AN: Thanks to everyone who's responded. I live for feedback, suggestions, and without you guys (and Instant Star, of course), this wouldn't be possible. Read on…and please review. If you think it's too predictable, or if it's moving way too slow, let me know. If you have any suggestions to make this better, then feel free to tell me. You'll never know if or when they'll show up. Just for the record, this is going to be a long chapter, to make up for the 2 days I didn't post anything! Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, 24 Hours, Jude, Tommy, or any of the characters. But I really wish I did. I love Tim Rozon! And I hope Jude and Tommy end up together in Season 2! Can't wait for February 10!

Chapter 7:

Sadie smiled. "What, did you think my parents would be here to chew you out for making out with my sister? They weren't even around when you and Jude kissed."

"I really don't know what to think, except that your parents can't know about it, not from you, OK?" I pleaded.

"On one condition." Sadie said, smugly. I wondered what she was up to.

"What's that?" I asked, already dreading her response from the devilish look she gave me.

"Take me out to that nice little Italian place just around the corner." Sadie demanded.

"Sadie, I really can't be involved with you, not like that," I said, stunned as to how conniving she could be.

"Fine, then I'll just go ahead and tell my mom and dad what happened." She stood up as she was about to leave.

"Wait, OK, I'll do it. How does tomorrow at 6:30 sound?" I said, as I inwardly cringed at the thought of Jude finding out about our little arrangement.

"Perfect. Come and get me, since Mom and Dad'll be out and Jamie and Kat are coming over." Sadie said as she made her way toward the door.

"OK," I replied weakly. I still couldn't imagine how she pulled one over on me, and I didn't even see it coming.

"Ciao for now," Sadie said as she left my office.

I took a few minutes to process everything that happened that night, and decided that I wasn't getting anywhere. I decided to go and talk to Kwest, since he knew me better than anyone else, and he always gave it to me straight.

I found Kwest right where I left him.

"Hey, man, you got a sec?" I asked, silently telling him that I really needed to talk.

"Yeah, what's up?" Kwest took the hint and led me to Studio B, where we could talk in private.

(In Studio B):

I told Kwest everything that happened since I kissed Jude. Kwest was about to say something, when I finally blurted out "Kwest, what should I do? I mean, I like Jude, you know? But she's 18, and I can't date her since I'm her producer. I don't want to quit, because I like working with her, and I love hearing the songs she comes up with. Just when I think she can't top her last song, she goes and writes another killer single. But if I don't quit, then I don't know how much longer I can take this. I'm so close to her but yet so far away. And if I try and make a move on her, she might not feel the same way and then I'll blow any chances I could have had with her. You know how she feels about me, so what do you think?"

Kwest paused a second, thinking that there was more, but when I didn't continue, he said, "Tommy, man, calm down. Jude does like you, even though she may not admit it. And not just in a platonic way. I don't think she'll have a problem with dating her producer, since I overheard her talking to Kat about you one day."

"What about Sadie?" I asked, desperate to get myself out of this situation.

"Don't worry about Sadie. Once she's had her fun, she'll move on to someone else. She's kinda like a female you." Kwest said, snickering.

"Ha ha. Very funny." I said, watching Kwest shrug nonchalantly.

"Do you think I should tell Jude's parents what happened? Then I can get out of my situation with Sadie." I asked, already knowing Kwest's response.

"Yeah, and risk dying a slow, and, not to mention, extremely painful death? Not if you want to come out of it alive and in one piece." Kwest replied seriously, not even cracking a smile.

"Thanks, Kwest. You always know what to do in these situations." I said, grateful for his advice.

"Anytime. I've got a feeling you'll be needing lots more advice later on." Kwest walked away to greet some of his friends who were in town visiting.

Meanwhile, I watched Sadie as she was talking to Jude. I moved closer to them, trying to overhear what they were talking about.

"…and then I go talk to Tommy, and Tommy asks me out. He wants to take me to that nice little Italian place close by." Sadie was going on and on, while Jude nodded, her thoughts elsewhere.

Jude's POV : Once again, Sadie gets what she wants. I can't believe Tommy fell for her. I mean, is there any guy who can resist her? Why did Tommy have to ask her out? Does he like her? Does she like him, or is she just toying with his affections? Does she mean anything to him? Or is Tommy trying to make me jealous? Not that I am or anything…OK, maybe just a little…or maybe a lot…I wish Tommy could see what she's trying to do, and be smart enough to avoid Sadie altogether. But I guess it's too late for that. Maybe if I can pull a Sadie and compete with her for Tommy's attention…Does that mean that I like Tommy? Yeah, I guess it does. I love it when we're working together on a song, and he comes up behind me to work out the timing, when he puts his hands over mine on the guitar, and strums it the way he thinks it should be. I never knew I had all these feelings for Tommy, at least not until Sadie came along. At least she's good for something. I wonder if Tommy knows how I feel. What if I'm reading too much into this, and Tommy likes me only as a friend? Maybe I shouldn't say anything so that I won't get my heart broken into a zillion pieces. Yeah, that's what I'll do. I should get back to listening Sadie talk before she notices I'm a million miles away.

"I can't believe this, this is so unreal. I get to date the hottest member of Boyz Attack, little Tommy Q. Just wait till all my friends hear about this. I'll go tell them right now." Sadie ran off, still self-absorbed while Jude, relieved, thought to herself, "Nope, Sadie's still off in her own world. Good thing she didn't notice I wasn't listening."

Jude saw Georgia up in front of everyone, again, and she heard Georgia say, "And now we're going to have a special performance by our newest artist, Jude Harrison! Come on up here, Jude!" Georgia stepped down to make way for Jude, and returned to her table with E.J., and Kwest already sitting there. Kwest motioned for me to come join them, and I sat down, curious to find out how other people would like Jude's song.

Jude made her way up to the stage, and on the way up, she decided to sing a different song than the one she'd planned.

"Hi everyone, I'm going to be doing a new song tonight. It's called Temporary Insanity. I hope you like it." Jude said as she started strumming.

"What just happened

Did you kiss me?

'Cuz that's a place we've never been

Until now

And I don't know

How it's gonna be after this

Do we pretend these feelings don't exist at all

Or do we fall?

My confusion shows whenever you get so close

I stumble, I stutter

Forget what to say

I'm nervous, I wonder why I'm acting this way

It's temporary insanity

What's going on with you and me?

Is it real or is it fantasy?

Forever, or just temporary…insanity?

You made a move, don't change your mind

Too much to lose, we've crossed the line

Between friends and something more

Was it all a big mistake

And if it was, it's much too late to undo

And I don't really want to

Let you go

But I still don't know

How I feel about you

What this really means

It's crazy to want you

Is it meant to be?

It's temporary insanity

What's going on with you and me?

Is it real or is it fantasy?

Forever, or just temporary?

It's temporary insanity

What's going on with you and me?

Is it real or is it fantasy?

Forever, or just temporary…insanity?

What you do to me

What comes over me

If this is crazy, there's nothing I'd rather be

It's temporary insanity

What's going on with you and me?

Is it real or is it fantasy?

Forever, or just temporary?

It's temporary insanity

What's going on with you and me?

Is it real or is it fantasy?

Forever, or just temporary?

Losing my mind, losing my mind, losing my mind

Losing my mind, losing my mind, losing my mind

As the sounds of Jude's voice and the guitar faded out, Jude's eyes locked with mine. I felt a sharp jab in my ribs, and turned to look at Kwest. He leaned over and whispered, "Does that answer your previous question?" I nodded, unable to speak and Kwest continued, "Jude's coming this way."

I looked over at Jude again, and willed anyone else in the room to go up and distract her, since I wasn't ready to talk to her. I knew I'd either say too much (which would probably end up in Jude laughing at me when I told her how I felt, or Jude getting upset as to thinking I had a chance with her, or Jude just wanting to be friends and us figuring out how to work together after Jude found out how I felt about her.), or too little (which would leave her more confused than ever, make her upset that I felt like I couldn't talk to her (which I couldn't at the moment, at least not until I knew what it was I was going to say), or make her think that I didn't know what to think (which was exactly what I was thinking). Jude made her way over to my table, never once breaking eye contact with me (which made me feel unsure about what she had thought and felt about our very public kiss, and unsure about what she thought of everyone else's opinions about it).

"Tommy, can I talk to you? Alone?" Jude inquired.

"Yeah, how about we head over to Studio A? No one's there right now." I suggested.

"Great, let's go." Jude replied, not caring where we went to talk or who was around when it happened.

AN: I decided to end this chapter here, so that it won't be too long (and also because it goes a lot better with the next chapter). Let me know what you think (whether it's good or bad). Then I'll know what to work on for the following chapters.