Chapter One You're My Inspiration
Music is just like breathing to Jude Harrison. She needs it to survive day after day. It's her saving grace when things get tough. Jude Harrison has a song for every emotion known to man and she's never had a problem finding the right words, until now.
"What's wrong superstar?" Tommy asked through the microphone connected to Jude's headphones. Jude stopped fiddling with her acoustic guitar and met Tommy's gaze.
"Nothing." came the short reply. Tommy chuckled and continued flipping switches. Jude continued to struggle with chord variations and lyrics when Darius walked in.
"Jude." Tommy once again said into the microphone. Jude glanced up to make a smart comment but stopped short when she noticed her and Tommy weren't alone. She put down her guitar and walked out to meet Darius and Tommy.
"Jude, I just listened to your album and I think something is missing."
Jude glanced in between Tommy and Darius in confusion.
"What do you mean something is missing?" Tommy asked Darius.
"Exactly what I said T. Something is missing and that something is a ballad. I want you two to come up with a heartfelt ballad."
Jude looked at Tommy with a shocked look in her eyes then turned back to Darius. Before Jude could protest Tommy stepped in.
"Sure thing D. We'll get started right away." Jude shook her head and walked back into the studio. Tommy nodded at Darius and followed Jude into the studio.
"So…" Tommy said taking a seat next to Jude who was playing something on the piano.
"Tommy, why were you so yielding with Darius back there?" Jude asked as she continued to play notes on the piano. Tommy sighed as he put his hand on top of Jude's which made her stop playing instantly.
"Because I know how he can be if he doesn't get his way. He could make both of our lives hell if he wanted to so I thought it would be best to just give him what he wants and get it over with."
Jude removed her hand from beneath his and made an obvious attempt at distancing herself from him.
"Tom, I don't think that I can write a heartfelt ballad with you." Tommy looked at Jude in surprise at what she had just said. They had always been able to write songs together ever since Jude had won the Instant Star contest 2 years ago. Jude tried to keep her eyes averted from his gaze but he gently placed his finger underneath her chin and pulled her face so she was looking right at him.
"Jude, why would you think that? We've always been able to write songs. You and I both know that we make beautiful music together. What's changed?" Tommy asked softly, locking his eyes directly on hers. He noticed that his finger was still on her chin so he gently removed it when he saw how flustered she was becoming. Jude looked down to gain the strength needed to answer his loaded question.
"I….I can't do this now Tommy. I'll write the song tonight and I'll meet you here tomorrow morning, bright and early." She said as quickly as she could before walking out the door. Tommy's brow furrowed in confusion and before he knew, he was following Jude out the door.
"Jude!" he yelled as he jogged to catch up with her. Jude stopped and hung her head. She couldn't look at Tommy after what had just happened between them. She just couldn't answer that question when they were so close and so alone.
When Tommy had caught up with Jude, there was a lone tear that had made it down her cheek and she swiped it away, and hoped Tommy didn't notice it. Her back was to him so he had to grab her by the arm to turn her around to face him.
"Jude, why did you just run out on me in there?" Jude shrugged because she didn't trust her voice just yet. Tommy continued to look at her, waiting for an answer when she finally broke.
"Do you really know what's changed Tommy?" she asked so quietly that Tommy wasn't sure she spoke at all. When he nodded, she took a deep breath and sat down on the curb outside G Major. Tommy sat down beside her and waited for her to start.
"I guess, no, I know the reason that I can't write that kind of song with you is because all of the emotion that comes with aheartfelt ballad would be because of you, Tommy." There, she had said it. She told him how she felt and why things have been stressed between them lately. Tommy sat silently for a minute, allowing what Jude had just told him to sink in. He sighed and when he looked up, Jude was hanging her head, trying to hide her face. He scooted closer to her on the curb and touched her on the shoulder to get her attention. When he turned her face to him, he gently kissed her on the forehead.
"Jude, I…I'm glad that I inspire you. I'll see you tomorrow morning." And with that, Tommy walked back inside the studio leaving Jude behind with a little smile on her face.
When Jude arrived at home she noticed that her sister's car was in the driveway. She walked into the house, made her way upstairs and into her bedroom without anyone knowing she was there. She was not up to seeing or hearing anyone in her family at the moment. She flopped down on her bed and stared up at her ceiling. Everything that had happened that day went through her mind.
"Why did I let Tommy know he is the reason behind most of my music? Why didn't he freak out like he usually does when I get too close to him? What about that kiss on the forehead? Tom Quincy is so confusing! He's just…impossible." These thoughts ran through her mind as she started to hum a tune. She bolted up off the bed when a sudden inspiration hit. She dug through her book bag looking for her journal and when she finally found it, she instantly began writing. She continued the cycle of ripping out pages, crumbling them up, crossing out words, writing new ones over and over again until she was finally satisfied. Now all she had to do was put music to the words and knew just who to go to. She grabbed her cell phone and hit the number 2 button to call the one and only Tom Quincy. Minutes later, Jude found herself running out the house and jumping into a blue viper.
"Hey Girl, what's so important that you needed to talk to me right away?" Tommy asked as he pulled away from the Harrison household, secretly hoping Sadie didn't notice his car.
"I wrote the song." Jude replied as she made herself comfortable in the passenger seat. Tommy glanced over at her in shock before looking back at the road.
"Already? Jude, that took you less than an hour!" Jude smiled at that and nodded.
"I know, Quincy. I guess I'm just that good." Tommy chuckled and shook his head.
"That you are, girl, that you are."
When they arrived at the studio, Jude sat down in her seat and watched as Tommy did the same.
"So, whatcha got for me?" he asked, propping his feet up on her armrest. Jude looked at his feet in disgust before getting up and walking into the recording booth.
"I don't have the melody yet, but I know that I want the only instrument to be the piano. I'll leave that up to you, Tommy. It's called 'Impossible'." She said into the microphone. When Tommy nodded, she opened up her journal to the song she had just previously written. Even though she had it memorized she needed something to keep her mind off the fact that she was about to bare her soul. She cleared her throat, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began to sing.
It's impossible
It's impossible to love you
If you don't let me know what you're feeling
It's impossible for me to give you what you need
If you're always hidin' from me
I don't know what hurt you
I just, I wanna make it right
Cuz boy I'm sick and tired of trying to read your mind
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible for me to love you
It's the way it is
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible
If you makin' it this way
Impossible to make it easy
If you always tryin' to make it so damn hard
How can I, how can I give you all my love, baby
If you're always, always puttin' up your guard
This is not a circus
Don't you play me for a clown
How long can emotions keep on goin' up and down
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible for me to love you
It's the way it is
It's impossible (impossible)
Oh baby it's impossible
If you keep treating me this way
Over, over (over and over)
Impossible baby (impossible, impossible)
If you makin' it this way, this way
Oh baby, it's impossible
If you makin' it this way
She had never put as much of herself in one song as she did this one. She sang as if it were her last time. She kept her eyes closed the entire time so she wouldn't have to see the look on Tommy's face when he realized what the song meant. As the last word drifted out of her mouth, she bent her head and opened her eyes. When she looked up, she saw Tommy with his eyes closed, jut sitting there. She walked out of the booth and when she opened the door to where Tommy was at, he quickly opened his eyes and turned towards her.
"Jude, wow. That was just…amazing." He said in a whisper. Jude walked further into the room and sat in her chair.
"Thanks." She replied, just as softly as Tommy. They stared at each other for a few minutes until Kwest walked into the room.
"Hey guys! Did y'all write that song yet? Darius is getting antsy over there." Kwest said as he walked over to his seat on the other side of Tommy. Jude was the first to look away with a slight blush on her cheeks. Tommy glanced over at Kwest and nodded.
"Jude just sang it to me. All we have to do is put the music to it and it's done." Tommy said in his regular voice. Kwest nodded and Jude stood up to leave.
"I've gotta go you guys. Mom wants me home for dinner tonight so, yeah. I'll see you tomorrow I guess." Jude said as she gathered her things. Before she walked out, she turned to look at Tommy one more time, waved and she was gone.
"Dude, why do I feel like I just walked in on something?" Kwest asked as he watched the interaction that just happened between Tommy and Jude. Tommy shook his head and sighed.
"You didn't man, don't worry about it. Let's just get working on this song. Jude wants mostly piano on this track so let's get to it." Tommy said, as he immersed himself in work. Kwest looked at Tommy long and hard before he nodded.
"Alright."