A/N-So, I know I just posted an update saying that this is on hiatus, but I have some free time and I wanted to update this. But I really son' know how often I'll be able to. You all should be glad I love you so much. Tehe, well I got A LOT of reviews telling me that this is too close to the storyline. I'll try and not do that, but it kinda has to be because of the drama and such. So, I hope that doesn't make anyone mad. That's just the way it has to be. So, I REALLY hope you like this. It isn't rushed like some of the other chapters were. And I don't own anything IS related. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Almost Normal

Jude was sitting at G-Major feeling completely restless. After her dad left and she "relieved" herself, she fell into a restless sleep. She kept seeing images of her dad and Yvette and her parents fighting constantly. She awoke and decided to just shower and head off to G-Major. Tommy had arrived a little later and was now in Hospitality getting himself some coffee. Jude hadn't noticed that she was dazing off until someone waved a hand in front of her face and stated to call her name.

"Jude? Jude? Hey, Jude? Are you in there?" She shook her head to snap herself out of her daydream to see Tommy in front of her with a steaming cup of coffee.

"Huh? What? Sorry, I kinda spaced there for a second."

"It's ok. You wanna talk about it?"

"Yes and no. Does that make any sense to you?"

"Yeah. You want to get it of your chest but at the same time, you want to just keep it to yourself because it's a little too personal."

"Exactly. I'm taking it you've had some experience in this department?"

"Yes, a little too much if you ask me."

"Hmm."

"But if you feel you're ready to talk about it, I'm here, ok? I'll listen."

"Ok, thanks."

"That's what I'm here for. So do you have anything to record?"

"Uh, no. I just have things written down. Is that ok?"

"Fine with me. But we gotta pretend we're working on something so Georgia and EJ don't ride us."

"Ok."

"You can just write all you'd like until you're ready to record and I'll just mix some other songs. Sound good?"

"Yeah, and Tommy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. You know for giving me my space. It's something I'm in desperate need of."

"No problem."

"Tommy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really proud of you. You know for the way you went out there with BoyzAttack. That took a lotta guts."

"I should be saying the same thing. I mean, it must have been hard going out there to face your arch rival. But thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Well, I'll let you get back to work then."

"Ok," and the rest of the day was spent with Tommy mixing and Jude writing. They, as Tommy said, had to pretend, to be working when Georgia or EJ came into the room. Jude was finding it really easy to just write things down even though Tommy was there being quiet. She found it odd that she welcomed the silent. The pair worked in compatible silence for quite some time. They hadn't noticed that barely anyone else was there until looked up from her journal and noticed the lack of people.

"Tommy, hey Tommy! TOMMY!" He jolted and looked at her worried and wide-eyed. Jude couldn't help but smile at the fact that he thought that there was something wrong with her.

"Relax; we're just in here late." He glared at her a moment before looking out the doors. Sure enough, they were in here late-way late.

"Whoa Jude, we better get going. You've got school tomorrow and I've got to come back here."

"Who says I can't just skip tomorrow? I'm a musician, not a math wiz."

"True as that may be, you still gotta get an education. It's important, believe it or not. Besides, you can't end up like me and drop out."

"There is no way I could end up like you, Quincy."

"Oh and how is that?"

"I already passed the seventh grade-the grade in which you failed to complete."

"Aren't we funny today?"

"Maybe just a little."

"Well, we really got to get going. I don't need your parents skinning me alive for having you out to late."

"You wouldn't have to worry about anyone but my mom, and I'm pretty sure you can take her."

"Oh Jude, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's ok. Don't worry about it. Time to head back into reality," she walked out of the door before Tommy could figure out what she meant. The walk to the car was silent as Jude was dreading to go home and Tommy was oddly at a loss for words. The y got in the car and buckled up, bur before he started the engine, Jude spoke.

"Tommy?" she asked, almost like a small child.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever had a place where you go to escape everything? A place where nothing else mattered except maybe something you love…like music?"

"Yeah. It was rare to find that place, but I found it. Just me and the music. Nothing else mattered."

"Yeah. G-Major's that place for me. As crazy and dysfunctional as it is, it's pretty much the best place in the world. Wait, you said that place washard to find. Do you not have a place anymore?"

"No, not really. I mean there are places where I can let everything else fade out except the music. Now it's not really the place I love, but more the person. He looked at her quickly as he said the last part. Part of him was hoping she wouldn't get the meaning, but another part of him did. She looked away, trying to hide her blush. Somewhere deep down she knew that was directed at her. Tommy started the car and drove a very shy Jude home. He stopped in front of her house and she undid her seatbelt to leave.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, and expect the unexpected," he said with a smirk.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see. Have a good night, Jude."

"Uh, yeah, you too." She shut the door to the passenger side and watched him drive off. She stood there for a moment longer, just savoring the moments with him before heading into her house. She was expected to be greeted by her mother in the kitchen and not by Sadie at all but instead, her mother and sister were on the couch, waiting for her.

"Jude Elizabeth Harrison, where have you been?!"

"Whoa, calm down, Mom! Tommy and I just worked late, that's all."

"Why were you working late with Tommy? I though t you were like mad at him or something?"

"Well, we kinda made up, I guess. Listen, I don't see why it's any of your business anyway, Sadie."

"It becomes my business when my baby sister is spending time with her much older producer."

"Ah, gross, Sadie! How could you even say that about Tommy?"

"Who said I was saying that about Tommy?"

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jude was walking towards her sister, but not before Mrs. Harrison stepped between the two.

"Ok, Jude, watch the language and stop messing with your sister. Sadie, stop interrogating and antagonizing your sister. Jude, we'll talk about this in the morning. Just go to bed. "

"But there's nothing to talk about!"

"We will talk about this tomorrow, Elizabeth. Go to your room."

"Fine! Geez, I wish Dad were here!" she yelled before going to her room and slamming her door. She made her way to her bathroom and collapsed on the sink.

"God, I hate it here! I miss him so much! Why did he have to go and sleep with that whore!" Jude was now a tangled heap on the floor. She was crying so hard, her body was shaking. She finally gained her composure a little and remembered that she left a spare razor blade in here. She went to her secret hiding place (under a box of tampons) and brought it over to the sink. She placed her arm over the sink and put the blade near the fat of her arm where elbow was. She applied pressure and brought the blade across her skin. A line of blood was starting to for, but she kept going. She didn't stop when it started to really hurt. She didn't stop until the cut was a little bit on the other side of her arm. She finally took the razor away and watched her arm bleed a moment before she cleaned her arm up with toilet paper. She washed her sink off and flushed before looking at her newly-cut arm.

"This is for you, Dad," she whispered before turning out the light and heading to bed. The next day Jude showered and dressed for school and went downstairs to get her some Pop-tarts. She didn't utter a word to her mom or Sadie; even when they tried to talk to her.

"Jude, honey, I think we need to talk about last night."

"Yeah, come on, Jude. You pounced on us for no reason!" Jude didn't reply, but instead grabbed her breakfast that popped out of the toaster.

"Don't wait up after school I'll be heading straight for the studio." Not even a "bye" as the youngest Harrison left her house. She decided to walk to school, deciding that she could use the air. Her day was pretty boring, except when talking to Jamie and/or Kat. She was sitting in math (her worst class) when there was an office note at the door. The teacher took it and read it aloud.

"Jude Harrison: you're wanted in the office. Take your things; I don't think you'll be returning." With a puzzled look at Jamie, she left the classes and headed to the office. She didn't see any one of her family members, so she asked the front desk and she only pointed outside. Jude was now more puzzled than ever but preceded to look outside. There waiting for her was a familiar figure leaning against a blue Viper. She smiled widely when she saw it was Tommy.

"Tommy, what are you doing here?1"

"Thought I'd take to a place where nothing else matters." He smirked his famous smirk.

"Wow, you're pulling me out of school, ya know? Valuable education I'm not learning because of you."

"I know, but this is learning too. But don't tell anyone because we could both kinda get in trouble."

"My lips are sealed. So, where did you have in mind to take me?"

"You like ice cream?" The pair had driven to get some ice cream (Jude vanilla, chocolate and strawberry; Tommy vanilla) and was now leaning against his Viper at a "place" Tommy saw fit-The Pier. They both knew this place was special, both for the exact same reason, but neither of them said anything.

"So what exactly are we supposed to learning? Besides the fact that ice cream is America's food?"

"You're supposed to learn how to drown out all the white noise in life. Let everything that brings you down go and let one passion keep you floating." Jude closed her eyes and imagined everything in her life slowly fading. The drama with her dad, her over-protective mother and annoying sister .Even the good things like Jamie and Kat and SME. She let all those things fade out and only let one thing keep her floating: her love for Tommy. He would never know that that was the one thing that kept her balanced besides music, but even music came because of him. It came better because of him.

"Wow, this place is really nice. Do you come here often?"

"Sometime. But it's rare. I thought I'd make it even more special by bringing you here." He said the last part a bit softer, not daring to look at her this time. He was no doubt blushing and she thanked the Heavens that he wasn't looking. Well, we should probably head to the studio. School's out and I told my mom that I was going straight to the studio." She was turning around to go but Tommy gently grabbed her arm.

"Ow!" They both jerked their hands away, Tommy afraid he'd hurt her and Jude in pure pain.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you I was just-"

"It's ok. Let's just head back."

"Well, let me at least look at your arm," he started to grab it but she pulled away fast.

"No! its fine, I just slept on it funny, that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Let's just go." He didn't probe the matter any farther and he did as he was asked. She was already buckled and ready to leave when opened the door. He silently got in and drove to G-Major.

A/N-So there's an update after like forever! I hope you guys are pleased1 I won't be updating anything for quite a while with all the double updating I've been doing so enjoy this and the next two chapters of Not An Addict cause that's all you get for a while! Now review because you owe me that much for updating this! (: