Keep To The Script (Complete)

~ Chapter 43 ~

Judith stared at the spot where Angel last stood, the tears falling from her eyes. What the fuck had she just done? What the hell had he just said? He told her it was just a good time, nothing more. That it was a fling for him. With a wail, she covered her eyes and fell to her knees.

She didn't want to do that. Didn't want to fight. Didn't want to pick at the little things. But it's like the words were imprinted on her brain and without her willingness, they came out anyway and started the fight. A fight she had no right to start, and no decent facts to stand on. How the hell those lame-ass people got so far up in her psyche, she didn't know.

After several minutes, she wiped her eyes and walked over to the bed, picking up her phone. She had no doubt that Angel was heading back to LA. Hell, she would if she was him. And she also knew that he wouldn't talk to her. Well, actually, she wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to him. She did, but she couldn't trust herself right now not to get into something stupid again.

Wasn't this a good thing? The stupid people got what they wanted, even at the cost of her happiness. Of their happiness. They wanted to end her and Angel and it happened. But she also feared that it was a permanent deal, not just for now. What was she going to do? She hadn't ever felt this way over another man. She wasn't sure she would either.

Judith hadn't told him, but she was certain she was falling in love with him. No, she wasn't falling in love. She was in love. And she was scared that she would do something to blow it up. Or that someone would. And look at what happened. She let that fear become a reality. She did it. No one else.

"Well, fuck," she muttered. She hated to admit it, but if Angel never talked to her, that was her own doing. From what she knew of the man, too, he might just do that. Of course, it wasn't like she could do anything about it now. This whole thing happened because someone wanted them apart to help sales. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly shifted to grab it, hoping it was him but honestly knowing better. She frowned as her mom's name flashed on the screen. "Hey," she answered, trying to sound upbeat, but the sniffle she had given her away.

"Hey, baby." Her mom paused for a beat. "What happened?"

"Nothing," she tried again, knowing she was failing.

"Where are you?" Judith wiped her nose and took a deep breath.

"The Inn."

"I'm on my way." With that, her mom ended the call and Judith broke down again. How was she going to even describe this? What could she possibly say? Anyway it went down, she was going to sound like a crazed woman for giving into things like that. Minutes later, she heard the soft knock on the door, and she opened it, falling into her mom's arms. "Oh, honey," she said, holding her tight. She closed the door and led Judith back to the spot she was just in on the bed.

"He's gone," Judith mumbled.

"I see this. What happened?" Judith finally pulled back and looked at her mom, shrugging.

"I think from the start of our relationship, I've been worried. Worried about him finding someone else, worried about what the press would say or do, worried about the executives pulling the project because we're dating. What I've never done is fully lean on Angel, never really given him my whole trust in thinking that we could deal with this together.

"So, I blew up. I got an email before we left telling me that it would be best if Angel and I split up until the movie was done. The fans loved Molly and Angel together and when pictures sprouted up of Angel and I here, well, sales took a nosedive. I wasn't going to give in, I didn't want to lose him.

"But the moment I read that; they were the voices in my head. They were the ones who picked the fight. They were the ones who told me that he was better off without me. They were the ones who told me that what he and I had wasn't real. So, because they were so loud, I basically said some hurtful things. And then he said that forever wasn't ever an option for him, that this was just a good time." She wasn't sure why after everything that got hurled out, that hurt the most. Maybe because she wanted forever, and he didn't.

"Oh, sweetie," her mom told her, shaking her head and pulling her close. "Judith, you have always been such a strong-minded woman. You have always fought the odds that were stacked against you to do what you wanted. No matter how long it took or what the costs were. If you wanted it, you stood tall and tackled the problem.

"But men, they have always been your weakness, they have always been the one thing you won't fight for. I'm not sure why, but everyone has a major flaw. Angel loves you, Judith. You might not believe that, or refuse to believe that, but anyone with eyes in their head can see that. I didn't even need to see it, to know it. When I talked to you when you were at the beach house with him, I could hear it. And I'm sure he hadn't fallen in love with you then.

"As for those idiots, it's not on you, or him, to have stopped your happiness. If their sales are dropping, they aren't doing their job marketing it properly. Hollywood is a lot of glitz, glamour, and smoke shows. You have seen this firsthand. But I refuse to believe that everyone "plays the part" of a happy couple that ends off-camera. It's bull shit. And I would gladly tell them something. Why did they come just to you? Why wouldn't they have said something to Angel?"

Judith opened her mouth to say they hadn't, but she didn't know. Angel hadn't ever told her anything. Not that he had a reason to. But what if they had? Would they have done it before they talked to her? Did he tell them yes? Is that why he went along with their fight, hurting her too? Or did he tell them no? Were his feelings so strong that he didn't want to give her up? If that was the case, she was a bigger fuck up than she wanted to admit and didn't deserve him at all.

"I don't know, Mom." Judith swallowed hard before looking at her mom. "He won't talk to me."

"No, honey, he won't talk to you soon. But something tells me he will talk to you later on. Right now, for both of you, I think you're both pretty hurt. Do you want him back?"

"Yes," Judith said, remorse filling her eyes. "I was stupid, I know that. I just don't know how to make it right."

"Angel is a strong man, who knows what he wants. He wants you, though I know you question it. But he won't give you up either, trust me on that one." Her mom brushed back her hair. "You're the one who's always reading romance stories and writing them, what's your female lead do in a situation like this?"

"Grovel." Her mom chuckled.

"That's a given, Judith. How?"

"With a grand gesture of some sort." Her mom rolled her eyes and Judith giggled, wiping her eyes of the stray tears. "I've always been worried about everyone else, their thoughts, and how it would impose on our relationship. Time and time again, Angel told me to trust him, even when I knew the truth. I never did, not fully. I'm going to have to show him when the time is right if it will ever be right, that I'm all in. I will always be all in."

"See, there's that strong-minded daughter of mine. It's hard, especially working with him, but you're going to have to give him space. There's such a connection between you two, but this is testing it. Don't doubt he won't come back honey, because he will, but it's just when." She took Judith's hand and squeezed. "You both will feel when the time is right, and you will know what to do. Your heart won't lead you astray. If, and I mean if, that's what you follow. Not do what others want you to do."

"Thanks, Mom," Judith said, resting her head on her mom's shoulder. Once again, her mom was the voice of reason. "I'm not needed on set yet, so, I'd like to stay here for a little bit. Just try to ease my pain."

"Of course. I would never tell you no. Honestly, I don't think that's a bad idea." Judith's mom kissed her head, giving her a reassuring smile. Judith returned it, then jumped as the phone buzzed again. She frowned as she saw the area code and picked it up.

"Judith, we're picking back up early and are having some snags. Can you please come back to the studio?" Judith looked at her mom, twisting her lip. So much for staying home and trying to gather her courage. She was going to have to go back sooner than she'd like and face the music. She wasn't ready for that at all.