A/N: I'm hoping to get a few chapters out per week, but since I have so much finished right now, it'll probably be one a day for a bit. But thanks so much for the positive response everyone! I loooove it! SO…here's some more!
And, because I suck & didn't put it in the first part:
Disclaimer: I do not own Instant Star or aaaanything else you recognize in the story.
The next morning, Jude was late, as usual. She had crept in the night before, careful to avoid both bridezilla and her father, and hid away in her room, eating large quantities of junk food and listening to music. She still hadn't managed to fall asleep before 4 a.m. She decided that it was the house that was causing her the stress and sleeplessness. It was as good a theory as any, she supposed.
She woke up at 12:15, and cursed aloud. She had to be at the studio in about 20 minutes. She was determined to actually be useful today, not just a girl sleeping.
She rushed into the shower, not bothering to wash her hair and ran out to her car, tossing a small wave to the few paparazzi that were lingering at the end of her driveway. Her father was adamant that they not go on the property, but city sidewalks were fair game. Aside from putting up a 10foot fence around the yard, there was virtually nothing they could do about them.
She yelped as she sat in the car.
It would rain last night, wouldn't it? Just my luck. Jude grabbed a sweatshirt from the backseat and put it under her now-damp ass, cursing her luck. Without a passenger side window, the rain was free to fall wherever it wanted. She felt the passenger seat tentatively. Yup, barely wet. Figures.
She got to G-Major approximately 4 minutes before she was needed. She headed to the couch, as customary, and flopped down, closing her eyes. Not seconds later, she felt the cushion sink beside her and an arm drape over her shoulders. She leaned into his familiar touch and smiled as he said the word she loved.
"Babe."
Nothing else needed to be said, he managed to fit whole lectures into that one word. Lectures and emotions and frustrations were all present in that word. Amazing, really.
His hand drifted to her hair, which she realized a long time ago that he had an infatuation with her hair as well as his own. He combed his fingers through it gently before his hand stilled.
"Jude, what is this?" He held a small fragment of glass in front of her, which he apparently had just retrieved from her hair.
"Don't ask," Jude said tiredly.
"Is this glass?" He asked incredulously.
"Any chance you'll leave this alone?" Jude asked hopefully.
"No."
Jude sighed and took the piece of glass from him, observing it in her hand.
"Will you check and see if there's any other pieces in my hair?"
"After you tell me why you have glass in your hair."
"Okay, well, can I just preface this story with the fact that the moral of it is: you were right and I was wrong and I know that, so it's not really necessary for you to point it out, okay?"
"Jude."
"I went to go get ice cream after work and the Corvette sort of wouldn't start. So, it did, eventually, but in the process a paparazzi managed to bust the passenger side window."
She felt Tommy tense up next to her and she couldn't help but to cringe a little. She turned towards him, guilt written all over her face.
"I'm sorry, I know I should've just gone straight home, but I didn't want to and it was just crazy and I know you used to tell me how unready I was for the media and all the attention and how I need to be aware of my surroundings at all times, I just thought I could handle it, but I guess not." She was breathing heavily after her little rant, tempted to put her finger on Tommy's eyebrow to keep it from cocking up in the ever-familiar questioning glance.
Jude was fully prepared for a lecture from Tommy on the importance of maintaining a low profile, and she knew that he was going to roll his eyes at her for making such a big deal out of the paparazzi. She mentally prepared herself for the words to come, yet she was totally surprised when Tommy gently cupped her face in his eyes. She avoided his eyes, still embarrassed.
"Girl, look at me," Tommy said softly and waited for her eyes to meet his. "I used to say that you weren't ready for the media, because you weren't. But it's safe to say you've handled the media great up until now."
Jude took a deep breath. Here it comes, she thought miserably.
"But they crossed a line last night, and that's just not right."
What? Tommy rested his forehead against Jude's trying to center himself.
"You're okay though, right?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm just a little shook up, and apparently glass-y. And possibly mildly blinded from the flashes," she joked.
"They're not allowed to invade your space like that, Jude. I'll talk to Darius about getting a little stricter on the paparazzi around G-Major. Now, what are you going to do about your car?"
Jude shrugged sheepishly, she really had no idea what she was going to do.
"I don't know. I need to get it fixed, obviously, but until I get the royalties from this next album, I'm sort of strapped." Tommy's jaw dropped at this.
"You spent all of your money? Already?" He couldn't fathom what Jude was buying. "How much are old band t-shirts going for these days?" He asked, fingering the vintage Grateful Dead shirt she was currently sporting.
"I didn't spend it on clothes!" Jude said, sitting up out of his embrace, giving him a resentful look.
"What did you spend it on, Jude?" Tommy asked in a louder voice, getting up as well. "That's thousands of dollars! Tens of thousands! Where did it go?" He finished with a yell, standing in front of her.
"Lower your voice!" Jude said harshly, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the closest studio.
"What are you into, Jude?" Tommy asked quietly, looking into her eyes.
"I have half a mind to slap you, Quincy." Jude replied just as quietly. "But I'd prefer not to. So what I'm telling you doesn't leave this room. No one knows."
"What is it, Jude?" He pled, hoping against everything that it wasn't bad.
"I'm paying for Sadie's wedding." Jude confessed.
"What?"
"You heard me," Jude said, turning her back on him and walking to the soundboard, sitting down in front of it.
"Why…how much could it…why?" Tommy sounded completely and utterly confused, which he admittedly was.
"Listen," Jude said tiredly. "Sadie wants her dream wedding. I know my dad doesn't have that type of money."
"Kwest would pitch in, you know that," Tommy said softly, sitting down next to her.
"Sadie wouldn't let him, he offered. Sadie wants it all to be traditional. She's even wearing white for Christ's sake." Jude let out a small laugh. "She doesn't know that my dad doesn't have a lot of money. My mom took a lot from him during the divorce proceedings. Got to give it Don, he knew what he was doing." Jude finished bitterly.
"So your dad asked for your money?" Jude shook her head.
"He has too much pride for that. He was planning on taking out a second mortgage on the house to pay for it." She shrugged a little. "I couldn't let him do that. So I created another bank account, transferred my money to it and send the link to him, giving him full access. I said I was my mom, and that I felt bad that I was the reason Sadie wouldn't get the dream wedding she wanted."
Tommy was shocked. He knew Jude was selfless, but still. And to give the credit to her mother, who he was well aware Jude hated? That was above and beyond anything he could've expected of her.
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand." Jude said in a small voice.
"Fifty thousand?!" Tommy's calm demeanor went straight out the door with that confession. Being Vice President of G-Major meant that Tommy knew everything that happened. Everything. That included how much each of the artist's made and how much money their albums earned. He knew for a fact that Jude barely got five thousand dollars for her first album, especially since he helped draft that clause in the Instant Star contract. Her second album gave her a hefty amount – but not fifty thousand.
"Jude, you don't have that kind of money." Tommy said disbelieving.
"Not anymore, I don't." Jude shot back. She was getting pissed now. At first she wasn't angry with Tommy for assuming she was into bad things – drugs, gambling, whatever was going through his mind. She was hurt as hell, of course, and fairly insulted that he thought that little of her, but the rational side of her told her that it was all very logical to assume given her situation and the fact that she bitches about paying more than 40 on a pair of jeans. But for Tommy to start getting angry at her for doing what she knew was right?
How dare he? She thought angrily.
"Jude, where did you-"
Jude had had enough of Tommy's assumptions so she decided to just fill in the blanks for him.
"Well, let's see, Tommy." She stood up, getting in his face. "First I sold my body to the highest bidder, and that got me a fair amount of money – not as much as I had hoped for, actually – and then I started selling all those drugs that apparently I did to lose all that money in the first place, and then I had a pretty large sum, had to sleep with a few people here and there, but you know, I got by."
Jude's sarcastic rant and obvious current distaste for Tommy caused him to take a step back. He was stunned into silence, which worked out in Jude's favor because she was not done.
"What the fuck do you think I did, Tommy?!" Jude yelled at him. "I sold three of my guitars and a bunch of other shit. The Jude Harrison autograph goes a long way, a hell of a lot farther than apparently anything else I do around here!"
"Jude, I-"
"You what, Tommy? Didn't mean to accuse me of God knows what?" Tommy didn't respond, and Jude was fed up. She turned to the door and had managed to get it open about 6 inches before Tommy's hand came over her head and slammed it back shut.
"Girl," Tommy spoke softly in her ear, sending chills down her spine. "I didn't mean to accuse you of anything. I was just confused and a little surprised. I was scared that something happened to you that you wouldn't have any money."
Jude turned around and leaned against the door, thrown off slightly by the close proximity between her and Tommy.
"Tommy, I don't do drugs," she said softly. "I don't gamble and I don't steal. I admit I did what I had to do to get the money, and it wasn't what I wanted to do, but it was legal. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Darius."
Jude could see where he'd have a problem with her making a strict profit off herself, especially when she was still contractually obligated to G-Major.
"Of course I won't, Jude. And I know you'd never do any of those things."
"You just didn't know it enough for it to not be the first thing that popped into your mind," Jude said softly, looking away, feeling tears burn her eyes. She preferred herself when she was just pissed versus hurt. Everything was easier that way.
"Babe, every time I think I know you, you go and do something like this, throwing me off completely. You're amazing." Jude couldn't help the stray tear that slipped through her eyelashes as she closed her eyes at his words. "I'm sorry that I doubted you in any way. You're constantly surprising me in the best ways. Please forgive me."
Jude could never resist Tommy Quincy in any way, shape or form, and this was no exception.
"I guess I can see how those would be the logical conclusions to come to," Jude sniffed, trying to pull back her tears. Tommy just gave a little laugh and wiped a few off her cheeks.
"No, they're not. Not logical at all, girl. I want you to forgive me for even thinking them."
Jude leaned forward and rested her head on Tommy's shoulder.
"Yeah, I forgive you." She said softly.
Tommy slowly pulled her to the couch, sitting down facing her. They sat in silence for a while before Tommy spoke up.
"I have something for you."
"Oh yeah?"
Tommy fished in his pockets before producing something and holding it out for her.
"Your car keys." Jude said skeptically. "Now, I know better to assume you're giving me your car, because lord knows you'd never do that," Tommy smiled at the memory, "but I have to admit I'm pretty confused."
"I leave tomorrow for L.A. for the week."
"Huh?"
"Mastering, Jude."
"Oh, right. And you want me to hold on to these because…?"
"I'd feel better if you drove the Hummer while I'm gone."
"Tommy…" Jude started, fingering the keys and the large key fob attached.
"I'm serious, Jude. The paparazzi are only going to get worse until the album launch, and even then they'll probably still be around, just as bad. I don't want you driving around in that hunk of metal without a passenger side window."
"I can't take your Hummer, Tommy."
"Why not? Give me one reason."
"…What will the press think?" Tommy laughed at that.
"That's your reasoning. Nice try, Harrison, but the press is going to think that you're borrowing my truck because paparazzi broke the window in your own car. If there were any other paparazzi there last night, I'm sure that's the story they're running with today."
"But still…"
"No buts, Jude. Please take the Hummer. I'd feel a lot better knowing you were safe while I'm gone. You don't want me to get an ulcer, do you?"
"Shut up," Jude laughed, hitting him in the arm. "But what about when you get back?"
"Then I get your car fixed."
"I'm not letting you do that." Jude said firmly. Tommy hadn't really expected her to agree to that, he knew how stubborn and independent Jude was, but he had to try.
"Then we come to that bridge when he come to it," Tommy conceded. "I do have other cars, you know. You can drive the Hummer for as long as you need to."
Jude sighed. She was well aware she was going to be driving the Hummer for the next week, possibly longer. She just hated feeling indebted to someone. Tommy read her mind, as usual.
"I know you hate feeling like you owe people. But just think of this as karma." Jude raised her eyebrow at him. Tommy shook his head with a smirk. "Not the person, you dope. Think of this as the world paying you back for what you're doing for Sadie."
Jude thought about this and nodded slowly.
"About that…promise me you won't tell anybody that I'm doing this? It would just be too much drama to deal with, and I so don't want to."
"I think what you're doing is a great thing, girl. You're really making Sadie's dreams come true."
"Tommy," Jude said in a warning voice.
"Okay, okay, I promise I won't say anything."
"Not even to Kwest."
"Not even to Kwest, I promise."
With that settled, the pair hunkered down to finish mixing the last track, with Tommy not wanting to leave and Jude not wanting him to go.
- - - -
"Okay, so call me if you need anything, girl."
It was 10 p.m. and Jude was attempting to say goodbye to Tommy for the past 20 minutes. They'd get through the whole routine before thinking of something else to tell the other, and end up getting involved in a conversation. The pair stood in the parking lot, Jude leaning against the Hummer and Tommy in front of her.
"I will, I promise."
"I don't know if I'll be able to answer all the time, but if you need another car for some reason, like you…wrecking the Hummer for some unforeseen reason, call Chaz. He'll be in town starting tomorrow."
"Why?" As far as she knew, Chaz didn't like to stay in Toronto for extended periods of time. Tommy could've hit himself in the forehead if he didn't think it'd be so obvious.
Sadie hasn't told her the wedding's moved up, he realized. She still thinks it's months away!
"He's got some unfinished business here," Tommy said cryptically. Like being a groomsman for your sister's impromptu wedding.
"Oh, okay…" Jude appreciated Tommy giving her an out rather than telling her to call Kwest. Kwest was like family now, and family is exactly who she did not need to talk to about anything.
"I promise I'll be good to her," Jude laughed as she petted the Hummer affectionately.
"She'll return the favor," Tommy said sagely, trying not to smile. He suddenly pulled her into a hug, smiling into her hair. "I'll miss you, girl."
"I'll miss you, too Quincy," Jude replied, surprising herself with no smartass comment on how he'd only be gone for a week. Truth was, she spent most of her time with Tommy lately. She would miss him, and she'd probably be bored to tears without him.
Tommy eventually pulled away, and Jude mourned the loss of his warmth with a pout.
"Darius did good, huh?" Tommy said as he motioned to the parking lot, void of any reporters and paparazzi. Tommy and Jude had spoken to him, asking him to do what he could about the complete lack of privacy Jude was experiencing. He couldn't do much, but the parking lot was something that Jude was grateful for.
"Yeah, he did good." Jude agreed quietly.
"I guess I better go," Tommy said. "For real, this time."
"Don't hurt her," Jude said with mock-concern as she handed him the keys to her Corvette. Tommy had reassured her that his building had underground parking and that no one would even see her car, not that it would matter because he also told her that he had been very good at protecting where he lived. No reporters knew, apparently. Either way, it was better than leaving her poor unprotected 'Vette at G-Major unattended.
Jude finally leaned up and planted a kiss on Tommy's cheek.
"Don't forget me when all those L.A. girls are throwing themselves at you, ok, Tommy?" She whispered into his ear.
Tommy leaned back and kissed her forehead.
"Never."
With that, he got into the Corvette and Jude made sure it started before climbing into the Hummer. She didn't really feel comfortable driving such a beast of a vehicle, but she had to admit – she felt a hell of a lot safer. But she wasn't sure if that was due to the strength of the truck or the overwhelming scent of Tommy that enveloped her as soon as she got in.
Tommy flashed his lights at her, signaling for her to leave first, and they pulled out of G-Major's parking lot, both going their separate ways.