A/N: 'Ello my peeps! I'm so glad you guys liked the last round of updates. I am now giving you chapters 9 and 10 and you will now have everything all other sites have. Yay:D I don't know how I forget to update you guys. It just happens. Also! Be on the lookout for my new season 3 fic I'm writing called Running Back. I'm thinking I'm gonna post that tomorrow. I just need to revise chapter 1 and that'll be out for ya. :D I hope you guys enjoy chapters 9 and 10. Short A/N today; I sprained my wrist, so typing's a witch. Enjoy! (needless to say, reviews won't be addressed either; just know I appreciate them greatly!)
Chapter 9
The Next Morning
Tommy groaned and opened his eyes. He lay in his bed a moment, trying to figure out what had woke him up. The phone ringing beside his bed startled him and he reached sluggishly for it.
"'lo?" He said, his voice heavy from sleep and his eyes fluttering close.
"T?" Darius's voice boomed. Tommy suppressed a groan.
"hm…"
"I need you in my office. ASAP." Darius commanded.
"I'm on vacation." Tommy managed to say and immediately regretted the action.
"Thomas, I don't care if you're the damn Pope! I want you in my office within the hour. Got it!"
"Yes, sir." Tommy said, slightly afraid of Darius. D was a scary guy when he was mad and Tommy wasn't stupid. Darius hung up with no words of goodbye and Tommy let out a groan as he replaced the phone on the charger. He collapsed back on his bed and lay there a moment, trying to work up the motivation to get up.
The sound of Jude's cell ringing reached his ears and Tommy raised an eyebrow in curiosity. What did we do now? He wondered as he pulled back the covers and padded into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee to wake himself up. After starting the coffee, Tommy sat on the couch and glanced at the neon clock on the wall; it read 6:25 am. Tommy groaned and closed his eyes. This can't be good. He thought.
"You too hu?" Came Jude's clear voice. Tommy cracked an eye open and glanced at her before looking away and attempting to go back to sleep for a moment. "Not a morning person Quincy?" Jude said in amusement. Tommy just grunted in response. "So, big D tell ya what we're in trouble for?" Tommy glanced at Jude incredulously.
"It can't be good whatever it is."
"Is it about the album?"
"The album would have to be complete and total shit for Darius to do a 6:30 wake up call; and we haven't even had the meeting to review the final mixing yet, remember?" Tommy pointed out. Jude looked contemplative. "Don't tell me you're a morning person." He added. Jude cocked an eyebrow.
"Sadie's the morning person; I figured you knew that one." Jude said, her tone somewhat bitter. Tommy winced.
"Sadie and I never…" Tommy trailed off before finishing.
"Oh." There was a moment of awkwardness between the two.
"Well, I'm not a morning person, but once I'm up, I'm up." Tommy just glared at Jude a long moment. "What?" Tommy shook his head and got up and stretched.
"I'm going to get in the shower." He stated and retreated down the hall.
"Hey!" Jude protested, but Tommy was already in the bathroom with the door locked. Jude glared after him a moment and contemplated what Darius would want them in the studio for.
1.5 Hours later
"I can't believe you made us late!" Tommy was saying for the hundredth time. Jude rolled her eyes.
"It's not my fault the curling iron wouldn't heat up!" She protested. Tommy glared at her as he cut the engine to the Viper and they both got out of the car. "So, uh, should I be making my final arrangements and what not?"
"A bit late for that, don't you think?" Tommy asked as they walked hurriedly into the studio. Darius was on the phone when they got there and had to wait outside his office. Jude bounced nervously as they waited and Tommy just watched her tiredly.
"Tom, can I talk to you a minute?" Tommy and Jude both looked to see Kwest standing just down the hall.
"What are you doing here?" Tommy asked, incredulously. Kwest looked annoyed and Tommy sighed and followed Kwest down the hall.
"What am I suppose to tell Darius!" Jude yelled after him.
"You'll think of something." Tommy stated as Kwest pulled him into Studio A.
"What the hell were you thinking!" Kwest exploded once the door was close.
"Dude, you might want to elaborate." Tommy stated, looking confused. Kwest looked annoyed and reached across the soundboard and tossed a newspaper at Tommy. Tommy caught it and glanced at it a moment, confused as to why Kwest handed it to him.
"You didn't see this?"
"See what Kwest?" Tommy said, flipping through the paper tiredly. He didn't understand what his friend was making a big deal about; it wasn't like he wasn't always – Shit. Tommy's face went pale as his eyes caught a particular picture in the entertainment section of this morning's Toronto Star.
It was from last night at the diner he had taken Jude to. There were several pictures of the evening; mostly of the dance they had shared and the kiss he had briefly given her. Tommy groaned and looked back up at Kwest, who wasn't looking sympathetic. Tommy tossed the paper aside.
"I'm guessing I don't want to read what that says?"
"What the hell where you thinking?" Kwest demanded once again. Tommy hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache.
"I wasn't thinking." Tommy admitted and Kwest scoffed.
"Yeah, that's apparent."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Tommy muttered.
"I'm trying to look out for you man. I know you like Jude and all but-"
"Kwest, it's more than that!" Tommy protested and shook his head, knowing Kwest would never understand. He'd always been the one to advice him to stay away from Jude and get over her. Well, he'd tried. And failed miserably at ever attempt and he was sick of failing, sick of lying, but he wasn't going to tell Kwest that. "Look, I messed up, ok? I know that." He said and looked away from Kwest a moment and back at him. "I can't do this now Kwest, ok? I have enough explaining to do to Darius." Kwest just shook his head at his friend, as if he were disappointed.
"I told you having Jude stay with you was a bad idea." Kwest stated before turning around and leaving the room. Tommy watched his best friend go and took a moment to glance back at the paper. He couldn't help but notice how happy both he and Jude looked in both of the papers; how caught up in the moment they both were. He sighed heavily and rubbed his temples.
"I have to warn Jude." He muttered before taking a deep breath and walking out of the studio and back towards Darius's office.
Meanwhile
"Great. Just great." Jude muttered after Tommy had run off with Kwest. It was just like Tom Quincy to leave her to deal with Darius's wrath.
"Jude?" Jude turned to see Mason Fox entering the studio.
"Mason? Why are you here?"
"I'm suppose to be meeting the band who's going to be on tour with me. Apparently Darius wants us to practice every song today, so early start." The cowboy-hat wearing teen stated. Jude nodded at him a moment and Mason gave her a sly smile.
"So, you and Tommy hu?"
"What?"
"Oh come on. It was all over the news today. You couldn't have missed it." Mason said, grinning at Jude. Jude frowned and glanced at Mason in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"You honestly don't know?" Mason said, looking shocked.
"Know what?" Jude asked, feeling a moment of panic overcome her. What's going on? She wondered.
"You and Tommy are both all over the tabloids and the news this morning. I opened my newspaper and"
"Wait, me and Tommy?"
"Yup." Jude looked confused and realization crossed her features.
"Oh, no." She said, looking panicked.
"I have to say, Jude? You and Tommy, are hot! I mean, damn!" Mason stated, looking impressed.
"Mason, nothing's going on between me and"
"Jude, come on. It's me you're talking to. You can tell me the truth. How long has this been going on?"
"Mason! There's no…this no…me and Tommy!" Jude insisted, yet. A voice in the back of her mind stated.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously!"
"Then what was the pictures" Before Mason could finish his statement, Tommy walked out of Studio A with a look of seriousness on his features.
"Jude, I"
"I know Tommy. Mason told me." Jude said, assuming that was why Kwest had pulled Tommy away. Tommy just nodded and glanced at Mason and then at Jude.
"Jude! Tom! My office! Now!" A booming voice yelled. Tommy and Jude both winced in unison. Mason sighed, and wrapped an arm around both of their shoulders.
"Welp." He stated, looking from Tommy to Jude and back again. "It's been nice knowing ya guys." He said and sauntered off down the hall. Tommy and Jude glanced at each other a moment and walked into Darius's office to see what the Big D had in store for them.
