Hi--hope everyone is having a good week. I am so excited for the backstage pass tomorrow, so in its honor, here is the next chapter. I'm very impressed with those of you who were able to spot the song I'm using from a line and a half. You guys are good! The full song will be in the next chapter and it may offer a small spoiler about what's to come if you read the lyrics. I'll just say that it hits a nerve :-) So here is our next part...hope you enjoy! And thanks so much again for all of your feedback!
Jude stopped playing the moment the lights came on. She heard muffled cheers and clapping coming from the main floor.
"Lights!" she shouted, tossing her guitar aside and standing up with Tommy. Excitement taking over her, Jude jumped on him in a hug. He, slightly taken aback, hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. She slid back to the ground, disengaging from the embrace. He looked at her beaming face and felt like her enthusiasm was contagious, smiling himself. She walked over to the vent near her desk and shouted, "Heat! There's heat!"
"That usually comes with electricity," he responded sarcastically.
She smiled and rolled her eyes at him. "Oh stop, you know you're excited too. Let's go downstairs."
"Why? More vents down there?" he smirked.
"Very funny. I just want to join in on all the celebrating."
"Okay," he agreed, opening the door and letting her exit.
They made their way downstairs to see everyone congregated in the living room hugging and talking. Jude noticed that everybody was celebrating except Ryan and Kristen, who were in the dining room rejoicing on their own. Jude ran up to Jamie and hugged him and then her mom and then Steven. She even hugged Drew, who pulled away awkwardly, clearly not at ease with their earlier encounter. Finally, she made her way to Kat.
"Isn't this great? I've never been so happy to see a few lightbulbs working," Jude exclaimed.
"I know! It's like a miracle, only it's really just the electric company doing their jobs," Kat responded with a smile. She quieted down, feeling the need to apologize for withholding the truth of her relationship. "Jude, I just want to say, I'm sorry about before and for not telling you about Jamie. I should have been honest with you, I should have—"
"Don't worry about it." Jude cut her off. "Honestly, so much has happened over the last few days, some of which was pretty traumatic, but you and Jamie—you two were the least of it all."
"So you're not mad?"
Jude looked at her and smiled. "No, I'm happy for you. But you have to promise me—no more secrets. I couldn't stand seeing what happened with Sadie and Kristen happening to us."
"That will never happen," Kat confirmed. "Besides, it's just Jamie. Let's face it, he's no Brad Pitt."
"And that would make you Angelina?" Jude asked with a laugh.
"Of course. Just without the lips," Kat said, joining her in laughing.
Eventually, everyone relaxed to watch TV while Jude's mom pulled together dinner. Instead of sitting around the kitchen table, she distributed plates with their meals to each of them sitting around the TV.
"Let's watch a movie," Kat suggested to the group, minus Kristen, Ryan, and Drew, who were in the dining room playing cards. Everyone nodded in agreement. "We could watch something snow-worthy. Like White Christmas? Or Snow Day?"
Everyone groaned at her ideas and Jamie teasingly threw his napkin at her.
"We don't even have those movies, Kat," Jude responded.
"So what do you have?" Kwest asked.
Jude looked towards Sadie. "I don't know…Sadie has her mushy chick flicks."
"And Jude has her comedies that she thinks are funny but I think are lame," Sadie finished.
"They are funny! You just need a better sense of humor," Jude said with a smile at her sister.
"Where's the collection? Can I see it?" Kwest asked standing up.
"I'll take you," Sadie replied. She stood up and he followed her upstairs.
"I'll make some popcorn," Jude offered, heading into the kitchen. Jamie and Kat followed to help her as Tommy went to grab a sweatshirt upstairs. No one bothered to invite Ryan, Kristen, or Drew, who took note of the action but stayed away.
About 10 minutes later, they all reconvened in the living room. Sadie claimed the chair, while Jamie and Kat collapsed on the couch next to Tommy. Kwest laid down on the rug. Jude entered holding a big bowl of popcorn and handed it to Kwest, asking, "So? What are we watching?"
"A classic," Kwest answered. "Goonies."
"One of my favorites," Jude said, taking a seat on the ground in front of Tommy. As the movie started and Sadie dimmed the lights, Jude leaned back against his knees. She turned around and quietly asked, "Is this okay?"
He smiled and looked down at her, "Of course."
She turned back towards the TV and smiled, making herself comfortable against him.
About an hour into the movie, Jude's mind started to wander. They were only hours away from leaving and so much had transpired over the past few days. Her sister had become her friend, her best friends had become more than friends, and her producer—well, that had gone in one direction and then back again. She had had a few good talks with Steven, her mom's boyfriend, while her dad had suddenly become an important figure in her life.
Feeling overwhelmed by her thoughts, she stood up and quietly walked into the kitchen to find her mother reading a magazine. She approached her mom and silently gave her a hug.
"Jude? What is this for?" her mom said, caught off guard.
"For the last few days. You've done so much for us, Mom, I just wanted to say thank you."
"Well, you're welcome," her mom responded with surprise.
"It couldn't have been easy coming up with meals for us and making sure we were all okay, so thanks for everything."
Her mom smiled. "It wasn't easy, but it was nice spending time with you."
Jude smiled. "I'm going to head back, I just wanted to tell you." Her mom watched her leave, delighted at her daughter's gesture.
On her way into the living room, Jude bumped into someone in the dim light.
"Oh, sorry—" she said, looking up. "Quincy. What are you doing?"
"Getting more popcorn," he said showing her the empty bowl. "What are you doing?"
"Just saying hi to my mom. I love this movie but I've seen it a zillion times."
"Yeah, me too," he agreed. "Although you just missed the part where Chunk and Sloth meet."
"My favorite," she said. "With the Baby Ruth?"
"Right," he said, recalling the scene he had just watched. "Hey, I have an idea. Since you can basically quote this whole movie, do you want to skip it? I really want to hear your song."
Her eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'm having trouble concentrating anyway."
"Okay, let me just drop this off in the kitchen," he said, referring to the empty popcorn bowl.
Seconds later, he came back and they headed up the stairs together quietly. On her way up, Jude made eye contact with Sadie, who gave her an approving nod and smile watching her with Tommy. Jude shrugged and continued up the stairs to her room, closing the door and looking at Tommy standing before her.
A/N: I do not own anything associated with The Goonies, that's all Steven Spielberg. But I highly recommend seeing it if you haven't. It's the best!