Chapter 10

5 Days Later

Jude stepped out of the airplane terminal, her book bag on her back and a huge smile on her face. She loved touring, but the thought of being home, sleeping in her bed, seeing her friends and family again, brought a huge smile to her face. As she stepped out of the terminal, cheers erupted in her ears. She turned her head and saw her family, Stuart and Victoria Harrison, no Sadie…for that matter, no Tommy, and her friends, Kat and Jamie stood together and Jamie held up a poster sign that said "We love Jude Harrison." Jude smiled bigger and ran over to her welcoming committee. She received a hug from her mom, dad, and Kat, and a nice, long, welcoming kiss from Jamie. They all asked her questions about the tour and Jude answered them all, feeling great to be home.

"Hey, where's Sadie?" Jude asked her mom, realizing she was disappointed her sister wasn't there to welcome her home. Victoria and Stuart shared a look and he answered,

"She's still in Europe." Your mom reminded her.

"Oh, right." Jude said, wondering how her sister's trip in Europe was going. The group made it down to baggage claim and her father grabbed her bags and her guitar case. They headed back towards the car, chatting merrily.

"Oh, Jude,"

"Yeah?"

"Darius called, your new manager.."

"Dad, I know who Darius is."
"Right…he said he needed you to come to the studio when you got home, so I figured we'd drop you off and we can have a big celebration dinner tonight at the house." Stuart said, smiling at his daughter.

"Yeah, sure." Jude said, feeling disappointed she had to go right back to work. Jamie wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek.

"But, you'll be all ours in a few hours." Jude smiled at her best friend turned boyfriend. Jude noticed Kat's sad look and gave Jamie a look that said 'stop it'. The car pulled up to G Major and Jude jumped out, grabbing her guitar out of the trunk and waved good bye to her family and friends. Jude turned to face the building she now thought of a second home. She smiled at it and took a deep breath. It was good to be home.

She stepped through the doors and stopped in her tracks. Gone was the homely appearance of the small studio. Jude gaped at the transformation G Major had under gone while she was away.

Instead of the comfortable couches, leather chairs were in their place, the warm walls were replaced with a gray color, giving the whole studio the look of some 'gimmicky corporate headquarters'. Jude shook herself and walked towards Georgia's office, taking in the differences of the studio. She reached up to knock on the door when she realized Georgia's nameplate was gone. It was replaced with the name "Darius Mills". Jude stared at the gold engraved nameplate with a frown.

"Jude!" A booming voice greeted. Jude turned to see Darius standing behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a welcoming smile. "How was the tour?" He asked. Jude gave him a cautious smile.

"It was great. I had a lot of fun." She said, feeling uneasy.

"Good, good to hear." Darius said, and reached in his pocket and handed Jude an ID card. "You'll be needing this now when you're in the studio; the back has a magnetic strip, it'll grant you access into the soundbooths."

Jude took the id and studied it. She turned it over, thinking this isn't something Georgia would do. "Thanks….hey, where's Georgia?" She asked.

"Not here. Now, you're producer is in Studio A; I hope your tour was at least slightly productive." Darius said, taking out his keys and opening his office and stepped in, closing the door behind him. Jude stared at the id and shrugged. She walked through the studio and got to Studio A. She stood outside the door, and fingered her ID card. She saw the credit card like swiping machine and held her card and swiped it quickly through the reader. The lights on it turned from red to green and the doors slid open. Jude waited for them to completely open and stepped through the door. The doors shut behind her and she stared at them a moment.

The music then greeted her senses. She turned back to the sound booth and saw Tommy sitting in his usual seat, making adjustments on the soundboard that made the melodies harder or softer, depending on the sound he was going for. Jude waited until the song was over; she knew better than to interrupt Tommy while he was mixing. She watched him work and felt her heart melt. She had thought she had gotten over him during her time away, but the feelings she had came rushing back when she saw him.

"Hey," She said, when the song completed. Tommy started slightly and turned his head and saw Jude standing there. She frowned when she saw his eyes. The blue eyes that usually sparkled looked dead, lifeless. He had a look of someone who was either tired or stressed; possibly both. "You ok?" She asked, and Tommy seemed to snap himself out of his funk.

"Yeah, I'm fine…" He said, and got up from his chair and walked over towards her. "How was the tour?" He asked, looking interested. Jude frowned at him. She had thought there would be a slightly warmer welcome.

"It was great…are you sure you're ok?" She asked, not believing he was being truthful.

"Darius is a slave-driver, what else is new?" He said with a shrug. "Enough about me, do I need to worry about finding out some dirty touring stories?" He asked, a smile on his face. Jude glared at him.

"If you're asking if I got married or something, no…though Spiederman did make thinks interesting…" Jude said, smacking him and walking into the studio, and looking around. "This place has changed…"

"Yeah…that's what happens when ownership changes." Tommy said, sounding bitter.

"Hu?"

"You didn't hear?" Tommy said, looking surprised.

"Hear what?" Tommy sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Darius bought G Major out from Georgia."

"What!"

"Darius owns G Major…everyone here…we all work for Darius." Tommy said, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh, Tommy, I'm sorry…"
"Not your fault."

"Yes it is, if I hadn't.."

"What's done is done, and don't go blaming yourself. Darius has been after G Major for years...we've all been able to foil his plans though. I guess it was a long time coming." Tommy said, looking annoyed.

"Yeah, but"

"If it's anyone's fault, it's mine Jude. I should have known G Major's financial troubles were more than Georgia was letting on. There's nothing any of us can do now, so we better make the best of things." Tommy said, and added "which means making Darius happy. If he's not happy, all of our lives are going to be miserable."

"When did it happen?" Tommy sighed.

"I don't know exactly when…I wasn't here when the take-over happened." Tommy said, and at Jude's look explained "A week after you left, I finished up some projects and took some time off to myself…and then met your sister in Italy. Three days into the trip, Darius calls and demands my presence back here."

Jude winced.

"How'd Sade take that?" Tommy winced.

"I think you know." Tommy said, and added "I'm guessing you haven't talked to Sadie?"

"No, she didn't show up to the airport…why?" Tommy shook his head, looking slightly disappointed. "OK...oh! My parents said they were going to have a celebration dinner and welcome home from the tour party… you want to come?" Jude asked, secretly hoping he would.

"Uh…probably not." Tommy said, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Why?"
"I don't want to intrude…"

"You won't be intruding; I mean, you're close enough to a friend and you're dating Sadie…"

"Right…and she's still in Italy." Tommy pointed out, not wanting to tell Jude the truth. Her father scares him and he did not want to be in the same room as Stuart Harrison again. The man was clinically insane and before Tommy could give Jude a better excuse, the doors to the studio opened and Darius stepped in, looking annoyed.

"I don't hear any music coming from here." Darius stated.

"That would be because the place is sound proof." Tommy snapped, glaring at his 'boss'. Darius glared back at him.

"Watch it Tom." Darius said, looking smug. Darius turned his attention back to Jude. "I hope to see some progress on a new album before you leave." He said, and looked pointedly at Tommy before leaving the couple alone. Jude watched him leave and turned to Tommy.

"What was that about?" She asked, and noticed Tommy's jaw clenched and hands held in fists.

"Nothing. Let's get to work." Tommy said, turning away from her and ejecting a cd from the sound board.

"OK, I wrote a couple songs on the road…I guess we can work on those." Jude said, opening her guitar case and taking out her notebook to show him the lyrics.