Hi! I realized the other day that there are so many really great fanfics on this site all of a sudden. I'm having trouble keeping track but they're all so good! Anyway, I hope you're all still reading and enjoying this one. I'm still enjoying writing it, so I hope you're happy so far with where we're going.
I loved writing this next chapter...there are some funny lines that make me smile. It's definitely one of my faves and you'll see why. Drama ahead! Anyway, hope you ENJOY:-)
Just as she had promised, Jude went through the plan with Josh, who was actually just as open to the arrangement as Tommy had been. He hated having his personal relationships publicized to the world, so he used the opportunity to keep his budding relationship with Sadie out of the tabloids. They had an understanding—their relationship was strictly for show, though they did have a good time together and definitely convinced the press that they were an item.
Another month went by and Jude had gone out with Josh three more times. She was exhausted bouncing back and forth from one relationship to the next, but she knew it was only temporary. Their fourth date was scheduled at an album launch party for one of G-Major's new artists, Mason Fox.
As Jude and Josh arrived at the party, the photographers, who were stationed outside the club, flashed their cameras repeatedly at the couple. They smiled for photos, then held hands and entered the club. Smiling more for a few photos inside, Jude casually scanned the room to make sure Tommy was there. She saw him in the corner with Sadie, who was playing his date, and smiled. Once the flashes finally ceased, she and Josh headed towards the bar to get a drink. As they made their way across the room, Josh eyed Sadie and winked at her.
"Did you see the paparazzi in the trees?" Jude asked as he handed her a drink.
"Yeah, that would be a fun job. Holding on to a branch with one hand and snapping pictures with the other," Josh joked, taking a sip of his drink.
"The things people do for a buck…" Jude said with a grin, seeing their other halves approach them at the bar.
They all exchanged brief pleasantries as the two couples stood next to each other at the bar. Feeling a lull in conversation, Sadie nonchalantly walked over to Josh, who turned his back towards Jude to engage in conversation with his real girlfriend. Tommy followed Sadie's cue and took a few steps closer to Jude, thus dividing the two real couples.
"Come here often?" Tommy asked with a grin, using the cheesiest pickup line ever.
"Oh yeah, all the time," Jude answered with a smile, looking around at the dark club with neon and strobe lights. "My producer and I hang out here. He's kind of a loser stuck in the 1990's."
Tommy's jaw opened, appearing to be hurt, but his smile gave away his amusement. "Loser? Well," he said, leaning in to her and continuing quietly, "I hear he's only a loser because of this girl he's secretly dating. She's really bad for his image."
"Not bad for his image—just out of his league," she countered with a wide grin.
"Ooo…really?" he questioned, still smiling playfully. He thought for a moment, trying to form a good comeback, but sighed defeatedly. "Okay, you got me there."
She laughed lightly and glanced back at Josh and Sadie, who appeared to be arguing. Sadie stood with her arms crossed while Josh attempted to explain something to her. Jude quickly turned back towards Tommy, choosing to ignore the situation behind her.
"You look very nice tonight, Miss Harrison," Tommy said, looking at her jeans, green tank top with black lining, and black boots.
"Thank you, Mr. Quincy. I have a hot date later."
As she smiled up at him, they both heard Sadie's voice get louder. They turned towards the fighting couple to see Sadie look like she was on the verge of tears.
"I don't understand! You're home for the next couple of weeks, why can't you?"
"It's not that easy, Sadie! I can't go anywhere without cameras and I don't want you to wind up in Talk Weekly."
"What if I don't care? What if—"
"Can you two keep it down?" Jude said, stepping over between Sadie and Josh. "Do you really want to draw attention to our little group here?"
Sadie quieted down but kept her arms crossed. Josh took a deep breath to try to relax.
"Sorry, we're just having a little disagreement," Josh explained. "We'll be quieter, right Sadie?"
"Whatever," Sadie said, rolling her eyes at him.
Jude stepped out from between them and hesitantly walked back towards Tommy. They watched as Josh and Sadie continued their conversation, consciously trying to keep their voices low.
"You'd think I was the older one," Jude stated, turning back towards Tommy.
He grinned and nodded, "This might be a first. We're actually the ones with less drama."
"I know," she agreed with a laugh.
He stepped a little closer to her and grabbed her hand lightly, "So about that hot date later…"
She looked at him skeptically. "Oh right, my hot date," she recalled, remembering where they left off.
"Well, how about we make the date a little sooner?" he asked mischievously.
"Sooner?" she asked in confusion.
"Yeah. I was thinking we could start now."
"Now?" she asked louder, eyes growing wider in more confusion.
"Yes," he said calmly, noting her reaction. "But not here. Over there," he said, pointing to an area on the opposite side of the room that had a screen covering it.
She followed his eyes to the secluded area and negotiated in her head whether the risk was worth it. "Hmmm…it's still public," she said hesitantly.
"Maybe, but that screen is the border between public and private. I happen to have checked it out earlier. There's nothing behind there."
"Are you searching for makeout spots, Quincy?" she asked flirtatiously.
"Maybe," he admitted, grinning at her. "So? What do you say?"
She looked into his eyes and heard her sister's voice start to get louder again behind her. Not wanting to be there to referee another fight, she quickly nodded and held his hand tighter. "Let's go."
Breaking up Josh and Sadie's argument one more time, Jude cut in between them to tell them that she and Tommy were leaving the bar area for a few minutes. They barely noticed the interruption as Tommy and Jude stepped away and the argument continued.
They quietly walked towards the other side of the room, trying to look inconspicuous. They got to the screened off area and slowly crept behind the side of it, entering the empty space. She giggled a little out of nervousness at the danger involved in their actions, as he swept her up in his arms. He kissed her without hesitation, silencing her laughs. She circled her arms around his waist as he brought his fingers through her hair. They broke apart momentarily, feeling a rush from the risk they were running, and listening to the sounds of the voices outside the screen.
"So this is new. Sneaking behind curtains, running around—" she started, when he put his finger up to her lips to silence her.
"Shhhh," he instructed. "They can hear us from the other side. We have to stay quiet."
"Quiet?" she whispered. "Okay. No more talking."
They smiled at each other as she leaned in to capture his lips. He held her tightly, pulling her in closer.
As they stood there embracing each other and kissing passionately, forgetting their surroundings, Tommy thought he heard a faint movement behind them. As he abruptly pulled away to see where the sound was coming from, they were both caught by the blinding light of a flash.
"Smile for the camera," a man shouted at them as they both looked in shock at the camera as it went off.