A/N - Hey, everyone! I'm back. Sorry this took a little bit to update. I didn't expect the responses to come so quickly. So…thanks!
This starts the party. I hope you guys like it.
Enjoy and review!
-JQ-
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Chapter Five…Some Words Are Best Unsaid
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Sadie and Victoria stumbled through the front door, giddy laughter filling the room. Their arms were loaded up with shopping bags, which they threw down on the floor.
"That was so fun!" Vic exclaimed.
"I know! I can't believe all those sales, y'know?" Sadie gasped. They fell quiet for a moment, trying to catch their breath.
In their silence, strong guitar chords drifted to them from upstairs. They both raised their eyebrows in question and started up the stairs. Following the sound, they ended up in front of Jude's closed door.
"Is that…?" Vic whispered, eyebrows furrowed.
Jude's voice was straining with every passing word. The chords were being strummed violently and a haunting tune was enveloping the house.
Show me, who you are
Stop me before I go to far
Cause it hurts, to hold back
So hold me or I might crack
I'm gasoline, you're the match
I'm not sure if we could handle that
It might explode, could be a mess
I say we take the chance
Vic knocked on Jude's door and the music stopped abruptly. Cracking the door open, her mom stuck her head in slowly. "Jude, honey?"
Her daughter was sitting on her bed, back to the door. Her guitar was resting in her lap and an open notebook was lying next to her. "Nice of you to show up," she muttered.
"Jude, I'm sorry, honey. We--"
"Save it, Mom. It's four in the morning." Jude stood, facing her family. "I'm going to bed. I have a party in a few hours."
Vic sighed. "Jude…"
She stared her down, not breaking eye contact. "Good night."
Vic pressed her lips together and nodded, shutting the door. Jude collapsed on her bed.
I can't believe I didn't go the studio today for this. Happy Birthday to me…
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"Jude! Jude!" Her mother's voice woke her up suddenly. She sat up, groggy. Vic was standing in the door with the phone in hand. "Tommy called."
Jude's eyes shot open and she fluffed her hair self-consciously, reaching out for the phone.
Vic smiled at her daughter. "No, honey. He's not on the phone anymore. I told him you were sleeping and he said for you to come to the studio when you woke up. Portia needs to get you ready and your party starts at 4."
"What time is it?" Disappointment flooded her voice.
"Two."
"Two! I slept until two!" Jude hopped out of bed, frantic. "I have to be at my party, dolled up in two hours! Portia's gonna freak!" Grabbing her ripped jeans and a Beatles t-shirt, she rushed for the bathroom.
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Jude rushed into G Major, hysterical. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry!" Portia eyed her, anger radiating from her eyes.
"Get in the conference room. Now." She pointed toward the open door behind her.
"Sorry," she repeated, hurrying.
"You better have a real good excuse for this, Jude," the older woman scolded, holding out Jude's dress.
"I…" Jude shrugged.
"Get dressed. Hair and makeup people left. I'll do it once we get you into that dress."
Jude nodded. "Thanks, Portia."
She sighed, smiling at the younger girl. "Happy Birthday, Jude."
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Kwest nudged his friend. "So, have you talked to her?"
Tom looked at him. The two of them were sitting in Tom's office, waiting for the party decorators to leave. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, have you apologized? Have you taken Georgia's advice to heart? Got anything planned to not ruin her birthday, this year?"
"Ha ha. Very funny. You'll see." Kwest raised his eyebrows and Tom smirked.
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Jude sighed, relief filling her whole body. It seemed like a miracle. An hour after her mad dash to G Major, she was just about ready for her big birthday bash.
Almost.
She had slipped into her gorgeous purple silk dress and Portia had agreed to let her leave her hair down. Instead, they had opted for a thin silver and diamond tiara positioned in her hair.
Then Portia found the best shoes; they were vibrant purple to match her dress and had heels almost to steep to walk in. A deep purple ribbon laced up her leg, which was visible from the slit going all the way up Jude's right leg to halfway down her thigh.
"Jude, you look gorgeous!" Darius' low voice behind her startled her.
"Oh, God!" she gasped, facing him. A wide grin stretched across his face.
"Everything going fine, birthday girl?" he asked.
"Yeah," she smiled. "Even though you sent my wingman away the day before!"
Darius cocked his head to the side a bit. "What're you talking about?"
"Tommy! You sent him to New York, remember?" She chuckled, a little uncomfortable.
"No, I didn't. He was in studio all day yesterday."
Jude's whole body slacked and all color dripped from her face. "But he said…He…"
"Jude!" Portia popped her head around the corner. "We gotta go. Your audience awaits!" She threw a quick look at Darius before following his younger sister out the door.
A thin cloth hung from the ceiling and hid Jude from everyone's waiting eyes. Through the fabric, she could see more people than she could count. There was soft music playing on the speakers, but suddenly everything went quiet.
Jude breathed in deep, exhaling sharply. It's now or never. She stepped out from behind the curtain and was met by blinding white lights surrounding her. Shielding her eyes, she glanced around.
Kwest was behind the DJ equipment, headphones at the ready. She smiled at him before continuing to search the crowd. Her mother, Don, and Sadie were right in front and her father and Yvette were behind them. Georgia, Darius, and Portia were off to the side, delight glowing on all their faces. Kat and Jamie were standing with the SME boys right next to Kwest's DJ station.
But there was one person she didn't see.
No matter how many times her eyes circled the room, Tom was nowhere to be found.
Sighing heavily, she realized that she had to make her big entrance, with or without Tom.
A familiar tune echoed from the speakers and she turned and groaned at Kwest.
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
He smirked at her and the song faded into "White Lines." She looked at him gratefully and made her way around the curtain and through the clearing of people. Everyone cheered and she fixed a smile on her face.
And that's when she saw him.
Tom.
He was standing in the back, propped against the wall. He was smiling at her, and she could feel the pride all the way from his corner. She returned his smile gently, forgetting everything else in that moment.
Tom motioned her over to him, then disappeared through a door behind him. She bit her lip, wishing everyone could leave and she could spend her birthday with Tom.
But that was not her life--the life of a rock star.
Slowly, Jude made her way around the groups of people, socializing briefly with all of them. After what seemed like days, she found herself in front of the door Tom had disappeared behind earlier.
Glancing over her shoulder, everyone else seemed preoccupied. No one would notice if she slipped away for a few minutes.
Grabbing the silky fabric of her dress, Jude lifted it up off the floor and slipped through the door quietly. It was pitch black on the other side.
"Tom?" she whispered, a little worried.
"Jude?" His soft, masculine voice drifted over to her, but she wasn't sure from where.
She gasped. "You there?" His heart melted at the desperation in her voice.
"Yeah…"
"Why are the lights out?" she asked, stuck in the same spot, too scared to move.
"You'll see." They were both silent for a minute.
"Why'd you tell Georgia to tell me you were in New York when you weren't?" Jude asked finally, the question burning her gut ever since Darius had told her the truth.
"This is why," he said softly. The lights turned on suddenly and Jude's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, God," she whispered breathlessly. "Tommy…"
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A/N - Okay! Part 2 of the Party is next time! Leave me some love! I'm kinda waiting for 60 reviews on this before I post it!
So leave me some love and I'll post the rest!
-JQ-