Apocalypse of Jude

Janice walks into her apartment and suddenly feels scared to see Paul sitting there with Gary, the telltale signs of a cocaine rush on Audrey’s face. Paul turns brusquely to her, displaying no surprise.

“We better get going Gary.”

But before Paul can get up from the sofa, Janice slips languidly astride him and lets her mouth close on his.

“Let’s go snuff and have sex rather”.

He brushes her face away and with his hands around her waist, gives her a shove into the seat alongside him.

“I’d rather have a beer.”

Paul stands and collects his keys from the coffee table. “I’ll see you at the party later.” He walks from the house leaving Gary to follow him.

Janice laughs, feigning indifference to the force of rejection she feels.

“You’d better go Gary. Before I have to take out my sexual frustration on you.”

Audrey watches as Gary’s eyes betray for the umpteenth time his growing obsession with wanting Janice’s sex. But the Pygmalion metamorphosis of Mae into Audrey Hepburn inside Audrey’s head, and the jealous anger it causes, grips her soul, refusing to let it go at the expense of her self worth.

/this is the guy who rejected audrey hepburn and then chose me/ /you should be in the driving seat audrey/ /you should have him wrapped around your finger/ /why is his mind is wondering on to this slut/ /he is mine now/ /and i will be damned if im going to let this slut take him away from me/ /ive just got to keep on giving him a good time/ /cause if i dont/ /she will/

After Gary has gone, Janice stares viciously at Audrey.

“Paul’s up to something and you’re somehow involved. What is it?”

Audrey, with the icy confidence of cocaine thrilling her, is too angry inside to say anything. Janice feels vulnerable in the silence and laughs to protect herself. Only this time it is a flummoxed laugh at her increasing loss of control she thought she had over Audrey.

“I know something’s up. I tried to protect you that night I gave you snow. I hoped he’d leave you alone after that. That he’d see you as damaged goods. But he must really need you. I should never have got you a job with my sister.”

Her own words claw at her heart as if wanting to tear it out.

“Paul never lets anyone get involved with him unless he really needs them.”

Again she pauses as the realisation of her situation slices open her soul.

“But whatever Paul gets you involved with, when he’s done with you, he makes sure he gets rid of you.”

Momentarily, Janice is seized with horrifying fear.

“Get out of this Audrey.”

Janice’s sudden appeal of seeming genuine care only causes the Hepburn hand to tighten its grip on Audrey and she strikes back, no longer clear on what she is saying.

“You just want me to go so you can have Gary to flaunt before his ex. And I’ll be damned if she ever sees him in your pants.”

Janice stares nonplussed at Audrey, takes what is nonsensical to her as the cocaine speaking, and reacts with a flash of her own viciousness.

“Damn it Audrey, can’t you see the only reason Gary’s with you is because he’s doing what Paul wants him to do, and then to get regular sex on the side. And I should know. Paul’s been doing it to me for years.”

But Audrey is not listening.

/i should be ashamed of myself/ /looking so old fashioned compared to her/ /you got to make yourself look a bit smart he said/ /ill give you the money/ /i just want a good time after that miserable marriage/ /you are a fool audrey/ /what did i get together with him for if it wasnt to give him a good time/ /but there is still tonight/ /tonight ive got my chance to get him back/

Audrey stands up coldly arrogant before Janice and turns to go to her room.

“You just see that tonight you keep your hands off him.”

Wasteland Mix: Fragment 49