This is a story I've been working on for a little while, as with all my stories it is also posted on DLS and there are more chappies available there. Leave a review so I know if I should post this here also and tell me what you think. ENJOY!

Chapter 1

She heard the annoying noise playing a beat by her head and surfaced from her turbulent dreams to realize it was Green Day's Know Your Enemy. She had certainly been in a bad mood when she had programmed that as her ring tone. Jude Harrison growled angrily as she glanced at her alarm clock. It wasn't even six in the freakin' morning and she was not an early riser, preferring a few extra Z's and an occasional detention even.

"What the hell?" she snarled as she flipped open her cell phone and pressed it to her ear. There was a tired chuckle on the other end from a deep baritone voice that had her focusing a little more.

"Sorry Darling, I know it's early--"

"Walt, what's up?" Her voice warmed considerably as she spoke to her longtime friend and mentor the legendary Walt Havoc, not that that was his real name, but he had always refused to tell her the name he was born with. She had even tried to Google it once, but there had been so many hits she had given up after the first five pages. Even though he regretted choosing Havoc as a stage name it had stuck and now so many years later it hardly seemed to matter.

"You know the new student I have?"

"Yeah of course. You made it all confidential and mysterious like, it kinda left an impression." He gave another short laugh. "So what's up?" she asked again.

"My sister Virginia got in a car accident last night."

"Oh my God, is she--"

"She'll be fine, it's just she fractured her hip and can't really get around so I'm flying to Michigan to stay with her for a while. So I really need you to do me a favor and take over my lessons with that student."

"Yeah of course. Do I get his fees?" she asked slyly.

"Jude--I'll split it down the middle," he conceded, knowing his client had demanded him personally and only Jude could fill in. "Just remember you can't let his name leak to anyone. So it's Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's. 7:15."

"Okay Walt, don't worry I got it. Call me when you can okay?"

"Thanks Darling."

"Wait, who--" He had already hung up and she sighed figuring she would soon find out. She glanced at the clock and groaned, knowing there was no way she could fall asleep again and turned on the stereo instead.

On the other side of Toronto yet another late sleeper was subject to an early morning phone call.

"What?!" Was all Tommy Quincy growled with the phone pressed to his severe bed head. Walt rolled his eyes; what were the chances that he would get snapped at twice before it was even seven a.m.?

"Sorry Tom, it's Walt."

"Oh Walt, hey." Tommy shook the fog from his brain and sat up, letting the sheets slide off his bare torso. He glanced idly at the impression left on the pillow beside him. There had been a woman, but he never let them stay the night. Her cloying perfume had clung to his Egyptian cotton and he reminded himself to throw them in the wash. If he picked up someone else tonight the last thing he wanted to do was hint to her that there had been someone else.

"I have some bad news Tom. My sister got in a car accident and I have to fly over to take care of her. Don't worry though, my old protégé Jude Harrison is happy to take over your lessons until I can get back."

"Your sister will be alright?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Is Jude any good?" Tommy didn't mean to dismiss Walt's problems, but it was important that he learned what he needed.

"Most natural talent I've ever encountered." Tommy heard an intercom page in the background and waited for Walt to speak. "That's my flight. Thanks Tom. Jude will take good care of you. I guarantee it."

"I hope your sister is okay."

"Thanks. I need to go." Tommy put the phone back on its cradle and lay back in his queen sized bed. He wondered briefly what kind of person could impress the legendary Walt Havoc that much.

He hurried into the studio, his meeting with his boss had him running late, and he stopped abruptly to stare at the redhead sitting on the stool in the middle of the room. She was plucking aimlessly at the chords of an acoustic guitar resting on her lap. She looked up uncharacteristically caught in the man's icy blue eyes.

"Hi," he said, dismissing the girl almost right away. She was cute, but not really his type. He liked them manicured and polished, not punk and casual. Was he so late that Jude's next student had already arrived? He had requested these late sessions because he had wanted a little privacy. Tommy frowned, hoping this girl would not recognize him and blab to her little friends. "Can you tell me where Jude Harrison is? I'm supposed to have a lesson with him, but got caught up at work." Amusement brought a sparkle to her eyes as her lips quirked into a mocking smile.

"I think Jude got tired of waiting."

"Great!" He ran his fingers through his gelled hair in agitation. He was paying through the nose for these lessons and was starting to get pissed that Jude was not there.

"Is there anything I can do?" She grinned as she started to play Sweet Home Alabama with practiced ease. His eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed as he stared at her light finger work, playing over the strings like a lover's would. That had him swallowing hard as he banished the inappropriate images running through his head all of a sudden. This girl couldn't be more than eighteen and although she was attractive he had learned that teenagers were more trouble than they were worth, having not learned the score when it came to real men like Tom Quincy.

"Um…" He shook himself to clear his gaze from the way her slender fingers were sliding over the strings. There was something almost mesmerizing in the graceful way she played. "Is Jude as good as Walt says?" He only asked to change the direction of his own thoughts.

"I don't know. You tell me." She said, her head lifting as her big sky blue eyes met his. She started the solo expertly as he stared. Understanding dawned as her guileless eyes did not leave his.

"You're Jude? But…You're a girl!" He blurted out. Her hands stilled as her eyes sparkled and not with amusement now.

"I've been playing for six years." She informed him hotly.

"Wow since you were like what twelve?" He was starting to find her interesting even as her attitude was getting to him. Those big baby blues could really draw a person in and he was not immune to their charm.

"Ten." She was only sixteen?! "Look if you don't want your lessons with me fine. I'll call Walt and tell him you refused to work with me." Jude bluffed. She didn't want to lose this gig, since she was saving up get her '67 Mustang road worthy. And Walt had promised half of Tommy's fee to her. And knowing Walt he had made this ex-boybander pay. Oh yeah she had recognized him right away. His face still graced the tabloids her older sister Sadie had enjoyed reading and there was the fact that Sadie had been obsessed with his band Boyz Attack, while they were growing up. Sometimes she thought if she had to listen to Pick Up the Pieces one more time she would hunt them down and castrate them herself! The viciousness of her thoughts, played across her face and he wondered what the hell she could have been thinking to bring about that look.

"I guess we can give it a try," he said resignedly and she rolled her eyes at his tone. She nodded her head at the stool in the corner and although he gritted his teeth he went over and got it. When he took his guitar out of the case, Jude thought her heart had stopped as she started to practically drool over the beautiful, barely broken in piece of perfection. What right did this no-talented ass shaking boybander have, to something so amazing?!

"Can I--" He looked up at her and his pale blue eyes trapped her for just the barest hint of a second. "Can I see it?" And stupidly, Tommy's thought process didn't immediately comprehend that she was talking about his Gibson guitar. He blinked and she stared at him like he was an idiot, which he had to admit he was acting a bit like one. He finally handed over the instrument and she plugged it in to the amp by her feet. Jude took a deep breath as she cradled the shiny wood, her fingers already aching to play. He watched in amusement when she closed her eyes with a dreamy look on her face, but the amusement soon faded as her fingers found the strings. He did not know the song, but the notes rang out sweet and pure, before she quickened the pace and the arrangement became more complex. When the final note faded into the acoustically primed room her eyes opened once again and a beguiling smile touched her lips.

"Heaven," she mouthed as she handed the guitar back to him. "Thanks." He nodded still not sure what else to say. Walt was right, she was gifted, but somehow he knew there was more and damn him if he didn't want to find out what that something more was. Even he, playboy and heartbreaker that he was, had boundaries and innocents like her were not to his taste. When he made no move to get ready she gave him a mocking glance. "So are you gonna just sit there letting the guitar make you look pretty or you gonna show me how it's done?" Color heated his tanned cheeks just the darkest tint at her taunt. He had been sitting there like a moron.

"There are so many inappropriate answers to that question." Although he had meant to goad her, embarrass her, she surprised him by laughing and the sound sent chills down his spine. She might be young, but she was not awed by him in the least, at least not that she would admit, even if he was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her indigo eyes on.

"Well Mr. Quincy, it's your dime we're on. I can sit here all night if you want." Which wasn't strictly true. It was a school night and she had a curfew of ten o'clock on weekdays, not that she would tell him that. She tucked her hands underneath her thighs as she waited for him to adjust the strap on his neck. She listened quietly as he started to play the song he had been practicing with Walt, a little unsure at the beginning as if he was nervous, but she shook head thinking she must be imagining things. As if her opinion would matter to a guy like him. Yeah right. Jude stood up and paced a little as he played.

He wasn't half bad, adequate as far as proficiency went, but he wanted to be better, good enough to be respected at something besides producing, but that was his story and he wasn't about to share it. She listened intently and her hot breath fanned his neck as she leaned in behind him. Her arms reached over his broad shoulders and he stiffened immediately until he realized she simply wanted to reach his fingers. She repositioned them a little and told him to start at the bridge.
"Does that feel more natural?" Jude asked as she backed up, suddenly the air feeling a little too stagnant to her.

"Uh yeah." He found it did make the transition from one chord to the next that tiny bit easier.

Since he had been late, their lesson was short and Jude started to gather her own things as he put away his guitar. He glanced once at her, but she was busying stuffing a journal into her already over filled bag.

"So I'll see you Thursday." Jude looked up at him and nodded.

"Guess I passed?" Tommy couldn't help himself, he grinned sexily as if on autopilot, barely realizing he was doing it.

"We'll see." She stared after him as he left, and wondered what game he thought he was playing. Jude shut all the lights off behind her and made sure the door was locked before she made her way outside.

.

Suddenly headlights in the parking area turned on causing her to jump for second, and she stared unable to make out the driver through the glare.

When Tommy came out to his car he had noticed that it was the only one in the lot, making him wonder how she was going to get home and even though he didn't really know her, the idea of her walking alone through the streets had a chivalrous side of his nature peeking out.

"Jude," he called and she walked over to him, shifting her guitar from one hand to the other as she moved, her bag starting to slide off her shoulder.

"Nice car." He acknowledged it with a nod, making her want to roll her eyes again. He really was full of himself.

"Need a ride somewhere?" she stared at him with an inscrutable expression in her eyes before walking over to the passenger side and getting in.

"You're welcome," he mumbled as he started out of the parking area. She ignored him and clipped her seat belt into place.

When they neared the turn onto here street, she practically yelled stop causing him to slam on his brakes, jerking her forward.

"Nice driving," sarcasm dripping from her voice. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Are you always so pleasant to people doing you a favor?" He couldn't see her face blanch in the darkness, but she did duck her head.

"Sorry…Could you just let me out here?"

"This your house?"

"I don't want my parents asking questions." She swung her head to face him before turning to reach for her things. "Thanks," was all she said before she darted out onto the sidewalk, leaving him watching after her.