a/n: I lost track of weekday I was on for this fiction… So I'm making it up. If it's off, sorry much.
Ah. One more chapter after this. :) And I wrote all afternoon to get this up today, so I hope you guys really enjoy it.
The next couple of days were completely miserable. Georgia forced Jude to work with Tommy because there was a producer shortage since Joanne left. Jude hated Tommy, loathed Tommy, wanted noting to do with Tommy, and all she could think about was Tommy. She thought about how indecisive he was and how many time she had believed that he would date her, only to have him dash it all away with one 'forget about it'. Jude also thought about how no matter how angry she was and how many times she claimed to despise him, she was still in love with the idiot.
EJ booked interview after interview about Jude's new controversial video. And because Tommy co-starred in it, she was forced to spend more time with him at interviews and photo shoots. Both pretended like they were best friends in front of the cameras, but Jude was dying inside. She wanted to explain to the press what an ass Tommy was and how she needed to just get over him.
I was after another full day of interviews and the Lead Me On team were settling back in G Major for about another hour before they could go home. Jude decided she was going to listen in on the mixing of Damien's new song until she could go home.
Tommy had no artists who needed to record and he was lounging in the kitchenette with Kwest, who was on a short break.
"You can tell she's faking it." Kwest said through a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"She smiles like she wants to punch me." Tommy commented. "Did you see her eyes pop when they suggested that we were a couple?"
Kwest nodded. "She nearly strangled the interviewer."
A throat loudly cleared itself and interrupted the boys' conversation.
"Tom, could I speak with you a second?" Darius drawled.
Tommy nodded and left Kwest to eat his food in peace. Darius led Tommy to his office and they sat down across from each other.
"I was just on the phone with Kyle." Darius folded his hands on the desktop.
Tommy stared at him blankly.
"You know Kyle, the owner of Cape Cove."
"Yeah, I know Kyle."Tommy knew he was being difficult, but the day's earlier events put him in a very frustrating mood.
"He loved your video and he offeredyou a deal."
Tommy raised his eyebrows. "What kind of deal?"
"He wants you back at Cape Cove." Darius paused for a moment and then continued. "He's offering you a two year contract for around three million. You're hitting it big and Kyle wants you completely under Cape Cove's label."
"I've only got one video out, D." Tommy leaned back and ran his fingers through his hair. "Three million?"
"Three. That's-"
"Over triple of what Frozen is going to get me in-between labels." He was so confused.
"You don't have to decide right now. The offer stands until Friday."
"That's in two days!" Tommy was reeling; so much was at offer and at stake.
"You'll either be flown up Friday or Saturday, depending on when you decide."
Tommywas disgruntled that Darius was assuming he would take the offer. Naturally, Darius was going to be paid even more than Tommy was for the exchange. "I just got back here a couple months ago." He frowned.
"Sleep on it, Tom."
Tommy nodded and left to find Kwest. Sure enough, Kwest was still in the kitchenette chewing away.
"What was that all about?" Kwest asked.
"I might be going back to the states." Tommy leaned against the counter and looked up at the ceiling.
"What!" Food sprayed out of Kwest's mouth.
"Three million." Tommy looked over at him. "Three million, man."
"Who wants you?"
"Cape Cove again. But this time they want my whole album and I don't think I'll be producing."
"Didn't you just finalize your apartment payments?"
"Yeah," He sighed, "But I came back here for certain reasons that don't really exist anymore."
Kwest thought for a moment with a blank face. He suddenly came to realize what Tommy was talking about. "She'll come around, you just got to wait."
"I don't know if she will this time. Maybe I really should give up."
The two stood in silence until Kwest had an idea. "Whether you leave or not, we're gonna go for some drinks." He smiled and looked at Tommy questioningly.
"I don't know, man…"
"C'mon. We'll go to a bar or something."
Tommy slowly smiled. "Yeah, let me just grab my jacket." He shot off towards his office.
Kwest finished up his food just as Tommy came back with his jacket and a cap.
"Ruining the hair?" Kwest joked.
"Hiding the identity." Tommy said simply.
"I hate to break it to you, but you can't exactly hide behind a baseball cap. You're just a tad bit bigger than that."
Tommy rolled his eyes and they both chuckled. "What about your artists?"
Kwest shrugged. "They'll do fine without me."
Twenty minutes later they were riled up and entered an exclusive party bar filled with dancing and drinking. It was high-tech andscreens that showed the videos to the music playing over the loudspeakers were hung on every wall. Everyone was carrying around martinis and tequilas and bopping along to whatever pop hit was currently playing.
In the first half an hour there, five girls approached Tommy and offered to have a drink with him. He politely declined each time and told them to head in Kwest's direction. The last one he turned downfound Kwest intriguing and they fled away to the dance floor.
Tommy couldn't stand the music choice. He tried to drown out the sounds by drinking, but it hadn't worked yet. He was a little tipsy and couldn't see straight by the time Kwest had finally convinced him to dance with one of his new female friends.
"Oh, I love this song!" The girl exclaimed as a new tune blasted.
It sounded familiar, too familiar. Tommy searched for the video screens and stared in horror. It was his new song with Jude.
"Oh, uh, I gotta uhm…" He couldn't think of an excuse. "I'll be right back."
The girl clutched onto his arms and brought him back. She was clearly drunk. "Come on, just one more song."
Tommy frowned as he heard his own voice serenading the crowd. "I really don't like this song."
"I think it's great." Kwest butted in. He wanted Tommy to have good time and maybe forget about how much Jude hated him for just a few hours.
"Yeah!" The girl fastened her other hand on Tommy's other wrist and pulled him into her. He had no choice but to move along until the song was over.
"Hey, man. Can we go now?" He asked Kwest.
"Er, hold on a second. Let's go over to the bar." Kwest and his girl walked away and the girl who had been dancing with Tommy dragged him along.
"I just love that video, don't you?" She asked Tommy.
"Er," They sat down and he grabbed a bottle of water. "Not really."
"But Tommy and Jude just look so good in bed together. Much better than her and Shay, his head was WAY too big."
Tommy spit out his water all over the countertop. He couldn't believe that she had just said such a sexual innuendo when he was Tommy. But then again, she was obviously too drunk to recognize him at all.
"Well, let's go." Kwest appeared next to Tommy. He hugged his dancing partner goodbye; Tommy left his own partner without another word.
When they both were settled into Kwest's car, Kwest pulled out a piece of paper.
"Digits?" Tommy chuckled and they preformed their signature handshake.
"Did you get your girl's?"
"I didn't even ask her name." They both laughed. "It's not like I did anything but try and get away from her."
Kwest shrugged and drove off.
Tommy was in bed and sleeping an hour later. He dreamed all night about his day; he could move away and leave his issues behind or he could work them out and stay with Jude.
The next morning Tommy's alarm went off at seven. Surprisingly he had no hangover, but a small headache migrated through his head and into his neck. He took his time getting ready and sat down to watch TV before he left to work. It was not required to be at G Major until nine, and he didn't feel like getting there early this morning.
Tommy flicked through the channels and came to a stop on the music channel.
"I just can't forget you, can I?" He chucked the remote at the TV, which was playing Lead Me On on the new hits countdown.
A napkin lay on the counter of his table. Tommy grabbed it and a pen and began to write furiously. After he was done scribbling down words in practically unreadable writing, he left to G Major.
Tommy's first stop at the studio was Darius's office. "Hey, D."
"T, have you made a decision?"
"Yeah." He stood in the doorframe of Darius's office. "I'll take the offer if I can record my last song for Frozen today."
Darius contemplated this a moment. He would have to bump off a few of his artist's and let Tommy have Studio A for the entire afternoon. Not to mention, he'd need to steal a producer and an engineer for it.
"Kwest can produce and mix it." Tommy chimed in as if he could read Darius's mind.
"Alright, I'll have the ticket for your flight and the paperwork faxed over tonight so you can leave tomorrow."
Tommy nodded and left the room. He needed to find Kwest and start recording as soon as possible.
"Tommy, I got a new song that I want to get into the studio."
He turned around and came face to face with Jude and Damien. "Uh, you know what? Take the day off."
"Really?" She quirked her brow.
"Really." Tommy turned and heard excited whispers.
"Mall?" Jude asked.
"Movie." Damien retorted.
"Movie!" Jude exclaimed. Their feet pattered as they ran away.
Tommy sighed. He missed being the one to run off with Jude. Once when she was seventeen, he and her just blew off two days of workto go on a road trip. They drove down to Niagara Falls and even spent a day in New York.
"Hey, watcha got there?"
Tommy jumped out of his thoughts and found himself sitting in Studio A with his napkin in hand.
"Uh, lyrics. I'm leaving tomorrow and I want to record this song. D said you could help me produce and mix all day. I need it done tonight."
"Woah. You better be doing this acoustic then." Kwest sat down and began to turn on the soundboard.
He thought about it for a bit and then nodded. "Yeah, I want it acoustic."
"Ok, then lets roll."
Tommy got his guitar and sat down on the stool in the sound booth. Kwest gave him a thumbs-up and Tommy started to play.
Eleven hours, three lattes, and two meal breaks later, the song was finished.
"So this is it?" Kwest asked as he handed Tommy the two copies of his song.
"Yeah, I'm picking up the tickets and the paperworktonightand leaving tomorrow."
Kwest nodded. Tommy could see the sad look in his eyes; he was Kwest's best friend and he was leaving again, this time permanently.
"I'll keep in touch." Tommy hugged Kwest and patted his back. The bear hug lasted a few minutes and they broke away.
"Seeya later, man."
Tommy nodded and walked out of the studio, "Seeya." He began to walk towards Darius's office but he stopped. This really was his last day at G Major. When he told Jude to take the day off it would be the last thing he ever said to her.
"Hey, Kwest!" Tommy jogged back into the studio. "Uh, hold on. You got a piece of paper?"
Kwestsearched around and handed one to Tommy once he found it.
"And a pen?"
Kwest rolled his eyes and got a pen from the pencil holder on the soundboard.
Tommy bent over and began to scribble words feverishly on the paper. After a minute or two he folded it up and put it under the cover of one of the CD cases that carried one of his CDs. Setting down the note and CD, Tommy rummaged through his pocket until he pulled out a little velvet box.
"Give this to Jude, ok?"
Kwest nodded and smiled, taking the things from Tommy.
Tommy waved and ran out again. He found Darius and got all his paperwork, signed it, and received his airplane ticket for LAX at one-thirty the next afternoon.