Chapter 5

Band Member: Jude. Jude – Hey girl you OK?

Jude: Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry just something on my mind. What did you want?

BM: Oh, I just wanted to let you know we are going to start practice a little early tonight. There's this club in town that we want to check out a little later.

Jude: Thanks, for letting me know. I will be right there. Oh by the way, care if I tag along to the club?

BM: Sure, that'd be great. From what I hear it should be a good time! See you in a few.

Jude: Yeah, thanks.

Jude finished writing down the lyrics she had been working on for a new song and grabbed her guitar and headed to practice. As she entered the building, she could hear the band warming up. Smiling to herself, Jude headed towards the stage to join them for practice thinking I would be a fool to give all of this up. This is the best opportunity that a singer can ask for; tomorrow's show is going to blow everyone away. Georgia and EJ won't know what hit them. Just as Jude stepped onto stage something caught her attention in the far corner of the room. There was someone sitting all alone at a table in the corner just staring right at her. Jude squinted her eyes just a little to adjust to the darkness of the room and suddenly it hit her – it was Tommy! Jude felt like her feet were glued to the floor. Her first reaction was a wave of relief that he had come to be with her and just as soon as that washed over her, the anger set in. How dare he! He left me along to go on tour while he ran away with my sister to Italy. Then he leaves her in Italy without so much as saying goodbye and comes here. I am not playing these games anymore. He is not going to hurt me anymore! Before Jude knew what was happening she had dropped her guitar and was heading towards Tommy at a dead run.

Tommy just sat at the table staring he couldn't look away, she was so beautiful, even in torn jeans and a faded black t-shirt she looked incredible, full of life. He knew his jaw was open to the floor but he couldn't help it. It had only been 3 weeks, but three weeks without seeing Jude, talking to Jude, just being with her, seemed like an eternity. Suddenly there she was in front of him and by the look on her face, she was not as happy to see him as he was to see her.

J: Tommy, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING HERE?
T: Jude, nice to see you I missed you too! All the while flashing her that irresistible Little Tommy Q smile that usually made her weak in the knees.
J: Tommy – I am not in the mood for your jokes. Aren't you supposed to be in Italy with Sadie? What happened, tired of Sadie so you thought you would take my advice and try another family member? Mom's still single and Grams is still cute!
T: Jude, come on seriously I am here because you need me.
J: You know what Tommy, I might have thought I needed you last week or even three weeks ago, but I don't want or need your help now. I am totally capable of finishing this tour and doing a damn good job at that.
T: Yeah Jude, I can see you have done an outstanding job so far. Is that why you called your sister and told her you were quitting and running back home?
J: You have no right listening to a private conversation between me and Sadie. Anyway, I have no intention of quitting this tour. As a matter of fact, I was just about to head up on stage and practice for tomorrow's show. I would prefer to do that without you here, but I can't very well kick you out of a public place so stay if you want.

With that Jude spun around and headed back to the stage. Jude grabbed her guitar and took her place on stage.

J: Boys, you ready?

By now the band had stopped playing and was trying to pretend not to stare at Jude and Tommy's confrontation across the room.

BM: Uh, yeah, Jude we're ready.
J: OK, I want to run through Skin.

Tommy just stayed where he was sitting too shocked by the sarcasm and anger in Jude's voice to even think about what to do next. Suddenly Jude's beautiful voice filled the room as she began to sing the opening lines of Skin, but something was different; there was a bitterness, an edge to her voice that hadn't been there before. Tommy began to realize that it was going to take a lot more than an "I'm sorry" to fix their friendship. Tommy just hoped that it could be fixed.