Chapter V – Part I
Dates of Past, Present & Future
It was 12:30 in the afternoon and Jude was starving. She steps out of the studio seeking Mason and found him in studio B working on a song. "Hey Mase, are ready for lunch?!" She asks eagerly to get some food in her growling stomach. He hears the noise, "Damn girl, they must be really workin' you hard for you to be that loud!" "Shut up! Let's go before I get really cranky!" Mason just shakes his head and laughs as they exit the building.
At the diner with Jude and Mason
After a 5 minute walk they arrive at a little diner, one of the many places they go to kill their hunger. They're shown to their seats by the waitress and given glasses of water. Jude and Mason briefly look at the simple menu. "I'll have the chicken club sandwich, side of fries and soda please," Jude orders and Mason quickly adds on "I would like the Philly cheese steak sandwich, onion rings and soda also, thank you." "Coming right up," the waitress replies with a smile as she notes down their order.
"So how was the tour Mason?!" Jude asks excitedly. It's been 2 years since she's been on tour to the U.S. "It was great! All the concerts were sold out!" Mason replies. "I couldn't believe how packed the halls and stadiums were, it was unbelievable!" He adds on with satisfaction that his tour was a success. "Did you get any down time while you were there?" Jude asks. "Ya we did. While we were in California we stopped at the aquarium, zoo and amusement park. Oh! We even went to a couple to game shows and sat in the audience." "Really, what shows?" Jude wonders. "Well we sat in on 'The Price is Right' (I do not own the show) and on the 'Instant Dating Game.'" "What are they about?" Jude inquires. "Well 'The Price is Right' is where they call people from the audience and they have to guess the price of items without going over its original amount. If you are the closest to it then you win the item. After that 1st part if you win then you get to go on stage and play more games till you get to the last part of the game. If you do well on all of the games you end up competing with one other person who did as well as you. If you make it to the very end, then you're lucky 'cuz you get all of the prizes." "Sounds like fun!" Jude responds with a smile. "Ya it was! Thank god I wasn't called 'cuz I would've never made it. You know me and shopping, I could care less about the price as long as I like it!" Jude replies, "true" with a laugh. "So what about the other one, the dating game one?" she adds. They are briefly interrupted as they waitress serves their food.
Back at G-Major in hospitality where Tom and Kwest are eating their lunch, pizza.
"So T, why was the door locked earlier this morning?" Kwest curiously asks with a half smile. "No reason, Jude probably accidentally locked it when she came in, I was busy mixing some beats for Speed's song." "Sure, whatever you say man." Kwest retorts back. "What's that suppose to mean?" Tommy snaps. "Look, as long as I've known you two, I know something's got to be going on." "Kwest man, we are not even together, we just friends, nothing more." "Uh, huh. Friends that I see holding hands every so often, stare at each other like there's no tomorrow, give each other kisses- on the lips I might add and not to mention hold each other as if they were together." Kwest shakes his head with amusement. "I saw you two just a minute ago sucking face in the studio while I was setting up in the booth. Do you think I am that clueless?! Friends my ass!! Friends with benefits no doubt." "No Kwest! No benefits whatsoever!" 'Well, maybe a few.' Tom thinks to himself.
"We just really trust each other more than before and we are comfortable being with each other. That's all. And besides, Jude's not like that and you know it." "Ya I know Jude's not like that. But what about you man? You and your crazy sex drive! And what is with you and your dates lately? Ever since you came back from your trip and started working here you haven't been the same." "And your point is?!" Tom states. "My point is….is that you've changed. Like 2 weeks ago, your date, that long legged blonde. She was practically all over you here in the studio on the couch over there and you did nothing except make out
with her. And what surprised me the most is your hands stayed in one place." "I was trying to be a gentleman." "Gentleman, shit! Are you serious?!" Kwest barks out. "Yes I am." Tom calmly replies with a smile. "Then what about just last week. You had that fine brunette here. And she was literally getting down and dirty on you, and….and you literally picked her up and told her that it's not right for her to do
that. Are you nuts!? You are not the same Tom that I use to know." Kwest points out. "So…maybe I have changed and maybe for the better. It would be nice to have a woman that I can talk to sometimes about life or music and at least show some interest in something else other than me or herself. Is there anything wrong with wanting that?" "Nothing. I guess I'm just shocked with this 360 you did." "I'm just trying to be a better man. Is there any harm in that?" "No there's not." Kwest replies with guilt.
Back at the diner.
"Oh, the 'Instant Dating Game.' That one was a hoot!" Mason speaks excitedly. "Why is that?" Jude asks as she takes bite of her sandwich. After swallowing his food Mason replies, "Well in that show there's either 1 bachelor or bachelorette that's looking for a date. Then there are 3 bachelors or bachelorettes that are the contestants which the 1 single guys or girl gets to choose from." "So what's wrong with that?" Jude asks then pops a couple of fries in her mouth and takes a sip of her soda. "Well see the catch is that the single person and the contestants are separated by a wall and no one know what each other looks like, except for the 3 contestants because they sit on the other side of the wall together." "Oohhh! I get it! So how does the single guy or girl choose their date?" Jude asks. "That's when the fun begins!" Mason begins to laugh. "The single guy or girl gets to ask the 3 contestants some questions of his choice. The questions are unbelievable, but then so are the answers. Then at the end of the show the single guy or girl gets to choose his date. Oh, but get this….the show pays for the date at the end." "Really?!? Jude comments with a surprised tone. "Yup, but there's a catch to that too. The studio audience gets to participate. At the end of the show, the audience gets to vote which of the 3 contestants is best for the single guy or girl. And the single person gets to make his own choice at the end too. Now whoever of the 3 contestants gets the highest percentage of votes is the audience choice. For the audiences' choice the date for the couple is a trip for 5 nights and 4 days to some place. For the single guys choice the show plans something local." "Oh, well that sucks for the single person," Jude comments. "Not really," and Mason begins to explain. "If the single person's choice happens to match the audience's choice then the lucky couple gets the trip." "Well, it's not that bad then I guess. I would be scared if I had strangers choose my date." Jude says. "I know I would." Mason comments back.
"Speaking of dates? How has your past couple of dates been?" Mason curiously asks. "Ok, I guess. There just dates, nothing serious." "Hun, from the pictures you showed me they looked pretty serious!" "I don't know Mase, they just didn't interest me." "How so?" He asks. "Well the one 2 weeks ago, tall, blonde, green eyes, a bod that was not bad, he was too self involved. He constantly kept talking about himself, how he works out and flexes his muscles, please! That's just over doing it. Then to top it off! He was constantly checking himself out every chance he got. Either passing by a mirror, a window where he can see his reflection, oh and get this when we were at the restaurant he even used the back of his spoon!" Jude begins to laugh hard as she recalls that night. "I wanted to laugh right there, but I just didn't have the heart." Mason begins to laugh as he imagines that night himself. "What about that other one just last week, black hair and hazel eyes. He was a definite hottie!" Mason continues. "Ughh! He was worse. All he did was stare at me from the time we met all throughout dinner. Eww! Then he has the nerve to start groping me, and we just met. I just up and left him and I didn't care!" "Aww hun, I'm sorry." Mason comments sadly.
"Ya know Mase it would be nice to find someone who's just normal and decent for a change. Someone who wasn't self absorbed, someone I could talk to and would actually listen." "I know Jude." Mason replies with a comforting voice. "I have not had that in a long time. Shoot, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had that." Jude shakes her head in disappointment. "Hey, what about Quincy? He seems to have changed quite a bit since he's been back." "We decided a long time ago before he left that we would be just friends, nothing more." Then she subconsciously picks up the pendant from her neck and rubs it between her thumb and finger tracing the initials engraved on it. "Jude, from what you've told me while I was on tour and what I saw before I left, there's gotta be something there. I mean I see how you two are. You walk together hand-in-hand, you kiss each other on the lips and it's not even a peck most of the time." Jude smile at the s thought as she's listening to Mason. "He's even comes up behind and wraps his arms around you like there's no tomorrow. And I'm pretty sure that you've probably done a little bit more with
Quincy haven't you?!" He questions wiggling eyebrows. "Mason, nothing is going on between me and
Tommy. And besides, it won't work. I don't think he's ready for commitment." "But from what I've seen, the things that you two do you seem pretty committed to me. Normal friends don't do what you two do." Mason states his observation. "I know. We just happen to be very comfortable with each other. And right now, despite all that has happened in the past between us, Tom is the only person I trust and am comfortable to be an affectionate with." "Jude Elizabeth! What have you done with Tommy Quincy?!" Mason questions in a harsh manner. "Nothing! My gosh Mase nothing. You know I'm saving myself for the right person and for the right time." "You mean Tommy don't you?" Mason asks with a smirk. "Shut it!" Jude retorts with a hidden smile.