Later that night they finished the first half of the read through. They planned on this movie being long, but definitely worth it. The story was a juicy, addictive, plot twist filled one and would definitely be something worth 3 hours. That night, Jess, Jude and Tommy were leaving when Tanner had caught up with them.
"Hey, um Jess, I just wanted to give you my number, that way you can call me when you're on your way to dinner tomorrow night," Tanner said. "Have a good night Mr. Quincy, Mrs. Quincy, Jess,"
Tanner waved goodbye as he turned back around to go inside and get the rest of his stuff so he could leave also. Once they had entered the car, Tommy immediately scoffed at Tanner's behavior.
"What a sleaze, you and Ethan just broke up and he's already hitting on you," Tommy said.
"Excuse me, it's not a date. It's a cast get together party which you two are invited to as well. Tanner's just trying to be nice since we're going to be working on this for probably a year at the minimum," Jess explained putting her earphones in.
Tommy just gave an "Oh, please," look and Jude just laughed at him. Obviously Tommy didn't find this funny at all and then looked at Jude as if she were crazy.
"Do you know what kind of guy Tanner is? I invented those moves," Tommy exclaimed.
"Relax Quincy, Tanner is your double. He's exactly like you in every way and look how you turned out. Happy with a loving family. Tanner's young and still has some growing up to do, but it will be done and hey, I taught my daughter well, she knows how to read a guy the way I was so able to read you," Jude said kissing him lightly on the lips and turning back to her book.
Jess couldn't sleep too well that night. She got up and was sitting outside on the back porch of their rented home.
So this is what it feels like to have your heart broken, huh? Well, this sucks...
Jess grabbed her notebook and guitar and went back to the back porch. She was strumming a little on her guitar, trying to get some steady music going, and once she had, she played it a few more times, to burn it into her head so she doesn't forget it, and then the lyrics started to reach her.
You and me...
we used to be together
everyday together
always...
I really feel
That I'm losin'
my best friend
I can't believe this could be
the end.
Jess continued to sing, tears threatening to fall down her eyes. She can't allow herself to cry, she hated him, but as much as she told herself that she hated him, she couldn't stop feeling hurt and heart broken. She couldn't help the fact that she still loved him.
Don't speak
I know just what your sayin'
so please stop explainin'
Don't tell me cuz it hurts
Don't speak
I know what you're thinkin'
And I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cuz it hurts
Tanner was standing by a tree on the other side of the fence of the house. He was listening to the entire song, he barely knew this girl, and yet he could hear the pain in her voice. His heart broke for the almost 18 year old young woman, singing out her emotions. As soon as she finished the song, in Jess's eyes, it seemed as if he appeared out of the shadows of the Toronto night sky.
"I heard the song. It was beautiful," Tanner said leaning on the fence.
"What are you doing here?" Jess asked, a little creeped out at the fact that he was here.
"You left your journal at the set. I didn't read it or anything, but here, I thought you might want it," Tanner said, handing her the journal she hadn't even realized she left.
"You know, you could have just given it to me tomorrow," Jess remarked looking down at her dark brown leather journal.
"I thought you might have wanted it sooner. Today was a tough day and I thought you might need it," Tanner said.
"I'm not as broken as everyone thinks, I could've lived without it for the night," Jess said, this whole heartbreak thing was getting her irritated.
"But you did need it," Tanner replied.
"What?" Jess asked obliviously.
"You wrote that song, I'm not stupid Jess. You are just like your mother, and whenever she got her heart broken she went straight to the one thing she knew she could depend on, her music. Which is exactly what you did. You needed the journal tonight and I thought I was just being a nice guy and getting it to you," Tanner said.
"How did you even know I was here?" Jess asked.
"I didn't, I just told the limo driver to take me to where you were staying and he took me here," Tanner said.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry for exploding at you like that. I'm just, yeah," Jess said looking down at her journal again.
"I know what it's like, to be cheated on. It's not fun, you go through a lot, thinking there's something wrong with you, but really, something was wrong with them. Just know that Jess, that you didn't do anything to make him do that. You didn't deserve it and he was the wrong one in this," Tanner said. He started to walk away, but immediately stopped when Jess called out to him.
"Thanks for bringing me my journal. That was really sweet and thoughtful of you," Jess said holding the journal close to her.
"No problem, anything for you," Damn it, did I really just say that? "I mean for a friend. Anything for a friend,"
"Thanks anyways Tanner, I'll see you early tomorrow," Jess said waving to him.
Tanner waved back and walked away, mentally slapping himself for that last speech slip up. He walked into the limo where Rebecca was sitting just smirking at him. The two would read lines together and both felt more like friends than a couple.
"You have got it soooo bad," Rebecca said sipping on her water bottle.
"I do not. I just talked to the girl for the first time today, I don't like her like that," Tanner remarked sitting in the opposite seat to Rebecca.
"What ever, when's the last time you found someone's journal and brought it to them at oh, 1 in the morning?" Rebecca stated.
"Shut up," Tanner said sitting back in his seat watching the cars pass by as they drove off to the hotel.
Jess went and sat back down in her chair, grabbing the page of lyrics and placing it in a blank spot of her journal. When Jess grabbed her stuff and went back inside, she saw her dad sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a glass of water.
"Dad, what are you doing up?" Jess asked, she wasn't expecting him to be there.
"At first it was because I heard your song, and then I saw Tanner out there," Tommy replied taking another drink from his glass.
"Oh, Dad please. There's nothing going on between Tanner and me. I just met him today, and I just found out I got cheated on Dad," Jess explained still standing up.
"I understand that, but I see how he looks at you Jessica, he doesn't see you as just a friend," Tommy stated, putting his cup in the sink.
"Then he's just going to have to learn to deal with his feelings because I don't feel that way towards him," Jess said starting to walk to her room, but paused before entering the hall way. "Good night Dad,"
"Good night sweetie," Tommy said as he followed her and went back to bed.
Jude felt the shift in the bed, and saw Tommy crawling beside her. Jude flipped on to her back and stared at the ceiling. As did Tommy, they both felt like it was the night they were discussing whether or not to do the movie.
"So Tanner was out there, huh?" Jude said grabbing Tommy's hand.
"Yep. I know how he looks at her. He looks at her the same way I looked at you when we first met, and I don't like it," Tommy said, he sounded like a little boy.
"Oh Tommy, just relax. If he's doing that then Jess will be just fine. Granted, I did end up getting hurt, but now look at us baby. We're married, have a family, and our family is growing will have another member some time in September," Jude said, playing with his fingers, entwining her fingers with his.
"I know, but the reason why you got hurt so bad was because you were too young. I don't want Tanner to hurt Jess the same way I had hurt you," Tommy said turning on his side to play with Jude's hands now.
"Tom, Jess is a big girl. It'll be a while before she decides to start date again after today. She just had her heart broken by Ethan for the first time, give her time, she's not going to start dating again for another three or four months at the least," Jude said kissing Tommy on the lips.
"You know not to kiss me in bed, that's how we got that bump in your belly," Tommy said with a smile.
"Well this time, no matter what you can't do anything, I'm pregnant babe, and we both said we weren't going to do anything until this baby is born, so I'm sure making out won't do any harm," Jude said kissing him more passionately this time. The two kept kissing through out the night until they both had fallen asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Jess came on to the set in jeans and a giant sweatshirt over her dark green tank top. She had just some eyeliner and blush on with a clear layer of lip gloss, she didn't feel like getitng all dolled up that day. She had her messenger bag with her, filled with a bag of gummy worms and gummy bears (her favorite candy), her journal, a pencil, and her ipod. She was munching on some gummy bears when they reached the scene where Jude and her father had made love for the first time and she nearly started choking. Tanner, Rebecca, and Jude and Tommy all looked over at her as she started to drink some of her water.
"Sorry to interrupt, but nothing is going to actually be...shown, during that scene is there?" Jess asked, her voice a little hoarse from her almost choking incident.
"Like we said Jess, we're shooting for PG-13 here, no nudity or anything too graphic will be shown," David said as he gave the actors the signal to keep reading.
As awkward as it was for Jess to be hearing about this, Jude was turning cherry red from reading about her first time in front of a bunch of actors and movie creators she barely knew at all. Tommy saw this and held her hand, sending little squeezes of his hand to her letting her know that everything will be alright. Jude just smiled at him as she took a drink from her water and the read through continued. When they had made it to the scene where Jude was being attacked, the once cherry red tinted shades of Jude's skin turned pale white as if she had seen a ghost. Tommy and Jess had both noticed this and were both holding her hand. Tommy was rubbing her back as he saw the unshed tears make threats to her eyes that they would fall any moment now. A few tears managed to fall, but Jude quickly wiped them.
:flashback:
This won't hurt a bit...
Jude didn't feel anything and all she saw was herself being enveloped in darkness once the foul taste met her taste buds
: end of flashback:
The director noticed the tension in the room, and as soon as the read through of the scene was over, he called for a 20 minute break. Jess hugged her mother tightly who was just trying to catch her breath from reading the scene. The actors filed out of the room noticing that Jude, Tommy, and Jess are going to need some time to compose themselves. David walked over to them and sat down in a chair in front of Jude.
"I just want you to know Mrs. Quincy, that you don't have to be there while we film the scene, or even on opening night, I don't expect you to sit through watching that scene if it's going to be too hard on you," David said with sincerity in his voice.
"Thanks, call me Jude. But I'll be fine, I'm just, yeah, it's going to be good, I know it will," Jude said with a strong smile as she wiped her tears and inhaled deeply a few more times, trying to regain her composure and calm attitude.
The next scene was the one Tommy and Jude had been deliberately hoping would never come. Jess was slightly anxious, she was going to hear the whole ordeal of her parents' break up, something she had never heard the account of.
"C'mon Tommy, we both know what you want...how that little red head can't fulfill your desires," said the actress.
"I'm working, and I'm engaged," Tanner read
"You know I can keep a secret, it's one of my other many...useful...talents," said the actress.
"I suggest you back off," said Rebecca.
Jude and Tommy were remembering the scene clearly, Jude's angered eyes, Tommy's attempts at pushing her away, and the model's desperate attempts at seducing Tommy.The next scene was the emotional break up scene. Where Jude had walked in on the two.
"Jude!" Tanner shouted in a slightly alert voice.
Rebecca paused for a moment, trying to get a feel for what Jude would be feeling catching her fiance in this situation.
"Just so you know. I'm pregnant," Rebecca stated flatly, it almost sounded as if her voice was cracking, but Jess and Jude both took this more so as the fact that she was actually a talented actress.
The rest of the scene played out, and Jess just watched the exchange between Tanner and Rebecca, the words being thrown, the emotion evident in their voices even though it was just a read through. Jess glanced at her parents, who just held their strength together, still holding each other's hands. Tommy kept swallowing the lump in his throat, and Jude dabbed at the edge of her eyes a bit, Jess could tell she was seeing it all over again. As soon as the scene ended, it was time for their lunch break.
"Mom, do you want anything?" Jess asked getting up, with her purse in her hands.
"Just some iced tea, I'll just wait for the food to come," Jess was walking down the hall and sensed Tanner right next to her.
"Hey, good job acting in there, even if it is just a read through," Jess said with a small smile.
"Thanks, you ok? I saw you getting a little uncomfortable in there during that scene," Tanner said, genuine concern in his voice.
"It's a little weird, now knowing every detail of what happened. How my mom actually did throw the ring and that's how come he's got a scar under his eye," Jess said with a light chuckle at the end.
"Yeah, well, at least we'll start shooting next week, that should be fun," Tanner remarked.
"Yep, and then I get to start recording, David actually wants me and my parents to work with the music director on the soundtrack and the music for the movie. I'm actually pretty excited about that," Jess said getting the coke and iced tea.
"You should be, music is pretty much your family's forte," Tanner added, looking Jess in her eyes. He had never felt this before, and what made him worried about it all, was these feelings scared him.
"Yeah, it is. I've always been in love with music, listening to it, making it, whatever. But I've never been too ambitious like my parents as to pursue a career in it. Don't get me wrong, I've performed before, but nothing huge like albums or anything," Jess said, her eyes filled with thoughtfulness.
"If it's something you really want, you should go for it. You've got what it takes to make it out there, the only thing that's stopping you is your fear," Tanner said, immediately regretting his choice of words.
"Fear? I'm not afraid of anything Tanner. Get that straight. I'm just not as motivated to pursue that career," Jess reminded him.
"I'm going to be honest Jess, last night when you were singing, I hadn't ever seen something as real as that before. If I had, it was when your parents were singing. It's in your blood Jess. That want and need to get your voice out there, for everyone to hear and listen to you, it's what created you and practically an instinct. There's no shame in admitting it and no one's stopping you now," Tanner added grabbing his root beer as they both walked in silence towards the read-through room.
Jess couldn't believe her ears. Tanner was absolutely right, she did want that career, the same career her mother had. But what was holding her back? It wasn't fear, she had no reason not to start a career in music, all the signs were telling her she should, but she couldn't find a reason as to why she hadn't already.
"And where does fear come into the mixture?" Jess asked in an apprehensive tone.
"You're afraid you're not going to meet the standards that your parents had made. You're afraid you aren't going to be able to hold up to your parents' names and what they had done for the music industry," Tanner simply said.
"How do you know all of this? You're not even in the music industry," Jess said opening her coke.
"I'm an actor Jess, I'm all about analyzing the human gestures, voice tones, and facial expressions. You aren't an enigma Jess, the only thing that's got me confused about you, is how I was able to read you so fast. It takes me at least a week to be able to get a decent reading on people, and I knew you as if you were the back of my hand," Tanner said going to his chair and helping himself to some chow mein.
Something was telling Jess to follow him, to go and ask him and talk to him more about all of this. And she would have, she really would have, but her parents were there, and they would become suspicious. And suddenly, it was hitting her. Tommy was right all along, her dad could see what was happening, because the same thing had happened to him. He fell for someone he never thought he would, and now Tanner was following his foot steps.
The next scene was the court scene, which went through well during the read through. It seemed as if with each impacting scene, Tommy and Jude became closer, it started with simple hand holding, and then to Tommy's hand resting on Jude's knee, with her hand over it. And then to Jude resting her head on Tommy's shoulder, and then to Tommy's arms wrapped around Jude's waist and his head resting on her shoulder. Jess would normally start mock gagging at the sight, but with the script in front of her, and the story being practically read to her, she couldn't help but finally wisen up and find the sight beautiful.
