Here goes the fourth part... I don't think there will be much more, maybe two or three for that matter...


"And the world around us won't stop turning tonight,
I like, I like.
I'm losing control right now and I feel it's right,
I like, I like.
We're caught in this moment I won't let you go,
and the world around us won't stop turning tonight.
I like, I like, I like, I like."

(I Like – Keri Hilson)


4. Being With You Is Enough For Me

Jude looked in the mirror, somewhat shocked by her own looks and the feelings and memories that came rushing back. She had never realized that changing her looks had been nearly as important as leaving Toronto behind. Because now she was seeing the seventeen year old, blonde and heartbroken teenager all over again, the girl that had had no future.

Jude had always only thought of it as a necessity, since she didn't want to be found by Sadie or Speed or just anyone she used to know oh-so well. Just like she had refused during all those years to do any movies which would most likely get famous on both sides of the ocean, because no matter how different she looked and acted, she wouldn't want to take the risk of being accidently recognized. No, with only doing Europe and partly even Asian Movies, she had been on the safe side, knowing that none of them would end up in Canada's headlines.

She had even come to like her new hair color; she had always felt a little bit awkward, looking like the typical "Angel"-figure. It hadn't been seldom that she had been called a "blonde, adorable angel", and fitting to that natural image, she had acted like one to, she had always been the "good girl".

Well, I'm sure there aren't many teenagers who could honestly say, that they have only been once to a club until they were freaking eighteen years old. Ok, I gotta admit, that one time I got drunk and everything, I even let someone take nude pictures of me, but still…

Jude chuckled at her own thoughts. Plus she found it strange that she was only realizing now how much the hair color had mattered to her, had somewhat defined her. Something else Jude was only noticing now was, that she wasn't Tommy's type anymore, theoretically. He had always had a thing for blondes, well except for Portia maybe, but didn't he claim that had been a mistake anyways?

"Jude, are you ready?" Nikki asked when she poked her head through the door frame.

"Sure, I was born ready." Jude murmured and straightened up, she took one last good look at herself, as if she needed to become accustomed to the blonde reflection again. Then she turned around and shot Nikki a broad smile. "Let's have some fun then!"

Nikki grinned back and soon both girls were standing at the street in front of the Plaza, waiting for their limo to come. Nikki had a phone pressed at her left ear, talking hastily to some assistant of hers while Jude was watching the people passing by.

Coming to New York had always been a dream of her, ever since she was little, she had dreamed of giving a big concert in New York and signing a contract with a major label there too. Being able to go to the Empire State Building every night, looking down on the lights of New York city. Living in the big apple, living the dream.

"Finally!" Nikki exclaimed and opened the door of the limo as soon as the car had stopped. She threw in her designer bag and climbed in directly after it, she was as excited as Jude to finally get into the car and to some it-club in the city. New York was famous for its night life and that was something Jude and Nikki totally appreciated. Jude smiled at how eager her friend was, though she knew that she usually wasn't much better. She had been the same way in some of the bigger cities of Europe or in Bangkok or in Sydney,... (a list that could go on quite a while). The only thing that was different now, was that she didn't feel all that good being so close to home again. Though close was somewhat the wrong word, after all she still had many miles between her and her hometown, but it was the closest she had gotten to Toronto since three long years and now that closeness made her nervous.

"What's up with you today, darling? PMS or what?" Nikki asked flat out after they had told the driver to get them to one of the "it"-clubs. Jude swallowed and nearly started coughing at that question, she wasn't really surprised through, since Nikki was never holding back anything. That girl had no tact or whatsoever and her manager was about to have a breakdown after every interview the young actress was giving.

"Nothing, I'm fine." Jude answered indifferently, but seeing that Nikki wouldn't just back off yet until they had reached the club she quickly continued. "I just resent that color. I mean, seriously, BLONDE, is so NOT my thing!" Jude threw her arms up theatrically, leaving her friend speechless for a few moments before both started laughing like crazy.

"But girl, you're totally right! I myself looked bruenette way hotter than blonde. I still don't know why I ever agreed on doing this movie… oh, right, you persuaded me." Nikki commented half joking, half blaming, after both had sobered up again. Jude rolled her eyes at the last comment, as if Nikki would ever do something she didn't want to…

"Right, I persuaded you. It's all my fault, isn't it? It's my fault that you wanted so desperately to go and live in New York for a few months. In the PLAZA, as I might add, in which we only are, because you demanded it."

"Ok, so MAYBE I wanted to go too, but as soon as I heard about the whole black-hair thing I wasn't so sure anymore!" Nikki tried to defend herself, though she was grinning again.

"Yeah, that might even be true, your only problem was that you had already told the press several times about how great the movie was and how "in love" you were with the character you'd be playing. What were your words again? Oh, right: "I wouldn't miss it for anything in this world!". So it would have been not only money loss, since you stupid had already signed a contract, but also bad publicity; both things you can't afford after the last stunt you pulled." Jude retorted in an indifferent voice, feeling like she was having this conversation for like the zillionth time. Nikki had already complained about the whole thing several times over the phone, while they had still been on the other continent.

Jude would have smiled at her friends constant complains, if she hadn't been feeling so uncomfortable being so close to home again. She actually really liked Nikki, they had bonded in the first movie Jude had been shooting, the one she had left Toronto for, and it was because of Nikki, that Jude was nowadays rarely thinking about Toronto – usually. Jude hadn't told Nikki all that much about her past, but nevertheless the other girl had managed to put a stop to Jude's misery and had forced the black-haired girl to grow up and to learn how to enjoy life. Even if she hadn't asked for it, Nikki had been the best thing that could have happened to Jude Johnson and she silently thanked fate for her best friend.

"Whatever, Judy, stop trying to lecture me and just get out this car, this club looks like it's surely filled with hot guys!" Nikki squealed, it seemed like she had forgotten what they had even been talking about. Jude now knew for sure that her friend had been once again drinking alone in her hotel room. Jude sighed and did as she had been told; when Nikki was drunk or even only slightly drunk, there was no serious talking to her anymore. It normally wasn't like Nikki to get drunk before they went to a club and usually she never drunk that much either. She always said that she was crazy enough to enjoy herself just fine without drugging herself.

Probably this creep of an ex-boyfriend called her again, or send her an email, or a letter, or whatever he always sends. Well, I can just hope to knock some sense into her tomorrow before she thinks of forgiving him all over again. Damn this cheating bastard for being so damn charming!

"Hey, back in the line you two bitches!" Two women called who were standing in the line that Jude and Nikki were just passing by. Jude rolled her eyes and ignored the usual bitchy and jealous comments from random strangers. But Nikki obviously wasn't in the mood to ignore anything that night, and when Nikki wasn't in the mood she messed back, no matter what.

"Shut up you ugly skanks! Didn't you just see that limo? That's ours and we'll go into that club whenever we want to! So worry about your own crappy lives and let us live our glamorous ones in peace, now would you?"

Before the two women or anybody else could add anything, Jude had already passed the security guy with a certain look; that one every pretty girl used to get whatever she wanted from a guy – let's just say Jude had a great teacher (Nikki) and knew everything about using said look.

Nikki was immediately heading for the bar where it didn't take her long to get the guy sitting next to her to dance with her. Jude watched her friend walking off without saying anything. She shook her head before she turned her head to her own drink once again.

Or maybe her parents have called, or even her sister. After contact with Jason she usually isn't that quickly hitting it off with other guys... Damn it, I wish she would have told me instead of starting to empty the mini-bar of her room, which she sure did.


A few hours later Jude was leaving said club again, though this time she was alone. Nikki had taken off with some hot stranger who had just happened to sit right next to Nikki at the bar. There had been a time when Jude would have been worried about her friend, and to be true she still slightly was every time Nikki left with some stranger, but she had learned to accept it and now trusted the though girl to get herself home every next morning. She hadn't been disappointed once up to now.

Jude had contemplated on hooking up with some of the random guys she had danced with too, but in the end she had decided against it, not really feeling like having meaningless sex plus having to have the small talk that most one-night stands sadly included. Sure, there were guys who didn't talk much, but still, she just wasn't in the mood tonight. So she just walked through the streets and enjoyed the night and all the lights.

She probably should have been worried about walking around in NYC during night all alone, but she somehow wasn't. This was her first day in the bid apple and it all still felt somewhat surreal. In the windows of the long-closed shops she spotted products from firms that she hadn't seen ever since she had left Toronto. Things that were only sold in the USA and Canada.

Somehow Jude ended up in front of the Empire State Building, though she needed a few moments to realize that. She checked her watch and saw that it was still opened for about half an hour. It was 1:30 a.m., and it had always been a dream of Jude's to be on the top of the Empire State Building at night to watch the city lights beneath her. A dream that was about to come true. Jude grinned and bought herself a ticket before she entered the elevator. When she arrived at the top she looked on her watch one last time, seeing that she still had 17 minutes until she had to head downstairs again.

The chilly air hit her again when she walked outside, but she welcomed the cold air that filled her lungs. Like usually when she had drank just a little bit too much, she always felt hot, like she had fever or something and the only thing helping then was cold air. Though she had only been inside the Empire State Building for about ten minutes, her cheeks had still blushed again and she was feeling so hot again, that it was like walking in paradise when she felt the cold air cool her down again.

The blonde girl walked over to the rail and leaned slightly over it, looking down to the street beneath her and the small lights of the cars, she felt dizzy looking down all the distance and soon stood straighter again, now taking in the panoramic view of New York at night. It was breathtaking, just like she had always imagined it.

Jude began walking around on the deck, happy that she seemed to be the only one up there currently, that was something she really appreciated. She couldn't have wished for more in this moment, here she was, alone on the Empire State Building at night with a view that reminded of a sky full with stars on the earth.

Unfortunately Jude soon realized that she wasn't all alone after all, a dark figure contrasted with the dim darkness and the city lights, standing not far from where Jude had now stopped. But she decided that she'd just ignore the one other person on this deck and enjoy the view until she had to get back down to the earth again. Yeah, she kinda felt like if she was up in the sky or something, only without a plane.

When Jude glanced over to the stranger a few minutes later, she saw that he – or she- had changed his position and that she could now perceive some rough features of the man –yeah, it was now clearly a man. After a few moments she had even detected what he was wearing: a leather jacket that seemed to be black (stylish) and some light blue jeans plus, ok, here it comes; sunglasses!?

Jude took a double take, unconsciously approaching the unknown guy, wondering why in hell someone would wear sunglasses at night on the Empire State building, while thanking the owners of the building for the few lights they had installed, that allowed her to see more of the stranger.

Suddenly the unknown turned around and his eyes met Judes. Jude gasped, shocked and overwhelmed with different emotions of all kinds overcoming her. What the hell…?

It was –of course- Tom Quincy, looking back at her. Obviously as surprised as she was to see the familiar face. He approached her, taking his sunglasses off in the process. Right, as if that would change anything.

Actually it kind of did, because it snapped Jude out of her trance. She suddenly was back in reality from her shock state and her mind was now working with high speed while she was slowly backing off, with the same tempo that he was coming nearer, just so that the distance between them remained the same.

What were the chances of meeting Tommy Quincy of all people tonight, in New York, on the Empire State building at 1:48 a.m.? Damn it, why does this always happen to me? I've been doing so good lately, I had everything going for me, but no, I just HAD to take this damn offer in New York city. Why couldn't I just stay away?

"Jude?!" Tommy asked, somewhat shocked, somewhat happy. Somewhat confused. It was written all over his face, that he hadn't thought he'd ever see her again. Well, what coincidence, Jude had thought the same.

How can he still look this damn hot after three damn years? And why the hell am I even noticing this? Or the ring at his left hand? God damn it, WHY?!

Jude scolded herself, annoyed with the feelings that were clearly resurfacing. These feelings were some she really couldn't use right now. This wasn't like three years ago in the studios of G-Major where she had always loved their undeniable chemistry and would have showed Tommy her feelings and would hope that he would finally admit that he felt the same about her.

No, this was reality and a very present one, in which Tommy happened to have a fiancé, hell maybe even a WIFE by now, and a kid. This wasn't the time for Jude to start longing after Tommy again, the guy she could never have.

What the hell is he even doing here? Shouldn't he be at home with his girl –or with just ANY girl? Or in some bar with Kwest. And, in the first place, he should be in TORONTO, not here in New York.

"Hey Tommy." Jude managed to get out, right after she had somehow got the words out of her mouth, she felt not only extremely dumb, but although felt that she had hit the railing behind her, meaning that she couldn't back off any longer. Shit.

"I knew you'd come up here some night, girl." Tommy said, shooting her one of this amazing, dizzy-making smiles. The ones that made Jude go all crazy inside. Why was this stupid ex-boybander still able to make her heart beat faster?

"What?" Jude asked confused, but then she suddenly remembered.


Flashback

It was another late night in the studio. Everybody had left, except for Jude and Tommy, who were determined to get this one song done. Though they hadn't really been working much during the last two hours since Kwest had left. Right now they were both lying on the couch, Tommy sitting, Jude lying comfortably with her head in Tommy's lap, her eyes closed while Tommy was playing with a few strands of her hair.

"So Harrison, it's my turn. Where is your favorite place to be right now?" Tommy asked. They had started playing some stupid game, in which they just asked the other random questions which the other HAD to answer totally honestly.

"What time is it exactly?" Jude inquired, sounding thoughtfully.
"1:50 a.m. So it's nearly 2 a.m., girl. Tell me, where would you like to be right now?"

"With you." Jude answered truthfully, she opened her eyes a little bit and grinned sleepily up at Tommy, only to find him smile back at her. She closed her eyes again and continued. "With you in New York city. On the Empire State Building, where we can see all the lights of New York city at night. That's where I'd just love to be right now. But just being with you is good enough for me right now."

"I'm glad then. Only here to make you happy, girl." Tommy commented chuckling. Jude yawned. "You're tired, I should probably get you home now." Tommy said, beginning to move tentatively.

"Nah!" Jude complained. "It's my turn and I'm not that tired yet, Quincy. Besides, I like it much better here with you than home with mom and Don doing who-knows-what in the living room."

"Alright girl, one last question then." Tommy gave in, not able to say no to his Jude.

"Yay!" Jude exclaimed happily and satisfied. Then she got quiet for a few moments, before she suddenly opened her eyes, not looking tired any longer at all. Their eyes made contact and Jude began speaking again. "Do you want to kiss me right now? Because if you do... I don't mind."

Instead of answering Tommy just leaned down and closed the gap between them while Jude had been coming up to him a little bit.

Flashback End


"You remembered." Jude whispered, not sure if he had heard her. It was so easy for her to get caught up in the past again, in all the moments she had Tommy had shared, while he was only a few feets away from her. All the things she had surpressed for so long, they were all rushing back now.

"Of course I did. How could I ever forget you, Jude?" Tommy asked, he was now standing a few feets away from her, if she had reached out with her hand, she could have touched him. Jude silently thanked and cursed god at the same time when he stopped coming nearer.


To be continued. If you review that is... You think you could write 4 more reviews before I post again? ;)