So, this is the karaoke chapter. I liked writing it so I hope everyone likes reading it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, or 'You Were Meant for Me' by Jewel or 'Just Friends' by Gavin DeGraw, even though I took personal liberties and changed a few words.

Later that night, Nic stared at her reflection in her floor-length, department store-style mirror, admiring her outfit choice. She wore ripped jeans, a royal blue thermal shirt, and her black Ugg boots. Her long brown hair was curled to perfection and her make-up was flawless. She finished her look off by a quick spray of her Chanel No. 5 and put on her white bomber jacket. Tommy and Jude had offered to let her ride with them, giving her initiative to get drunk at the bar, as she wouldn't have to drive home.

"Hey," Jude said, sticking her head into Nic's apartment a minute later. "We gotta go. God, Lex was so excited about spending the night at Maria's that she packed every movie she could get her hands on, including Pretty Woman and Wedding Crashers cause they were under the coffee table."

"Funny kid," Nic laughed, locking her apartment door. She turned to Jude and Tommy, who were dressed in their own variations of casual, even though Tommy's included his ever-present leather jacket and Puma tennis shoes, while Jude wore her infamous star ring and black Converse. "You guys are so predictable."

"Thanks?" Tommy replied unsurely, leading them to the elevator. "What about you? That's just a plain thermal to the eye, but I guarantee it's designer." He leaned over to look at the tag. Marc Jacobs. "Ha, see?"

Nic shrugged. "Whatever. At least it's not something I wear everyday."

"I like what I like," he replied as the doors opened and revealed them to the garage. He unlocked his Range Rover and opened Jude's door.

"Aww, that's so sweet," Nic cooed sarcastically, climbing into the back. "You open her doors like she can't reach them."

"Nic, shut up," he warned, starting the SUV once he'd gotten in. "So, Jude said Olivia Bennington is in town?"

His sister sighed and leaned back against her seat. "Yeah, hooray. We haven't spoken since graduation and I'd planned to keep it that way. Unfortunately, my plans always seem to fall through."

"Oh, she can't be that bad," he said. "I mean, we grew up with butt-kissers and pristine debutantes. What's so awful about this one?"

"If she was just another girl I'd had to deal with on one or two occasions, I'd be fine with her," she admitted, "but living with her for four years put me over the edge. She's psychotic, I swear."

Jude laughed. "I must admit, she wasn't all there in the head. She's living in the past, complete with her pearls."

Tommy shuddered. "Ugh."

"Exactly!" Nic cried. "And Jude's only just met her!"

The ride to the bar was pretty quiet, except for Jude singing along to whatever came onto the radio. Once they got to The Blue Note, they found Sadie, Kwest, the band, Jessica, and Monica waiting outside.

"No Mason, Portia, Patsy, or Jamie?" Nic asked, avoiding looking at Spiederman. "Bummer."

"Cowpoke's out with his family, Jamie and Patsy are doing some late-night recording, and Portia and Darius' mother is in town and they're entertaining her," Kyle explained. "So it's just us."

"Oh, Nicole!" a familiar voice sang out behind her. "Funny running into you twice in one day."

"Crap," Nic muttered, turning to see Olivia with a woman and man that Nic assumed were Olivia's sister and brother-in-law. "Olivia, hi." She looked to the bar. "I didn't fancy you much for a karaoke kind of girl."

"And I didn't fancy to see you show up with your brother and sister-in-law," Olivia shot back, meaning it with cruelty, but sounding positively pleasant. "You, who had a different boy in the dorm every night. Are you losing your touch, Casanova?"

Nic looked down at her feet nervously because admitting to Olivia that she was right hurt her stomach. Just as she was about to answer, Kyle stepped forward.

"No, no, she and I have been together for almost eight months now," he explained, placing his hand on the small of Nic's back. "My, uhh, bike was in the shop and I just picked it up and since she lives in their building, it was more convenient for her to ride with them than for me to go pick her up."

Everyone was silent. Of the boys in SME, Kyle had been the one to show the most signs of maturity, but stepping up, helping out a friend, albeit his best friend's ex, was far beyond his years.

"You're famous," Olivia remarked to Kyle.

"So you do read magazines other than Oprah and Martha Stewart Living?" Nic said dryly. "Good to know."

"Don't be so snobby, Nicole," Olivia retorted coolly. "Will you being performing tonight? I certainly hope not because I used to hear you sing in the shower and it wasn't very pretty."

"Uhh, let's just go in?" Tommy suggested, opening the door for everyone. "This is going to be an interesting night," he whispered to Jude as their group settled into one of the bar's big and open booths near the stage. "So, Kwest, who's up first?"

"Jude," Kwest answered. "And don't worry, you all are the only people going tonight; I know the owner."

"Of course you do," Jude joked, making her way towards the stage.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, tonight, we've closed the open mic in order to allow for a special group of people to perform for you," Joe, the DJ, said to the crowd. "First up, we've got Miss Jude Harrison-Quincy!"

Jude sat down on the lone stool, picked up the provided acoustic, and tuned it while smiling at the crowd. "Hey, guys. So, when we all agreed to come tonight, the rule was that we couldn't do any of our own stuff, so I'm gonna do a song by the Veronica's called 'Speechless.' I guess I lamely dedicate it to my husband, Tommy."

"Boo!" Kyle and Wally yelled up simultaneously, receiving laughter from the crowd. "Loser!" Wally added.

Nic listened as Jude sang about falling in love with Tommy, even though she hadn't planned it and he left her breathless or something. It was cheesy, as Jude had told her at lunch, but it was cute. She spied Olivia staring at her intently from across the room, so she leaned into Kyle, who was on her right. To her left, Spiederman and Monica were sitting next to each other, but with a noticeable amount of distance between them.

"Jude Harrison-Quincy, ladies and gentlemen!" Joe called out as she finished and returned to her seat next to Tommy. "And now, her husband, Tom Quincy, of Boyz Attack fame, will take the stage, probably to sing for his wife."

"Predictable," Sadie teased as Tommy sat down on the stool.

"So, yeah, this song is called 'Collide,' and it's by Howie Day," Tommy explained, picking up the guitar. "Umm, I'm not really dedicating it to her, but it's basically how I was feeling when I left her all that time ago for Montana." And with that, he broke into the song.

The Spiederman boys went on next, not only performing for the crowd, but also entertaining them, getting into the song and going all over the place. But it was Monica's act everyone was waiting for.

She timidly sat at the piano that hadn't been used up until now, her back to the audience. She spoke softly into the microphone. "This song is called 'Just Friends,' by Gavin DeGraw, but I took some personal liberties and changed some of the lyrics."

I saw you there last night
Standing in the park
You were acting so in love
With her hand upon your heart

But you were just friends
At least that's what you'd say
Now I know better from her fingers in your hair
I'll forgive you for what you've done
If you say that I'm the one

And then, with a last crashing crescendo, she stood up, left the stage, retrieved her jacket from the couch she'd been sitting on, and left the bar, giving both Spiederman and Nic one last scathing look before leaving altogether.

"Awkward," Jessica said randomly, breaking the silence over everyone around her. "Well, Nic, dear, your turn."

"Good luck," Kyle whispered in her ear. "Break a leg."

"Or both," Wally offered, trying to lighten the situation.

"Right," Nic said nervously, walking up to the stage to sit on the stool. She picked up the guitar and took a deep breath. "So, this is Jewel's 'You Were Meant For Me,' and it's gonna be pretty self-explanatory. Oh, and I changed a line from 'momma' to 'brother' for personal reasons." She cleared her throat and started the song.

I hear the clock, it's six a.m.
I feel so far from where I've been
I got my eggs, I got my pancakes too
I got my maple syrup, everything but you.
I break the yolks, make a smiley face
I kinda like it in my brand new place
I wipe the spots off the mirror
Don't leave the keys in the door
Never put wet towels on the floor anymore cause

Dreams last for so long
even after you're gone
I know you love me
And soon you will see
You were meant for me
And I was meant for you.

I called my brother, he was out for a walk
Consoled a cup of coffee but it didn't wanna talk
So I picked up a paper, it was more bad news
More hearts being broken or people being used
Put on my coat in the pouring rain
I saw a movie it just wasn't the same
'Cause it was happy and I was sad
It made me miss you oh so bad 'cause

Dreams last for so long
Even after you're gone
I know you love me
And soon you will see
You were meant for me
And I was meant for you.

I go about my business, I'm doin fine
Besides what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken, everyday.

I brush my teeth and put the cap back on
I know you hate it when I leave the light on
I pick a book up. Turn the sheets down.
Take a deep breath and a good look around
Put on my pjs and hop into bed
I'm half alive but I feel mostly dead
I try and tell myself it'll be all right
I just shouldn't think anymore tonight 'cause

Dreams last for so long
Even after you're gone
I know you love me
And soon I know you will see
You were meant for me
And I was meant for you
Yeah... You were meant for me and I was meant for you.

"Uh-oh," Jude muttered, noticing the look of rage on Spiederman's face. "He doesn't look too happy."

"Would you?" Wally put in. "If you just heard your fiancé admit to knowing there's still something between you and your ex, and then for you ex to sing that song?"

"Probably not," Tommy admitted, watching in anticipation as Nic returned to her seat, only to have Spiederman get in her face. "And here it comes."

"Where in God's name do you even think you have the right to sing that song?" he yelled, causing everyone else in their group to shield them from the crowd and the paparazzi that had shown up. "After knowing Monica saw us last night? Are you completely stupid? Do you honestly believe that I still love you? You're delirious."

Nic, with tears in her eyes, pushed past everyone and ran out into the cold night, just as snow was beginning to fall.

"There you go, running away again!" he yelled, chasing after her, along with everyone else. "It's the only thing you're good at; well, that and being a super bitch!"

"Shut up!" she screamed. "Just shut up! God, freakin' sue me for putting it all out there, for having a backbone! You think it's been easy for me to sit back and watch some society princess, a type I've fought my entire life, ruin you, Spied? Talk about delirious! Maybe, for once, instead of only looking at what's affecting you, you should take a good look at everything else!"

He just stared at her in disbelief. "Me look at how my decisions affect everyone else, Nic? Please! What about you, huh?! What about up and leaving to run off to Paris, not thinking about me, or Sophie, or your brother and Jude? Don't tell me I'm self-absorbed until you look in the mirror."

Instead of responding, Nic slapped him. "Don't you dare tell me I'm self-absorbed, Vincent. You don't even know me!"

"Yes, I do!" he yelled. "I know that you lie when you get into sticky situations so other people don't get hurt! I know you paint your nails to match your mood! I know that you say Nip/Tuck is your favorite show, but it's actually Laguna Beach! Don't tell me I don't know you!"

"Oh, you know the small stuff!" she exclaimed. "Do you know that I was in therapy for three years when my mom was put in? Or that I went through a depression stage when Tommy left for Boyz Attack?"

"You were depressed?" Tommy asked quietly. "Why didn't I know that?"

Nic sighed out of irritation. "Don't worry about it now, Tommy; it's in the past."

"And you know what?" Spiederman cut in. "You're right, I don't know you at all. How could I when you were always a little bit guarded? I don't even know you're real last name, for crying out loud!"

"Neither do I," Jude interrupted. "I'm married to a Quincy and all I know is that it's French."

"Dutois," Nic reported. "Our last name is Dutois. My dad changed it when he moved here from Nice to hide from his parents, who disapproved of his relationship with a flaky heiress."

"Oh," Jude nodded. "Alright, then."

"Look, it's getting late, so maybe we should all just leave?" Kyle timidly suggested. "Before anyone gets shot or anything?"

"Oh, you're leaving?" Olivia asked, walking outside with her sister and brother-in-law. "That's a shame; and Nicole, you have a lovely voice."

"Thanks," Nic muttered, wiping away the tears in her eyes. "And yes, we're leaving." She looked at Spiederman coldly before turning to Kyle. "You wanna ride me home?"

Kyle nodded. "Sure." He nodded to everyone else before leading her away to his motorcycle, which he'd bought from Tommy the previous year. "See you guys later."

As they rode off, and Olivia departed with her group, Spiederman watched Kyle and Nic in anger. "He's dead to me," he finally said coldly. "A guy who would do that is no friend of mine."

"Dude, give it up," Wally said. "You could've had Nic back in a heartbeat and you still keep choosing Monica, who, after tonight, is obviously pretty mad at you."

"Not now, Wally!" Spiederman yelled. "How could he choose her over me? I'm his best friend!"

"And Kyle's one of the last guys on the planet with chivalry still pumping through his veins," Jude put in. "Nic was down and he helped her out; don't look at this as him picking her over you. And besides, that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't exploded on her so cruelly. That was a little harsh, Vin."

Spiederman rolled his eyes and started for his Jeep. "Don't push it, dude. I'm going home."

"He's gonna regret this all later," Jessica pointed out, looking at her watch and then to Wally. "Are you ready to go? I've got a class in the morning."

"Yeah," he nodded, waving to the group as Jessica led him away to her BMW.

"You're a good guy," Nic said quietly to Kyle as he pulled up to her building after their quiet ride home. "Don't let anyone, especially Vincent, ever tell you otherwise."

"I try not to," he smiled, turning off the engine. "And Nic, just so you know, I didn't do that for any romantic reasons. I did it because I consider you to be a really good friend and you were in a bind and I hate seeing girls in between a rock and a hard place. I know that you still love Spied and I would never get in the way of your imminent reunion."

Nic nodded knowingly. "I get it, Kyle. And for that, I love you. As a friend. But, after tonight, if he and I ever speak again, I'd consider that apocalyptic."

"Well, it'll happen," he assured her, putting his helmet back on. "I know these kinds of things." And with that, he nodded once more and sped off into the night.

"Hey," Tommy said as he and Jude approached her from the garage. "You okay?"

"Peachy," Nic answered dryly. "Tonight was icing on the cake to my return."

Jude patted her sister-in-law's back. "It'll get better, Nic."

"Better?" Nic repeated. "Not to be cruel, Jude, but I have a week and three days for it to 'get better,' as you say."

"I know that, but I didn't mean things with you and Spiederman," Jude explained. "I meant things in general. Your job is significant, you have two nieces who adore you, and friends and family who love you. Don't let Vin get you down."

Nic sighed and started off in front of them. "Too late."

"How can we leave for L.A. when she's like this, Spiederman's being an idiot, and they have to share Sophie for the next four days?" Tommy asked once he and his wife were in their penthouse. "I mean, it's like putting a child in the crossfire of feuding, divorced parents, and the funny thing is, they're not her parents! Are we crazy?"

"For what? Going away to let our youngest child be in a commercial?" Jude asked, changing into a pair of cotton shorts and long-sleeved t-shirt. "Yes."

He smirked. "No, for trying to get them back together? Should we just let it go?"

"Unfortunately, yeah, I think so," she agreed, laying down on her side as he finished changing. "I mean, they're both too stubborn and hard-headed to listen to anyone, so if something's gonna happen, it's gotta be on their own time."