Chapter 1 – Do You Think I Don't Feel?

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Jude settled into a leather couch in the G Major lobby, sighing loudly.

"What's your problem?" Kwest joked, hovering over her. She gave him a look and turned on her side, ignoring him. "Seriously, Jude. What's up? Your single's been 'number one' for three days now. You should be jumping for joy."

Jude sat up suddenly, looking at Kwest intently. "Do you remember the night of my release party?" He nodded. "Well, I don't know… I just have a really bad feeling about it. I can't explain it. I just can't get it out of my mind. Like, something bad happened. But the problem is…I can't remember a thing." She groaned and buried her head in her hands.

Kwest set a hand gently on her back and she looked up at him, a sense of hopelessness in her eyes. "Hey, I'm sure everything's fine. Every rockstar's gotta get totally wasted every once in awhile, right?" He smirked at her and Jude returned it halfheartedly. "Cheer up. Let me take you out for lunch."

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The maid shot an angry look at Tom, mouthing 'stop.' He gazed at her questioningly.

"Why, if it isn't Little Tommy Q!" a familiar voice greeted him.

"Mommy!" Brigitte called out, rushing over and clinging to her mother.

"Portia," Tom muttered, eyeing his ex-wife.

"I'll be off." The maid curtsied for the group and then scampered off.

"Brigitte," Portia leaned down to her daughter. "Can you go play in your room while I talk to Tommy? The little girl stole a look at Tom and then nodded, running off down the hallway.

Tom glanced around, taking in his surroundings. "Nice place you've got here."

Portia gave him a look. "Tommy, don't tell me you don't remember this place. Four years ago?"

"Portia," Tom's voice was low. An awkward silence settled between the two of them, until Tom was bursting with questions. "So, this I where you've been lately? With your parents?"

Portia nodded. "They're raising Brigitte with me. It's nice." She smiled distantly.

"She's beautiful, Portia. Brigitte, I mean. She's got your spunk." Tom grinned.

"Thanks, Tommy." She stared at him intently.

"What's that look for?" he questioned.

"Aren't you going to ask me…anything else?" Portia frowned, as if disappointed in Tom's reaction to this whole situation.

Tom was silent, lost in thought. "I do have one more question…Why'd you send my father?"

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Jude smiled at Kwest from across the table. "McDonald's? That's your idea of 'taking me out to lunch'?"

He put his hands up in defense. "Hey! I'm just a lowly technician. Not some hot-stuff producer!" Jude's face fell at his comment and Kwest grimaced. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine," she mumbled. "You haven't heard from him, have you?"

Kwest shook his head. "Sorry, Jude. Can't say I have. His phone is off."

"I know," she moaned quietly, the familiar depression settling on her again.

"Hey, come on," he urged her, rubbing her arm gently. "It'll be okay. Maybe he just needed some time off. He hasn't been away in a long time."

Jude glared at him. "Kwest, you didn't hear his good-bye. He asked me out on a date—our first date. Then he shows up an hour late, barely says 'bye' and drives off."

"Jude, I know. He's my best friend."

"And he's my partner. My wingman." She sighed deeply, tears forming in her eyes. "He's my everything."

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Alright, how was it? Still kind of interesting? Leave me some love!

-JQ-