Where The Next Road Goes- An Instant Star Humor Fic!
Chapter 3: Ottawa, The Holiday Inn
Author's Note: Wow! This story appears to be quite the hit! I am thrilled... cause I'm really starting to feel this one myself! Anyway, my thanks to all the reviewers, Petra, Chloe, hmgirl8192, missscarletbelle, Cyndi, blueyes8907, Crystal, Rachel, Annika, Katie, Tanya, Diana and thatgirlyoucantrust. I only hope you all like this chapter as much as the last...
Just a couple of disclaimers. First, I make a lot of food references in this chapter. These are not meant to make fun of anyone's eating habits... my own are strange enough! What I am trying to do is distinguish very different characters and personalities that don't always understand each other. Second, I did not write the "rubber ducky" song used in this chapter- it's a Sesame Street classic...
So, with that off my chest- read, enjoy and please review!
Chapter 3: Ottawa, The Holiday Inn
Jude quickly ripped the dirty sheet off the bed, as she stared at Tommy's thoughtful face and impishly dancing eyes.
Throwing the stained linen onto the floor, she wrapped her arms around him.
"We are so not going to take that! Are we?" she asked.
"What do you think?" he replied.
"I think you're up to something..."
"Of course..."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Course I am..." he answered, murmuring his ideas into her ear.
"So?" he asked.
"It's great... I love it when you're evil..."
"Then you'll love this..." he said, gently pushing her back down onto the unmade bed.
"Do you have what I need?" he asked, as he covered her body with his.
"There are a million inappropriate answers to that question!" she laughed softly.
"But for this plan... yes." she breathed, seconds before he pressed his lips on hers.
The rest of the day passed far less dramatically. Tommy and the SME boys had a productive rehearsal. They then stopped to pick up pizzas for dinner- a pineapple topped one for the band, and a less exotic sausage one for Jude and Tommy. Afterwards, everyone sprawled out to watch a few of the movies Tommy had brought from his home. They stayed up very late and slept in the next day.
Just before noon, a loud clattering from the middle of the bus woke Jude and Tommy. They listened carefully, as Speed noisily arose from bed and headed for the shower.
"He's going!" Jude whispered excitedly, burying her face in the pillow to stifle her giggles.
"Just a few more minutes..." Tommy replied, smiling.
They heard water running, followed by the sound of Speed singing.
"Rubber ducky, you're the one!"
"You make bath time lots of fun..."
Speed's shower serenade made Tommy and Jude laugh even harder.
"And that guy actually has a record contract!" Tommy exploded. "Who'd believe it!"
But quickly, Speed's singing gave way to angry cursing.
"Dude, what's the problem?" they heard Kyle yelling through the closed bathroom door.
"My soap..." Speed managed to blurt out angrily, before cursing again.
Tommy and Jude could not contain themselves any longer.
"Come on!" Jude cried out, leaping from the bed and pulling her boyfriend along with her. They joined a worried Kyle and Wally, who stood just outside the bathroom.
"Damn soap doesn't lather!" Speed screamed furiously.
"What are you talking about?" Wally asked, confused.
"Check it, dude!" the guitarist demanded, extending a wet hand out the bathroom door.
Instinctively, Tommy backed away.
"Seeing Speed in the shower... equals way too much information!"
Wally and Kyle carefully examined the ordinary-looking bar of Coast soap that Speed handed them. Puzzled, they looked at it closely, turning it over and over in their hands.
"Feels ok to me... Normal." Wally told him.
"Yeah!" Kyle added. "I don't see anything wrong with it!"
"Check it again!" a cranky Speed insisted.
"It does feel... kind of slick." Wally said thoughtfully Almost like it's been... laminated. Or something...".
"Or something!" Tommy whispered to Jude.
Speed then emerged from the shower, dripping wet, with a bright red towel wrapped around his waist. He looked angrily at a smirking Tommy and Jude.
"You know something about this?" he yelled at them.
"Dude... you should just see your face right now. Priceless!" Tommy replied, mimicking what Speed said to him during the Jello incident.
"Your face is the exact same color as that towel!" Jude added, making Kyle and Wally crack up.
"Dudes! Shut up!" Speed demanded. "Someone better tell me what's going on!"
Jude smiled and held up a small clear plastic bottle.
"Nail polish?" Speed asked, clearly not getting it.
"Yeah." Tommy informed him.
"You know what happens when you coat soap with it? It's funny... The soap doesn't lather. Kind of like it's wrapped in plastic."
"Dude!" Speed said, still angry, but also impressed.
"Here." Tommy said, handing him a fresh, untouched bar of soap.
"Go take a shower."
"Please!" Wally said, holding his nose.
"Please. I have to stand close to you tonight!" Jude teased.
"This is so not over!" Speed vowed, heading back into the bathroom.
"He's right about that!" Tommy thought, catching his girlfriend's eye and returning back to their room with her.
"So bad!" she whispered.
"You love it..." he murmured, slipping his hand under her shirt to pull her closer.
"Mmm..." Jude purred approvingly.
"First set went great... Now, onto our big finale..."
"Bring it on!" Jude replied happily as she kissed him again.
The other members of SME showered after Speed. By the time Jude and Tommy took their turns in the bathroom and dressed, the band was seated on the couches, eating lunch.
"Saved you some!" Speed called out cheerfully, as they approached.
Tommy peered into the plastic bowl, but could not identify the contents.
"What is that?" he asked warily.
"Tuna fish." Kyle told him, crunching loudly.
"Tuna doesn't look like that. Or smell like that. Or sound like that... Unless for some strange reason, it still has the bones in it."
"Of course not!" the guitarist replied, somewhat patronizingly. "Just my secret ingredient..."
"Oh, I can't wait to hear what that is..." Tommy said sarcastically.
"Potato chips!"
"Potato chips?"
"Yeah. People eat them with sandwiches. So, why not just put them in the sandwiches! Gives them that little extra kick! Especially these sour cream and onion chips. Try it, dude!"
"Thanks. But I'll pass."
"Suit yourself! More for us!"
"Grilled cheese? With bacon?" Jude asked Tommy, already taking his favorite sandwich ingredients from the refrigerator.
"Great" he smiled.
Shortly after lunch, they arrived at the Ottawa Holiday Inn.
"Ok" Tommy announced.
"This is where we'll be staying while we're here! Let's check in... get settled. We'll meet back here in twenty minutes to go over to the venue for the sound check. The equipment should already be there."
"Cool!" Speed, Kyle and Wally chorused, jumping off the bus with their overloaded backpacks.
"Ready?" Tommy asked Jude.
"Sure this is gonna work?"
"Trust me, Harrison. Those guys are in for the ride of their lives..."
The afternoon sound check gave way to their night time concert. SME easily got the crowd rocking with their songs, including "Mind Games", "Complex Machinery" and a cover of the classic hit "Satisfaction". The excitement only intensified as Jude joined them onstage. Tommy stood, watching her proudly as she took them higher and higher.
Two hours later, after her final encore of "Transparent Lies", she rushed offstage, directly into his outstretched arms.
"Well?"
"Perfect!" he answered, hugging her close
"The perfect beginning... to the perfect night. First, some interviews... Then back to the hotel and let the magic happen..."
"In more ways than one..." she whispered conspiratorially.
"Oh... yeah."
Together, they entered the crowded green room, where the band was already waiting. Reporters swarmed Jude, Speed, Kyle, Wally and even Tommy. They answered a barrage of questions. Eventually, the media people departed, leaving just a few special fans.
Jude and Tommy watched as the three very hot girls moved in aggressively on the members of SME. The band members clearly didn't stand a chance.
"Step one. Done!" Tommy told Jude proudly.
"Now, let's get back to the hotel..."
Back in their room, they waited. It seemed to take forever until the slightly drunk members of SME returned. Female giggles mixed with their deeper voices as three couples retired to three separate bedrooms. One by one, the doors closed behind them.
"Ok... cue the drama." Tommy said, quickly texting someone on his cell phone.
Fifteen minutes later, loud noises emanated from the hallway, as angry fists pounded on those same three doors.
"Police! Open up! Now!"
"Let's go!" Jude shrieked, as she and Tommy stood beside their own door, opening it just enough to see the action outside.
"Open up! Police!" six men ordered.
A frightened Wally first opened his door, then Kyle and last, Speed. Jude laughed at the sight of her lead guitarist standing in the hall dressed only in his "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" boxers.
"What's the problem, officers?" Speed asked, trying desperately to sound calm.
"Vice raid! You are all under arrest! For solicitation!"
"Wait a minute... the girls are..."
"Prostitutes" the officer finished.
"But... we didn't..."
"Doesn't matter. You'll all have to come with us down to the station..."
"Right now?" Speed asked, looking down at his attire.
"Yes. Now!"
"Can't I at least put some pants on first?" he asked.
"No. Gotta take you in like that. It's evidence."
At this, Jude began to lose it. Tommy put his hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. But he wasn't doing much better holding back his own, especially when Speed began to desperately beg the officer.
"Come on. Can't I please get dressed?"
"I don't know." the policeman replied.
"Whaddaya say, Tom? Can he?" he yelled down the hall.
"I just don't know..." Tommy replied.
"What the hell?" Speed exploded.
"Gotcha!" Jude giggled, stepping into the hallway.
"You almost gave me a heart attack!" the guitarist wailed
"Know what your problem is? You just don't have a sense of humor!" Tommy called out, pulling Jude back into their own room..
"Whatever!" he added, closing their door.