"Wait! You never told me where you're going!"
Tommy turned around. "I'm going to get started in the music business. And then when I'm big and famous and touring here, I'm going to come to your door with fifty A & R reps all begging to sign you." He sighed and walked back to his friend. "Now give me a hug." Jude, still crying, hugged a crying Tommy.
After a few moments, Tommy pried Jude's arms from around him, and, giving her one last kiss on the cheek, walked away.
--
"Hello Jude. You travel light. Your parents couldn't make it?" Georgia asked.
Jude stood up and shook hands with Georgia. "They could, I just wanted to do this on my own." Georgia smiled.
"Jude, there were some people in our contest… Eden, for example, who are in a better position to become a popstar," a short woman Jude recognized as EJ said.
"Well, I'm not a popstar. I'm a songwriter," Jude said.
"And that is why you won," Georgia said, interrupting an impending EJ comment. "I believe that your songs can move units but I also believe they can move people. And that is why we've teamed you with a writer/producer with real substance."
"Who?" Jude asked, eyes glistening with excitement. And then, from up above, she heard a familiar phrase.
"George and Ringo ate cheese." Jude looked surprised. She automatically responded with, "And John and Paul drank wine." She turned to the speaker and her jaw dropped. "Tommy?"
"In the flesh." She ran up the stairs and launched herself on him.
"Where the hell have you been for the past seven years?" she said, still hugging him. EJ and Georgia simply looked shell-shocked while Jude and Tommy's little reunion was gaining attention from the rest of the employees fast.
"I sold my soul to the devil for a chance to get my foot in the door," he said. "Ever heard of Tommy Quincy?"
She groaned. "Oh god no. Please don't tell me that was you all those years. Sadie loves Boyz Attack. And those songs…" she shuddered.
"Like I said, girl, I sold my soul to the devil." He finally released her from his bear hug. "So, looks like I get to produce my favorite girl. You still playing that Telly?"
"You bet your Gibson-loving ass I am. I've got two other guitars now, but I love my Telly."
Georgia cleared her throat, and the two looked down. "So, you know Tommy personally?"
"I don't know," Jude said, grinning. "I know Thomas DuTois, but I don't know a Tommy Quincy. Seriously, Tommy," Jude said, turning to him once again. "Quincy? You just had to pick the last name of your junior high crush. Now that's what I call pining after somebody." Georgia raised an eyebrow. Jude turned back to Georgia, pointing to Tommy and saying, "This here knucklehead was my next-door neighbor for… was it six years?"
"Six years we lived there, about two-and-a-half years we were friends. You really were the most outspoken five-year-old I've ever met," Tommy said, grinning.
"And you were the most jaded thirteen-year-old I've ever met," Jude retorted. "When did you start piling your hair with gel? I'm practically suffocating from the smell right now."
"Yeah, well when did you dye your hair red, blondie? And since when do you wear black, ever?"
"I hate to interrupt," Georgia said, still slightly shocked. EJ was still in total shock, mouth hanging open and everything. "We need to get started. You two can catch up later."
"C'mon girl. Let's hear what you've been writing for the past seven years." They walked to the studio, Georgia and a newly-composed EJ following behind.