A/N – Sorry for such a long break. I have a double-update coming!
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Chapter 8 – Am I crazy?
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Tom's PoV
I can't believe she said 'no.' I just offered her a chance to sing for a huge recording company's executive. She loved singing. I mean, she had to. She was part of that contest. And her voice was phenomenal. Better than any artist I had heard in a long time.
I also couldn't believe I was still standing here after she stormed out.
I blamed the shock. Turning to Georgia, I gave her an apologetic look. "I'm really sorry. She's just nervous. Just give me a second. I promise, she's worth the wait."
Georgia frowned. "I don't care how talented she is, Tom. If she's so nervous she can't even sing, she'll never make it."
"I know. I promise, once she starts singing, you'll realize what I'm talking about." Georgia was silent for a moment, then she sighed,
"You better be right, Tom."
I grinned wide. "I am, don't worry." Before Georgia could chance her mind, I bolted for the door, my mind racing with ways to convince Jude to come back.
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Jude's PoV
What was I thinking? Really. Not only had I just run out on a gorgeous man and his hotshot boss who were both offering me a free chance to sing, but I had also just run out on a gorgeous man who was my ride home. Seriously, what was wrong with me?
Singing had always been my passion. Music had always been my life. But after that Instant Star competition, I had given that all up.
But, why, really? Was Eden more talented than me? Or was the contest, like the real work, just a popularity contest? Was she just prettier and better dressed than me? Was talent and a love for music not even important anymore?
If that was the case, then the contest had just caused a lot of newfound hatred in me. Not because Eden had beaten me, but because the industry was completely fake, just like their so-called stars.
"Jude!" I heard my name and spun around. Tom was jogging toward me, a determined look on his face. "Wait up!"
Sighing, I crossed my arms over my chest. "What is it?"
"Please come back inside. Georgia really wants to hear you sing." He gave me The Look, but I averted my gaze. I needed to be strong and that was really hard to do when he was standing so close to me and it was easy to see how cute he was.
I pursed my lips together, focusing on the street sign just above his right shoulder. "Why?"
"Because I told her how amazing you are," he murmured. God I didn't even need to look at him. His voice made m melt. He reached out and held my hands. His skin was hot against mine and I could feel my breath catch in my throat as he caressed the back of my hands. "Jude, you are unbelievably talented. Your voice is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. You need to let the rest of the world hear it."
He took a step closer to me, and our bodies were mere inches apart. I swallowed hard, finding it hard to think with us being so close. "I'm not…I'm not that good. Really."
He smiled at me and shook his head. "You're so incredible and you don't even know it." He leaned in closer, his bright eyes glittering with mischief. "What a shame." The words were a breath of a whisper, and before they even registered in my mind, he pressed his lips delicately against mine.
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A/N – Continue on to the next chapter! But leave a reply for this one and let me know how I did first!
