Random Drop

11 (Part l)

"For god's sake get up already, I don't have all day!"

Jude groaned. Last nights bar hop still echoed in his head. He slid over the mattress and hit the cold wooden floor boards with a thump.

"Don't make me come in there. It's your fault for getting drunk!"

He reached up and grabbed the bed.

"I don't care Henry!" Jude a growl from the floor. The wooden boards creaked before he pulled himself up onto the bed, breathing hard.

Henry, Jude's younger brother, came into the room. His dusty brown hair like Jude's neatly brushed to one side. Although Jude and Henry looked that same, two things set them apart, their eyes and their size. Jude was more on the thicker broader scale with steel blue eyes that made any woman tell her darkest secrets.

"Good God, Jude. You're a disgrace. I swear if you come home drunk again I'm kicking you out. I've had enough of your bloody escapades!''

Jude's eyes darted around to meet Henry's grey ones. "Pfft, like you have the balls to kick me out. If I were you, I'd go on about your stupid worthless life and mind your own business. If I have to bring the boys down here, you'll regret it."

Henry clenched his fist, his jaw sharp before he made his way over to the curtains beside Jude's bed and pulled them open roughly. "Whatever. Just get your butt out of this house before my wife comes back. She's had enough of your roughhousing."

Jude laughed, a cruel laugh that echoed off the wooden walls. "'Roughhousing? My, my." Jude shook his head and stood up. He flexed his biceps.

Light bounced off his broad chest. His short dark hair stuck up at all angles. He grabbed a clean shirt and put it on. Jude stared at his brother's back as he returned to the door, a nonchalant expression etched on his features.

"Now, unless you have anything else to moan about, I suggest you get out."Henry slammed the door and stomped down the hall.

Jude sighed and found his jacket. He pulled out a black and white picture of a girl and ran his thumb delicately over her face a few times. Pocketing the photo, he slipped into his shoes, donned his wide brimmed hat and jacket. With a quick look around the room, he walked to the front of the house, where the kitchen was.

Henry glared at him when he came in. "Going now are you?'' he snorted.

Jude gave him a hard look. ''If it'll make you happy? Yes." he sneered. "That reminds me, your wife's cooking sucks.''

Henry gripped the fry pan. ''Shut up you miserable lowlife.'' he snapped. He cracked an egg into the hot pan. The sizzling filled the air between the two men.

Jude shook his head. ''I still don't know why you married that horrid woman brother, she's no good for you.''

Henry gave Jude a death glare. ''No good for me? Says the one who chases after girls who refuse you.''

Jude shrugged. ''At least I'm not tied down. Don't you realize that Anne's banging your partner? Ever wonder why she comes home smelling like booze and smoke?''

Uncertainty flickered in Henry's gaze, he sighed and pushed his brother's words out of his mind.

Watching Jude carefully, "You still searching for Karla?'' Henry asked.

Jude nodded. ''I'm gonna find her, even if it kills me..'' Just as he said this doubt tried to etch into his brain.

He shook his head, banishing the thought.

Henry sighed, "Well good luck to you then, just don't let drinking get in the way of finding her, I fear if it did...."

Jude put up his hand. "Spare me, I know what you're gonna say, I heard it enough times from mother." With that he dipped his hat and left.

Henry watched him before turning back to the fry pan.