A/N: Just a quick note--many of you commented for the last chapter that you think Jude is pregnant. I can tell you that she's not. She genuinely was upset and it was making her sick. Besides the fact that I don't really think you start feeling sick that quickly after you get pregnant, but hey, I've never been pregnant (thankfully!) so you never know! Regardless, she's not pregnant, but there is plenty of drama coming without that :) I promise! Thanks again for all of your reviews--I love to hear what you think!
This scene begins at Sadie and Kwest's wedding the next weekend...
Standing in the bridal suite waiting for the ceremony to begin, Jude smoothed out her skirt and quickly made her way over to help her anxious sister.
"Jude! I need a hand here," Sadie said, trying to balance on one foot while slipping her shoe on.
"Here, just lean on me," Jude said, rushing in next to her so Sadie could hold her shoulder while putting on her other shoe.
"Thanks. This dress is way too heavy for any kind of physical movement," Sadie complained.
"What happens when you have to go to the bathroom?" Jude asked candidly.
Sadie smirked. "That's why I have you, right? You can help me."
"In the bathroom? Oh geez, Sadie…"
"Jude, I'll do it for you when you get married. It's just to make sure my dress doesn't fall in the toilet."
"Great," Jude said with an eye roll. "I'm cutting off all of your liquid intake for the evening."
Sadie laughed lightly, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
"You look amazing, Sadie," Jude remarked softly.
"Thank you," Sadie replied with a smile. "I have to say, that dress doesn't look half bad on you."
"Thanks," Jude said, looking down at her light blue two-piece maid of honor gown. "Are you nervous?"
"A little," Sadie admitted, "but more excited. I can't believe I'm getting married!"
"I know, I can't believe it either," Jude replied with a smile. "You used to put mom's table cloth over your head and pretend to be a bride."
Sadie laughed. "That's right, I did. Well, I think I like this look a little more."
Just then, the door opened and her father entered.
"Wow, Sadie, you look beautiful," Stuart said, watching her in awe.
"Thanks, Dad," Sadie replied, turning towards him with a smile. "Is it time?"
"It is," Stuart confirmed, walking up to Sadie and holding up his arm. "Shall we?"
Sadie smiled widely, exhilaration all over her face. "We shall."
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"And do you, Sadie Harrison….."
Standing up beside her sister, Jude couldn't help but get emotional at the scene. Her sister, glowing, in her stunning white dress, was looking at her soon-to-be husband, her good friend Kwest. It was like a scene out of a fairy tale. They both looked so happy, so thrilled, to be taking this step together.
Jude couldn't help but think about her own future, her own destiny. Would she be standing up there, in that same church, reciting the same vows to someone? Would she look that happy, would she beam like Sadie? Would she know in her heart that there was no one else she wanted to be with for the rest of her life? Her gaze fell upon the seated crowd before her and her eyes met Rob's. He gave her a small smile, and she grinned back at him, but couldn't help but feel a twang of regret knowing that he wasn't the one she was envisioning up there with her.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife! You may kiss the bride."
Sadie squealed in excitement as Kwest lifted her veil and gently kissed her, as the crowd broke out in applause. Jude clapped excitedly too, feeling tears come to her eyes.
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Walking into the party with Rob, Jude gazed in astonishment at the room. There were roses and candles everywhere with a band softly playing music behind a dance floor. It was spectacular—the perfect setting for Sadie's wedding. She held Rob's hand tighter and walked in, scanning the crowd for any familiar faces she had yet to see.
"Oh my god. Is that you, dude?"
Jude quickly turned around, recognizing that voice. "Speed!"
"Hey!" he said, giving her a hug. "Wow, it's been like…forever…"
"I know," she agreed, looking at him. "How are you?"
"Can't complain," he replied with a shrug. "Still doing the whole recording thing with Kwest."
"I heard. He told me you guys just got back from your 5th tour. That's huge!"
"Yeah, it was cool," Speed replied humbly. "But not as cool as our first one…"
Jude smiled widely, remembering their days on the bus together. Her memories were interrupted as she realized that Rob was standing next to her.
"Oh sorry, Vincent Spiederman, this is my boyfriend, Rob."
"Hey, nice to meet you," Speed said, leaning in to shake his hand.
"You too. So you two used to work together?" Rob asked.
Jude and Speed both grinned automatically. "Yeah," Jude confirmed. "Speed was part of my band."
"Oh, come on now, dude," Speed said, putting his arm around Jude. "You know we were more than that."
Rob looked between them in confusion.
"Yeah…we sort of…dated…" Jude admitted quietly, "But it was awhile ago—I was seventeen."
Rob nodded skeptically, clearly not happy with the subject of ex-boyfriends.
"Your girlfriend here had quite the set of pipes back in the day," Speed added, "although I hear you're no longer a working musician."
Jude shook her head. "Nope, I'm taking a semi-permanent hiatus."
Speed laughed a little as they heard someone come up behind them.
"It can't be...I think I'm seeing a ghost…it's the ghost of Christmas past…"
Jude turned around with a big smile. "Jamie!"
He embraced her immediately, a slightly stunned expression on his face. "Jude! I can't believe you're here…you're…alive…"
"Of course I'm alive," she said, smiling at him. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Jude." A girl next to Jamie lightly tugged on his jacket, causing him to turn towards her.
"Oh, Jude, this is Becky. My girlfriend," Jamie said, wrapping his arm around her.
"Hi," Jude said, a bit of surprise in her voice. "And this is Rob, my boyfriend."
"Hey," Rob said. "And how do you guys know each other?"
Jamie looked at Jude in shock. "Jude! Please, tell me you two just got together."
"Not exactly…more like a year," Jude replied shamefully.
"A whole year! And my name didn't come up once!" Jamie exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. Really, I am," she said, before turning towards Rob. "Jamie and I grew up together. We've been best friends for years."
"Best friends? I thought you were best friends with Tommy," Rob replied as a hush grew over the group.
Jamie gasped. "Excuse me? I was replaced by Little Tommy Q?"
"No, Jamie," Jude said quickly, turning a light shade of red at Rob's response. "Tommy was just my producer. We were friends, but Jamie was my best friend. Is my best friend."
Rob nodded. "So you two…were just friends then?"
Jude looked uneasily at Jamie, who looked equally as uncomfortable with the question.
"Well…" Jamie started.
"We sort of dated too," Jude finished. "But again, I was sixteen."
"So was I," Jamie retorted, turning towards Becky. "And it was over. Really fast."
"Because Jude wanted me," Speed said, reentering the conversation.
"Okay…let's just end this conversation now, shall we?" Jude suggested, seeing Rob's disgruntled expression.
After reuniting with the rest of SME and a few of Sadie's friends, Jude took a seat at one of the tables with Rob. She watched as Sadie came out on the dance floor with Kwest for their first dance. Photos were snapped and the room was at a hush as they danced, happily smiling and holding each other.
Out of the quiet, a light ringing was heard from Jude's purse. She quickly picked up her purse from the table, pulled out her phone, looked at it for a second, and pushed a button to end the call. Without another word, she put the phone back in her purse and turned her attention back towards the dancing couple.
"Who was that?" Rob asked, leaning in closer to her.
"Oh, no one," she replied evenly, keeping her eyes focused on the bride and groom. "Just a wrong number."
Rob leaned back in his chair, content with her response, and transferred his attention back to Sadie and Kwest.
Sixty seconds later, her phone sounded again. Without pulling the phone out of her bag, she dug her hand inside and ended the call.
"Why don't you just pick it up and tell them it's a wrong number?" Rob asked, watching her.
"They'll get the picture. I'm at my sister's wedding, I don't need to be answering wrong numbers."
"Why don't you just turn off your phone then?" Rob questioned.
"I can't. My editor is supposed to call to talk about my next article. I can't miss his call."
Rob nodded warily, leaning back into his chair once more, as her phone sounded yet again.
As she went to grab it, Rob quickly leaned forward and grabbed her purse from the table.
"I'll tell them," he offered, picking the phone out of her purse.
"No, Rob—I don't think that's—" she started, her eyes growing wide in panic, watching him examine the phone in bewilderment.
"Tommy?" he asked, looking at her confusedly.