Judd Jackson

Truth be told, Isobella hardly ventured out from the routine she built around herself from a young age, and the Bluebird already kept her on her toes so much that she never thought much about coming to a bar for pleasure, rather than work. This was a change of pace that frankly, she needed if only to let loose for one night. “Bella,” a softer smile toyed on her lips as she took his hand for a surprisingly firm handshake. “And I wouldn’t be opposed if they had a little Springsteen on selection.” There were only a few stray customers around the place as she walked towards the bar and ordered herself a beer before turning to him. “So um, how do you know about this place?” 

      The grip a bit of a surprise, not that he was one to categorize or make usually false assumptions based on said things, but it was one that provoked an air of confidence from a seemingly more tidbit type of person. Smiling to himself since she found her own way towards the bar, “Springsteen...” he said once he saddled up next to her, toe kicking the stools foot out for a more comfortable stance, “I’ll take the same.” he said to the bartender. “Wandered in...think it’s been around since I don’t know, Reagan era...Christmas lights, popcorn, and named after a dog with three legs. Legacy carried on by the pups but the memories there. What’s not to like?”  The bartender back without a wait, there was something about a great dive. Quick and easy service, that was just a top off.  “Go to song from The Boss, which one is it?” 

“I get that. I rarely care what people think about me but now it’s all I can think about,’ Leah admitted. “Well thank you but I’m sure in a few months, it will barely fit at all,” She stated as she realized she would be getting bigger and need maternity clothes.

     “Tough. Yeah, you’re tough.” he said, he’d like to say the same but he knew that should the situations and words arise it have him questioning too. But then she mentioned something he was fully certain was one thing he would never fully understand. Not too sure but sure enough that she was referring to a rapid weight gain and that typically or so he could assume was because of something growing inside. “So? Buy some more new new digs...sure it’ll look just fine.” 

“Sometimes it’s better to just be cut off from the world, isn’t it?” she agreed with a smile. “Yes, I did, although I’m afraid I said it on a whim. I’ll have to find somewhere to buy the food for one. Would you like to come with me? Picnics aren’t nearly as fun alone as they are with company. Not that I’ve got tons of experience with having picnics.”

      He nodded, there was a slew he could say on the subject but decided she’d said the gist. Shooting a hand in the direction just behind them, “A block and half, if that. Ma and Pa shop, all the cheese...don’t know what else. Sure there’s more I just know it for the cheese.” He told her, heading in that direction. “You like cheese don’t you? Inexperience in picnics or not, they always come with cheese...”

“It wasn’t like they meant to be rude… I’m just really weird now. My emotions are all over the place now,” She stated as she thought about how she overreacted. “It’s all probably in my head, you know”

      “Ah, yeah, people can have a way of gettin’ under the skin and wouldn’t even know it.” It took a lot to really get under his skin but then he hadn’t had anyone to really do the digging so speak in quite a while. “If it makes up for anything, I think the somethin’ like new digs look nice.” 

“I know. I don’t want people to get irritated,” Leah said before she moved forward. She was about to be wrapped up in her thoughts again.  “Something like that,” She said, looking own at herself. “Just thinking about something my coworker said,”

    “If they do, then they got some bigger things to worry bout.” he shrugged, following after. “I take it, it wasn’t somethin’ all that nice?” 

“You’re not a complete stranger,” Isobella admitted with a small laugh. Working at Bluebird for the past few years meant she ran into familiar faces despite not knowing their names. “I think I’ve seen you at the Bluebird before, which means I guess I trust whatever watering hole you’re bringing me too. Even if the music’s a little dubious,” she shot him a shy grin before opening the door into the bar.

     Nodding slowly at that, right then he was connecting the dots. A life of bouncing around Nashville’s live show haunts for the past five or six years it was kinda a lonely thing, seeing the faces at the bars rotate and disappear, didn’t help that he tended to blur the sights more than not, for Judd, he kept in most contact with the ones running the payroll. “A watering hole with dubious music? Guess if they got one of those Touch Tunes set up.” He held the door open for her, extending a hand for when she passed through, “Judd. Makin’ this more official, less watering hole-y...”

“If you’re so sure” he shrugged, and drank a sip of the cocktail, he wouldn’t deny it of the other insisted so much, he wouldn’t deny. “Thank you” he smiled at the other. “Is this your job or just a hobby? I also sing, but on my spare time, its a hobby of mine”

       “Ahh, it’s a hobby right now. Job most of the time.” He nodded, it was a normal question, yet the answer was kinda skewed when it all came down to it. “You sing? No kidding...town full of em’, got all the steppin’ stones, ever thought of makin’ it more than a hobby?” 

“I can’t just take one, that would be fifty bucks out of my pocket plus god knows what added tax…”

      “That so? Thought those were the ones y’all can’t sell...you tellin’ me there, Pink that you takin’ your ten percent off, hopin’ I build me my own dyin’ green house? And those are worth a fifty outta your pocket? I don’t believe it...” 

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t a dig at you,” Isobella flushed with a small laugh as she shrugged. “I’m sure for some people it’s memorable. Fun even. I just don’t know if I’m ready to go out there alone. Honestly, I don’t really go to bars all that much.” The admittance had her giving him a bashful smile before nodding towards him. “Unless you wanted to come with me?” 

        He pretended to think on it, he’d go, a couple seconds worth of given doubt was well, fun. Why not? “So you’d go with a stranger just not, chit chat one there? This right here’s no booze and no shaky cats but...bout the same. Just a closed off space with peanuts and some questionable music a lot of the time.”