Chapter 2

Later that night, Jude and Tommy stood at the door, Tommy with his back to the door and Jude in front of him.

"This is the first goodbye we've had to say in a while!" Jude spoke up, trying to lighten the mood.

"Bout time…" Tommy said with a cocky smile as Jude hit him in the arm once, paused, and then hit him a second time.

He let out a small laugh and pulled her toward him with his hands resting on her hips. He just stared silently for a few moments before speaking.

"So…" he kissed her lightly on the cheek and then on the neck before straightening back up, "You gonna miss me, rockstar?"

"Maybe…" she replied, attempting a look of indifference, "Cause you know I'm going to be so busy, what with the unpacking, talking to Sadie, then of course I really have to get started on some new songs since G-major is going to be a thing again, and there's always that-"

Tommy cut her off as his lips connected with hers. Her hand rested on his cheek after a moment, as he pressed his hand against the small of her back, pulling onto her tip-toes and closer to him. They broke the kiss after a few moments, their faces just an inch apart, if even that far.

"Okay…" she breathed out, "…I'm gonna miss you!"

A smile spread across Tommy's face, and he picked her up, swinging her around, and then placing her back down in front of him.

"How is it that you always seem to remind me just how much I love you even if I haven't forgotten..?" he pushed her hair back, letting his hand rest on her cheek.

A touched smile spread across her face, and she leaned in to kiss him again.

"Tommy Quincy," she replied, looking deeply into his eyes, "I love you so much…"

"I'll see you tomorrow, girl… bright and early!" he grinned.

"See you tomorrow!" she replied and started to step back, but she stopped suddenly and looked at him in confusion, "Bright and early? Not that I'm objecting to time with you, but… Why??"

"You're going with me to see the newly finished Rocksound studios," he grinned, knowing Jude was about to flip out.

"Yep, here it comes, her eyes get big… then that big, gorgeous smile… and that deep breathe… here it comes..." he thought to himself, unaware that his own face was lighting up more and more as hers did.

"Oh my god, Tommy!!" she hugged him, "This is great!! …Ugh! I have such an amazing boyfriend!"

She kissed him, her arms around his neck before releasing and stepping back.

"I love ya, big eyes," Tommy said, also taking a step back, "See you tomorrow… I'll be here at eight…"

"I love you too, Quincy…" she smiled and started up the stairs.

"Oh, and Jude," he called up to her.

"Yeah?"

"Don't make me wait for you…" he teased, giving her a seductive smile, as he turned to face the door.

He walked outside, leaving her standing there with her famous "ouch!" look.

Tommy walked out onto the porch, closing the door behind him, and started for his car. He heard his name and turned to see Stuart leaned against his car with a cigarette in his hand.

"I just stepped outside for a little air…" Stuart said as Tommy walked over to him.

"And something else…" Tommy added, eyeing the cigarette.

Stuart looked down, rolled his eyes, and then back up, "Yeah… Nasty habit, I know…"

"I didn't know you smoked…" Tommy said, and also leaned against the car.

"I didn't… Not until all of the Darius, G-major drama…" he said before looking over at Tommy, "Jude and Sadie don't know…"

"I won't say a word," Tommy replied simply.

"I was just… so stressed thinking Jude was going to lose everything she loved… On top of losing her best friend, she was losing her music, her label, her dream!" Stuart explained with an almost sickened expression, before it turned into sympathy, "…And you…"

Tommy quickly looked up at him when he said the last part.

"Stuart, I…"

"I know…" he cut in, "Jude told me about Hunter… I know you're perfectly capable of running your life without my help, but Tom… You're an adult… You've never acted like anything other than that… But Jude… She's got the maturity of a person who's lived twice as long as her… I guess what I'm trying to say is… Trust her with the big stuff… Please… She's gonna get hurt just that much more if you don't…"

Tommy nodded, knowing Stuart was completely right. He sat there going over it in his head for a moment before Stuart's voice broke him from his thoughts.

"So, you haven't told Jude who your partner is yet, I noticed…"

"Yeah…" Tommy's eyes lit up, a small smile crossing his face, "I'm going to surprise her…"

"Who is it?" Stuart looked at Tommy with a raised eyebrow.

"Georgia."

"Georgia? Really?? Wow…" Stuart looked straight ahead, smiling, before looking back to his left at Tommy who had a satisfied grin on his face, "She's gonna love this, Tom…"