I watched the moisture that fogged out onto the night air from my exhaling breaths in fascination as I leaned over to pay the cab driver before thanking him and stepping away from the curb. Okay, so this was it. Looking around me curiously, I was actually amazed at the size of the quaint duplex that Kwest rented only a few miles away from the studio, and I suddenly felt my heart speed up in trepidation as I walked slowly over to the door that displayed a number '7' steadfastly in its center. I didn't even get a chance to knock before the door flew open to reveal a very agitated looking Kwest—shaking his head in visible denial as he took in a deep breath.
"I really hope you know what you're doing, Jude Harrison." He said in a low tone before pulling me unceremoniously into his home, and I almost laughed as I looked around at his very interesting décor. It was like stepping back into the 70's.
"Obsessed much?" I asked on a chuckle as Kwest shrugged before grinning at me sheepishly.
"The people that lived here before were your average new-age hippies, and they pretty much left the place furnished when they left seeking spiritual enlightenment or some such guru related wholesomeness. Anyhow, I kept telling myself I was going to redecorate, but it sort of grew on me somehow. I mean, what's more sexy than low lighting and lava lamps, right?" Kwest asked as I quirked a brow up at him sardonically. Uh huh, and I thought I was twisted.
"Peace to you, dude." I said while holding my fingers up in the universal symbol, and Kwest laughed as he walked over to a vividly colored orange armchair before sitting down.
"You really should think about not speaking for a while, Harrison. Your vocal cords sound like they've been in a very bad car wreck." He remarked with a small smile as he indicated the sofa across from him. I just shrugged before dumping my load on the floor and flopping down on his green couch lazily. I could tell he wanted to ask me something, and I dreaded the moment that I would have to answer because, truth be told, I wasn't even sure if I had an answer yet.
"He's got a lot of problems, Jude. None of them have anything to do with you, except maybe this inane fascination he's had with you since you first walked in as the new Instant Star." Kwest said quietly as I looked over at him with wide, expectant eyes. No, he was wrong.
"He isn't fascinated with me, Kwest." I said sorrowfully as I started picking at a piece of fuzz on the arm of his couch. Kwest just sighed.
"Now, you're just lying to yourself, Harrison, and that just won't do. I won't lie and say that I totally agree with this fascination of his, although I can see why it's there." Kwest said in a whisper as I looked over at him in amazement. Our eyes met as he shook his head vehemently.
"Now, don't go taking that statement out of context. I know how you are, Jude." He said with a laugh before bending over and placing his elbows on his knees. "I just mean that you are not that hard on the eyes, you're smart, you're witty, you have an emotional feel for people that can only be described as compassion, and you have this incredible drive to succeed at all costs. Top that off with all the passion you throw into your music, and it equals one hell of an irresistible temptation for him. Especially since the two of you seem to relate so well. God only knows, I've never seen a woman that could handle him better." Kwest remarked with a small laugh as he sat back again before propping his legs up casually on a stool at his feet. I just raised a brow up at him quizzically as he looked first up at me and then at the floor again.
"What's he hiding, Kwest?" I asked quietly as I stretched out across from him, laying my feet on the stool beside his. Kwest just shrugged before kicking me quickly in the shin.
"That's for him to tell you, Jude. It happened a long time ago, but he's reaping the consequences even today. It may be best for you just to let it go. It's not something that's hurting anyone now, and it's not likely that it's going to have any affect on the decisions he makes as we speak." Kwest said with a sigh as I rubbed gently at my shin before kicking him back. How come I never knew what a good friend Kwest was? Maybe, it's because Tom always kept him to himself. I could certainly see why.
"You're not going to say anything are you?" I asked with a small pout, batting my eyelashes at him as I he laughed before grabbing a pillow from behind his back and throwing it at my face. I caught it in mid-air before returning his grin with a self-satisfied feeling creeping over me. I needed this right now. Kwest's face suddenly fell as he looked over at me, and I knew without him even saying anything what he was about to announce.
"He isn't going to like that you left, Jude." Kwest said quietly as I just stared at him a moment in defiance.
"I only seem to be tormenting him by staying there. Maybe it's time for me to remove the temptation so that we can both think more clearly." I said in indignation as Kwest shrugged before standing up to walk into his small kitchen.
"I'm just saying that something tells me Tom likes the temptation you hold for him. He may fight it, but, all in all, the man revels in it." Kwest said knowingly as I stared at him aghast. Could he be serious? Oh, I hope he was.
"You thirsty?" Kwest asked helpfully as his phone began to ring demandingly. Both of us stared at the receiver in silence. Something told us exactly who it would be.