Hi--Okay, so the good news is that I'm on track by posting this chapter tonight. But the bad news is that I still haven't written the next chapter yet, so it might not make it out by Friday. It's either going to be the final chapter or the almost-final chapter, I haven't decided yet. But it may have to wait, I hope you don't mind! I just want to make the end of this story amazing for all of you, and my mediocre ideas just won't do!
So if I don't post on Friday, then I'll either update during my vacation next week, if I can access a computer, or the following weekend when I get back. I'll try my best to get it out as quickly as possible.
Anyway, thanks again for all of your reviews. I seriously cannot believe how many of you post feedback to this story--it makes me feel so happy, but it also makes me want to write the best material I can. So I'm doing my best for all of you! Here's the next chapter...ENJOY:-)
As her father stood up from the table and started to walk away, Jude looked at Tommy in a panic, which he took as his cue to intervene. He stood up too, rushing away towards her father.
"Mr. Harrison," Tommy said, making him stop in his tracks. "I understand why you think Jude and I are a bad idea. I know in the past, I've been…social…but Jude's different. And I'm different when I'm with her."
"Tom, you're 25 years old, you've been married once before, and your face is plastered all over the tabloids," Stuart listed firmly, crossing his arms. "Can you understand why I'm not thrilled at the idea of you dating my youngest daughter?"
"I totally understand," Tommy said certainly. "If it were my daughter, I'd probably think the same thing. But I swear to you, all of those things you just listed out about me, they're all part of my past. That's not who I am now."
"Is that so?" Stuart questioned dubiously.
"Yes, it is," Tommy confirmed, looking directly at Stuart. "I'm not denying that I've made mistakes in my life, but Jude—she's the only thing I have that's right."
Stuart eyed Tommy carefully, still standing with his arms crossed. "So I'm just supposed to accept this?"
Tommy paused for a moment, then replied, "Well, we understand it's something…you might need time to get used to. So we're not asking for your acceptance just yet, but we are asking for you to give it a chance."
Stuart looked down, contemplating the situation.
"Just give us some time to show you that we're serious, that I would never treat your daughter badly," Tommy concluded, looking at him sincerely. "She means more to me than anyone."
Stuart sighed and took a moment to collect his thoughts in silence. A minute later, without another word, he went back to the table where Jude and Victoria were still sitting.
He interrupted their quiet conversation and said, "Jude, I can't say I'm happy about this. I have to question whether this is the best decision, but I understand that it is your choice. If this is definitely what you want, and it won't take away from your career, then I have no choice but to give it a chance."
"Really?" Jude asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, really. I can't say I approve as of now, but I will try to be open-minded," Stuart confirmed.
Jude looked over at her mother questioningly.
"I'm actually with your father on this one," Victoria said. "I'm willing to give it a chance."
Jude stood up and met her dad in an embrace. "Thanks, Dad."
She then pulled her mom in too and hugged them both. "We won't let you down."
Pulling back from the hug, Stuart hesitantly shook Tommy's hand.
"Well, I need to go back and find Yvette," Stuart said, looking at them. "I'll speak to you later."
"Thanks, Dad," Jude said again, watching him leave.
Before leaving them alone, Victoria leaned in closely to Tommy and Jude to whisper, "Don't think I didn't know there was something going on with the two of you…"
Jude and Tommy both peered back at her in shock.
Victoria grinned and said quietly, "I walked by your hospital room when you were…getting re-acquainted."
Jude's jaw fell open as she stared at her mom in disbelief. "So, you knew?"
Victoria nodded with a faint grin. "Mothers know everything, Jude."
Tommy and Jude watched as Victoria walked away smiling.
"I can't believe she knew…" Jude started, looking up at Tommy.
"She definitely hid it pretty well," Tommy agreed.
Jude caught his eye and smiled widely, not needing to explain her happiness at their reaction. He smiled back at her and pulled her in for a hug.
Stepping away slightly, Jude asked him quietly, "What did you say to my dad?"
Tommy's gaze fell on Jude as he shrugged. "Nothing really. Just that I'm not who he thinks I am and he needs to give us a chance."
"Well, those must've been some convincing words…" she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Well, you know I can be convincing when I want to be," he replied softly, pulling her back in.
She smiled. "You know, if all this—the party, Green Day, persuading them to let us work together, talking to my parents—if it's all really just one big attempt to get me to sleep with you after all…"
"Yes?" he asked, prodding her to continue.
"I'd say it was pretty much a success," she said softly, gently kissing his cheek.
He laughed lightly, looking into her eyes. "That wasn't exactly the goal, but I'm happy to take it as a reward."
She smiled, stepping out of his embrace and looking past him for a moment at the crowd still on the dance floor. She bit her lip, appearing to be deep in thought.
He saw her expression turn reflective and eyed her questioningly. "What are you thinking?"
She looked up at him with a mischievous grin on her face. "I have an idea."
"Uh oh, why do I get the feeling it's not a good idea?" he asked.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "It's not bad, just a way to top off the night."
"What? Sleeping with me isn't enough?" he asked with a grin.
"Very funny," she retorted. "I'm serious, I think I know what would make this night perfect."
"Okay…I'm afraid to ask, but what is it?"
She gazed into his eyes and stepped forward, close to him. He skeptically looked into her eyes as she brought her arms around his neck. She leaned in, bringing her lips close to his, and whispered, "Kiss me."
He pulled his head back to look at her disbelievingly. "What?"
She rolled her eyes and said, "I know you understood that. I told you to kiss me."
"Why? Jude, we can't…that would be…"
"Wrong?" she finished. "It's not. If the studio knows, my parents know, then what's the harm in letting everyone else in on our secret?"
He looked around at the packed room. "But there are so many people here…the paparazzi is outside, music execs—"
"So?" she questioned. "Are you ashamed, Quincy?"
He sighed and looked affectionately at her. "You know that I am not in any way, shape, or form ashamed. But I am concerned about the reaction we'd get."
"Do you care?" she asked, looking into his eyes honestly.
He exhaled deeply and thought for a moment. "I guess I don't…I just want to make sure you're okay with the consequences of it. People will talk—"
"So let them," she responded, shifting in closer to him. He locked eyes with her and couldn't help but smile at her persistence.
"You're crazy, Harrison," he muttered.
She smiled and replied, "Well, it's been a crazy birthday. I'm just putting the icing on the cake."
He slowly brought his hand to her cheek, brushing it lightly. "Are you sure about this?"
She nodded. "I'm sure."
He leaned down and held her cheeks in his hands, bringing her face closer to his. Closing her eyes, she felt his warm breath on her lips as she heard him quietly say, "Happy birthday, Jude."
Then, without hesitation, their lips met sending chills up her spine. She held onto him tightly, still feeling his hands on her cheeks. She pressed her lips against his eagerly, briefly forgetting their surroundings or the idea she had set into motion He too lost focus on anything else beyond her at that moment, feeling her open her mouth slightly and her tongue lightly touch his. He moved his hands behind her, pulling her in even closer and massaging her tongue with his own. They stood in front of the table, kissing passionately, while the hundreds of faces around them watched in shock.