Ctrl Z by Stone Danika

Author:Stone, Danika [Stone, Danika]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Dancing Dog Productions / www.danikastone.com
Published: 2013-02-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13: Taking a Stand

The drive back into the city passed in uneasy quiet. Jude took surreptitious glances at Indigo, trying ineffectively to read her mood. She slumped up against the window, arms wrapped around herself. It was like Indigo was somewhere else, a shell left in her place.

Jude wanted to say something – anything! – to make it better, but he had no idea what. Barring his father’s death, Jude had led a relatively cushioned life. Uncertain how to bridge the gap, he focused on driving, not speaking again until they reached the highway. He had never been good at talking about his emotions. Growing up, he and his father had connected through activities: playing basketball and going to the movies. His mother, absent for most of Jude’s childhood, had talked at him, rather than to him.

That hadn’t changed when fate had thrown her back into his life.

“Your dad knew something bad was going to happen,” his mother had explained, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “He knew, but he went anyway.”

His mother had been sobbing ever since Jude had arrived, and for some reason that infuriated him even more than her words. She had no right to grieve him! Not when she’d been the one who left. Not when she didn’t care.

“What do you mean, Dad called you?” Jude had choked.

“He had a bad feeling when the call first came into the station,” his mother had explained. “He phoned me on the way down to the docks. Told me to take care of you if anything happened to him.”

“Then why didn’t he call me?” he’d gasped. Jude and his father had fought that morning. Jude had walked out on him, heading over to Elliot’s house before school even began.

“Oh honey, I’m certain he would have,” his mother had answered, “but he didn’t want to worry you.”

“Sorry,” Jude had murmured, but the apology hadn’t been for her.

“Are you okay, Jude? Do you want to talk about it?”

He had turned away without a word. His father had called his ex-wife instead of his son, Jude’s mind whispered. The guilt of that was too hard to bear, so he turned to anger instead…

Reaching the first of several exits, Jude peeked over at Indigo again. Her face was pale, her body motionless except for the shallow rise and fall of her chest. The urge to fix things rose again.

“Do you have any place else you want to film?” he asked.

The silence remained unbroken.

“Indigo?”

She took a sudden breath, her eyes refocusing like someone awakening from a dream. She sat up higher in the seat.

“No thanks,” Indigo mumbled, staring forward. “They tore our apartment down years ago, and the rest of the places I lived are…”

She didn’t finish her thought.

The ride continued, the chasm between them widening until it was a gulf too far to breach. Reaching the apartment, Jude pulled the car to a stop. It was nearly dinner time, the day gone.

“D’you want to get something to eat?” he offered.

She shook her head, pulling the bag from the floor, not holding his eyes.

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