First Date
Chapter Three- Date With The Night
Author's Note- Just the usual! I'm glad to hear people are enjoying this "lost" chapter. Thanks to everyone who left feedback. We authors never get enough!
Chapter Three- Date With The Night
After they left the studio, Tommy drove the Viper towards a more obscure part of town, stopping in front of a nondescript deli.
"Here?" Jude asked, eyeing the small store.
"Mom's" its sign simply read.
"Yeah. It's great! The best! Trust me, you'll love it." he promised, leading her inside.
After filling a basket with a selection of gourmet cheeses, meats, salads, breads and chocolates, Tommy added a bottle of sparkling cider and carried their selections to the register. He smiled at the silver haired, gentle-faced woman behind the counter.
"Hey, Marian."
"Tommy Quincy. One of my favorite customers. Haven't seen you here in a while. I hope you've been eating." she replied, grinning.
"Not as good as this." he said, returning her smile.
"Nothing compares to this and you know it, young man!" she gently chided.
"I do. That's exactly what I told Jude here. Marian, this is Jude Harrison."
"A pleasure to meet you, young lady. I've been hearing your voice on the radio for years. Love your work!" she enthusiastically greeted Jude.
"Thanks!" Jude responded, with equal warmth. "And from what Tommy says, it seems I'll love yours too!"
"Well, I think so!" Marian beamed proudly.
"Can you wrap this up special for us?" Tommy asked her.
"Can I? You know better than to have to ask that!" the shopkeeper laughed. "But of course, I will."
Ten minutes later, they were on their way, a beribboned picnic basket snug in Tommy's grasp. He gave it to Jude; she held it protectively on her lap as he steered the Viper on towards the lake.
"Ok" Tommy said, as they reached the entrance, where some other cars were already parked. But he kept driving.
Puzzled, Jude turned to him.
"Tommy, where are we going?"
"Just further up a ways. I've a special place to show you. I always come here. Very private. No one ever drives this far up. We'll have it all to ourselves" he said softly, turning his face to hers.
"Oh. Ok." she answered, as a delicious anticipation seized her.
Five minutes and a few turns later, Tommy stopped the car.
"Here" he announced, jumping up and walking around to Jude's side of the car.
"Let me take this- it's heavy." he insisted, relieving her of the weighty basket, then gallantly taking her hand to help her out of the Viper.
"And, here..." Tommy continued, reaching into the trunk to pull out an old, faded, but very soft blue blanket.
"I'll carry that." Jude offered, draping it easily over her left arm.
Still holding her free hand, Tommy directed Jude to his favorite spot.
"Right by those rocks there... Just up front a bit..."
"Here?" she asked.
"Yes." he answered.
Jude stared at the sunlight glittering off the lake as Tommy carefully rested the basket on the sand. He then helped Jude spread out the blanket. She then sat down besides him, leaning against his shoulder, and smiled into his eyes.
"You're right. It's so beautiful up here." she said.
"So? This what you wanted?" he asked smugly.
"Yes. Exactly." she replied. "And you?"
"No"
"No?" Jude echoed, surprised and a little fearful.
He smiled lovingly down at her, as his arms locked around her back.
"This is what I want." he whispered seductively, brushing his lips on hers, lightly, teasingly. Jude's hands circled his neck, and found their way into his light brown hair as they continued kissing with increasing intensity. The tips of Tommy's fingers stroked up and down her back, making her tingle with an overwhelming desire she had never felt before. As aroused as Jude, Tommy sunk down onto the blanket and pulled her down on top of him. A soft moan escaped his lips as he delighted in holding her so intimately; it was what he had been waiting for all day. Their passionate embrace continued, as sensation consumed them.
Finally, a split second before control became completely impossible, they drew apart. Jude rested her head thoughtfully against Tommy's chest. But it was her boyfriend who spoke first.
"We can't... I can't rush this... Not with you... Not that I don't want you..."
"I know. I can't yet, either... But it's going to happen. Soon." Jude stated with complete confidence.
"Yes" he replied with equal certainty, brushing his lips against her forehead.
"What?" he asked, seeing the doubt that shadowed her eyes.
"Well, it's just... you should know... I've never done that before..."
"No?" Tommy echoed. He was never sure. Jude had other boyfriends over the years; he could never be positive of what went on. No matter how close he was to her, that topic remained verboten.
"No. Does it matter?" she asked nervously.
"Yes. Of course it does." he replied automatically, in a gentle voice Jude had never heard him use before.
"It means... It's even more special... I want it to be perfect- for you... I have to make sure that happens..."
Jude trembled just slightly at his words, but he could feel it.
"Really?" she asked him, hope filling her voice.
"For real, girl. It means so much... Because you should know something too..."
"What?"
"I don't think I've ever been anyone's first... not even when it was mine."
"Who was yours?"
"I was 14, my first tour... the first night... She was 16- a groupie... I didn't expect it... It just happened..."
"And it kept "happening"..." she teased.
"Yeah. But you're different... " he rambled, not knowing what else to say. But Jude did.
She reached up, giving him just one more tender kiss, which he eagerly returned.
"I love you, Tommy."
"Me too, Jude. Me, too."
He held her tirelessly in his arms, as dusk began to fall. They sat up, watching the sky darken and the stars begin emerging. As they did, Jude removed the tiny candles from the picnic basket and Tommy lit them. She then looked at him.
"Hungry yet?"
"Well, yes, since you asked."
He reached for the picnic basket and together they unpacked it. They filled plates and started to eat.
"What is that stuff, anyway?" Jude asked, eyeing the strange-looking cheese that Tommy devoured.
"Stilton" he answered.
"It just looks so weird, with all those blue lines running through it..."
"Veins" he corrected her.
"Ok... now that really does sound gross."
"Just try it." he quietly urged her, slicing off a small piece and slipping it past her lips.
"Ok." she said.
"Ok, what?"
"It's just- ok."
"Suit yourself. More for me..."
"Good. Because then, I can eat all these..." Jude replied, pointing to the chocolates.
"Hey, no fair..." Tommy protested.
Laughing, she pressed one into his mouth.
They finished eating and packed the food away, as the stars shone down on them. Again, Jude nestled against Tommy; his arms eagerly draping themselves around her.
"Tell me a secret." she whispered softly. "Something you've never told anyone before."
"I don't know, Jude..." Tommy began. "With the life I've led, not much remains private..."
"I know, ex-boybander..." she teased. "But surely, there must be something. There is, I know it..."
Tommy interlaced the fingers of his right hand with her own. As always, she was absolutely correct about him. He had secrets, bitter painful ones. Ones he wasn't yet ready to share with Jude, especially not on a magical night like this.
"Someday... I'll have to..." he recognized, a promise to himself. For now, he opted for a lighter story.
"I had a crush on my math teacher when I was 12..." he confessed.
"Really?"
"Yeah! Was she hot! Long blonde hair, blue eyes... It was the only class in junior high that I really paid attention in. Not to mention the only year, I ever got a B in math..."
"That's better than I ever did!" Jude laughed. "So, tell me more. What else did you like as a kid? Besides music. And blondes..."
"Some brunettes, too. And the occasional redhead..."
Jude just shook her head, as she laughed again.
"Seriously. There wasn't time for much else. Ever since I was a child, it was always music lessons, school, auditions, and performances. You know that first I did commercials, theater... anything to get started. Then- Boyz Attack! What a trip that was! I've never really been normal..." Tommy admitted.
"Well, that sure hasn't changed!"
"You'll pay for that, girl!" Tommy mockingly threatened.
"Oh, yeah? Like how?"
"This!" he announced, grabbing her waist and tickling her. She screamed in delight.
"Stop it!"
"Make me!" he replied, gazing hungrily at her.
"I will" she responded, seeing just how to do it.
This time, it was Jude who reached for him and instigated their kiss. Tommy happily returned it, knowing he could never resist her. But he kept his strongest needs carefully in check; he knew she did the same. For now, he satisfied himself, with the incredible warmth that came from holding her and kissing her. It still was more amazing than anything he ever felt before.
They spent hours in that soft moonlight, alternating talking and passionate embraces. Finally, the last candle sputtered, and then extinguished itself. Jude yawned softly. Tommy sighed, checking his watch.
"12:05" he admitted, reluctantly. "I think we'd better go. Not that I want to..."
"Not that I will ever want to." he mused silently. "Not when I'm with you..."
"You turn into a pumpkin or something, Quincy." Jude said playfully.
He traced his index finger over her soft lips, now so sweetly familiar to him.
"Maybe. But you're tired. And so am I. We didn't get much sleep today..."
"True. And I don't wanna wear you out..." she whispered back.
"Hmm? I might enjoy that..." he insinuated.
"But not tonight." he finished, regretfully.
He stood up, picking up the depleted basket with one hand, and pulling Jude to her feet with the other.
"Come on."
She snatched up the blanket as she stood, and they left.
Emotion overwhelmed him again as he carefully drove her home. Parking the car once again, he turned to her.
"What?" she asked, returning his gentle, loving gaze.
"I wish... I didn't have to let you go tonight..."
She smiled.
"I suppose I'll have to see you tomorrow, then."
"Damm right, you do"
"I've the photo shoot for the album cover..."
"I remember... I'll be mixing. Your album and Spiederman's are both due Friday. Just two more days..."
"So, I could come by afterwards... You'll have the time?"
"For you, yes. Always. Besides, they are almost done."
"Sounds good. So, anyway... Thanks. For tonight. It was wonderful!"
"Anytime, Jude. Every time..."
Reluctantly, they kissed goodnight and he again watched her walk into her house.
"Tomorrow..." he thought, contentedly.