Yeah, quick update, sorry I haven't been around lately. I've had so much to do and no time to write, but I promise I'll find some time to continue writing. I've been so off task lately it's kind of crazy. Read and Review please, and I hope everyone likes it. And I promise it gets good...
He showed up at my front door a few hours after my not-so-hot studio time. This took me by surprise, but I let him in anyway, taking him into the living room.
We're sitting, me on the couch and Tommy in an armchair, when he goes into All Apologies mode. "I of all people should know that musicians go into a kind of dry period," he says. Which in Tommy language could be considered an apology. "But you know Georgia was hoping for a fresh new song for Under the Mic this weekend. I guess I've just been pushing you too hard."
"I want a new song too, but music's just been hard for me lately," I lied. In my head, a different, much more satisfying conversation was going on between the two of us.
Tommy- "I'm sorry I broke your heart while claiming to love you. I know things have been awkward, but I want us to fix it all.
Me- "Um. I've been writing songs...We can pick one for Under the Mic."
Tommy- "I hate that I ever left you. I still love you with all my heart."
...Unfortunately, reality isn't quite so... unrealistic?
"Jude. Jude! Are you even listening?"
"Huh. Yeah." I forced myself to turn and face him.
"Well, we gotta buckle down, girl. Find that place in your heart where this one song's hiding." His eyes suddenly got bright and he looked like he'd just had a Lightbulb moment. "We need to get you inspired. And I have the perfect plan."
"This better not involve self-inflictment of any kind, because I don't care what you say Tommy, I'm not-"
"No! I'd never ask you to do that. But how about a field trip instead?" he asked with a grin.
Field trip with Tommy Quincy? No way.
---------
I'm not sure how he convinces me, or how I convince my mom, but the next day I've got a bag packed and I'm sitting in his Viper. And he still hasn't told me the plan.
I just agreed to it so that he'd shut up and leave me alone, and we'd have a song done. But as soon as we were on the road, I began to regret it.
"Where are we going?" I asked for what may be the thousandth time. I figured that if I bothered him enough, he'd eventually break down. Maybe even change his mind and take me home.
He keeps his eyes on the road. Switches lanes. "You ever been camping before?"
He must have seen my eyes widen, because he quickly said, "Relax, relax. Camping doesn't necessarily mean tents. It's cabin. On a mountain. It's the perfect place, and you'll see why?"
"You can't just tell me why?" I relaxed back into my seat. For a second I was worried. I wasn't into real camping. I was bad at it. I couldn't put up a tent if my life depended on it, let alone sleep in it without thinking that a bear was about to maul me to death.
He chanced a secretive smile at me, taking his eyes off the road for a moment. "Nah. You'll just have to wait. And I promise it's worth it."
We speed along the highway. The hum of the car was lulling and it was a comfort to have Tommy right next to me. I let myself fall asleep and when I woke up, we were driving up a dirt road and the clock read 5:15. I guessed that we were driving up the mountain.
He noticed that I had woken up and said, "We're almost there. And perfect timing, too..."
I stretched a little in my seat. My legs were a little sore, but I didn't really feel like complaining. "So how do you know about this cabin?"
"It's mine. My little hideaway when I need some time alone. Perfect place for inspiration. And you'll see why."
I began to get impatient, wanting to know what was so miraculous about this cabin.
