A/N - Here's the final part of the party at G Major :-D
There's only one chapter left after this one. (sobs) I know! I've grown to love this fic, and I hope you have too!
Enjoy and review!
-JQ-
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Chapter Seven : Who's Gonna Put Their Heart on the Line?
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Slowly, "Time to Be Your 21" faded and Kwest's jovial voice echoed through the speakers,
"Partiers! Are you having a good time?" A loud cheer rang out in the crowd, but Jude and Tom were still swaying in time to a song only the two of them could hear.
Eyes were starting to focus on the pair in the center of the floor, but they were oblivious. Hushed whispers began to circulate and even Kwest had lost his train of thought while watching Tom and Jude.
Off in the corner, Georgia was watching with a knowing smile. Darius looked on curious, while Speid eyed the two of them with a stony face.
Kwest cleared his throat in the mic and everyone looked at him, breaking their concentration on the guest of honor and her producer. "Can I have your attention, please! Will the birthday girl please come to the DJ booth to get ready to sing? ...Jude?"
At the mention of her name, Jude lifted her head off of Tom's chest. Realizing the music had long since stopped and everyone's eyes were on her and Tom, her face turned a light shade of pink and she took a step back from him. Tom just pursed his lips together and smiled at her. Jude sighed and walked over to Kwest.
"Do you have my guitar?" she whispered to him.
Smirking at her, Kwest retrieved her Gibson from under the booth and handed it over to her. She made her way over to the microphone set up for her.
She smiled at her guests and adjusted the mic, pulling the guitar strap over her head and grabbing the pick from out of the strings. "Thanks for coming tonight, everyone. This birthday's been...great. Sweet seventeen, right?" Light laughter floated among the crowd and Jude stole a look at Tom, who was still standing alone in the middle of the dance floor. "This is a new one for most of you guys..."
Jude began to strum a steady beat on her guitar, locking eyes with Tom.
Sick of the lines they're feeding me
I never know what to believe
In a world that crushing me
You're the only one I see
I don't change my mind for anybody
I won't waste my time on just anybody
I won't share my life
With anyone but you
It's such a long road
With anyone but you
I couldn't follow
With anyone but you
Never anyone but you
They put my poster on the wall
They watch and wait for me to fall
They think they made me who I am
Well, they don't know me at all
I don't change my mind for anybody
I won't waste my time on just anybody
I won't share my life
With anyone but you
It's such a long road
With anyone but you
I couldn't follow
With anyone but you
Never anyone but you
With anyone but you
It's such a long road
With anyone but you
I couldn't follow
With anyone but you
Never anyone but you
I build you up so high
'Til you can hardly see the stars beneath your feet
And I'm falling through the clouds
They'll be the last to catch me
With anyone but you
It's such a long road
With anyone but you
I couldn't follow
With anyone but you
Never anyone but
Never anyone
With anyone but you
It's such a long road
With anyone but you
I couldn't follow
With anyone but you
Never anyone but you
As Jude strummed the final note, the crowd erupted into boisterous cheers. She smiled at them and waved. "Enjoy the rest of the party." She walked over to Kwest and handed her guitar over to him.
"Nice work, Jude."
"Thanks." Grinning at him, she strolled over to the curtain she had made her big entrance from earlier, slipping behind it. Finally alone, Jude took a deep breath and tried to collect her thoughts.
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Speid watched Jude disappear behind the curtain, an angry glare plastered on his face.
"That was our song," he growled under his breath, hands balled up into fists. "Not yours and Quincy's."
"What was that, man?" Wally asked, eyeing his friend nervously.
"Nothing," he spat, storming off.
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Jude sighed and collapsed to the floor, all of tonight's events playing in her head. She couldn't believe everything that had happened. It all seemed like a dream.
But she hoped to God it wasn't.
"Jude?" Tom velvet voice broke into her thoughts. She stood quickly and smoothed out her dress. He eyed her apprehensively. "You okay?"
Jude refused to meet his eyes. "Yeah...why do you ask?"
He took a step closer. "Because your party is out there and you're hiding in here?"
"I'm not hiding." Jude crossed her arms over her chest defiantly, staring him down. Tom smiled warmly at her, but Jude met him with a frown. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because," he answered simply, walking over to her.
Suddenly, Jude felt very self-conscious. Maybe it was the way Tom was looking at her. Maybe it was because Tom was inches away from her and she could feel his body heat radiating from him. Maybe. She wasn't sure.
What Jude did know was that she needed a distraction. Badly.
Glancing over Tom's shoulder, she saw her guests partying to her music on the other side of the curtain.
Not distracting enough.
Moving her gaze to her right, Jude searched for something to make her think about anything else.
"Jude?" She looked up at Tom, whose face was mere inches from hers.
"Yeah?" she squeaked, swallowing hard.
"Happy Birthday," he whispered huskily, before lowering his lips to meet hers and kissing her gently. Jude pulled away a bit, but Tom wasn't going to give up--not this time. He put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer. Giving in, Jude wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss.
Startled by her sudden aggression, Tom took a few steps back, never breaking their kiss. He tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling her close to him. Jude moaned and dug her fingers into Tom's shoulders, clinging to him in desperation.
Losing his balance, Tom reached out behind him. Before he could process anything besides Jude's unexpected aggression and how unbelievably beautiful she looked tonight, his fingers found fabric and the two of them tumbled backwards. Jude finally broke their kiss and a small shriek escaped her mouth. Jude landed on top of Tom, a large crash echoing.
Jude's entire party fell silent.
Everyone turned in the direction of the crash, standing on their tiptoes for a better view of what was going on. Whispers crossed the crowd as Jude slid away from Tom, trying in vain to smooth out her dress and hair. Jude and Tom both stood, edging away from each other.
"Jude, what is going on?" Vic demanded, marching up to the front of the crowd.
"Nothing, Mom," she insisted.
"We're going. Now." Vic grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her toward the door.
"But, Mom--" Jude tugged her arm free.
"Now." Jude looked back over her shoulder at Tom, an apologetic look on her face, before following her mother out the door and to their car. She sighed deeply, getting in the back seat and looking out the window--fully intent on ignoring her mother the entire ride home.
"Jude, this is not over," Vic said, pulling the car out of the parking lot.
Jude reached up to her necklace, holding it delicately in one hand. "Of course not."
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A/N - Okay, I hope you guys liked it! Only one more chapter left, so leave some love.
I'm kinda waiting to hit the big 1-0-0, before I post the last chapter. So, you know what to do! Send me a review, and you get the last chapter!
Love,
JQ