On My Mind Chapter 3: Penance, an instant star fanfic

Spied walked Karma to G Major the next morning, personally carrying Jude's heart on the CD they had burned late the night before.

"Ok, Karm, you've got the plan right? You know what this means to Jude so, please, don't mess this up." Spied looked sternly at Karma, praying for Jude's sake, and his own life, that Karma would pull through.

"Spiedy, I've got it. Hand me the CD, and text Jude that I'm here. I'll call you with an update later at NBR!" Karma kissed Spied quickly on the cheek, waved to some invisible paparazzi, and strutted into the building.

Spied smiled to himself and shook his head, texting Jude, and heading back towards NBR.

Karma took a deep breath as she maintained what she hoped was a normal smile, and pulled open the last door of Darius' endless entryway. Truth be told, she was happy to do this for Jude, she knew how much Jude meant to Vincent and Karma also knew she needed to make up for accusing them of having an affair. No one needed to know that she was still paying penance for that though.

She spotted her prey coming through the back door, sunglasses on and collar flipped up as usual. Ok, Karma, she said to herself, you have a mission to do.

"Oh, Tommy! Hi!" She screeched through the hall, causing Tommy to wince and put his hands over his ears.

"Karma, its way too early for such high volume, what's got you so ... enthusiastic this morning?"

She followed him into studio A, willing herself to keep a smile plastered on her face.

"Spiedykins and I were up all night working on a new duet! I really want you to hear it! Please?"

Tommy sighed, pulling off his sunglasses to reveal bloodshot eyes. He knew if he said no to Karma, she would just pester him until she got her way, so he might as well take the bullet now and save himself from the pain later.

"Ok, fine. I will listen to it ONE time. Why don't you get me a coffee and come back in a few minutes?"

Karma practically burst inside and scooted out the door, afraid he would change his mind. She headed towards the kitchen, but made a U-turn and stood where she could see Tommy through the booth windows.

"Jude, he's got the CD" She whispered as soon as Jude answered her phone.

Jude could hardly breathe, the pressure in her chest was so great. She stared out the window and paced in a circle.

Karma watched Tommy look at the CD, put it in the player, and shake his head. At the last second he plugged a set of headphones in, to Karma's relief.

"Karma, what's going on?"

"He just put headphones on, and he's pushing play ... hold tight, Jude."

Tommy rubbed at his eyes, vowing to try to actually sleep that night. He turned the volume up, and waited for Karma and Spied's surely saccharine duet to begin.

To his surprise, he was greeted with a soft acoustic opening. Maybe Spied's got Karma thinking in a different direction?

Then it hit him. The voice he had waited for, longed for, pined for, all these months since she'd left. Jude's vocals crashed over him so hard it made his knees weak and thankful he was sitting down. He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, letting her words wash over him, releasing every pent up tension and ache and pain. She had reached out to him, and he was an open wound.

I Have Loved You Wrong*

Forgive me lover, for I have sinned

For I have done you wrong.

For I have hurt beyond repair,

And when tears occurred

No, I didn't care.

Forgive me Lover, for I have sinned

For I have loved you wrong.

But this estranged organ in my chest

Still beats for you

It will not rest, so

Meet me in our secret place

When the time has come

And rest your head in my lap

And I'll lead you out of your own trap

And I'll show you how much

you have missed through the

Time we weren't right

So forgive me lover,

for I have sinned

For I have let you go.

But you've been every now and then on my mind yeah

Every now and then on my mind yeah

On my mind

"Jude, I think ..." Karma couldn't believe it with her own eyes.

"What, Karma?" Jude practically screamed into the phone, unable to stand the suspense.

"Jude, he's crying. Tommy Q. is actually crying. I can't believe it."

Karma stared at Tommy through the window, as Jude's heart stopped. He still cared. She could still reach him in time. Or could she?

"Oh my god, what do we do? I can't take this!"

"Jude, breathe deep breaths. We are going to stick with the plan. I'll tell him to talk to Spied, he knows Spied will tell him the absolute truth. I gotta go, he's taking the headphones off. I will call you with updates!" Karma quickly closed her cell, picked up a cup of coffee, and headed into the studio as if nothing had occurred.

Tommy sat speechless, wiping his eyes. What should he do? What could he say? Karma breezed through the door, and he turned, eyes narrowing as he remembered who had "surprised" him with the CD.

Karma handed him the coffee, and stepped back, as if she feared he would throw it on her.

"Karma. I am going to ask you this one time, and I want no lies, no stories, the truth. Got it?"

Karma nodded, her eyes huge.

"Where did you get that CD?"

Karma looked at Tommy, eyes red, hair tousled in his usual imperfectly perfect way, and took a deep breath.

"Jude sent that song to me and Spied last night. She feels awful Tom, and this was the only way we could think of to get you to hear it."

"Call Spied, tell him to meet at the rehearsal space. We need to talk." Tommy raced out of the studio, and Karma breathed a sigh of relief.

*"I Have Loved You Wrong" by The Swell Season. Easily found on Youtube.