Where The Next Road Goes

Chapter 27: The Road To Vancouver

Author's Note: Hey there! Bet many of you have given up on me... and this!

Well, the bad news is that I lost my job... the good news is now I have time to work on this...

Ironically, this chapter is inspired by a day I spent at my last job, volunteering at a fund raising golf tournament at a posh country club. While it took eons to write, it's been bouncing around in my head for a while...

Anyway, it hasn't been that long! You guys know the drill... review, review! I could use the cheering up...

Oh and a disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing against "preppy people"... But they sure give SME some trouble here... Or will SME have the last laugh?

Chapter 27: The Road To Vancouver

Jude and Tommy quickly said goodbye to Kat and Jamie. Their extra morning in NY had put them behind schedule. There was no time to lose if they were going to make it to Vancouver in time for that night's concert.

They settled into the back of the limousine, the door closing behind them.

"Wait!" Jude cried out, seeing that she and Tommy were the only ones in the car. She didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

"We can't forget..."

"No problem." Tommy's smile was smug, as he motioned to the large open space behind them.

Jude swivelled, peering over the back of the seat.

Wally and Kyle lay, motionless and unconscious, on top of a pile of suitcases. Their driver now brought out Speed and dumped him next to them, then slammed the back door shut.

"Remind me to give him a big tip!" Tommy whispered in Jude's ear.

"Huge!" Jude agreed, happily curling up against him.

"Alone at last!"

Their peace continued uninterrupted on the flight back to Canada. Again, Wally, Speed and Kyle had to be carried onto the plane. The only difference was that this time they were strapped into seats, rather than deposited in the luggage bins.

"Regulations..." Tommy mused regretfully, as SME's snores grew louder.

"Too bad!"

Incredibly, Wally, Kyle and Speed continued sleeping for the entire plane trip and did not even wake when Otis, their tour bus driver, slid them into their bunks on the tour bus.

"I don't believe it!" Tommy shook his head. "I've never seem them sleep this much."

"They usually don't." Jude clarified. "But when they crash, they really crash. Usually after they've been drinking."

"Yes"

"That vodka knocked them out."

"Mmm" Tommy thought.

"I'll have to remember that trick..."

Happily, he let Jude lead him to their small room in the back, knowing that they didn't have much time until she had to start getting ready for her show that night. But they made the most of it, emerging just an hour before the bus was scheduled to arrive at the arena.

Speed, Wally and Kyle were still asleep.

"Unbelievable." Tommy marveled.

Jude was more upset.

"It's like they were poisoned or something!"

"I can certainly understand the temptation!" Tommy thought, thinking of all the trouble Jude's backup band always caused.

"Tommy!" his girlfriend scolded, perfectly reading his thoughts.

"Sorry, sweetheart.". He smiled easily at her.

"Just help me wake them up! We've got a show to do!"

Together, they shook Wally, and then Kyle. It took considerable effort, but Jude and Tommy finally managed to rouse them. SME's bassist and drummer both sat up, moaning, and rubbing their eyes.

Speed, however, was another story. No amount of poking or prodding could wake him.

"Plan B" Jude said, determinedly moving towards the kitchen. Seconds later, she was back with her weapon.

"Owww!" Speed wailed, as Jude poured icy cold water over his head. Tommy stood behind her, holding a second frosty glass in his hand.

"Whadja go and do that for?"

"We've got a show to do." Jude told him firmly. "You need to get your ass out of bed! Now!"

"Unless..." Tommy's smile was hopeful, as he held out the second- and even taller- glass.

Speed quickly weighed his options.

"I'm up!" he mumbled, dragging himself out of bed.

Reluctantly, Tommy put his glass down. Jude smiled when she saw his disappointed face.

"Next time." she promised sweetly, kissing his cheek. "You can have first crack at him."

"Yes." he agreed easily, knowing.

"There will definitely be a next time!"

Dressed in very wrinkled T-shirts and jeans, Wally, Kyle and Speed now staggered over to the kitchen table, still groaning.

"Get it together!" Tommy ordered unsympathetically.

"How about some ice cream?" Jude's suggestion was more practical.

But even that didn't help.

"My head!" Speed muttered in agony. "Something's really wrong with it..."

"No kidding!" Tommy snorted, unable to resist.

"Not helpful!" Jude replied, seeing how debilitated her band really was.

"Tommy!" she panicked. "They can't play like that!"

"No" he agreed.

"We've got to do something..."

Decisively, Tommy walked towards the refrigerator. Jude watched him, as he took out some eggs, and then reached into the cabinets for a few more items that she couldn't see. He then threw everything into the blender, and poured his concoction into three cups, which Jude helped him carry over to Speed, Wally and Kyle.

Speed saw them coming and screamed when he saw what was in their hands.

"You gonna dump that on my head too?"

"I will if you don't drink it! Now!" Jude threatened.

"Harrison, you'll pay for this." Speed mumbled, but smiled weakly when he saw the creamy liquid in the glass.

"Milkshake!"

Quickly, he guzzled his, encouraging Wally and Kyle to do the same.

His mood quickly changed when he tasted the drink.

"Dude! What the hell is that?"

"It's better if you don't know..." Tommy said mysteriously.

"Just finish it." Jude insisted. "We're on in less than two hours."

Obediently, he emptied his cup. Soon, he smiled.

"You know, I think it's working..."

Tommy's secret potion did indeed work. SME managed to perform with Jude that night. After another successful, sold-out show, they took their bows and joined Tommy in the green room for the requisite meet-and-greet.

Jude had just finished an interview when she saw one of the women take Tommy aside. She watched curiously as the beautiful blonde talked animatedly with her boyfriend, then gestured to a middle-aged, bald man.

Speed slipped over towards her, his eyes wide.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"I have no idea." Jude answered. "He looks like something out of the Sopranos"

"Jude!" Speed exclaimed, frustrated.

"I didn't mean the dude. But maybe you do. Does Lord Squinty have a little competition?"

"None at all!" Jude said happily, as Tommy waved her over.

She quickly moved to join him, Speed pasted to her side.

"Jude... Speed..." Tommy said smoothly. "This is Mr. Fox. Owner of this arena"

He then turned to the blonde woman.

"And this is his wife."

"Gissele." the woman finished, taking Jude's hand.

"It's lovely to meet you."

Gissele then focused on Speed.

"And so exciting to meet you! My daughter is a huge fan. She has quite the crush on you."

"She does?" Speed asked, beaming. "That's great!"

"If her daughter looks anything like her..."

"I'd love to meet her." Speed added quickly. "Is she here?"

"Unfortunately, she had to leave. It is a school night."

"I see." Speed's face showed his disappointment.

"But tomorrow afternoon?" Gisselle Fox suggested.

"Yes."

"We'll be at the club all day." her husband reminded her.

"Well, then why don't you join us?"

"Sure." Speed easily agreed.

Mrs. Fox opened her chic Chanel purse and handed Speed a small white card.

"High Hills Country Club?" he said.

"You'll love it." she promised.

"Do you golf?" Mr. Fox asked.

"Um- Absolutely!" Speed replied.

"Then we'll see you tomorrow? All of you?" Gisselle now turned to Tommy and Jude.

"I'm sorry, but Jude has a photo shoot tomorrow morning." Tom announced.

"I do?" Jude said, surprised. "That wasn't on the schedule."

"It is now." Tommy smiled proudly.

"I got a call during the show. "Style" magazine wants to do a big feature on you. Interview, fashion spread and cover."

"Style..." Jude's voice was shocked. While she had done many photo shoots and interviews, she had never been profiled in that magazine. "Style" was her sister Sadie's favorite magazine, much more into fashion and beauty than entertainment. The women featured in it might be talented, but were always, always indisputably gorgeous.

Tommy's smile widened as he took in her reaction. His girlfriend still didn't realize how beautiful she was.

"Yes" he whispered softly.

"I just don't believe it."

"I do."

Gisselle's voice interrupted them.

"So we'll see you two later then? Come by the club for dinner?"

"It will have to be early. We have the show." Tommy warned them.

"No problem." Gisselle said smoothly, as her stone faced husband nodded.

"Tomorrow."

She glided away, her husband following obediently behind her.

"Beauty and the Beast." Speed quipped, unable to resist. Jude held back her laugh.

"Don't" she cautioned him. "That was really nice of her to invite us to the club."

"Yes" Speed said warily, reminding himself.

"I'm done with all that. Done pretending to be... something I'm not."

"Speed?" Jude asked. "Are you ok?"

"Yes."

"You seemed so far away..."

"I'm fine." Speed said quickly.

"Not planning to resurrect your polo shirts and khakis for the occasion?"

"Jude, please develop amnesia. Immediately." Speed shuddered, recalling his childhood.

"Aww... you were just so cute!" Jude teased.

"That was a long time ago. Long before I developed into the style icon you see now!"

"And look who's talking, Ms. Supermodel! Style Magazine!" Speed gave it right back to her, as Wally, Kyle and Tommy joined them.

"So, you don't want to go tomorrow?" Jude baited him.

"Of course I do." Speed insisted.

"The food in those clubs rocks!"

"And Gisselle Fox's daughter? I bet she's pretty delicious too..."

They left the arena. On the ride back to the hotel, Speed told Wally and Kyle about the plan for tomorrow.

"Sweet" Wally said, as Kyle just nodded.

"You know how to play golf?" Speed asked hopefully.

"No..."

"No prob!" Speed told them. "We'll practice up in our room. We got balls. We just need- um- that stick thingy..."

"It's called a club." Tommy snorted

"Dude! I got an umbrella!" Kyle said happily

"Perfect"

The SME boys planned their practice, which involved using Kyle's umbrella to hit balls into their garbage can.

"So glad I don't have to watch this." Tommy whispered to Jude.

"Oh, I don't know about that..." Her smile was knowing.

"We might just all be surprised."

"Yeah. Surprised if they don't break anything."

_____________________________________________________________________

The next morning, while Tommy escorted Jude to her photo shoot, Kyle, Wally and Speed took a second limousine to High Hills country club. Their car drove further and further into the country, into increasingly lush and landscaped grounds.

A pair of large iron gates appeared, then swung open to let their limo pass through them. Wally's eyes opened wide and Kyle's jaw dropped. Even Speed was impressed.

A large white mansion quickly came into view.

"Welcome to lifestyles of the rich and richer." Speed announced in a snooty voice.

Minutes later, the car parked in front of the building.

"Ready?" Kyle asked.

"As I'll never be." Speed answered, following his friends out of the limo and into the mansion.

Inside, a slim, very pale man with shinny dark hair stood behind a highly polished antique mahogany desk. He raised an eyebrow as Wally, Kyle and Speed entered the room.

"And who are you?" he intoned nasally, not bothering to conceal his skepticism.

"Vincent Spiederman"

"Wally Robbins"

"Kyle Bateman"

"SME" Speed clarified cooly, perfectly mimicking the man's nasty voice. Wally and Kyle both snorted, but the man remained impassive, asking

"And what, exactly is an "SME"?"

"A rock band. One with a top ten single." Speed said proudly.

"I might have known." the man replied, eyeing the vintage rock T's and faded jeans the boys wore.

"Unfortunately, you are not suitably dressed for this establishment.

"Not suitably dressed..." Kyle's voice faded out. "But this is a Ramone's concert T. From the 80's. It's a classic."

"And these are my best jeans... They don't have any holes in them..." Wally remarked, as three other boys about their age walked by, all carrying golf clubs. They wore perfectly pressed khakis and izod shirts.

"Preppie alert!" Speed muttered.

"So..." the vampirish man drawled out, unable to keep the satisfaction from his voice. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to..."

"Is there a problem Smithers". Gisselle Fox glided over.

"Saved by the belle!" Speed whispered to Wally and Kyle.

"Not at all." Smithers now replied stiffly.

"I see you've met my guests." she added.

"Your guests. Of course."

"See that they get whatever they want today." Gisselle ordered. "You'll take care of that, won't you?"

"Absolutely, Mrs. Fox"

"Fine, then"

Satisfied, she turned towards Speed, Wally and Kyle.

"How are you boys today?"

"Great!" Speed said.

"Now that we've finally made it past Count Dracula..."

"And how are you, Mrs. Fox?" he asked politely.

"Just fine." She smiled at them as she escorted them down the paneled hallway.

"The dining room is that way." she said, pointing to the left.

"I'm sure you would all like some breakfast."

"We would." Speed said, trying to keep the eagerness from his voice.

"Unfortunately, my husband's been detained on a business matter." Gisselle informed them "And I have a spa appointment."

"But I'm sure you can amuse yourselves for a while..."

"Absolutely." Speed promised.

"I'll see you boys later. Stay out of trouble." Gisselle laughed softly, as she walked away.

All three boys stared at her retreating backside.

"Nice" Kyle elbowed Wally.

"Dudes!" Speed spat out. "She's old enough to be..."

"Our mom? Not!" Kyle sneered.

"And age ain't nothing but a number." Wally grinned as they entered the dining room. "Just look at Jude and Squinty..."

"Please. Not when I'm eating." Speed snorted, as the threesome sat down at an empty table.

Seconds later, three beautiful girls ran over to them.

"OMG!!" the tallest and best-looking one giggled.

"You're SME!"

"Why, yes." Speed smiled flirtatiously into the girl's shimmering violet eyes.

"I'm Victoria. My friends call me Vix."

"And my friends call me Speed."

"We know. We know all about you..." Vix said suggestively, then added.

"These are my friends Ashley and Muffy."

Wally and Kyle then eagerly introduced themselves.

"Why don't you join us?"

The three girls sat down at SME's table. With a team of waiters quickly bringing them everything they could ask for- which, in fact, was pretty much everything on the menu, and the girls' company, Wally, Kyle and Speed were thrilled.

"Dude, I think we've died and gone to heaven!" Speed whispered to Kyle, over Vix's head.

But after only a few more minutes, the girls stood up.

"We've got to go. Tennis match." Vix explained sadly. "But we'll see you later. Right?"

"Sure!"

"Lunch. And then, maybe a swim?"

"Sounds good."

"See you later."

Hips swaying, the girls walked away.

"Cool!" Speed exclaimed.

"Not cool." a voice said behind him.

Speed turned around, to face a very angry guy about their own age. He was tall, dark haired, well-built and flanked by two of his friends. Speed recognized them as the preppie boys they had seen on the way in.

"Obviously, not our biggest fans."

"What's your damage" he demanded.

"Those are our girls you were talking to."

"Really?" Speed said cooly. "Funny. They didn't mention you."

"They don't need to." his rival insisted, adding.

"Everyone knows it. That is, everyone who matters."

"You did not just say..."

"Of course we did."

"It's on!" Kyle announced, jumping up besides Wally.

"Dudes." Speed said calmly, standing next to his friends. "There's no need to resort to violence."

"Smart boy." the tall one said condescendingly. "Knew you wouldn't want to be embarrassed."

"Oh, we don't." Speed smiled.

"You wouldn't want to take us on." said the blond guy in the white polo shirt.

"We rule this place!"

"Oh, you do?" Speed asked.

"Sure. There's not a competition we don't win. Every sport. Every time."

"Every sport?"

"Of course. Swimming. Tennis. Golf."

"Golf!" Speed snorted. "That's so not a sport. Any idiot could do that."

"Any idiot..." the tall guy said, smiling smugly at Speed.

"You wanna take me on?"

"Bring it on, butthead!" Speed said cheerfully.

"You and me. 18 holes. Right now!"

"Just a few minutes." Speed told him. "I need to get... what are those stick thingys called again?"

All the preppy boys laughed.

"Clubs" Wally answered, as the tall guy asked.

"Just to make things interesting... Care for a little wager?"

"Like I said, bring it on!"

"Say $20?"

"You don't have much confidence, do you?" Speed baited him. "How about $100?"

"Chump change!" the preppie sneered.

"That suits you just fine!" Speed retorted.

"The pro shop is that way." the blond guy pointed towards the left. "They'll set you up. We'll meet you on the first tee in fifteen minutes."

The preppies strutted away, leaving SME alone.

"Dude?" Wally said, worried. "Are you sure this is a good idea."

"Yes" Speed's reply was confident.

"Don't worry. I've got a plan..."