Chapter XIV
The Instant Dating Game
TOMMY MEET…..
"ALRIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! SETTLE DOWN. NOW IT'S TIME FOR TED TO MEET OUR LOVELY BACHELORETTES. LET'S START WITH BACHELORETTE #1, TED PLEASE MEET TIFFANY MARX." Joe announces. Tiffany steps out sashaying over to the other side of the wall where Tom is. As soon as she takes sight of Tommy, she shrieks jumping up and down, "Oh my god!! It's-it's T-T-Tom…" then Joe immediately brought over her mouth to stop her from saying his name. Tiffany turns to look at Joe and yells, "What the hell?!" Tommy looked strangely at Joe's actions, wondering why he stopped her from saying his real name. "THANK YOU TIFFANY FOR BEING A BACHELORETTE ON THE SHOW. WE ARE WAITING TO FULLY REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF OUR BACHELOR UNTIL THE END WHEN HE IS UNITED WITH THE WINNER." "Fine!" Tiffany snapped. Tommy had extended his hand for her to shake, and then she unexpectedly jumped at him wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the lips. Tommy was in shock and didn't respond to the unexpected action and tried to release her grip from but it took two stage hands to pry her from Tommy. The audience burst into laughter at the sight and once she was distanced and dragged off stage Tommy immediately wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"SORRY ABOUT THAT TED. THAT'S A FIRST FOR US." Tommy smiled, "No problem Joe." "ALRIGHT, BACHELORETTE #2 PLEASE COME OUT AND MEET, TED!" Caitlin slowly strolls towards the wall, but peeks her head over first before actually crossing. Jude notices her hesitance and lightly pushes her enough so she's crossed over already. "TED MEET CAITLIN BARNES!" "Nice to meet you Caitlin!" Tommy says as he extends his hand out again to be shaken. Caitlin gladly accepts the gesture and says, "Hey you're not Ted you're Tommy…" Then Joe quickly steps behind Tommy shaking his head 'no' for her to not say who he really is and he places his index finger in front of lips mouthing, "SHHH," while Tommy's back is turned to him so his actions were not seen. Little did he know Tommy did notice the odd actions again and was probing as to why his real identity had not been revealed. Caitlin spoke again smiling then finally releasing Tommy's hand, "Nice to meet you too, Ted!"
"NOW THE MOMENT THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR….TED, HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW ABOUT MEETING YOUR BACHELORETTE?" "Surprisingly Joe, I'm actually really nervous, and I usually don't get nervous meeting women. I've only been nervous around one woman before and she was very special." "WELL TED, THIS MUST BE ONE VERY SPECIAL LADY BEHIND THIS WALL FOR YOU TO BE NERVOUS?" "She must be Joe." Tommy said smiling while rubbing the palms of his hands on his slack to rid the clammy feeling he'd been getting when they were about ready to bring out the winning girl. On the other side of the wall, Jude was anxiously waiting biting her well manicured nails as she waiting for the moment she would meet the man who had chosen her just from speaking to her behind a wall without knowing what she looked like. Before the show began everyone was instructed that when it was time for the bachelor to meet the lucky lady, the wall that separated them would slide back once the announcement was made, and now was that time. "TED ARE YOU READY TO MEET YOUR HOPEFULLY 'DREAM GIRL' BACHELORETTE #3?" "Yes, I am!" Tom answered excitedly. "TED, OR SHOULD I SAY 'LITTLE TOMMY Q…" The separating wall began to slide back, "….MEET BACHELORETTE #3, JUDE HARRISON!!"
The two were astonished as they heard each other's names announced by Joe. They both stood there, eyes wide opened staring blankly at the wall that separated them, now apprehensive as to what the other is thinking or going to say at this point. The barrier that had kept them apart from each other for the past hour was now about to disappear and unite them together.
The audience sat in their seats eager to see the renowned couple together. Friends and family at G-major were also vexed knowing the two had a complicated past and an even more unusual and complicated relationship. They all hoped that after this event it will finally bring them together the way they were meant to be. The scheming trio was waiting backstage thinking the same as everyone else even though this was not their intention in the first place. Another other couple was waiting observing the young couple as they were about to approach one another, and the only thing they saw in the two were themselves. Lindsay and Steven hoped that Jude and Tommy would realize and declare their love for one another before it was too late.
Jude and Tommy both took that last few steps towards the center of the stage, their heads bowed down and eyes focused at their feet, then the wall finally reached its end. They stood there frozen, slowly raised their heads so their gazes would meet and finally made eye contact with few feet of distance between them just like in the studio with the glass between them.
"Jude?!" Tommy calls out. "Tommy?!" Jude replied in the same tone. The audience watched the two with even more anticipation from when their names were announced. Jude looked at him with tears forming from eyes not believing that the man she loved had chosen her without knowing it was her just on the other side. Tommy couldn't believe it either, that even with the obstacles of the wall and voice changes made he had still chosen 'his Jude.' Jude's frozen figure was now thawed out, and without warning she threw herself at Tommy latching her arms around his neck and locking them tightly. Tommy wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and lifted her off the floor. In each others arms eyes closed, they drew in each others scent just as they had done earlier. Tommy finally placed Jude back on the floor as he heard Joe finally speak.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR BACHELOR AND BACHELORETTE #3, TOMMY QUINCY AND JUDE HARRISON!! LET'S GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE LOVELY COUPLE!" The crowd roared in delight seeing the famous couple together. They held each others hand side by side smiling and waving at the audience and listened to Joe as he continued, "TOMMY SINCE YOUR CHOICE MATCHED THE FAVORITE OF OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND VIEWERS AT HOME, YOU AND JUDE WILL ENJOY AN ALL EXPENSE PAID DINNER THIS EVENING AT CAFÉ L'AMOUR AND THEN YOU WILL BE WISKED OFF TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO THE ROMANTIC AND SECLUDED TURTLE ISLAND IN FIJI. EVERYONE, I'M YOUR HOST JOE STONE OF THE INSTANT DATING GAME, HERE IN TORONTO, CANADA, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT!"
As everything died down in the studio Jude and Tommy walked to the back of the stage hand-in-hand where the refreshment table was fully stocked again. "That was you earlier at this table wasn't it? You were the one I had bumped into, I knew it was you! I thought I was dreaming!" Jude said "Yea it was! I thought I was hallucinating earlier!" Tommy replied. "You too?!" "Yea! When I was standing here before, I know this will sound stupid, but I smelled you." "Gee, thanks a lot Quincy you sure know how to ruin a moment!" Jude said teasingly knowing what he had really meant. "I didn't mean it like that!" Tommy said as he pulled her into his arms. "I know, I was kidding! I actually smelled you too. It's the scent you have when you've just taken a shower and your cologne," Jude explained. "Exactly! I noticed your shampoo and your perfume!" "And your voice!" They shouted out together. "You too!" They said in unison, and then laughed noticing what had just happened. The couple just stared at each other and finally joined together in a long awaited kiss full of love and passion until an "Ahem!" was heard behind them.
Along the side of the back stage little did they know, Tommy and Jude had a little audience observing them and listening to their conversation as best as they could. "So how long have they been in this 'little dance'?" Lindsay asked. "About 5 years." Kwest replied. "Wow! I'm impressed. And it took their friends, family and a show to bring them together." Lindsay stated. "Well, that's what we're hoping for. They were together very briefly but some things had broken them up." Mason said referring to Hunter mentally then he quickly glanced at Sadie, and she nodded in agreement knowing she was also the hindrance of the two becoming a couple.
The group finally approached the couple and Mason interrupted, "Ahem!" Jude and Tommy slowly parted trying to savor every moment of the kiss they had just shared and grinned happily. They remained together with their fingers entwined and turned to face them.
"So, did you three have something to do with this?" Tommy asked pointing at Kwest, Sadie and Mason. "Well…at first we didn't." Kwest spoke first. "But then when we arrived here and saw each other at the refreshment table and found out that you were both on the show we were thinking that maybe this would work to our advantage and bring you two together." Sadie explained. "Oh, so that's the reason for the change of pitches in our voice." Jude said. "Yes it is, but we really could not have done it without the help of these two," Mason said pointing at Lindsay and Steven who were smiling at the young couple seeing themselves in the two many years ago.
"Why did you two want to do this?" Jude wondered. "Well, we know exactly what you tow have gone through, but we weren't as stubborn." Lindsay said. "How so?" Jude asked. "We met along time ago like you two around your ages when you first met. We had the same problems, age difference, family and friends disapproving of our relationship," Lindsay started. "But we were always friends no matter what and no one could take that from us. We knew that we cared for each other deeply and that love was there but we weren't ready to admit it, Steven explained.
"So what made you two finally admit or say that you loved each other?" Tommy asked this time. "It was about 5 years ago. Steven and I took a vacation together to the Bahamas. We were already really close at that time, had gone out a few times not as friends though, and had shown some affection toward each other. We were walking on a beach and the sight was so beautiful," Lindsay said as she began to remember that night then Steven continued. "The sun was setting and we were on our way to a café by the beach that had outdoor seating. We stopped for a bit, sat in this rock that was in the middle of the beach and it was like a sofa just no cushions. Anyways, we sat in it and watched the sunset and as it left a glow just below the horizon I told Lindsay that I loved her." "I said 'I love you' back, and since then we've pretty much been inseparable. We of course had problems, broke up for few hours, a day was the most, but no matter what happened we always managed to find our way back together, we couldn't live without each other," Lindsay finalized with a smile. "So how long have you two been married?" Sadie asked. "4 years now," Steven replied, "and it's been the best 4 years so far and I'm excited for whatever happens next." "Really?" Lindsay asked. "Yes I am," her husband replied. "So would you be really excited about having kids?" Lindsay asked. "Of course I would be. We talked about having kids someday." As the two were having this unusual conversation, it was now everyone else's turn to watch the love bird producers in action. Lindsay smiled at Steven before she continued, "Well how about now? I'm 4 weeks pregnant with twins!" "What?! How?! When?! And why didn't you tell me?!" Steven asked in his state of shock. "I found out 2 weeks ago from the doctors and I was just finding out the right time to tell you. And since were having this happy memory here, I just figured now was a good time. So are you happy?! "Of course I am! I'm ecstatic!" Steven said as hugged his wife lifting her off the floor.
Everyone in the room clapped and congratulated Lindsay and Steven for their happy news. The last to wish them well were Tommy and Jude. The pair went up to the blissful couple, "Congratulations you two! We hope that we'll be as happy together as you two someday," Jude said. "You two will be very happy together. I can see it in your eyes, the way you look at each other. Now the both of you just have to find the courage to admit it," Lindsay replied. "Admit what?" Tommy asked. "That you love each other. It's the first step. Once you conquer that, then nothing can stop you after that. If you love for each other is as strong as I think it is, then no matter what happens between you two nothing and no one will get in the way and you will always find your way back to each other," Steven explained then the four hugged.
"Awww, what a happy little family!" Tiffany sarcastically said rolling her eyes as she sauntered towards the group. Caitlin was along side of her but quickly passed her and hugged Jude and congratulated her again. "What the hell do you want you bleach-blonde-bimbo?!" Jude said angrily walking towards Tiffany. "I want what's rightfully mine!" She shot back. "And what's that?!" "Him!!" Tiffany pointed at Tommy and tried pulling him by the arm. Tommy scoffed at her declaration and pulled back, then Jude jumped in front and launched herself at Tiffany, but Tommy was too quick and grabbed her by the waist before she could do anymore damage. "You are crazy! He's not yours and never will be! If he did want you, don't you think he would've chosen you?!" Jude yelled out. "But of course you wouldn't be able to comprehend because there's nothing but air in that pea size brain of yours!" "This show was rigged! It was all a set up to boost publicity for you two!" Tiffany accused angrily. "I'm going to sue!" She continued. "You can do ahead and try," Steven spoke out. "You see, we'd spoken to the Execs of the show and informed them of the situation before the show began and we got their approval for EVERYTHING that happened tonight. So it wasn't rigged and everything was based on the audience's votes and phoned-in votes, also we had no idea who they were until today. You can go ahead and try and if you proceed, we will counter sue you, and I promise you will lose!" Lindsay stated. Tiffany was speechless at the producer's response and so she cocked her head and marched out of the studio. "Wow! I've never seen you this angry before." Steven said in shock at his wife's sudden outburst. "It's pregnancy hormones babe. So just a warning for the next 8 months until these kids are born, don't fuck with me." Lindsay replied with a wide smile and satisfaction on her face.
"Alright everyone, we have to go." Lindsay began again, "but we will do a follow-up show with the both of you in 1 month to see how tonight's dinner went and your trip to Turtle Island." "Which you two should be leaving for right now!" Steven interrupted. Everyone said their final good-byes to each other and left the studio, luckily they had been in the studio for quite a while security was able to get rid of the paparazzi's that were outside waiting for the couple. Kwest, Sadie and Mason left and went back to G-Major to see everyone and what their thoughts were on the show.
Jude and Tommy went to on their first real couple date, not just as friends with benefits to Café L'Amour. "So, you ready for our date Big Eyes?" Tommy asked as he took Jude in his arms for one more hug and kiss before getting in the limo. "As ready as I'll ever be!" Jude replied and joined her lips with his deepening the kiss and then they were off.