Chapter 10

Good as his word, Tommy was there on time to take her out for dinner a couple of hours before the show. She got her boots on and headed outside, slamming the door behind her in her rush. Her excitement was infectious as she practically vaulted into the passenger seat of his blue Viper. "Hey," she said enthusiastically, her eyes focused on her seat belt as she buckled it in place. She finally looked at him, noticing his silence.

He cleared his throat and finally managed a weak 'hey' in return.

She looked over at him strangely, her vivid blue eyes sparkling at him anyway. "Is something wrong?"

Blonde. She had gone blonde. It was such a small thing; teenage girls did it all the time, but…He couldn't admit to her that her newly dyed hair had floored him. She looked more mature, more like the woman he tried not to think of her as, rather than the rebellious teenager she occasionally acted like. Blonde. He swallowed hard. Now that she had changed it to this golden hue, he knew with a strange clarity that this was her natural color. It was a well known fact that he had a weakness for blondes.

There was a touch of concern in her voice now, since he had a weird look on his face. Had something come up and he was trying to find a way to tell her he was cancelling? "Tommy? Are you okay?"

"You look good," he finally managed to say.

She gave him a grateful grin as she touched her blonde wavy locks, having temporarily forgotten what she had done last night. "Thanks." She hadn't been sure she liked going back to the color she was born with, having changed it in junior high when she hadn't wanted any comparison between her and her older sister. Sadie had been the perfect blonde princess and Jude had rebelled rather than try to compete. Now it seemed like a long time ago and she had felt it was time to be a grown up, maybe in more ways than one as she thought of the night Chris had planned for them. Maybe that was why she wanted to be different. Would he like it? Tommy's warm eyes on her, seemed to indicate he did. She wasn't a little girl anymore. How long had she been looking after herself anyway?

"So I was thinking of sushi-there's this restaurant I like across town."

She smiled at him, feeling so in sync with him at that moment, it was almost eerie. "How'd you know I love sushi?"

He grinned at her. "I have my ways."

Jude had to agree. He seemed to understand her almost effortlessly sometimes.

"I've never been here before. It's huge." She looked around unashamedly taking in the large arena and mass of people milling around.

"Really? With how into music you are, I figured you for a regular."

Jude shrugged and smiled at him. "I've been to a lot of club shows, but the bands that play here cost major bucks."

"Ah. Come on." He took her hand and pulled her towards one of the many entrances into the inner arena. They went down a small flight of stairs, onto the arena floor after showing their tickets to one of the ushers, closer to the stage than Jude had expected.

"Gaw I still can't believe you scored third row center seats." Her mouth was still open in awe at the band that was barely twenty feet away from them, close enough so she could see the sweat glistening off the singer, Caleb Followill. Some performers didn't live up to the music they put out on the radio, producers like Tommy having mixed it into a shiny package not reflecting their lack of true talent, but the Kings of Leon, really were that good. Jude bounced up and down to the beat of the song, Tommy grinning at her obvious excitement.

"Hey!" she suddenly spun around and shouted in outrage. There was a large wet spot on the back of her shirt from where the sickeningly sweet smell of beer now wafted.

"Sorry…" A drunken frat guy said in reply, barely glancing at her before looking down at his cup, realizing he had lost most of his drink, more worried about that, than her. He hurriedly moved on, probably to find another beer vendor.

Fabric now clung to her back, unpleasantly sticky and cold. She swore under her breath at the asshole. She pushed the hem of her shirt against her lower back to keep the liquid from tracing a path down the inside of her jeans.

Tommy looked at her, a cross of amusement and sympathy on her face as she scowled at him. He leaned in closer to her to be heard over the din of the music and the fans. "Want me to beat him up?" he asked lightly.

She smiled back reluctantly. "Would you?"

"Anything for you Big Eyes."

She shook her head and sighed at the thought of wearing her wet clothes for the rest of the night.

His hands went to the button on his own short sleeve black button down shirt and he undid two buttons before pulling it over his head, leaving him in a black tank top and leaving Jude a clear view of the tattoos he had on his upper arms that he usually kept hidden from view.

Suddenly it became even more stifling in the large crowded space, as she couldn't tear her eyes away from the designs that drew her attention to his muscular biceps. It took her a second to realize he was holding his shirt out to her. There was an arrogant smirk on his face as she took it from him.

She pulled off her own shirt quickly and rolled it into a ball, chucking it onto her seat.

This time it was he that was left staring, the cocky expression falling from his face.

She wore a white spaghetti strap camisole, the light fabric casting some rather interesting shadows in some interesting places.

She tried not to notice his eyes on her even as her cheeks heated a little, and she put his shirt on quickly, the smell of his cologne enveloping her. Her arms went back into the arm holes, and she did something only girls seemed able to, he watching on in confused amusement. Her arms came back out of the short sleeves and she pulled the top over her head, leaving him bemused and slightly impressed, until the thought came to him that she now wore nothing underneath his shirt.

Tommy swallowed convulsively and had to tear his gaze away from where his mind had already started to hone in on. It was hours away before she was even seventeen, he reminded himself forcefully. But staring at her now he couldn't find it in himself to care about her age, and her boyfriend was barely a distant memory here in this place.

Their eyes slid away from each other, focusing back on the loud music coming from the stage, but awareness pulsed between them, impossible to ignore. The music did its magic though and drew them back to safer ground.

She started to laugh, cutting Tommy's singing off.

"What? You know girls used to swoon when I sang, not cackle." He turned his head to grin at her before sliding his eyes back to the road.

She put her hand to her mouth in embarrassment. "I do not cackle!" She smacked his arm. "And by the way, it's not 'waiting wars to shake the pall and the beat.' What does that even mean?" she referred to how he had just interpreted the lyrics they had just been singing together for Kings of Leon's, Use Somebody.

"Then what is it?"

She looked over at him and shrugged sheepishly making him snicker.

"I think it's something about 'the poet and the beat'?" she added, trying to redeem her own ignorance. It wasn't exactly like Caleb Followill enunciated his words. "I can't believe it took them four albums to get their sound right." To her that seemed like a lifetime.

"Some musicians never get it right."

"Is it really that hard?"

"Maybe not for you," he said offhandedly.

She warmed, wondering if that was a compliment coming from a man she respected as a producer. He was definitely getting a good sound out of Cipher Saints, something she hadn't quite expected, not knowing he was into hard rock.

Tommy hit the play button and the CD started to play where it had left off, both of their voices joining in again with the music. More hilarity ensued as they mangled the lyrics.

He pulled up to the curb of her house since she told him her parents would be out.

Their laughter faded away and he glanced briefly at the dashboard clock. "It's 12:05, officially your birthday. So what're you going to wish for?"

She shrugged. "I don't know-so far it's been pretty perfect," she admitted without conscious thought, his eyes holding hers captive.

"I'm glad," he said sincerely. He leaned into her, so close that his warm breath fanned her cheek.

Jude could smell the faintest hint of his cologne wafting off his skin, even though she had grown used to it on the shirt she wore. She should have closed her eyes, but she did not, afraid that if she did, this moment would disappear, no more substantial than a dream. However, she was equally afraid that this was real, afraid to believe in her own feelings. Would he cross that final distance? And would she even remember to stop him if he did?

A loud thump sounded from nearby, shattering the spell that had been cast over them.

Jude looked out the window to see the dark form of Jamie Andrews, closing the lid to his garbage can on the sidewalk, and she could feel the glare directed their way, even in the dimly illuminated night.

Tommy sat back in his seat reluctantly even though it was probably a good thing that they had been interrupted. "You should probably go." His voice was raspy, as if his breathing was slightly unsettled.

"Yeah…" She caught his gaze again before looking away shyly, her hand on the door handle.

"Good night Jude." His smile was faint, but genuine.

"Good night Tommy."

Jude couldn't stop smiling as she walked away, and she turned to see him waiting patiently for her to get into her house.

Jude walked into the kitchen, her eyes downcast as she scrolled through the songs on her iPod. She almost jumped when she heard her name being calling from across the counter. She looked up quickly to see her dad giving her a look of amusement as he sipped his morning coffee. "Hey Dad." Jude skirted by him, leaving a good deal of space between them as she reached for a mug from the cabinet to pour herself some coffee also.

"Hey Kiddo, since when did you start drinking coffee?" he asked mildly.

She had to hide the flinch at the endearment. At one time it might have meant something, but now sounded patently false to her ears. Jude opened the fridge to get some half and half before answering him. "I don't know-couple years I guess." When she was done making her drink, she retreated to the kitchen table.

He studied her smooth face, trying to coincide this picture with the little girl she had just been, and the blonde hair that she had returned to after years as a redhead.

"Your hair looks good your natural color. I had almost forgotten," he mused.

"Uh thanks…" she said even as she could the weight of the uncomfortable silence they were prone to these days. She touched her golden locks reflexively, having not recognized herself in the mirror this morning.

"Oh I almost forgot," he said with forced joviality. He pulled his wallet out and handed her two folded bills.

Jude stared down at the two fifties, struck dumb.

"Happy birthday."

"Uh thanks Dad." She really hadn't expected Stuart to remember and found that particularly sad about her life. Not that Jude ever let herself feel sorry for her situation. She, at least, was still alive to pursue her dreams.

"From me and your mother of course." He did not need to mention that Victoria had been too busy to greet her daughter this morning.

"Tell mom thanks too." She said it because it was expected, not because she meant it. Victoria rarely had anything to do with Jude these days, preferring to fill her life with meaningless hobbies, to get away from the house.

Stuart cleared his throat and stared at his watch. "I need to get going. Do you have plans with your friends tonight?"

Jude nodded, knowing better than to bring up Chris. "They're taking me out for pizza." Which was partially true; her friends were taking her out after school, before she went to Chris's later that night.

The relief was evident on his face, even though Jude gave him credit for trying to hide it.

"Remember I need you guys out of the house by seven," J.C. reminded his band as they all went about packing up their gear.

The door between the sound booth and soundboard room was open and Tommy could hear them as he stared at the laptop in front of him.

"What's the big deal man?" Bodie said. He was pretty much healed these days and Jude was no longer needed to fill in anymore, so he was there as much as the other members.

Justin nudged Trey and grinned. "He's finally going to seal the deal."

"Hey back off. It's Jude's birthday," J.C. replied, the happiness evident in his voice. "I'm making her dinner- that's it."

Tommy didn't hear all of Bodie's not so complimentary reply, something having clenched tight, in his gut. She had invaded his thoughts more than once that day, and he had let himself forget she was with J.C. Not that, that should have mattered. She was just a girl, just a talented kid.

Jude took a deep breath, staring at the white painted wooden door, knowing there was really nothing of interest on it, but stalling nonetheless. She had just come over from Wally's house, not able to enjoy the time with her friends fully, because she had been thinking of tonight. She and her friends had made a promise a couple of years ago, to always make time for one another, even if they were dating other people, after a bad incident involving Kyle and his first real girlfriend. He had started to blow them off for the demanding girl and it had almost destroyed their friendships. So Jude had made sure she was with them first, before she saw Chris.

Something about this night had weight to it, maybe in the way Chris had asked her over to celebrate her birthday. They would have the house to themselves, for at least a good portion of the night, just the two of them-alone. Finally, she knocked.

He did not make her wait long, opening the door barely ten seconds later. "Well look at you," he smiled at her in appreciation, taking in the long fall of golden hair and slight smile on her glossy lips. "Happy birthday." His mouth met hers in an unhurried kiss, showing her how much he had been thinking of her.

He pulled back and laced her fingers with his, pulling her into the house. "Come on. I'm just finishing up dinner. You hungry?"

She nodded wordlessly, letting him tug her towards the kitchen. Jude leaned against the far counter, out of the way as she watched him pour spaghetti into a strainer. He grabbed something from a drawer and a bottle of wine from the counter, soon handing her a half full glass of some kind of red wine she couldn't hope to identify, knowing less than nothing about the stuff, except that her mother occasionally drank chardonnay. She took a sip and rolled it across her tongue, deciding it wasn't too bad, before taking another sip. Maybe it would relax her from this nervous tension, making her muscles feel hard as bricks. "Can I help?" she asked, as he pulled a loaf of bread from the oven.

It smelled like herbs and garlic, making her stomach give an embarrassing growl.

He grinned at her, that dimple of his making her heart flutter and shook his head. "Sit." Chris nodded his head towards the kitchen table, that had already been set.

She did as he said and watched him moving around the large kitchen, somewhat surprised that a house full of guys would actually have a full selection of kitchen stuff.

"So how was the concert last night?" he asked, as he stirred the large pot simmering on the stove.

"It was amazing. You should have been," she said animatedly.

Chris turned to look at her. "Hey look, about that. I'm sorry I didn't want to go-but I'm a bear when I don't like the music. I didn't want to ruin it for you."

"It's okay. I had a good time."

"Did Quincy behave himself?" he asked jokingly, turning back to the stove again.

"Uh yeah, he was pretty decent." The cheerful nonchalance in her voice sounded forced to her own ears. She remembered his shirt, lying on her bed. "It smells really good," she said almost desperately, to get her mind away from Tommy.

Within a few minutes he had them both settled at the table and bowls heaped with pasta.

"I didn't know," Jude grinned at him and took a sip of the red wine he had bought for tonight. It was sweet on her tongue and she had gotten used to the alcoholic taste pretty quickly.

They sat side by side at the kitchen table, where he had lit two tapered candles in small jelly glasses and had even found a table cloth. Dinner hadn't been anything fancy, spaghetti and homemade meatballs with herb bread, but Jude had never been into anything too complicated.

Chris's index finger traced swirls on the back of her hand, which she had placed on the table. "Know what?"

"That you could cook."

"You know my mom. She made sure we could all cook a couple things, so we wouldn't starve."

Jude laughed. "Your mom is amazing."

He nodded his agreement. "So do you want some ice cream for dessert?" His green eyes intent on hers.

Jude groaned and shook her head, her hand going to her full stomach. "Maybe later."

Chris got up, grabbed his wine glass and the wine bottle before holding his other hand out for her.

She took her glass and got up, taking his larger hand, letting him lead her into the living room. They settled into the couch, she in his arms, snuggling close.

He used his fingers to brush the hair away from her neck, nuzzling gently, as she closed her eyes.

Jude felt languid and replete after dinner and the wine she had drunk. Her earlier tension was now a faint memory. This was Chris, the guy she had know practically forever, had lusted after for years and her boyfriend. She trusted him and she liked it when he touched her.

His mouth was hot against her throat, and she half turned her body to meet his lips. Her mouth parted, allowing his tongue access as her hands moved restlessly across his chest. Her fingers found the hem of his t-shirt and moved lower to find the exposed skin of his stomach. She felt the tightening of his muscles under her touch.

His kiss grew more insistent, his hands sliding down her hips to cup her ass. He shifted her so that she lay more fully against him.

Jude could feel the hard bulge pressing against her stomach, but the slide of his hand under her shirt distracted her just as quickly.

He pulled his lips away from hers and her eyes snapped open to stare into his. "I've wanted you since I saw you again," he admitted even as he took her lower lip between his teeth, tugging gently.

"I've wanted you since I was twelve," she admitted back, and then her hand flew to her mouth, unbelieving that she had said that out loud.

He chuckled at her expression, like a doe caught in headlights, before giving her another kiss. "Want to go upstairs?"

She nodded, but made no attempt to move off of him.

"Baby as much as I like this position, my band mates are going to wander in sometime tonight."

She blushed and scrambled onto the wooden floor. He stood up, reaching for the bottle of wine before putting an arm around her waist, leading them towards the stairs.

Chris locked his bedroom door behind them and stared down at her.

Jude didn't know where she found the courage, but she fisted his shirt in her hand and pulled him in, pressing her lips against his.

They moved towards his queen sized bed, hands caressing bare skin, their mouths fused together.

The back of Jude's knees bumped against the mattress and she fell heavily onto the rumpled sheets of the unmade bed.

Chris pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a lean, muscular chest that had her eyes riveted as he quickly joined her.

In between kisses, he helped her remove her own shirt, leaving her in a tiny black lace bra. He looked down appreciatively, taking in the delicate curves and smooth pale skin.

Her legs curled around his, cradling him against her body.

His tongue licked low on her neck, his hands spanning her bare waist. He began to suck on the delicious flesh, causing a ripple of awareness through her body. Chris's hands moved up her abdomen, fingertips grazing the bottom edges of her sexy bra.

Suddenly, her head lifted and she stared at him, breathing uneven, pupils dilated as she caught his gaze. "Chris…" His name came out in a whisper.