Hi--thanks for your great responses from the last post! If you liked that one, then you'll love this one.:) This is another one of my favorite chapters...what can I say, I love the parts with drama! I hope you do too.
As a side note, anyone see the episodes last night? I hate seeing Tommy and Jude angry at each other. I like the whole Juderman combo, but I'm happy knowing it's temporary. Next week looks so good, I can't wait! Oh--and even though it was funny when Jude pushed Tommy into the hot tub, did anyone notice how hot he was when he stood up? He's always hot, but wet Tommy was even better! Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. Anyway, onwards with our next chapter...as always, let me know what you think and I hope you all ENJOY :-)
"'Jude Harrison: Sweet to Cheat,'" EJ read once more from the headlines. "'Jude Harrison, out with boyfriend Josh Sanders at Mason Fox's album launch last night, was the talk of the town yet again. Only a month ago at the Junos, she was seen with both boyfriend Josh and well-known producer, Tom Quincy, but now this Instant Star may have officially crossed the line. Anonymous sources say that at one point during the night, she was spotted 'kissing Tom Quincy in a corner of the room.' Pictures surfaced this morning of the moment immediately after they were spotted.'" EJ held the picture in front of the group. Jude and Tommy had their arms around each other but their faces showed sheer panic.
"Oh my god…" Jude muttered quietly as Tommy rubbed his forehead in distress.
"'Did she cheat on her boyfriend? Or has this been going on right under Josh's nose the whole time? Josh looked devastated, hanging his head and keeping to himself most of the night. When questioned, Miss Harrison said, 'I am dating Josh and have no further comment.' Mr. Quincy pushed reporters out of the way and exited the building, leaving a frantic and distraught Harrison. No statement from Josh's camp on the incident, though we would be pressed to find any boyfriend pleased to hear of his girlfriend's cheating ways.'"
The group was silent as EJ finished and set the paper down. No one moved, as tension enveloped the room.
Georgia eventually broke the silence by asking, "So…is there something you two would like to share with us?"
Jude looked up anxiously at Tommy, but he kept looking down at his feet, forcing Jude to answer.
"No!" she shouted suddenly. "There's nothing going on. These pictures…we were…hugging!"
"Hugging?" EJ and Georgia asked simultaneously.
"Yeah…they caught us coming out of a hug!" Jude claimed heatedly.
"That must've been some hug. And why does Josh look so sad in this one?" EJ asked, pointing to a side picture of Josh moping around the party.
"I don't know…he's been going through a lot lately. The movie he's working on has been really stressful and he's thinking about quitting. Maybe that was why," Jude quickly pulled together, knowing the answer was his argument with Sadie.
EJ and Georgia eyed each other upon her response, skeptical as usual.
"So, there's nothing going on?" Georgia asked once more.
"Nothing," Jude confirmed.
Georgia shifted her attention to Tommy, still sitting with his head between his hands. "Tommy?"
He slowly looked up at her, then looked over at Jude. "Nothing," he muttered.
"Good," Georgia said. "Now, we have to go into damage control. EJ, let's discuss your plan."
An hour later, the four of them left the conference room. Tommy and Jude headed for Studio B while Georgia and EJ went to Georgia's office to begin making phone calls. The plan was to dispute the rumors and make a statement that it was a friendly hug that was misinterpreted.
As Tommy and Jude arrived in the studio, they saw Kwest sitting there. Tommy silently took a seat next to Kwest and Jude started getting her notebook out of her bag.
"So I take it you two saw the headlines this morning?" Kwest promptly asked, holding a paper in his hand. Neither said anything, just grunted.
"I'll take that as a yes," Kwest replied, eyeing Tommy warily. "So no truth to this?"
"No," Tommy said flatly, putting the headphones on. Kwest looked over at Jude who was grabbing her guitar. She saw his questioning glance and immediately responded,
"Don't look at me like that, Kwest. Tommy already answered."
"Geez," Kwest said, turning to the sound board. "I've obviously struck a nerve with you two."
Jude sighed loudly and walked into the recording booth, putting on her headphones and sitting down to begin recording.
By the time night rolled around, they had finished laying down the guitar portion to a new song. Because both she and Tommy were distracted, it didn't sound half as good as it should have. Kwest had left early so they could work out the track and their personal issues.
"So…nice picture, right?" Jude asked awkwardly, as they rewound the track. "You know, technically, I'm not just a cheater. I'm a liar too. They left that out of the title, but I guess it didn't really rhyme."
"Jude—"
"No, it's okay. This was my plan, my idea, so these are my consequences to deal with."
"It was a good idea in theory," Tommy replied, "and at least Josh didn't say anything."
"He didn't have to. I messed it up," Jude replied hopelessly.
"We both messed up. You didn't do anything on your own. We were both careless."
"Maybe. But it's my situation now. This totally sucks!" she screamed, throwing her hands in the air and standing up. "And you know what the worst part was? Lying to Georgia and EJ."
"I know," he said, standing up too.
"My life has turned into this huge lie. And what are we going to say in 3 months when I turn 18?"
"We'll tell them that nothing happened earlier. No one has to know," he pledged, approaching her. "I hate those reporters. They're making you look like this is all your fault. I almost told EJ and Georgia about us just to take some of the heat off of you."
"That would've made it worse, Tommy."
"I know, but I didn't care. You shouldn't have to deal with this."
She sighed loudly, leaning against the chair. "My family reads that paper. Everybody is going to think I'm a horrible person."
"No, they won't," he countered firmly, pulling her in for a tight hug. "Jude, anyone who knows you will never believe this crap."
"I guess," she said softly, burying her head in his chest. "EJ said that we probably shouldn't be seen in public too much."
"I know," he responded. "Maybe…maybe we should…cool off for awhile?"
She looked up at him in alarm. "Seriously?"
"I just…I don't want to make this worse for you."
"No!" she yelled, stepping back from him. "You really think cooling off is the answer? That would make it harder, Tommy. Then I'd be totally alone in dealing with this!"
"You wouldn't be alone. I'd still be here, we just wouldn't see each other after work."
"Is that what you want?" she asked crossly.
"No…" he said quietly. "I just don't want to add more stress to your life right now."
"You're not. You're helping to take it away. Tommy, I need you now," she pleaded softly, walking close to him and looking into his eyes.
He sighed and brushed some hair out of her face. "Are you sure? I feel terrible about all of this."
"Don't—we just need to be more careful. No prancing around together outside the studio, no seeing each other when we should be with other people. It has to stay between us."
"Right. And no kissing in public," he joked.
She laughed lightly, leaning in closer. "Or behind a screen."
"Okay, okay," he said with a grin, feeling her breath on his lips. "But if it gets too tough—"
"Don't even say it. I'm not giving up," she replied quietly, her lips millimeters away from his. "And I think I can convince you to not give up either."
"Really? Well then, convince away," he replied, closing his eyes and capturing her lips. She closed her eyes as he held her tighter, pressing his lips against hers passionately. He gently reached his hands up the bottom of her shirt, running his fingers up her back. Her hands went to his hair, standing up straighter to feel his thick locks through her fingers. He pulled her closer to him, keeping his hands under her shirt and feeling her soft skin. He started to undo the clasp on her bra, feeling it unhook in his hands and hearing her sigh in his mouth. They kissed intensely, holding each other, getting lost in the moment.
They were so focused on the feel of each other that they failed to notice the door opening and a figure walking in the room. After a few more moments of silence, apart from their own movements, they suddenly heard,
"Well, look what we have here…"