AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed my last chapter. Funkyicecube, I'll try and speed things up for you a bit. But it will be slow at first. Duddley111, hmm…that's an interesting idea. I don't know yet, but when I do, I'll let you know. And Tommy4eva, I was wondering about that too. Except the girl said "Mama!", or something like that. And I love it when you rant. It makes me feel a little less guilty for ranting in my ANs (Does anyone actually read my ANs?).
Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star or any of the characters.
Last time…
"Georgia, let me explain. I just can't be around Jude right now. Can't you put Kwest on it? Please?" Tommy flashed one of his thousand-watt smiles, and Georgia caved in.
"OK, but you owe me. Big. Jude's not gonna be the same without you producing her…And if anyone asks, I'll just be sure to tell them that it was because you left her." Georgia sat back, looking extremely pleased with herself.
"Fine, whatever," Tommy ground out. "It doesn't matter anyway. She doesn't want to be around me."
"Don't be too sure about that," Georgia replied, a gleam in her eye. "Since you're officially done for the day, why don't you go on your mini-vacation?"
"Thanks, chief," Tommy said, and practically ran outside to his waiting Viper.
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"Oh, and Jude?" Georgia said. Jude was halfway to the door.
"Hmm?" Jude wondered what Georgia wanted to tell her now.
"Kwest will be your producer until further notice." Georgia waited for Jude's reaction.
"Great!" For the first time in a long time, Jude looked completely happy.
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Georgia got to the parking lot, and hopped in her car. She drove to two places, and bought an item from each.
"I can't wait," she thought, loving how good her actions made her feel.
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Chapter 8: …And A Truce?
The next day, Jude and Kwest began working on Jude's newest album. Jude had written a couple of songs, both of which Georgia had nixed, since they had been about Tommy in some form or another. Some were ballads about regret and heartbreak, others were edgier and angry, referring to the times that Jude felt alone and she took the opportunity to blame her mood swings on Tommy.
Jude was currently working on a third song, and although the lyrics were just barely finished, Jude and Kwest were having the most difficult time finding the right sound.
"Kwest, I still think it should be electric," Jude argued, frustrated and at her wit's end.
"Trust me, acoustic's the way to go," Kwest shook his head, sighing. He and Jude had been at it for days, and each of them was convinced that they were right.
"Let's go ask Georgia," Jude said, getting up from her seat.
"Fine," Kwest conceded.
They walked over to Georgia's office, and knocked.
Georgia opened the door. "Hi Kwest, Jude. Come on in."
Jude glanced at Kwest, wondering what was up. Usually Georgia had a meeting or was tied up on the phone.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Georgia said, not bothering to beat around the bush.
"How did you know we wanted to talk to you about something?" Jude asked, shocked.
Georgia laughed. "I know the both of you better than you think. Kwest never bothers to talk to me if he can avoid it, and you always come to talk to me whenever you have a problem. And," she checked her watch, "I knew it. Right on time. So, spill," she urged.
Kwest and Jude both burst out talking at the same time.
Jude: "Georgia, Kwest thinks the song should be an acoustic one. He's so wrong about that, please don't agree with him."
Kwest: "Georgia, Jude thinks it should be electric, you know, hard, fast, edgy. But that kind of sound just doesn't mesh with the lyrics. Would you tell her she's wrong?"
Jude glared at Kwest at that last comment.
Georgia held up her hands and surrendered. "OK, here's what I think," she paused, as both of them eagerly anticipated her judgment. "Both of you, go and make a track the way you think it should sound, then report back to me when you're done. In fact, go ahead and use separate studios, since you're so obviously about to rip each other's heads off. Kwest, you take Studio A. Jude, Studio B. Make me proud."
"Sure," Jude agreed. She was so ready to show Kwest that she knew what she was doing.
"OK," Kwest said confidently. He'd been in the business longer than Jude had been famous, so he was sure Georgia would side with him.
They finished their tracks in record time, and the next day they went to go show Georgia their own versions.
After hearing both tracks, Georgia leaned back, looking thoughtful.
"I don't know," she said. "Kwest, yours seems to be missing something."
Jude smiled triumphantly at Kwest, who slouched down in his chair.
"But Kwest was right about one thing," Georgia added. Jude's smile froze, then faded slowly. "The lyrics don't go with the sound at all."
"So, Georgia, what's it going to be?" Jude asked, more than just a little nervous.
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted their moment.
"Excuse me," the delivery man said as Kwest opened the door. "I have some packages for Jude Harrison."
Jude walked over, wondering what it could be, as Georgia bit back her smile.
Georgia's POV: This is turning out better than I expected.
"Sign here, please," the delivery man thrust a pen at Jude. Jude quickly scribbled her signature, and the man gave the packages to her. After he left, she could barely contain her curiosity as she ripped it open with reckless abandon.
Tossing the wrapping paper aside, she opened the first box. There, inside, was a sky-blue, tea-length silk dress, which was slit up both sides. Jude squealed in delight as she felt the fabric between her fingers.
"I wonder what's in the other two boxes," remarked Georgia not so subtly. Jude gingerly set aside the dress, and opened the second box, which was considerably smaller than the first one. It contained dress pumps, which were the exact same hue of blue that matched the dress.
Jude practically tore open the third box, which had a pair of dangling silver earrings and a genuine pearl necklace.
"I wonder who it's from," Kwest said. "Jude, is there a card?"
"Let me look," Jude said, and she searched all three boxes. In the last box, a card fell out when she shook it upside down. She caught it as it fluttered down to the ground.
"Open it," suggested Georgia breathlessly, even though she knew she'd written it herself.
"What does it say?" Kwest wondered, as Jude ripped the envelope open.
Jude read aloud,
"Dear Jude,
I'm sorry for everything I've put you through, and I hope that one day you'll be
able to find it in your heart to forgive me. I need to sort some things out before I can
come back, but it won't be long before I see you again. By the time you read this letter,
I'll be waiting to meet you at the Chrome Cat. I hope you decide to come, because there's
something I really want to talk to you about. I wish you'd come soon. I miss you.
Love,
Tommy'.
Jude was stunned.
"Wow," Kwest murmured. He knew his best friend was crazy about Jude, but he'd never been this open and honest with anyone before.
"Double wow," echoed Georgia. "Jude, what are you going to do?"
"Georgia, I'm gonna take off early. There's something I need to do. But I'll have the song done by tomorrow, along with a new one." Jude rushed out before Georgia gave her approval.
"What do you think Jude needs to do?" Kwest asked rhetorically.
Georgia glanced at him, and replied, "With any luck, we'll have Tommy back by tomorrow."
"What are you up to, Georgia?" Kwest noticed the twinkle in her eye.
"You'll see," Georgia said, smiling.
Meanwhile, Tommy had gotten a similar letter, only his was from Jude (a.k.a., Georgia), saying that she understood the position he was in, and that she didn't want to jeopardize his career and reputation, let alone hers. The letter specifically stated that she'd finally forgiven him for breaking her heart more than once, and that she just wanted things back to the way they were before: Tommy as the producer, and her as the artist. They could be friends, but nothing more. However, it did add that there was something she'd wanted to ask Tommy, but she couldn't do it over the phone, or through email, as that would be very unlike her. She was the type of girl who liked getting up in someone's face, especially if that meant dealing with the ghosts from her past. So she'd asked him to meet her at the Chrome Cat, where she'd be waiting.
Without another moment's hesitation, Tommy jumped in his Viper, and floored it all the way there.
When he got there, Jude was waiting outside.
He got out of the car, and walked over to where she was leaning against her car.
"Hi," Tommy broke the silence first.
"Hi," Jude responded.
For a second, neither of them moved. But as they continued to gaze at one another, something inside them snapped. They threw themselves into each other's arms, and held one another for what seemed like an eternity. After a long time, they broke apart.
AN: Soooo, what do you think? I'm dying to know. And if you have any suggestions on how to make this better, I'd love to hear them. And I can't stress this enough, but please, please, please, keep your reviews coming! I even encourage flames! I got one once, and it helped me a lot with my writing. At least I hope it did. But that's up to you now, isn't it? So please review. Thank you!