Chapter Eighteen

It was the day after the third elimination, erasing two more girls from the competition. This left the total to twelve and also left a very nervous Jude and Haley.

"One more week until we're on the show, Jude," Haley sighed, "God, I really don't want to do this. I mean there's really no point for me even being on the show now we know he's in love with you."

"He's not in love with me, Haley," Jude denied.

"How can you still be denying it? I mean seriously?"

"I can't be in love with him. There's too much at stake," she replied nervously, not daring enough to look Haley in the eye. Jude folded her arms across her chest when her fingers began twitching from nerves.

"Yeah well if there's so much at stake then why the hell are you doing this to him?"

"I don't know!" she exclaimed frustrated sitting down on her bed. She looked out the window and saw the cameras filming the show at the beach. Tommy was chasing after some blonde girl who had just splashed him with water. She turned back to Haley, "I mean I want to be with him. But I can't be in love with him. If I admit that to myself then it all goes to hell. Then all that will leave me with is a broken heart when this is all over."

"And it won't leave you with a broken heart now? Just because you won't say it doesn't mean you won't feel it. Oh and Jude? I never said you loved him." Haley smirked while Jude looked at her friend in bewilderment. Shaking her head, Haley smiled and walked into the bathroom before Jude could reply.

Jude's brow creased as she realized what her friend meant. Oh crap. She mentally slapped herself upside the head for once again misinterpreting things. Now Haley probably thought that she loved him. Well, she probably already thought that but Jude had just given her more food for thought. Before she could over analyze the situation any further, Haley strode back into the room cutting off her train off thought.

"You know," she started, waving her hair brush as she spoke, "I personally thought that you guys should've stopped seeing each other after that night club fiasco." Haley confessed, leaning next to the window so she could look out over the beach. It was almost twilight, the sun still shown brightly in the sky but hovering heavily over the ocean waters.

"Well thanks, especially since you're the one who wanted us together at the beginning," Jude said annoyed. If it wasn't for Haley pushing her to him so much, or for leaving her at the club for that matter, Jude would probably not be in the situation she was in now. At least that was the rationale Jude decided to take at the moment. It would be a nice delusion from actually owning up to the fact that she actually…l-lo-liked Tom Quincy. Yes, a very nice delusion.

"I did, but only because I thought you guys would hook up then forget about each other," she admitted truthfully. Jude stood there with a shocked expression on her face.

"Haley!"

"What?" she asked in her best 'don't look at me, I'm innocent' voice.

"Do I look like a whore to you?" she said standing in front of her.

"Well…not now but I can't say the same for that night at the club…" Haley trailed off in a sing song voice. Jude tried to look appalled but couldn't help but feel a tug at the corners of her mouth.

"That was a little bit slutty wasn't it?"

"Just a little bit," she said showing with her fingers, "and that's before you told me about the grind fest that was going on."

"Now that part was fun," Jude smiled. Haley threw a pillow at her that hit her on the side of the head. "Hey!" Jude looked down at her watch that was reading 5:00. The camera crew and everyone would be coming inside. She had about an hour before Tommy had to go on another outing with the girls. Maybe I can finally see him today…she thought getting up and looking through her closet for something to wear.

"And where are you going?" She asked as Jude threw a huge pile clothes onto her bed.

"Trying to pick out an outfit to wear for when I see Tommy. He said to meet him in his room at 5:20," she replied.

"Oh, so I take it you don't like the just got out of bed look you're sporting right now," she laughed. Jude looked at herself in the mirror.

"Hey I didn't just get out of bed," she retorted.

"Exactly…" Haley answered going over to the bed, helping her pick out an outfit. She pulled out a short jean skirt with a cute red top that showed just a little bit of stomach.

"Oh so now you want me to look like a whore?"

"Trust me, you won't look like a whore. Not unless you want to," Haley smiled.

"Only on Wednesdays," she replied laughing. Haley looked at the calendar sitting on Jude's desk.

"Jude…today is Wednesday," Haley told her trying to contain the laughter she was desperately wanting to let out. Jude went over to the desk and looked at the calendar. Jude shrugged and picked up the clothes.

"Well then I guess I'll be wearing that outfit," she said almost sarcastically as she went into the bathroom to change.

Twenty minutes later Jude was outside of Tommy's room knocking on his door. After about a minute the door opened and Jude was pulled into the room by two strong arms. Tommy closed the door then pressed Jude up against it crashing his lips against hers. She couldn't help but smile as she pulled back.

"Well it's good to see you too."

"I missed you…so much," he replied out of breath.

"Well now you don't have to…" Jude replied swinging her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her again. Tommy encircled his hands around her waist as Jude ran her hands through his gel-free brunette hair. Finally pulling back Tommy leaned his forehead against hers. Remembering his meeting with Jeff he suddenly looked down to his watch and groaned.

"What is it?"

"I have a meeting with Jeff in about five minutes. I totally forgot about it," he replied unenthusiastically. This caused Jude to pick up Tommy's watch to see that it was 5:25, Jeff had told her to be in the conference room by 5:30.

"Wait that can't be right. I have a meeting with Jeff in about five minutes. Are you sure you have the right time?" she asked curiously.

"Wait you have a meeting? This is not good, Jude. This is not good…" he replied nervously bringing a hand to his head. "Mine was supposed to be at noon today, but he called me to say that it had been changed to 5:30."

"You don't think…? He knows about us?" she asked her eyes bulging.

"He might just…" he replied zoning out.

"Ok then we better get down there right now…not together that's too obvious," she said, rambling and pacing until Tommy stopped her.

"Jude, relax. If he knows, us showing up together is not going to change anything, although it wouldn't help the situation either…but you have to act natural ok? What's the worst that could happen?" he replied tentatively with a smile.

They were probably just overanalyzing things. Yeah, that was it. How could anyone have found out about them? They barely even saw each other anymore with all of the different dates and outings he had to go on. However, with each excuse he came up with for why Jeff would call a meeting with the two of them, Tommy couldn't help but feel doubt creep into his features. He knew Jude could see it in his eyes, but he was determined to ignore it; he needed act on the positive side.

Instead of trying to assure her with more words that he knew would be empty promises, Tommy embraced Jude, letting his arms latch on to her tiny frame. Jude held on to him breathing in his scent and memorizing what he felt like. Her nerves began to calm as she listened to his steady heartbeat. Was it worth it? Jude kept asking herself. She had no clue what Jeff wanted with the both of them, but couldn't stop thinking of possibilities. If it really was about them, why would he bring it up now with only a week until they could be legit in the eyes of the show? Her thoughts were broken as Tommy released her from his grip and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I'll be there right beside you, ok? You head down first, arriving separate couldn't hurt us at this point," he replied giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. Jude looked up to him and smiled, then left the room without another word. Tommy watched her leave, heaving out a huge sigh. Now that there was nothing to distract his thoughts, he had a strange feeling that this was only the beginning. Dread filled his body as he deliberately shook it off, knowing something felt off about this producer of his. Looking down at his watch, Tommy reluctantly stepped from his room and padded down the empty hallway, not being able to hold the waiting off any longer.

It wouldn't be so bad if he knew what Jude was thinking. There was a look sketched on her face that he couldn't quite pinpoint. It held question but also knowledge, serving the only purpose of spiking his own curiosity. Or maybe it was the way she clung to him, unwilling to let go as if she'd never have the chance again.

A chill raced up his spine as he continued the walk to the conference room. No, he would not let himself think about it. Not now…not ever.