Piano ballad music drifted through the bar. The tender clank of the piano, as the notes dancing through the air, ticking her ears. The voice of the singer, a murmur in the background. The lyrics of the lonely, and the lyrics of the loved.

Jude recognized how different this really was for her. Rather than being surrounded by the roar of guitars, the screams, and the lyrics of the revolting youth. The questionable shady characters wandering

in and out. The scent and aura of musty, pierced and inked punks.

Also the joy of walking in The Chain and being able to smell the bathroom from wherever you were.

Jude loved The Chain and all, she just didn't want to be around anybody right now. She didn't want to be in her house, and she didn't want to be around her friends.

This was different, being in a classy bar.

"Another miss?" the cute bartender asked.

He had short brown hair that was slightly scruffy. A little bit of a 5'O clock shadow, and when he smiled dimples danced at the corners of his mouth. He had dark chocolate brown eyes, that just dared Jude to flirt with him.

Brilliant.

Too bad she couldn't see him.

It seemed no matter how many times she closed her eyes. No matter how many naps she took. No matter how much mind numbing television she watched.

She couldn't get Jamie out of her mind.

The guilt her best friend made her feel is rotting out her insides. The longer he stayed away, the worse it got.
She loathed hurting Jamie-she loved and trusted him. Sure, Jamie's not a boy anymore. He had grown into a man. He's more than worthy of Judes affections.

Jude could hear her heart, as if it was whispering secrets to her. It told her Jamie was not the one. Does that mean she doesn't love him? That the years and years of building their relationship had been a waste of precious time?

When Jamie gave her the promise ring, the ring he believed one day would be their engagement ring,

eventually their wedding band. That thought was enough to terrify Jude. Enough to make her crush the most important person in her life with the painful sting of rejection.

Maybe Jamie was the one, she was just too young. She hadn't even gotten famous yet. She was still struggling to get a decent record deal with her band Judes Mind Explosion.

Maybe she needed to be free and wild, to be the rockstar shes meant to be first. Maybe shes making a huge mistake pushing him out of her life forever for something as short lived as fame.

Jude lifted her head and pushed her glass forward. Rejecting the bartenders flirty smile with body language, and getting straight down to the point.

"Another." she said lowly with a short nod, keeping her blue eyes glued to the cherry wood counter.

"Get me one of those too" She heard a male voice say. He had silently climbed onto the stool next to her. Jude didn't care to even lift her head. She was feeling too depressed.

"let me guess..boy troubles?" the voice questioned her as the bartender came back places the glasses filled up with to the rim with ice bathing in alcohol.

"Well aren't you smart." Jude said sarcastically lifting her head up, strands of blonde hair falling in her eyes as she takes a sip, and gets a quick sideways glance at who was next to her.

He seemed familiar..

All she could really register is that its an attractive man with blue eyes and brown hair. She didn't know it was Tommy Q the famous ex boy bander. Not that Jude would even really care if she did know. He wasn't her kind of celebrity.

"So mystery man, do you always come in here to harass heart broken blondes?" Jude asks with a daring smirk.

"Only musical ones" Tommy said matching her teasing.

Jude turned her head to take in the full view of the handsome stranger next to her.

"How did you?-"

"I saw you and your boys playing on the street the other day." Tommy replied before Jude could finish her question.

"Ah..Well glad to know you enjoyed it." By now she had recognized this person, He was little Tommy Q. Her older sister use to be head over heels in love with him. She was always running around the house singing that terrible Boyz Attack song

you picked up the pieces, and put me back together again

"Well, now I'm suppose to say thanks and ask for an autograph from you, and tell you I was a big fan back in the day?" Jude guessed with a suppressed sigh, finishing up the last of her drink and toying around with the ice left in the glass. Her metal ring clinked against the sides.

"Uh no, in fact I'd like it if you pretended I was a mere mortal instead" he said with a small smile

"Oh? Fine mortal man." Jude almost laughed

"So, almost stranger. What are you doing in here all alone on a Saturday night?"

"Just trying to escape reality..You?"

"dido." he said in agreement.

"I thought you were a rich celebrity? Why would you need to escape?" Jude raised an eyebrow.

"Forget about this, why don't you tell me exactly whats going on over another drink" Tommy nudged the bartender to pour Jude and him another.

She hesitated, but lifted the glass to her mouth. Her full lips brushing against the rim.

"Its my best friend..well, boyfriend.." she took a sip of the strong alcoholic beverage than muttered

"ex boyfriend.." barely loud enough for Tommy to hear.

"What did he do?" Tommy assumed it was his fault, after all the males always wrong.

"It's not him its..me. I'm total chicken shit." He laughed at the way she described it.

Jude sighed.

"He gave me a ring..not like..an engagement ring..more like a pre-engagement ring..I know I should be happy but.." she trailed off staring at her silver star shaped ring she always wore as a distraction.

"But your not ready, or not sure hes the one. Right?"

Her eyes lit up "Exactly! I mean I'm only eig-i mean twenty-one." Jude reminded herself she was in a bar she used a very illegal fake ID to get wasted in.

Well, wasted was the wrong word. She wasn't wasted..she was drinking out of depression?

"Well,Its good you didn't say yes. Marriage is a permanent thing, once you get married you will never forget it...even if you divorce." Tommy winced, thinking about his own personal ghost of his past, Porsche. He had to admit, he still feels really bad about what he did to her.

Plus, deep down he was also glad she was on the rocks with her boyfriend. It's not as if he goes out looking for pretty girls on the rebound..He didn't have any intention of bringing her home. He didn't want sex..He just felt this uncontrollable urge to help her. He wanted to see her smile.

"You married?" Jude asked, She thought she might of heard something about that on one of those stupid celebrity news shows about him..

"Divorced actually..working in the same office as my ex-wife" Tommy finished up the last of the drink in his glass, dropping the glass down on the glossy table with a thump.

"Rough."

"So Miss Mystery, whats your name?" Tommy looked directly at Judes facing, forcing her to meet his gaze. She noticed his tousled hair, his eyes...She felt like she could stare at them forever. It looked as if an angel came down from heaven using the sky and ocean to paint the most perfect shade of blue she'd ever seen. Than his lips..they were a little bit over full for a man, She just wanted to be able to feel them softly pressing into hers, but his jawline kept him from being less pretty boy, more manly. He wore a simple leather coat, which was a guilty pleasure Jude had. She loved a man in leather.

Basically, I'm saying hes hot

Well, forget about the stupid romance novel crap, lets get back to the story.

"Jude, Jude Harrison." She held out her hand, letting it hover there waiting for Tommy to take it.

He took her hand "Okay, Jude, Jude Harrison. I'm Bond, James Bond"

Jude bite down on her lip, trying to suppress a laugh. She failed and laughed anyway.

"Well Mr Bond, I have to admit, you're a lot cooler than I thought you'd be."

Tommy raised his eyebrows. "Well, now that I've helped you..would you care to play me another song?"

"...here?"

Jude looked around the nearly empty bar. There was an abandoned piano, the singer and pianist from earlier had left by than. There was only 5 or 6 other people left. Jude wondered what Tommy meant.

"Can you play anything on piano?"

"Well..yes but-" Jude's interrupted by Tommy waving his hands.

"Than what are you waiting for superstar, get up there and play me a song!"

Jude felt nervous, its wasn't as if she had trouble singing her songs in front of anybody. She just felt like she would be disturbing everyone else.

Well..You only live once

Jude walked timidly up to the piano, testing the keys and tinkering with them a bit while she took a last sip of her drink, placing the clear glass on top of the piano She felt eyes on her, people glancing up curious as to what she was doing.

She started playing the intro to her song I Don't Know If I Should Stay

"wheres my will.." She sang, her voice angelic. never out of tune. As smooth as silk for your ears. The notes appearing to come out perfectly and effortlessly. It was clear she was born for this.

Tommy smiled to himself, he was impressed. The song was beautiful. He hadn't disappointed her that's for sure.

By the end of the song everyone still left in the bar had been watching her. When she finished they all clapped. Sure, it was no crowd of a million cheering for her. Only a few faint random claps and encouraging smiles from strangers. That was enough for her.

Also, considering she was a little drunk by now, she was surprised she hadn't messed it up.

Jude swapped the glass from the piano and stood up accidentally leaning over to the left, almost losing her balance. Than popped an ice cube in her mouth and walked back over to Tommy.

"Rhat Rude Fou Dink" Jude say with a mouth full of ice cube.

"You've got the deal." Tommy said standing up, about to leave.

"Veal?" She spit the ice cube into her hand.

"Deal?" she asked him again.

"I forgot to tell you..I'm also a record producer for G Major records. I'm going to tell my boss about you, call me tomorrow and I'll arrange a meeting to sign the contract." He tucks the card into Jude's jacket pocket.

"Don't lose it, and remember..call me" Tommys disappeared out of the door. His figure walking down the streetlight lit sidewalk. By the time he was out of sight, It finally hit her.

Jude was stunned.

She was too happy to drink anymore, she had just landed a record deal on accident.

Wait until sped, kyle, and wally here about this!

She felt like she was walking on air, luck was truly on her side tonight. All that struggle..to think she'd been helped by someone like Little Tommy Q. If she wasn't so grateful she'd be a little embarrassed.

The years of practice..now..G Major records. She'd almost scored a deal with G Major records.

She inhaled and exhaled. Reminding herself to stay grounded. She hadn't landed the deal YET.

Who knows how evil this record label could be. What if they don't let her write her own songs? She shuttered at the thought.

She reached into her pocket and took her cheap silver cell phone on, Trying to dial her band mates number. Failing many times, she gave up.

"I'll tell them tomorrow when I'm sober..now I just need to get home.."