Chapter 25 -Fire Alarm

Jude: "Why did EJ send you? Is something wrong? Don't tell me it's a fashion emergency." she joked. Tommy laughed happy to finally be on good terms with her.

Tommy: "No Jude, we have some damage control to do. Your video is not doing too good. People are not as welcoming to your new stuff as you had hoped." he said compassionately giving her a sympathetic look.

Jude just stayed quiet. The last thing she needed was an 'I told you so' from Tommy. He didn't say anything either. He knew this would be hard on her. He didn't approve of the video but she deserved his support now. A few minutes later they arrived at G Major and got out of the Viper. Jude walked on front of Tommy as he grabbed her hand causing her to come to a halt. She turned around to face him.

Tommy: "When you go in there, there will be at least 10 cameras on you. EJ has scheduled a press conference for you."

Jude: "What? You're just telling me this now. Why?" she asked, not noticing Tommy was still holding her hand.

Tommy: "For the public to hear Jude Harrison. Listen girl, I've been there. They will try to eat you up alive. Stay calm and take one question at a time." he tried to give her advice but he noticed her saddened and confused face. This would be a new experience for her, one she could definitely do without. Tommy stopped talking and took a step closer to her. His eyes focused on hers.

Tommy: "Don't worry. I will stand right next to you through it all, Ok? You're not alone in this." he said softly.

Jude smiled and kissed his cheek gently: "Thanks." she said. They stood there looking at each other for a few seconds when Jude decided to break the moment. She dropped Tommy's hand and turned to the building. When Tommy noticed her walking off he quickly followed.

They entered through the doors. As soon as Jude stepped inside camera people were all over her, pulling and pushing in different directions. They took her to the lobby where a little podium with a few mics was waiting. She stepped in front of it confused. EJ walked through the doors with a mass of people and cameras. As everyone was taking their seats and setting up the cameras EJ approached Jude.

EJ: "Ok Jude, this is how it's going to work."

Jude: "EJ, you couldn't have warned me."

EJ: "Didn't Tommy tell you?"

Jude: "Yeah, right outside."

EJ: "Ok then. All you have to do is answer their questions. If you feel like you shouldn't answer something just say 'no comment'."

Jude: "Where's Tommy?"

Tommy: "I'm right here, girl." he said coming up from behind her.

EJ: "Tommy, you can't stand there. Go sit down somewhere."

Tommy looked at Jude who was more unnerved then ever: "No, I'm staying right here."

EJ: "Tomm-"

Tommy: "Don't argue with me, EJ. I'm not going anywhere." he said determined. Jude looked back and forth from the Asian woman to her producer. There was no arguing with Tommy.

EJ: "Fine." she said and walked off the little stage. Jude watched EJ walk away as Tommy took his place next to Jude. Her heart was racing. She didn't want to have to explain herself. She didn't even know, herself, why she decided to write or shoot a video for that song. Behind the podium, Tommy squeezed Jude's hand gently. She looked up at him and smiled feeling comfort in all the chaos.

Tommy: "I'm right here, girl." he said. Jude smiled. The room went silent.

The camera flashes erupted in the room. Jude smiled uncomfortably. Finally the shutters of the lenses died down and she was bombarded with a ton of questions at the same time. She looked around the room for support when Tommy took the mic.

Tommy: "One question at a time, Ladies and Gentleman." he said with ease and smiled at her. The silence died down as everyone raised their hand. Tommy pointed at a middle-aged, bold guy. He stood up and focused on Jude.

Guy #1: "Mrs. Harrison, what triggered this sort of video?"

Jude looked at Tommy who nodded for her to give an answer: "Well uhm, I felt like I was living my life in a bubble." she stopped for a moment not sure if she should go on but when she looked around the room at all the eager faces she knew she'd be Ok and continued "I wanted to break free. I've been doing a lot of growing these past few months and I just thought that my fans deserved to see me for who I really am." she finished confident. The hands shot up in the air again. Jude called on a young, blonde girl in the front row.

Girl #1: "There have been rumors of you and Tommy having a secret relationship, any truth in that?"

Georgia, Kwest and EJ had all been standing in the back of the room. All their eyes focused on Jude. Jude looked at Tommy; Tommy looked at the young girl with pain in his eyes. A part of him wanted nothing more than for that to be the truth while the other part wanted to run far, far away. Tommy saw Jude leaning into the mic and focused on her.

Jude: "No truth, at all. Tommy and I work together. We're friends. Our relationship is completely platonic. It would be kind of hard since he is dating my older sister." she said. The reporters broke out into soft laughter. Tommy smiled uncomfortably. Once again, the reporters wrote a few things down and raised their hands. Jude called on a Chinese man in the back. He stood up.

Guy #2: "My sources tell me you and the young man in your video are somehow connected. Is there something going on?"

Jude smiled: "The guy's name is Lance Quincy-" she had to stop as the room erupted in whisper and discussion all at once. Jude knew it was because they had recognized the last name. She coughed into the mic and continued "Yes, he is Tommy's younger brother and we are dating." she finished. Once again whispers drew out the silence. Tommy called on an older woman in the middle.

Girl #2: "Aren't you at all worried about your younger fans and how this will affect them?"

Jude saw Tommy reaching for the microphone and grabbed it before he could.

Jude: "Of course I am but I'm an artist. I have to grow up and my fans grow with me. I am still the same Jude Harrison that won Instant Star, only difference is my age." Tommy looked at her surprised. She was handling herself like a pro and he was proud of her. All the nervousness seemed to have left her. Tommy saw Georgia wave and grabbed the mic.

Tommy: "One last question." he said and called on a young man.

Guy #3: "Jude, what inspired you to write this song?"

The question caught both Jude and Tommy off guard. He had been wondering the same thing. Kwest had told him she had written the song when she was locked up with him so could he have been her inspiration? Jude felt herself cornered. She knew she couldn't depend on Tommy for help with this question because he wanted the answer just as much as the reporters did. Finally she drew in her breath and slowly leaned towards the mic when a horrendous ring filled the room. Everyone shot to their feet as Jude recognized what the ring was: the fire alarm.

The reporters headed for the door in panic, Tommy looked at Georgia who pointed for him to make his way outside. He grabbed a hold of Jude's hand and pulled her behind him towards the nearest exit. Once in the hall way, they were pulled apart by the panicked workers of G Major. Jude got lost in the crowed but made her way safely outside. Once out, she leaned against the corner of the building watching everyone chat and wonder about the cause of the alarm. Two fire trucks pulled up as Jude felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find a grinning Lance.

Jude: "What are you doing here?" she asked surprised. He leaned down and kissed her fully on her lips.

Lance: "You looked like you needed some help." he said. Jude looked at him wide-eyed.

Jude: "You mean that was you that pulled the alarm?"

Lance: "Yep, I'm a pro at get-aways." he said proud and then continued "Come on, let's bail." he said as he grabbed her hand. Jude looked back at the chaos and decided she needed a break. She smiled at Lance and ran off with him down the alley.

Jude: "So now that you helped me escape, what do you have planned?"

Lance shrugged: "I don't."

Jude: "You mean you pulled a fire alarm without a plan?"

Lance: "Yes. Don't you ever do spur of the moment things?"

Jude: "I've never pulled a fire alarm."

Lance smiled: "Baby girl, you need to get out more." he said and entwined his fingers with hers as they walked down the pavement. They stopped at a motorcycle store. Jude watched Lance. His eyes shone like stars. He looked like he was a kid at a candy store. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have someone like him in her life. He was smart, funny, spontaneous, AND good-looking. How could anyone beat that? She pushed herself up on her toes and kissed his cheek gently. He turned to look at her and smiled.

Lance: "What was that for?"

Jude: "I don't know. I just wanted to do it." she said and then turned to the motorcycles again "You wanna go inside?"

Lance turned back to the bikes with a saddened look across his face: "Nah, let's get going." he said and pulled her away from the window. They passed an ice-cream parlor.

Lance: "Vanilla, right?"

Jude: "Isn't it a little too cold for ice-cream?"

Lance: "It's never too cold for ice-cream." he smiled and reached in his pocket for his wallet. A few minutes later he came back carrying two cones.

Lance: "Just like our first date."

Jude smiled. And just like their first date, her phone rang. Jude took it out of her pocket to see Tommy's face cross the screen. She had completely forgotten about him and G Major. Lance grabbed the phone from her hand and punched the off button. Jude looked at him bewildered.

Lance: "No work today." he said and handed it back to her. She looked at him for a minute but than put the phone away.

They spend the rest of the day wandering around the city eating, laughing and having the time of their lives. Jude felt like a little school girl when she was with Lance. He made everything seem so easy. She had completely forgotten about work, the beginning of school next week, and all the people in her life. They held hands, kissed and took pictures in the picture booth. When she had gotten tired of walking he had carried her on his back. Finally it was getting dark and colder.

Lance: "We should get you home." he said.

Jude: "Yeah. I had a really good time today. Thanks."

Lance: "Any time, baby girl." he said and leaned down to kiss her.

Jude: "Lance?" she pulled away from him.

Lance opened his eyes: "Yeah?" he whispered.

Jude: "Why did you start steeling?"

Lance: "What? How do you know about that?"

Jude: "Tommy told me." she said guilty. She knew she shouldn't have asked him flat out like that. He pulled away from her.

Jude: "I'm not judging you. I just want to know." She added quickly.

Lance: "Why?"

Jude: "Because I want to know you. All of you."

Lance: "This is me." he said stretching his arms out. He then continued "I've been nothing but honest with you. I hated all the things my dad wanted me to be." he said and then stopped. He made his way to a bench and took a seat. Jude followed.

Lance: "He thought I should become a doctor. Pretty soon, I found out what ticked him off and I used it against him. I didn't want to be a doctor or a lawyer. Tommy wanted to be in the music industry. I had other ambitions."

Jude took a hold of his hand: "What ambitions?" she asked.

Lance smiled at her. No one had ever wanted to get to know HIM except for one person, in his past.

Lance: "I wanted to build cars, motorcycles. I was good at it. I love the sound of a speeding car. I can break apart and put an engine back together in less then an hour."

Jude realized now why he had been staring at that bike for so long. He had dreams which had never been fulfilled. She couldn't imagine her life without G Major any more.

Lance: "Since I couldn't build them. I decided on stealing them. That's when my life went down hill." he said.

Jude: "It's not too late to do what you love."

Lance: "My times passed."

Jude: "Are you crazy? You're only 18. You can still live your dream."

Lance: "You really believe that?"

Jude: "Yes, I do." she said. "I believe in you." she whispered. Lance didn't smile. He didn't move. He just looked at her. A minute later he grabbed her face with his hand and pulled her in for a kiss. She felt the warmth of his lips on hers. His hand made its way around her back, pulling her only closer. Jude wrapped her arms around his neck welcoming him. Soon he pulled away.

Lance: "Thank you." he whispered.

Oki guys here I am. Hope this update was worth your wait. Thank you guys sooooooooooo much for the replies. I'm off to cleaning my room and prom dress shopping once again. Ahhhhhhhh wish me luck

Minela