A/N: Wow! You guys blow me away! I'm so glad you're all liking:D Here's chapter 1! I hope it isn't a disappointment. Oh, italics in the beginning is from Date With The Night. I don't own that...except for the thoughts going on in her head at the time ;) Enjoy!

Chapter 1
February 2006

"I don't think I'll be coming back." He said, his voice indifferent, but his eyes looked carefully at me, like I mattered to him still and I knew something was wrong. I didn't need him to say anything. The way he seemed to fidget nervously and the way his face remained stoic and his eyes pained gave me all the reasons to worry.

"Just sit. Talk to me." I said, trying hard not to plead, to just stay calm and let him talk. Just talk to me Tommy. Tell me what's going on. I thought. His eyes shifted outside, almost nervously and then back to me It took me everything I had not to turn and see what he was looking it. I wanted to, but I was afraid if I took my eyes away from him that he'd disappear.

"I have a plane to catch." He said, his voice sounding rehearsed and robotic. "Bye." He said, shrugging and walked towards the door. I sat stunned a moment before I bolted up from my chair and went to run after him.

"Miss?" The waiter called. I stopped and glanced at him in annoyance. "Should I print up your bill?" He asked.

"Um…" I hurried and crabbed my wallet. I pulled out some money and handed it to the waiter. "There. Thanks." I said and ran outside frantically. I glanced around quickly and noticed Tommy walking over to his car. "So, you're not coming back?" I asked, walking further down the sidewalk. He ignored me and walked to the driver's door.

"Tom? Tommy!" I called, hoping to get his attention. My voice waspleading and frantic, and I could feel tears filling up my eyes. He got into his car and shut the door. "Tommy! TOMMY!" I yelled running over to the car and beating on the passenger window to get his attention. He didn't even glance at me as he stepped on the gas and pulled away from me, out into traffic and turning the corner out of sight. I tried to run after him a moment and stopped, tears falling down my face.. "Tommy" I whispered once more, breaking down in the middle street.

"Tommy." I said, and quickly realized I was laying on a bed that was not my own. How did I end up…? I tried to open my eyes to see my surroundings but my eyelids were too heavy. Almost like they had weights attached to them and they were too heavy for my muscles to budge, even when straining.

"Jude?" I heard a faint voice say.

"Tommy?" I heard another say quickly after. The voices were familiar. They were kind and comforting but I couldn't place who the speakers where. iWhere am I? I wondered. What happened to me?

I tried to open my eyes again and I felt them flutter a bit but was unable to keep them up. OK, that's progress at least. I encouraged myself, trying to blink my eyes open against the harsh lighting of the room.

I felt someone grab my hand and began to caress it; not in a lovers way, but in a friendly, 'I'm here for you' kind of way.

"Jude, it's me." The voice said again and I still couldn't place the speaker. I blinked my eyes open again and everything around me was blurry and I closed my eyes again, hoping it would correct my vision. "It's Kat honey." My best friend's voice said soothingly.

I opened my eyes again and everything was in focus. Sure enough, my best friend, Katerina Benson and Jamie Andrews were seated on either side of me, both of their faces concerned.

"K-kat?" I choked out, my voice raw from lack of use and I winced at the sound. I saw Jamie reach next to him and pour a small cup of water. He handed me the cup and I took it with shaky hands.

Kat reached out and helped steady me as I took a couple sips, nearly choking a couple times from the soreness. What happened to me? I wondered again. Kat took the cup away from me and I glanced around, realizing I was in a hospital room.

"What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" I asked, feeling confused. I looked back and forth between Kat and Jamie. Wait, what were they doing here? Not that I was complaining but… my thoughts trailed off when I saw the look Kat and Jamie shared and my spirits fell.

"You don't remember?" Jamie asked me, looking concerned. I frowned in deep concentration. I remember, what do I remember? Oh! I remember Tommy walking out on me, and I remember…I saw another look flash between Kat and Jamie and I stopped my train of thoughts once again. What is going on with them? I wondered again.

"What?" I asked, reading the concerned look on both their faces. "Wait, Kat…I just…not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing here?" I asked. I saw Kat stare at me incredulously and I sighed. "I thought you still hated me." I said in a small voice.

I watched as Kat stared at me like I was a crazy person and balk in her seat. OK, something weird is going on here.

"Jude, I'm your best friend; I've never hated you." Kat stressed, looking like I'd just suggested that aliens had landed.

"Yes, you did." I insisted and I watched as Kat and Jamie sent eachother another confused look. "Will you two stop that and tell me what the hell is going on!" I demanded. Kat and Jamie both looked at me apologetically.

"Jude, I think you're confused." Jamie said softly, taking my hand gently and caressing it.

"No, I'm not." I insisted, yanking my hand away from Jamie. What is his deal?

"Honey, you just woke up from a coma. Of course some things are going to be con"

"I'm not confused!" I yelled. "Kat, you got mad at me because I was famous and didn't have time for you and I broke you and Jamie up and…and Jamie! You got mad at me cuz we dated and" I paused mid argument. "…coma?"

"Jude, we never dated." Jamie said sadly.

"How did you know Jamie and I were dating?" Kat asked me.

"What?" I asked, feeling confused. I felt my head begin to throb and I brought a hand up to massage my temples, hoping to temporarily fix my headache so I could think again.

"You're not famous Jude. Not yet anyway." Jamie said, sympathetically. "You never made it to the Instant Star Finals." He added.

"Yes, I did. I won Jamie." I insisted and I saw his saddened look and Kat's concerned gaze. "Stop kidding me." I said and silence greeted me. "Guys…" I said, feeling tears sting my eyes. This couldn't be happening. Isn't happening. "Stop scaring me." It was a joke. It had to be. It wasn't a dream; it wasn't made up. I won Instant Star. I fell in love with Little Tommy Q. I dated Vince Spiederman.

"Jude, you were in a car accident on the way to the Finals. You've been in a coma for a year and a half." Jamie said, his voice hesitant yet firm.

I glanced at Kat and saw confirmation in my best friends eyes. Coma. A year in a half. I felt my mouth drop open and my blood run cold. Coma. A year. Coma. Those words continued to resignate in my head and I couldn't get them to stop. Coma. A year. Coma.

"But, it was…" I heard my strained voice say. Coma.

"It was a dream honey." Kat said, reaching out and smoothing my hair. Coma. A Year. A Dream. Not Real.

But it seems so real.

Coma. A Dream. Not Real.

"Jude?" I heard Jamie say. I couldn't answer him. My mind was too busy replaying the events of the last "year and a half" in my mind.

How could I have made that up?

Coma. A Dream. Not Real.

No, it couldn't be.

Coma. A Dream. Not Real.

Could it?