A/N: Okay I didn't realize how short this one was...so I might post another one tonight, the ones closer to the end are much longer than this...but anyhoo, the song I used was Farther Away by Evanescence...it wasn't on one of their cds, but if you want to listen to it you can find both versions of it on youtube. Enjoy reading and I'll probably post another one...
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Tommy and Kwest entered the studio again two hours later. Jude was sitting at the mixing board adjusting a few knobs. The headphones were covering her ears, and she was oblivious to their re-entry. Walking over to her Kwest took off the headphones. Jude shot back but relaxed when she saw it was only Kwest.
"Since when do you know how to use the mixing board?" Kwest asked. Jude pushed back away from the table swiveling toward them in her chair.
"Since I've been working in the studio since I was fifteen. Not to mention I've got to do something while you're off making sandwiches in the kitchen," she replied with a smile.
"Anything good?" he asked, gesturing towards the board. Jude nodded her head.
"It's a new song. I just got done recording the different instruments," she said to a surprised Kwest, "something I've picked up while working at the mansion." Kwest sat down in the chair next to her as Tommy watched them work.
"Show me what you got," Kwest pointed toward the recording booth.
Jude stood up and walked through the sound-proof door and sat on the stool by the microphone. Pointing to Kwest he started the mix Jude composed. Jude waited and on her cue in the music she sang.
I took their smiles and I made them mine.
I sold my soul just to hide the light.
And now I see what I really am,
A thief a whore, and a liar.
I run to you,
(And run away from this hell)
Call out your name,
(Giving up, giving in)
I see you there,
(Still you are)
Farther away
I'm numb to you - numb and deaf and blind.
You give me all but the reason why.
I reach but I feel only air at night.
Not you, not love, just nothing.
I run to you,
(And run away from this hell)
Call out your name,
(Giving up, giving in)
I see you there,
(Still you are)
Farther away
Try to forget you,
But without you I feel nothing.
Don't leave me here, by myself.
I can't breathe.
I run to you,
(And run away from this hell)
Call out your name,
(Giving up, giving in)
I see you there,
(Still you are)
Farther away.
I run to you,
(And run away from this hell)
Call out your name,
(Giving up, giving in)
I see you there,
(Still you are)
Farther away.
Farther away,
Farther away,
Farther away,
Farther away,
Farther away.
Pulling off the headphones, Jude exited the booth with excitement. This was something she was proud of, and it felt amazing. It was a lot easier for her to sing about her thoughts and feelings than to just say them. It always had been.
Entering the studio again she could tell that her song wasn't what Tommy was expecting. He wore a surprised expression with small traces of a smile showing through the corners of his eyes. Kwest was beaming by the soundboard as he stood up to embrace her.
"Jude that was amazing! I should leave you alone more often, maybe I'll get more hits like that," he said smiling. Jude stepped back from him and rolled her eyes.
"You already do Mr. Sandwich King," Jude retorted jokingly.
"Touché, Harrison. Okay well get back into the booth, blondie. That song may be amazing but I'm not letting you off the hook just yet. We still have to perfect the vocals."
"After," Jude began, "I get my break. You may have been doing nothing for the past two hours, but I've been working." Jude brushed past Kwest to meet Tommy who was staring at her admiringly.
"Not exactly what I had expected," Tommy started grinning obtrusively. Jude tilted her head up to him, a smile forming slyly across her lips. Her mood always seemed to lighten whenever he was around.
"What, did you expect I would sing something about flowers and trees and butterflies?"
"No, I guess I'm just…impressed," Tommy complimented. Bringing a hand to her face he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, sending a flash of heat throughout her body. Breaking away from his gaze, Jude couldn't help but smile.
By the soundboard Kwest had pushed the playback and was listening to her new song. Why he wasn't using the headphones was beyond her. Hearing the aggressive melodies both Tommy and Jude turned toward the soundboard. This time the composition included Jude's newly recorded vocals.
Tommy nodded his head to the beat and smiled in pride of Jude. Jude, on the other hand, became engrossed in her lyrics. The words brought her back to reality with a constant nagging voice in the back of her mind; and with it a truth that reminded her of the façade she had absentmindedly and carelessly built. Kwest was the one to break her out of her thoughts.
"Jude, are you okay? Is it something I did with the song?"
Jude's head shot up in his direction. "What? Oh no I love the song. It's just…I've got a lot of other things clogging my mind right now," she replied with a thoughtful look on her face. Tommy gave her a look of concern, trying to read what was going on inside her mind. Jude noticed his worry and tried to make herself a little more cheerful. She didn't need to create another lie on top of everything else. Before she had a chance to say anything, Tommy leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"What do you say to us getting out of here?"
Relief flooded through her system as she nodded curtly. She turned towards Kwest once the song was done playing.
"Hey, I'm beat. I think I'm done for the day. Do you think this mix was good or do you want me to come in tomorrow to record again?" Kwest swiveled in his chair to meet Jude's eyes. Something was up, he knew, but he just didn't know what it was. He wondered if Tommy knew about the secrets she was holding.
"Yeah sure that's fine. Just come in tomorrow at around the same time so we can work on it," even as he was talking Jude winced.
"Can I come in a little later, as in not at the crack of dawn?" Kwest let out a short laugh.
"Sure, just be in by ten o'clock."
"Thanks," Jude sighed in relief. Turning on her heel she exited the studio. Tommy started backing up slowly before talking to Kwest.
"I think I'm gonna leave too. I'll see you later, man."
"Yeah, yeah. Go get your girl." And with that statement Tommy was out the door.