Instant Star- Rise Of The Next Generation
Chapter 5- Wouldn't It Be Good.
Author's Notes: Wow! I just keeping having more and more fun with this. I read and listened to everyone's comments (those of you reading this online on either site and as well as those of you reading this in person). You guys are awesome! You make me smile, make me laugh and just blow me away. Thanks soooo much to each of you. I love seeing people post repeatedly on the sites; that way I know you really are sticking with this! Of course, I also love seeing new readers join our circle. Anyway, the comments so far intrigued me and gave me some interesting ideas, really stimulating my imagination. Thank you!
Okay, a few more comments. I feel a need to explain something about "Ruby Quincy". Again, it's funny how things turn out. We know that on the show, Stuart Harrison has this weird obsession with the Beatles and named his daughters Jude and Sadie after Beatles songs. I deliberately put that in Chapter 3, naming his twins "Lucy and Michelle". However, I did not intend to do that with "Ruby". Her name came from her hair color and the fact that I thought it fit her (hint- a good name for an aspiring rock star). After she was "named", I realized the Beatles connotation- guess it's hard to avoid them. Oh, well...
Similarly, another musical note (hey, another bad pun!). The song used in this chapter is really obscure and I wonder if anyone here has ever heard it. Again, my obsession with 1980's movies kicks in. "Wouldn't It Be Good" was performed by the Danny Hutton Hitters on the "Pretty In Pink" soundtrack (an awesome CD, by the way!)
Also- some of you have commented on the "time jumps" in the story. What can I say- that just seems to be the way things are turning out. But it really makes sense. Not everything in life happens right away, in such a direct order. Some choices we make, we don't see the consequences of until many years later. Besides, I like the notion of a "villain" stalking Tommy and Jude, just lurking in the background waiting for the perfect moment to strike... it's so deliciously evil. Much more wicked than if he acted right away- now his nasty scheme is perfected and much more devious... To answer your questions, Jude was 22 and Tommy 28 when they married and she was 28 and he was 34 in the last chapter (Chapter 4 took place in the spring and Jude and Tommy will celebrate their sixth anniversary in September of that year) . Now, in Chapter 5 we surge forward fourteen years more into the future- she's 42 and he's 48 (this chapter takes place at the very end of August). What a thought- those two that old... but it's amusing trying to envision who they have become and what their relationship is now like. They have now been married almost twenty years (yes, that too will play a role in the story!). Seriously, I hope the "time jumps" haven't been too confusing- I too had to sit and work it out using actual dates.
Okay, enough with my babbling... you guys really want to see Chapter 5. The usual disclaimer (I don't own IS, the song, blah, blah, blah), and just a few more words regarding Chapter 6. I'll try to have the next one out by the Thanksgiving holiday. After that, I'm going on vacation for a week (yay!). While I will definitely be writing while I'm away, the computer situation may not permit me to publish, until after I get back. So Chapter 7 may take longer. I promise, it's coming! I'm gonna see this through to the end. Of course feedback always motivates me and makes me write faster... hint, hint.
Chapter 5- Wouldn't It Be Good
Deep darkness fell outside; only one single star illuminated the night sky. Contrasting with this was the brightly lit bedroom in the aforementioned Tudor house. A young, slender female sat cross-legged on her brass bed. Long red hair fell over her face, partially obscuring her identity and masking her look of total concentration. Eagerly, she strummed her guitar, testing the final chords of her new song, singing softly.
"Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes. Even if it were for just a day... Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away. Ah-ah..."
"Yes!" she thought, jubilant. "My best ever! This should do it!"
A metalic blast from the next room totally killed her celebratory buzz.
"What the hell is that?" she grumpily complained. "Patrick!" she hollered.
Naturally, he did not respond.
"Probably can't even hear me with that racket going on!" she groused.
Fourteen year old Ruby Quincy angrily flipped her hair off her face as she rose from the bed. Guitar still in hand, she stalked next door to her brother's room and barged in.
"Patrick!" she screamed again.
"Hey, carrot-head!" he greeted her. "This is surprising. So, what brings you to my humble abode?"
"Don't call me that!" she admonished him. "And cut the crap! What's with that horrible noise?"
"Science experiment. Robotics. Wanna see?"
"No. Not really. Please spare me. And what's up with that? School doesn't even start until next Tuesday!"
"Just getting a heads-up. I have to, if I wanna win the science fair this year..."
"Omg, Pat! Do you always have to be such a geek? You are totally going to embarrass me this year!" Ruby baited him.
"Who asked you to come to my school, anyway" her brother cheerfully responded.
"Mom and Dad. That's who. You actually think I wanna go there?"
"It's an excellent school..." Patrick started to say.
"Pat! Could you please gag it! It's preppie paradise! I mean, uniforms. Plaid skirts. Penny loafers. Little blazers with crests on them! Pure hell!" Ruby dramatically moaned.
"Yeah. That certainly does cramp your style." Pat commiserated, surveying his younger sister's typical attire of torn jeans and a cotton tank top.
"Might do you good!" he added, smirking.
"Oh, shut up! Just cause you have no taste!"
It was not the first time they had discussed this. Ruby could never comprehend her brother's complete lack of concern for or interest in his appearance. Today, for example, he wore an old, shapeless black T-shirt, with a chest pocket, paired with raggedy old denim cutoffs that he owned for years. His slovenly attire and lackadaisical attitude completely eradicated the potential hotness of his golden brown hair, toned body and chistled jawline. Even his piercing blue eyes remained hidden behind thick glasses; no amount of pleading on her part persuaded him to wear his contacts.
"Too high-maintenance." he always replied.
"What a waste!" Ruby always thought, as she did now.
The sound of Patrick's voice returned her to the matter at hand.
"Anyway, you're one to talk about noise. Heard you "singing". Hurting my ears again!" he teased.
"That song rocks! My best ever! But I guess you couldn't be expected to know that!" Ruby threw back at him.
"If I could just have some quiet and be able to concentrate..." she went on.
"Okay" he conceded. "Hit me. Play it already!"
"Really?" she asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Cause I know it's the only way to shut you up!"
She sat down on her brother's unmade, paper-strewn bed and began.
"So?" she said, after her performance concluded
"Wow!" Patrick responded, then became uncharacteristically silent.
Ruby just stared at him. He never reacted to her music this way before. Previously, if he thought the song was bad, he'd make a bland remark. If he actually liked it (and shockingly enough, that sometimes happened), his comment would be snide. The sarcasm concealed his true emotions; like his father, reticent Patrick rarely revealed these to anyone. Especially not to Ruby. Secretly, he loved and was proud of his talented sister. But there was no way he'd ever admit that.
Ruby waited impatiently for him to speak; she knew him better than he gave her credit for. She understood his neutral remarks and comprehended his put-downs even better. She could usually decipher exactly what he felt. But not this time. Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Silence from you? What does that mean?' she impatiently asked.
A rare serious look appeared on Patrick's face as he regarded his sister.
"You're right. It's really good. Seriously, it's special."
Grateful for his support, Ruby went on, verbalizing her hopes.
"Could I... do you think mom and dad would let me... record it. For real? Make a CD and everything?"
"Yeah" he replied. "I could totally see that. It really rocks. And I know that's something you always wanted to do."
"Thanks!" Ruby said, completely happy. Then Patrick's sarcasm returned.
"Hey, worse stuff gets played on the radio. At least yours isn't gimmicky corporate crap!"
"Okay, you loser!" Ruby replied, affectionately. "So help me. How do I ask our parents?"
"You are actually asking for advice? From this "loser"? Oh, I always knew this day would come..." he gloated.
"Stuff it!"
"Ok. Seriously. Just ask them. It's not like it's gonna be a total surprise to them. You've been playing and singing forever. You've talked about this before. You think they don't know what you want by now?"
"Yeah. But they still get a little freaked out when I mention it. Especially mom. I don't get it. She was only a little older than me when she won "Instant Star" and made her first CD. Hell, dad was my age!"
"Just make sure he's there when you ask. He'll support you, for sure." Patrick confidently advised.
"You think?" Ruby asked him.
"Yeah. Secretly, he's gonna love for you to do this. Follow in his footsteps. Besides, he spoils you rotten."
"He does not!" she retorted. "You know he's tough on us both."
"Yeah, sometimes. But you are his girl. It's just different." Patrick said, somewhat wistfully.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. You know he loves you." Ruby tried to assure him, surprised by her brother's uncharacteristic open show of emotion.
"Yeah, I know he does. But he really doesn't get me. I guess I'm just too different."
"Well, duh! A science geek. A mathlete. In our family? Impossible!'
"Yeah. I guess I'm a genetic mutation." Patrick remarked intelligently.
"A what?" Ruby questioned, completely mystified.
"My point exactly." Patrick chuckled. "Now, beat it! I gotta get back to this. But mom and dad are both downstairs. Go talk to them. And good luck! Let me know what happens."
"Thanks!" Ruby said honestly grateful, as she left the room. A short walk led her downstairs, where the sounds of a piano beckoned her toward the living room. She knew G-Major's creative director and executive producer, otherwise known as her parents, were in there working. Nervously, she approached them.
"Hey there. What's up?" Tommy asked her, immediately stopping what he was doing. As always, his eyes brightened at the sight of his daughter. With her long auburn hair, blue eyes and her guitar in her hands, she looked so much like Jude that it awed him. Her personality resembled her mother's as well. Ruby too was bright and aware, so full of feeling. Plus, she possessed the same incredible musical gifts that promised to burst out, undeniable, some day. He noted a familiar look on her face, a determined gleam in her eye that he remembered well. Premonition flashed through him, then she spoke.
"Mom, Dad..." she began. "I want you to hear something...". She started to play.
I've got it bad
You don't know how bad I've got it.
You've got it easy.
You don't know when you've got it good.
It's getting harder.
Just keeping life and soul together.
I'm sick of fighting
Even though I know I should.
The cold is biting.
Through each and every nerve inside.
My broken spirit
Is frozen to the core...
Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it were for just a day
Wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away...
You must be joking,
You don't know a thing about it.
You got no problems,
I'd stay right there if I were you.
I've got it harder,
You couldn't dream how hard I got it.
Stay outta my shoes,
If you know what's good for you.
This heat is stifling.
Burning me up on the inside,
The sweat's coming,
From each and every pore...
Wouldn't it be good to be on your side.
Grass is always greener over there.
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care...
Ah-ah!
Her voice softened as she repeated the first chorus and then faded with the second. Ruby then turned to her parents.
"It's good, isn't it?" she asked.
"It's wonderful, Ruby". Jude said, genuinely meaning it.
"Terrific, honey!" Tommy added.
"It's not just that. It's professional. It's as good as some of the records you guys make. I want to make one, too. With this song, and some of my other stuff. You always said I could try someday.".
"Yes, when you're old enough..." Jude automatically replied, then stopped, realizing something. But it was her feisty daughter who vocalized it.
"I am old enough. Dad, you performed at my age. And Mom was just a little bit older."
"You wanna be an "Instant Star"?" Tommy chuckled.
"Oh, please. Like reality TV contests aren't soooo over! No offense, Mom!"
"None taken!" Jude laughed.
"I just wanna make great music! Like you do"
"I know." Jude said thoughtfully. "I understand. I wanted that, too at your age. But there's a lot more to it. It can be really hard..."
"I know, Mom." Ruby confidently replied. "No one knows that better than me. I've heard your stories. Dad's stories. Even Uncle Jamie's stories. I know it's hard work. The studio, the tours, the press, the problems. But I want to do it, anyway. I can. I just know I can!" she proclaimed.
Ruby then smiled charmingly, as she played her trump card.
"I just want to make you two proud of me" she said sweetly.
"We are, honey. You are so talented." Jude assured her daughter.
"Then let me try. Pleeease?" she beseeched them.
"Okay" Tommy said. "Let us think about it. Then we'll talk again."
"Ok" Ruby agreed. That was fair enough. "Thanks!" she squealed, hugging both her parents before bouncing out of the room.
After she left, Tommy focused on Jude.
"Well, you were pretty easy on her." he commented. But he saw the turmoil in his wife's eyes and slipped a comforting arm around her shoulders. Jude curled up against him, grateful for his familiar warmth as she replied.
"How can I not be? What good would that do? I know how she feels. I was like that, once. I wanted the same thing. And I got my chance. Our daughter deserves the same. Doesn't she?"
"Yeah" he nodded in agreement. "But it scares me a little, too."
"We always knew this day would come." Jude said. "But it really does worry me. No matter what she thinks she knows, or what we told her, she doesn't realize what it's really gonna be like. How hard it is. Vicious gossip, nasty reviews, backstabbing- remember Eden?" she asked. She could finally smile now, thinking of her old nemesis.
"Psycho Barbie? Of course." Tommy snickered.
"The tours- all that time away from home. No privacy. Late nights, wild parties, drinking and worse..."
"Yeah. I sure handled all that well." Tom mused, recalling his wild, misspent youth. Fame went to his head and his mother's death devastated him. His complete estrangement from his alcoholic father only worsened his problems. Alone, depressed and totally confused, he desperately sought an escape. Any escape. He found it in the parties and the girls. Considering all that exacerbated his concern for his daughter. He then spoke, to reassure himself as much as Jude.
"But Ruby doesn't have to be like me. You weren't"
"Yeah, but I was pretty messed up too. You know I had trouble dealing. All that crap about the music business took getting used to. Plus, my father had the affair and divorced my mother, then remarried." Jude said.
Tommy nodded, remembering, as his wife continued.
"But I guess I was pretty lucky. Someone was usually there for me. Jamie. Kat. My parents. Even Sadie, sometimes. And you were there, too"
"Not always" Tommy said regretfully. "I hurt you, too. I disappointed you so much, then." After all these years, it still pained him to think about it.
Jude smiled lovingly at her husband.
"I forgave you for all that. But, when you performed, you never had anyone." she went on. "It makes a difference."
"It does. We will be there for Ruby." Tommy assured her. "Everyone will- Jamie, Quest, Georgia, EJ- we'll all help her get through it."
"Yes, we will. At least as much as any teenager allows other people to help! And she's so independent, or thinks she is. But I don't want to smother her, either. And she has to keep up in school..." Jude stopped herself and laughed softly.
"What?" Tommy asked her.
"I sound just like my mother." she groaned.
"Hey, I like your mother. She's smart. And she was right then, just as you are now. Ruby will start at Pendleton Academy next week as planned. We're not changing that."
Jude shook her head, and suddenly began laughing again. Tommy looked at her quizzically.
"We're really assuming this is going to go somewhere." she stated.
"Well yeah, I do think that. But look, let's just go one step at a time. Take her to the studio. Let her try it. See what everyone else thinks. Let them help decide. " he said, sensibly.
"Yeah. We may be biased." Jude grinned, and he smiled back at her.
"Not that much. She's so amazingly talented. Just like you."
"Like both of us." Jude affectionately commented.
Tommy answered by tightening his hold on her and dropping a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Let's go to bed." he whispered.
"Ok" she breathlessly responded.
Three days later, Ruby Quincy proudly accompanied her parents to G-Major; she considered it the best day of her life. People rearranged their schedules, and EJ, Georgia, Jamie and Quest all turned out for the audition. So did Quest's daughter, Caitlin, Ruby's best friend since, well, forever. She pulled her aside as the adults conferred.
"This is your big chance, girl. You nervous?" Caitlin asked.
"Yeah." Ruby admitted. Only to Caitlin would she confess that.
"I've wanted this for ages, you know that. I don't wanna screw this up." she said, her eyes seeking her friend's support. As always, Caitlin had her back.
"You won't. You've been practicing ever since we can remember. Always writing songs and singing. Hey, I bet you sang before you could talk!" her friend said. The two girls laughed at the corny, but long-standing joke between their two families.
"Ok, Ruby. We're ready now." Quest said.
"Break a leg, girl!' Caitlin said.
As if she'd been doing it all her life, Ruby donned headphones and stood before the microphone. Quest situated himself in the control booth, as Georgia, EJ and Jamie took seats behind him, with Jude, Tommy and Caitlin. Tension filled the room; everyone was intrigued. They had all heard Ruby perform before at one time or another. None denied she possessed talent. But did she have what it took to be a real pro? They would soon find out.
Quest gave Ruby her cue and she started singing, her enthralled audience concentrating carefully on her every note. After she finished, she looked up at her producer.
"Good. Now, let's try it another way. A little faster. Edgier." Quest directed. Ruby followed his instructions easily and naturally. Time flew by as they worked, finally completing the recording.
"Ok, Ruby. That's a wrap. Good job, girl. I'm gonna work this up for you, and we'll see what we've got."
"Cool!" Ruby replied, trying to sound casual. "Thanks!"
"Awesome! You so rock!" Caitlin was the first to praise her.
"Really great, Ruby. I'm so proud of you!" Jude beamed.
Tommy was blown away and could only echo his wife's response. Jamie was next to congratulate her, beaming fondly.
"Nice job, Ruby" EJ said simply. But her glittering eyes said much more.
"You did good Ruby." Georgia said. "But we'll see how this turns out. Then decide where we wanna go with this."
"Great. Thanks, all of you." Ruby said sincerely, as she all but flew over to Caitlin and the two girls left the room. EJ then excused herself, already late for a press conference. Jamie too needed to rush off. But before he did, he whispered something in Jude's ear.
"So? Looks like I have a new client?'
"Maybe? If she wants you..." Jude teased.
"But, of course she will." he arrogantly proclaimed. "Who can resist me? You couldn't. Like mother, like daughter."
"Oh, please!" Jude gave Jamie a playful shove. Then she turned serious.
"Tommy and I have to talk to Georgia. Ruby's so young. If she does this, we'll all need to look out for her."
"Jude, you know I will. I love your kids as if they were my own."
A look of regret passed over Jamie's face. His marriage of ten years recently ended in divorce and there had been no children. He envied Tommy that; a very small part of him still harbored an adolescent crush on Jude. As always, those thoughts remained unconscious. Those days were long over.
He returned her friendly hug, listening to her response.
"I know you do. I know you'll be there for her. Just as you were for me. Thanks, Jamie."
"Hey, any time. Speaking of time, I'm late. Gotta jet!" he said, exiting the room.
Jude then turned and took a few steps to where Georgia and Tommy stood, waiting for her.
"So, what did you really think G? Be honest." Tommy inquired of their boss and long-time friend.
"As if I'd ever lie to either of you, about your music or anything else. You guys know I'm gonna be straight with you. So..." she paused dramatically.
"Yeah. So?" Jude mimicked, as both she and Tom fixed their eyes on Georgia.
"Your kid's got it. She's the real thing. Just like you both were. I'd sign her in a second, even if she wasn't related to either of you. She could be big, especially in today's market. Hell, she may turn out to be better than either of you!"
"Ouch!" Tommy mockingly said.
Georgia expected that reaction; she knew Tommy's ego well, and continued.
"Got you there, Quincy. Of course, people will think she just got the chance because of who her parents are. But that will also generate a lot of press.".
"Yeah. EJ already loves that. Did you see her face? She practically drooled! What that woman can't do..." Jude smiled, thinking of G-Major's head of publicity and her reaction to Ruby's performance.
Again, Georgia spoke, reading Jude's thoughts.
"The press will be mixed. She'll definitely get flamed some. Just another spoiled rockstar's kid. They'll assume she has no talent. She'll have to be really good. Pay her dues. But then again, so does everyone, somehow. You guys both did."
"I just don't want her to get hurt." Jude confided.
"I know, kid. But it's part of this business. Inevitable. She'll get hurt, just like you did. But looking back, do you regret it? Would you have changed anything?'
"No." Jude confidently said, looking at Tommy. "Because it got me everything I ever wanted."
"Ruby will come through this just fine. We'll try one album and see where it goes. You know she'll have everyone behind her. The best. EJ will personally oversee the PR. Jamie, I assume, will manage her. Quest will produce. And you two, of course, will oversee everything."
"And you will also Georgia." Tommy said to their one-time mentor.
"Well..." the woman began, as an unfamiliar look appeared on her face. Tommy and Jude stared at her, perplexed.
"Actually, Tom, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. And Jude, you should hear this, it involves you, too. Let's sit down." Georgia directed.
The Quincy's followed her instructions, situating themselves on the old studio couch. They had no idea what was happening, but deduced from Georgia's expression that it was big. Her announcement lived up to those expectations.
"You guys know I've kind of been seeing someone." she began.
"Yeah. Alex Rosen. That lawyer from Los Angeles. You told me about him. About how you two have been on and off for years." Jude replied.
"Yes. It's been hard to keep things going so far apart. It's clear, it's not going to work this way. But we don't want to break up. So, we decided to make a change." Georgia paused, inhaling deeply before continuing. It had not been an easy decision for her to make, but as always she was confident in her choice.
"I'm moving to LA." she told them.
Tommy and Jude's faces registered their total surprise.
"Wow! That's great! I'm soooo happy for you!" Jude said, embracing Georgia.
"Me, too." Tommy added, enthusiastically. "You deserve the best, G.".
"Thanks!" Georgia beamed at them both.
"But what about G-Major?" Tommy's practical mind questioned.
Georgia nodded. She expected him, as her right-hand man to ask that. She had thought about it, and come up with a solution.
"I've considered that. You guys know I don't want to stop working. I love this crazy business! What I want to do is set up a branch of G-Major in LA. It'll be tough. Lots of competition there. But it can happen. We started out from nothing here and look where we are now."
Tommy and Jude nodded, remembering. They shared Georgia's vision. Her plan was daring, but they knew she was strong, smart and savvy enough to make it work.
"You did so good here, G." Tommy started to say, but Georgia interrupted him.
"When I say "we", I mean "we". Tom, you've been here since the beginning. You helped make this place succeed. It wouldn't be what it is without you. That's why I want you to take over here. As a full partner. With all responsibilities, as well as benefits.
He remained speechless as Georgia continued.
"G-Major will become a parent company. This branch, this label can have a different name. Yours. I can't imagine you'd be satisfied with anything else!" she knowingly grinned.
Jude stared at Tommy. The offer constituted the very dream they had discussed for years. Her ambitious husband always aspired to manage his own label and own his own record company. But loyalty to Georgia hindered that dream; he would not betray her that way. He finally managed to speak.
"Georgia, I really don't know what to say. I'm happy. And flattered, really I am. I didn't expect this." Tom truthfully replied.
"Oh, I know. I like surprises. Especially for you." Georgia said, mischievously. It was always difficult to put one over on Tommy Quincy.
"I know you guys will want to talk it over. Just let me know within a few days. If we're going to do this, we've got a lot of arrangements to make." she continued. Her friends agreed.
"I'll see you both later." she said. Pleased, she left them in the studio, confident she could predict exactly what their decision would be.
A thrilled Jude surveyed her husband. Her nerves tingled with excitement and joy. Tommy's reaction directly contrasted hers. He simply sat motionless, a blank look on his face. She figured he was just stunned.
"Tommy..." Jude began, snapping her fingers, hoping to jolt him out of his trance-like state. Realizing a better way to accomplish that, she stopped talking. She just threw her arms around him and pressed her lips on his as passionately as she could.
As always, this stirred Tom. His arms encircled her waist, as she threaded her hands through his hair, deepening their kiss still further. When it ended, he smiled down at her.
"You were so far away. I had to do something to wake you up." she grinned back, completely satisfied with herself.
"Excellent choice. You can wake me up that way anytime. Every time. Hmm, maybe I should drift off more often." he teased her.
"I'm soooo happy! Aren't you?' she asked him. "This is exactly what we always talked about. Come on, Tommy, you know you want it. You always have."
"Yeah. I still do. I just didn't expect this. Didn't see it coming at all."
Jude nodded, completely understanding. After all these years, it still was a rare occurrence for anyone to surprise Tommy Quincy. Usually, he maintained control; he liked it that way. Anything else could become too hard for him to handle.
"But you are going to say yes." Jude prodded. "It's exactly what you always dreamed of. Your own company. Your own label."
"No" he said.
"No?" Jude replied, completely confused.
"Our company. Our label. You are my partner. I can't do this without you." he murmured.
"I could live with that." she whispered lovingly. Her enthusiasm overcame her. "So, let's get started!"
Tommy continued cradling her in his arms as their foreheads met. Suddenly, the studio door swung open, and Quest interrupted their moment.
"Whoa! Sorry, man!" he said.
"It's okay." Tom assured him.
"Something going on?" he asked, noting their glowing faces.
"Yeah, man. Something big."
"Spill"
"Georgia just offered me a partnership in G-Major. She's moving to LA, and I'm taking over here. I guess it's G-Major/Q Records from now on."
"That's great!" Quest responded, a practiced smile carefully in place. It concealed his true feelings. Part of him was genuinely happy for his friend. But the other part felt envious. Tommy always seemed to get everything he wanted, relatively effortlessly. Not that he didn't work hard; Quest would always admit that he did. It was just that Quest felt overshadowed, always Tom's beta, the golden boy's second. Quest sometimes longed to be number one. Every promotion, every bit of recognition he himself got, came in Tommy's wake. All reflected glory. Just once, he wanted the spotlight all to himself. Ruby's song appealed to him today; ironically it expressed his own feelings about her father. He again considered the lyrics.
"Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes... Even if it were for just a day..."
His face revealed nothing, as he again congratulated Tommy and Jude. The Quincy's left, undoubtedly to notify the rest of their family and celebrate. In contrast, Quest returned to work.
Two days later, the person from the wedding again sat, plotting. Surrounding him were new articles about the Quincy's, the restructuring of G-Major, to be known in Canada as "Q Records". Another coup for Tom Quincy, he thought, anger boiling over.
"You know what to do?" he asked the other person standing directly in front of him.
"Of course. Easy. Destroy Tom and Jude Quincy. It'll be my pleasure. He has what I want after all." came the answer.
" Wouldn't it be good..." he grinned as they finalized the rest of their plan.
The two smiled confidently, enjoying the long- awaited moment.
"So. Next Saturday, at the partnership announcement party. It begins..." one of them said.
The other just noddedin confirmation.