Chapter 8

"I don't like him."

Jude glanced up from the lyrics she was scribbling in her notebook to throw a questioning glance in Jamie's direction.

"Who?"

"That guy, Brady, Braden--" She cut him off.

"You mean Brandon?"

"Yeah." Jamie confirmed with a frown.

"My boyfriend Brandon?" As much as it pained her to say that word, Jude had to keep up appearances.

"Yeah, who else do we know by that name?"

Jude shrugged. You never knew when it came to Jamie. "Well, why don't you tell me just what exactly it is you don't like about him. I'll be sure to pass the information along." Jamie shot her a look. "Or not. You know, either way works."

Jamie shrugged. "I don't know, something just seems...off about him, like he's not who he seems. Do you get what I mean?"

Oh, yeah, she definitely knew what he meant. She'd have to be more careful around Jamie from now on; he was starting to catch on that something wasn't right in her 'relationship' with Brandon.

"Um, not really. He's just Brandon to me, you know?" Jude hoped Jamie would buy it. She was just not in the mood to come up with a bunch of lies to keep her friend distracted.

"Yeah, sure." Jamie shot Jude a funny look, but she carefully kept her face blank. He finally gave up and returned his face to the computer screen.

She inwardly released a sigh of relief, thankful that Jamie had dropped the subject.

Jude was tired. So goddamn tired. This...thing she was hiding from everything just drained the life out of her. Pretending and faking it took up so much of her energy that she was surprised she hadn't collapsed in the sound booth while recording a song yet. Every morning Jude repeated the same thing to herself in the mirror. Just a little longer, hold on for just a little longer.. The end was closer than ever before, but it still felt millions of miles away. But she was Jude Harrison, and she was not going to back down from an offer she had initiated in the first place.

Her junior album was right around halfway done, and even she had to say that it was kick ass. It turned out that she didn't need Tommy to make killer music. Maybe, she was even better off without him. Kwest was actually a really good producer, and after a few more years' experience, he could probably rival Tommy. Wow, it'd been a while since she'd thought about him. Of course there was the occasional fleeting thought of him, like when she saw a shirt or other car that was the same electric blue as his Viper. She really missed that car. And the Hummer(s). And the Cobra. And his motorcycle. Face it: she missed him. But the only person she admitted that to was herself. And even then it was only sometimes.

Things were fucked up. Yes, indeed, they were. The one that stuck out the most in her mind--okay, sec...wait, third most in her mind--was Mason. Jude thought that once she got home from tour, they'd grow even closer and he'd become her new rock. Wrong. By the time Jude got back, Karma had already sunk her claws in Mason, and he was a complete goner. So, Jude's one last ray of hope that wasn't completely alone went out.

Fucked up was the normal state of Jude's life. And she knew there was nothing you could do except wait it out.

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The phone rang and Kwest grumbled incoherently, looking at the clock. It read 2:03 am. Only one person would be calling him at this time.

"Hello?"

"Who is he? Did they really meet on tour? What do you know about him?"

"Gee, thanks for the 'Hey, how are you?' I don't know, I don't know, and I don't know, ok? She doesn't open up to me like she used to for you. She's changed, man."

A sigh could be heard on the other end of the line.

"How is she?"

Kwest shook his head, even though he knew Tommy couldn't see it. "That's a real good question, Tom. No one really knows. Jude is kind of closed off now. A lot of things have happened since you've been gone. And if you truly want to know how she's doing, you should give her a call and talk to her yourself. Then again, I wouldn't blame her if she never spoke to you again."

"Don't say that Kwest, please. I just...can't."

"Can't, or won't?"

"It doesn't matter. Either way, I'm not going to call her. Would she even answer the phone? What would I even say to her?"

"I have a feeling that Jude actually would answer the phone if you called, and as for what to say, why not just tell her the truth?"

"Look, man, I got to go. Just...keep me updated on her, would you?"

Kwest shook his head once again, knowing that his friend was just avoiding the thing that he needed to do most. "Yeah, sure Tom. I'll spy on her for you. Night."

"Good night, and thanks, Kwest. You really are the best friend I've ever had."

Before Kwest could respond, Tommy hung up. As Kwest replaced his own receiver in its cradle, he wondered if the day would ever come when his friend would change and have the guts to call Jude. Unfortunately, he doubt it ever would.

A/N: Wow, I wonder what that button at the bottom left of the screen does? Why don't you hit it and find out for me? I would definitely appreciate it!