I hate to leave you all hanging, your feedback is so great! Since we are heading towards Turkey Day, and towards the point that I need to write some more, please don't be upset with me if the posts aren't quite as frequent...but I promise I'll try my best.
I still really like the story, I'm hoping you all feel the same! So here's the next part, moving out of the transition and into the good stuff...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Instant Star, although I wish I did!
As they approached the coffee, Jude heard footsteps behind her.
"Tommy, Jude. We need to talk," said Georgia with arms crossed. They both turned to face her with coffee in hand. "What's up?" Jude asked nursing her mug.
"It's the album. It needs to be wrapped up within the next 3 weeks and as far as I can tell, there's still a lot of work to do."
"We're finishing Criminal today, Georgia. And then we'll move on from there," Tommy explained.
"Ok. But the rest needs to be done in time or else we may have serious issues with the next album, if there is one," Georgia said looking at Jude, whose eyes got wide at the thought of there not being another album. A three-year contract didn't necessarily mean three new albums.
"We'll get it done," she promised quietly.
"Good," Georgia said and turned to head back to her office.
Tommy and Jude looked at each other, both feeling very anxious. They immediately left to join Kwest in Studio B. They managed to complete Criminal and it sounded perfect--just the way they had envisioned it the night before. Georgia listened to the finished product and was thankfully impressed.
"Sounds great, guys. It's definitely a good reminder as to why I keep you both around," Georgia said with a smile. "I'm taking off. There's supposed to be a big storm brewing outside so you should all head home," she said as she left.
"Ahh yes, we've already gotten the forecast from our weatherman Kwest," said Tommy, pushing a few buttons to turn off the sound board.
"That's right—what did you say, Kwest? 2 feet of snow?" asked Jude grinning.
"And what was it, 'tornado-like winds?' recalled Tommy, joining Jude in laughing at Kwest.
"Laugh it up, both of you. But don't think I'm going to forget this moment when you're both stuck inside tomorrow," said Kwest, pointing a finger at them.
The three of them gathered their things and headed towards the exit. As they got closer to the door, Jude stopped at a nearby window and gasped at the sight outside: white.
Everything was totally covered and the wind was blowing fierce swirls of snow. Tommy heard Jude make a sound by the window and backtracked to join her. His jaw dropped at the sight outside. Kwest, who was a few paces ahead, stopped and noticed their shocked expressions. "What is it…" he started, walking towards them.
"Go ahead, say it," Tommy said quietly as Kwest got to the window.
"HA! See—I knew it! I want to hear you both say it: 'Kwest knows all.' Go ahead."
Tommy and Jude glanced at each other rolling their eyes.
"Kwest knows all," they both said simultaneously.
"All hail the chief weatherman of G-Major," added Jude.
"And the smartest musical engineer in the world," added Tommy with a smirk.
"Okay, no need to overdo it," Kwest responded with a wide grin. "And, to only add to my vast intelligence, I brought the Range Rover."
Suddenly, a look of panic took over Tommy. "The Viper!" he exclaimed as he pushed open both doors and ran into the snow.
He sprinted through the parking lot, shielding his face from the flying snow. Kwest and Jude followed him through the white and found a frantic Tommy trying to push the snow off the car.
"Hey, hold up, what exactly are you doing?"
"What does it look like? Digging out my car!" Tommy yelled, trying to clear off the windshield.
"Why do that when you can ride with me? Remember, four-wheel drive?" Kwest said, jingling his key chain.
"And leave the Viper!" Tommy shouted out in alarm.
"What choice do you have!" yelled Kwest in response.
Tommy looked sadly at his car that was now fully re-covered in snow.
"I vote Range Rover," piped in Jude through her scarf.
Tommy sighed and looked at Jude and Kwest. "Fine. But we're coming back first thing tomorrow to get it."
They followed Kwest towards his car and jumped in. He started the car and easily pulled out of the lot at G-Major. Snow was flying everywhere and he couldbarely make out the car in front of him as he got on the highway.
They drove very slowly and stopped suddenly every so often once Kwest was able to make out brake lights ahead. No one said anything and the music was off. They were concentrating on the task at hand and getting home safely.
Trailing along 20 minutes later, Jude noticed more brake lights ahead as the car slowed to a full stop. "Kwest, what's going on?"
"I can't tell. Looks like an accident maybe," he responded leaning from left to right trying to get a better view.
"How can you see anything, man? It's white and more white," said Tommy.
"Umm, guys? What are those people doing?" Jude pointed to a group of people walking through the snow towards them.
They watched all of the people, fighting the wind and snow, walking around and then past their car. Tommy, Jude, and Kwest stared, confused, as the crowd increased and kept walking past the Range Rover.
Kwest silently got out of the car and ran up to a man who was walking. Tommy and Jude watched the man pointing as Kwest jumped up and down to keep warm. About a minute later, Kwest ran back to the car and jumped in, slamming the door shut.
"Well?" asked Tommy once Kwest had made some shivering noises.
"Tree…down…middle of street…," muttered Kwest putting his hands up against the heater.
"There's a tree down?" squealed Jude from the back seat. "Where? Why can't we just turn around?"
"Whoa, calm, girl. There's a tree down in the middle of the street up there. And there's apparently a bad accident behind us blocking traffic from going the other way."
"So basically…we're stuck?" asked Jude in a panicked state.