Alright then guys, I'm BACK. I had a majr writers block for generally all of my stories, but I fought back hard and I worked on this chapter until it was right and finished. It's extra long, to make up for all the time you had to wait for it ;)
I just hope there aren't too many mistakes left...
Read, Enjoy and Review!
Chapter 14 - Earth to Jude!
Jude was waking up with a smile on her face. That was a miracle, especially since she had been woken by the noise her clock made. She reached out, her eyes still closed and switched the alarm off, before she finally opened one eye and peeked in the direction of the alarm-clock. Damn it, she hated daylight in the mornings, it was the hardest thing about getting up, considering that Jude really had problems to get her eyes open and will them to stay that way every morning.
It was 9:45, the usual time for her to get up on a Monday morning. As usual she didn't want to. But today there was yet another reason for her unwillingness to leave her bed. The reason was lying next to her, still sleeping judging from the rhythmic breaths she could hear.
Jude turned around and opened her eyes more than willingly for the first time in years on a Monday morning. Although she was now for several weeks together with Tommy, she still couldn't believe how lucky she was, every time she woke up next to him. To be true she could hardly believe she wasn't dreaming 24/7. Her life seemed just too good to be true.
For a few moments the blonde contemplated on snuggling up on Tommy and just skip one of the despised Mondays, but she knew she couldn't do it. Because if she did Kwest would come around sooner or later and ask what happened and why she didn't show up in the studio. One of the disadvantages in being close friends with the producer/neighbor. But even before Kwest would interrupt her little idyll, Spied would make the contest and probably ring her out of bed in about 45 minutes anyways, since she was supposed to take him to work with her. Something she wasn't really keen about, after all she and Angel had given Spied a really hard time two nights ago. But hey, it was his own fault if he crashed a strictly-girls DVD night and refused to leave only because it just happened to be his apartment. As if that was a good reason.
However, unfortunately his car was in a car shop, being checked and everything, causing Spied to rely on his best friend and favorite co-worker to take him to work. Meaning that Jude would have to get up soon, if she didn't want to not only wake up Tommy but also having to cover up for Tommy being in her apartment this early.
So Jude sighed one last time, kissed Tommy softly on the forehead and stood up, thinking about what she could wear to work today. Luckily she had only to chose a outfit and put some make-up on in the next forty minutes, since anything else would not only way overcharge her this time of the day, but she would have had gotten up way earlier too. But since Spied had promised her to invite her to Starbucks and get her a decent breakfast before they went to work, she was fine with the forty minutes she had left. She hated having to rush in the early morning. Getting up was bad enough.
"Hey dude, good to see you!" Spied greeted Jude with a way too awake smile for Jude's taste. As usually her mood had darkened ever since she had left the bed and hadn't been able to return to it. The worst thing was that she hadn't had time for coffee, she had been just leaving the bathroom when she had heard the elevator sound, telling her that someone arrived on her floor. A quick look through the spy-hole had showed her an approaching Spied, so she had opened before he got to knock and wake her boyfriend up.
Boyfriend. Thinking of Tommy as my boyfriend feels still so damn great.
"Morning." Jude murmured grumpily, also it seemed like in the corners of her mouth a little smile was forming, always appearing when she thought of Tommy these days. "And please don't call me dude until I have some coffee in my bloodstream, because I'm not in the mood for this. It's way too early for fooling around."
"Oh, someone had a late night? What kept you away from your precious sleep? It wasn't Ang, was it? I told you she was only trouble, but you wouldn't listen to me. That's what you get for choosing her side over mine!" Spied teased merciless, clearly assuming that his sister had kept Jude in a bar or a club all night.
Jude was about to contradict, to tell him that Angel was not only one of her best friends and the best roommate one could wish for, but that she had also spend the night somewhere else at a friends house outside of Toronto since said friend has gotten married yesterday. But then Jude decided to just let the matter go and to let Spied think whatever he want. This way she didn't have to think of some other excuse, so she wasn't complaining.
"Whatever you say. Just get me some coffee real quick!" Jude answered and closed the door behind her, heading straight for the elevator. Spied followed her with his trademark smirk, knowing that he could now get even with grumpy-morning Jude for making fun of him with his sister in his own apartment.
Jude was walking through the hallway of I.O. Records where hers and Kwest's usual studio was, she had just left it to go out for lunch and she was now contemplating on asking Spied and the guys to eat with her. It was a question that popped up everyday, since Jude wanted to have fun with the guys in the short break, but on the other side she wanted to call Tommy. Sadly both wasn't possible, because once SME was with you, there was no getting rid of them. Usually they even came back to the studio with her and annoyed the hell out of Kwest until he exploded and send them away.
The funny thing was really watching Kwest while he was in the studio together with SME, it was hilarious. Jude had quickly gotten why he wasn't producing the three chaotic guys, they just didn't fit. Kwest was more of a calm one, while SME were like some immature five-year olds. Although Jude secretly thought that Kwest would probably be not only able to handle the three with the time if he was their producer, but that they would also make their best music ever, she knew that it wasn't going to happen if SME wouldn't ever learn to really see their job as work, not fun.
When Jude walked through the lobby alone, since she hadn't found SME in their usual studio, Georgia left Darius office, slamming the door shut behind her, an angry look on her face. Jude stopped curiously, watching her former boss more closely while hoping not to be spotted. But Georgia's eyes found hers and the angry expression turned into a sad but distanced one. Jude avoided looking directly at her and only looked up again when she was sure that Georgia had left through the front entrance.
She had just started walking towards the exit herself, when the intimidated receptionist was leaving Darius office, her whole appearance and body language being as different from Georgia as possible. When she now spotted Jude, she walked straight up to her, looking a little bit relieved, but still somewhat frightened.
"Miss Harrison, Mister Mills wants to speak with you immediately." The woman informed her hastily, before she was walking away again.
Jude was staring after the woman for a few seconds, trying to grasp what could possibly be the reason for Darius seemingly strong wish to see her. Right now. Finally Jude gave up assuming and walked slowly towards Darius office, steeling herself for whatever was about to come.
Jude strode into the office after she had knocked politely and had waited to be called in, acting way more confidential then she actually felt. But acting classes had taught her well and when you're dealing with Darius Mills, showing that you're afraid or even intimidated is the death sentence for your free will.
Darius was on the phone, but nodded a silent "hello" to Jude and motioned for her to sit down in front of his desk. Jude sat down and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, she didn't like being in Darius office, being anywhere near Darius actually. She always felt somewhat observed, like there was some kind of test and if she failed she would lose everything all over again. That was her biggest fear, losing the music again, losing herself, losing Tommy.
"You wanted to see me?" Jude asked after Darius had finished his call. Not giving away in voice or behavior that she was nervous and somewhat scared.
"Yeah that's right. I just had a conversation with Georgia and found out that Karma and Eden are going to be at the big party the day after tomorrow. It's a very exclusive party of some rich and important guy in this town, however, I still have another ticket and I wanted to ask if you have already plans for that night. I know it's on short notice and I promised you a free week, but this is important. You're still new in the biz and this is a party where you can make some new connections, in this business it's all about connections, you know!"
Jude had listened thoughtful, she had actually planned on doing a DVD-night together with Tommy and the thought of enjoying a good movie and some ordered food while lying in Tommy's arms sounded very, very tempting. But on the other side she was really curious about the party, since she hadn't been on many of these VIP-parties yet, unfortunately.
"Actually I kind of already have plans. Well maybe, nothing sure yet." Jude answered slowly, she didn't want to commit or anything without talking to Tommy first, though she didn't want to lose the ticket either.
Darius starred at her for a few moments, before he nodded shortly and reached for something on his desk. Then he gave the piece of paper to Jude, which turned out to be the invitation. He even smiled at her fatherly and said without the usual ordering tone.
"Alright, I see. Here is the invitation. Why don't you just check with whoever you have plans with and then decide spontaneous if you go or not."
Jude was stunned and the confusion must have shown on her face too, because Darius' smile turned into a knowing smirk.
"Look, I know you wanna go, it's natural for a newcomer like you, you want to go and see how it works. So whatever plans you have, they must be important to you. Besides, you have done pretty great in the last weeks so I see no reason to force you into going there. I think you'll regret not going enough anyways." Darius predicted in an amused tone. Jude's confused look vanished and slight anger was now in her eyes. She didn't like the things Darius had implied. She didn't like, that he considered himself in a position to allow her to not go to the party like that. Plus he sounded like he was pretty sure that she would come anyway.
"Thanks for leaving the final decision up to me, I wouldn't have dreamed of making my own decisions any time soon." Jude commented sarcastically. "However, I gotta go. My lunch break is nearly over." With that she stood up and left the office, feeling angry, although she didn't know at who to direct said anger. She hated that let Darius control her life, that lately, she had done whatever Darius wanted without any protests. No wonder Darius thought he owned her or something. But she also hated Darius for throwing the facts in her face all over again and again.
Jude looked at her watch, only to see that she had just about 15 minutes left. She briefly wondered what had happened to all the time, but figured that it had taken a little bit longer until the assistant had told her to get inside Darius' office after Georgia had left. Jude didn't really know why, but she always had a bad conscience thinking about Georgia, she kind of felt like she had betrayed her or something.
Jude sighed and headed back to the studio, deciding that a snack from the machine in the kitchen had to be enough for lunch. As soon as she had entered the empty studio and had placed her sandwich next to her, she reached for her cell and dialed Tommy's number.
"Hello?" Tommy asked when he picked up. His borderline annoyed voice tipped Jude off that he hadn't checked the caller-ID and didn't know who he was talking to.
"Hey, it's me." She said with a grin spreading on her face, knowing he would be surprised and would probably regret sounding annoyed.
"Oh, hey. Sorry, I didn't see who was calling." Tommy apologized and sounded sincere enough. "I'm in the studio, working with Eden."
"Oh well, then I think I'll forgive you your annoyed greeting, after all I'd go crazy too if I had to stick around that wannabe diva all day." Jude commented generous.
"Right. You know this session today is nearly as bad as the one I had with that fiercy red-head a few years ago. In our first sessions she has been so damn stubborn and her stupid geeky friend had been so annoying, that I wanted to throw her and her little pet out. Only thing keeping me from it was that I totally owed it to Georgia." Tommy told Jude laughing.
"Oh you didn't just say that! You compared me, ME, the most talented Instant Star, to Eden, this wannabe pop princess?" Jude asked playfully incredulously in the phone. "This so earned you a smack on your little head, pretty boy!"
"Should I be afraid now, or what?"
"You'd better be. Begging for forgiveness is your only chance left to survive!"
"Alright, then I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow then?" Tommy suddenly asked, his whole demeanor changing. Jude listened quietly, curious what was going on at the other side of the line. She didn't have to wait long until she heard what had interrupted their conversation. Or rather who.
"Who the hell are you talking to? I'm singing my soul out in there! God, why can't I get a better producer?" Eden's piercing, high-pitched voice came faintly through the phone and became louder with every word, which had to mean that Eden was approaching Tommy and now in the studio with him. Jude rolled her eyes.
Right, as if Eden was even capable of singing anything out, except false sounds. Let alone her "soul".
"Just a friend, Eden." Tommy answered annoyed, feeling uncomfortable talking to Eden while Jude was listening. To be honest he had been surprised when Jude hadn't started on that topic yet, she hadn't even asked him why he was officially with Eden in the first place. Not that he couldn't have answered that, but he still didn't feel too good talking about it.
He still cursed himself for letting EJ control his life so entirely, but back then he hadn't really cared about many things, besides the fact that he couldn't lose his job, because thanks to Darius' influence no one else would take him, no matter what a great producer he was. Which would have forced him to work for Darius again. Well now that was prevented, but therefore he had to play boyfriend for the spoiled wannabe Eden.
Tommy had once thought he had made a good deal with that, but ever since Jude had reappeared in his life he wasn't so sure anymore.
"Then finish talking quickly, alright? I want to sing right now and if you make me wait any longer for your damn attention I might lose the desire, and you of all should know that it's hard for me to record when I don't really wanna sing!" Eden complained. Jude couldn't contain her laugher anymore. If Tommy really had to deal with this... diva every day, then he wasn't to be envied at all.
"Actually Eden, I'm talking to a manager right now who wants you to play on one of his big concerts. So if you may go back into the booth and excuse me for a few more moments…" Tommy said, sounding impatient. Though he had a hard time keeping the annoyed face up, since Jude was now laughing even harder in his ear.
Eden suddenly got quiet, shot Tommy one last glare before she went back into the sound booth. As soon as the door has closed Tommy started talking again, turning his back to Eden so she wouldn't see his smile, giving away that he sure wasn't talking to some industry guy.
"Hey, sorry 'bout that. But I told you I was working."
"No problem Tommy, well at least she's not mine problem. Fortunately." Jude teased while she slowly sobered up and stopped laughing.
"Haha, you're oh-so funny, girl. Anyways, where were we before this blonde, nerve-wrecking disaster has interrupted?"
"Actually we were just talking about how you should better beg for mercy when you come over the day after tomorrow." Jude helped with a broad grin on her face. Luckily she was alone in the studio, because she doubted that anyone could mistake her goofy grin for a normal one. But she just couldn't help herself.
"Oh right, our date on Wednesday. I wanted to talk to you about that. Unfortunately I'm going to be working the next two nights and I wanted to ask if you could live with it if we postponed our date." Tommy asked, sincere regret obvious in his voice. Jude was quickly grasping what a great chance that was. She could go to the party without having to cancel on Tommy and she wouldn't regret going now since she had nothing better to do anyway.
"No problem at all Tommy, I'll sure find a way to amuse myself without you. It might be hard, but I'll live." Jude mocked his exaggerating words.
"Why thank you, that's really boosting my ego!" Tommy complained playfully.
"Yeah right, as if your ego could be any bigger. Little Tommy Q." Jude retorted, keeping herself from laughing.
"Ouch, that hurt!"
"What did hurt? Damn it, how much longer do I have to wait in here? Seriously, I can waste my time better than standing in here waiting for you!" Eden's voice once again interrupted their conversation.
"Sorry girl, I'm afraid I gotta go. Check your schedule and tell me if you're free Thursday night, alright?" Tommy asked quietly.
"Yeah sure, I'll do that and get back to you. Bye, love you!" Jude said somewhat sad that they had to end their conversation.
"Love you too." Tommy whispered and Jude felt a little bit stung, though she knew that he was only whispering because he wanted to save their relationship, but still…
Jude was standing in front of the mirror in her apartment, turning around and taking a last good look at herself and the dress she and Portia had picked out. She was pretty early, something untypical for her. But she still had fifteen minutes before she had to leave. If there wasn't something off with her outfit that would be great, but since the dress just didn't seem to look as good as it had in the dressing cabin with Portia complimenting her, 15 minutes were so not enough time.
Jude sighed and grabbed her cell, dialing quickly a number. She looked at herself impatiently while she waited for a certain someone to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Portia, great! I have a major problem. The dress. It makes me look fat." Jude began babbling without even saying as much as a quick "hello".
"What? Jude? Are you crazy? That dress is the best thing that ever happened to you. It doesn't make you look fat!" Portia tried to calm Jude down.
"So are you saying that this is the best I can look? Oh my god, I'm fat." Jude said sounding pretty desperate.
"Jude, stop it, right now. I have to convince Patsy to wear a dress that's not screaming "I'm mental", so I'm already fighting an uphill battle. Would you please tell me what's really wrong? Because the dress is fine."
"It's just…" Jude sighed, searching for the right words. "This is a really big party and I'll have to compete with Karma and Eden. Sadly this time I can't win with my music and I'm afraid that my looks just won't be enough." Jude admitted, kind of embarrassed because of her major insecurities. She hated feeling insecure and especially showing it. She had learned that showing your weaknesses only earned you misery.
"You'll do just fine tonight, Jude. Besides, in the end it's the music that counts, not your appearance on this party tonight. And, just to mention it, you'll look a thousand times better than Karma and Eden, because classy counts way more than slutty." Portia assured Jude. "But now I gotta hang up the phone and take care of this fashion-emergency over here. Will you be ok on your own?"
"Sure, good luck with Patsy." Jude barely got out before Portia had hung up.
"Great." Jude murmured, still not very fond of her reflection. She was nearly happy when the door bell rang and she had a reason to stop staring at herself in the mirror.
"Ang! God, you look amazing. Why is it that you always look great in everything, while I look crappy in a designer dress?" Jude asked whining.
"What was that?" Angel inquired while she followed Jude into the apartment. "You look stunning girl, you'll make the guys drool and Karma and Eden go red! Too bad Little Tommy isn't there to see you. But hey, he'll see you tomorrow in the tabloids, now won't he?"
Angel walked over to Jude's little room with all her clothes and accessories and grabbed a bag and a pair of sunglasses. Then she went over to Jude and put the sunglasses on her friend and pushed them up on her forehead. Jude took the bag and looked at hers and Angel's reflection.
"See? A true rockstar's looking back at you! And don't you dare to even think that you won't be the best looking nearly 18-year old out there tonight!" Angel told her and put an arm around Jude's shoulders. The first smile for hours appeared on Jude's face. "Well, except for me maybe." Angel winked at her friend, trying to cheer her up. And, as usual, it worked.
"Thanks Ang, I don't know what I would do without you." Jude said smiling at her friend.
"Your life would totally suck without me, stupid! And you're always welcome." Angel retorted with a wink and pulled Jude with her to the couch. "What about if you tell me now what's really going on."
"Why would you think something's up?" Jude asked, trying to get out of telling, but they still had about seven minutes until they had to leave – and Angel was totally aware of that.
"Maybe because of your annoyed tone earlier when you called me and begged me to accompany you tonight?"
"It was nothing, just a mood." Jude mumbled, before she quickly stood up and got her coat. "Anyways, we gotta go now."
"Oh, we do? Last time I checked we still have about five minutes until we should leave. Besides, never heard something about being fashionably late?" Angel asked with a knowing voice, but she followed Jude out the door none the less.
"Ready?" Angel asked Jude when their limo pulled up in front of what looked like a red carpet.
"A red carpet?" Jude cried out disbelievingly. "I'm afraid this might be confused with the Oscars or something."
"Hey" Angel said dead serious when Jude was starting to get out of the car. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, sure." Jude said and forced a weak smile, to be true she didn't know for herself what was wrong, but something was. She just had this bad feeling. "Thanks for caring though, and for coming with me tonight. You're like the best friend anyone could ever have!"
"Duh. Tell me something I don't know." Angel said, winked at Jude, leaned over her friend and opened the door wide before pushing Jude outside, following her right away.
The both girls were immediately spotted by the reporters, with their brand new designer clothes, sunglasses and classy accessories; they actually looked like film stars right from the magazines. Jude was even feeling pretty good after the first shock, caused by all the flash lights, had gone over. Though she knew that Angel was posing much more glamorous than her, she still admits silently, that she really enjoyed feeling like a real star away from the stage. And she had a feeling like she most likely wouldn't feel anywhere nearly as good as she did now, if Angel hadn't been with her, constantly reassuring her.
God, I really missed that girl. Who would have ever thought that I was one to pose for the paparazzi on the red carpet? Right no one. Sadie probably would have pulled this off without even thinking twice, but little old me? No I was always the insecure one, the only thing I'm not insecure about is my music.
"Jude, hello earth to Jude!" Angel murmured, interrupting Jude's thoughts. Jude looked startled around, realizing that they still were on the red carpet, smiling for the paparazzi and another limo was just pulling up.
"Yeah, sorry. Let's get inside." Jude answered and with a last broad smile for the cameras she stepped into the building.
"Wow, and I thought it was impressive from the outside…" Angel commented when they had entered the building. It was a huge lobby and it was decorated very well and very expensive too.
"Yeah, it looks pretty decent, doesn't it?" Jude asked casually, like it was nothing special for her. Well, to be true it wasn't as special to her as to Angel, since Jude had been on a few others not that glamorous parties. Still, this was one of the best parties in the country and Angel knew just as well that Jude was impressed by what she saw and was only acting like it was nothing out the ordinary.
"Right" Angel smirked and hit her playfully without attracting any attraction. "So, miss superstar-who-knows-it-all. Why don't we go and search that Darius guy? The sooner he has introduced you to everybody and is letting you off the hook, the sooner we can have some real fun on this party."
"Good idea. I bet Darius would throw a tantrum if he knew that I didn't go to him immediately. He's so totally happy that I'm here, like a little five-year old on his birthday. You know, I could literally SEE the loads of money shining in his eyes when he thought of who all he could introduce me to…" Jude mocked Darius, while having trouble keeping a straight face.
Angel looked at Jude and the moment their eyes met both girls burst with laughter. They were still chuckling when they made their way to Darius, who was giving them curious looks but didn't say anything about the laughter.
"If this isn't my favorite Instant Star." Darius greeted Jude and ignored the slightly ill-humored glare, directed at him for his mentioning of Instant Star. Jude had made pretty clear, that she didn't want to talk about her past any more than necessary. But Darius turned around and so another man was coming in Jude's sight and she knew why Darius had called her by her old title. "This is Robert Midding, you might have heard of him, he's the head of ., the big advertising company. We've been just talking on what a spot would probably be the best for your new album."
"Oh really? Sounds quite interesting. Hello Mr. Midding, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Jude said with a polite smile on her face, while she took Midding's hand and shook it.
"The pleasure's all mine. My daughter's a big fan of yours, she's totally obsessed with your song "Even Angels Fall", much to my wife's displeasure, how I have to admit." Midding said with a friendly laugh. Jude decided that he didn't seem like a bad guy, though she had to force a laugh at that last comment. She really didn't understand why some people actually thought telling her that someone they were close to didn't like her music was funny. She found it a rather awkward and kind of embarrassing topic.
20 minutes and way too many strangers later, Darius finally told Jude and Angel to enjoy themselves, it seemed like he had introduced Jude to everyone important on the party. The girls found their table and sat down, talking, laughing and watching the people that were coming in.
Jude soon focused on a funny scene not far from their table. One of the boring and rigid industry-guys Jude had been introduced to not long before, was currently trying to have a conversation with yet another artist. Patsy Sewer. Jude really had to fight back the laugher, especially when she saw Patsy starting to make faces at the guy in his tux, who looked completely lost after a few minutes. He started looking around, searching for help and –most likely- for Darius, while Patsy started acting drunk. Jude knew that her friend wasn't drunk, which for itself was something astonishing considering it was already dark outside, but she also knew that the poor guy had no idea that he was being played. Well that's what's bound to happen if you force Patsy Sewer to such a formal and important party. The blame was all on Darius.
"Hey! Earth to Jude!" Angel suddenly interrupted Jude's focus with a relative loud call and a kick at Jude's left leg under the table.
"Ouch!" Jude turned to Angel and glared at her friend while rubbing with her hand over the soon-to-be black spot. "Are you crazy?"
"No, I'm not. You won't believe who just arrived here!" Angel told Jude, not caring in the least about the death glare Jude had been sending her. Instead she just motioned for Jude to look to the right. Jude did but couldn't spot anybody she knew aside from Darius chatting with some other black guy.
"Am I supposed to know anyone over there?" Jude asked, sending one last look in the direction of the entrance before she looked back to her friend.
"Damn it, I can't see him anymore either. Anyways, I'd bet 100 of that precious dollars, that your lover is somewhere in here!" Angel told her friend excited.
"What?" Jude asked confused, now looking around again more carefully while continuing. "That can't be, Ang. He told me he had to work all night today!"
"Well, I sure know now that being in the music industry is a dream job, you get to call event's like this work!" Angel joked and smiled at Jude's nervousness and curiosity, not thinking much of it. After all, from what she had heard from her friend, it wasn't that unusual if Tommy really thought of this as work.
"Alright, whatever. I gotta go and search him, yeah? He totally could have told me he was coming, we could have tried to get the same table or something." Jude said, sounding disappointed, obviously she would have enjoyed the night much more if Tommy was there. "Anyways, I'll go and find him, the most important thing is that he's here after all!"
Angel smiled at her friend and they both got up from their seats. They made their way through the crowd to the entrance, but Tommy was nowhere to be found.
"Jude? I gotta go for little girls." Angel told Jude when they passed a toilets sign and slowed down. Jude stopped for a few moments too, looking back at her friend.
"Should I come with you?" She asked somewhat guilty, knowing that she kind of should go with her friend, but at the same time she could hardly think of anything else than finding Tommy ASAP. Angel laughed at her torn face.
"Don't worry about lil' old me, darling. I'm a grown up, I can handle myself just fine. You go and find your prince, I'll come after you later!" With that the black-haired woman was walking away already, leaving Jude to fight for herself. And that she sure did. The search for Tommy Quincy was continuing.
Angel was in one of the stalls in the girls bathroom, sitting on the down toilet seat, applying some new make-up, while looking in her little vanity mirror. She could have just as well gone outside and to everything in front of the big mirrors above the sinks, but she preferred having some alone-time, plus Eden Taylor, the girl Jude despised so much was outside and even without actually talking to her, Angel knew that she was a bitch. And she just loved eavesdropping on those.
"What's wrong with you, Ede? You've been so moody all the time." A girl asked, obviously talking to Eden.
"It's nothing. Oh, who am I kidding, it is something. I think Tommy might have an affair." Eden said with a deep sigh. Angel was shocked. Judging from what she heard that girl outthere had not only true feelings but was also together with a certain Tommy. But that couldn't be the Tommy…?
"What? I thought you two had just had a great night a few days ago! Didn't you text me something about mind-blowing sex and everything being great with you and Tommy Q?" Eden's friend questioned, sounding really surprised.
"Yeah, the sex was amazing, as usual." Eden admitted, her voice sounding a little bit cheered up at that. "But he's been so distant lately, in the studio he's only criticizing me like all the time, plus he's constantly on the phone or texting who-knows-who."
"But he wouldn't dare to cheat on you! That would be damn right crazy, you're the best thing that ever happened to him. He should be lucky he got you." The other girl commented, and although the words might have been right, Angel couldn't help but think that these words sounded somewhat hollow the way she had said them.
"Yeah, you're right. He better not be cheating on me. If he does I'll dump him and make his life hell. He needs me, after all I'm his best artist and his girlfriend. Plus think of all the bad publicity. No, he's better not cheating on me with some slutty bitch!" Eden said with determination, though she sounded like she was rather trying to convince herself than anybody else. A few moments later Angel heard Eden and her friend strut out the room and the door shut again.
This is bad. Tommy's Eden's boyfriend, or at least she thinks he is. So Tommy's either lying to Jude or Eden's illusional. But whatever it is, Jude seems to end as the other woman and I can't let that happen. After what her dad did, she's even more sensitive about these things. She even lectured Kyle for about half an hour when she heard he was dating two girls at once. Damn it, I gotta tell her. Real fast.
Angel was searching everywhere for Jude and she grew more nervous and worried with every passing minute she couldn't spot her best friend. Someone she unfortunately did spot was the cheating liar that was putting Jude through this mess. Aka Tommy. She had passed him and his "girlfriend" Eden several times, whenever he had thrown her a nervous smile, she had just send him a death glare, hoping that it would get the message over to his cocky, cheating brain.
Angel was pretty much desperate when she ran into Patsy about 20 minutes after she had left the girls room. She was so damn afraid that Jude might have not only found Tommy, but that she also talked to him and found out about Eden and did something stupid.
"Patsy, right?" Angel asked, just to make sure she was talking to the right person, since she hadn't met Patsy before all that often. Plus she was kind of distracted right now.
"Yeah, that's me. Who's you?" Patsy questioned, slurring slightly and looking confused.
"I'm Angel. I'm searching Jude, did you see her?"
"Sure I saw her. She's been running around. Somewhere. I think it was over there." Patsy answered without pointing in a direction though. She was obviously drunk. Angel sighed and shook her head at the drunk girl, seeing that she would be no help at all. She quickly said "bye" and went on, trying to find Jude.
"JUDE!"
Jude turned around and saw Angel rushing to her side. She laughed at her friend's red face and the excitement or whatever Angel showed. She turned around again, looking back down on the party beneath her. She was pretty proud of herself for getting that idea to just go up to the balconies, from where she had a good view over the whole area.
"What's up, Ang?" Jude asked when the black-haired girl came up to her right side.
"I need to talk to you." Angel said, sounding somewhat relieved and nervous at the same time.
"Then don't hold anything back!" Jude chuckled, not thinking that whatever Angel wanted to tell would be serious. Besides, her main focus right now was to find her prince charming.
"Jude!" Angel nearly yelled, which finally caused Jude to really look at her friend. "This is important. I just overheard Eden telling a friend of hers that she's hurting and that she's worried about her boyfriend cheating on her. She seems to really love him and she suspects that he has another woman." Angel started slowly, finding it hard to tell Jude who Eden's boyfriend was. She hadn't forgotten what Spied had told her a week or so ago. That he had never ever seen Jude that happy before. Angel really loved Jude and all she wanted was for Jude not to get hurt, ever. But now she had to hurt her and there was nothing she could do to soften the blow.
Jude looked pretty annoyed, obviously not caring very much for Eden's worries. "Ang, I'm sorry, but I think I'm missing the point in this. I HATE Eden, did you already forget? Sure, it sucks to be cheated on and I wouldn't wish it to anybody, but I'm sure that Eden has been "the other woman" often enough. It's her own fault. She's a backstabbing bitch, only topped by Karma."
"Well, if you'd let me finish, you'd know why this does concerns you too." Angel said somewhat annoyed with Jude's attitude, as if Angel would bother Jude with something like that if there wasn't more to it. "Her boyfriend is… Tommy."
Jude looked at Angel first confused, then shocked, then confused again, the disbelievingly, then hurt. And then all the emotions were mixed in her eyes that started to get teary. "What?" Jude whispered. Not believing what she had just heard. What Angel had just told her. But Angel would never lie to her, would she?
"I'm sorry Jude. I know that you loved him." Angel said trying to soothe her friend, lifting her arms to pull Jude into a hug. The moment her last words had left her lips, she knew instinctively that she had said the wrong thing, like the totally wrong thing. She wanted to fix it, but the blonde pulled back already, suddenly looking angry and defiant.
"Loved? I LOVE him. Besides, who knows what's really happening. Maybe Eden's just imagining things. There must be a reason for this thing, this has to be a misunderstanding that's all. Tommy would never do that to me. So don't tell me you're sorry. Better help me find him, I'm sure he has an explanation for everything!"
"Jude, I hate to say this, but I highly doubt that. Eden said they slept together, a few nights ago only and they seem to do it on regular basis, plus…" Angel stopped herself, not knowing if she could actually tell Jude that her boyfriend was downstairs with said Eden in his arms.
"Plus what?" Jude asked softly, tears shining in her eyes. She didn't know herself what to feel. She was upset about hearing that Tommy was lying to her. That she suddenly was "the other woman". She was hurt and didn't want to believe it. But at the same time, the doubts began rising. The man she would have never doubted a few minutes ago somehow didn't seem like a saint anymore to her. After all he had told her he'd be working. And she had seen him with Eden at that shop, she had assumed then that she was his girlfriend, but somehow she had totally blocked that out until now.
No, no no! This can't be true. Tommy told me that he loves me. He told me that he needs me. That he wants me. He wouldn't lie to me. He just wouldn't.
Or so you think.
Jude wanted to smack herself for that little mean voice inside her head, telling her that she was doing wrong in believing in Tommy. It told her that Angel was right, that this wasn't a misunderstanding.
"Plus he's here, with her. I saw them downstairs, he had his arm around her waist and they were talking to some important-looking people." Angel admitted quietly, hating to see the deep hurt in Jude's eyes.
The hurt blonde suddenly stormed off, leaving Angel behind, nearly running down the stairs. She now somehow quickly spotted Tommy –and Eden. If she hadn't been so upset and hurt, maybe she would have wondered why she hadn't found him before, considering he now seemed to be the center of the big hall. He and Eden. Jude stopped dead tracks, not even hearing how Angel catched up with her and talked to her. She didn't hear the words, she didn't hear any sounds anymore. The only thing she was still capable of was staring at Tommy and Eden, and how they looked like the perfect couple smiling all the time, talking to the reporters. Only that with every smile Jude's heart was stomped on, squeezed way too tight and bruised permanently.
Calmly, not sensing anything of her surroundings or her whereabouts anymore, Jude reached into her purse, taking out her cell, dialing her speed dial number 1. Tom Quincy. The man she had secretly thought of as her Romeo. Her blue-eyed prince charming. Her anchor, her save heaven, her personal guardian angel, her very own saint. Her everything.
She held the cell up to her ear, waiting for him to pick up while at the same time observing his every movement. The surprised expression crossing his face. How his hands oh-so-slowly reached for his cell. How he pressed the accept-button without even checking the caller-ID.
"Hello?" Tommy's voice reached Jude's ear, while she saw his lips moving.
"Hey Tom. It's me." Jude said, stunned at how calm she sounded while her heart was being shattered in pieces.
"Hey you. Everything alright?" Tommy asked. Jude saw how he was looking around cautiously, seemingly trying to lower his voice so the paparazzi and Eden wouldn't hear him. Right.
"I'm fi- What are you doing?" Jude asked, not able to finish the two simple words "I'm fine"; not able to lie so entirely. She was a good actress, sure, but not that good. Not when she was about to have a breakdown, not when her heart was so entirely crushed.
"I'm in the studio. Working with Eden. Damn, sometimes I hate work. I just wish you could be here!" Tommy told her, lied to her directly, since she could see him speaking, turning his back discreetly on the paparazzi.
"Well though luck then." Pause. "Unbelievably, I would have actually believed you." She murmured more to herself, but still loud enough for Tommy to hear. "Too bad I can see you." Jude stated somewhat emotionless, though her voice kind of broke at the last sentence.
"What?" Tommy asked confused, shocked, he even sounded a little bit scared.
"What?" Jude mocked Tommy now in a voice that totally wasn't her own, it sounded bitter, sad and mean. Unlikely for Jude. "Turn around and you'll see what!" With that she hung up and put her phone away, mechanically.
She stared at Tommy intently, took in how he stared at his phone for a moment or two, before he turned around, his eyes meeting hers. Shock and horror showing in his features.
Jude turned on her heals and sprinted for the nearest exit, determined not to let Tommy follow her. She didn't even really care if Angel would be able to. She only know that she needed to get away real fast. Before she broke down, before she started crying, before she lost it. Because she wasn't sure if she'd find it ever again.
Ok, so this was the latest chappy. Hope you liked it. PLEASE review. I seriously put quite a lot in this chappy, since I had to overcome a major writers block, so I'd think I'd deserve a few reviews! Pretty pretty please! ;)
So, go on, click on that tempting looking button down there and tell me what you think! You know you secretly want to! (Because after all you DO want me to continue, right?? ;))