I walked out of the studio feeling much better than when I had entered it. It's amazing what release does for a person. Looking around at the people in the room, I noticed Spied sitting quietly in the corner, and I made my way over to him with trepidation—glancing only once back at the studio door where I could see Tommy bargaining with Darius about the price for the items we had broken. I let myself smile a little at the scene before turning back to Spied.
"I don't guess this seat's taken?" I asked quietly while motioning to the bare spot on the floor next to him. Spied didn't even look up. He just shook his head while I sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry Spied." I said with resignation as Spied looked at me from underneath lowered lashes.
"What's that all about, Jude?" He asked almost angrily as he motioned toward the studio door. I just blinked as I glanced over noticing Tommy watching us sympathetically as I did. As soon as Spied turned to look back at me, I saw Tom give me a quick thumbs-up sign and I tried very very hard not to laugh as I turned away.
"Why can't we make music like that together—the kind that just screams out at you?" He asked before pausing a moment. "Okay, I know we rock when we play on stage together, but sometimes I want to be a part of that starting out point too where you're nothing but rage and passion. Why do you save that part of yourself for Tom 'the little man' Quincy?" Spied asked in aggravation as I stared at him in surprise. I hadn't been expecting so much emotion from him—so much turmoil. I was only used to his teasing remarks and petty jokes. As a matter of fact, he had me at a loss for words.
"I…I don't know. I guess it's because he helps me write them better. You and I are two very passionate people, Spied. We get together and we explode. Tom, on the other hand, is the opposite. He's the calm that counter balances my anger. He takes my drive, finds a way to reduce it to 10 miles an hour instead of a hundred, and then helps me pave out a roadway for the song. I need that, and I don't want our relationship to be affected by that need. Can you see it that way for me?" I asked resignedly as Spied just stared at me a moment before nodding in acquiesce.
"I guess I can see that about the two of us, but I don't have to be overjoyed about it all the time, Jude." He said matter-of-factly. I just nodded. I didn't expect him to. Spied rallied himself before tugging on my skirt and pointing to a ladder sitting next to us.
"I don't guess you'd climb up there for me, would you?" He asked on a chuckle as I slapped at him playfully. Now that was the Spied I knew and loved. The other guy, well, I just wasn't quite sure how to deal with him yet.
Kwest and Tommy in the studio…
"Kwest can you help me with something?" Tom asked quietly as he looked up from the soundboard towards a phone book sitting on the table. Kwest followed his gaze before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Am I going to regret it if I say yes?" Kwest asked solemnly as Tommy just rolled his eyes at him and motioned emphatically at the directory.
"Just look a number up for me, will ya?" Tom said in a slightly irritated tone as Kwest shrugged and leaned over to grab the book, instantly dropping it onto the ground as if it were a snake when Tom told him the name he wanted him to look up.
"You can't be serious." Kwest said in derision as Tom looked out the window obviously deep in thought. Kwest sighed.
"Tom, do you know what kind of complications that would cause? Hello, are you even listening to me?" Kwest said in exasperation as Tom glanced over at him with a quirked brow.
"I've thought about it, and I've decided the hell with the consequences. Are you satisfied?" Tom asked as Kwest shrugged and started flipping through the pages.
"Hell, it's your money." Kwest stated flatly as he handed the book to Tommy with a number glaring bolding up from the page. Tom picked up the phone and dialed. A voice channeled over the line.
"Hello, Strong Benson Realty. Susan Speaking. How may I help you?