Chapter Two: Kiss The Girl

Jude had never been so eager to wake up early and actually get ready in the whole fifteen years she lived. Spending the day bonding over music with Tommy was going to be utterly amazing. She pulled on a pair of high wasted shorts and accompanied them with her Jim Morrison tee. Her guitar pick necklace hung out and she slid into her favorite pair of red chucks. Looking at herself in the mirror she decided to pull her hair back into a pony tail, it was going to be an extremely hot day. She noticed Karma was up getting ready and decided to ask what she was up to.

"Got plans for the day?" Jude asked walking towards her summer roommate.

"Music club meet up." Karma stated as she applied mascara.

Jude was shocked and ecstatic one of girls had similar interests, "Me too!"

Karma laughed a little on the sarcastic side causing Jude to rethink her excitement, "I just know that camp counselor is a total daddy."

"Daddy?" Her face scrunched with curiosity.

"Not literally, like he doesn't have kids or anything. Well I hope not." Karma added shrugging her shoulders and looking off into space, "Daddy just means he's got it going on. He's hot, a musician, and older."

"Look at that, learn something new every day." Jude remarked with an uneasy smile, "But yeah Tommy is pretty cute."

"Oh you know him?" Karma questioned turning to Jude. She nodded her head while walking towards her guitar, "You think he's into younger girls?"

"Not really sure." Jude spoke apprehensively while picking up her case, "Wanna walk with me?"

"Why not."

Approaching the music group sitting on logs by the auditorium Jude noticed that Spiederman, Wally, and Kyle were all in attendance. She mentally thanked god for not having to stomach only Karma during these meet ups. Jude was starting to reconsider what kind of person she really thought her roommate was after their little chat this morning. Maybe it was jealousy that someone else was into Tom or maybe it was the bitchy undertone, either way she was just not that interested. A smile spread across her lips when she saw Tom with a guitar in his hand talking amongst the cast of teens. His head perked up when he saw Jude and his hand waved for her to come towards him. She willingly sat beside him noticing how Karma ran to take the other side. Once it appeared everyone who had signed up had made it Tom began to introduce to himself.

"Hi guys, I'm your camp consoler, Tom Quincy. I wanna do a little exercise so we can all get to know each other before diving into music. Just tell me your name, favorite music genre, and why you are here." He turned to Jude, only truly having interest in her answer, "I'll start. Obviously I'm Tom, but don't be afraid to call me Tommy. I don't wanna sound old. I'm an alternative indie rocker with a soft spot for ballads. I'm here because I love music, I love working with music, and I love being around young people who are just as passionate as me."

Jude bit her lip as Tom spoke every word directly to her, this was something that irritated Karma to no end, "Hey I'm Karma!" She interjected causing Tom to break his stare and turn to look beside him, "I'm all about R&B and hip hop." She then turned to Tom grinning, "But I'd definitely say I too am a sucker for a good power ballad. I'm here to meet new people and share my gift of singing." Jude rolled her eyes at Karma's confidence and noted it was borderline cockiness.

"Nice to meet you Karma." Tom changed his attention and nudged Jude, "Introduce yourself."

Jude looked around the circle of people and even caught the weird faces the three boys were making at her. She laughed lightly before speaking, "I'm Jude Harrison and before anybody says anything, yes like the Beatles song. I'd say I'm into punk rock indie music, acoustics, and some classic certified oldies. I'm here because-" She paused trying to find the right words, "well truthfully I'm here because my sister works here so it's free." Tom chuckled at her honesty, "But if I had to pick another reason I'd say music. As soon as I saw this was even an option here I started to think 'hey maybe this won't be freaking hell'." Everybody started to laugh at Jude's comment causing Karma to pout because she was not the center of attention.

After the introductions and finding out that Kyle, Wally and Spiederman made up the Spiederman mind explosion Tom asked if anyone wanted to perform. Of course Karma jumped at the opportunity, begging politely that Tom accompany her guitar. She started singing an overly sexualized Nora Jones hit 'Turn Me On'. She kept her eyes on Tom and winked a few times causing Jude to groan, "Like the desert waiting for the rain, like a school kid waiting for the spring. I'm just sitting here waiting for you to come on home and turn me on." Her voice was merely average and her over sexual manner caused Jude to feel nauseas. Luckily Tom didn't seem too interested.

"That was-" Tom took a breath to find a word to describe her little show, "interesting."

Karma squealed hugging Tom tightly before prancing back to the log to sit down, "Thanks Tommy."

He made a weird face and joined the circle again, "Okay, anybody else?" No one made a peep. It seemed everyone was being shy, "Jude how about you?"

"Me?" Jude laughed nervously, "How about no."

"Come on dude sing!" Spiederman shouted out to offer support.

"I can't sing, I'm nothing special." Jude fidgeted in her seat trying to avoid what she thought was inevitable embarrassment.

"Nonsense Jude, you know you're good." Sadie spoke up as she walked towards the group, "Stop being a baby and sing."

"Sadie shut up." Jude tried saying under her breath, she was not comfortable enough to just put it all on the line, "I just don't want to."

Tom looked at her with disappointment, "Not even for me?"

Her eyes darted at him and she bowed her head. Everyone watched the scene play out and sensed flirtation, "Maybe later."

A smile met his face again as he turned to the rest of the group, "Well since no one else is stepping up we can be dismissed to the lake." Everyone began to stand up and flee the scene. Jude grabbed her guitar case and started to walk away and Tom ran up beside her. "So you brought your guitar for what?"

Startled by how fast he came up to her she almost dropped her case, "I uh, I thought maybe I'd have the guts to play something."

"You'll really play for me later?" He asked in awe struck at how gorgeous her eyes looked in the sunlight at this moment.

Her lips curved into a smile, "If it's just me and you. Maybe."

"I can arrange that Harrison."

She cocked her head, "Last name usage?"

"What you don't like it?" He joked while playfully bumping into her.

"I could get used to it." She replied, "Quincy."

"I got to go do super important camp consoler things, but I'm looking forward to later." Tom cooed as they stopped in front of her cabin facing each other.

"Super important ay?" She laughed trying not to make eye contact because staring at his eyes for too long made Jude want to throw up. Not because they were awful or anything, but because her stomach seemed to summersault whenever he was around. "Well I'll see you later than."

Tom leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to Jude's cheek causing her eyes to light up and meet his when he pulled back, "Later Harrison."

Jude swallowed hard as he walked away. As soon as she entered her room she dropped her guitar case and leaned against the door. She slowly fell to the ground with her hand to the part of her cheek Tom had just kissed. Her heart was throbbing and she could feel her pulse in her feet. She could not believe that maybe Tom Quincy was actually interested in her.

Kat walked out of their bathroom using a towel to get water from her ear, "Someone looks happy."

"Tom just kissed me." Jude peeped.

"Oh my god really? Just now?" Kat asked in complete excitement.

"Well on the cheek." Jude spit out, "but he wants to see me later tonight, just us."

Kat squealed, "Jude this is freaking awesome! You have a summer love!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves Kat!" Jude blushed thinking that she could actually fall for someone and have the feelings reciprocated. She felt on top of the world.

"We need to get you ready for tonight!" Kat insisted, "I'm giving you a make over!"

"Oh boy." Jude huffed this should be interesting.

Tom was sitting at a picnic table with Kwest as they watched over the swimmers. Sadie was perched against a tree not too far from them talking to another camp counselor, Portia. Kwest watched as Tom's eyes scanned the whole area as if he were looking for someone.

"Looking for your little rocker girl?" Kwest laughed out causing Tom to focus his attention solely on him.

"Just looking." Tom could barely hide his smile at the thought of Jude.

"Every summer it's a knew victim since I've met you." Kwest stated knowing very well his best friend's track history with this camp. They both have been coming here since fifteen and every year Tom would have a summer fling with a random girl then brush her off.

"Jude isn't a victim." Tom snapped back.

"She better not be," Sadie interrupted with crossed arms, "That's my baby sister and if you hurt her I will shove my fist so far down your throat-"

"Woah woah, G.I. Jane slow down." Tom stopped her from furthering her explanation, "I'm not hurting anyone. Jude and I are just friends."

"Oh I know that smirk." The young Portia beside Sadie stepped in, "The Tom Quincy smirk. I fell prey to it last summer."

Kwest chuckled at Portia's bluntness and Tom just snarled, "I just like being around her. That's all, I don't need the fifth degree."

"Man come on I know you. You're digging this chick." Kwest called out catching Tom on his lies, "She's young just don't be as ruthless as you normally are."

"How about you just leave her alone." Sadie glared standing her ground as big sister.

Not being able to take it anymore Tommy stood up, "I can hang around whomever I want, despite what any of you say."

As Tom walked away he heard Sadie yelling out, "Remember my fist your throat!"

Later that night Jude stood in front of the cloudy mirror of her cabin staring at herself. She was starting to wonder if letting Kat dictate her wardrobe was a good choice. She could barely recognize herself in her short flowered sundress.

Jude heard a cackling behind her, "Barbie is that you?"

She turned around with a cringed face to see Patsy bent over laughing, "This wasn't my idea."

"Lay off Pats she's got a hot date." Kat defended as she approached Jude and began to twist her soft curls around her finger to get the perfect relaxed swirl.

"Kat this isn't me." Jude huffed as she continued to watch herself in the mirror.

"Jude that's not the point! Do you wanna look good or not?" Kat hissed stepping back from Jude.

"She looks better in tee shirts." Patsy proclaimed taking a seat on her cot.

Jude shrugged her shoulders, but before she could speak there was a knock at their cabin door. The three girls looked between each other and Kat squealed as she rushed to the door. She nervously fiddled with the bottom of her dress as the door slowly opened. When Tom's eyes set sight on Jude in that dress his jaw dropped. Kat smiled knowing she had done her job as Jude approached him with her head down trying to hide her red face. He stood in the doorway watching her head towards him and could not help but smile, she was so shy it was adorable. Jude grabbed her guitar case before heading out the door. She could still hear Kat squealing as the door shut behind the pair.

She heard Tom chuckle as she followed him, "Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it." He laughed as he grabbed Jude's case form her, "Let me hold this."

"So where are we going?" Jude asked nervously as she watched the handsome man walk beside her.

"Just into the woods. There's a cleared path not too far from here."

"You don't plan on killing me and throwing my body into the lake, do you?" Jude joked with an anxious laugh. Once it came out it sounded a lot less creepy in her head.

Tom laughed it off again, "You're something else girl. But no actually I planned on burying you. Wouldn't want you to float up during the afternoon swim."

Jude dropped her jaw in pretend horror and jokingly shoved Tom, "Gee thanks."

Tom shrugged smiling knowing that his flirting was completely on point. The pair showed up at a lit path with white lights laced around a tree. The beauty took Jude back as Tom rested her guitar against a tree. Much like all over camp there were logs meant for seating. They sat beside each other and Jude searched the woods with her eyes feeling her stomach starting to flutter.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" Tom grinned as he faced Jude. She felt his hand rest on her knee. His smile grew when she nervously ducked her head while shaking no, "Well you do Jude, really."

"Thanks Tommy."

"I have a confession." Tom cleared the air and Jude felt her stomach knot, she had hoped it wouldn't be bad. "I didn't just bring you out here to play for me." Her eyes widened in question and she tilted her head, "I wanted to get to know you more. There were always people around and our conversations were so brief, I just had to get you alone."

Jude felt her heart drop at his admission. It had seemed that all her prayers were answered Tom Quincy was into her. "I can't say I mind."

"Good, but don't think you'll get out of singing for me." He added nudging her arm against his.

They spent about an hour talking and getting to know each other. Tom learned Jude was about to be a sophomore at Carson High, exactly one town over from him. Jude learned Tom was heading to college in the fall approximately forty-five minutes from her whereabouts. Jude confessed she was always more of a Tom boy and the dress wasn't even her idea which was followed by Tommy assuring her she looks good in anything she wears. She learned Tom was an only child and had one pet dog, whereas he learned Jude only had Sadie and divorced parents. Things were going along smoothly.

"So favorite movie?" Tom asked wondering more and more about the gorgeous girl next to him.

"Oh that's tough." Jude huffed as she stared at the sky searching for the answer, "Well this is gonna sound childish but I love the Little Mermaid."

Tom chuckled, "That's cute." He leaned to the side of him to grab Jude's guitar, "Mind if I play something?"

"Go ahead." Jude smiled as he placed the guitar in his lap. After yesterday she knew his playing and voice was heavenly and she was excited. He began to strum and she swore she knew the melody.

"There you see her sitting there across the way. She don't got a lot to say, but there's something about her. And you don't know why, but you're dying to try. You wanna kiss the girl." If Jude wasn't completely infatuated with him before this moment she was now. He actually knew the words to a song from the little mermaid. She decided to join in the singing.

"Yes, you want her look at her, you know you do. It's possible she wants you too

There's one way to ask her. It don't take a word, not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl." Tom was unable to continue singing as he took in the voice of what he was sure an angel. He was not expecting her to be this amazing and it almost took his breath away.

Tom picked up singing again as they leaned closer and closer towards each other, "Shalalalala. My oh my looks like the boy's too shy. Ain't gonna kiss the girl. Shalalalala. Ain't that sad it's such a shame. Too bad, you're gonna miss the girl

go on and kiss the girl."

Their voices became closer to a whisper as they were singing against each other's lips. Tom lost his concentration as his fingers fumbled with the guitar before the music came to a stop. Both of them were so close they could taste one another's breath and both had a smile plastered to their faces. Just before Tom could seal the deal a male presence made themselves known.

"Curfew."

Tom swore under his breath as he pulled back from Jude to look in front of him, "Thanks Kwest, thanks a lot."

Kwest started laughing and looked at the girl beside him, "You must be Jude." She nodded her head confused as to how the stranger knew her, "Tom's told me about you. I'm Kwest by the way."

Jude couldn't help but feel her stomach flip again; he had been talking about her. "Nice to meet you Kwest."

As they all headed back towards the cabins Jude couldn't help but curse the camp. Was this place really that bent on her not kissing Tommy? This was the second time the moment was ruined in two days. Jude craved to know what his lips were like; she craved to finally get her first kiss. After all of the cabin doors closed Kwest sat up in bed facing Tom.

"Just friends my ass."

Tom threw a pillow at his friend, "Save it."

Laughter filled the cabin as Tom just groaned. He desperately wanted to kiss Jude as well. He was determined to make it happen soon.