Hey everyone! I'm sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. My laptop went crazy and crashed on me a couple of months ago and I've been trying to get it working ever since and now...finally...I got it back and it's as good as new! So from now on I'm going to try and do better! I just wanted to say thanks for the reviews from the last chapter, you guys are the greatest! I hope you all enjoy my newest update and thanks so much for reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star or it's characters.


Standing on the sidewalk Jude looks around and immediately recognizes her surroundings, she was back in Toronto. Hearing her name being shouted over and over again, Jude turns around and is surprised to see she is standing outside of her house with tons of fans and reporters calling her name. Looking closer she sees Sadie, Jamie, and herself standing on her front step, and realization sinks in. This was her goodbye to her sister and Jamie before heading to the airport and the next big step in her life.

She can can still picture the look on Jamie and Sadie's face as she gave them their millionth hug for the day. "I'm still waiting on that tea Sadie." Jude says watching herself giving her sister a big hug. When she sees herself turn to Jamie, Jude looks away not knowing if she could bare the goodbyes again, mid turn Jude stops in her tracks when she sees Tommy standing not even 10 feet away. Walking towards him, Jude doesn't say anything as she settles at his side. Noticing his concentration, Jude follows his gaze and doesn't know is she should be surprised that it's her he's staring at with such passion and...pain.

Taking her gaze off of Tommy, Jude looks back at herself and she knows the second she sees Tommy because her whole body freezes and Jude can remember the thoughts running through her mind when their eyes had met over the crowd. In the next instant Jude watches as she shakes her head and sends him one quick smile before climbing into the limo. Turning back to Tommy, Jude voices all the thoughts that had been running through her head in that single moment their eyes had met. "What are you doing! Go after her! If you love her, go get her! She loves you, you moron!" When Tommy doesn't even flinch, Jude wonders if he can even hear her. Sighing she runs a hand through her hair. "Why are you just standing here, watching her walk out of your life? She needs you...Tommy." Looking away from him Jude notices the limo, and the crowd chasing after it, are almost out of sight. "Tommy. I-I need you." Jude says quietly, the shakiness of her voice evident to her own ears.

Tommy turns to look at Jude, smiling, one of his sad, gut wrenching smiles that make you melt, he lifts his hand and pulls a loose strand of hair off of Jude's face and tucks it behind her ear. Shaking his head, he than lifts his other hand and rests it on Jude's other cheek and steps closer, resting his forehead on hers. "You...don't need me Jude. Not anymore. You said it yourself. Your head isn't here, with me and you. So go and find where it's at. See where it leads you. Who knows? That head of yours might just surprise you and bring you right back here." Pulling away Tommy kisses Jude's forehead and stares deep into Jude's eyes. "Until your head is here, this will never work." He says running a hand softly down her cheek before turning and walking away, leaving Jude to stare after him.

"But... What about my heart?" Jude asks watching as Tommy's back disappears into darkness and slowly so does everything else.

--

Hearing the familiar ring of her cellphone, Jude rolls over in bed and smacks it as if it were her alarm clock and only groans when it doesn't stop ringing. Sitting up and glaring at the evil contraption, Jude smiles blissfully when the annoying ringing stops. Falling back into the warmth and comfort of her bed, but her joy only lasts until she hears the familiar ring of her phone announcing she has a voicemail. Reaching over Jude blindly grabs her phone and hits the speed dial button and enters her password to gain access to her inbox. Pressing speaker phone Jude sets the phone down on her chest and listens to the automated voice announce one new message and then Sadie's muffled voice fills the room.

"Jude, I hope I'm not interrupting something. I just have no idea what you're doing right now. Since you're always so secretive about your life there... Anyways, I'm just calling to let you know that I have plans to be in London later on this week and wanted to let you know so we could make plans for while I am there. I plan to fly in Thursday night and will be heading home that Monday. I can't wait to see you Jude. We really miss you here. Anyways, call me when you get this. Don't worry about the time difference."

Erasing the message Jude sits up in bed feeling a little better than before. A visit from Sadie was just the thing Jude needed to finally embrace her new life here in London. It had been a little over two months since Jude had left Toronto and she couldn't put her finger on it really, but something didn't fit. Something just wasn't working here. And Jude was really afraid that that something, was her. That was the reason every time she talked to Sadie, Jamie, and even Speed for that matter, she was always vague about her time in London and, more often than not, changed the subject back to them and their lives back in Toronto, keeping the focus away from her. And for the most part it was easy. With Jamie she just had to ask a question about NBR or Zepplin and he would be off on a tangent in his own little world. And all she had to do with Speed is mention Karma and he would be off on another rant on how she was driving him insane about the apartment they had to move into. And even for awhile there with Sadie she got away with it, but not anymore. Sadie started to notice and, just like a dog with a bone, kept working away, trying to find out the details. Groaning, Jude gets out of bed and stretches. The only problem with Sadie coming here was Jude wouldn't be able to hide how out of place she felt. Sadie would be there, witnessing it all and that would be the end of the charade.With thoughts of calling her sister back and making plans for her visit going off in her head, Jude practically jumps out of her skin when her alarm goes off. Turning she hits the off button and heads to the bathroom to shower.

30 minutes later Jude leaves her apartment, making sure to turn on the security system before leaving. Completely ignoring the cobblestone path that leads to her car, Jude walks through her own front lawn. Making sure to keep her head down so the paparazzi wouldn't be able to snag a picture of her in another compromising, but completely untrue, situation. After her first week here Jude realized that now matter what she did she would never be able to avoid the press completely, especially since she lived in the exclusive and prestigious Knotting Hill. She would have to remember to thank Nicolette for the wonderful tip on living here. So what if Bjork was right next door, the paparazzi had them surrounded 24/7. Jude still remembered the night she got a ride home from one of the techies at work. The car hadn't been stopped ten seconds and cameras were swarming the vehicle, the worst part was the techie decided to use it to his advantage and started to lean towards Jude, who was so shocked at what was happening was unaware of the techs intentions. Luckily she was trying to avoid the camera flashes, and was swinging her head from side to side, that she inadvertently head butted the guy. After that, Jude went out and purchased her own car and avoided all the techies at the label. Unlocking her door, Jude gets behind the wheel and buckles in. Looking out her window she sees a flash go off and wonders if maybe she should have listened to Tommy about Knotting Hill. And with just that brief thought of Tommy Jude's mind wanders off to the dream she had and the man she couldn't seem to get out of her head.

It had been over two months, ten weeks and three days to be exact, since Jude had left Toronto and she hadn't heard from Tommy since that night at her concert. He hadn't tried calling or emailing her. There wasn't even a little text to make sure she had landed safely and everything was alright. Nothing! But in all fairness Jude hadn't tried getting a hold of him either. It's just, every time she tried picking up the phone to call him, her dialing finger always seemed to chicken out at the last moment and she would find herself making random phone calls to Sadie, where they would have a five minute conversation repeating everything they had talked about earlier. Then they would hang up and Jude would throw her phone on the ground and curse herself for being a giant chicken. But she didn't know what to say to him. She didn't even know if he wanted to hear from her. So she waited, hoping that every day he would call. And every day when he didn't, Jude felt more and more sure that he wanted nothing to do with her.

The sound of her cellphone in her pocket breaks Jude out of her depressing thoughts and for one heart stopping moment Jude wonders if maybe thinking about Tommy calling was a sign that he was now finally ready to talk. But in the next instant realizes how unlikely that was and not even bothering to check the caller ID figures it's Sadie calling again. "Hey Sades. So I was thinking..."

"Who is Sades? You know what, it doesn't even matter right now. Jude just get here. Where are you at anyways?"

Surprised to hear Richards voice filling her ear Jude's mind fumbles a moment. "Oh, umm... I'm sitting in my ca,r outside my apartment." Jude says putting the car in drive and pulling away from the curb.

"Well you need to get to the studio, right now."

"What? Why? I thought I didn't have studio time until 11:30. That gives me almost three hours until I need to be there."

"This isn't about your music Jude, or lack there of." Richard says into the phone. Jude can hear him talking to someone on his side of the phone, and from what she can hear it's probably one of the engineers. "I'm not explaining this over the phone. Just get here."

Before Jude can even respond Richard has hung up. Grumbling to herself she takes the longer way to work, making what's normally a 15 minute drive nearly a 40 minute drive. Pulling into the alloted parking spaces for Beurmaunt Records employees, Jude gets out and locks the door to her car and heads into the building. Wondering what she could have done now to tick Richard off.

--

It was almost nine AM in London, but back in Toronto it was only quarter to four... in the morning. Tommy just kept wandering, ignoring the the ungodly hour and the fact most sane people were still at home in their beds, or at least had a good reason for being out at this time. Tommy didn't have a good reason to be out, which just left the question of his sanity. And if he wanted to be truthful he would have to say the he, Tom Quincy, hadn't been sane in almost three months...ten weeks and three days to be exact. Since Jude had left nothing in Toronto was the same. Everything and everyone he saw reminded him of Jude and the time they had spent together. These last ten weeks had opened Tommy's eyes to what he had actually put Jude through when he had left for New Brunswick and when he went to the states to pick up Darius's kid. He had never imagined how empty a person could truly feel, how alone you could be even when surrounded by others.

Coming to a stop, Tommy only shakes his head when he sees where he had ended up. It wasn't a surprise. Whenever he did these insane walks he always ended up in the same spot. Almost as if coming back to the scene he could change the outcome. But it never worked, she still always left. Standing in the same spot he stood the day Jude left, Tommy closes his eyes and he's back there, watching as she said goodbye to her sister, as she said goodbye Jamie. He remembered thinking she was one of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and not just on the outside. He was amazed that how Jude entered this industry at 15 and after four years of the deception and the temptation she still was detached from it, she was still Jude. He loved that about her. He just wished he would've been better at showing her how much. He only hoped that she knew that he still loved her, that that would never change. It was hope that kept him grounded, knowning that home in her heart was here in Toronto with Sadie and Jamie...and with him. Opening his eyes Tommy stares at the dark Harrison house.

"My nana told me there was some strange man standing outside the house. She feared whoever it was was casing the joint. I just barely stopped her from calling the police." Jamie says walking up to stand next to Tommy. "So tell me Quincy. Is there a reason why you're standing on our front lawn at four in the morning?"

Looking at Jamie, Tommy's shoulders slump. This had to be the worlds all time low for Tommy. Turning to face him he shrugs his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry her. It won't happen again." He says before turning to leave.

"Tom, I know this isn't the first time you've found yourself standing on my front lawn." Jamie says stopping Tommy in his tracks. When he just gives Jamie a surprised and confused look Jamie stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Zepplin talks in her sleep and sometimes she wakes me up in the middle of the night and I come up here to get some fresh air. I've noticed you standing there on a number of occasions."

"It's nothing man." Tommy says quickly, looking away.

"I get it Tommy." Jamie says sighing and crossing his arms. He never imagined he would find himself in this situation. With him and Tommy standing on his front lawn, discussing Jude. "You miss her. We all miss her. But why do you keep coming back here? She isn't there anymore Quincy." Jamie says looking toward the Harrison home. They both stand there in silence. Jamie wondering if this was just a waste of time and Tommy wishing so many things could be different.

"I didn't do anything." Tommy finally says breaking the silence. "I just let her go Jamie."

"Do you think you could have done anything to stop her? She was going Quincy, it didn't matter what anyone said to her."

"You don't think I know that Andrews. I may not have known Jude as long as you have, but I know Jude." Tommy says turning to face Jamie. "She needed to do this."

"Than...why?" Jamie asks at a loss for words.

"I didn't even say goodbye. I just watched her walk out of my life and I wonder if maybe I made it to easy on her."

Jamie almost laughs at that. "Easy!" He shouts forgetting for a moment the time. "Easy!" He repeats much lower. "If you think it was easy for Jude to leave. Than this conversation is over." Letting that sink in a second, Jamie takes a deep breath. "She came to me, the day of her concert." At the surprised expression that crossed Tommy's face Jamie knows this is the first he's ever heard of his and Jude's conversation. "I don't think I've ever seen Jude so torn before."

"Why are you telling me this." Tommy asks.

"It wasn't easy for her Tommy. Just like I know it wasn't easy for you to let her go."

"I didn't even say goodbye. I just...I couldn't say goodbye." Tommy says, his voice raspy. "It was hard enough just standing back and watching her go, I don't think I could've managed actually saying the words to her. And I worry she doesn't know."

"She knows that it wasn't easy for you to watch her go." Jamie says nodding his head. "We all know that." But Tommy doesn't respond. "I think the next step is for you to accept that what's done, is done Quincy. Now the question is, what are you going to do next." Turning to walk back in to his house, Jamie stops before walking through his front door and looks over his shoulder. "Just do me a favor Quincy. Stop lurking outside, ok? The next time you feel the urge. I suggest you pick up your phone and trying calling her. Who knows, she might have as many questions needed answered as you do."

Shaking his head, Tommy gives one last quick glance at the Harrison home before turning and retracing his steps. He wanted to call Jude, he dialed the phone so many times, only to hang up before it even got a chance to ring. But if she wanted to talk, why didn't she call him? She was the one that left. She was the one that asked him to let her go. He was doing what she wanted, wasn't he? Maybe she wanted to talk, but was afraid he didn't. Feeling a headache coming on, Tommy rubs his temples and pulls out his cell phone. Dialing the familiar number his thumb pauses over the send button, but taking a deep breath he presses it and looks at the phone another second before pulling it to his ear before he has a chance to hang up. Instead of hearing the familiar sound of the phone ringing Tommy gets a busy signal and hangs up. Shaking his head in frustration he shoves the phone back into his pocket and keeps walking.

--

"What's going on?" Jude asks walking into studio 3.

"What took you so long?" Richard asked looking at his watch.

"I'm sorry. Next time you call and tell me to hurry to the studio I'll strap on my jet pack and fly right on over. Oh, oh! Or better yet! I'll hit the warp speed button I had installed on my car and I can be here in ten seconds."

"Real cute Jude." Richard says rolling her eyes and sounding more than slightly annoyed. "Will you just stop with the not so clever quips and come with me. Paul and Nicolette are waiting for us."

Annoyed at the attitude Richard always seems to have with her, Jude's mental filter shuts down as she follows him out of the studio. "Oh my gawd! It's called joking around Dick!" She says using the nickname he hates. "Tommy said that joking around helped create a better working atmosphere."

Richard, who had learned to ignore Jude's little rants and catty comments stopped in his tracks. "I've told you this before and I'll say it again. I am not that booty shaking, wannabe producer, Tom Quincy. It's about time you got that through your head." Turning back around he tries his hardest to ignore the look on Jude's face as he knocks on Paul's door. "Now I suggest you lose the attitude." Pulling open the door to Paul's office he watches Jude walk past him and sit down in one of the open seats, she doesn't even bother looking at him. Closing the door Richard sits down in the other chair and looks across the desk at Paul and Nicolette.

Paul is the first one to break the silence. "I'm sure you know why we're here." He says making eye contact with both of them. Jude didn't know how she felt about Paul. He was almost the opposite of Darius, which she figured she would like, but at the same time he didn't seem to understand the music industry at all. Didn't know the first thing about what it took to make the music and didn't seem the least bit interested in learning. All he cared about was the bottom line, was he making money? Which was the only similarity with Darius Jude saw. "Jude we overlooked the incident outside your apartment when you first got here. We understood you were caught completely off guard and there was no truth to the story."

Confused with where this was going Jude nods her head. "Yes. But I don't understand why that's being brought up now."

"I think you should just show her the papers. She doesn't normally read them so I'm sure she has no idea what you'll be refering to." Richard says, but Jude was surprised he didn't sound rude or snide.

"What we're getting at Jude is this." Nicolette says throwing down a couple of papers on the desk.

Picking them up, Jude's jaw drops at the headlines. "All play and no work Harrison?" was on the cover of one of London's most read tabloids. "Has Harrison lost her voice?" Was on the cover of another. Looking up at Nicolette and Paul, Jude shakes her head. "I don't get it? What are they talking about?"

"There talking about how you've been here for over two months Jude and we have nothing to show for it. Except for tons of tabloid picks showing you at various clubs and getting a bunch of publicity. People are starting to wonder if you're here for your music or maybe this is one big publicity stunt for you."

"That's not it at all." Jude says leaning forward and setting the papers back down. "The only reason I go to half of the those things is because Rebecca..."

"That's not the point Jude." Nicolette says cutting off her defense. "We've gone over your work from the studio."

"You what!?" Richard says sitting up straighter, letting Jude know he was just as surprised to hear that as she was. Another thing she found annoying about Paul, he had to have his hand in everything...even if he didn't know what was going on.

"We wanted to see if there was anything that we could give to the press. Something to show Jude had been working hard on her fourth album. The problem is we have nothing to give them."

"It takes some time to start up another album after just finishing one." Jude says, keeping the worry out of her voice. "I'm sure we'll have something in the next week or so." She says looking over at Richard who was staying silent. Jude didn't know if she wanted to scream at him to say something or be grateful he wasn't agreeing with them over her lack of success in the studio.

"You're going to have something by tomorrow Jude." Paul says leaning forward and staring at Jude. "You're not leaving this building until you have a song perfect for Friday."

"But what about my other artists?" Richard asks, finally speaking up.

"They've all been informed they have the next couple of days off." Nicolette says picking up the papers off of Paul's desk.

"Your number one priority right now is to get Jude ready for Friday." Considering the meeting over with, Paul stands up and puts on his suit jacket and heads out of the office.

"Friday night we're putting on a concert with a mixture of our artists. Jude you'll be performing a set of four songs. We expect at least one of them to be new." Stopping in the doorway of the office she looks at them over her shoulder. "I suggest you two get started. And whatever differences you're facing with each other I hope you get over them fast." Walking out of the office, she leaves them both sitting there in silence.

Daring a look at Richard, Jude sees him sitting there with a stone cold expression on his face. "I don't know what to say. I-I'm sorr..." Jude starts to say leaning towards him, but he cuts her off.

"We need to get started." Richard says standing up. "I'm sure we both want to get this over with."

"You have no idea." Jude says following him out of the office.


I know...probably not what you're expecting, but I hope you guys still like where this is going! I promise now that my laptop is up and running it shouldn't be as long between chapters! I can't wait to hear what you're all thinking. Your reviews are what keep the story going and let me know if I'm doing the characters justice. So thanks so much for reading and I'm so grateful for the reviews!