Braden had just finished his last song of the night and by the crowds reaction, it was safe to say that he was going to be around for a while. During the last couple of songs Tommy's hold on Jude had gotten progressively tighter. Even more so if he thought Braden was glancing in their general direction.
Jude was still trying to decipher what in the hell to say to to Brade with out causing a rift in their friendship. But the main thing she was scared of was Tommy getting to Brade first. Tommy waas protective enough when he thought ther was a threat. But now knowing that there was a someone close to them that was a definite threat, could only cause more problems.
Everyone in the club was starting to slowly leave, and Jude turned to look at Tommy who still had a stern look on his face. Trying to think of a quick excuse to leave Tommy's presence, Jude catiously loosened the grasp he had on her waist.
"Hey um, I'm going to go see if the crew needs help putting equipment in the vans." Jude quickly stumbled through her explanation and turned to walk backstage. Before she got very far a strong hand wrapped around her upper arm.
"Jude" Tommy said quietly.
She slowly turned her head to face him willing him not to start questioning or lecturing her about the events of the night. He looked intently at her and then dropped his gaze as if he thought better of what he was planning on saying.
He slowly took a deep breathe and looked back up at Jude.
"I'll meet you by the viper in 10 minutes, I'm going to go talk to Darius."
"Yeah okay," she walked forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Now for the hard part.
Jude slowly walked backstage in search of Braden. He wasn't in the hall or even in his dressing room. Most of his stuff was gone so she figured he was in the parking lot. She walked outside into the cold as a brisk wind picked up her hair and it whipped around her shoulders. Unconsciously she wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
"You know if you wore clothes you wouldn't freeze your ass off."
Jude smiled and turned to her right where Braden was leaning against his mustang.
"Yeah I'l try to remember that." She playfully countered while walking over to him.
Braden shrugged off his leather jacket and placed it snuggly on Jude's shoulders. She wrapped it around herself thankfully and dropped her eyes from Braden's intense stare. An uncomfortable silence filled the air other than the laughter from the few stragglers exiting the club. Jude would glance up at him once in a while to see him staring at the ground.
"Jude?" Braden asked softly, not really knowing how to explain his actions earlier.
"Yeah Brade?" She watched him bring his gaze back to her and take a deep breath before continuing.
"I - I don't really know how to say this other than just to say it so um here it goes... I love you-Jude. I've loved you since I first saw you at Velocity, I've loved you since the first time you opened your beautiful mouth and sang drunkenly along with the radio when I took you home. I just love you Rockstar, you've brought so much more meaning to my life and I need you."
"Brade I-"
"You don't have to say anything Jude. I just needed to get that off my chest and let my heart breathe. I understand if you don't want anything to do with me after I sang that song tonight but i just had to let you know and put it out there. I will always be here for you no matter what our relationship consists of, I'm here."
Braden watched tentavily as Jude bit her bottom lip and took a deep breathe while lowering her gaze to the ground. It was once again deathly quiet until Jude looked upwith unshed tears in her eyes. Silently she closed the space between her and Braden and wrapped her arms around his neck while digging her face into his shoulder.
"Brade, I could never let go of what we have, and I never want you to think that I am capable of caring any less for you, no matter what you say or feel about me. Your my best friend and i'm glad that you can be honest with me even when you know i'm devoted to someone else. But Tommy is my life and i'm sorry but I don't feel the same way. Your amazing and there's a girl out there who is worthy of you, but its not me. I hope you understand?"
Jude pulled out of Braden's arms and wiped her tears on the back of her hands. Just as she did Braden took her hands in his and squeezed them gently.
"Of course I understand Jude I knew that in writing the song that it woudn't change your mind. Right now your unattainable and I'm just glad that this won't hurt our friendship."
Braden brought her back into his arms and gently kissed her forehead. Jude looked up at him and rose on her tip toes and brushed her lips against his. It wasn't a kiss between lovers or a selfish kiss, it was a mutual love between friends. Innocent to the unknowing but capable of being taken the wrong way by the few who understood.
A shattering noise broke their embrace and startled the couple. Jude looked behind her just in time to see the club doors slam shut with shards of glass still flying off the remaining window.
"Shit" Jude quietly spoke.
"What was that?" Braden asked from behind her. Jude never broke eye contact form where the window had just been. A cold chill ran down her body unlike anything she had ever felt. Her breath hitched in her throat as she tried to speak.
"Tommy."