The song in this is Far Away by Nickelback. thanks to everyone who's been reviewing. I'm glad you guys are still interested after all these chapters.
Chapter 30
Miles To Go
Tommy finished his album, not so coincidently at the same time as his contract was about to end. He had a meeting scheduled with Darius in a week's time to present his solo album. He couldn't wait to get it over with, so he could finally move on.
As Tommy sat in front of the desk he tried to look at Darius expectantly, as if he cared. Darius had a grim look on his face as his dark eyes fixed on him.
"You've been working for months, wasting my money and this is the shit you come up with?!" Darius yelled tossing the CD onto the desk where it proceeded to slide onto the floor. Tommy gave Darius that cocky look he had always detested.
"It's not shit." Tommy said ironically, because of course it was crap.
"You did your little experiment it's time to get back to the real world Tommy. You know where you belong." There it was, the reason Darius had been so indulgent. He thought once Tommy had gotten this attempt at a solo career out of his system he would meekly go back to Boyz Attack. Tommy's face was a mask as he looked at his former manager.
"Yeah I do D. and it's not in Vancouver." No hint of doubt was in his voice. He wondered if he should have pretended to be more upset about his album being trashed, but decided it was too late now. "I fulfilled my contract. We're done here." He stood up before Darius could continue his tirade and left his office.
Plan Forward
Tommy was in his Vancouver apartment packing a couple of last minute things as there was a knock on the door. He opened it to see his former band mate, standing there.
"What are you doing here Chaz?"
"You could at least invite me in." Tommy opened the door wider and nodded towards the living room. There were moving boxes stacked around the room. Chaz looked at him in surprise.
"What do you want Chaz? As you can see I'm busy." Same old Tommy, Chaz thought, thinking he was better than everyone else.
"You tried your solo thing. It's time to come back Tommy." Tommy looked at him in amusement.
"Did Darius tell you to come here?"
"He said your album was missing something..." Chaz said with more diplomacy than Tommy thought him capable of. When Tommy didn't answer, Chaz sighed. "Where are you going?" He nodded at the boxes.
"Toronto." There was only one reason for Tommy to go there and they both knew who she was.
"Huh...Really...Jude didn't mention anything last time I saw her." Chaz goaded Tommy out of habit, not out of any real need to annoy him, but it worked just the same.
"What are you doing seeing Jude?!" Chaz shook his head at Tommy's over the top response.
"You pitiful bastard. You act like she's still your girlfriend." Tommy glared daggers at him. "And she acts like she still belongs to you..." Chaz found he was glad that Jude had said no to him. She was a little too complicated and dramatic for his taste. Tommy looked at Chaz in surprise. Had he actually said something nice for once. Did Jude still miss him? Tommy found himself offering Chaz a drink and they sat down together for the first time in months. Chaz didn't volunteer any more on Jude and Tommy found himself unable to ask.
"You really aren't coming back are you?" Tommy shook his head.
"Tell the guys...Tell them I'm sorry." Chaz was surprised at his words. He had never heard the other man apologize for anything before, both of them had been too arrogant for that. "I'm just not in that place anymore." When Chaz left they still weren't friends, but they understood each other a little better.
And It Begins Again
Jude packed her last bag and looked around her room again, making sure she wasn't forgetting anything. She wondered if she should look for a place of her own when she got back from the tour. Her father had seemed stressed by all of her friends constantly popping in and it would be nice to have a place to rehearse. Her CD had just been released and was high on the charts, surprising no one, but her. She was nervous and excited, but also a little sad. She had been in this place a year ago, knowing she would meet him, but not for a second thinking she would like him, let alone love him. She had gone on a few dates with guys she met through G-Major, but her heart had not been in it. She had the weirdest knack of attracting guys who became good friends.
"Jude the car's here." Sadie said as she poked her head in the doorway. Jude nodded and they both grabbed her things before heading downstairs.
Jamie was waiting for her in front of the house. He had been pacing back and forth making the driver of the hired car wonder if he was a stalker. The driver got out of the vehicle when he saw the two sisters come out. Sadie gave her a hug before going back inside claiming she had a big test to study for. The driver quickly started taking bags and loading them into the trunk as Jude walked over to greet Jamie.
"Hey...I thought you had to work today." She smiled at him, a little distracted by thoughts of her pending tour.
"Jude I have something to tell you." She gave him a curious look waiting for him to continue. Instead of speaking he grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Before she could respond one way or another he had let go and backed up a step. She looked at him a little stunned. "I love you Jude."
"Jamie...I..." She wasn't sure what to say. She hadn't thought of him as more than her best friend in a longtime.
"Just think about it. I'll see you in a month." He had a vacation coming up and they had planned for him to meet up with the tour then. He nodded towards the waiting car. "You should get going." She walked towards the driver, her thoughts racing. Should she give him another chance? What had she felt when he had kissed her? Although a part of her would always love Tommy, she had accepted that, was it time to move on?
A New Life
"Tommy Q. it's good to see you." Georgia said as she got up from her desk. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and they hugged briefly. They both sat down, and got caught up.
"Tommy I've known you a few years now right?" He nodded, not knowing where she was going with this.
"I never knew you could write songs." He frowned. He hadn't mentioned his real solo album yet.
"What are you talking about Georgia?"
"You have heard Jude's newest album haven't you?" He shook his head.
"Only one song." He turned off the radio, whenever her voice came on. He still missed her too much, to listen to the new album. It would have made him crack and he couldn't until the papers were in his hands. He had heard the album was doing great though. Georgia opened her desk and took out a CD handing it to Tommy.
"Read the credits." He opened the case and took out the sleeve. He scanned the names of the songs and realized 4 of them, including Broken, had been the ones they had written together and she had named him as co-writer. This girl, whom he had never been able to get out of his mind or heart, had amazed him again. She had not taken the easy road, instead doing the right thing. He wondered how many questions she had gotten for including his name on the credits.
"It's an amazing album, better than her first. Your joint collaboration seemed to have made a big difference." He shrugged not sure what to say. It was obvious Jude had never mentioned their relationship to her.
"How is Jude?" He asked nonchalantly, trying to mask how interested he really was in the answer.
"She's good, just kicked off her own tour. Her album is doing phenomenal." He knew that. He wouldn't have come to Toronto if she was still here. He would have been too tempted to see her face. "Compared to the Boyz Attack tour this one will be a cakewalk for her." When he didn't respond she spoke again."So what can I do for you Tommy?" Georgia finally got down to the real question. She knew he wouldn't drop by for just a visit.
"My contract is over. I was wondering if you were looking for a new solo artist." Georgia looked a little surprised.
"I thought you were working on a solo album for Darius?"
"I was and he wasn't satisfied with it." Tommy said a little smugly, making her wonder. He didn't exactly seem broken up about the fact that his hard work was being rejected. Only one person would know why it didn't bother him in the least. Georgia gave him a penetrating look.
"Did you do something Tommy?" He looked innocently at her.
"Like what?"
"Like sabotage the album?" He smirked at her.
"You think I would come up with something like that?" Georgia thought about it and decided that there was someone who might. She let it go though because if he was free and he wanted to be here she would not be the one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" He shrugged. "Why pick G Major? Not that we're not thrilled to have you...but there are much bigger companies, especially in the states, dying to sign you."
"I need to be near Toronto." He needed to be near her. Georgia didn't ask him why and for that he was grateful. It had been a longtime and he wasn't 100 percent sure she would want him back in her life. He had seen the tabloids and she had been linked with a few guys, but he knew better than anyone they were mostly lies. There had been that one spread in Solid magazine that had had him doubting though. Jude was naked underneath a sheet leaning against an equally naked Mason Fox with the sheet covering him also. She had his cowboy hat on her head and his arm draped on her casually. The story was titled Rock Meets Country and was done to promote their new duet single, Who Am I Fooling.
"So have you got anything to show me?" He nodded.
"I actually have a lot of stuff I've been working on. There's one song I want as my first single right away. I could do a rough cut now if you have a free studio. You can tell me what you think." Georgia nodded and went with him to studio B, leaving him in the capable hands of Roger.
This time, this place
Misused, mistakes
Too long, too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
You know, you know
I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
And you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know
I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Georgia felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Another artist had come in from months on tour and had just had to record a song that same day. A love song. There hadn't been any mentions of Tommy in the tabloids at all in quite a while, so Georgia assumed like the song said, whoever she was he had not seen her in some time. Georgia listened to the song and saw the possibilities. There was absolutely no way that Tommy had given Darius work of this caliber and he had rejected it. The song was damn good, but it was a rock ballad and not the Pop she had expected. She wondered if someone had influenced him.
Hope In Unexpected Places
Later on in his new apartment, he finally had the courage to listen to the voice he had avoided for over a year, the same voice that haunted his dreams. He slipped the CD into his stereo and hit play. As the music started he took the sleeve out and read the dedication.
To all of you, who seek inspiration in others. You have my deepest sympathy. -J
He smiled sadly, it was enigmatic, ironic and so true, just like her. She had looked for it in him and he had returned her trust by hurting her in the worst way possible. Track #2 started to play and his breath caught.
Snow falls on the city
white on white
It's the color of hope
on an unforgiving night
you kissed me into ruins
sin on sin
now I've gotta love your love letters
written on my skin
I can't tell the stars from the downtown lights
If I said I was truly over you
my heart would say amen
but I'd give in to the cold caress of 2 am.
If I admit I can't get used to this
will my heart break again?
as I fall into the waiting arms of 2 AM
someone's scratchy music through the walls.
sirens weavin' thru the streets
I must have missed your call
gathering up these nights
black on black
I know your voice like it's my own
and it makes my heart go slack
I can't tell the stars
From the downtown lights
If I said I was truly over you
My heart would say amen
But I give in to the cold caress of 2 AM
If I admit I can't get used to this
Will my heart break again?
As I fall
Into the waiting arms of 2 AM
Oh
If I said I was truly over you
My heart would say amen
But I give in to the cold caress of 2 AM
If I admit I can't get used to this
Will my heart break again?
As I fall
Into the waiting arms of 2 AM
Of 2 AM
He needed this to be the truth.
His contract was signed the next day and they had the single out as soon as possible. Tommy had more songs lined up than Georgia had expected and she had not been able to keep him out of the studio while he finished Far Away. It was like he had a driving need to get it released. And he did because he needed her to hear it. He just prayed that it wasn't too late.