AN: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has reviewed - they really keep me going on this even when I'm suffering from some massive writer's block. I swear this story is finally winding down and all will, once more, be right in the world…
Jude woke up the next morning hungover, tired and slightly sore. Things had not turned out as expected or planned last night and Jude was reluctant to get out of bed because getting out of bed meant facing Sadie, the world and Tommy.
So she overreacted just a little, it wasn't a big deal, right? It was only a spilled drink and some nasty words that rhymed with glut, witch and bore being thrown. She deserved it. She cheated, had been cheating, on Tommy with her co-star, a rather ragged looking man who was sporting oily enough hair to have him mistaken for that guy from Twilight.
Jude groaned and flung the covers back over her head - Sadie was going to kill her, followed quickly by Tommy. 'Time to face the firing squad,' she thought, getting out of bed and squaring her shoulders. She braced herself before exiting her room and heading into the kitchen but it was for nothing. The apartment was empty, the only hint that Sadie had been there being a sign hanging on the refrigerator door reading: "Get your butt into G Major the second you wake up. And don't think you can avoid me, I know all of your hiding spots and I will find you." Jude groaned again, hitting her head lightly on the door, before starting to prepare herself both physically and mentally for what was most likely going to be a long day.
An Hour Later, G Major
She knew she couldn't avoid Sadie, knew that seeing her sooner would be better but Jude still couldn't help the shudder that ran through her at the thought of her reception. She'd checked online before she'd left home to see if the news of her little catfight had hit the web yet and, unsurprisingly, it was everywhere. 'Jude and Caitlin: Round One,' 'Instant Star and Actress Rip Up Calico,' and more - was there no real news to report anymore?
She smiled at Daisy, the receptionist, before heading toward Sadie's office. She waved at Kwest, saw him nod encouragingly in return, as she made her way past the staring employees of G Major. 'Obviously they're all new,' she thought, tempted to laugh. 'If they had been here 6 years ago, they would have known that Jude making the news for being crazy is old hat.' Jude paused in front of Sadie's door before tentatively knocking and pushing it open.
Sadie was sitting behind her desk, her phone to one ear, and she waved Jude in like a school principal would do to a frequently naughty student. She finished her conversation quickly before hanging up the phone and leveling her gaze at her sister.
"So, last night was interesting."
"I guess you could say that. I'm so sorry, Sades, I-"
"Save it, Jude. You're not sorry and, honestly, as your sister and Tommy's friend, I don't care that you ripped Caitlin a new one. But as your publicist? Not good."
"I know, I just flipped out when I saw her all over that guy, I mean, she gets all in my face about 'fighting for Tommy' and 'not giving him up' and then she hooks up with her co-star?"
"Caitlin's a conniving little skank who'll use whoever she can to get ahead and get famous. I've always disliked her, not that Tom ever listened to me, but it doesn't mean you go and fight her!"
"It wasn't a fight! If it was a real fight, I'd be holding her cheap extensions in my hand right now as a trophy."
"True, you were friends with Patsy," laughed Sadie.
"Exactly. So, how bad is it?"
"Not too bad - just your typical war of words between two starlets that everyone, including Caitlin's people, is denying even happened. It'll blow over in the press in a couple of days."
"Good, I really didn't mean to cause drama."
"You're Jude Harrison, drama follows you around like a black cloud. But I'd avoid Tom if I was you, he's pretty pissed especially since I'm guessing he got the story from Caitlin."
"You didn't tell him what we saw?"
"I tried, but you know how he gets - he's stubborn and won't listen and, please, just avoid him for a couple of days until things cool down."
"You mean let Caitlin get away with it," asked Jude incredulously. "You can't seriously be thinking of just letting Tommy go on with Caitlin after she cheated on him?"
"No, I'm saying to wait until things have cooled down and then I'll talk to him again and tell him what we saw. He'll be more open to listening then and he'll do the right thing."
"Right. Well, since you have it all planned out, I'm just going to go and avoid upsetting Tommy."
"Don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, not at you. I'll see you later, okay?" Jude got up and hugged her sister quickly before exiting the office. She knew she should listen to Sadie, knew that it was good advice to let Tommy calm down a little before talking to him, but Jude was not known for ever listening to her sensible side. So, instead of leaving G Major and letting the situation defuse, she went in search of Tom Quincy.
She found him quickly enough in Studio A working on an artist's mix. He was bent over the board, brow furrowed in concentration, and Jude could tell he knew she was there by his stiff shoulders and his intent glare at the board.
"Sounds good," she said, trying to sound casual. He laughed, a short bark that didn't sound particularly friendly, before turning slowly to look at her. He took her in, the dark circles under her eyes, the sweatshirt and hastily pulled back hair. She looked exhausted and beautiful and he was absolutely furious with her.
Caitlin had explained, had tried to at least - had told him about Jude spilling her drink on her, Jude calling her every name in the book and how the two of them had to be held back from each other before they killed each other. He had listened, had heard her story and believed her except for one small thing - why had Jude attacked her in the first place? He hadn't seen Jude in years, didn't really know the new her but he did know that she wouldn't fight someone unprovoked. So he had asked, had heard Caitlin stutter out an explanation about how it was "all so sudden and she didn't know why Jude had gone crazy," and then he had told her it was over, thrown her out of his apartment and locked the door behind her.
He knew why Jude had gone after Caitlin - he wasn't stupid, had cheated enough times to know the signs and he knew that Jude must have seen or heard something that would make her go after his girlfriend in a crowded club. And that was why he was furious. Because she had destroyed his safe little world once more, had ripped the blindfold off and forced him to look at his life. He didn't want to look at it, had allowed himself to believe that he had finally built himself something safe and comfortable, and Jude had torn it all down once again. He knew that he wasn't a good boyfriend back when they were together, knew he had destroyed her world numerous times too, but he had changed and grown finally and it was only then that Jude seemed unwilling to fight for them. She did destroyed his life six years ago and she did it again now.
When would it end with her? When would the destruction stop and the love and safety and comfort that he had been craving begin?
He grabbed her arm suddenly, his grip tight and firm and pulled her close, so close she could feel his warm breath on her face. He was angry, no, furious and his eyes were cold as he searched her face. She knew he wouldn't hurt her but it was still unnerving to be on the receiving end of that glare with his hand gripped tightly around her forearm. Just as suddenly he dropped her arm and stepped back, one hand running through his hair as he slumped against the sound board.
"Are you happy now? Is this how you wanted things?"
"What? No! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone after her, shouldn't have come here looking for you but I had to explain, had to tell you what happened."
"I know what happened Jude - Caitlin's been cheating on me and you found out, decided to 'protect my honor' or whatever you were thinking. But I am tired, so tired, of the drama. Is this how it is always going to be between us? Can we never have peace or is it always going to be fights and stalkers and other people?"
"Tommy, I'm sorry, I don't want things to be this way, I really don't. I just don't know, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Jude cried, no longer attempting to hold back the tears which had been threatening to leak out.
He watched as she wrapped her arms around herself, watched as she seemed to shrink before his eyes. Before he even knew what he was doing, he was holding her, whispering words of comfort in her ear. Would nothing ever change between them? Would they always be stuck in this endless cycle of tearing each other down only to build them back up before beginning the cycle all over again?