Chapter 12: Hiding

Guy was concerned about Jude. He hadn't seen her since the video shoot two days ago; since then she hadn't shown up at the studio and wasn't answering her phone or returning any of his messages.

No one else seemed overly concerned with Jude's absence, things were tense at G-Major but otherwise life continued as normal.

He was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, trusty spiral notebook in hand, mulling over the lyrics for his latest song. The lobby, always the center of the G-Major nervous system, was alive with activity. Darius was at the door of his office arguing with some delivery guy, Sadie was at her desk smiling coyishly at Kwest who was chatting with Tommy at the door to Studio 2. Portia and Liam where discussing the photographer for Guy's album shoot in the corner.

Guy glanced up from his notebook when the front door opened and frowned curiously when the commotion in the room came to a standstill. A guy, who looked to be in his mid twenties, was standing there looking rather uncomfortable and nervous, he had short black hair and wasn't overly tall but obviously had what it took to command the entire rooms attention as everyone was still rendered speechless.

"Tommy" Sadie said cooly, "Haven't seen you around here recently."

From where he was standing Kwest started to move toward Darius, his hands up as if to ward him off. His peacekeeping attempts where too late however, as Darius had recovered his voice and mobility and was angrily stalking toward Tommy (Wait? Was this Jude's Tommy?) who looked more then a little intimidated.

"D! Man, nice to see you again" Tommy said timidly.

"In my office now!" Darius said angrily before going there himself and slamming the door.

The room was once again silent and Tommy looked around him angrily, "What's everyone staring at? Get back to work!"

---

"I see my office no longer exists..." Tommy said as he walked into Darius office.

Darius raised an eyebrow, "That really how you want to start this conversation, Tom?"

Tommy sighed, "Look, I'm sorry about the last couple of months. It wasn't the most professional thing to do..."

"Professional?" Darius laughed a deep and angry laugh, "That is the understatement of the year! My best producer walks out of here without so much as a moments notice or word about when he's getting back and it's a little unprofessional? This label has lost a lot of money thanks to your hijinks, not to mention the damage it's done to your musician's careers!"

"How's Jude?" Tommy asked.

"You haven't seen her?"

"I want to know how she's been these last couple of months"

Darius shrugged, "We've done some damage control but she's starting to make the tabloids. She's been drinking a lot lately and the press is starting to get wind of it. She was so responsible last year but now it's like she's another person. Personally I don't like the new direction of her music, not to mention her new image, but the record sales haven't dropped so I'm happy"

Tommy nodded, "So do I still have a job here?"

Darius stood up, "I don't believe you have the nerve to come in here like that an expect me to give you a job!"

"You just said I'm your best producer and that your artists are suffering without me. Besides, you should just admit it D, you missed me!"

Darius reached for a paperweight on his desk and motioned as if he were going to hurl it at Tommy who quickly jumped out of his chair and headed toward the door, "So I'll be here at 8am sharp." He said as he closed the door behind him.

Darius shook his head and finally conceded a small smile.

---

I felt guilty about missing work the last two days but hadn't been able to psych myself up to it. Mostly I'd watched a lot of soap operas, eaten a lot of junk food and taken the minimum amount of showers (which is none, if you're wondering).

Sadie had pretty much left me to myself the first day but on the second she began to pressure me; "What are you going to do, Jude?", "Jude, you need to start thinking about this", "Maybe there's someone you could talk to. Someone who's been there and could give advice". Yeah, because my situation is so common there must be hundreds of woman out there who've been in my shoes. As if...

Thankfully Sadie was at Kwest's till tonight and I had some time to myself. It wasn't as if I hadn't been thinking about Cassie. She'd been on my mind every moment since I saw her at the Motel. A few hours ago the Social Worker had called me and discussed some of the details. She'd stressed that she needed me to get back to her as soon as possible so she could progress with the case.

There were complications of course. At 17 I wasn't legally old enough to adopt a child and the courts would not overlook this matter in light of my being the childs biological mother. I had given up my rights to Cassie a long time ago and in the eyes of the law I was just the same as any other woman looking to adopt. The Social worker, her name was Sarah, had assured me that she could delay proceedings till my 18th birthday. She'd suggested setting up a fostering situation pending adoption for the next 6 months. I had quickly pointed out that I was still unsure as to whether I wanted to adopt Cassie and the conversation came to a dead halt.

Why wouldn't I want my daughter? Though I hadn't admitted it to anyone; I'd thought about her every day of my life since I'd handed her to her new mother that day at the hospital.

I'd been able to hold her for a few minutes, I'd looked into her big blue eyes and gently traced my finger down the side of her face. She'd been so small, so delicate and so perfectly beautiful. I'd wanted nothing more in that moment then to hold her till the day I died.

Frowning I climbed out of bed, a place I'd spent much of my time these last two days, and went down stairs in search of Ice Cream. I had bothered to get dressed that morning and was dressed in an old T-Shirt and a pair of flannel Pajama pants.

When the doorbell rang and I heard Tommy's familiar voice calling, "Jude. It's Tommy. Are you home?" I panicked. Quickly placing my bowl of Ice cream on the counter I'd hidden behind the island in the kitchen hoping he wouldn't peer through the window and see me.

Eventually he gave up and I heard his car drive away with a backfire of exhaust and a wheezing sound that reminded me of my great Aunt Ruth.

Why didn't I want to see Tommy? That was another of those inexplainable emotions running through every fibre of my being. I quickly returned to the Ice Cream.

---

Tommy was a Portrait of a troubled young man as he drove away from Jude's that afternoon. She hadn't answered her doorbell and not wanting to look the part of a stalker he had eventually given up. He had a gut feeling that she'd been inside and for some reason hadn't answered her door.

Keeping one hand on the wheel he reached for his cellphone and dialed her number. It had been three long months since he'd last called her but the digits were still firmly imprinted on his brain. The call was instantly directed to her Voice Mail. He frowned.

"Jude" He said to the answering machine, "I just called by but no one was home... or you weren't answering your door. Your cellphone is off and I don't know your home phone number at your Dad's. Could you call me? Please? We need to talk."