AN: I was going to wait to post this, but since it seemed like the perfect time.
Warning: I'm in a bad mood right now, since my dad moved my Instant Star tape that I was going to watch, and when I tore up the house trying to find it, and it took longer than I thought it would, and yelled at everyone around me, my dad grounded me, saying 'all that for one stupid tape?'), so yeah, lots of anger in this one. There's plenty more where that came from, and the next chapter will have Jude and Tommy going at it (I'll try and get it up sometime tonight if I get enough reviews), but I had to split it up so that it could be uploaded to the server (I tried getting it up earlier, but I kept getting this error message). Anyway, I hope you like it (despite the violence and language.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star or any of the characters. If I did, Jude and Tommy would be together already.
Showdown - Part 1:
"ANDREWS!" Tommy exploded. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" I saw his face turn from red to purple to absolutely livid, and saw Kat's expression. Except hers was one of shock, then disbelief, then hurt.
"Uh…" I said feebly, not knowing how to explain myself.
"Tommy, don't," Jude said. She jumped in front of me just as Tommy's fists connected with my head, my stomach, anywhere Tommy could get at me. Stars danced in front of my eyes as pain from Tommy's blows set in immediately.
"Let…me…at 'im," Tommy grunted, getting in a few good punches. After a couple, I was in such intense pain that I couldn't feel his blows any more. My head had felt as if a Mack truck hit it, then went into reverse over the same spot. Now, it was the same throbbing pain that would never end.
"Tommy, stop," Jude cried, as she tried unsuccessfully to stop Tommy from beating me up any more than he already had. "Kat, help," Jude groaned desperately, and Kat snapped out of it long enough to help Jude restrain a furious Tommy Q, who was putting up a hell of a fight.
"This isn't over, Andrews," Tommy threatened, as Jude and Kat managed to pull him slowly away from me. From my half-open eye (the other was already starting to swell shut), I could see him shaking his finger menacingly in my direction. "Stay away from me and mine, or else!"
"You know what, Quincy? I'm not yours, so don't go all control freak on me," Jude objected.
"What? You can't be seriously interested in Mr. I'm Not-Cool-Enough-For-Kindergarten, are you?" Tommy sneered. I wanted to bash the guy's head in so bad, but knew I'd be instantly pummeled further into a bloody pulp. The guy may be an ex-boybander, but he sure knows how to throw a killer left hook.
"Tommy, don't, just stop," Jude said, this time, a little more gently. Tommy looked at her, his eyes boring into her own, until she seemed to have gotten through to him. He glanced at me momentarily, his eyes narrowing in anger, and said, glaring, "We'll settle this later."
I gulped as I watched Tommy stalk away, Jude hurrying to calm him down, while Kat and I were left alone.
Kat's eyes were fixated on Tommy's and Jude's retreating forms, then she turned around as I cleared my throat.
"Kat, I…" I began, then winced in pain as Kat strode up to me and slapped me, tears beginning to stream down her face.
"Jamie, how could you?" Kat turned, trying to hide her emotions from me.
"I don't know…it just happened, OK?" I admitted. The truth was, I hadn't planned on kissing Jude the way I did. I just couldn't get over how beautiful Jude looked to me, how she'll always be the same, no matter if she's upset, crying uncontrollably, or as stoic and mysterious as she gets when she's figuring out lyrics and music to her songs.
I tried to soothe the pain I'd brought her by stroking her hair gently, but she slapped my hand away. "NO!" Kat yelled. "Just stay away from me!"
"Kat, I'm sorry. I really am. Kat, please…" I begged, meaning it with my whole heart.
"No, you're not," Kat looked up, her eyes all red and blotchy from her obvious distress. "I should have known better. That you'd never get over your childhood crush on Jude. Stupid me, falling for you anyways. Thinking I'd be the one to get your attention." She sniffled, then added, "But she'll always have it, no matter who she's with or who you're supposed to be with." She looked at me again, and my heart shattered at the despair I saw in the depths of her eyes.
After a few minutes of silence, Kat spoke. "Just go, Jamie. We both know you want to. And when she breaks your heart with none other than 'lil Tommy Q, don't come crying to me. I might just not be around anymore. Jude's my best friend too, but I won't be second place to her. Not now, not ever. So who's it going to be? Me, or Jude?" She looked up, her gaze steady.
I paused, and carefully weighed her words. I couldn't answer her question, because I loved them both. So I decided to be honest, thinking that at least Kat would know I wasn't lying to her.
"Kat, I can't answer that. Not right now," I said, as Kat nodded.
"I see," Kat said, even though I knew she didn't. She turned and began to walk away.
"Kat, wait," I begged her.
"No, Jamie. I gave you a choice, and since you didn't choose, it's obvious it's Jude," Kat assumed.
"I didn't say that," I protested.
Kat gazed up at me, her words piercing my very being. "But you meant it, didn't you?" She walked away as I stood there, powerless to deny her statement.
After a few moments, I decided to go talk to Jude about what just happened. I figured she'd be done talking with Quincy, so I was trying to get up the nerve to tell her how I really felt about her.
Meanwhile…
"Tommy, wait," Jude said, trying to catch up to Tommy. "I can explain…"
"What's there to explain?" Tommy said, fighting to keep the hurt out of his voice. "I come out of the studio, and the first thing I see is you making out with Andrews. Not exactly the way I wanted to find you."
"I wasn't making out with Jamie," Jude protested, "He just kissed me…"
"Just kissed you…?" Tommy laughed bitterly. "He was trying to stick his tongue down your throat."
"Jealous much?" Jude challenged.
"Of Mr. McDork-face? Hardly," Tommy sneered. "I can get any girl I want, wherever, whenever."
"Except me," Jude boasted.
"Now, why would I want a girl who's not only my artist, but also 6 years younger than me, who would get me fired if anyone were to find out we were together, but wait…Then there's the fact that I wouldn't go near you since I don't take Andrew's castoffs." Tommy smiled meanly as his insults hit home.
"What? Tommy, come on! You were the one who kissed me at my 16th birthday, then my 17th, and 18th, and you took it back every time. You said it was because you didn't want to ruin my career, but you know what I think?" Jude said, not waiting for Tommy to answer. "I think it's because you're scared of commitment. First Portia, whose marriage to you lasted what? A month? Then you hooked up with my sister while totally crushing on me, and you told me you and Sadie weren't right, because she was a fan and only thought of you as Little Tommy Q, and not as a real person. And then you weren't interested in me unless I was with Shay, or Speed, or any other guy, but you could never bring yourself to admit your real feelings, because you're afraid they'll blow up in your face," Jude smirked in satisfaction, knowing she'd discovered the real reason for Tommy not committing to any one person by the way his face paled.
Then Tommy recovered long enough to say, "You know what, Jude? I think you're just scared because you secretly love Jamie. The boy-next-door, the constant admiration and affection? Instant boyfriend material, though not the ideal boyfriend type. And the dorky glasses and nerdy appearance? Just an added bonus, a perfect complement to your punk princess status. Like they say, opposites attract," Tommy stated happily.
"No, for the last time, Jamie's just a friend," Jude glared at Tommy as he muttered, "Right," under a fake cough. "And anyway, why do you care? You're my producer, not my dad, so my personal life is none of your business. So just keep your mouth shut and stay out of my life!" She stalked away, anger radiating off every inch of her body, and stopped only when Tommy spoke.
"I have just one problem with that," Tommy said simply.
"Just one?" Jude arched her eyebrows in annoyance. "And what would that be?"
"I'm your producer," Tommy declared. "We work together, so I'll always be a part of your life, whether you like it or not." Tommy smiled, and it faded as quickly as it appeared when he heard Jude's answer.
Now it was Jude's turn to gloat. "That's what you think. That anything and everything always involves you. Guess what, Quincy? It doesn't. I don't need you now, and I won't need your help from now on. In fact, I've never needed you, so when we get back, I'm gonna ask Kwest to be my producer, and I'll have you fired you from my album."
"No way, I'm not gonna let that happen," Tommy said firmly. "Despite what you think, I still have more say over you. You won't last 2 seconds against me."
"Funny," Jude observed, "That's not what I heard. Doesn't my contract say that I can switch producers if my current producer isn't helping me with every aspect of my songwriting?"
"No, it doesn't. And anyway, that rule doesn't apply to me. I'm the boss' right hand man," Tommy boasted.
"No, that would be me," I said, stepping out from behind the bush where I'd overheard most of their conversation.
"Since when? You can't even carry a tune, let alone play an instrument. Why would anyone make you part of the G Major staff?" Tommy scoffed, although his expression showed a mixture of shock at my sudden appearance and just the slightest bit of curiosity.
"That's what I wanted to tell you, but I never got a chance," I said, before Tommy rudely cut me off.
"Hmm…I wonder why. Maybe it's because you're bluffing, and this is just a really big joke," Tommy laughed, even though no one joined in.
"Or maybe," I said forcefully, staring Tommy down until my eyes hurt, "it's the truth, and it's the one thing you were being called down to a meeting tomorrow for?" I smiled victoriously as I watched Tommy's eyes widen in realization. Then almost as fast as I saw the shock register on his face, it was instantly replaced by a look of determination.
"We'll just see about that," Tommy vowed, walking back to his Viper.
Jude and I walked slowly back to my car, and since we didn't see any sign of Kat (despite our calls), we figured she'd gotten a ride back with Tommy. Sure enough, as we pulled back out on the road, we saw a flash of wavy dark brown hair next to a perfectly gelled head with all the hair slicked back.
Not another word was spoken on the way back, or even when we arrived back at G Major.
"What happened?" Kwest asked, looking at me in confusion.
"Don't ask," I muttered, as Jude made a beeline for Studio A and her guitar.
AN: Soooo, was this interesting? Boring? Let me know, OK? And please review. I live for them!