4. Don't Fight Back

Jude walked into the food court and saw Mark sitting at one table and only one table away was Tommy. Jude's thoughts: Sure, they couldn't even sit far apart so I could go back and forth like they do in some movies. Damn! I'm getting closer! Who am I going to approach first? What if Tommy recognizes Mark? What if Mark says something to Tommy?

Jude walked up to the two table and both guys noticed her. They both stood up like gentlemen but Tommy was quicker and pulled her into a hug. Mark got confused and then noticed it was the guy barging into all the rooms. Mark looked at Jude saying 'Should I Go?' with his eyes. Jude shook her head 'no.'

She looked at Tommy and then back at Mark, Tommy didn't know there was another guy behind him. Then when he saw Jude looking over his shoulder he turned around. He didn't remember the kid, it was dark in the room Mark and Tommy were in and Tommy was too pissed off to notice the guy's appearance, Mark stuck his hand out, "Hi. I'm Mark."

Tommy took the hand and shook it, a little too roughly from where Jude was standing. "Tommy," he responded.

Jude: Alright! Tom, you said we needed to talk and then me and Mark are gonna get something to eat. Right?

Tommy looked at her. "Jude, you're going on a date after what happened last night? Shouldn't you be taking it easy for awhile?"

Mark looked at her, then back at Tom. "Nothing happened last night. Sure, we danced and kissed but that was it. She doesn't need to be taking anything slow. That's why we were going on this date."

Jude's jaw dropped. Tommy turned around and punched Mark right in the jaw. Mark fell over and Tommy just kept going at him. Jude pulled Tommy off Mark; you should never underestimate her strength. She was able to hold him back long enough to say nothing happened. By this time everyone was crowding around the group. By everyone I mean not so many people because it was a Sunday morning in the food court.

Tommy: What do you mean nothing happened Jude! This punk almost raped you!

Mark (now getting up): Man, I didn't push her to do anything! We didn't even get to anything! Jude, you told him I raped you!

Jude let Tommy go but grabbed his arm leading him away from the crowd. She told Mark she would be right back to explain. She led him to a dark alley outside of the mall. No one followed so it was alright to let everything out.

Jude: Okay, so Mark kind of didn't do anything. I just didn't wanna have that talk with you about the phone call. Mark a great guy.

Tommy (pacing): So you would rather me believe that you got raped then talking to me. That's great Jude, that's just great!

Jude (grabbing Tommy's arm to stop him from pacing): I'm scared Tommy.

She started to tear as Tommy looked her dead in the eye. He saw fear, but what was she afraid of?

Tommy (cupping her face and making his tone softer): Of what Jude? Tell me what you're afraid of.

Jude (not meeting his gaze): Us. You. Me when I'm around you. Stuff like that. But most of all you.

Tommy dropped his hands from her face and laid them on her upped arms, and then he got a tighter grip and pulled her toward him. Their lips met and sparks flew. But, Jude wasn't thinking about Tommy, or the sparks. She was thinking about the confused guy sitting inside waiting for her to explain something that was all too complicated. She pulled back and Tommy rested his forehead on hers. His voice went down to a whisper.

Tommy: Jude, don't be afraid of what we can be.

Jude (sobbing): How can I not Tommy? How can I not after both my birthdays? Sadie? You leaving? I can't risk losing you after I let you in, so I have a reflex of keeping you out. I need to go talk to Mark. He was there for me last night. Sorry I can't say the same for you.

She walked out of his grasp and down the alleyway. Before she could get too far Tommy yelled and she stopped walking.

Tommy: I was there for you last night too Jude.

Jude turned around and he saw the tears now flowing down her cheeks: It's not just about last night Tommy.

Jude turned around again and kept walking; she walked briskly inside to where Mark was sitting holding his jaw. She walked over and sat next to him. He looked at her, waiting for her to start.

Jude: Okay, so I kind of lied to Tommy saying a guy I met got close to raping me. There was something that I wanted to avoid talking to him about and I found this as an excuse. I never actually thought the whole thing through and he invited himself to the mall this morning. I'm sorry you got dragged into this, and I'm sorry about last night. Please don't hate me.

Mark just nodded. "I guess I really don't have a shot with you right now huh?"

Jude's eyes wondered to the floor and she shook her head 'no.' Mark got up from his seat and hugged her, "I had fun last night thought" he whispered in her ear with a laugh.

He began to walk away but she stopped his and hugged him again. "Thank you" she whispered. He nodded and started walking again.

Tommy saw the whole thing. He was hurt that Jude was afraid of what they could be. He just knew that he would have to prove to her that we wouldn't leave again. He watched Jude exit the mall with her head hanging. He followed her. He didn't try to catch up to her but he made sure he didn't lose her. She walked out to her car and got in; he did the same with his Viper. He followed her and when he saw that she went home he decided to go back to Kwest's house. He got there and realized that if he was going to stay and prove to Jude that he was here for real then he would need to call Darius and get transferred here.

Darius: Tom? Sup?

Tommy: Hey D. I wanted to know if I could get transferred here. To Ny. I think I would work better with my friends here, you know Jude and Kwest.

Darius: Jude, your friend Tom? C'mon man. You want that girl bad, and as much as I know you two care about each other I'm not sure. If you two hook up and then you break her heart she starts writing sad songs which don't sell. So I'll have a depressed artist and no money.

Tommy: Uh…D? H-how did you know about me and Jude? Not-that there's anything to know, but, um…what gave you that idea?

Darius laughed: You think we're all blind man? Everyone knew. Kwest first pointed it out and then we realized it was just plain obvious. I didn't say anything because I knew you wouldn't do anything. Now she's legal and I can't control it anymore. Man, you two were like a regular comedy show for us everyday. The only person who didn't enjoy the show was you two and Sadie. Man, that girl can hold a grudge.

They both laughed. Tommy: So can I get transferred here?

Darius: I'll fax the paperwork over to my people. Just be careful with Jude man.

Tommy: Okay, thanks D.

Darius: Out! Later T.

They hung up the phone and Tom contemplated whether to call Jude and tell her or not. He decided he should go there and tell her in person.

Tommy pulled up to the house and knocked. There was only a Lexus in the driveway and it didn't look like anyone was home. He knocked anyway. Britt answered the door and looked surprised to see Tom. "Hey, what's up?"

Tommy: Jude here? I need to tell her something.

Britt: She left a little while ago with Alex, they went to the school studio and then I think Alex was her ride to the real studio. They usually hang out in the school studio together. You need directions?

Tommy nodded and Britt ran inside and returned with directions on a piece of paper. Tommy took it and thanked her. He then went back to his car and followed the directions. He finally found it and found the studio. He peeked in and saw Jude sitting there on a stool with Alex sitting across from her. She was strumming her guitar and he was plucking a bass. They were both singing and then they put their instruments down. Tommy didn't recognize what they were singing but he figured it was something special that they were working on together. Then he heard speaking.

Alex: You ready?

Jude: I don't know why the school wants me to practice a better instrument. The guitar is fine. (She huffed)

Alex (laughed): Because they want you to try a classical instrument, they view the guitar as punk rocker and that's it. You still want me to teach you?

Jude: Do I have a choice?

Alex: Well, no. But you could at least try to be enthusiastic about learning the violin. It's not that bad.

Tommy tried to stifle his laughter; he could not picture Jude holding a violin and play it correctly.

She picked it up and Tommy watched Alex place music in front of her. She stared at it for a minute and then started to play. Alex joined in with the piano and was humming along. Although he was only humming Tommy could tell that he had a good voice. Then he recognized the song they were playing. My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. Tommy knew Jude loved that movie. That was when they had their third, well, fourth kiss. (If you count when Jude kissed Tom when she first started at the vinyl palace. Also her sweet sixteen and after her second album. It was before Tommy left that night.)

Flashback begins

Jude was home alone, again, late at night. Tommy came over just to say hi and she persuaded him to stay. They were watching Titanic, even though it was a classic Jude had never seen it. They were watching it together and throughout the movie they inched closer and closer. Their sides were now touching and Jude had taken Tommy's hand, intertwining their fingers. When the boat started to sink Jude jumped into Tommy's lap and buried her head in his chest.

Jude: "I hate it when the people die"

Tommy (not minding at all that Jude was in his lap): I thought you never saw this?

Jude (now looking up at him): I'm not stupid Tommy. I know the story-line I just didn't feel the need to see millions of people freeze to death when they could have been saved.

Tommy just laughed at her. Jude was now watching but didn't move from Tommy's lap. That's when he froze, and Rose was forced to let him sink.

The movie ended and they turned off the television. Tommy looked down at Jude, still in his lap, and she looked up at him. They inched closer and she whispered, "Please, promise me that you won't let me live if you know that you're going to die."

Tommy smirked: "Please, after seeing that you are never going on a boat."

Jude started laughing and looked away but Tommy brought her back to him while cupping her face and crashing his lips onto hers. It didn't take long for her to respond.

Her hands shot around his neck and he laid her down on the couch. He climbed on top of her and then the door shot open. Her mom walked in and she had a man with her. Tommy quickly got off of her and stuttered out an excuse. Tommy could tell she was drunk and she looked mad. Jude looked at Tommy and pushed him up off the couch and then out the door, but he stopped and grabbed onto the door frame. "Jude, what's going on?"

Victoria made her way (while swaying from intoxication) up the stairs and turned around halfway up, "Jude, can you follow me please?"

Jude looked at the ground and then back at Tommy, "Tom, please just go. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay? Just. Go." Tom knew something was up because she never called him Tom, he was always Tommy; her Tommy. Tommy didn't move as he watched her go upstairs. Then he heard faint screaming coming from Jude's room.

"How could you bring your producer here! He broke Sadie's heart! Sadie doesn't deserve that! What kind of sister are you!"

SMACK

He heard a thud which he guessed was Jude falling to the ground. He went to make his way up the stairs but was stopped by the guy Victoria had brought home. He shoved Tommy out the door before he even knew what happened. Then he locked the door and Tommy watched through the glass, the nameless guy walk up the stairs and then after a few more smacks and thuds, he heard Jude cry. Then Victoria came down running a hand through her hair and the guy had a smile on his face. Tommy was disgusted and turned to leave.

End Flashback

Tommy finally walked out from behind the curtain and Jude and Alex both looked up. Jude knew that Tommy had heard what happened that night, he tried to get her to stay with him but she was too distant after the kiss they shared.

Tommy: Hey guys, that sounded good Jude.

Jude (tucking a piece of hair behind her ear): Thanks, what are you doing here?

Tommy: I need to talk to you.

Jude looked from Tommy to Alex, who nodded and walked out.

Tommy walked over to Jude and wrapped his arms around her neck. She tensed a little but loosened up when he realized it was Tommy, her Tommy. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. "Don't fight back; be with me Jude, because I can't be without you."

Jude smiled weakly, she still wasn't sure. Then he leaned down and kissed her with a lot of passion, how could she say no.

They finally pulled apart and he leaned over to her ear, "I love you, so much Jude." Then he kissed her neck and she replied, "I love you too Quincy." He picked her up and spun her around, and then he kissed her again. They were finally together.

a/n: That's it. I thought it was going to be longer but it wasn't really going where I thought it would. I figured I would end it on a happy note. I am thinking of another story but I really don't know about a title or anything yet. Just a story line. Hope you all liked the story!

JFVSH