Chapter 22

Jude and Tommy climbed out of the limo in front of G-Major a little while later and let themselves inside the dark, empty building. Tommy went to make some coffee, while Jude made her way back to Studio B where she had left her guitar earlier that day. Jude was strumming some tune on her guitar when Tommy entered Studio B with their coffees.

T: Hey girl, already got a new song for the album?

J: No, just something I was messing around with.

Jude put down her guitar and reached for her coffee.

J: Thanks.

T: No problem. So, um, do you want to talk about tonight?

J: I don't know.

T: Come on Jude, you know you can talk to me about anything and it will make you feel better to get it out.

J: I am just so mad at them Tommy. It's bad enough they go and break up our family and they fight all the time about stupid things like who gets the vacuum cleaner and who gets the good china, but now they have to fight about me too?

T: I know how you feel Jude, my parents fought all the time about how to best manage my career when I first joined BoyzAttack. Sometimes I felt like just yelling at them both to just stop! That it was my life and I am the only one that knows what is best for me.

J: Exactly, I am 17 years old; I can make my own decisions.

T: Maybe you just need to sit down with them both and tell them that.

J: Yeah maybe.

They both lapsed into silence for a while, enjoying the quiet and just being there together. Tommy was the first to break that silence:

T: So, you know Girl, I never got a chance to give you your birthday gift.

J: Oh Tommy, you didn't have to get me anything.

T: Oh please, who are you kidding, you would have never let me live it down if I didn't get you something!

J: True.

T: Ok, so close your eyes and don't open them till I tell you to.

J: Oh come on Tommy, just give me my gift already.

T: Shut them!

J: Ok, Ok.

Jude did as she was told, closing her eyes and putting out her hand. Tommy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a long thin velvet box and carefully placed it in Jude's outstretched hands.

T: Ok, you can open them now.

Jude opened her eyes and just stared at the beautiful black velvet box that Tommy had given her.

J: Nice wrap job Tommy.

T: Jude…

J: Just kidding, geez.

Jude slowly opened the box to reveal a beautiful silver charm bracelet.

J: Oh, Tommy, its beautiful. Thank you so much.

T: Your very welcome. But the bracelet is just part of the gift, look closer at the charms.

Jude carefully removed the beautiful bracelet from the box and started to look more closely at the charms that were attached. The first charm was a silver guitar.

T: Iwanted you to remember some of the big moments in your life so far and then as they keep on coming, we can add more charms to the bracelet. On the back of the guitar is the date that you became the first ever Instant Star.

Jude just continued to smile and moved on to the next charm. The next one was a record album.

T: And on the back of that one is the date that your first album was released. You worked so hard on that album and I have never seen you happier than the night you got to hold your first ever album.

Jude could do nothing but just smile up at Tommy as she looked at the next charm, a bus.

T: This one has the date of your first tour on it. I wish that I could have been with you during the whole tour, but the three weeks that we did spend together were some of the best I have ever had. I have never seen you perform as well as you did those weeks.

Jude was speechless; she had no idea that Tommy would take the time to think of a gift this special for her. Finally she moved on to the last charm on the bracelet. It was a birthday cake with candles. This time Tommy didn't say anything, he just motioned for Jude to turn it over and read for herself what it said. On the back of the cake was another date, but this time it was a date in the future, exactly one year from tonight, the date of her 18th birthday.

J: Oh Tommy, this is the best gift that I have ever gotten. Thank you so much.

Jude launched herself at Tommy and wrapped him up in a hug that she hoped said everything that she felt. They stayed that way for several minutes, before Tommy slowly pulled Jude back to look into her eyes.

T: Jude, you have had one hell of a year this year and I just wanted to get you something to remind you of all your accomplishments and maybe when things get really bad, like earlier tonight, you can stop and look at it and remember how far you have come.

There was so much that Jude wanted to say to Tommy, but she didn't seem to be able to form any coherent thoughts, so she just simply continued to stare up into his beautiful blue eyes and smile. She didn't remember ever being this happy in her whole life. Tommy was feeling the same way, it felt so good to see her smile and know that he had put that smile there. He knew he was grinning like an idiot, but it didn't matter, because she was happy.

Tommy reached down and brought Jude's hand up to rest over his heart. He carefully clasped the silver bracelet around her wrist while Jude just continued to stare up at him. He carefully fingered each of the charms, finally coming to the last one, the birthday cake.

T: That is the date of your 18th birthday.

J: Yeah I noticed.

T: That date is like a goal, for a lot of different reasons.

J: I can't wait to finally be an adult. I want to make my own decisions about my life.

T: Yeah. At 18, you will also be free from Darius' control, you can sign a new contract with G Major and take more control of your career.

J: Yeah, there is that too.

There was another major reason that affected them both, but neither seemed to have the courage to voice that one. Jude's heart was beating so fast she new he had to be able to hear it. Although, she was happy to note that underneath her hand she could also feel Tommy was not all that calm either. Tommy pulled Jude into a tighter embrace and Jude simply rested her head on his shoulder. God, he is so warm. I could just stay here all night. Tommy tangled his hands in Jude's beautiful red hair getting lost in its flowery scent. This is killing me, does she know how good it feels to just have her in my arms, I wish she could stay here all night. Finally when Tommy could no longer stand it, he tooka step back and tried to put some distance between the two of them.

T: You know, it is getting late and with the way that we left dinner tonight, everyone will be wondering where we are.

J: Yeah, it has been a long day. I should get home and get some sleep.

T: Definitely Girl, as of exactly 22 minutes ago your birthday is over and I will expect you at the studios bright and early tomorrow morning.

J: Slave Driver.

T: Damn right and don't you think I don't mean it too. We have got an album to get done.

J: Oh don't remind me, although, I now have something to look forward to since I have a week's vacation coming once it is finished!

T: Hmm, that is some good motivation. So are you planning on taking this ski trip alone or will there be guests?

J: You wish Quincy! Come on I think our driver is probably getting pretty ticked off by now, we had better get going.

T: Ok, I will lock up and be right there.

As Tommy locked up the studios and made his way to the limo, he was thinking to himself: Come on Quincy, you can do this. Just one more year; one more year till you don't need to do this dance all the time, one more year till you can finally just do what you want, one more year till she can finally be all yours.

The drive to Jude's house was very quiet, both lost in their thoughts about everything that had gone on that night. The driver pulled up in front of Jude's house and she quietly turned to Tommy.

J: Tommy, I know it seems like I tell you this over and over again, but I can't even imagine what would have happened if you hadn't been there tonight. I don't know what I would do if you weren't in my life.

T: I will always be here for you Girl, no matter what.

Jude gave Tommy a quick hug and started to reach for door. But before she could openit,Tommy grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. So softly that if Jude had closed her eyes she would have thought she'd imagined it, Tommy leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips and whispered "Night Girl."

Jude didn't remember even opening the door or getting out but somehow she foundshe was walking in the front door of her house and watching as the limo pull away to take Tommy home. She stood there for a few moments, with her fingers resting on her lips, which still tingled from Tommy's kiss. Jude knew she would never forget this night as long as she lived.