So super shocker, I have another update, and like oh my God, I finished it the next day! I think 608's either gonna be a breeze to write or a struggle. Either way, at the rate I'm goin' lets hope for the best. And well, I don't have much to say, so enjoy!
Oh, little side note. Seeing as this is the half way marker I normally give out spoilers for the next half of the season. If you want them, when you leave a review just ask and I'll send them back to you ASAP.
607 Westbound Sign Part 2
"Westbound Sign" is a song by Green Day.
"Please Remember" is a song performed by Jude; originally by LeAnn Rimes, I did not write it.
"Down" is a song recorded by The Speiderman Mind Explosion; originally by Blink-182, I did not write it.
607
Westbound Sign Part Two
Alexz Voice Over
Life is about doing things you don't always want to do.
"Jude…" Kaiden started, unsure what to say. "I'm sure he's here."
"Have you seen him?" she asked, but no one responded. "Dammit, stop looking at each other every time I ask a question! Where's Tommy?!"
"We don't know, Dude!" Speed finally spit out.
Sometimes it's easier to do said things when your friends or family have your back.
"Oh God," she breathed out, feeling light headed.
But right now that person isn't there for me.
"Jude," Mason took her arm, "Jude, he's here. Tommy will be here."
"And that was All In A Days Work, aren't they great?" Joe Chaneley, the owner of the club, announced, as the audience applauded in response.
"Dude, they're about to call you on stage." Speed informed her, but still, Jude just stood there with a blank expression.
I can't get my legs to work. My mind won't stop thinking the worst.
"And now I'm very proud and honored to be able to introduce our next act of the evening. Jude Harrison, and the Speiderman Mind Explosion, with her new, unreleased hit single, Long, Long Way To Go!"
He said he'd be here.
"Where is Tommy?" Jude whispered out.
Kaiden took her hand, "C'mon Jude."
"No, no I can't. I can't go out there." She opposed, shaking her head back and forth, "I… Kaiden I can't."
"Jude," she sighed, sympathetically.
He's supposed to be here for me. What if something happened?
However, Jude continued to shake her head, as she felt her body grow weak. "I can't."
He just kissed me this morning. Things should be perfect.
"Dude, do this for Tommy." Speed said, standing before her, and taking her hands with his. "C'mon Jude, you can do this. Do it for Quincy, okay? He wouldn't want you to mess this up."
He's supposed to be here.
Nodding her head, she wiped away the few tears that had ran down her face. "Okay." She choked out, clearing her throat. "Alright. Do it… Do it for Tommy." She said to herself while walking on stage.
Stopping Speed before he followed her out, Kaiden grabbed his arm, "What happened between her and Tommy last night?" she asked, but he only shrugged.
"Your guess is just as good as mine." He replied, seeing Jude take center stage, and knowing it was his cue to follow out.
Opening Credits
The applause was heard from backstage as Jude stepped out, her eyes instantly scanning the crowd in case he had shown up, but there was no such luck. With the clapping increasing in volume as she made her appearance, they got even more excited as Speiderman followed out after her, waving out to the crowd and flashing a smile before taking his guitar from it's stand and taking his place in front of his mic stand. Next Wally and Kyle came out, repeating Speed's actions before taking their spots with their own instruments.
In the back of the room, Jude noticed the smile on Darius and Georgia's face as they came out in such an orderly fashion, yet Darius' smile quickly faded and Jude knew, that was when the extras filed on. Turning to look over her shoulder she saw Kaiden walk out, giving the crowd a small wave as well before taking a seat at the grand piano on the corner of the stage, and seconds after she made her debut, Mason followed out with his acoustic, tipping his cowboy hat, and stealing Jude's stool for a seat.
With all eyes on her, she smiled out to the crowd as the clapping and cheers quieted down.Taking the mic she finally introduced the act before her. "I'm actually singing a different song." She informed them, "I wrote it today, and my friend Kaiden—" she pointed back toward Kaiden, who just simply waved again, "—will be helping me out on the piano." Looking over her other, she gave Mason recognition as he settled his acoustic on his lap. "My other friend, and the 2006 Instant Star winner, Mason Fox, will be helping on guitar," Mason smiled out to the crowd as Jude continued on, "And of course," she paused, "The Speiderman Mind Explosion."
She got a few 'woo hoo's' from the crowd, but mainly it was at a low level of cheers, everyone waiting for the actual performance.
Spotting something in the crowd, Speed's head whipped over to her, "Jude!" Speed lightly whispered, causing her to look back and see him nodding toward the back of the room.
Past the party of tables, past the fancy china, and Titanic dining room resemblance, in the back of the room stood a figure Jude could never not recognize. Meeting his eyes, a sigh of relief passed through her lips, as she saw him smile up at her. Tommy had shown up.
Keeping her eyes on his she announced the name of the song, "It's called… Please Remember." Breaking eye contact she looked throughout the rest of the crowd, seeing Darius panicking, most likely because she 'wasn't going to plan.' However, Jude ignored it and looked back at Kaiden, giving her a nod to start, just like she did.
Kaiden hit a few chords like she and Jude had played earlier as Mason strummed in, Jude's cue to begin.
She breathed out a soft, "Ooohh, ho, yeah yeah," as she looked out over the crowd, "Time. Sometimes, the time just slips away. And you're left with yesterday. Left with the memories. And I—" her eyes met Tommy's, "—I'll always think of you—" a smile spread across her face, matching Tommy's, "—and smile. And be happy for the times—" Jude broke her gaze from Tommy and put her attention to the audience as Speed picked at his guitar a little, finally cueing into the song, "—I had you with, me. Though we go our separate ways. I won't forget—So don't forget. The memories we ma—de!" she sang the end of the first verse while Wally's bass line and Kyle's drumming finally came into play as the chorus began, "Please, remember… Please remember. I was there for you, and you were there for me." her voice filled the room as she continued on, seeing Darius in the back nodding his head, "Please remember. Our time together. The time was yours and mine, and we were wild and, fre—e! Please, remember. Please, remember. Me."
Kaiden hit a nice combination of notes as Kyle's drumming stopped. Mason joined in with her as Jude looked throughout the crowd. This song was really getting to her. If she nailed it, she was really gone. Really leaving. Only having the memories and only hope that everyone would remember her. Kyle kicked in on the drums with two beats, cueing Jude in.
"Good-bye. There's just no sadder word to say. And it's sad to walk away. With just the memories. Who's to know, what might of been? We'll leave behind a life and time. We'll never know again—"
In the back of the club Georgia leaned closer to Darius, while keeping her eyes on Jude and the performance, "Is this song about Tommy?" she asked as she quickly glanced to Tommy who was only staring at Jude smiling.
Darius leaned closer to Georgia, "G," he began, as he took his eyes off Jude and met Georgia's, "more than half of the girl's songs are about Tom."
"—Please, remember... Please remember. I was there for you, and you were there for me. And remember, Please remember. Me."
The music tempo all stayed the same between the two verses except for Speed's small guitar solo. It was weird watching him play a guitar solo without jumping around the stage at the same time. They were all growing up. They all knew this performance was serious, and that's exactly how they kept it. Although, Jude wasn't keeping her performance serious for Georgia and this Mike guy. She was keeping it serious for Tommy. She wouldn't know what would happen if he ever forgot about her. She wouldn't know what would happen if she ever forgot about him.
"Please, remember. Please, remember. I was there for you, and you were there for m—e. Please remember. Our time together. The time was yours and mine and we were wild and free! Then, remember. Please, remember. Me." The final verse ended as the bridge of the song came quickly after. "And how we laughed. And how we smiled. And how this world was yours and mine. And how no dream was out of reach. I stood by you, you stood by me. We took each day and made it shine. We wrote our names—" she waved her hand above her head, as if touching the sky, "—across the sky. We ran so fast. We ran so free." her eyes met Tommy's for the final time during the song as she slowly sang the last line of the verse. She looked like she had tears in her eyes but no one, except Jude knew if she did. "I had you and you had me."
Mason strummed in as Jude finished holding the long note, with Kaiden following quickly behind him. The Speiderman boys set back, and let Jude sing the last line.
"Please remember." You could hear Mason's guitar strumming really slow down, as Speed plucked a few notes on his guitar and Kaiden hit a few simple chords on the piano.
"Please, remember." and with that line, Mason slowly strummed his acoustic for the final time as Kaiden hit a small combination of notes, completing the song.
Nothing could describe how she felt at that moment. The crowd was ecstatic from her performance, most giving her a standing ovation as they hollered out her name. Whistles were heard, arms were pumping, and Jude couldn't remember ever getting a reaction like this to a single song, especially a ballad.
"Thank-you." She muttered into the mic, trying to keep her emotions together. Before she knew it, she felt Speiderman at her left, wrapping his arm around her waist, and Mason repeating his actions on her right. Wally and Kyle joined her to her right as well, as Kaiden stood by Speed, all with their arms around each other.
"And how about the Speiderman Mind Explosion?" she asked, as the cheering continued with a few more whistles being heard. "And Mason Fox?" Again more cheers were heard as Mason nodded out to the crowd before Jude addressed the last part of the act, "And my friend, Kaiden Rennald."
With the crowd still cheering them on, altogether they took a bow, before Joe made his way from backstage out to introduce the next act.
"Weren't they great?!" he asked, the applause picking up one last time. "How 'bout it? Jude Harrison, and the Speiderman Mind Explosion!"
Backstage, Jude let out a huge sigh of relief, "Whoa." She exclaimed, "That… That was…"
"Amazing." Came Tommy's voice.
Turning around, she saw him standing a good fifteen feet away, arms at his sides, and smile on his face. "Tommy," she breathed out before making her way toward him—walking first but it slowly transitioned to running as she jumped into his arms.
Letting out an 'oomph' as her arms wrapped around his neck, he let his own arms circle her waist, picking her up. "That excited to see me?" he asked, gently setting her back down.
"Gees, Quincy," she removed her arms from around his neck, "You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you weren't gonna show."
Hearing the emotion in her words, he could only picture how she was before set, "Jude," he sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. Opening his arms, he gave her another hug. Whispering into her ear, he told her, "I told you I'd be here."
With a combination of the reaction from the crowd, Tommy going disappearing on her earlier, and then showing up, her emotions were too loose to hold on to as a few small tears left her eyes. "I know." She replied, speaking almost into his neck, "But… I just freaked. You… You know me."
"I do." Was all he was going to respond with as Georgia, EJ, Mike, and Darius maneuvered their way through the backstage chaos.
"Jude!" she heard Darius call.
Still embraced in Tommy's arms she started to let go to see what he had wanted. Tommy on the other hand wasn't too keen on letting go. He and Georgia made an angry eye contact at their current position, but he bit his tongue while letting Jude out of his hold.
"Hey!" she greeted, surprised everyone had gotten back stage so quickly. Wiping away the few tears she spotted a man she'd never seen before, and instantly put him to being Mike. "Mike?" she asked, as he nodded while stepping in to shake her hand.
"It's a pleasure." He greeted, shaking her hand in salutations.
"Pleasure's all mine." She replied as they broke their hand shake. "Oh, this is Tommy." Turning back to him, she brought his attention to Mike, "He's my producer, the man who makes it all happen."
"Nice to meet you, Tommy."
Taking his hand, "Same here. It's great you flew all this way to see her perform. She's worth the watch."
"That she was." He replied, giving Jude a smile. "Now, I have a red eye flight, but I would love to take you all out."
Jude was speechless, mostly from the 'worth the watch' comment, but words certainly found their way from one Harrison.
"Jude!" Sadie shrieked while rushing toward her. The group all looked to the blonde hurrying toward Jude, curious looks to the unfamiliar face. "Jude, you did great!"
Before she could think, Jude was enveloped in a hug from her older sister. "Whoa. Thank… Thanks Sadie." She told her while hugging her back, and keeping her balance.
"Her sister." Darius whispered over to Mike who nodded in acknowledgement.
"This Mike guy would be a crazy fool not to sign you after that!" Sadie said while breaking the embrace to look at Jude.
"Uh, Sadie," she interrupted, giving Mike an apologetic look, but Sadie only continued on.
"No, you know he would. I've never heard you sing like that before. Only an idiot would pass signing you with his label."
"Sadie." Tommy warned, taking her arm to pull her from Jude. "Shut. Up."
Catching on that the mystery man between Darius and Georgia in fact was Mike, Kwest stepped up, taking Sadie's hand. "Babe, I think you better let Jude talk to Darius and Georgia right now."
"What's…" but she didn't finish her sentence as Kwest directed her over toward the vending machines to avoid any more outbursts.
"Uh, I'm sorry about her. Sadie… She's just…"
But Mike held his hand up, "Don't worry about it. I would be an idiot not to sign you over that performance."
Feeling her breath tighten, she couldn't help but let a smile come to her face. "I… I'm speechless really."
He gave a small laugh, "Well, before you get too excited, there's more to consider other than the performance, but Jude, I think your chances are really great."
Tommy couldn't help but tighten his jaw as Mike's words filled Jude's head with happy thoughts, and anger couldn't help but fill within him as Georgia looked over to him and gave him a cocky smile.
"Thank you. For coming out, for watching me play, I mean, giving me this chance… Thank you."
Holding his hands up again, he gave her a smile, "No need to thank me. Now c'mon. Round up your band mates, the two extras, get Tom in the car, and hell, bring your sister too. We have a performance to celebrate, my treat."
Jude looked up to Tommy for the first time since Mike had shown up, and instantly saw the uneasiness about him. Taking his hand with hers, she caught his attention, and instantly switched it to a happier demeanor. "You okay?" she asked.
Nodding his head, he gave her hand a squeeze. "Of course."
"Good." She replied, giving him a smile before looking back to see Mike and the others making their way to the back exit. Her eyes landing over to her band, she called after them, "Hey guys!"
Watching her wave them over, they all followed suit after her. "What's up?" Speed asked, "Mike like the gig?"
"Of course he did." Tommy replied. "Now c'mon. He's taking us all out to celebrate."
"Whoo! Free dinner!" Kaiden exclaimed, causing Jude to scoff.
"You get free dinner every night!"
"Do not!" she fired back, "And hell, I cook better than you do with your easy mac and cheese."
Tommy snorted, remembering the time Jude had attempted to make him dinner when in the end they called for pizza after turning the noodles to glue.
"Don't. Say. Anything." She warned with a laugh, as they made their way after Mike.
"Wasn't gonna, Girl. Wasn't gonna."
The bar was loud and the laughter from their table wasn't helping the commotion. Going on almost eleven o clock, everyone had said their good bye's too Mike as he left to catch his plane, leaving Jude to continue to celebrate with Georgia, EJ, Darius and the rest of her original company—Tommy at her side the whole time. When Mike had left, the majority of the group had vacated their table and moved to the bar when Speed and Kyle challenged each other to see who could hold their liquor better.
Residing at the table still, Georgia, EJ and Darius sat with Jude, Tommy, and Kaiden—who wasn't old enough to sit at the bar just yet.
"So," Jude cut in, "Georgia, how long you plannin' to stay in town now?" she asked, her voice spoken at a slightly high level to be heard over the rest of the people in the restaurant.
"Well, not too much longer. I still have a studio in L.A. I have to run."
"At least stay for Jude's birthday next week." Darius suggested. "We rented out Toronto's Dance Hall. That real nice one up town. It's gonna be a blast."
"Darius," Jude sighed, "I told you. Me and birthday parties don't mix well."
"So we'll keep Shay and Freddy outta the mix." Kaiden suggested. Looking up to receive an annoying look from Tommy, she quickly added, "And Tommy too if he gets annoying."
"Ha ha," he quipped while taking a drink of his soda. "And if you get annoying do we get to send you home?"
"Psh," she sat up from her seat, "Sir, you would be honored to be at the same party as me."
While taking another drink, he mumbled, "Like hell I would." But Kaiden ignored him and made her way to see how Speed and Kyle were in their drink off.
"Well," Georgia cleared her throat, "Another week won't kill us. You've helped me out by putting this show on, the least I can do is celebrate your birthday with you."
"Twenty-one girlie!" EJ exclaimed, "My gosh, you've just grown up like nothing."
"No… Not like nothing." She replied, "But it'd be great to see you guys there, seeing as Darius isn't too easy to fight when he wants something done."
EJ chuckled before asking, "Is there any theme?"
"Well sources have told me, Jude's prom didn't go too well." Darius stated uneasily, tentatively looking to Jude. "It's put together like a prom, with Kiss By A Rose as the theme."
"Who…?"
"Sadie suggested it." Tommy whispered to her ear.
Nodding her head, she forced out a smile. "Well, hopefully this birthday will be drama free."
"Jude Harrison's birthday?" Tommy asked. "Drama free?"
"Yeah, and you're in charge for that to happen." She ordered, causing him to only chuckle in response.
"I am?"
"You are."
Loving more than anything to do so, Georgia broke into their little debate. "Well," she said while standing up from her chair, "It is getting rather late, so I think we're gonna head out."
"So soon?" Tommy asked the sarcasm obvious to Georgia, "It's barely past eleven."
"As much as I know you'd just love me to stay Tom, we have to get going." She replied, giving Tommy a sarcastic smile.
"I'm gonna head out with them." Darius added. "Let you kids have fun."
Jude stood up in her seat to say her good bye's to them, Tommy following her actions. "Have a safe drive back to the hotel." She said while giving Georgia a hug.
Breaking the embrace, "Thanks, Jude. You were really amazing tonight."
"We'll see you at your birthday party kiddo!" EJ cut in, throwing her arms around Jude in a hug. "Anything in particular you want? I can still get you the best dress in the city."
"No, I'm good. But thanks. For everything, you've both already given me enough."
EJ only gave her a quick smile, "See ya next week, Jude."
Waving good bye to Georgia and EJ she didn't notice Darius sneak up behind her. "Here." He said while slipping a twenty in her hand. "Go buy yourselves a round at the bar. But don't have too much fun." He warned.
"Wow." She exclaimed in surprise. "Thanks, D."
"Ah, don't worry about it. And don't worry about comin' into the studio tomorrow either. Both of you got the rest of the week off."
"Are you sure you're Darius Mills?" Jude asked, never believing he would be this generous.
"In the flesh." He called back to her while making his way out the bar, a smile on his face.
Tommy chuckled from behind her. "You know he only said that 'cause tomorrow's Friday."
Laughing as realization hit her, "So he isn't that generous."
He only continued to laugh while taking her hand and leading her towards the bar. "C'mon. Lets see how messed up Speiderman and Kyle are."
"Alright!" she replied, letting him pull her to where the rest of the party was seated.
"Chug, chug, chug!" Wally, Kwest, and Kaiden cheered in unison as Speed and Kyle quickly hurried to empty their glasses.
Spotting Sadie sitting next to Kwest toward the end of the group, Tommy and Jude made their way over toward her, as Speed dropped his glass on the bar, throwing his hands in the air in victory. "Beat ya! Again!"
Seeing his not-so-steady balance, Kaiden quickly wrapped her arms around his back before letting him fall backwards. "I think you've had enough babe."
"Me?! Never!" he shouted, signaling for the bartender. "'Ey Charlie!"
"No, Charlie." Kaiden cut in.
Charlie gave her a smile, "Gotta listen to the lady Vin. Sorry man."
Looking over his shoulder, Speed eyed Kaiden curiously. "Why can't I go another round?"
"You've had enough, I'm taking you home."
"Aww," he sighed, leaning against the bar.
Taking a seat beside her sister, Jude gave Sadie a nudge. "What were they drinking?"
"That's just beer. They've been takin' shots of whiskey and tequila all before this though."
"Good luck gettin' those two home. Good thing you gave up drinking, Girl. Wouldn't wanna carry you to the car at the end of the night."
"Sayin' I can't hold my liquor Quincy?"
Laughing, "I'll down four shots before you swallow your first." He challenged.
With a devious smile, Jude signaled for the bartender then turned back to seal the deal. "You're on."
Feeling the need to speak up, "You've gotten thrown in jail for that before. I'd be careful." Sadie warned.
Over hearing the bet, "Actually… We're goin' home in a minute." Kaiden informed Speed.
"Why?" Speed asked, but she ignored him while hurrying to the other side of the bar where new stakes were up.
Rushing to the other side, she collided into a figure she knew all too well. "Whoa, sorry—Shane?!"
"Hey, Kaiden, what's… What's got you in a hurry?"
"Jude and Tommy are about to have a drink off." She explained.
His eyes grew, hearing Jude was here. "Jude… She's here?" he asked, seeing Kaiden's face instantly grow with uneasiness.
"Uh… Yeah. With Tommy."
He forced a smile. "She happy?"
Hesitantly she nodded, some-what feeling sorry for him, but seeing he was sticking to his words at letting Jude be happy. "Yeah. She is for a change."
"That's good." He told her with a nod.
"Why don't you say hi. Ya know, before she starts downin' shots and recognizing you won't be too easy." She suggested, and Shane gave her another nod.
"Ready Harrison?" Tommy teased as Charlie set four shot glasses in front of Tommy and two before Jude.
"Wait, since when is it two?" she questioned, looking up to Charlie who only smiled.
"C'mon. You don't want to humiliate the guy do ya? Four shots of tequila and the room will be spinnin' in minutes while you walk around with one?"
"Okay, okay. So Tommy isn't too embarrassed in the end." She clarified before feeling someone tap her shoulder. Turning around, shock washed over her face never expecting to see Shane standing before her. "Shane?"
"Hey, Jude." He replied, giving her a small hug-hello.
Hugging him back, "Hey. What brings you here?"
"Me and a couple buddies caught the show up at Shipwrecks Saloon. Saw you perform." He informed her.
She smiled, "Really?"
"Yeah. You did great. I guess that's why you're all here. Celebrating?"
Rolling her eyes she nodded, "Yeah. Woulda rather went home any other time, but…"
"I'd be surprised if you didn't want to celebrate." He sad with a smile while sitting next to her. "You were really great tonight Jude."
"Yeah, she was." Tommy added, throwing himself into the conversation.
Looking back at him, she felt guilt wash over her, and Shane instantly noticed. "Well," he started, standing right back up from sitting down. "I just wanted to say hi. Tell ya you did a good job tonight."
Jude nodded her head, giving him a smile, "Thanks Shane."
"I'll see ya around?" he asked while turning to walk away.
"Yeah. See ya around." And with that, he threw her a smile before disappearing into the crowd to find his friends.
Turning back to Tommy, she gave him a weak smile, feeling bad for whatever reason. "Sorry about that." She told him.
Surprising her, he shook his head, "Don't be. Now c'mon Harrison. I believe you have a challenge awaiting you."
Grinning like a little school girl, she turned in her seat to face the bar, hand on her first shot, and waiting for Kaiden to shout out,
"Go!"
First Commercial
The uncontrollable laughter echoed off the walls as Jude and Tommy came around the corner of her floor. Her arm wrapped around his waist while his went around her shoulder as they made their way toward her apartment.
"I can't believe—I can't—" her hand slapped her knee, as her laughter continued, "And he... hah!"
"Hey… hey at least," he began as they approached her apartment, "at least I didn't think the taxi fare was the time."
Jude snorted as they both burst into a fit of giggles. Leaning against the door, they surprisingly pulled it together.
"Well, you're home."
Her head quickly looked up at the door, reading 417. "How'd we get here so fast?" she seriously asked while digging in her purse for her keys.
Tommy shrugged, leaning against the wall next to her door, "That cab driver musta drove faster than we thought." he replied as his eyes silently closed.
Miraculously finding the keys, Jude's hand tried to find the keyhole, but failed. The annoying sound of her keys stabbing into the outside of the lock causing Tommy to open his eyes and look over at her pathetic attempt of getting into her apartment.
"You're doin' it all wrong." he told her while taking the keys from her grip and gently pushing her aside. But gentle was even too much, for Jude stumbled over her feet and onto the floor. Looking down at her, he rolled his eyes, "You. Are-such-a-klutz." He said, quickly while offering his hand.
After a few attempts she finally got hold of his hand and let Tommy pull her up. With a little too much strength he pulled her up into his arms and the two stumbled back into Jude's door. The doorknob penetrated into Tommy's back, and as he cried out an "Ow!" Jude broke out in laughter, catching Tommy contagiously into a fit as well.
"Ya know that really hurt," he spoke with his hands still around her.
"Well," she began playfully, "you shouldn't of pulled me up so fast."
"You..." but he was lost for words, and failed to reply.
"Win?"He shrugged. "Surrendering Quincy? A real man, wouldn't do that."
"I'm not." he slurred.
"A man?" she questioned while looking at him puzzled.
With a confused expression, he clarified, "Am too."
"Oh, did I just kill your ego?"
His face scrunched up, completely lost in the conversation, "I guess?" he half asked, half stated.
"Aw," she replied, "Sorry," and with that playful apology she leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Confused, yet again, by her actions he looked down at her, "Are you trying to have sex with me?!"
Jude looked at him stupidly, "Okay, exactly how much did you have to drink?" she asked with a hiccup.
"I should be asking you. You're hitting on me."
"Keep dreaming Little Tommy Q!" she told him while poking his nose and beginning to get out of his hold. She took a step back, but everything instantly started spinning as she stumbled into her apartment. She dropped her things by the door while taking a few steps to her kitchen, stopping to rest her palms on the counter to keep balance.
"You're more messed up than I am." He pointed out, but Jude had to disagree.
"Wanna bet?" she asked, "I can act sober anytime I want."
Closing the door to her apartment behind him he carefully made his way inside; his straight line leaning more and more left as he walked in. "I wanna bet."
"You can't even walk a straight line." She pointed out. "I can. And I can recite the ABCs backwards, and… And…"
Taking hold of the kitchen counter he leaned against it for balance as he listened to her blab on and on about the few things she could do. She could barely even stand up without waving her arms out, he noted, smiling at her actions, and deciding to use them to his advantage.
"Walk a straight line." He told her. "To me. Walk a straight line to me."
She gave him a small sarcastic laugh. "Like it's hard."
"Then do it Miss Hollywood."
Glaring at him, she straightened her posture up, before carefully and slowly walking to Tommy. "See." She said in a tone not so sure of herself. "I can do it."
"You got it." He replied as she neared him. "Almost—"
With a few steps short, she tripped on the rug resting atop her carpet before falling right into his arms. "—There." She squeaked out as he caught her.
Looking down at her in his arms, he couldn't help but keep his smile on his face. "I'm so proud of you." He told her, pulling her up to face him better.
"It wasn't that hard of a walk."
However Tommy shook his head. "No. The performance tonight. Putting the song together all on your own. Singing so… I'm so proud of you."
"I wrote it for you." She confessed, dreamily staring up at him.
"I know." He replied while kissing the top of her head. "I know."
Feeling his arms close around her, she couldn't help but do what she'd been wanting to do for so long now. "Tommy?"
"Hmm?" he asked, looking down to her.
But she didn't give him a response. Bringing her hands to his face, she held him steady before kissing him with all she had. Neither denying the want for the other, the kiss grew as Tommy drunkenly lead the way down the hall, only bumping into the wall a few times, before reaching her bedroom door and locking them both inside.
All she felt was her head. The throbbing pain from what she believed was her hangover. Last night was a complete blur to her, but the seconds she started to stretch out her legs and arms, bits and pieces slowly started to fill in the gaps of what happened after dinner. After the alcohol. As her legs stretched out she didn't continue to feel bed sheets. No, she felt another pair of legs. Bare legs. Not sheets. Naked. Man. Legs.
Quickly her head shot up to see a figure lying beside her, and even though only the back of his head was showing, she knew it was Tommy. A shot of panic went through her nerves as she picked up the sheets to take a look underneath.
"Oh my God." She breathed out, shocked at what her eyes saw, and clothes wasn't what made the list.
Her attention switched from the shock of what she saw under the covers and landed on Tommy—literally. Shaking him to wake up, she kept whispering out his name, but all she got as a response was a groan.
"What?"
"Tommy wake up."
Still groaning, he turned to face her, "I'm awake. What?"
"Did we have sex last night?"
He shook his head from the sleep as he noticed the bare shoulders and her holding the sheet up around herself. Picking up the sheets, he too took a peak before replying, "Looks like it."
"Stop!" Her hand hit the sheet back down.
"What?" he chuckled, sitting up a little. "It's not like I've never seen you naked before."
"Stop making jokes. Tommy we had sex last night. I knew we had too much to drink." She rambled, totally overreacting to the situation, "What if—"
"Jude, Jude," he interrupted, "Shut up." Still laughing a little, Tommy set an arm on her shoulder to calm her down. "Relax."
"Relax? Tommy, how can I—"
"Hey," he cut her off again, this time putting a hand on her face to get her attention on him, and when it was, he leaned in and gave her a soft gentle kiss. Breaking away, he looked at her smiling, "Good morning."
For the first time all morning she blocked away what happened last night and was just happy to be in the situation she was in. With no hesitance, she leaned in and kissed him. Even though it started like another small kiss like he had given her, it was a little more intense for she let her fingers go through his hair, and she let his hands pull her closer.
"Good morning." She breathed out as they momentarily broke away. He nodded as he quickly reconnected their lips and instantly found themselves lying back down.
With their kiss growing in passion, Tommy slowly moved on top of her, keeping the sheets over them still. Again, however, he pulled away. Breathing hard, "You want to?" he asked, staring down at her.
For a second she thought about it, but how could she say no to him when he was holding her and kissing her like he was. She shrugged, "Well we're already naked."
Tommy nodded his head, "Good enough." He told her while leaning back down.
"Yeah." She replied before his lips reconnected with hers, and they entered the world that they had left behind over a year ago.
Tommy and Jude however, weren't the only couple waking up with a hangover. Across town at the Speiderman boys place, Kaiden listened with a smile on her face as Speed woke up in pain. Groaning from his aching head, she sat up, for herself already being awake close to an hour, and turned the TV on.
"Ah," he exclaimed, pulling his pillow over his head. "You tryin' to kill me?"
"This is fun. I've always been taken care of with a hangover, never had to be the caretaker."
"You're sick and twisted if you think this is fun." He said in a muffled voice.
Turning the television off, she laid back down, turning on her side to face him. "Wanna move the pillow, Vin?"
"Plannin' on sabotaging me with the force of light?"
Chuckling, she removed the pillow herself. "I'm not gonna sabotage you." She promised.
He gave her a smile as she leaned in and pecked his lips. "Why don't you stay?"
"I'm not goin' anywhere." She told him, continuing to chuckle as his hangover behaviors.
"No I mean for real. With me."
Sitting up, she eyed him curiously. "What are you talkin' about?"
Struggling in the process, Speed too sat up, getting eye level with her. "I want you to move in. If not here, maybe we can get our own place."
"Speed," she said breathlessly; totally speechless at his words. "Are you… You're serious?"
He took her hand with his own. "Except for loving you I don't think I've ever been more sure on anything."
At a stand still, she couldn't get her body to communicate with her brain, for all she could do was smile before throwing her arms around him and pressing her lips to his cheek. The force of her hug sent him laying back as he cried out in pain with his headache, but she didn't care at that moment.
"I love you!" she exclaimed, but he only laughed.
"Alright, but does that mean you'll move in?" he asked, as she sat atop him, staring down with nothing but love in her eyes.
"You?" she leaned down and kissed his lips. "Of course." Rolling off to lay beside him, she continued, "Wally and Kyle?"
His arm snaked around her as he pulled her into him, letting her head rest on his chest, "Not happenin' huh?"
"Unless my ears were mistaken, I think you mentioned our own place?" with an innocent smile she looked up to him, not remembering a time she was more in love with the boy before her.
Playing with her hair he mirrored her smile before nodding his head. "I think we can work something out."
"I can get a job ya know." She told him, wanting to do anything possible to make this work. "Maybe I'll write for the paper—or hey! I can open my own advice column!"
He couldn't help but laugh at her full out. "Advice? Dude, we won't be that desperate for cash. You don't need to go work."
"Hey I wanna be in this fifty/fifty with you. Maybe an advice column wouldn't be the best idea, but I'll find a job, and take this step with you. Splitting rent, the bills."
He chuckled, "Those video games are gonna kill you."
Laughing with him, she hugged him closer. "Please babe, you'll be playin' Halo just as much as me."
"Alright, alright, but still… You don't need to get a job." He said, but she only eyed him, "But… I won't stop you if you want to help out."
Leaning up, she kissed his cheek, "Thank you!"
"No, thank you." He told her while rolling to his side to face her.
"For what?" she asked, curious of his actions.
"Well," now rolling atop her, he stuck his face in the crook of her neck, "Seeing as you woke me from my much needed sleep, you're repaying me by taking advantage of my hung over self."
Giggling as he nuzzled his nose on her neck, "Take advantage? My, my," she said through continuous giggles as he rolled them back to where she laid atop him again. "Vincent Speiderman, you don't mean you want me to sleep with you? Whatever will people think of my reputation?"
Pulling her down, he kissed her soft, but long, letting his fingers run through her hair, as she melted down onto his body. "They'll think you're damn lucky."
"I know."
Just as they started to get to business, two knocks interrupted them. "Speed?" came Kyle's muffled voice.
Breaking away from kissing Kaiden, he sighed before looking to the door. "What, man?"
The door opened as Kyle walked inside, his appearance both causing Speed and Kaiden to burst into giggles. Standing in the doorway, holding a hand to his forehead and obviously unaware of his current appearance, he over looked the two through squinted eyes, ignoring their laughter. "You got any aspirin man? Head's killin' me."
"Aspirin?" he questioned, trying to keep a straight face. "Sure you ain't lookin' for a washcloth?"
Confused, he only stared at the two, unsure of what he meant as another door opened, and seconds later Wally came from his room. Kyle looked over his shoulder to the noise just in time to see Wally pass by and like Speed and Kaiden had, he couldn't hold back his laughter. Holding his stomach, he quickly turned away from Kyle and hurried out of site.
"What's everyone laughin' at?" he asked, but Wally didn't reply, only try to bring his laughter down. Turning back to Speed, he saw both him and Kaiden trying to keep a straight face, but failing miserably. Walking out of the room he crossed the hall into the bathroom to check himself in the mirror, only to be horror stuck.
Looking over himself he had seen in his drunken state the night before he had been given nothing other than a make over. Bright red lip stick still stuck to his lips, letting the color of his rosy pink cheeks stand out from the blush that had only smeared on the left side of his face. The mascara was obvious, although it had smeared, too, in his sleep, but the bright green eye shadow made his face glow.
"Wally I'm gonna kill you!" he shouted, hurrying out of the bathroom after him.
"This is what I get for being the sober one!" he yelled back while running for his room. "I get to take care of you drunken fools!"
Back in Speed's room, he and Kaiden laughed to themselves, hearing the fight between his two roommates as Kyle tried breaking into Wally's room, and Wally only laughing at him from the other side.
"Yeah, we'd definitely get our own place." He told her, causing her to laugh as she leaned up, ready to kiss him.
"Speed."
Leaning in closer, "Yeah?"
"Go lock the door."
Sadie made her way across the living room and made herself comfortable on the couch, grabbing the phone from its cradle on the way. Hitting 'on', she heard her bedroom door open and seconds later a sleepy Kwest walked out.
"What are you doing?" he asked, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch.
As she dialed, "Seeing how bad of a hangover Jude has." She replied. "Seeing as you slept till one, and had about half as much as she did, I bet she isn't in too good of a mood."
"So you're bothering her because…?"
She smiled while pressing the phone to her ear, "This is the best time to get her to dish out information to me."
He only laughed before rolling his eyes and leaving the couch. "Well if you need me, I'll be the one with the pillow over my head."
Spite Sadie's words, Jude in fact was in a good mood; even if she was fast asleep. However the phone ringing may have put an end to her slumber, it didn't kill her mood and as her hand swung on her dresser searching for the phone, she couldn't help but let a smile come to her face when she felt an arm wrap around her waist from behind.
"Hello?" she answered while sitting up, bringing the sheet with her to keep her covered as she stared out her window.
"Hey, lil sis." Sadie greeted. "How's the hangover?"
Groaning, she sighed into the phone, "That's what you called me for?"
"Of course not!"
Feeling the bed shift, Jude looked over her shoulder to see Tommy resting his chin on her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Laying a gentle kiss where her neck and shoulder met she instantly shuddered from the contact. "Th-Then what'd you want?"
"Something wrong?"
Shoving Tommy away, she shook her head while answering, "Nope. Everything's peachy over here."
Tommy lightly laughed from behind her before turning to leave her to her phone call. Looking to see what he was doing she watched as he grabbed his pants from the floor and figured he was getting ready to leave.
"Peachy?" Sadie asked, breaking Jude's thoughts on Tommy.
Her body faced the window again. "Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"
Ready to reply, Sadie paused, hearing Jude's bed squeak as Tommy stood up. Ignoring it she went on. "You drank half the bars tequila last night and the next morning you're peachy?"
"I did not!" she defended as Tommy walked around her side of the bed, pants on and shirt in his hand. Covering the receiver of the phone she looked up to him, wondering what he was doing.
Nodding to the door, "I'm gonna head home." He told her while leaning down to kiss her lips.
Not knowing what else to do, she only nodded back, missing his kiss already. "Alright." She whispered back, watching him throw his shirt on and gather the rest of his belongings.
"Is someone with you?" Sadie asked, trying to figure out why Jude was acting so strange.
"Uh…" she stuttered, unsure how to answer that one.
"Oh. My. God. Jude!" she shrieked.
Pulling the phone away from her ear as Sadie screamed she gave one last look to Tommy as he waved bye to her before walking out her door. 'Bye' she mouthed to him, giving him a small wave as he left her alone.
"Jude?" she heard Sadie ask in a quieter tone, one of more concern since she wasn't answering.
"Yeah."
"Is someone over there?"
Looking back at her doorway to see nothing other than her jacket hanging on the back she silently shook her head, "No. Not anymore at least." Another shriek came through the receiver.
"Who?! You and Shane didn't get back together did you?"
Fearing Sadie was about to ramble, Jude cut in, "No, Sades. It wasn't Shane." She told her, putting Sadie at a stand still at who it could be. As the seconds edged on and Sadie hadn't said anything, Jude rolled her eyes and decided to just reveal the information Sadie was looking for. "Tommy."
"What?!" she—again—shrieked. "What happened? Was it like you guys getting together again or just hanging out? Did he—"
"Whoa, whoa, Sadie, slow down, slow down." She cut in, surprised to get that much in. "Tommy stayed over last night."
Sadie gasped into the phone, and Jude couldn't help but let a huge smile come across her face. "And??"
Casually, "We might of gotten a little friendly…"
"Jude Elizabeth!" Sadie yelled, "Did you—you didn't! You and—"
"Tommy." She finished.
"Had sex—"
"Twice."
And this time words weren't needed as Sadie squealed into the phone. "Oh my God, what does this mean? Are you guys—did you talk about it?"
"Didn't get a chance to since my big sister called to check up on me." She replied, and even though she was upset that he had left, there was no way she could erase that smile from her face as she took everything into realization.
"Sorry about that." She apologized, "Wow, I can't believe it. Well, wait a minute. Did he just get up and leave when the phone rang?"
"No, no, he just started to get dressed and then told me he was gonna head home."
"To think things over?"
"God I hope so." She replied, wishing she'd of thought of her words before speaking.
"Well did he kiss you good bye?"
Surprisingly her smile grew even than it was as she answered, not thinking the day could get any better. "Yeah."
"Oh my God! You two are so gonna get back together!"
"Gees, calm down, what's the big deal?"
Jude could see in her mind Sadie's eyes doubling as she responded, "The big deal? Both of you guys mope around like sad puppy dogs when you're not together and lately it's just getting depressing. But now…"
"Well don't go jumping to conclusions. I mean we might not get together."
"You really think Tommy's gonna one night stand you?" Sadie fired back, leaving Jude speechless for a moment as the morning before in the club went on replay in her mind.
"Okay… Maybe not, but Darius—"
"Don't you even finish that sentence!" Sadie warned. "If you blame Darius as a reason for you two not to get together I will march into his office first thing tomorrow and straighten that out."
Finding herself without a reply again, Jude let herself fall back on the bed, instantly feeling cold since Tommy's absence. "I don't know Sades, but I don't want to get all excited over something that could be nothing. I mean, it's me and Tommy for cryin' out loud. When do things ever go right for us?"
Knowing what words to stump her with, Sadie took her time before carefully telling her, "They have to go right some time though."
Her mouth opened, yet nothing came out. Staring at the ceiling she realized Sadie was right. Things do go right. Sometimes.
Second Commercial
The weekend off Darius so generously gave to Jude and company quickly came to an end, and Monday morning it was like nothing ever happened. Studios were packed as SME was back in on their demo; producers were studio-less as Tommy stayed in studio with Kwest until he was done—and Darius was the only happy man.
Singing his heart out, Speed leapt into the chorus of their newest song. "Tidal waves they, rip right through me. Tears from eyes worn, cold and sad. Pick me up now. I need you so bad."
Stepping up to his own mic, Wally whispered out in a monotonous tone, "Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down."
Quickly, Speed whispered in, "It gets me so,"
"Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down. Down, down, down, down."
"It gets me so." He finished as the music played through their headphones until the song came to a smooth end seconds later.
Satisfied with their performance, Kwest happily hit the intercom to dismiss the boys. "Alright guys, I think we got it. I should have the final mix done by tomorrow latest."
Cheering inside the booth, Kwest and Tommy shared a small laugh at the boys celebrating. "They've come a long way." Tommy commented.
"Workin' with Jude and tryin' to get a demo out at the same time doesn't seem like their protégé though. Almost four years they've been workin' on this thing."
"Eh, let 'em have fun with it."
Curiously, Kwest over looked Tommy, wondering what had got him in such a good mood all day and knowing his friend so well, he had a pretty good idea of what had done it. "You hooked up this weekend didn't you?"
Furrowing his eye brows, he gave Kwest a confused look. "What? Where did that come from?" he laughed off.
"I'm guessin' one night stand from that laugh?"
He shook his head while fixing up the controls for his up coming session. "C'mon Kwest. You know I haven't been with anyone since me and Jude broke up last year."
Sighing that he was wrong, he shook his head at Tommy. "Man, you gotta get back in the game. I know you."
"Well maybe you knew me. I'm not twenty anymore man." He explained, continuing to fiddle with the soundboard.
"Tom Quincy grew up?" Kwest joked.
"That's surprising." Came Jude's voice as she joined the two. Both men's head turned to her as she walked in, setting her bag on the floor and pulling a seat up in between them. "What's going on?"
"SME just finished up, and now," Tommy stood up from his seat and started his way to the sound booth, "I gotta fix up your mics so we can get to recordin'." And with those words he had disappeared to the other side of the glass, moving SME's junk around and setting up the right equipment needed for Jude's song.
Desperately wanting to talk to Tommy, she bumped knees with Kwest to get his attention. "Hey."
Looking over to her, "Hmm?"
"You think…" peaking up to Tommy, she hoped Kwest would start to catch on, "I kinda wanna talk to Tommy."
"Alone I'm assuming."
"Do you mind?"
Kwest shook his head as he stood up, "'Course not. I'll just take this over to Studio B and work on it."
In appreciation of his actions she gave him a smile as he made his way to the door. "Thanks Kwest." Jude told him while leaving her seat and walking to the door that separated her and Tommy.
So they had kissed the morning she finished recording 'Long, Long Way To Go'. And maybe she did write him a song the next day, followed by having sex with him that night. Not only were those two of the best days of her life in such a long time, but she couldn't help but hope they were Tommy's too. Watching him standing in there untangling cords to get her set set-up even made her giddy, thinking how cute he looked, and she knew that she had fallen for him again. Or maybe she just never got back up from last time?
Taking a deep breath, she set her hand on the handle before counting quietly to three, and opening the door. The squeak brought his eyes to her, but he only showed a smile before getting back to his business.
"Hey." She said; her voice tiny and anything but sure.
"Hi." Was his response as he hooked the mic in place and looked over to her.
The smile was a smile that didn't want to leave her face, and when he let his smile stay upon his own features, she didn't dare fight hers off. "So…"
"Look, Jude, about the other night," he started, instantly making Jude fear the worst. "I'm sorry. I… I shoulda handled that differently."
"What differently?"
"I shoulda called you. After I left. It's just… I had a lot on my mind."
She nodded, "I think we both did." And when he didn't respond, she had a feeling she knew where this conversation was heading. "This…" Jude paused, unsure how to word what she was about to say, "This is between you and me. We… we can't be a we."
His face scrunched up at her words. "What?"
"An us—a we. We can't be a we." She repeated, but his facial expression only showed more confusion and she wasn't quite sure what game he was playing at. "Can we?"
"Girl," he chuckled, finishing her set-up and making his way toward her. To calm her down, he whispered, "Relax." by her ear before opening the door to the recording studio.
"Relax." She repeated to herself, keeping her back to him.
Standing in the doorway, he watched and waited for her to turn back around. "Jude." He stated, getting her attention.
Turning to face him she felt her heart beat speed up. "Hmm?"
"You're thinking too much again." He said before giving her a smile and walking through the door.
A smile coming back across her face, Jude made her way to the mic in which Tommy had set up, while mumbling her words of reassurance to herself. "We can."
608
Born Like This
It's that time of the year again.
"Happy birthday, to, you!" Kaiden and SME sang, holding the last note until they were short of breath.
And Tommy's promised Jude to give her a drama free day.
"If you want of course. It's your party." He offered, acting all shy and making Jude roll her eyes at his school boy behavior.
"I'd love to."
However, it's Jude Harrison's birthday.
"You don't got the guts for anything Jude!" Kaiden exclaimed while throwing her hands up.
And it seems everyone's got something up their sleeve this year.
Kwest finally found his next choice in song, "This should be interesting." he said as he looked over the record.
So will Jude find her peace this year?
"Look, I promise I'll tell you tomorrow, but not tonight okay?" Jude pleaded, as Kaiden only rolled her eyes.
"Fine, whatever. But that's your birthday present. Me 'butting out'."
Or will the candles blow out before her wish is granted?
In a tone he knew she couldn't deny, he shook his head before her, "I think I owe you this much, tonight."
