. Until she was on her back. Although somewhat wary, she didn't fight it. She went with it. She looked up at him as he hovered over her, leaning on his hands, slowly positioning himself so as not to hurt her with his weight.
She slightly opened her legs, causing her dress to ride up a bit. He moved so that he was straddling one of her legs and leaned down, returning his lips to their rightful spot on Jude's face. She instinctively reached up and grabbed his face, pulling him closer to her. Tom, lost in the moment, pressed into Jude, needing to feel her next to him. Jude moaned soundlessly as she felt Tom closer to her and his incredible lips on hers. Then she felt a rush of pain in her chest. As he kissed her passionately, Jude did the only thing she could think of to lessen the pain. She bit him.
Instantaneously, Tom shot up, his hand flying to his mouth. "Fuck!" he cried.
Jude sat up relucatantly, the pain in her chest completely gone. "Sorry," she said, sheepishly.
Tom pulled his hand from his mouth and examined his index finger. "Usually biting is a turn on, but I don't like to bleed," he said, showing Jude his finger, the deep red contrasting on his skin.
"Sorry," she repeated and then her hands flew to her jacket as she realized what had caused her pain.
"What are you doing?" Tom asked, eying Jude as he licked the blood from his bottom lip.
"You leaning on me caused the button-" Jude started as she tried to unbutton the top of her coat. "-on my coat to dig into my chest which inadvertently pushed against my-"Jude continued as the button came undone and she reached into her dress and fished for something. " – lip gloss!" Jude cried, pulling out a small tube of clear gloss. It was her Lip Venom.
Tom's eyes widened in amusement at the spectacle Jude had become. Her digging into her dress was quite the show. "You put your lip gloss in your dress?" he asked.
"My bra," she corrected. "You never know when you're going to need a touch up on the dance floor and I wasn't bringing my purse with me," she finished, as she placed her lip gloss into her right front pocket.
"Uh huh," Tom commented, nodding slightly. Women, he thought.
"Shut up!"she cried, reaching out to push Tom. He grabbed her hand as she about to hit his shoulder and pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her waist. She laid her head against his shoulder and sighed happily.
"So…inadvertently?" he whispered in her ear as leaned down. "Oh Grandmother, what big vocabulary you-"
Jude looked up and cut him off, rolling her eyes. "Yeah. Don't even go there," she said, shaking her head. Tom chuckled and Jude felt his laughter vibrate throughout her body causing her to laugh widely.
"So how about we try this again?" he whispered, his eyes sparkling.
"I'd say that's a definite possibility," she responded, smiling wider as she reached around her and pulled Tom's face closer to hers, kissing him roughly.
Tom leaned backwards, taking Jude with him. Reluctantly she let go of Tom's face so she could get into a more comfortable position by straddling him. Jude hovered over Tom, her hands on either side of his body, smiling as she felt the heat rise between the pair, but more so in Tom.
He smiled widely, grabbing Jude's face, pulling her on top of him, kissing her hard. Jude closed her eyes instinctively, reviling in the moment that she was spending with Tom. She was so caught up that she didn't even feel the vibration in her pocket.
Tom did however.
He immediately pulled away from Jude, causing her to open her eyes and frown at the fact that there was actual space between their lips.
"Your pocket," he said, informing her of something she had missed.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Your pocket is vibrating," he responded, motioning to where her hand rested.
"Oh." Jude reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her phone. Instinctively, she flipped it open and answered it. Not thinking about the time, the place, who she was with and what they were doing. At all.
"Hello?"
"Jude? Honey, where are you?"
Jude's eyes widened incredibly and her voice caught in her throat.
Tom sat up straight causing Jude to fall back slightly and under less stressful circumstances would have been utterly happy to see what Jude was wearing underneath her silver dress. But this was neither the time nor the place.
Jude's mother was on the other end of the phone and from the look on Jude's face; Tom could tell she wasn't a very good liar.
A/N: Preview:
Chapter 13
"The Morning After"
"Jude?"
"Mom," Jude finally managed to breathe out. Her mother was on the phone. And she was straddling her teacher's lap. It was a recipe for disaster.
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"Honey, I realize that your birthday might have struck a chord with you about growing up and all, but going to the loft to practice in the dead of night is not such a practical thing. How did you get there anyway? Your Mustang is still here."
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"A friend," her mother repeated. "As in a boyfriend?"
"Not a boyfriend, but a boy friend."Jude corrected her mother. Tom eyed Jude curiously and she shook her head, brushing him off.
"Oh honey, I'm so proud of you!"her mother cried. "Stuart, I think Jude has a boyfriend!" Victoria whispered to her husband, who was lying next to her.
Jude sighed and rolled her eyes, causing Tom to shake his legs to get her attention. He wanted to know what was going on too.
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The kicker was that Tom Quincy wasn't just her boyfriend.
He was her teacher too.
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A/N 2: Can I just say, now that you've read this, that it was hella hard (and I mean HARD) for me to write the kiss because I kept laughing. It was bad. It sounds really dumb, but when I get into that gushy, romantic stuff, I always laugh because I'm so excited about it. I get all giddy and crap. LOL. So I had to take multiple breathers just to be able to write the looks Tom gave Jude and oh – the licking of the lips and the noses and foreheads – I think I about died there. It was pure torture, but I hope I didn't disappoint. (I guess it didn't also help that I was listening to "Love Shack" by the B-52's…not the most appropriate song to get inspired to be romantic!) :D