Two months later, Jude's album was finished recording. There were twelve tracks on the album, including a remake of Pick Up The Pieces, which Jude had performed with Boyz Attack on Music Helps, to the astonishment of both her fans and Tommy's fans. Jude had seen Sadie swaying somewhere off camera, and that made Jude happy. Always good to know your sister doesn't hate you.
Georgia had been hoping for a thirteenth track, but they had a deadline, according to EJ. Something about a 'wave of publicity.' So, with Jude's newfound free time, she set to making amends with Jamie.
"Jamie Andrews, I have respected your privacy enough for the past few months to stop calling you, but Jamie, can we at least talk? I know I broke a promise, maybe more, but I have a reason. Not a good reason, but still, a reason, and-" she was cut off by the phone picking up.
"Hi, Jude," Jamie said quietly.
"Jamie! Oh my god, Jamie, please don't hang up, I-"
"Let's talk in person Jude. I can be over in, like, five seconds."
"Okay."
--
Jude opened the door and saw Jamie on her doorstep, holding a very familiar strung guitar pick. "I think this belongs to you."
Jude hugged him. "Jamie, you forgive me, right? I was an idiot, a very depressed idiot."
"I forgive you Jude. And I'm sorry I took this back."
"You had every right," Jude said. She let go of him and ushered him inside.
"You don't have to explain Jude. It's got to be pretty damn personal if you did what you did."
"But I want to explain, Jamie, even if it makes you think less of me." Jamie sighed and leaned further into the couch.
"Begin."
"So, basically, there was this guy, and, well… stuff happened. I got really confused, and he did too, and I didn't know how to feel, and… I guess I just ran away from it all." Jude bit her lip. "So, yeah, and now I'm still confused."
Jamie examined her face. Jude was relieved to see sympathy instead of disgust on his face.
"Did you avoid talking about the, um, stuff, with him?"
"Yeah."
Jamie bit his lip. "Then I'd say you cared about him, a lot."
Jude thought. "Yeah, I think you're right, Jamie."
--
The next day, Jude sought out Vincent Speiderman in the cafeteria.
"Um, Vincent?"
"It's Speid," he corrected absently. He turned to Jude, and his eyes widened. "Jude Harrison?"
"Yeah. I was wondering if you could do me a favor."
"Um, yeah, sure." He swallowed. "What?"
"Well, I heard that you've got a band, SME I think…"
--
Jude barged into G Major and again received stares, but this time, they weren't of disgust or pity or empathy. They were all curious of the three boys who trailed behind her, instrument cases in hand.
"This way, boys," she called, gesturing towards Studio A, where Tommy was mixing her album.
She opened the door and walked up to Tommy. "Out, DuTois. We'll call you in later."
"Jude, I'm mixing your album. It's due in a week."
"Out, Tommy. You'll see later, just go." He stared at her a second before relenting.
"Fine." He got up and walked out.
"Okay, Speid, I've got the chords, but feel free to edit them, and Kyle, I know vaguely what I want to do for the drum beat…"
--
"Tommy!" Jude called a couple hours later, stepping into the lobby. He turned his head. "Come on, let's get moving!"
He stood up, grumbling. "Most stubborn girl on the planet, never knows how to say please…"
"Tommy!"
--
"So, Jude," Tommy said, turning to her while Wally did what was sounding like his last take. "Am I going to get to hear the lyrics soon?"
"Shove it, DuTois, you'll get 'em when Wally's done."
When Wally finished, Tommy hoisted Jude up and carried her into the booth, amongst her squealing protests. He planted her in front of the mike, and went back to the mixing board. "Untitled, in three, two, one…"
She took a deep breath and waited for her cue. "You never lied to me not once, it's not your fault that I can't trust, it's not your fault that I can't trust, it's in my past, it's in my path and I can go there,…"
Tommy swallowed. This was clearly her telling him what she had decided.
"…making a mess out of this game, to see it all go up in flames, so tired of being ruthless and reckless,…"
Yep, they'd been pretty reckless. They'd botched this up pretty bad. But how does Jude feel?
"…time to be your only one, to almost be your way too young, time to crash into the sun, time to be your twenty one,…"
Oh, he thought.
"…time to dream that love will last, time to drive my car too fast, time to walk before I run, time to be, ohh, time to be your twenty one…"
--
Speid, sensing that their new friend and her producer were going to need some alone time, had silently ushered Wally, Kyle and himself out of the room.
He found he was right.
As soon as Jude finished singing, Tommy had walked into the booth, and hadn't bothered to stop the tape. Speid was going to have to steal that recording later.
--
"Jude-" Tommy started.
"Tommy, I told you how I feel. Now you've got to tell me how you feel." Tommy bit his lip, and she laughed bitterly. "Just say it Tommy. 'Oh, Jude, you know you're my best friend, but it was just a mistake.' Just a mistake, Tommy! Don't lie!"
"Jude, it was a mistake, but not for the reason you think," Tommy said quietly. He sat down next to her on the floor.
"Oh no, Tommy, I know exactly why. 'We're just friends, and we mistook the anxiety we were feeling for genuine passion.' But Tommy, I know I didn't make a mistake."
"Jude, that wasn't the mistake. The mistake was doing this when you were so young." He took a deep breath. "I definitely like you in a more-than-friendly way, Jude, and my feelings are at least as deep as yours, but I don't know how much further they go. But Jude… you were fifteen. I'm seven-and-a-half years older than you."
"I know." Jude sighed. "I know. But my heart won't shut up, Tommy. What am I supposed to do?"
"Well, as always, you've got options. The easiest would be to fire me and shut me out of your life-"
"Not an option," Jude said.
"You could also, just, restrain yourself. I'd restrain myself, too, of course."
"Next."
Tommy took a deep breath. "Or, you and I could keep another secret."
Jude bit her lip, and then smiled. "I'm good with secrets."
"Me too," Tommy said.
--
Jude came out smiling broadly.
"Where's Quincy?" Speid asked.
"Mixing," Jude practically sang.
"Cool," Speid said. He turned to leave.
"Hey Speid, wait up!"
"Yeah?"
"I've got one more favor to ask. You guys have already done so much for me, but-"
"Out with it, Harrison."
"Do you think you could be my backup band full time?"
Speid thought before grinning. "I think I might be able to con Wally and Kyle into that."
--
OH MY GOD, IT'S THE END! OH NO!
Fear not, my friends, for there will be a sequel, if you request it!
Come on, you know you want to see AU season 2. You know you love me-
Ahem, sorry, that was my evil/cocky twin. But seriously, if you guys want a sequel, I've got one in me.
Cheers,
breezy