"You can take the helmet off now, Jude. He's gone." Tommy murmured as I removed it slowly to reveal my burning cheeks. I was embarrassed by the fact that I had hid. What was wrong with me? You'd think that Tommy and I were clandestine lovers or something and I hadn't even kissed him—at least not while I had been involved with Chris. The thought made my cheeks burn even hotter. I handed him back his helmet stoically before crawling out of the car and heading over to the side of the track. I had to get away from him. I could hear him following after me.
"I need to go." I mumbled as Tommy shadowed my every step.
"No, what we need to do is go to the studio and work on your music, Jude." Tommy argued as I just threw him a look over my shoulder.
"Yeah, about that…I just don't think I can work with you, Tom. I can't. " I stated numbly as he grabbed me by the arm and shoved me behind a building.
"Why, so you can forget about me, Jude?" Tom asked insistently as I pushed desperately at his arms.
"So that I can try." I pleaded softly as his lips neared mine slowly. I almost forgot to breathe until the 'bang' from an exhaust pipe on a car nearby made me jump. No! I pushed at Tommy—hard—breathing in a sigh of relief as he relented and let me go.
"I won't let you get rid of me that easily, Jude. I see the same torment in your eyes that I feel every time I see you with him." Tommy proclaimed at my back as I walked away. I didn't even turn around. I just kept on walking despite the fact that I had to close my eyes to get rid of the tears that had gathered there. Tom was good at that—making me cry. No more!
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He uttered as I stopped suddenly in my tracks. What was tomorrow? What didn't I know? Should I even bother asking him? Geez, he always knew how to stop me.
"What's tomorrow?" I asked with trepidation as Tommy sighed from behind me. He started to step forward and I took a step away—moving just one step further every time he moved. Finally, he gave up.
"The studio is doing a charity event at High Park—nothing serious. It's a picnic that will help raise money for new developing cancer treatments. There's no performing, but we're selling CDs and the celebrities are asked to help serve food. I can't not come, Jude. You'd have Darius asking questions." Tommy stated soundly as I just stared straight ahead in front of me. Why me?
"If there's no performing, then I don't have to be there." I stated simply as Tommy chuckled. I cringed.
"Have you checked your text messages lately? Darius insists that all attend. There's going to be a canoe race on Grenadier Lake and we are asked to participate. He's pairing two people a piece at the studio for three specific events, Jude. You can't get out of it." Tommy insisted. I grabbed my cell phone and flipped it open. Damn him! I hated when he was right. I just had to avoid him. That's all. I continued walking—imagining Tommy shaking his head behind me as I walked, and then I saw Chris standing in the distance talking to a driver and I ran for him—deciding that I really didn't want to go back to the studio. I needed to be with him instead. I needed to. He turned to look over at me in surprise as I approached, and I smiled brightly at him as I linked my arms with his upon reaching his side.
"I've decided I want to go with you." I stated simply as he just shrugged. I chanced a glance over my shoulder to see Tommy staring with a frown. Well, let him frown.
