Chapter 54 – Rescue Me
Tony: "What's up?" he asked.
Jude: "I've changed my mind. I'd like to start home schooling." She said.
For the rest of the day, Jude remained at home. Tony covered for her at the studio. She just stayed locked up in her safety net of her habitat. Jude had gotten a phone call from Georgia who had informed her that her home-schooling had been set up for the next day and to make sure that it was what Jude wanted. Tomorrow was going to be a new start. No longer would Tommy affect her music or her personal life. From now on, she had no one she could truly depend on. Everything she had been at G Major now. Her music and now even her education. Around nine pm her cell rang again. She reached for it and looked at the screen. Tommy. Turning the TV off and inhaling deeply she answered.
Jude: "Hey." She said sounding tired. Her voice was hoarse from all the crying she had done. Her heart began to race at just the thought of him. How was heart ever going to forget this man?
Tommy: "Jude." He said sounding surprised. Jude decided to ignore it. She remained quiet on the line until he spoke up again "Don't hang up, please." He asked her. She settled herself comfortably into the couch. Her back supported the rest of her body weight as she tried to sum up the courage to get through his phone call.
Jude: "I'm not." She could barely manage to say.
Tommy: "Good, let me explain."
Jude: "You don't need to explain anything to me." She said feeling the tears trying to surface again.
Tommy: "Look girl, that kiss didn't mean anything to me." He tired to explain. Jude smirked. Tommy heard this and went on "You have to believe me. You know I love you."
Jude: "Yes, so you've been saying. I don't wanna be loved if it's going to hurt this much." She threw back at him. All of a sudden she felt all the anger she had felt before rise up again.
Tommy: "Girl, I don't know what to say."
Jude: "Don't say anything."
Tommy: "It just happened. I was thinking about you. I miss you like crazy and before I knew it, her lips were on mine. It meant nothing to me."
Jude: "How dare you?" she yelled into the phone. Tommy blinked at her sudden outburst. Jude continued "You date my sister, you break up with her and you sleep with ME. You tell me you LOVE me. The five minutes that you're gone, you're back with her." She screamed at the top of her lungs. "DON'T TELL ME SHE MEANS NOTHING." She sounded so harsh and her voice so full of hatred. Tommy had never heard her this way before.
Tommy: "Jude, it's not like that. I meant everything I said to you. I do love you."
Jude: "You have a funny way of showing it. You know what, Quincy? Be with Sadie. You two shallow people deserve each other."
Tommy: "You don't mean that." He said sounding hurt.
Jude: "Go to hell." She said and closed the phone.
The next few days went by quickly. Jude threw herself into her music and school work. She ignored any contact Tommy was trying to make. On a Friday morning, Jude walked through G Major's lobby and into her tutoring room. To her surprise Tony was there and not Mr. Giles, her tutor.
Jude: "What are you doing here?" she asked setting her books on the table.
Tony: "I'm your teacher for the day. Mr. Giles called in sick." He grinned at her.
Jude: "Cool, so we can get straight to work."
Tony: "Yes, he said you're doing Commutative properties in Algebra?" he asked opening her Algebra book and flipping through the pages. A puzzled look crossed his face.
Jude: "Uhm I meant get to work on my music." She said looking puzzled at him.
Tony: "Oh no. Not until your school work is done."
Jude: "You're not serious." She said.
Tony: "Oh but I am. Georgia's instructions." He said grinning at her.
Jude: "And since when do you follow orders?" she asked, her hands on her hips.
Tony: "Since it involves torturing you." Jude dropped her hands.
Jude: "That's all you live for, don't you?"
Tony: "What's that?" he asked knowing what she was asking damned well. On top of things he kept his head hidden behind the book and tried to ignore her.
Jude: "Making my life a living hell." She said waving her arms in the air.
Tony: "It's not that bad. Come on, get out your properties. We have work to do." He ordered. Jude shook her head and took a seat, unwillingly.
After about an hour of algebraic expressions and Tony's sarcasm, Jude had about enough for a whole life time.
Jude: "I think you just ruined math completely for me." She said closing her book.
Tony: "Well it's not my fault you don't know the difference between an algebraic equation and an algebraic expression."
Jude: "I just don't feel like wasting my time on something I'm never going to use for the rest of my life."
Tony: "True but we waste our time other ways too. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you don't have to do it."
Jude: "And who made you my therapist?"
Tony: "Girl, not even a therapist can help you." He said laughing. Jude's whole world did a one-eighty. He called her 'girl'. He had never called her that before. Why was it getting to her this way? It brought back so many memories, painful reminders. Tony noticed her hurt expression and stopped laughing.
Tony: "What? Did I say something?"
Jude shook her head: "No, its not you." She said turning her head towards the window, ignoring his expression that longed for answers.
She heard Tony smirking and turned towards him. He was getting up and shaking his head.
Tony: "I can't figure you out, Jude." He said heading for the door.
Jude: "What's there to figure out?"
Tony: "Everything. I don't know anything about you. It's like you have this huge wall set up with guards at every angle. No one gets through." He said turning towards her. Jude lowered her head knowing he was right.
Jude: "I didn't know you wanted to get through." She tried to joke.
Tony: "I'm not laughing. Why do you keep everything bottled up? It's like when I look at you singing, you seem to have so much to say but than you step out of the recording booth and you're this cold person who keeps all to herself." He said taking a seat across from her again.
Jude laughed: "You were right. We can't trust anyone in this business. We don't have any REAL friends. So why bother? It's easier to stay locked up." She said getting up. Tony's eyes followed her skinny frame.
Tony: "Every once in a while, it helps to confide in someone." Jude turned toward him.
Jude: "Who am I to confide in? You?" she asked sarcastically.
Tony: "If it helps."
Jude: "It doesn't."
Tony: "Did it help confiding in Tommy?" he asked. He knew he was crossing boarders here and sinking deeper knowing that Tommy was a sore subject these days but he had to start somewhere. Why beat around the bushes? He saw Jude's face tighten and her eyes grow from hurt to angry.
Jude: "Tommy is none of your business." She said.
Tony: "So you've said before but he seems to be a lot of your business for someone you claim never meant anything to you." He said searching her face for answers. All she gave was an expressionless yet hurtful mask. She wasn't saying anything "You don't have to tell me, I'm just trying to help you." He said.
Jude: "I don't need your help."
Tony: "I'm not stupid, Jude. I know there was more to you two than you lead on. All I'm saying is that if you want to talk about it I'm here. I'm not going to tell anyone, whatever it is." He said getting up and walking over to her.
Jude: "Tommy is my past and everyone knows he was never going to be anything more. Let's just leave it at that."
Tony: "Everyone but you?"
Jude: "Even me, deep down." She answered. Just then the door swung open and Kwest stood in the door way. Jude and Tony both turned to him.
Kwest: "Hey guys. What's going on?" he asked seeing Jude's tear-filled eyes.
Jude: "Tony was my math teacher for the day." Kwest grinned seeing that Jude didn't want to be questioned about her tears right now.
Kwest: "Damn. Did you learn anything?" he asked trying to follow her.
Jude: "Yes, I learned that Tony is worse in math than I am." She grinned.
Tony: "Heeeeeeey. I resent that." He said. Kwest laughed. Tony frowned at Jude who was laughing with Kwest.
Kwest: "Listen. Georgia has set up a thing tonight where we're all just to go and get some publicity. EJ wants Jude in make-up and the dressing room right now." He said.
Jude: "Where are we going?"
Kwest: "Some nightclub opening."
Tony: "Sounds like fun, who is going?"
Kwest: "So far it's the three of us, EJ, the new receptionist and we can each invite someone to come along if we want."
Tony: "Well my receptionist is already coming along so I don't need anyone else." He joked. Jude hit him over the head.
Tony: "Heeeeeeeeeeey." He complained rubbing the back of his head.
Jude: "I'm going to find EJ before I puke." She said and walked out. Kwest was about to follow her out the door when Tony opened his mouth.
Tony: "Hey man, can I ask you something?" Kwest stopped and turned around.
Kwest: "What's on your mind?" he asked shrugging.
Tony: "What's the deal with Jude and Tommy?" he asked. Kwest put his hands in his pockets.
Kwest: "It's not my business to discuss." He said and turned to leave.
Tony: "I know its not but Jude is hurting, everyone can see it. I just wanna help her."
Kwest: "Sorry man. If she didn't tell you herself than there's nothing you can do."
Tony: "I know you know what's going on. Tommy's your best friend, I understand but Jude is not giving me all of herself right now." He said giving Kwest a stern look. Kwest looked a little annoyed now.
Kwest: "I never denied I didn't know what was going on and yes, Tommy is my best friend but if Jude doesn't want you to know her personal life you're not going to hear it from me. Oh and another thing, I think its best Jude doesn't give you ALL OF HERSELF because you'd have some serious trouble once Tommy comes back." He said walking out the door. Tony smirked and yelled after Kwest.
Tony: "That's IF he comes back."
Kwest walked out of the little room, ignoring Tony's last remark, and into the lobby. Just as he approached the kitchen his cell rang. He looked at his called id and flipped his phone open.
Kwest: "Hey man, sup?"
Tommy: "Hey, nothing much. Over there?"
Kwest: "The usual."
Tommy: "I don't remember the usual, remind me." He said sounding stressed.
Kwest: "Darius' frequent yet always unexpected visits, EJ's rambling, Tony's ego and Jude's mood swings. Don't you just miss it all?" he asked sarcastically. Tommy laughed.
Tommy: "You have no idea. How is Jude?" he asked his tone turning serious.
Kwest: "She's home-schooling here at G Major…" he was about to go on when Tommy interrupted him.
Tommy: "Whose bright idea was that?"
Kwest: "Tony's."
Tommy: "Well don't they just spend a load of time together?" he asked sounding mad.
Kwest: "About as much as you two used to spend. He is her producer."
Tommy: "That makes me feel so much better, man. Where is Jude?"
Kwest: "With EJ in the dressing room."
Tommy: "How long has she been in there?"
Kwest: "For about 15 minutes now." He said looking at his watch.
Tommy: "Wait another five minutes and then go in to rescue her, trust me she'll be grateful for many years to come."
Kwest: "No wonder she's always so nice to you."
Tommy: "Oh she's just a peach. Why is EJ dressing her anyways?"
Kwest: "We're going to some club opening tonight, publicity stunt."
Tommy: "Ahhh. How's her music coming along?"
Kwest: "It's actually pretty good. Tony might be about as cocky as you but he knows his job and he knows Jude's sound."
Tommy: "Are they getting along?" he asked hoping for a no.
Kwest: "Seems that way. I mean they bicker all the time but they make great music together."
Tommy: "Sounds familiar."
Kwest: "Don't worry about it, man. She loves you."
Tommy: "Right, I wish she'd just talk to me."
Kwest: "She will, give her some time. What are you up to over there?"
Tommy: "My album mostly."
Kwest: "How's that coming along?"
Tommy: "Pretty good so far. Gordon loves it."
Kwest: "What about you and a certain blonde?" He asked. Tommy could see Kwest smiling in his head.
Tommy: "Been trying to ignore her. I need some space. I don't want her to get the wrong impression. I don't want a relationship with her."
Kwest: "Jude will come around. Listen man, I have to do some rescuing."
Tommy: "Alright. Have fun tonight and keep the weirdoes off Jude."
Kwest smirked: "Thought that was your job."
Tommy: "I'm kind of not around."
Kwest: "Don't worry. I'm sure Tony will do a fine job."
Tommy: "Keep him away from her too. I don't trust him."
Kwest: "You don't know him."
Tommy: "Exactly my point."
Kwest: "Take care, man."
Tommy: "Alright, bye." He said and hung up. Kwest smiled to himself and went in search of Jude.
