Chapter Twelve
Let the Games Begin
"What's so great?" Jude repeated walking into the kitchen, taking a seat next to Tommy. Tommy nervously searched his head for an answer, not wanting to tell her the truth.
"Oh, um…it's nothing. Just that my agent told me it was going to be an action movie, and he forgot to mention it was a romance. He always does that," Tommy replied convincingly. Well at least it's not a complete lie. I just can't tell her that playing this role next to her is going to take all of the self control I have…
"Yeah, my agent too," Jude stated with a short laugh. "He always has some secret that he keeps from me until the day I go to audition." Tommy just nodded his head in agreement.
"Oh yeah, and Dave called. He said we have a read through to go to on Friday morning. Then there's some sort of party at his place Saturday night," Tommy added changing the subject. Jude gave a sigh and sat back in her chair. She had hardly a chance to look at the script with all of the 'interruptions' in her life throughout the past day or two.
Tommy glanced at her before the timer dinged on the microwave. Getting up to retrieve the thawed hamburgers, he brought them over to his George Forman Grille.
"So I'm taking it you're like me and forgot to read over the script too?" he asked with a small smile. Jude just glared in his direction, reaching across the table to grab Tommy's copy of the script. Tommy let out a small laugh. Jude proceeded to leaf through the booklet, trying to concentrate.
"You do know it's only a read through? You don't have to have the lines memorized," Tommy spoke looking back over his shoulder to Jude.
"Yeah I know, but I'm just trying to get a feel for my character," Jude responded, not looking up. Tommy nodded, turning his attention back to the grille. They stood there in silence for the next few minutes, keeping themselves busy.
After the burgers were done cooking, Tommy took them off the grille, placing them on buns. Handing a plate to Jude she glanced at it quickly before setting down the script. Tommy took a place next to Jude at the table, both eating in silence. Jude had forgotten how hungry she was after being held hostage all day in the guest room. Glancing over at Tommy a few times she realized that maybe he did have a right to know what was going on. But that doesn't mean that she would be pouring all of herself out for nothing.
"So what do you think of the movie?" Tommy asked trying to make conversation. Jude shrugged her shoulders, taking a bite of the burger.
"I don't know, it's different from most movies I do. But it's going to be fun pretending to be a bounty hunter," Jude said making a gun with her hands and raising it to shoot Tommy in the head. "Bam!" she exclaimed, pretending to shoot off the pretend gun. Tommy looked at her with an expression that said, "I do not know you…" while Jude couldn't help but laugh. Tommy swallowed the last bite of his burger, pushing back from his chair.
"That's great, just great. Why don't you just kill me now," Tommy said jokingly. Walking over and setting his plate in the sink he turned back to Jude who he could tell was trying hard to hold in a burst of laughter. Looking at her in amusement Tommy couldn't help but smile. "You know it wasn't that funny," he tried. Jude just looked at him through fits of laughter nodding her head.
"Oh yes it was. You should've…seen the look…on your face," Jude replied, her eyes starting to water. After a few more laughs and a couple of knee slaps, Jude finally calmed down. "Okay…I think I'm done," she stated taking a few deep breaths.
"Well at least I got you to smile for once," Tommy said. Jude looked up to him, rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry Quincy, I still think you're as stupid as you look," Jude stated matter-of-factly. She wore a smug grin that stretched across her face as she stared into Tommy's blue eyes. Now it was Tommy's turn to roll his eyes.
"Yeah, whatever Harrison. Just go…read more of your script," Tommy replied waving her off with one hand. He was about to turn away before Jude called out to him.
"Oh but don't you want to read through the script with me?" Jude asked in an obvious sarcastic tone.
"Only if I had a death wish," Tommy retorted. Jude laughed burying her head into the script once again. Tommy walked towards the hallway, but turned back quickly, "Oh, I went down to your apartment earlier and got you some more clothes. They're sitting over in that chair." Tommy pointed to the chair at the other end of the table. Jude scoffed.
"You broke into my apartment and went through my closet?" she asked in disbelief. I was afraid she was going to say that…Tommy thought.
"No, I did not break in. I used your key that you left laying on the kitchen counter. And I thought I was being nice bringing you back clothes so that you didn't have to go back down there yourself."
Jude looked at him trying to find something clever to spit back at him. However it only left her with a mouth hanging halfway open and a blank stare on her face. She knew Tommy had, yet again, won. Why is it that the bad ones always make the most sense? She thought quickly making a grab for her clothes. Giving an exasperated sigh she mumbled a "Whatever," to Tom while skulking off towards the hallway.
Tommy grinned to himself, knowing she had given into him again. Maybe not willingly, but she had. At least I know she believes what I say…he thought staring down to the counter where the script was. Smiling to himself he picked it up following Jude into the hallway.
"Hey Jude?" He called in a teasing voice, "I thought we were going to practice the script?" Tommy watched as Jude's eyes narrowed in resentment. It took all he had to not bust out one of his smug grins, but he held it back valiantly.
Jude stepped towards him slowly, finding it excruciatingly hard to not strangle him. Looking down at the script she knew he was just playing with her. He was just trying to find another way to piss her off, the amusement evident on his face. Suddenly an idea came to her. If he wants to practice the script…then we're gonna practice the script.
Tommy's amusement faded slightly, Jude taking on a new expression similar to the one he had been trying to hide moments ago. A playful grin spread slowly across her face, and he had the sudden urge to run away, far away. Jude saw how uncomfortable he was becoming; only making her smile extend even farther.
Jude took another step closer, snatching the script book out of Tommy's hands. Tommy flinched, afraid that she was going to hit him. Jude let out a short burst of laughter, being able to sense a little bit of fear.
"Okay, if you really want to," Jude says enticingly. Tommy looked at her curiously, before his eyes widened. I set myself up for that one…
"Well…" Tommy starts trying to protest. Jude ignores him and cuts him off by shoving the script in his face, already opened to a page. Tommy nervously skims across the page, scared of what he might find. Reading down the page he let out a breath that he had been holding subconsciously. Relief washed over him, glad to see she hadn't chosen a romantic scene. Instead she picked a scene that revealed a part of his character he hadn't known of yet. Looking up to Jude he met her gaze with a genuine look of surprise.
"Since when is my character a singer?"
