"One drink and the pain goes down, soft shadows lay by her feet. Lay soft as you slowly drown, lay still as you fall asleep."
"Like violence, you have me. Forever, and after. Like violence, you kill me. Forever, and after."
Violence
Jude's first song to hit number one on the charts was 'My Sweet Time' back in 2006. It'd been on the radio for quite some time, slowly crawling up the charts, but it had made it, and turned Jude's life right side up again at the time. Because once again, at that time Tommy had left her heartbroken, just like now.
(You took my hand, you showed me how, you promised me you'd be around. Uh huh. That's right.)
'Who Knew?' was the decided title to the song that Charlie and Jude had worked all night on. The girls didn't even see their bed till almost ten o clock the following morning, but slept well with a perfectly recorded song, ready to be thrown on an album. When they'd woken up early that afternoon, their first stop was Jamie's and after hearing the song himself, he didn't wait to have Zeppelin make her calls. After a little tweaking to the song himself, it was e-mailed out to the radio DJ's throughout the province.
(I took your words and I believed, in everything you said to me. Yeah huh. That's right.)
Like she had been an Instant Star, the single itself was an instant hit, climbing up the charts within just a few days. When in London, she had missed home terribly, and after her tour for her third album, she spent the end of 2008 in studio. Singles started leaking out to the radio early '09, so 'Who Knew?' was not only a treat as a new Jude Harrison single in over a year, but a rockin' song on top of it.
(If someone said three years from now, you'd be long gone. I'd stand up and punch them out. 'Cause they're all wrong.)
Buormonsey Records gave Jude a call when the single was getting known worldwide. They were curious to why MTV had called wanting to put together a music video for a song they were oblivious that Jude had recorded. The phone call wasn't pretty, and didn't end well. She had told them she didn't want the Rock Star life anymore, that she missed her home. They bargained to keep her living in Toronto, and London, flying back and forth to record when she was in session.
(I know, better, 'cause you said forever. And ever.)
When Jude wasn't accepting their offers, they threatened to sue her, however in the end, when she asked to speak with the Manager of the studio, he discontinued her contract without legal action, but it struck her record hard. She dropped them flat without warning and put out self produced singles on her own. Not something appealing to a studio who wants to sign artists. It wasn't a good trust factor.
(Who knew?)
Many radio stations called in for an over the air interview, and she only turned a few down, figuring it best to let her fans know she was still alive. DAS Studios contacted her once 'Who Knew?' hit number one, wanting her to perform live on set with Vince Boss, their late night talk show host. She'd had a few different offers, but took DAS up on that one since it was the studio Michael worked at and she knew Vince from small run ins with Michael and Sadie.
Sadie, Charlie, and Jamie waited backstage as Jude performed solo with DAS' band playing the correct notes to the song. The audience was over the top thrilled to see her show up, since she'd been a surprise performance that night.
"Remember when we were such fools, and so convinced and just too cool. Oh no. No, no." she sang, pushing the memories behind the song away, and trying to put on a great show for her fans. "I wish I could touch you again. I wish I could still call you a friend. I'd give, anything."
The music picked up, and Jude quickly threw herself into the chorus, pulling the mic from its' stand and walking along the perimeter of the small stage. "When someone said 'count your blessings now, 'fore they're long gone.' I guess I just didn't know how. I was all wrong. They knew, better. Still you said forever. And ever. Who knew?"
The intro guitar notes played with a bit of percussion as Jude mumbled out a simple, "Yeah, yeah." And the music continued repeating as a bridge between the last half of the song. "I'll keep you locked in my head. (My head.) Until we meet again. (Meet again.) Until we, until we meet again. I won't forget you my friend. What happened?"
The drummer quickly hit the snare drum higher and higher, pushing the song into the chorus, and with a hit to the cymbal, Jude jumped back in, still holding the mic in her hand, but staying center stage. "If someone said three years from now, you'd be long gone, I'd stand up and punch the—em out! 'Cause they're a—all wrong and!"
The music was more powerful throughout the chorus this time, and Jude let the music take her in. Her eyes closed and this time around, she couldn't help but let herself drown in the memories of herself and Tommy. "That last kiss, I'll cherish, until we meet agai—in. When time makes, it harder! I wish I could remember! But I'll keep, your memory! You visit me in my sleep. My darlin', who knew?"
Once again, the introduction notes played as the bass player retired from the skit. The drummer and guitarists continued to play out the remaining part of the song, as Jude pulled herself back into reality, sadly singing, "My darlin', my darlin'." and shaking Tommy from her thoughts.
Placing the mic back in it's holder, Jude sang out a strained, "Who knew?" before quietly singing again, "My darlin', I miss you. My darlin',"
Bringing eye contact to the audience, "Who knew?" she sang as the drummer cut his performance leaving just the guitarist playing the simple twelve notes before Jude finished with a quiet, "Who knew?" and the studio fell silent as the song came to it's end.
However the silence wasn't there for long before the crowd applauded like crazy. Whistles were heard, people stood up, and Jude couldn't help but smile as she turned to the band and thanked them with a nod.
"Jude Harrison everybody!" Vince said, standing from his seat and waving her over. "Who Knew? It's her new song out killing the charts right now." Looking to Jude she was just making her way to the couch near his seat. The set was set up close to most night show talk hosts sets. A desk was before Vince's seat and a couch and chair sat to it's left for their guest that night.
The large window showed the night life behind them, a truly breathtaking site as the set was nicely decorated for a comfortable atmosphere. "Jude, tell us," Vince spoke, taking his seat as she did. "Where'd the song come from? Last song we heard from you was back in early 2009. Is there a new album in the mix?"
Jude shook her head. "No new album. I'm currently not signed with a record company at the moment." She confessed receiving a curious look from Vince.
The guy was probably in his early thirties, with dark hair and bright green eyes. He had dimples almost permanently stuck to his cheeks with a smile to die for. His looks and personality made him a well known talk show host throughout the country and it was probably the main reason she agreed to the appearance.
"No record company?" he asked, "Then how…?"
She smiled before looking over her shoulder and pointing to Jamie standing off set near Sadie and Charlie. "I wrote the song with my roommate and we produced it through NBR under management of James Andrews."
Vince nodded his head knowingly now understanding. "Ah. NBR going to be with whom you sign with next?"
Jude shook her head. "I'm actually gonna ride solo for a while. I'm not ready to jump to recording once again."
A bunch of groans were heard from the audience voicing their disappointment of the idea. "I've had a busy couple of years since I've been eighteen and I'm ready to take a breath a relax for a while. I mean… 'Who Knew?' came out of nowhere, so I may sneak a few more songs out now and then if inspiration strikes, but… For now I wanna ride it out."
Adjusting in his seat to face her better, Vince went with what she had to say. "Lets do a recap here of your career, shall we? I mean, you win Instant Star, and your debut album flops." He announces, as Jude slightly winced at the memory. "But that doesn't stop you."
Cheers were heard from the audience at that, and Jude had to smile. "I'm thinking it was the red hair." She joked. "Since I've gone blonde I haven't had a bad album."
Vince laughed before turning to the audience. "Did no one like red haired Jude?" but the audience disagreed profoundly. A few requests were heard from her first album as the songs, 'Skin,' 'Twenty-Four,' and 'Your Eyes,' were shouted through the crowd.
"I guess you could die your hair blue and it wouldn't matter anymore." He said while turning back to Jude who had a beaming smile across her face. "Anyway, your first album didn't do so well, but your second one goes platinum. My Sweet Time hit number one—your first single to hit that spot, and then around time for the third Instant Star competition you posted those pictures on your website."
Jude shifted in her seat a bit, not uncomfortable about the memory, just it'd been a while since she'd even thought of that. It was almost five years ago. "I made a mistake, and I paid for it. If I offended anyone, I've apologized, but it just comes to show I'm human too."
"You are." Vince agreed. "But after your second album you were a bit quiet there. No tour followed this time, and we almost didn't see your third album for over a year."
"And a crazy year it was." She confessed. "I turned eighteen, lost a friend. I was in my first serious adult relationship. G Major closed, G Major opened. It was nuts."
"The first version of your third flopped as well." Vince pointed out, receiving a nod from Jude. "But the remix sold big time, and even got you recognized over in London."
That time of her life always made her a bit uneasy to talk about, however she wasn't going to show her being soft over it. "The incident where I was held hostage is actually what caught Buormonsey Records eye with me. G Major was a phase of my life I'd been wanting to get away from for a while and London was a great escape."
"There were a few rumors that you and Tommy Q had been engaged at the time before you chose to leave. Wanna clarify that?" Vince asked and she was a bit shocked at his question. Not once did she ever hear that anyone knew of her and Tommy's engagement.
She knew her hesitance to the question was pretty much a dead giveaway and if she answered honestly it would possibly lead down to a whole line of questions of their relationship that she just did not want to talk about on national television. "I don't really want to comment on my relationship with Tommy."
Giving her an understanding nod, Vince put a hand up. "Understood." He simply said. "So, if London was such a great escape for you… Why the return?"
"When I got to London I was ready for my own adventures, I wanted to live the life that Buormonsey Records was putting me in, and I did. I just missed home, and going out wasn't the same knowing my real friends and family were thousands of miles away."
"And you've been back since?"
"Last February. I toured a small tour for my third album, and when that was finished I wrote like crazy, got everything recorded, and by the end of January I was packing to come home while the studio did the final mixing." She answered, not thinking twice if her return home was really worth the while now.
He knew by asking the question he was taking a risk, but Vince had to keep the audience entertained. "Seems the first thing you got back when you returned was your former boyfriend, true?"
Keeping a smile on her face, Vince saw it was fake, and Jude knew he could tell she wasn't happy with the question, but didn't dodge it. "Yes, Tommy and I did get back together, but currently we're not together anymore, but like I said earlier I'd rather not comment on our relationship. It's one thing to ask about my personal life, but when it's involving other people like Tommy… You should ask him."
"Could this new song have any relevance to Tom?" Vince asked, and Jude couldn't believe how he just wouldn't give up.
With defeat in her sigh, she confessed, "I had Tommy in mind when this was written."
A good reaction was heard through the crowd, but Jude didn't think twice about it. She was having too hard of a time keeping herself together on stage after performing the song and now talking about how it was inspired. "Well, I hope you the best for you two." Vince said sincerely. "You seem to miss him."
In a way it was his way of apologizing for pushing the matter, and even though she didn't completely accept his apology, she appreciated the effort. "Like I said earlier. I'm ready to just live my life and relax. I chose rock star over normal two years ago and now I'm ready to live normal."
"And I'm sure you'll still take us all by storm." Vince replied before looking to the audience and then back to Jude. "We've got you here for a while more, but do you mind before we cut to a commercial if you give us one of those performances the audience was requesting earlier from your first album?"
The audience began shouting once again, and Jude couldn't deny them what they were asking of her. Putting a grin on her face, she asked for an acoustic guitar before making her way to where she performed 'Who Knew?' and began playing 'Twenty Four' for the crowd.
Seeing him hood up and glasses on, Milo prepared himself for his session with Tommy. After Jude left for London Tommy came into studio everyday hiding himself behind glasses, and Milo learned once not to piss him off when he was in those moods.
Having heard all the gossip the past week and a half over Jude's new single, Tommy had been too busy to catch it until he downloaded it that morning and threw it on his iPod. Now finally listening to the song it was making the heartbreak even worse.
"Quincy can we try to get through this session without breaking anything? I have a date I don't want to be late for." Milo said from the booth.
Tommy looked up, but before he could reply, Darius came in the studio, demanding his presence in his office. "Milo's session can be put on hold."
Ignoring Milo's comment, Tommy followed after Darius, unsure of why his boss was summoning him to his office. However his thoughts were answered when he saw paused on Darius' television was Jude from the television performance she made the other night. "You see this?" Darius asked, hitting 'play' and allowing the show to go on.
"Your fourth album and first out of the G Major studios was different from your second and third. A little softer. I mean… You're number one hit for the album was 'That Was Us,' and it was a ballad."
Jude nodded her head before commenting on his statement. "It was different because I wrote a lot of my feelings. I was on my own, missing my family and friends. Everything was different."
"So the songs all originated from real life experiences?"
"Not exactly. Like I said, a lot of it was how I was feeling, but some were just for fun. But—"
Darius paused the show, looking to Tommy. "Did you know about the single she put out?"
Rolling his eyes, Tommy welcomed himself to a seat. "That's why you called me in here?"
"That," Darius replied, "and I had a few things to run by you."
Tommy watched Darius walk around his desk and sit before him. "What do you think Jude would say if I offered her a contract again? More freedom this time."
"You think she'd sign with G Major?" Tommy scoffed. "You gotta be kidding me."
Getting upset with his answer, Darius asked, "Well why not? We put out two platinum albums for the girl. I've always given her what she wants for the most part."
"D," Tommy cut in, shaking his head at Darius' rambling. "You only offer her stuff when she's on good side with the publicity. Her tour ratings came in for 'My Returns' tour when she was back in town, and that's when you offered to negotiate it the first time—she's not stupid."
"You think I only want to sign her because she's getting good ratings again?" Darius asked with the irritation obvious in his tone.
Nodding his head, Tommy stood to his feet. "Why else does anyone want to sign an artist? But you pick and chose with Jude. You only want her when things are going bad with other artists and she's doing good."
"Watch it, T. I can say the same about you." And no sooner did those words leave Darius' mouth did Tommy throw his fist down on top of Darius' desk.
Anger now lining his own voice, Tommy spit out, "You've lost Kwest, Andrews, Liam, Sadie, and Jude from this record label because of how manipulative you are. Using all of them. Don't you dare accuse me of using Jude."
No words were replied back from Darius after Tommy's warning. Tommy only turned on his heel and excused himself from the office before stalking into the lobby. He needed a drink is what he needed. However, Tommy's thoughts and actions were put on hold as he collided into a familiar face on the way to studio A.
"Whoa, sorry… Barker?" Tommy stuttered out, straightening his posture, recognizing whom he bumped into.
Travis Barker, former Blink-182 drummer, was getting well known to the G Major studios the past few years. Knowing Darius after drumming some beats for Shay, he'd been called in a few times to record tracks for the artists listed within the studio. Tommy had produced the final mixes of all the tracks Travis recorded and the two had formed a small friendship over the sessions.
"Quincy, man, how's it goin' bro?" he asked, holding out his hand that Tommy shook back.
Raising his eyes, he replied, "It's goin'. You here for an artist?"
Travis nodded. "Yea' some new chick. Dunno her name."
"I can check on that for ya." Tommy told him, and Travis gave him a nod in return. "How long you gonna be in town for?"
Travis sighed, "Uh, not too sure. I was up here originally for a 'Famous' shoot this weekend, but that got canceled." That certainly got Tommy's attention, and Travis noticed it. "Yeah that means Calie's here, if that's what you were gonna ask man."
Seeing the knowing grin on Travis' face, Tommy smirked, but wasn't really sure if he wanted to go down that road. "She is." He replied casually.
"I can give you her new cell if you want. She's stuck in town for a while now filming for a guest appearance in some TV show. And now this weekend's free too."
Tommy ran a hand through his hair before gripping the back of his neck. "I don't know man. I don't think she'd wanna talk to me." Yet Travis was shaking his head before Tommy had a chance to continue. "I flat dumped her without any explanation and haven't talked to her since, man."
"Trust me, Tom. Trust me." His hands were up to have Tommy stop speaking. "If she treats you half of what she treats me, you're fine. I've broken her heart too, I mean… She's not one to hold a grudge."
He was silent, thinking over what to do in the situation. "You think she'd let me take her to lunch to apologize? I'm not looking to get with her again, but I mean… It always bothered me how I left things."
Travis nodded, "Here. I'll call Calie, and you go find where I'm supposed to go. She's busy today, but I'm sure you guys can get together tomorrow for sure, okay?"
It wasn't okay, but it was the best he could do with. Jude left him without a word, and Tommy basically did the same to Calie. He felt hypocritical and cruel, and never once had he been able to apologize to her. "Okay." He replied with a nod before heading over to the receptionist desk internally praying this wouldn't blow up in his face.
Buried deep below her blankets, Jude was snuggled warmly within her sheets and comforter in a peaceful sleep when her bedroom door slowly creaked open. The noise however did not disturb her as she slept on, yet the mystery person jumping on her bed did.
"Nooo," Jude wined, pulling the blanket more tightly around her. Even in her sleep, she knew who had woken her. She had been woken up like that from only one person for eighteen years.
"Yes." Sadie replied back, smiling at her sister. "C'mon Jude it's ten o clock."
A louder groan was heard this time as Jude said, "Then you should know to come back later. It's summer, I'm allowed to sleep in."
Sadie smiled and shook her head while pulling the blankets back. "We've got plans baby sister, so up and at 'em."
Jude gripped the sheets tighter, but Sadie was stronger. "I have no plans but to sleep."
"And your date." Sadie said, pulling the sheets successfully from Jude, who from Sadie's words, didn't fight it.
Sitting up, she looked to her sister, "Excuse me?" she asked.
"Your date. With Casey, or Carson—"
"Caleb." Jude replied, the irritance obvious in her tone.
Sadie nodded her head, "Yeah! That's it. Aaron said—"
Once again, Jude cut her sister off, "Aaron's not going to say anything for a very long time after I see him."
Before Sadie could question what Jude was talking about, as if on cue, Aaron strolled inside. Looking to her left, Jude grabbed a pillow and chucked it with all she could at his head, hitting him square in the face.
"Ah! Shit, dude?!" he said as the force of the pillow threw his head to hit the back of the door. "Good morning to you, too!"
"You set me up on a date with Caleb!?"
The annoyed look on his face disappeared as he noted the irritated looks on both Jude and now Sadie's face, who had caught on to why Jude was upset. "You didn't tell me she didn't know."
"Hold on, hold on." Jude cut in, "What did he tell you?"
Answering for Sadie, Aaron began to talk, but Jude quickly shushed him. "Ah, ah! I wanna hear it from Sadie."
Sadie looked to Aaron and then back to Jude. "He came over last night asking if Michael and me would double date with you and his roommate from college. I wasn't too for it, and thought Mike would say no for loyalty to Tom, but Aaron insisted it was just a friendly meeting."
"Which it is!" Aaron cut in, instantly receiving a death glare from Jude.
Sadie rolled her eyes, before going on. "Anyway, Michael took his lunch off, and Aaron said he made reservations for us at Petey's at noon today."
Sighing, Jude looked down before giving up and giving in. "Alright."
His eyes doubled in size as he looked up to Jude. "Excuse me? You're agreeing to do this?"
"Well you won't leave me alone otherwise. You already went behind my back to schedule this thing." Jude told him, annoyed.
Sadie looked between the two, before telling Jude, "Well, I don't know if I feel too comfortable doing this now, knowing you don't want to."
Shaking her head, Jude said, "It doesn't matter." Another sigh was released before she went on. "I mean, it's just lunch. What's the worse that could happen? Tommy finds out and gets jealous?"
"I don't know, Jude." Sadie told her. "If you're for it, I'm for it."
Jude nodded. "You'll be my back up if the guy turns out to be a geek?" she joked.
Nodding back to her sister, she asked, "And if this guy turns out to be Mr. Wonderful?"
That actually hadn't crossed Jude's mind. Charlie had mentioned getting a rebound guy. Aaron did as well, but never did she think by meeting his college roommate would she actually fall for him. Shrugging, she pushed away her thoughts as the reminder that this is what Tommy wanted crossed her mind and she replied, "Then Tommy should be happy, I'm happy."
Tentatively, Aaron stepped further into the room asking, "So this is a go? You'll meet him?" Jude nodded, and Aaron let out a sigh of relief. "Yes! I can finally get the guy off my back now."
Sadie rolled her eyes, as Jude asked him, "And are you joining us today for pizza?"
"Nah." He replied. "I'm getting my lip pierced at 12:30."
Both girls winced as Sadie asked, "And Lauren's letting you?"
Laughing, Aaron said, "My Mom doesn't know, are you kidding?! She'd flip!"
"And what do you think she's going to say when she sees the ring stuck in your skin?!" Sadie threw back, but Aaron didn't have an answer.
Shrugging his shoulders, he let out a small laugh. "Good thing my wonderful sisters both have very comfy couches when she kicks me out on my ass."
Sadie, Michael, and Jude got to Petey's around ten minutes till noon and were quickly seated in their reserved booth. For the time passing, they talked a bit about the wedding and Michael talked about the television appearance she made at his studio. They had higher numbers that night than they had in quite some time now.
"I just think it's amazing that you throw out one song in over a years passing and it goes to the top within days. Avril Lavigne's held the number one and four spot for almost a month." Michael raved on, "The numbers from the other night were crazy."
"What can I say?" Jude replied in a jokingly manner before the bell chimed above the door in the small pizza café.
All three heads looked to the door, and Jude swore she was going to kill Aaron when she saw him if the man standing in the doorway was his roommate. He was tall, with short dirty blonde hair. His eyes were a kind blue and when he had spotted Jude gaping at him, a sexy smile came across his face.
As he walked, his hips swayed seductively and if it weren't for Sadie kicking Jude under the table, her jaw would still be down. Aaron's roommate was a gorgeous, gorgeous man. "Jude?" he questioned, not really needing to, and the smirk on his face showed he felt a little ridiculous asking.
Her head slowly nodded up and down as a short, "Uh huh." left her lips.
He continued to smirk, trying to hold back a chuckle at his automatic effect on her as he held out his hand. "I'm Caleb. Aaron's roommate from college."
Eyes shifting to his hand he was holding out, she reached for it and shook it, replying with a, "Nice to meet you." basically breathing out the words, still in shock at how he looked. She was definitely expecting someone not attractive to her at all.
Taking the open seat in the booth beside her, he sat down and looked over to Sadie and Michael. Pulling herself back together, Jude nodded her head across the table and introduced them. "This is my sister Sadie, and her fiancé Michael."
Caleb nodded while reaching across the table, shaking Sadie's hand first, then Michael's. "Good to meet both of you."
"So you're a fan of Jude's music." Michael stated, opening up a topic of conversation.
"Yeah. I mean, on a regular basis, I probably listen to hard rock more than anything, but Jude's music kinda… I don't know, it's different, more real, I guess. The lyrics get to me."
She was blushing, she could feel it, as she muttered a soft thanks to his comment and was thankful the waitress came to take their drinks. "Hey folks, can I start you off with something to drink here?" she asked.
"I'll take a glass of lemonade," Sadie ordered first.
Glancing to Michael next, he ordered, "I'll have a beer, please."
"One beer," the waitress said aloud as she wrote down the drinks. "And you, miss?"
"I'll have a lemonade as well." Jude replied, as the waitress looked to Caleb.
"You wouldn't happen to serve Lemon Cello would you?" he asked sweetly, as the waitress sadly shook her head.
"Sorry dear. We don't." she replied as Caleb nodded in understanding.
"I'll just make it simple and order a beer as well." He said with a smile.
The waitress dismissed herself and Michael was the first to ask, "Lemon Cello? It an alcoholic drink?"
Nodding, "Yea. It's real good, you should try it sometime."
Curious to know, Jude shifted a bit to look at him better as she asked, "How old are you?"
"Twenty four." He answered before asking, "You're twenty one, right?"
Jude nodded. "Yeah. Birthday was in April."
A grin came across his face as he replied, "Mine too. How weird is that?"
Jude chuckled before saying, "I've never met anyone else who's had a birthday in April. That's what's weird."
The waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders and let the four continue to chat. They learned that Caleb was going to med school for the same reasons Aaron was—their mother. He wanted to race cars, whether NASCAR or street, it didn't matter. His father before he took off without a word had taught him just about anything he needed to know on building cars, and that's what he did best.
"I've got a Mustang that's got so much money invested in it right now…" Caleb said while taking a bite of his pizza. "It's insane."
Swallowing her own bite Jude asked, "How do you afford all the parts if you still go to school?"
"Races." He answered. "I know they're illegal, and dangerous, but it pays for it in the end. I have my car, and I love my car."
"I have a mustang, but it's way old." Jude told him. "My old manager fixed it up for me, but nothing to race with."
Sadie let out a chuckle. "You better not race that thing. If the race doesn't kill you first I will."
Holding his hand up to explain first, Caleb said to Jude while looking at Sadie, "Not in a race, but—" turning his gaze to Jude, he offered, "—if you want I'll take ya out sometime in my mustang. Go on a back road and I'll show you how fast it can go—I mean you feel the power in that thing."
A smile she couldn't hold back was spread over her face as she looked into his eyes answering, "I'd love to."
She wasn't sure if they were in a moment or not, but their waitress definitely ruined it if they were. "Okay guys, here's your bill. If you need anything else let me know. It's always a pleasure seeing Petey's filled with known faces here."
Jude smiled at the old lady before asking, "Who else is here?"
Nodding a few booths to Jude's back the waitress answered, "Tom Quincy's back there. Been here for a while now."
Jude couldn't remember ever moving that fast as she turned in her seat and looked over the back of the booth toward the back wall where Tommy was sitting. Michael and Sadie both stood up as well and stupidly Michael asked, "Is that Calie?"
The name hit Jude like a hard brick and she was frozen in place, watching Tommy interact with the mystery girl whom Michael had identified as his ex girlfriend. The one he'd been seeing when she returned from London. The model. The girl that was everything she wasn't.
Throwing her hand at Michael's chest, Sadie shot him a glare, not believing he had said that with Jude right there. However before Sadie could chew out Michael, Jude said, "You've got to be shitting me." Before crawling over the booth to the vacant one behind her and out onto the floor.
"Jude!" Sadie called after her, but Jude was determined and in no way stopping her actions as she marched down to Tommy's booth.
When Jude and Tommy started dating again, Calie was only discussed once when she had asked who he had been dating, and World War III erupted. Out of all the people he had to seriously be involved with, he had to choose a model? Jude was outraged, but in the end, couldn't fight him on it when she'd left him thinking she was never coming back.
Yet seeing Calie in a 'Famous Stars and Straps' add, and seeing her in real life was two different things. She was definitely model type with a small waist, curvy figure, big boobs—the whole deal. She had thick brown hair that ran to the middle part of her back, and shaped her face to point out the angelic features she was born with.
Her eyes were probably what Jude was most jealous over. They were a deep blue, almost like the ocean and in every picture she'd seen her in, they stood out more than anything. While walking up to the two of them, Calie had been laughing at something Tommy had said, Jude assumed. Her hand was covering her mouth and Tommy was fighting back his own laughter when Jude approached the table.
"Hi." She said quickly. Looking over the two, she saw the surprise in both their features. Sure, Calie recognized her, Jude saw the shock and somewhat panic overcome her, as for Tommy looked like he was ready to shit himself.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Jude held up her hand and beat him to the punch. "Save it. I just came over to say it's okay." She said, keeping herself together before she started to scream. Her eyes landed on Tommy's. "I'm fine with…" waving her hands between the two of them she finished with, "This is okay. Be happy with each other."
"Jude," Tommy said, finally cutting in and feeling Calie's gaze burn him knowing she was wondering what he was going to say.
"No." Jude quickly said while stepping to the side and pointing down to her own booth in which Sadie, Michael and Caleb were all looking down to her from. "I'm on a date too, see. It's okay."
Hearing she was on a date nearly made him jump out of his seat, except he was too frozen to do so. Too in shock to do anything other than eye the little punk sitting across from Sadie. "You're on a date?" he asked, hoping he'd heard her wrong.
Her head nodded assuredly. "Yep. And it's okay for you too. Don't be shy, spread the word, Tommy. I'm fine with it." Before he could say anything, Jude turned on her heel and walked back to her booth where Caleb scooted over, and Jude sat closely beside him.
"Who was that?" Caleb asked, as Jude plopped down in her seat.
Shaking her head, she said, "Just an old friend."
Caleb looked over his shoulder to Tommy and luckily caught his gaze, seeing it angry and bothered. A chuckle left his lips as he looked back to the table, "You sure about that? He looks pissed."
Occupying herself with a straw wrapper, Jude said, "Good," before Sadie cleared her throat.
"I think we should get outta here." She said as Michael nodded quickly.
Caleb looked down to Jude, seeing her silently nod as she continued to pick at the straw wrapper. Clearing his throat, he got everyone's attention before saying, "Well, you guys should come over to my place this weekend. I'm having a pool party and a big barbeque."
Sadie, who was sliding out of the booth with Michael close behind her, looked to Jude to see what she wanted to do. Abandoning her current activity, she caught Sadie's eye, but quickly looked to Caleb, nodding her head. "Sure. That'd be great."
His face lit up as he looked to Sadie and Michael also nodding that they'd come. "Awesome. Uh, here," he said while grabbing a pen and a napkin. "Here's my number, just give me a call and I'll tell you how to get to my place."
Jude took the napkin with a smile before scooting out of the booth. "And if you wanna chat or something, you can call too." He added on while sliding out as well and standing before her. Needing to look up a bit to see him, it only made him more attractive at how he looked down to her with that sweet smirk on his face. "My cell's always on me."
"Oh—okay." She stuttered out, watching him drop two twenty's on the table to take care of the bill.
He saw her start to object, but held his hand up and said, "My treat." Before leaning down and gently kissing her cheek. "Thanks for taking the time to meet me."
When Jude had walked into the apartment, she was thankful to find it quiet as she hurried down the hall to her bedroom. Seeing Tommy with Calie… Tears rushed to her eyes and she hated herself for breaking down over him so easily. As her bedroom door closed behind her, she walked the last few steps to her bed and collapsed on top of it, letting her tears and sobs go free.
Why had she done that? What point was she trying to prove? Was it a way to avoid having to hear it elsewhere? She didn't even know, but she was so heartbroken, she couldn't believe how fast he was already with Calie again. What had she done to deserve losing him so quickly?
And Caleb… God why Aaron had to have the most perfect roommate she didn't know. Over lunch he'd made her laugh, made her blush, and made her feel things that she thought only Tommy was possible of. He made her want to spend time with him, talk to him, hang out with him, but it still didn't help the fact that she wanted those same things from Tommy and so much more.
The following days drug on, but Charlie, Zepp and Sadie tried to cheer Jude up as much as possible, watching movies and trying to take her mind as far off from Tommy as possible, and for the most part it was working. All four spread out amongst the couch and chairs in their living room, while Sadie gave a recap of their day out earlier that week.
"He was gorgeous." Sadie said, hearing Zepp squeal.
"Jude, you should so go to the party! Don't back out."
Looking to Zepp, she caught Charlie roll her eyes behind her, and had to chuckle. "I don't think I'm going to back out." And a smile she couldn't hide came over her features. "I was talking to him last night, and… I want to go."
"Aw," Charlie said while looking up from her texting, "Jude's got a new crush."
Sticking her tongue out, she said, "Ha, ha." before Sadie cut in.
Lightly hitting her sister's shoulder, she said, "It's okay though, Jude. I mean, I even thought the guy would be good for you."
"And you know," Charlie cut in, saying sarcastically, "that Sadie's judgment is everything."
"Well, you guys can come too. He told me to bring some friends if I wanted." Looking up to Sadie, Jude asked, "Are you and Mike still coming?"
Nodding, she said, "Mike's gonna be a little late, he has to run into the studio, but he'll be there. I'll just ride over with you."
"I can come?" Charlie asked, seeing Jude nod in response as her text charm went off. Opening her phone she replied, "Aaron and Speid will be there too right?"
"I'm assuming as much." Jude told her before asking, "Who are you texting?"
Taking the opportunity, Sadie teased, "Ooo, does Charlie have a crush too?"
Sadie's statement was ignored and Charlie's features didn't falter. "It's no one. Don't worry about it."
Jude only shook her head, not pressing the matter. "What about you Zepp? You and Jamie want to come too?"
Sadly she shook her head. "We're meeting some people on Saturday over distribution of Speid's album. We won't be able to make it."
"So it's a pool party?" Charlie cut in, closing her phone after texting her reply. "Are we actually going to swim?"
Jude shrugged, "I don't know. Every time I've been around a pool with Speid I've been thrown in it, so I'm prepared I'll be in the water at least once during the party."
"Maybe your new boy toy will throw you in." Charlie said with a wiggle to her eyebrows.
Chuckling, Jude shook her head, "He's not my boy toy." but her response was met with giggles from the girls. "He's not! It's just a new friend to talk to."
Instead of her texting charm going off, Charlie's ring tone went off, the lyrics of Sugarcult filled the room. (I'm bouncing off the walls again, whoa-oh. And I'm looking like a fool again, whoa-oh. Waking up on the—)
"Hey," Charlie answered before getting up and leaving the room. "What's up?"
"Yeah, no crush there." Jude remarked, receiving a middle finger from Charlie as she walked up the circular stairwell to her bedroom. Turning her attention back to Sadie and Zepp, she asked, "Well, how do you guys feel about swimsuit shopping then?"
Jude, Sadie and Charlie strolled into Caleb's backyard around one o clock that Saturday. The yard itself was huge with a large swimming pool in the middle. A nice patio was near the gate with a built in barbeque and outdoor kitchen, totally fit for the partying yard. Aaron, who was with Speid and Caleb instantly spotted Jude, and got the other guys attention before walking over to them.
"Dude!" Speid called, "'Bout time you showed up."
Caleb let out an uneasy chuckle, "For a while I didn't think you were gonna show."
Once again, seeing him before her got Jude all quiet as she overlooked how good he looked. Wearing a plain white beater and green swim trunks, she noticed the muscles in his arms shaped well—the man was just sexy. Nothing else.
Arms open for a hug, Jude graciously gave him one and instantly felt her cheeks warm again. "I'd never turn down a party." She said as the embrace broke.
He smiled down to her and kept his arm around her shoulder while beginning to walk further into the party. "C'mon, I'll introduce you to some of my family."
Sadie watched Jude walk away with Caleb and put a smile on her face. She'd been down the road before when Tommy started to date Calie, and had to except that as long as their happy… She has to be happy for them. Aaron also watched the two walk away as Speid and Charlie were caught up in conversation.
"He's a good guy, right?" she asked, and Aaron nodded.
Looking to Sadie he told her, "He gets good grades in his classes, he's responsible. I mean, really the only time I've ever seen him in trouble was when he got in a fight on campus with this other guy. I think it was over a street race the night before. Caleb won, the other guy tried to cheat—I'm not too sure."
Nodding she took it in and let out a breath, accepting that Jude and Tommy may move on from each other after all. Switching her attention back to Aaron she let out a small laugh. "So how much did that hurt?" she asked referring to the lip ring.
His hand went up to the ring, pierced through his skin on the bottom left corner of his lip. "I actually didn't feel it." Laughing, he added on, "But I sure did feel when my Mom smacked me upside my head."
The party had been going on for a few hours now and Jude hadn't left Caleb's side once. They spent most of the time in their own conversation in which Jude had confessed who Tommy really was. Caleb had gotten a little upset that she'd lied to him, but blew it off, when Jude had told him what she'd said to him. He even got her to open up about their break up.
Caleb also confessed a lot of his background about his parents. His father was a junkie and left when Caleb was thirteen. His mother was a doctor, which wasn't exactly the best match, but his parents had only been married for Caleb's sake when his father got his mother pregnant. They had opened up to each other like they were strangers in a chat room, confessing things neither expected to tell the other so quickly, but it was okay. Jude was actually enjoying his company and support.
As they walked around the perimeter of the pool, the current song that had been playing ended, and the following took Jude completely by surprise. Her walk had stopped as did her heart when the familiar acoustic chords entered her ears.
(Sha. Sha. Sha.)
Nervously she looked around and spotted Speid and Charlie goofing around over by the stereo. Caleb was trying to snap her from her thoughts, but nothing could at that moment. She'd been honest with him and told him what Tommy meant to her, and of all songs to be played after words was this one?
(I probably shouldn't say this, but at times I get so scared. When I think about the previous relationship we shared.)
"This you singing?" Caleb asked, recognizing her voice but not the song.
(It was awesome, but we lost it, it's not possible for me, not to care.)
Answering him, she quickly said, "Unfortunately." Before beginning her way to Charlie. "I'll be right back."
(And now we're standin' in the rain, and nothing's ever going to change until you hear, my dear.)
A million and one thoughts ran through her head at that moment. How had the song been recorded, when had it been produced? Why did Charlie decide to play this song out of the many Jude had?
(The seven things I hate about you!)
She had to admit that song was well put together, but was never supposed to go public. It was kiddy writing—just for fun, nothing for an album or radio and yet there it played for the many people at the party to hear.
(The seven things I hate about you, oh you!)
"Charlie!" she called, grabbing her attention quickly. "What are you doing!? Are you insane?!"
Looking at her curiously, she asked, "What? You don't like it?"
(You're vain, your games, you're insecure! You love me, you like her! You make me laugh, you make me cry, I don't know which side to buy.)
"How did this even get recorded?! When did you put it together?" Jude demanded, "I just told Caleb the truth about Tommy and then this song comes on right after words! He's gonna get mad."
"Whoa, Jude calm down." Speid cut in, "Who's to say it's about Quincy?"
(Your friends, they're jerks when you act like them, just know it hurts!)
"You're kidding, right?" Charlie asked, proving Jude's point. Looking to Jude she apologized, "I'm sorry, but hey, it's just a song. A song you wrote before you met Caleb, so he can chill."
(I wanna be, with the one I know.)
"But this song says how I still love Tommy," her hand furiously was thrown in the direction of Caleb as she finished, "and Caleb thinks I'm over him!"
(And the seventh thing, I hate the most that you do—o. You make me love you.)
The music calmed down, but Jude didn't. She was stressing major over this, but she didn't want to start a relationship based off lies, which this song was making her seem like she was.
"Okay, what do you want me to do? Cut the song?" Charlie asked, playing Jude's game.
(It's awkward and silent, as I wait for you to say. 'Cause what I need to hear now, is your sincere apology.)
Standing there, she wasn't sure what she wanted. Cutting the song would just make her current state more suspicious, but she didn't want him to think she was still in love with Tommy when she believed it was possible she could fall for Caleb too.
(When you mean it, I'll believe it. If you text it, I'll delete it, lets be clear. Oh I'm not comin' back. You're taking, seven steps, here.)
The music picked up its pace once again as Jude looked over her shoulder seeing Caleb standing in the same spot. The look on his face a bit upset and she was pretty certain she knew why.
(The seven things I hate about you! You're vain, your games, you're insecure! You love me, you like her! You make me laugh, you make me cry, I don't know which side to buy.)
"Here, I have an idea," Speid said, catching Jude's attention.
(You're friends, they're jerks when you act like them, just know it hurts. I wanna be, with the one I know.)
Looking to Speid, she said, "I'm listening."
(And the seventh thing, I hate the most that you do,)
He looked around and thankfully spotted a guitar and went over to pick it up. "What's he doing?" Jude heard Charlie ask, but Jude had a good idea what.
(You make me love you.)
"He's causing a distraction." Jude answered, watching Speid get the guitar and begin to hook it to the amplifier.
(And compared to all the great things that would take too long to write, I probably should mention, the seven that I like.)
The music paused for a moment and Jude held her breath as she saw Speid connect the guitar to the amplifier.
(The seven things I like about—)
And just in time, her song was history as Speid stood atop a large amplifier, playing an opening to a song she was unfamiliar of. Hopping off the amp, the entire party turned their attention toward him as he hopped up on the counter in the patio.
"Hangin' out behind the club on the weekend! Actin' stupid, gettin' drunk with my best friends. I couldn't wait for the summer and the warped tour, I remember it's the first time that I saw here there!"
Speid began playing the opening chords once more as he danced along the counter top, seeing Caleb even paying attention to him, and he hoped, not thinking of the song. "She's getting kicked out of school 'cause she's failing, I'm kinda nervous 'cause I think all her friends hate me. She's the one, she'll always be there. She took my hand and that moment I swear,"
His gaze stayed on one person in the crowd more than others, but Jude tried to think of an excuse as to why. Following his gaze he saw it land directly on Charlie and Jude nearly lost her breath, especially when the following words left his mouth.
"Because I fell! In! Love! With the girl at the rock show. She! Said! What! And I told her that I didn't know. She's! So! Cool! Got me sneaking through her window." His guitar playing slowed down a bit as he calmly finished the chorus with, "Everything's better when she's around, I can't wait till her parents go out of town. I fell in love, with the girl, at the rock show!"
Moving from her current spot, Jude made her way to a bashfully smiling Charlie. "Oh Charlie," Jude called in a sing song tone. Catching her eye she said, "I believe we need to talk here."
Looking to Jude, she tried to hide her smile as Speid continued playing his guitar. "About?" she asked casually.
"Black and white picture of her on my wall, I waited for her call. She always kept, me, waiting." As Speid sang on, Jude caught the stolen glances more freely between the two and how Charlie was trying to hide it from Jude.
Playing the hook of the song he continued to sing the catchy tune, keeping the crowd of the party totally enthralled in his performance. "And if I ever got another chance. I'd still ask her to dance. Because she kept me, waiting."
"Is there something going on between you and Mr. Speiderman?" Jude asked knowingly, and for Speid's sake, she hoped she was wrong.
Charlie let out a frustrated sigh, as she heard Speid jump into the final chorus of the song, contemplating her answer for Jude. "I, fell! In! Love! With the girl at the rock show. She! Said! What! And I told her that I didn't know. She's! So! Cool! Got me sneakin' through her window. Everything's better, when. She's. Around! I can't wait till her parents go. Out. Of. Town! I fell in love. With the girl at the rock show!"
"We may have hit it off a little the other night." She confessed, and Jude couldn't believe her ears.
Pausing a moment to keep her calm, she asked, "Hit it off how?"
"With the girl at the rock show." Speid repeated, playing the intro notes to the song, finishing it off.
Charlie let out a defeated sigh before looking to Jude. "You were honest with me, I should be honest with you."
Nodding her head, Jude tried to hide her anger as she said, "Yeah. Honesty would be nice here, considering he's committing adultery!"
That definitely caught Charlie's attention as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Excuse me!?"
"With the girl at the rock show!" His eyes caught site of Charlie and Jude talking, and felt a wave of nerves stab him in his gut. "With the girl at the rock show. I'll, never. Forget. That. Night."
"Speiderman is married. To Karma. The third Instant Star winner." Jude explained, unsure if Charlie was really that oblivious, or if she was trying to play dumb.
Closing her eyes, Charlie was now trying to calm herself as she fisted her hands at her sides and said, "Somebody could have told me he was married before I let him shove his tongue in my mouth!"
"He didn't tell you? You didn't know?!" Jude asked in disbelief, and as if her current predicament couldn't get any worse, Caleb joined her side with an unsure expression on his face as she caught Speid hurrying his way over as well.
Throwing her hands up, irritated, Charlie replied, "Sorry I'm not one of the fifty million people that subscribe to US Weekly and keep up with these kind of things!"
"What kind of things?" Caleb asked, curious to what had both girls so riled up.
However, before Caleb could get an answer, Speid finally pushed his way through the last bit of the crowd and joined Charlie by her side. "Charlie—"
"You're married!?" she yelled at him and quickly read the truth over his expression. "I can't believe you!"
Putting his hands up, he quickly told her, "I can explain—really, please hear me out, here."
"I've gotta hear this." Jude said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Charlie looked to Jude and then back to Speid, before nodding him a go to explain. He was more than thankful she was allowing him to talk, but it wasn't a conversation he wanted to have in front of Jude. It was a trust issue or comfort issue, but he didn't want to let her down, and he knew he had. Glancing to Jude his expression was almost all she needed to know he wanted to be left alone.
Uncrossing her arms, Jude turned to Caleb and took his hand. "We need to talk."
Speid was thankful for Jude's understanding as he was left alone to explain to Charlie exactly how married he was. "So you know I'm married."
Nodding, she bitterly replied, "Woulda been nice if I was told at the concert. Course it all makes sense now why you wanted to keep it quiet."
"Charlie," he sighed, defeated.
"Don't. I'm sorry I even met you." She told him before turning to leave. However, Speid called after her, his words causing her anger to slowly dissipate.
"But I'm not sorry I met you." He said, putting her walk to a pause. "My marriage…" Scoffing, he shook his head. "It was a disaster since the day we said I do. Didja know the only reason I got married was because my girlfriend at the time wanted publicity and had me stage a wedding for her?"
Looking back to him, she saw the pain in his eyes as he continued to tell her of his relationship with Karma. "She wasn't on the paparazzi's spotlight and we faked a wedding, but it turned out the guy who married us actually did it legally. MTV found out, threw us into reality TV and all this time I've gone along with it just to make sure she's happy, but I'm not."
"Speid," Charlie said, "It doesn't change the fact that what you're doing is wrong."
"Staying married to Karma was wrong. Agreeing to be on 'Rock and Roll Honeymoon' was wrong. Not divorcing her when I had the chance was wrong, but you… You're the first thing that's seemed right in my life in a very long time."
Looking away at his words, deep down she felt the same way about him. At the show he'd been so easy to talk to, had made her laugh, made her feel special. They'd snuck to the back after a while to grab a drink from the bar, but didn't find their way back right away. She'd kissed him and like Speid said about her… It was the first thing that had felt right in years.
"My marriage is a broken record, and I won't be surprised the day Karma comes home with divorce papers. You've taken my mind off that pain though, so please… Don't walk away."
Caleb's heart had been racing in his chest since Jude grabbed his hand and kept hold of it as they walked around the yard. Saying they needed to talk worried him at first, but when she'd grabbed his hand, it gave him a form of security he was thankful for. "Caleb…" she said tentatively. "I'm not over my ex, and you should know that."
Nodding his head, he gave her a simple, "Okay." before waiting for her to continue on.
She'd been hoping for more of a reaction than that, but went with what she had and carried on. "The song… I'd wrote it before I met you. I don't want you thinking that I'm involving myself with you, and turning around to write songs about Tommy, 'cause I'm not. He broke my heart and I'm trying to get over him. I don't want you to think that I'm using you to do that though." Letting out a nervous giggle, she said, "Meeting you at the time was just a plus."
He stopped walking when she finished, some-what jerking her back in place, for she still held onto his hand. Lightly tugging her in to stand before him, he looked down at her before bravely lowering his lips to hers. His hand released hers as both took a gently hold of her face, and was more than happy when he felt her kiss him back. The kiss was soft, and sweet, and when he pulled away, he couldn't hold back the smile on his face.
Slowly lowering her feet back to the ground from standing on her tip toes, Jude's eyes gradually opened and they instantly found Caleb's. "What… What was that for?"
He took her hands in his own before telling her, "That was for you letting me know that you seem just as happy you met me as I am that I met you." Watching her cheeks begin to turn a shade of pink, he went on, "That was for you already being scared of what I think enough to defend yourself over a song."
Her eyes fell to the ground as a smile fought it's way past her lips as she heard him finish with, "That was me thanking you for letting me walk into your life, and hopefully not walk out for a long, long time."
Looking up to him, she showed her smile, before stepping into him, and leaning up to press her lips back on his. One hand gently was placed on his shoulder as the other sat on his neck, while his own arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to him. When the kiss had broken this time, Caleb kept his hold around her as he asked, "And what was that for?"
A large grin came over her features before she answered, "For not leaving Aaron alone until he introduced us."
Leaning down once more, Caleb kissed her again, and as Jude was lost within the kiss, she decided that maybe getting over Tommy wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would. Especially if getting over him felt as good as this.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x:X:x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
"You speak and make time stand still."