Chapter 23 - A New Day, A New Beginning

Jude sprung to her feet and ran towards the exhausted looking, young man. His expression said it all.

Jude: "Is she?" she asked finally reaching him.

Jordan couldn't speak. He just nodded yes. Jude saw the sorrow and pain in his eyes. She threw her arms around his neck. He hesitated for a second and then finally embraced the comfort she offered.

Jude: "I'm so sorry." she whispered. Jordan didn't respond. He just held onto her for what seemed a lifetime.

An hour and half later they were back at the hotel. Martin's car was parked outside. Jude shivered at the thought of him but pushed those thoughts out of her head and concentrated on Jordan. While he decided to go up and take a shower Jude made him some hot tea. He came down to the lobby again and sat down across from her. He hadn't said one single word since Muriel had passed. Not at the hospital, not in the car ride home, and not since they came back. Jude watched him pick up the cup and sip slowly. She knew he was trying to be strong.

Jordan: "I knew she'd go, I thought I was prepared." he finally said looking out the window.

Jude: "No one can ever be prepared for something like this." she whispered in understanding.

Jordan: "I'll call the real-estate agent tomorrow. I'm selling this place." he said still looking outside. Jude didn't respond. She instead kept quiet.

Jordan: "I don't know where I'll go. I have no one else."

Jude: "You have me now. Just come with me." she blurted out before she gave it a second thought. She didn't even know where she was going why was she dragging him down with her?

Jordan: "Where to?"

Jude smiled: "I wish I knew."

Jordan finally turned towards her: "I envy you."

Jude: "Me? For what?"

Jordan: "You are so strong. You had the courage to do what I've wanted my whole life. Just pick up and leave."

Jude: "Yeah right. Me strong. You have no idea how many nights I've cried myself to sleep." she said remembering all the lonely days.

Jordan: "Jude, what happened? What made you leave?"

For the first time, Jordan had called her by her real name. This was the first time anyone had called her that since the accident. It felt good to be herself again.

Martin walked out of the shower and sat down at the little desk. He looked at Jude's picture and picked up his cell phone. He dialed some digits. It rang once, twice, three times. Someone finally answered.

Peron: "Hello?"

Martin: "You were right. I found her. She's alive."

Person: "Are you serious? I knew it."

Martin: "Yes, she is staying at a little hotel."

Person: "And you're sure its her."

Martin: "No doubt in my mind. What now?"

Person: "Just carry out the plan like we discussed. I'll take care of the rest."

Martin: "I'll stick around for a while and see where she's going."

Person: "DO NOT lose her."

Martin: "I won't. What are you going to do?"

Person: "I don't know yet, this changes everything."

Martin set the phone down and looked through some articles of Jude. He heard voices downstairs, knowing it was Jude and Jordan, he decided to go to bed. He knew Jude wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Back In Canada

Tommy entered his apartment. He set his keys and phone down and headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower. 20 minutes later he came out and threw on some clothes, picked up his keys and wallet and walked out again. He drove to G Major. When he arrived there everyone looked at him in disgust as he made his way to Georgia's office. He finally reached it and knocked. Georgia looked at him in surprise.

Georgia: "Look who finally decided to show up." she said crossing her arms over her chest.

Tommy: "Georgia, we need to talk." he walked inside and closed the door behind him.

Georgia: "Yes, we do. What's been going on with you?" she asked setting her arms down on her desk again.

Tommy: "What do you mean what's been going on with me? Isn't is obvious?" he asked annoyed and finally sat down across from the woman.

Georgia: "Tommy I know you're grieving, we all are but what you did went beyond anything I would have ever guessed you'd do."

Tommy: "I know I messed up. I already apologized to Victoria and Nick."

Georgia: "Good, so what are you doing here? You back to work?"

Tommy: "No, actually I wanted to apologize to you too. I've been an ass."

Georgia: "We all make mistakes." she said understanding what he was feeling.

Tommy: "Yeah, it's a habit with me. Look I need time. I don't want to come back to work yet."

Georgia: "I understand. I really wasn't expecting you back any time soon anyways. Take as long as you need."

Tommy nodded: "It's so hard." he said. Georgia looked at him and saw the pain in his eyes. His voice was cracking but he continued: "Everything here reminds me of her." he looked around Georgia's office. Her eyes followed his. He continued "Everywhere I go I see her face. I hear her voice. I miss her."

Georgia got up and hugged him: "I know you do. We all miss her. But you still have us. I know it doesn't make up for Jude, nothing can, but it's something."

Tommy: "Thanks Georgia."

He said his goodbye to the woman and made his way to one of the studios. Once inside he saw Chris. She was playing the piano and didn't even notice him walk inside. He leaned against the door frame and just watched her for a couple of minutes. She was talented he had to give her that. Her hands came to a sudden stop and the silence drowned the room.

Tommy: "That was beautiful. New?"

She looked up and saw him for the first time.

Chris: "What are you doing here?" he pushed himself off the door frame and walked to her.

Tommy: "I came to say I'm sorry. I was a jerk."

Chris: "Really? I hadn't noticed." she turned away and faced the piano again.

Tommy: "Look, I've been going through a lot…………..but I was wrong to take it out on you. I was at fault too."

Chris: "It's Ok. I know you loved her." she finally looked up at his again.

Tommy stayed quiet for a few minutes. He looked at her. She looked at the piano. He finally broke the silence.

Tommy: "I will always love her. Look Chris, you are an amazing, young woman but you have to understand that even with Jude being gone, you and I will never happen."

Chris: "Why?" she simply asked.

Tommy: "Because you're not her." he said not thinking twice. Chris' eyes burned. She knew Tommy would never love her like he loved Jude but he could love her in a different way. They could have something new. Why did she HAVE to be Jude? Why wasn't she enough for him?

Chris: "No one will ever be her, Tommy. What are you going to do? Spend the rest of your life alone?" she asked bitter.

Tommy: "I don't know. Jude has my heart. She will always be my only. I won't ever love anyone the way I loved her. It wouldn't be fair to you if I lead you on and let you believe that I could."

Chris: "So this is it?"

Tommy: "This is it." he brushed his hands off each other as if it was a clean plate. Like this was it. No more of this cat and mouse game. Game over.

Chris: "I am leaving G Major after my album is done." she said looking down on the floor.

Tommy: "You're almost done. If you're leaving because of me-" she interrupted before he could finish.

Chris: "I am leaving because of me. It's for my own good." Tommy understood what she was saying and didn't pressure the subject any more.

He saw a tear leave her eye. He knew she really did care about him. He picked her chin up with his hand and forced her to look at him.

Tommy: "Someday you're going to find a guy who will put you first. Someone who deserves you. A guy who will love you as much as I love Jude, as much as you deserve to be loved. I am not that guy for you." he gently wiped away her tear, kissed her cheek and walked out of her life. She knew that this had been the end of her and Tommy.

Back To Jude

Jordan: "Jude, what happened? What made you leave?"

For the first time, Jordan had called her by her real name. This was the first time anyone had called her that since the accident. It felt good to be herself again.

Jude shrugged. She looked out the window and started to tell him the whole story, from the day she had won Instant Star until the day she supposedly died. She relived every single emotion she had ever felt. She laughed. She cried. She hurt. But after everything she was still able to say that she loved him. She would always love him. He was in her heart. He was her Tommy and would always me her Tommy.

Jordan listened to her every word. Reliving it with her. Everything she had been through. She described it so vividly he felt as if he had been there. Even though she had hurt and cried, he envied her. Throughout all her sorrow and pain she had loved. She had found that one person for her. In his eyes, she was only stronger because she was able to leave him behind. Soon night turned to day. A new day, a new beginning.