I am BEYOND ecstatic right now, because in addition to a writing streak for this story, I've suddenly been slapped upside the head with ideas for two other ones...we'll see if I can wait before posting those; I doubt it! ;O) Thanks for all of the reviews, guys. I smile at each one, and I send love out to you all.
Jude twitched uncomfortably in her seat, EJ's wardrobe pick for tonight's appearance poking her in the sides. EJ had decided that in order to counter the "Jude's too young" publicity, they should vamp her up a little for her interview and performance on Under the Mic. A black corset was cinched over her blue wifebeater tank, her hair was lightly curled, and her gray eyes were lined with smoky kohl. Jude had drawn the line at a skirt and heels, however, and had coaxed EJ into letting Jude wear her jeans and boots.
A knock pounded against her dressing room door, followed by the stage manager's call of "five minutes to stage, Ms. Harrison!" She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, mentally preparing herself for whatever might be thrown at her during this interview. Here goes nothing...
.o.o.o.o.o.
The first half of the questions aimed at Jude went very smoothly; most of them were concerned with her music and experience as an Instant Star. Despite her initial discomfort and nervousness she found herself answering the questions with ease, even smiling and laughing at a few of the emcee's jokes. She even cracked a joke herself when he asked about Shay, winking at Georgia as the audience roared with laughter. However, like most things in Jude's life at the moment, it all began to go downhill.
Tommy, who hadn't been present for most of the interview, crept out from backstage and attempted to slip into a seat next to Georgia and EJ unnoticed; the audience definitely noticed, and whispered conversations rose up among them. In addition to that, Jude could see her parents out of the corner of her eye on the other side of the stage. He blood boiled at the sight of Stuart's arm around her mother's shoulders, and her good mood evaporated in an instant.
She inwardly prayed that the inevitable question wouldn't be asked, the one that everyone had probably been waiting to find the answer to ever since that damned tabloid came out. Please, please, please, I can't handle this right now...
"In a moment, Jude will be performing her new hit single, 'Your Eyes'."
Yes! Yes! Home free!
"...but first, inquiring minds want to know: what is it like to kiss Little Tommy Q? Are we going to be seeing more of it in the future?"
Damnit.
Seconds ticked by, but it felt like forever in Jude's mind. What the hell was she supposed to say? Thatkissing Tommy had felt like fire, likeher head was spinning, like everythingin the worldhad been right? That even the thought of that kiss sent her into a fever again?A hundred pairs of eyes were trained on her, waiting for her answer...her parents, off to one side, were shocked. Apparently they didn't see the tabloids this morning, Jude thought. She could see Tommy out of the corner of her other eye, sitting bolt upright in his chair and waiting for her answer with eyes closed. If she didn't know for sure that he wasn't a religious man, she would have sworn that he was praying. Praying's not going to help you this time, Quincy.
"You definitely won't be seeing any more of that. It was a one-time thing only, sorry to disappoint," Jude finally replied with a touch of sarcasm. Her smile was tight, and it didn't reach her eyes at all.
The audience let out a chorus of "awwws", and she had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. She didn't dare look at Tommy; she told herself that she didn't really care to see how he felt about the whole thing. He'd made his feelings clear on the night of her sixteenth birthday.
"Alright folks, here's Jude with her single 'Your Eyes'!" The emcee crooned, stepping to the side to allow Jude to take her place onstage. Someone handed her a guitar, and she coughed a little before leaning into the mike.
"Actually, I'll be singing a new song tonight, called 'Skin'."
