Chapter Two: Eighteen

Jude paced her bedroom biting her lip. She kept looking at her bony calloused left hand and staring down at the beautifully cut diamond incrusted ring. She had said yes without one, but as soon as it was done and awaiting Tom at the jewelry store he rushed there. He woke Jude up early that day, on her birthday, just to give her the ring. He was so excited he could not wait. But now that it was sitting on her finger it all became real, she was engaged. Tonight she'd be enjoying a family dinner and then a small gathering of friends at her house. Since she had joined the G Major family Jude had gotten tired of the big glitzy parties; she practically pulled teeth to convince Darius not to throw her one.

There was a knock on Jude's door and she quickly slid the ring into her pocket, she wasn't ready to tell anymore. "Uh, come in."

Sadie stared at her sister wondering why she appeared so antsy, "You okay sis?"

"Um, yeah I'm great." Jude was not at all upset about her newfound fiancé; she was just worried what everyone would think including her family.

"Jude I'm your big sister, I've known you all your life. What's going on?" Sadie crossed her arms leaning against the doorway. Jude brushed her hand against her jean pocket and sealed her lips inward leaving a discomforted look on her face. To tell or not to tell, that was the question. "You're not pregnant are you because I saw Tom bring a bag in this morning and-"

Jude stopped her with laughter, "Oh my god no Sades."

Sadie pressed her hands to her heart, "What a relief!" Then her curiosity grew again, "Wait so why was he here this morning?"

"Just brought me my gift Sadie, it's not a big deal!" Jude stated with an irritated tone.

"He couldn't wait until after dinner when everyone is giving you gifts?" Sadie raised an eyebrow becoming suspicious.

Jude shrugged her shoulders, "It's personal."

"Oh come on, we're big girls! If it's some kinky sex stuff you can tell me!" Sadie stepped closer to her sister with a wide smile on her face, "Handcuffs? Special lube? Oh, a dildo?"

Jude rolled her eyes and placed her hand in her pocket. She gently brushed the ring along her fingers, debating if she should pull it out. "No Sades."

"Come on, you're killing me! What couldn't he show in front of everyone? Lingerie?" Sadie began to stare into space with determination, "Don't tell me it's like a leather sex suit!"

"Holy fuck Sadie what porn do you watch? No it's none of that, it's nothing sexual!" Jude started giggling at her sister's questions in disbelief.

"So what is it?" Jude's head bowed down and she concentrated on her shoes, Sadie picked up on her behavior, "Is it jewelry?" She spotted the smile that crept on Jude's face, and became intrigued at the lack of eye contact, "Oh I'm getting warm. Necklace? Bracelet? Earrings?" She watched Jude shake her head no, "Okay so it's not jewelry I'm confused?"

"No it's jewelry." Jude peeped, as her sister got closer to the discovery.

Sadie's jaw dropped, "Please say it's a promise ring."

"Well, um, it's kinda more serious than-"

"Jude you're engaged!" Sadie shouted and Jude rushed to place a hand over her sister's mouth.

"Keep it down! I'm not ready for mom and dad to know!" Jude quickly interjected her sister.

Sadie took a step back, "Jude you're 18," she paused trying to figure out how to explain her worries, "and you and Tommy haven't exactly been stable."

"He's ready to settle down Sadie and he has no more secrets!" Jude felt offended her sister would doubt her big relationship move, "And he loves me."

"Jude it's really fast, I mean he's old that's understandable but you're-"

"Sadie he is not old!" Jude quickly defended cutting her sister off, "Besides he's gonna let me go tour alone and live a little, then we're getting married!"

"Oh, he's gonna let you? Jude! What is he your dad? You deserve to live life, you deserve to live life for a good amount of time before you're completely settled, not just some three month tour." Sadie had thought this idea was absolutely absurd.

Jude sighed, "I want this Sadie, okay. Please I need you to be supportive."

Sadie rolled her eyes and exhaled, "I'm just in shock Jude." She walked towards her sister turning more serious, "It's just when did you become so grown up enough to make this decision."

"I don't know Sades, but trust me when I say this is what I want. He is what I want. Forever." Jude smiled as the last words slipped from her mouth.

"So when are you gonna tell mom and dad?" Sadie asked feeling defeated in her argument.

"Now that is a good question!" Jude let out a small laugh, "Not today, definitely not today."

Birthday dinner with the parents seemed agonizingly slow. All Jude wanted was for her friends to arrive, and Tommy, she definitely needed to get her hands on him. "Jude, honey, get the door!" Victoria shouted from the kitchen as the familiar ring spread through the house.

Jude scurried towards the door and when she opened it a large grin played across her face. Tom stood before her with a bouquet of red roses. She stepped outside quickly closing the door behind her. "Uh Jude aren't you gonna-" Her lips crashed to his as her hands wrapped around his neck. Tom taken back, but completely into the scenario wrapped his arms around her waist still holding the bouquet.

Jude pulled away beaming and still close to his lips, "I'm sorry. I just needed to do that."

"Not complaining," Tom smirked.

Moments later they entered the house and Tom greeted Jude's parents. Victoria happily placed the roses in a vase and brought a bottle of wine to offer. "Sure I'll have a glass." Tom spoke up as he sat at the end of the cleared dining table.

"Me too!" Jude chirped as she raised a finger indicating she'd like one.

Victoria laughed, "Well you are 18."

Just then the doorbell rang again and Jude jumped it. Opening the door she saw the quirky smiles of Blue, Jamie, and Kat. "Hey guys!"

They all rushed in while piling cards and wrapped gifts into Jude's arms. Just as she shut the door there was a small knock. Jude opened it, "Spied you made it!"

Spied nodded his head handing Jude a card, "It's not much, but I hope you enjoy it."

Jude shut the door behind Spiederman and walked him towards the dining hall where everyone seemed to be indulging themselves in a glass of a wine. "Hey man!" Tom waved towards Vincent as he went to sit beside him.

"Open your gifts Jude!" Kat giggled sipping her deep purple drink.

"Alright I'll start with yours Kat!" Jude stated as she sat at the end of the table and unwrapped the metallic package. Jude's jaw dropped in awe as she pulled from the box a large flower headband that was decorated with pink, purple, and white pastel flowers.

"I know you love accessorizing for parties and I figured you'd love it." Kat bit her lip anxiously, "I wasn't sure what to get you; you kind of have everything."

Jude smiled wide, "No Kat I love it! It's beautiful."

"On to mine!" Jamie shouted from across the table.

Jude laughed and ripped apart the rather chunky card. She began to giggle as she pulled from the envelope a large ring that would lie across three fingers spelling out bad, "Jamie this is fucking awesome!"

"You give off that whole gangster old time, bad girl vibe so I figured why not." Jamie beamed as Tom just rolled his eyes at his response with a soft chuckle.

Jude now turned her attention to Blue's box that had a giant red bow on it. She pulled out a pair of American flag high-waisted shorts and shrieked, "I love it!"

"I figured it'd be cool to rock on tour in the states. It'd fit that American song ya know." Blue smiled knowing her gift was perfect.

"Jude, before you open mine and make me look bad, I'm sorry!" Spied chuckled, "I'm working on an internship salary still."

Jude shook her head laughing pulling the card from the envelope. A small Polaroid like picture fell from the card. She picked it up smiling, "Frank Sinatra's mug shot?"

"It's one of many, but you said once he was your inspiration. I thought it was pretty badass." Spied smirked realizing how much she loved it.

"I'm absolutely in love, thank you Spied." Jude looked between the picture and Vincent with a huge grin plastered to her face. Tom felt a little jealous and uneasy noticing the glances shared between the pair, but chopped it up to being paranoid after everything that happened.

Suddenly the room fell quiet and noticeably everybody's eyes were on Tom. He picked up on the awkwardness, "Am I missing something?"

Kat cleared her throat and shrugged, "Did you get Jude anything?"

"Kat!" Jude interrupted angrily giving her friend a death clear.

Tom began to chuckle, "Well yeah actually I did." He looked to Jude with a warm smile, "Jude."

Jude closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip. Now was not the time, "Yeah he got me this necklace but silly me broke the clasp. It had to be repaired already!"

Tom looked at her confusingly, but played along sensing her unwillingness to share, "Right it uh broke. It should be like new by the end of the week."

Everyone at the table looked to the pair who were telling secrets with their eyes. The room fell silent and uncomfortable. Later that night Jude's parents had fled to their bedroom and Jude said her goodbyes to Jamie and Spied. Kat and Blue were staying to have an old fashioned sleepover and Jude was outside kissing her love goodbye.

"So a necklace?" Tom questioned staring at Jude.

"I'm not ready to tell my parents. I'm nervous and I didn't want to have my birthday ruined." Jude admitted as she twisted her hands.

Tom shook his head taking in her information and biting his inner cheek, "Ruined?"

"I'm not sure how they'll react, I mean I'm 18-"

"You think you're too young?" Tom asked with his feelings obviously hurt.

"Babe, no stop! Look I told Sadie. I don't think I'm too young; age has nothing to do with love especially our love. It's just I want to wait to tell them until after tour, it'll be easier." Jude pleaded with her eyes to make Tom understand.

Tom sighed as he rolled his neck then looked into Jude's blue eyes that always made him weak, "Fine Harrison. I just don't want you embarrassed of me that's all!"

Jude giggled as her lips pressed against his lightly, "Never Quincy." She spoke in between soft kisses, "You are so sexy, how could I ever be embarrassed?"

"Don't tease me Harrison." Tom groaned against her lips.

Jude kissed him passionately and when she still felt those sparks, like with every kiss they shared, she knew she was making the right decision in marrying him. "I'm sorry Tommy, but I gotta get back in there. Kat and Blue might devour the wine and be belligerent before me. I love you so much baby boy."

Tom chuckled pecking Jude's cheek, "I love you too girl. Have fun."

Later that night Jude, Blue, and Kat were tipsy giggling in the basement of the Harrison household. They had been watching music videos on the projector screen and sipping wine for a few hours now. Jude swallowed her last bit of alcohol and began looking at her left hand. Her face fell sad when she realized she was not wearing her ring. If she wasn't getting increasingly drunk by the second she would've remembered choosing not to wear it.

"Where's my ring?" Jude half shouted through a hiccup.

Kat and Blue started laughing before staring at her, "What ring?"

Jude began throwing the pills from her couch and lifting up cushions, "My engagement ring from-"

"Engagement ring?" Blue spoke alarmingly, "You're engaged?"

Jude stopped her mission of tearing the couch apart and turned to her shocked friends. Their faces made her realize what she had just done, "Fuck! Don't tell anyone."

"Oh my god Jude." Kat hushed as they all begin to sit down.

"We're really growing up aren't we?" Blue stated as she stared blankly at the screen.

Jude nodded her head, "Yeah, me engaged. It's like just yesterday I met him."

"Is this really what you want Jude you're so-"

Jude quickly cut off Kat's words already knowing what was coming, "Young?" She laughed with a sarcastic tone, "This is what I want. Tommy is all I want."

"Is he going on tour with you?" Blue wondered aloud.

Jude shook her head no, "We're gonna spend 3 months apart. Tom thinks it's best if I get life experiences without him. He's worried I'm gonna change my mind."

"Do you think you'll change your mind?" Kat looked to Jude with concern, she only wanted what was best for her longest and dearest friend.

"No, he's my prince charming." Jude swooned, "He's everything I could ever want and need."

Blue rolled her eyes, "Jude it's puppy love, you're in high school."

"I'm tired of people thinking they know me and how I'm feeling!" Jude felt offended, it was her decision and her decision only, "We're gonna have a small wedding on the beach this summer and I wanted you two to be there." She began to sadden, "I want everyone I love to be there and actually accept it."

"Jude, Blue is just being a bitch. Of course we will accept what ever makes you happy." Kat jabbed Blue roughly with her elbow.

"I'll accept it when I believe it's what you really want. You're going on tour with that hot ass skater-looking dude from G Major. You guys were rambling about prank wars all night. You gushed when he gave you a stupid picture. Are you sure there's only one man in your eyes?" Blue was watching her relationship with Spiederman all night, and how it seemed anything but platonic.

"First of all it is not a stupid picture! It's Frank Sinatra's mug shot for crying out loud. Second of all we are just friends. Lastly I'm engaged, happily engaged."

Blue rolled her eyes again and sighed, "Okay Jude."

Jude just shrugged off her friends' worries and started to play on her phone. She didn't care what anyone thought. Tour was a few weeks away and life was good and that was all that mattered at the moment.