This is the final chapter. I wrote it before I was even done with Chapter 7. It's just so I know what I'm working up to.
"Jude, we need a single," Darius said, a few days later.
"We've got a bunch of them recorded, D," Tommy said.
"Yeah, well we need a follow-up to Waste My Time. And I haven't heard it yet," Darius said.
"Well we're just about done with the album," Tommy said.
"We get that single, we can call it a wrap, Jude's album gets released, she goes on tour," Darius said.
"I go on tour?" Jude said, speaking up for the first time.
"The faster you give me another hit, the faster you hit the road," Darius said.
"Okay, come on Tommy, let's go," Jude said.
"Later Dare," Tommy said, following Jude out.
"Okay Tommy, come on, let's just go sit down, write this song, and finish the album," Jude said.
"Jude, I think this is something you need to do with your band," Tommy said.
"Alright, I'll call up Kyle and Wally and have them come down…" she said.
"Jude," Tommy said. She knew where this conversation was going. Ever since she decided she liked 24 Hours instead of I'm In Love With My Guitar, Speed's been a little iffy around her. Things got worse after she called him immature.
"He wrote a whole song for you," Tommy said.
"I know, I loved it, I recorded it, its over. He's just still, not being Speed when he's around me," Jude said.
"Why can't you have both of their songs?" Tommy asked.
"That's just it. I've written songs about him, I wrote the whole Shay song with him, I recorded the other song he wrote about me, what more does he want?" Jude asked.
"Maybe you two need to write this last song, together," Tommy said.
"I thought you said the whole band?" Jude said.
"No, I think this is a you and Speed thing. You and Speed. Not Speed plays guitar and you make up words to a song. I want you two to each write this song. Together. Even if it means you write one half he writes the other and you two put it together, I want you two to write it together," Tommy said.
"Tommy, I doubt that he'll even go for it," Jude said.
"I've got a plan," Tommy said. Jude raised her eyebrow and watched Tommy call Speed, Kyle, and Wally.
"Can we do something first?" Jude asked.
"What?" Tommy asked.
"Can we give what we recorded of I'm In Love With My Guitar to Kwest and ask him to mix it?" Jude asked.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah. If this song means a lot to Speed, I want it to end up on the album. That way, when we're on tour, I can sing it," Jude said.
"Do you like the song?" Tommy asked.
"Well, at first I did, but that was when I thought it was about me and him. And then I realized it was about his guitar," Jude said.
"Jude, what if you're his guitar. You're the one that said you're the cord on his guitar," Tommy said.
"Tommy, Speed's not deep like that. I asked him about it, and he said he really loves it. He even went as far as giving it a kiss," Jude said.
"So why do you want to put it on your CD? This is Jude Harrison's CD. Not Jude Harrison and SME," Tommy said.
"Because it means a lot to him," Jude said.
"I just don't get why this is such a problem, you two have written songs before?" Tommy asked.
"It's not the same as what you're asking us to do, which by the way, I wanna be in on this little scheme you're planning," Jude said.
"Go, talk to Kwest now, while he's in a good mood," Tommy said. Jude sighed and walked over to Kwest, who was in the midst of eating a sandwich.
"Jude, come on, you need to go home and grab some stuff. You're probably gonna be there for a while," Tommy said a little while later. She gave him a confused look but agreed to do what he said he took her home.
"Mom, Tommy's got some song writing plan for the band, I'm gonna be gone all night," Jude said.
"Tommy's gonna be there?" Victoria asked.
"No, no, he's the one who came up with the plan. It's just me and the guys," Jude said.
"Why can't you just do it normally?" Victoria asked.
"Darius needs a new hit single. Mom, when I'm done recording this song, it's done. The album's finished," Jude said.
"Oh, Jude I'm so happy for you!" Victoria exclaimed.
"Thanks mom, now I really need to go," Jude said, leaving. She hopped into the H2 and Tommy drove over to pick up the rest of the band.
"Where are we going?" Jude asked.
"My house," Tommy said.
"Whoa, seriously?" Jude asked.
"Yeah, I've got everything you'll ever need there," Tommy said.
"Even food?" Kyle asked.
"Even food," Tommy said, laughing.
"Uh, Quincy, I think I'm gonna have to take a rain check," Speed said when they got to his house.
"What?" Tommy asked.
"I'm busy," Speed said.
"Alright guess no Speed," Jude said, rolling up Tommy's window.
"Not if I have anything to do with it," Tommy said, getting out of the car.
"Quincy's gonna beat it out of him," Wally said, laughing.
"What the hell is wrong with you man?" Tommy asked, pulling Speed into his house.
"Jude's good at writing songs all by herself," Speed said.
"This is a band thing, last time I checked, this was your band. If you're gonna blow this off because of silly little song then maybe she was right to call you immature. But let me tell you this, Jude's whole album is riding on this song being good or not. If this song is good enough, it's gonna be the last song on her album. Album finished, tour begins. If you wanna hold Jude back from that, be my guest," Tommy said.
"This isn't about Jude choosing Jamie's song over mine. When I wrote that song, I wrote it about us. She wants to think its about my guitar because she doesn't wanna admit that there's something between us, and frankly, I'm tired of it. I thought that me breaking up with Amelia and her breaking up with Shay would mean that we were able to finally get together, and no, nothing's happened. Nothing even remotely close to us getting together and I'm tired of it," Speed said. Tommy had never seen Speed so worked up about something.
"Have you ever thought of just telling her this? Like not subtly writing it into a song, I mean actually telling her this," Tommy said.
"I never have the chance to be alone with her anymore," Speed said.
"I have a feeling that your chance is coming. Now grab some clothes and come on," Tommy said.
"Do you think she feels the same way?" Speed asked.
"She wrote Your Eyes back when she wasn't even with you. She's felt this way for a long time. You two just need the right push," Tommy said.
"More like a heave," Speed joked.
"Alright, we've got guitarist," Tommy said when they got in the Hummer.
"Guitars, drums, bass, and vocals," Kyle said.
"Check, check, check, and check," Jude said.
"Then we're good to go," Tommy said. He drove to his house.
"You two go inside, I need to talk to your goons for a minute," Tommy said. Jude looked at Speed and grabbed her things.
"Keys?" Jude asked.
"Oh, right," Tommy said, handing them to Jude. He waited until they were inside before telling Kyle and Wally the real plan.
"Crap I left my pajamas in the car," Jude said.
"I'll go get it," Speed said. Jude smiled; at least he wasn't being an ass.
"They're gone," Speed said, running back in.
"What?! Are you sure?" Jude exclaimed.
"He drives that huge Hummer, I think I would be able to see it," Speed said.
"Crap, now I have nothing to sleep in," Jude said.
"Can you stop thinking about yourself for one minute? We're stuck here!" Speed said.
"No we're not, Tommy's got other cars," Jude said.
"Yeah, and the keys are where?" Speed asked.
"Wally probably forgot something at home and he went back to go get it," Jude said.
"Your intelligence amazes me more and more everyday," Speed said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jude asked.
"It means exactly what you think it means, Harrison," Speed said.
"Ugh this must be his plan. He wants us to write this song. Just me and you," Jude said.
"How fun," Speed said. This is what Tommy meant about giving him and Jude some alone time. So far, it was backfiring.
"This isn't a party for me either, Vin," Jude said. She stormed off into Tommy's music room and locked herself inside.
"Open the door Jude," Speed said.
"No," she said.
"Now," he said, banging on it.
"I said no," Jude said.
"Then hand me a guitar," Speed said. He got no reply.
"Jude, he obviously wants us to write this song, so either you give me a guitar or you come up with a single all on your own," Speed said. He heard the door unlock and he walked inside. Jude was facing the wall with an acoustic in her hand.
"Look, do you want to do this together, or do you want to just, you know, write half, and put it together?" Speed asked. Jude still didn't answer him.
"You're gonna have to talk to me," Speed said, walking in front of Jude. He noticed she was crying.
"Jude, come here," Speed said, opening his arms. She pushed him away and walked out of the room in tears.
Speed followed her and turned her around.
"Jude stop crying," he said, hugging her.
"No, let go of me," she cried.
"No," he said. He sat her down on the couch.
"What happened with us?" Jude asked.
"I don't know," Speed said.
"I mean, you would've never called me stupid before, and now," Jude said.
"Jude, you're not stupid," Speed said.
"Speed, yes I am, and you know this," Jude said.
"Jude, a few bad marks don't mean anything. That doesn't measure how smart you are. That just means you don't really pay attention in class. Which, I might say, is partly my fault. I mean, I know it's hard for you to not stare at me because I'm so hott, but if it's affecting your grade, I think you're gonna have to stop," Speed joked. Jude smiled.
"Now come on, we're just gonna have to set aside our differences right now, and come up with a hit song. Then we can get the bus," Speed said.
"Okay," Jude said. Speed went back into the music room and grabbed two acoustics.
He and Jude sat on different sides of the room, trying to come up with something, ignoring the real problem at hand.
A little while later, Tommy called.
"How are my two favorite people doing?" Tommy asked.
"Well it's down to one. I kinda killed Jude, it was an accident, I swear," Speed said.
"Right, well what's the plan of action?" Tommy asked.
"Wait, first tell me when are you coming back?" Speed asked.
"When you two call me back and I hear a song, you guys can leave," Tommy said.
"Alright. Well right now we're just coming up with things on our own, and we're gonna put them together when we're done," Speed said.
"Okay well let me hear your part," Tommy said.
"I've got nothing," Speed said.
"You guys should've brought more clothes," Tommy said.
"Funny. I've got a bunch of things in my head, but I'm just not like Jude. Songs just don't pop out of my head like magic," Speed said.
"Give her the phone, let me see what she's got," Tommy said.
"Jude, head's up," Speed said, tossing his phone across the room. Jude picked it up.
"Hey, so is it working out so far?" Tommy asked.
"Now that I've stopped crying, yeah, perfect," Jude said.
"I'll take that as a no. So let me hear what you've got," Tommy said.
"I'm all mixed up, confused, I don't know what to do. Cause I want to, I'd love to, if I knew you'd want me to," Jude sang.
"That's a good start, let Speed hear it and build off of that," Tommy said.
"Its about him," Jude said.
"I know. Toss the phone back to him," Tommy said.
"Hello," Speed said.
"Are you ever gonna tell her? You said you needed some alone time. I'd call this alone time," Tommy said.
"I will, just not now," Speed said.
"Do so, or you may never get the chance," Tommy said, hanging up.
"Um, Tommy thinks we should build off of what I have," Jude said.
"Okay, well what's the basis of the song?" Speed asked.
"Classic story. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, girl not sure if boy falls for her," Jude said.
"Boy secretly fell for girl, boy not sure if girl feels the same," Speed said. He had a feeling they were talking about each other, and not the song.
"Alright, and this is what I have," Jude said, showing him the part that she sang to Tommy.
"Okay, well what about this," Speed said, picking up the guitar.
"I know what I feel and you feel it too," Speed sang.
"I dream of the first kiss and who'll make the first move," Jude sang.
"Who's gonna put their heart on the line?" Speed continued.
"It could be me, it could be you," Jude sang.
"Tonight," Speed finished.
"I'm all mixed up, confused, cause I don't know what to do. Cause I'd want to, I'd love to, if I knew you'd want me to," Jude sang. The whole time she sang, Speed played the guitar and slowly walked towards her, eventually causing her to back into the wall.
"If you're getting any closer then I'm gonna have to scream," she whispered. He dropped the guitar and kissed her. It wasn't their first kiss, but it sure did feel like it. It took her breath away.
"Um, wow," Jude said.
"Yeah," Speed said.
"I think we've got a song," Jude said.
Speed picked up the guitar and smiled at Jude as he began to play.
"We need some verses," Jude said.
"Oh so that 'it could be me' part, is that like the hook?" Speed asked.
"Mmhm, now come on, let's do this," Jude said.
"Well I have this written down, I just had nothing to put with it," Speed said, showing Jude his paper.
"One of us might lose control of these feelings we've been hiding, deep down they must start to show. Not here, not now, watching my frustrations grow," Jude read. Jude picked up the other guitar and started playing.
"You and me all alone, it's too late to say we didn't know. We shouldn't be alone one of us might lose control," Jude sang. Speed watched Jude's fingers and figured out what cords she was playing.
"Of these feelings we've been hiding, deep down yeah they must start to show. Not here, not now, watching my frustrations grow," Speed sang. They tied that into the hook.
"Show me who you are stop me before I go too far," Jude sang.
"Cause it hurts to hold back, hide me or I might crack," Speed sang.
"You already did," Jude said, smiling.
"And I'd do it again," Speed said.
"I'm gasoline, you're the match, I'm not sure if we could handle that," Jude continued.
"It might explode, could be a mess," Speed sang.
"I say we take the chance," Jude said. Speed stopped playing. He wasn't so sure if they were talking about the story of the song, or each other.
"Why'd you stop?" Jude asked.
"Does this mean?" Speed asked.
"It means exactly what you think it means, Vincent," Jude said, repeating what he said to her earlier.
The next morning, Tommy, Kyle, and Wally walked into the house.
"Where are the two dudes?" Wally asked.
"I don't know," Tommy said. He picked up a shirt that he knew was Jude's.
"I think we made a mistake," Tommy said.
"I don't think they would've," Kyle said. They stepped over more clothes. There seemed to be a trail leading to Tommy's bedroom.
"I think they did," Wally said.
Tommy opened the door and covered his eyes, not sure if he wanted to see what was in there.
"They so did!" Kyle exclaimed. Speed was lying with only his pants on and Jude had her head on his chest, wearing only one of his shirts.
The two of them ran over to the bed and started punching Speed.
"Ouch, guys, what the hell is your problem?" Speed asked.
"You devirginized poor Jude," Kyle said.
"I did what?" Speed asked.
"You and Jude, you know," Wally said.
"We didn't have sex, if that's what you mean," Jude said.
"So there's clothes scattered everywhere, and you're wearing his shirt because?" Tommy asked.
"I left my pajamas in your car so it was either Speed sleep pantless and I sleep shirtless or I sleep pantless and Speed sleep shirtless. And we got really bored so we made up an obstacle course and the winner got to eat that last slice of pie in your fridge. Which was great by the way," Jude said.
"Is that why you were hitting me? You thought?" Speed asked.
"Yeah," Wally said.
"No, no, we didn't do that," Speed said.
"That's a relief," Tommy, Kyle, and Wally said at the same time.
"So, did you two write your hit song, or are we gonna have to leave you here another night?" Tommy said.
"We wrote it," Speed said.
"Together," Jude said.
"Line by line," Speed said.
"Alright, let's hear it," Tommy said. Jude wrapped the sheet around her waist and walked out to the living room, where her pants were. Speed followed her out there and picked up the guitar. They let the guys hear the song and they loved it.
"I gotta call Darius," Tommy said.
"D, they did it, they wrote the song. Play it for him," Tommy said.
"That's hot T, get them in the studio as soon as possible," Darius said.
"You got it," Tommy said, hanging up.
"So," Jude said.
"He wants it ready for the studio ASAP," Tommy said.
"Yay!" Jude exclaimed. She hugged Speed and he kissed her.
"Whoa, did that just happen?" Wally asked.
"Mmhm," Jude said, smiling.
"The song, it's about the two of you," Kyle said.
"It is," Jude said, kissing Speed again.
"Finally," Wally said.
"Come on Vin, let's get changed so we can finish this CD," Jude said.
A few weeks later, Jude was holding it in her hand, a finished copy of her first record, ready to be sold to the public in only a few hours.
"Is it everything you expected it to be?" Jamie asked. Jude looked around at everyone: her mom and dad, Mason, Patsy, Kyle, Wally, Kwest, Portia, Sadie, Tommy, Darius, Liam, even Shay stopped by, and of course, Spiederman.
"No," Jude said.
"What? Why?" Speed asked, wrapping his arms around her.
"It's even better," Jude said.
"To honor the completion of Jude's CD, I wanted to give her this," Darius said.
"All of you are getting this," Liam said, pointing at SME.
Darius reached into his jacket and pulled out 8 roundtrip tickets.
"Eight, but there's only four of us," Jude said.
"First, the four of you are going on a vacation. You guys deserve it," Darius said. Jude turned around and hugged her band.
"This is awesome D, thanks!" Jude said before hugging him.
"And then, as soon as you come back, you're getting right on that tour bus you wanted and you're going across the country," Darius said.
"We're going on tour!" Jude exclaimed.
"Yes!" Kyle, Wally, and Speed said and high-fived each other.
"But there's still four tickets left," Jude said.
"I'm getting there. When the four of you come back, I know you're gonna be tired, but we all think this will be good for you. You're gonna stay in NYC for a week, and learn some things about this industry. Tommy told me about your trip so I figured all of you should experience it together," Darius said.
"This is like Christmas all over again," Jude said.
"I know," Speed said.
"You deserve it, girl," Tommy said.
"You really do," Liam said.
Even Liam was complementing Jude.
"Wait, wait, are we going alone?" Kyle asked.
"We wouldn't even send you across the street alone," Tommy said.
"We found someone to keep an eye on you guys. You'll meet her when it's time to leave," Liam said.
"Let's just enjoy this," Kyle said.
"Enjoy what?" Jude asked.
"Jeez Blondie, enjoy our last few days in Canada," Kyle said.
"Before we embark on a new adventure," Wally said.
"Leave it to Wally to ruin the moment with a cheesy line," Jude said, laughing.
Yep, it was better than she could've ever dreamed.
Alright, end of another chapter in Jude's life. But there's more. I've been planning. They're going to either Colorado (skiing) or Cabo (surfing) for a week, then going across Canada for two months before going off to New York (like said at the end of the story) And then they go back to Canada and begin Jude's second album. The soundtrack, so to speak, for the next story is Sweet Time, Over-Rated, Anyone But You, Let Me Fall, Not Standing Around, Another Thin Line, Temporary Insanity, Natural Disaster, How Strong, Liar, Liar, Transparent Lies, There's Us, Skips, and White Lines.
So I'm gonna get to work on this. Expect some new stories/chapters of this stuff in January! Happy Holidays!