A/N: Alright, last chapter. And all props go to "The Office" on NBC for the ending. I kinda took it. And some of you may not like the ending, it is kind of a major bummer, I know. But it has to end there, going any further would just make it too different, plus I don't have anything planned for any further. So, hope you enjoy.
Tommy walked into the studio a couple of days later, his head hung low.
He had purposefully waited until everyone else had left, he didn't want to cause a scene when he told Jude he was leaving.
He looked at her for a minute as she strummed her guitar, eyes closed and completely giving her self to the music.
He didn't want to disturb her. She looked so beautiful with her hair pulled back in a messy bun and an oversized band t-shirt paired with her jeans.
"Hey." He said softly, hoping he wouldn't hear her so he could stay watching her forever.
But she heard him. She glanced up and smiled at him, happy to see him.
"Hey." She said, putting her guitar down and walking up to him. Her smile was bright, but it faded when she saw the serious look on his face.
"What?" She asked him, touching his arm lightly.
He glanced down at her hand on his arm. He needed to touch her, to wrap her in his arms and hold her tight.
Just tell her. It's not that hard. Come on. He fought with himself to restrain from kissing her, and he backed up a little, making her hand fall to her side.
"What is it?" She asked again.
Tell her. You don't have all night. I'm leaving. "I'm in love with you." He blurted out. He surprised himself. That was nothing near what he had planned to tell her. She looked as shocked as he did.
"What?" She asked softly.
"I'm sorry…if that's weird for you to hear, but, I need you to hear it." He said, desperately seeking for an explanation of his admittance. Why had he said that? It made things so hard. He could've just kept it a secret, and left, and eventually he would've gotten over her.
"What do you expect me to say to that?" She snapped at him.
He shrugged. He hadn't expected "I love you too", definitely not.
"I just…thought you should know. Once." He told her.
She looked bewildered. And she didn't know what to say.
"I…can't?" She said it as if it was a question.
"Look…you have no idea…" She started.
"No. Come on. Don't do that." He interrupted her, but she kept going.
"…what your friendship means to me."
He didn't know if it was the fact that he wasn't strong enough to lie anymore, or if it was the fact that this was his last chance that made him say, "Come on, I don't want that. I want more than that."
"I can't." She said it as a statement this time, not a question.
"I'm sorry that you misunderstood our…friendship. It's my fault." She said to him.
But he hadn't misunderstood. He knew he hadn't. What was up with the kisses and the stolen glances, if he had misunderstood? And the late nights in the studio that had no explanation besides a crappy excuse of "I want to work some more."? He hadn't misunderstood. But he left it at that.
"Right." He said, and walked out of the studio, out of the building, and to his car.