Song is "Why Can't I" by Liz Phair (I edited one part of it).

Regular italics is a flash back, and bold italics is the song playing during the flashback, and it's for this chapter only.


A week later, Nikki and the band came into Studio A.

"How'd you guys get here?" Tommy said. "I thought you were gonna get a ride from Jim's mom and be here at four." He looked at his watch knowing it was only 3:00.

"Oh, Aaron drove," Nikki said. Tommy eyes widened in shock. The band went in the recording booth leaving Nikki and Tommy.

"He drove?" Tommy asked in shock.

"Yeah, he has his license," Nikki said. Tommy opened his mouth. "Yeah yeah yeah, no going in cars with teenage boys. But anyway, I got my Algebra test back."

"And? How'd you do?"

"96," Nikki smiled.

"Great," he smiled back at her. "Any new songs?"

"Actually, I have a song that my mom wrote, but never actually recorded. She wrote it back when she was seventeen."

Tommy shrugged. "Let's hear it." Nikki nodded and went in the recording booth, she picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing as Aaron, Jim, and Diane stood back and listened.

Tommy listened to the song, it sounded too much like...

"No, it couldn't be," he thought to himself. So the lyrics were similar to him and Jude, nothing big there, right?

Get a load of me, get a load of you
Walkin' down the street, and I hardly know you

"Jude," Tommy said running up to her on the sidewalk. "Talk to me."
"I wish I could, but it's too hard. It's hard to be around you and not," Jude trailed on. "Tommy, we know we can't do this," she smiled sadly.
"Jude we can," Tommy said and kissed her forehead. "Trust me."

It's just like we were meant to be

Holding hands with you when we're out at night
They're walking around town holding hands.
"Tommy," Jude said. "I really like you but what about..."
Got a girlfriend, you say it isn't right
"Shannon isn't the person I want to be with," he smiled. "You are."
"But..."
"I'm breaking up with her tomorrow," he said. "But promise me you'll..."

And I've got someone waiting too

"Tell, Will," Jude sighed referring to the intern she had been out on a date with the week earlier, to get over Tommy.

What if this is just the beginning
Tommy dropped Jude off at her house and she looked back and smiled at him before going inside.
We're already wet, and we're gonna go swimming

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
"Tommy you said you'd break up with her!" Jude said on the verge of tears.
"I know..." he said. She stayed silent, but she finally spoke up when they made eye contact.
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
"Then why Tommy, if you aren't gonna break up with her then why do you always come to me?" Jude said crying.
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
"Jude," he started.
"No, Tommy. Tell me."
So tell me
"Because Jude, I can't think, I can't sleep, I can't breathe, I can't even keep a conversation going without thinking about you!" He threw his hands in the air. "I'm in love with you, girl!"
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

Isn't this the best part of breakin' up
Jude stormed out of the studio, and Shannon walked in.

Finding someone else you can't get enough of

"What was that about?" she asked.
"Shannon, we need to talk," Tommy said. He closed his eyes as he started to talk.
Someone who wants to be with you too

It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
Later, Tommy knocked on Jude's door.
"I know your in there," he said. "So I'll just talk. I broke up with Shannon. Jude, I know it seems like we aren't supposed to be together, but you and I both know that we can't avoid what we feel. I love you."

Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch

"And I think you should give us a fair chance," he said. "I think it could work."
But wouldn't it be beautiful

Here we go, we're at the beginning
"Tommy?" Jude opened the door to see Tommy driving his Porsche down the street.
We haven't started yet, but my heads spinning

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Jude ran to her car and started it up and began following him.
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

"Tommy!" Jude said hopping out of her car as Tommy walked up to his door.

High enough for you to make me wonder
Where it's goin'

"Look. I don't know where we'll go with this, or what'll happen," she started.

High enough for you to pull me under
Somethin's growin'
"But I'll take that chance, because we have something, and I'm gonna give it up without a fight."
Out of this that we can control
"What are you saying Jude?"
Baby I am dyin'
"I need you," she said softly.

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
He walked up to her and kissed her.
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
"I can't think, concentrate on my music or anything," she smiled pulling away from the kiss.
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
"I can't even keep a conversation going, without you popping into my head..."
It's inevitable, it's a fact that we're gonna get down to it
"I'm in love with you, Quincy," she shrugged.
So tell me

"Love you too, girl," he said.

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you

Nikki finished the song. "Well?" she smiled.

"It was, uh, good," Tommy nodded. The song was too similar to him and Jude. "It was, nice."

"Thanks," Nikki said. "I'll be sure to tell my mom that."

"Woohoo! Back in Toronto!" Someone shouted from the lobby.

"What was that?" Nikki asked nervously. She knew what it was, in fact she knew who it was. She just wanted to be wrong.

"I don't know, it sounded like..." Tommy realized he was about to say Speiderman. He got up and went into the lobby, to see SME start coming in. He stood with his mouth open.

Nikki followed him out. "What are you staring-" she began to ask but then saw Speed run down a hallway. Her first instincts were unfortunately true. "Oh crap," she said nervously, realizing this was the moment that could change everything.

Tommy made direct eye contact with the person who just walked through the doors. They both froze.

"Jude." Tommy said.


A/N: Okay. Now things get interesting.