AN: OMG! I am soooooooo sorry for not posting earlier. But killer tests, mountains of never-ending homework, plus me being sick not being able to post for a long time. But you guys are awesome for reviewing anyway! You all rock! And Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Happy Hannukkah/Chanukah (sp?) or Kwanzaa to everyone, whatever holiday it is that you celebrate. Last but not least, please, please, please, review away! Even though I do have writer's block (and this may be really short).
Special ANs:
willa. j, same here. Putting Christmas songs in here might be a little cheesy, so I definitely won't.
Jess, I'm just getting started. Wait'll you see what comes up next :o)!
Tanya, Pop-Tart Studios is gonna keep being a point that Jude and Tommy argue over, if you can call it arguing.
judetomfan101, chloe2k6, and Ally, here's the next chapter. I hope you like it!
wcbeachbum, I know how you feel. I think that's how I got sick too. Cuz my mom didn't want to turn the heat on. I love the quote you wrote me: "One sky, one destiny to smile, and be happy!"
alwayswright, thanks for your suggestion. I'll definitely mention how far along Jude is.
Rachel, your comment cheered me up. Let me just say, it's gonna get even better. I promise. Even if it is just for this chapter.
Seleana C, aww, thanks! I'm glad you like it. But I think I like your story better than my own. You're a great writer.
Timleesa, I know it's been a while, but I hope you'll think it's worth the wait. I also hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, except Tim. He's mine! And the plot. That's definitely mine.
Chapter 10 – Mayhem and Madness
We got to JQ Studios, and saw the place completely transformed. Georgia and E.J. were already there, and E.J. was going crazy putting up streamers, candles, blowing up balloons, and setting up for our annual Christmas party. As soon as we walked in, E.J. thrust a bunch of balloons in my hand. "Good, you're here. Make yourself useful," she ordered, then rushed away to yell at some poor intern that he was putting up decorations wrong.
"O-kaaay," I said, still holding the balloons and looking at Georgia.
She smiled, amused, and said, "Tommy, ignore her. Jude, you OK?" She looked concerned that Jude was here.
"Yeah, fine, why?" Jude said.
"Because you didn't have to come in," Georgia could be so nice when she wanted to.
"Good to know," Jude remarked, then added, "So, does Tommy need to be here?"
"No, we're just setting up. You guys go on home. I'll call you if we need anything." Georgia said. "And Jude, take it easy. You're gonna have a baby in less than 2 months, so no stress, OK? No matter what Tommy or E.J. says." She looked at me pointedly, and I nodded at her.
"Thanks, Georgia," Jude said, then took my hand as we walked over to the exit.
"Where do you think you're going?" E.J. demanded.
"Georgia said…" Jude tried to explain, but E.J. cut her off.
"Forget what Georgia said. I need this place set up for the party by the end of the week, and NO ONE'S DOING WHAT I'M TELLING THEM TO DO!" E.J. yelled, attracting the attention of everyone in the studio. She looked livid, as if everything were going wrong.
"E.J., relax, it'll be OK," I said, biting back a smile.
"Easy for you to say. You're trying to run out on me, aren't you?" E.J. narrowed her eyes, then looked past me. "Kwest, you're just the person I was looking for. Why don't you and Sadie help me? Since Tommy and Jude are too important to help me decorate this place." She glared at me one last time and turned her back to me, dragging poor Kwest into it.
"Come on, Tommy, even I can help set the table or something. It'll be fun," Jude begged. She gave me her special look, the one she reserved only for me. I melted faster than a snowball.
"OK, I guess I'm helping then," I picked up some streamers and threw them in the air. "See, I'm Mr. Christmas."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Jude hugged me so hard, I thought she was going to burst.
"No problem," I gasped, my supply of oxygen cut off.
We finished setting up, and even E.J had to agree that it looked really good. Then we went back home, and came back to work the next couple days, although our schedule wasn't as busy as it used to be. I'd even managed to get some major artists that had just entered the music industry. I did it by my famous good looks and unparalleled charm. No girl stood a chance. And Jude and Sadie even got some guys to work for us, although Kwest and I hated it whenever they kept staring at Jude and Sadie, trying to get our girls to go out with them. But some of them had gone home to spend with their families, while those who lived close by could still attend the biggest and best, OK, the first ever, JQ Christmas Bash.
On the day of the party, Jude, Monique, Chris, my parents, and I all came to the party. It was staff, friends, and family, and I wanted to show Chris how I was just as good as he was. Only my job was much more fun and rewarding than his.
Kwest and Sadie weren't there yet, but Georgia and E.J. were. E.J. was stressing out as usual over nothing, and Georgia was having the time of her life watching E.J. and laughing as she panicked that a candle was missing.
"Whoever's got the candle better put it back before I find it, cuz then I'll just light it and shove it up their $#!!" E.J. said.
Speed, Kyle, Wally, and Mason walked in. Speed heard what E.J. said, then quickly hid the candle behind his back. "Dude, that's way harsh," Kyle said, distracting E.J. so that Speed could put it back without getting caught.
"Ya think?" E.J. said, glaring at him.
"Oh, I get it," Mason caught on quickly.
"I'm glad we have such bright artists. Now if only you all had bigger brains."
"Like me," Kwest boasted, walking up to them. Sadie was holding onto his arm. The guys looked at him doubtfully, and Sadie smirked.
"OK, can I have your attention please?" Georgia announced. Everyone grew quiet. Even Jamie and Patsy, who had come in at the last minute.
"Welcome to our first ever JQ Studios-" Georgia began, as Jude yelled, "Pop-Tarts!" when she'd said "JQ". Georgia smiled, amused, and continued. "Annual Christmas Bash!"
Everyone cheered, SME the loudest, and everyone laughed at them.
"OK, I promise to keep this short, so have fun, don't drink too much, and Cheers!" Georgia said, picking up a glass of champagne and holding it up in the air.
"Dudes!" The SME guys all toasted one another, picking up their glasses, and just as they were about to drink it, E.J. came sprinting out of nowhere and snatched it out of their hands before they could blink.
"I don't think so, dudes," E.J. said, using their favorite name for each other. "I've seen you when you're sober, and that's scary enough."
"Aww, come on, E.J., we'll be good, we promise. Right, guys?" Speed said, giving E.J. a very intense gaze as if to say, Let us drink and I'll marry you.
Jude's and Sadie's parents were there too, and I could see where Sadie got her love of alcohol. From her mother, who was busy drinking one glass of punch, then another, and another. She talked with some of the JQ staff, including Georgia, E.J., Kwest, me, and of course her daughters, but not many other people.
Finally, I saw Jude and Sadie go up to her, and whisper in her ear as they tried to pull the glass away from her. Pretty soon, Mrs. H. looked like she was completely drunk. And then I heard the worst words anyone would want to hear: "Dudes! You'll never guess what I put in the punch bowl!"
My first reaction was to beat the stuffing out of each and every one of the SME guys, but I figured they wouldn't talk after I gave it to them good. So I approached them as if I didn't know anything about what they'd done.
"Hey guys," I said, taking a ladle full of punch and pouring it in my cup. I could tell what kind of stuff they'd put in there just by tasting it. I used to do the same thing when I was their age.
I sipped the punch, and knew exactly what they'd done. It was a combination of things, but you could barely taste it unless you knew something was in it. And having done lots of experimenting myself, I knew what they'd done. And I decided to blow their cover, Tommy Q-style.
I tipsily walked over to the stereo, where I got out a CD and forced my fingers to put it in, but not without a lot of attention. Then I cranked up the volume, and as the music started blaring out, I walked up to the main stage, picked up a mic, and started performing my old Boyz Attack song, Pick up the Pieces.
"Tommy! What are you doing?" Georgia hissed at me.
"N-nothing, Georgia. Just l-livening up the party a little, th-that's all," I stuttered purposely, slurring my words as I spoke.
"Get down here right now!" E.J. was more direct. She marched up there, grabbed me, and dragged me off stage.
"Aww, come on, E.J. Can't a guy have some fun?" I whined, making sure that the guys heard and saw everything.
E.J. leaned in close to me, and smelled my breath. She fanned the air in front of her face, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"From the smell of it, you've had way too much. What'd you have to drink?" E.J. asked me, suspicious.
I dropped my act, as the guys were standing right there next to us. "Let me think. Or better yet, maybe these guys can tell you." I motioned over to them, as E.J. looked furious, and the guys' faces lost all color as they gaped at us.
"That was too fun," I said, as Jude came over and I held her in my arms.
"What was?" Jude asked, then cringed as she heard E.J. tongue-lashing them all. They flinched, as if in major pain, hung their heads, and answered her in low tones.
"Aww, poor guys," Jude said. "You should've seen what they did on tour."
"Don't tell me, I don't want to know," I said quickly before she could elaborate.
I looked around, as our families and friends surrounded us. There was Kwest and Sadie in the corner, under the mistletoe, too busy shoving their tongues down each other's throats, the SME guys looking like they got majorly scolded, which they did, and everyone could hear E.J. from a hundred miles away, the way she was talking.
Then there were Jude's and my parents, who finally had enough nerve to talk to one another, and seemed to be getting along just fine, and Monique and Jude cramming Christmas-glazed Pop-Tarts down their throats as fast as they could, while Chris, whose attention was held by Kelly, one of our newest artists, and a fan and friend of Jude's, who was busy gazing at Speed with stars in her eyes. I could tell that all the drama that had happened so far was just the beginning. I'd just have to wait until the new year to find out what would happen.
AN: So, was it good? Let me know by reviewing, OK?