Wow, you guys. I mean...wow. I never imagined that I'd get 100 reviews, and it almost brought tears (of joy!) to my eyes...there's no better inspiration than the support of your endeavors. You guys are the best! I'm glad that you liked the cliffhanger in the last chapter. Teehee...I couldn't help myself. It makes things a little more interesting though, no? Plus, now you can find out what Marcus has been up to...bon apetit, mon chers!
"So you're...gay," Jude repeated slowly. The shock must have been evident on her face, because Marcus started to look a little nervous.
"Yeah," he replied, fidgeting with the ring in his pocket.
"Wow. Not that there's anything wrong with it," she hastily explained. "Just...wow. I didn't see that coming."
Marcus nodded with a small smile. "People usually don't. My parents didn't notice it until it was literally right in front of their faces."
"Were they supportive? I don't mean to be nosy or anything," Jude asked.
He shook his head sadly, sighing. "I haven't seen my parents in about seven years. We lived next door to this huge family, and I was friends with most of the children. I was always over there, and because I was practically a teenager they assumed that I had fallen in love with the one of the daughters in the family. When they found out that it was really the son I was in love with...they stopped talking to me. I moved out shortly after that, and got a shitty entry-level job at Columbia studios. Now...here I am, I guess."
"Oh my god. No wonder you keep it a secret," Jude said quietly.
"It ended up better for me anyway. I have this amazing job doing something that I love...and the boy that I fell in love with left his family to be with me. Now that we're practically married, I couldn't be happier."
"It must be amazing to have someone who loves you that much," she sighed, a faraway look in her eyes as she sipped from her water bottle.
Marcus snorted. "What about Quincy?" He grinned, chuckling when Jude choked on her water.
"Tommy? I think you've got the wrong person, Marcus," she coughed.
"No, I'm pretty sure I've got the right guy. Gorgeous smile, about as tall as myself with a serious hair gel obsession, deep icy blue eyes that are always staring at YOU," he laughed. "Don't deny it either, I've been watching the two of you. The looks that you give each other when you think nobody's watching are hot enough to melt plastic. It's like watching a modern day Romeo and Jude-iet!"
The awkward lunch date from hell and Tommy's unusual behavior surfaced in her mind, but she shook her head.
"Even if he DOES like me," she began, pointedly leaving out the 'L' word, "there's no way that it could work. He and I are seven years apart." The words sounded foreign in her mouth, and she almost regretted saying it the minute they left her lips.
Marcus blinked at her. "I don't know how you've hypnotized yourself into believing that, sweetheart, but it's complete and total bullshit and you know it." Jude sighed and opened her mouth to protest weakly, but he cut her off before she could start. "Look...I know a thing or two about forbidden love, and I know that if you really have feelings for him...it's worth the risk."
Jude mulled over his words, letting the thoughts she'd been restraining for months resurface in her mind. Could it be true? Would it really work? Georgia hadn't seemed to have a problem with it when she had found out; she had actually seemed a little disappointed when Jude had told her that it wasn't going to happen. Neither of her parents had said anything about it after that night in her dressing room, and her fans definitely supported she and Tommy's relationship 100 percent. What was stopping them from having a relationship, besides themselves?
"You're right," she sighed. Marcus clapped joyfully, but she interrupted before he could begin a victory dance. "Don't let it go to your head, Calderon. If he likes me like you say he does, how do I...I mean, how could I..."
"You mean, how can you get rid of all this 'star-crossed lovers' crap and get to the lovins?" Marcus interjected, a wry smile plastered on his face and a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "You just leave that up to little ol' me, Jude. I'll take care of everything..."
