It's 5:30 in the morning, yet I'm up finishing up writing this chapter because my reviewers starfan88, Tommys my 21, musical-cynders, Duddley111, KayKay2007, TheSouthernBelle, jadedxL0VE, and Catch1star leave nice comments. Can we go ahead and excuse the grammatical and spelling areas. Again. Note the time. :)
He woke up a few hours later to the moon illuminating his whole bedroom, and a beautiful blonde snuggled against his chest. He got up as soundlessly and slowly as possible as to not wake her.
He flung on his sweat pants and padded barefoot and shirtless down the hall to his home studio. He glanced briefly at his Boyz Attack memorabilia to his recent pictures with various G-Major artists and finally to a huge plaque he received from Darius when Jude's sophomore album went platinum.
He swiveled around in his "thinking chair", as Jude called it, and propped his feet up on the soundboard. He noticed that a smile was plastered onto his face and he actually tried to wipe it off with his hand. It didn't work. He took his feet off the soundboard and spun around in his chair again slowly.
Wanting to get down the melody that had been playing in his head since he'd opened the door for Jude earlier, he padded across the hall to his fan appreciation/storage/unofficial music room. He carefully stepped over all the boxes of teddy bears, and other miscellaneous items from fans to the grand piano sitting peacefully by the bay windows. He opened the windows letting air flood the room probably for the first time in a few months. He thought he heard the room sigh with gratitude.
He ran his fingers across the keys checking the tune and overall condition of it. Everything sounded okay so he continued to play little warm-ups, until he finally conveyed to the piano the notes that his heart was pumping out.
As he found the musical notes, the lyrics came just as quickly…he softly hummed the melodic rhythm as his fingers expertly danced across the instrument.
"Come with me. Close your eyes. Hold my hand. It'll be all right. Don't be scared. Don't be shy. Lift your head… it's gonna be alright," he sung softly, closing his eyes, letting the music take over his being.
Letting the music catch up with the lyrics, he began to sing again. "I'll try to make the sun shine brighter for you. I will even play the fool, if it makes you smile…I'll try to make you laugh, if there's a tear in your eye…After all is said…After all is done…I'd do anything for you…"
He felt a subtle change in the atmosphere of the room. He opened his eyes to see her standing in the doorway wearing just his shirt. He fingers continued to move gracefully across the keys. He acknowledged her presence with a smile and gestured for her to come closer.
"Keep singing," she said softly, leaning on the piano.
"That's all I've got," he grinned, wickedly.
"Then sing what you've got again," she insisted.
He nodded his response, sliding over on the piano bench for her to have seat.
"Come with me girl," he sung ever so softly, "Close your eyes." He whispered, leaning over to kiss her cheek. She chuckled softly, at his attempt to seduce her—again. It was working; she closed her eyes.
"Hold my hand," he sang, kissing her hand, playing a simple tune on the piano with one hand. "It'll be alright. Don't be scared." He whispered, abandoning the keyboard all together, and gently caressing her face. "Don't be shy." He smirked, taking her in his arms possessively.
"Um…I couldn't quite comprehend what you were saying, but I'm I liked it…" Jude responded, opening her eyes.
"That's good," he nodded, standing up, taking a hold of her hand. "Glad you liked it. How about an encore performance…" he smiled.
She looked up at him, bewilderment etched across her face.
"Not that performance," he grinned, pulling her to her feet.
"I got to go girl," he whispered, kneeling on the side of the bed, rubbing her back.
"Um…I wish you could just stay here with me… for about forever," she smiled, drowsily rolling on her side to face him.
"You and me both," he sighed, kissing her temple. "You know Jude, I was thinking, you still respect don't you…"
She looked at him, truly baffled. "What?"
"You know, even though I put out on the first night," he said, solemnly, his eyes dancing.
"Quincy," she laughed, rolling back on her stomach. "Get out."
"And now I get kicked out of my own room," he laughed.
"Like I said you don't have to go," she offered.
"Yeah right…do you really want Liam to kill me," he asked.
"Nah," she shook her head.
"See you later," he sighed, walking towards the door.
"See you," she breathed.
She snuggled into the comforter deeply inhaling.
"Sorry, forgot my wallet," he murmured, walking across the room to his dresser.
"You just don't want to leave do you," Jude laughed.
"It seems that way," he chuckled, retrieving it and heading out the door.
"Hey Jude," he said, popping his back in for a final time. "I love you," he winked, waiting outside the door for her reaction.
"Love you too," she yelled.
Glancing quickly around his garage, he remembered his Viper was in the auto shop for a tune up, he opted for the Cobra instead.
Waiting for the garage door to open up, he rummaged through his glove compartment searching for his sunglasses. With the door fully opened, he slowly backed out of the driveway, into the street, shifted to first gear, and sped down the street.
Thinking that he'd never make it through the morning traffic in time to make it to work on time anyway, he stopped at his favorite bakery.
"Hey Tommy Boy," an elderly woman behind the counter waved. He had been coming in the bakery for years now for his personal needs and doughnuts and pastries for the G-major crew. Over the years he and Miss Martha had developed a relationship that he wished he could have had with his own grandmother.
He waved back at the end of a long line. She gestured for him to cut, irritating a few customers but not enough for any of them to say anything as he whispered family business and his apologies.
"Hey Martha, how are you doing this morning? I see you're looking beautiful as always," he smiled.
She cut her eyes at him, self consciously wiping flour from her apron. "Um…thank you." Then muttered liar. "Why are you in such a good mood?" she asked him. "Usually you come in here looking half dead or wasted."
Tommy chuckled at the older woman using slang. He shook his head. "I am just happy to see you."
"Uh huh. I'm glad to see you coming back in here more regularly since you dropped that Diane girl and dumped out all of her health food nonsense. Wheat never hurt anyone. Look at me…I lived on a farm for most of my life…eating homemade biscuits, whole milk fresh out the cow…and look at me. Healthy as an ox."
Watching a young mother walk in pushing a stroller, Martha quickly switched topics. "Tom you should really get started on having some babies…"
"What?" Tommy laughed, eating a warm crème cheese danish.
"You heard me…since I didn't get to have any grandchildren, I should get to be a grandmother to yours," she nodded. "With all the extra goodies I give you…"
"Okay, Miss Martha," Tommy laughed. "You can be a surrogate grandmother...that won't be a problem."
"Ah. Thank you. Can I get that in writing?" she said, only half jokingly.
"Martha why are you harassing customers again?" Abigail, the owner of the bakery and another one of Martha's unofficial adopted children, yelled from the back of the store.
"I'm not," Martha yelled back.
"Right," she said, sarcastically. "Hey Tommy! You ordering for all of G-major this morning?"
He shook his head, "Nope, I'm being greedy today."
Abigail laughed and disappeared from his sight for a while.
"So who's the new woman," Martha whispered, ringing up another customer.
"She's not exactly new."
"What do you mean? You're not back together with that hussy are you?"
"No ma'am…" Tommy laughed. "She's an old friend of mine."
"Really now? You see that's the way a relationship should start out: just as friends. Me and Harold had known each other since grade school before we started thinking about each other romantically and we were married 56 years!" Tommy nodded listening to the older woman ramble on. "That's what romance is anyway—friendship set on fire…" she smiled, patting his arm.
Tommy nodded, grinning ear to ear.
"Martha!" Abigail laughed, heading towards the front of the store with a huge cake.
Martha rolled her eyes and mouthed, "We'll talk later."
Tommy finally exited the bakery, flipping his cell phone out of his front pocket, dialing Liam's number.
"Hey Liam, man I don't think I can make it in today…" he said, feigning a weak voice.
"Uh huh. Not feeling well uh?" Liam replied, disbelieving.
"No," he coughed.
"This illness just came along all of a sudden…you were just fine yesterday," Liam remarked.
"Probably just one of those 24 hour things…" Tommy sighed, knowing Liam wasn't going to go for it.
"Right…" he laughed. "Fine Tom. Take the day off neither you nor Jude would be much use around here anyway from what I hear."
Tommy laughed. "Oh and where do you get your information from?"
"That would be Kwest…" Liam chuckled.
"Aha," Tommy said, stepping back in his car with coffee and doughnuts.
"Just don't hurt her man, I'd hate for my fiancé to have to kill you," Liam stated, seriously.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Tommy nodded, slipping the key into the ignition. "Sadie would kill me."
"Macerate you…that would describe it even better," Liam snickered.
"I'll talk to you later," Tommy said, pulling out of the parking lot of the bakery.
"Later man," Liam replied, sounding distracted.
After lying in the bed for the past hour and half, Jude had finally showered and began getting ready for work. She was on her way to the garage to get her clothes from the dryer when she saw a plump, young brunette in a maid 's uniform shining silverware in the kitchen.
"Oh my god," Jude shrieked, grasping her chest.
"Holy shit, you scared me," Francesca shouted, pointing a candleholder at her.
"Ha, I scared you?" Jude laughed, nervously. "I'm Jude…Tommy's um-" she began.
"Oh I know who you are---the infamous Jude," she laughed, putting down the candleholder and stretching out her hand. "I'm Francesca."
" 'The Infamous Jude'?" Jude asked, looking at her bemusedly.
"Tommy's always talking about you," Francesca laughed, sitting back down at the kitchen bar.
"He is," Jude asked, suddenly even more interested in what she had to say. "Like what?" She asked.
But Francesca, whose attention was glued to the television mounted on the counter, shushed her. Jude leaned on the counter watching the scene that played out on the television. Apparently there was some kind of wreck in the middle of an intersection.
"That looks like Tommy's car…" Jude breathed, having a seat on the barstool.
Francesca nodded, turning the volume of the television up.
"…the wreck happened earlier this morning around 8:30. The driver of the small convertible was just airlifted to General Hospital about two minutes ago after sustaining major injuries to the head. The passengers of the other vehicle involved in the collision seem to be only slightly injured with injuries ranging from broken bones to sprains. We'll have more details about this accident after these messages."
"Oh. My. God. That looked like Tommy's car," Jude repeated.
"Uh it's not Tommy, he heads to work at about 7:45…he would have been by work by 8:30." Francesca theorized, twirling her thick, curly hair around her finger.
"Francesca how many cars like that are in this country?" Jude asked.
"You have a point," Francesca agreed. "I'll just call him on his cell…"
She quickly picked up the kitchen phone and dialed. "It's out of service range." She sighed.
"Okay, try to call again. I'm going get dressed, and then I'll call the studio," Jude smiled, trying to look like she wasn't upset.
Jude got dressed in the garage in less than a minute. She put on her shirt as she reentered the kitchen.
"No answer," Francesca breathed."Don't worry…he usually has it off while recording anyway," She reminded, quickly dialed the number to the studio.
"Hey Liam," Jude breathed. "Can I speak to Tommy?"
"I don't know can you?" he snickered.
"Liam," Jude said, letting out a nervous laugh. "May I speak to Tommy please?"
"No,"
"Liam," Jude rolled her eyes.
"No really you can't. You could but he asked for a sick day this earlier this morning. Therefore he's not here." Liam replied.
"Oh my gosh," Jude gasped.
"What's the matter, Babe," Liam asked, getting concerned.
"Um…I haven't seen him since this morning Liam," Jude sighed, clutching the phone to her ear, and placing her head in her hands. "There's been a report of an accident near the freeway."
"Jude look," Francesca said, pointing towards the television.
"Um…Liam, I'm going to call you back. Turn it to channel 7," she said, hanging up the phone.
"…ladies and gentlemen we have more news about the accident that occurred earlier this morning near exit number 27 on highway 71. The driver of the small convertible has been identified as Thomas Quincy, also known as Lil Tommy Q from the 90's boy band Boyz Attack. We will be filling you in with incoming details for the rest of this morning addition of Channel 7 Daybreak."
Jude gathered her purse and her jacket from where she dropped the on the floor the night before. "I've got to get the hospital," Jude exhaled, extremely calm. Too calm.
"I'll drive you honey," Francesca offered.
So that was a little on the long side. Sorry. :(