.2.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia

The Devil went down to Georgia,
he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind, 'cause he was way behind,
he was willing to make a deal.
- Charlie Daniels Band

"Anybody home?" Jude called out, opening the front door.
"Hey," Sadie, said looking up from her book. " How was the meeting?"
"Sad, I have something to tell you," Jude said, sliding on to the couch.
"What's up?"
"Tommy's back."
Sadie's eyes darkened at the mentioned of her ex-boyfriend. Tommy had ended things with Sadie before leaving. In her heart, Sadie had hoped her would have changed his mind, but something in the tone of her sister's voice…
"Do you know of Samantha Martez?"
"Yeah," Sadie nodded. "Infinite Abyss. Everybody knows them. They are on hiatus for other projects. She is a producer, isn't she?"
"And Tom's new girlfriend."
Sadie's face fell. "Girlfriend? Oh." Sadie picked up her book and headed to the kitchen."They were together before, you know. He was engaged to her two years ago. He still has their engagement announcement framed. He doesn't know that I saw it, but it's in his bedroom closet. You didn't know?" Sadie asked. Jude's look of confusion was her answer
Jude shook her head. " He never told me. I knew about Portia."
"She was after Portia. He was in the process of cleaning up his act when he met her, she helped him through rehab, helped him get his G.E.D. His partying got in the way though. From what he told me, she isn't the party type. He loved her. Not many people know though, they just assumed she was helping him with his album. This was just before Darius stepped in."
"How do you know all this?" Jude asked.
"I was with him, Jude. He told me."
"Oh."

"I like her," Samantha commented. The foursome were able to lay down a couple of rough tracks to mess around with, as well as a few bootlegs Jude and her crew had recorded. .
"Her voice has a lot of potential. She could dabble in any type of music she wanted to. And her writing, its damn good, especially for a 17 year old. I wonder though."
"Wonder what?" Tom asked, leaning back in his chair. He threaded his fingers through hers. Jude's voice played over the speaker.
"Who's the guy they are all about. There all the songs of a girl in love," Sam replied.
Kwest quirked a brow. He watched the two from the corner of his eye.
"I'm sure they are about exes Jaime and Shay."
"But Time to be Your 21?"
Tommy found himself becoming uncomfortable with the subject at hand.
"You know what? I am going to get more coffee. Do you want some more coffee?" Tom asked, rising to his feet.
"I'm cool," Kwest answered, and returned the headphones to his ears.
Samantha go up and followed him to the kitchen.

"Be honest with me, Tom. I heard the rumors. I saw the look she gave us when she saw us together. Did something ever happen between you and Jude? I won't hold anything against you," Samantha pushed.
Tom held on to the counter top. He wasn't sure what say.
"She has a thing for me. I care a lot about her. Sometimes she would remind me of you and how we were before I screwed things up. Nothing has happened with Jude."
"Only with her sister?"
"Only with Sadie."
Samantha cupped his cheek in her palm. They stared into each other's eyes. Sam reached up on her toes and kissed him. His hands went to her waist, deepening the kiss.

"I have to say that you have a hit on your hands with the right re-working," Samantha told Jude the next day, as the group re-worked some of her raw songs. " I don't know if you know this, but my company is a huge partner of MTV. "
"Okay," Jude said, unsure where this was going.
"The Ashlee Simpson show and NewlyWeds were a huge success for the Simpsons and their career. How would you feel about taking a line from Ashlee and chronicling the make of your sophomore album? It would be great publicity for you and G- Major. It will give people an indepth look into you. Making you more real to your fans."
Jude contemplated the idea in her head.
"What do you think, Tommy?" She asked of the man standing behind Sam.
"I think it is a great idea, but would you want to do it? This is a huge thing, girl. Cameras following you everywhere."
"You'll have all the control. Nothing will get passed without your consent," Samantha added.
" Can I think about it and get back to you?"
"No problem. Take your time."

Jude found herself in front of Jamie's house laterthat afternoon.
"Hey Harrison," Jaime smiled, hesitantly.
"Samantha Martez is my new producer. She wants me to do a reality show," Jude said.
"You've all ready done a reality show."
"She wants me to have a show like Ashlee Simpson's. Right now it's The Untitled Jude Harrison Project."
"How non-creative."
"I know, but she said we can change it if I choose to do it. It's just the acting title. I'd name it after my next album. I don't know what to do Jaime. To make it worse, she's Tommy's new girlfriend."
"I thought you were over Tommy."
"Yeah, well." Jude shrugged. "That isn't the point."
"I say do it, but after the last time I gave you career advice, do you really want to take it?"
"Would you watch?"
"Hey, if I can see myself in the background I'll watch it religiously."
Jude playfully shoved Jaime. Now, if her parents were to be in on the action, then all systems were go.

"Absolutely not," Victoria stated. She picked up her dinner plate as well as Jude's and took them to the sink.
" Why not, mom?" Jude argued.
"Honey, you are just beginning your senior year. Do you really want that to be followed around by cameras?" Victoria replied.
"What do you think, Sadie?" Jude asked.
"Will Tom and his new girlfriend be in it?"
"Well, they are my producers."
Sadie cringed, "Then no thank you."
"Sadie, come on! This will be an opportunity for all of us."
"Then do it Jude!"
Jude sighed, " But what if I am not so sure?"

"Congratulations Jude. You are an official member of the MTV family," Samantha said, as Jude signed her name at the dotted line.

Then why do I feel like I may have just signed a pact with the devil?