A.N. I meant to have this chapter up sooner, but either this site of my internet connection was doing something funny and I couldn't get the chapert uploaded... it really kind sucks, but here it is... FINALLY posted! so I expect plenty of reviews! by the way, thanks to all those who do review faithfully!

Chapter 14

Later that same day, Jude entered the radio station and quietly made her way towards Tommy's office. As she approached his door, she heard him talking and she stopped, assuming he was on the phone and didn't want to be interrupted. He sounded pretty frustrated.

"Yes, I know what I am doing." Pause. "No, I don't need time to think about it." Another pause. "I'm sure."

Whatever he was talking about, the other person was making Tommy a very agitated person, and Jude didn't think that was exactly a brilliant idea.

"Listen, Dad, I know what you're thinking, but that's not it. I know what I wanna do and nothing you say can make me change my mind. I love you too Dad, say hi to mom for me." Jude heard the distinct sound of the phone being placed back on the hook and she that he was done with his phone conversation. She tried to calm her nerves a little before she finally stepped away from the wall and into Tommy's view. She knocked casually on the door.

"Hey." Tommy looked up from his paperwork and smiled at her.

"I didn't think you were going to come." Jude just shrugged and opened her arms out to the side, as if to say "oh well."

"I came." Tommy nodded and motioned for her to sit down.

"So I see." Jude moved towards the empty chair and sat down.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Tommy cleared his throat.

"Actually, I was kinda hoping that you could tell me."

"Why would I know?" Jude asked, slightly confused.

"I don't know. Things really are awkward, aren't they?" Jude could only nod her agreement.

"They really are."

"I was hoping we could change that. Be friends?" Jude stared into Tommy's ocean blue eyes.

"Friends? That's all you want?" Tommy shrugged.

"You want the truth?" He asked her. Jude nodded.

"Yeah, I want the truth." Tommy cleared his throat to give himself a minute or so to gather his thoughts.

"The truth is, Jude, that I think about you all the time. I shouldn't, because at one point you were my student and that is a big ethical situation that I don't want to get into, but I just feel like you really get me, and you are so talented and you were just wasting your talent by living in the shadow of your boyfriend's dream. I don't want to be your friend, Jude. I could never be your friend, because I just so much more then that."

Jude couldn't say anything for awhile after that. She sat there, just taking it all in.

"But we can't because you still are a professor." Jude finally said.

"Do you want me?" Tommy asked bluntly. Jude looked at him in surprise.

"What?"

"Do. You. Want me?" He repeated slowly. Jude shook her head.

"How do you expect me to answer that?" Tommy shrugged.

"With the truth." Jude nodded and looked away.

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter." She said, turning back towards him with tears in her eyes.

"What if I told you I quit my job?" Jude widened her eyes in surprise.

"You did what?" Tommy shrugged.

"I quit." Jude didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent and just stared at Tommy, wondering what she could say, what she should say.