It had been days and the package still lay on her coffee table. She had refused to meet Tommy's eyes when she went to G Major to pick up the rest of her stuff, and thankfully, he hadn't said a word to her.

Sadie had only come home one night since then, and when she had mentioned the package, Jude lied.

"It's from Jamie," she said, looking down toward the floor. She knew if she had looked up, her sister would have caught on. Sadie always had that power to know when she was lying or not.

"Oh," was her sister's only reply as she took off her coat and threw it over the couch. She looked exhausted, but she was glowing.

"Where have you been?" Jude asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Sadie didn't flinch at the words. She was calm and collected, as always, as she sat down on the couch.

"Had to finish some stuff at work," she said, her voice even and flat. She picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the stereo system.

"Yeah?" Jude raised an eyebrow, looking down over her sister from where she stood in the middle of the living room.

Sadie sighed, annoyed. "What do you want from me, Jude? You're obviously keyed up about something, so out with it already."

"I'm trying to look out for you!" Jude blurted. "You're staying at G Major overnight? I'm sorry, but that's bullshit. What's going on?"

"Look," Sadie said, her face serious. "We've been busy ever since you were dropped. We've got triple the work load and we've got to get our new artists out into the market. And the last time I checked, you weren't my mother."

Jude nodded, calming down. She wasn't sure why, but the fact that G Major was working overtime ever since she left gave her a little burst of joy. She wanted them to know what they were missing, no matter how conceited that made her feel. She wanted them to have to bust their asses to replace her.

But Sadie's comment still didn't get rid of her suspicions. She never once heard of any employee, besides Darius, staying overnight to finish something. Tommy and her had stayed late producing, but they were always the last to leave.

"Fine," Jude gave in, reluctantly. She didn't want to fight with her sister.

"Feel better?" Sadie asked, her tone sarcastic and her eyes narrowed.

Jude wanted to shake her head and give a smartass comment back, but stopped herself. "Yeah," she said, her voice flat. "I'm going up to my room."

Her sister nodded and grabbed a magazine from the table, already flipped through it as Jude picked up her package, ignoring Sadie's inquiring gaze, and made her way upstairs.

She looked her bedroom door behind her and tossed the package onto her bed. Her back hit the closed door and she slid down it, sitting down Indian style on the floor and running a hand through her disheveled hair.

Everything felt like it was out of control, but she wasn't sure why. Her feelings and thoughts were all so confusing and mixed and everything around her felt like it was spinning.

The only good thing was that her and Jamie were friends again and she was working with NBR. The only time she honestly felt happy was when she was with them, when she was recording and laughing and just being herself.

So why was it that every time she left, she felt lost and alone?

She gave a small scream, letting our her frustration. She needed something to get her mind off of everything that was going on. Hey eyes caught the package lying still on her bed and she jumped up, tearing it open quickly.

There was another box inside and a letter. She unfolded the paper first, her heart starting to race in her chest.

Jude, I've been thinking a lot about us since I last saw you and I felt like it was time I owed you a few explanations. I know it's been long overdue, and I'm sorry for that, for keeping part of myself from you. But I didn't think it'd affect us like it did. I wanted to tell you in person that night I saw you, but the words wouldn't form. So, here goes.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. I'm sorry for saying I didn't love you. I was lying. I was so caught up in my own shit that I tried to push you away and that obviously didn't work, because I can't stay away from you. It's impossible. Everything always leads back to you.

My family is screwed up, Jude. Not that it's an excuse, but I was ashamed. I didn't want you to see it. I always feel like there are things about me you shouldn't know, because if you knew, maybe you wouldn't like me as much as you say you do. I was afraid my family and my past would make you go away, so instead, I thought I'd be in control of that and push you away myself. And it worked.

But I messed up, I know. I didn't want to hurt you and what I did, I realize it was all selfish. Everything I've done to you was selfish. I do it to protect myself and I'm sorry. I've changed a lot, Jude, since you left. Your visit and being at home made me realize that I had a lot of growing up to do. I don't know if you can forgive me, but will you try?

This package is a promise. I promise, that if you'll let me, I'll love you the rest of my life.

Tommy

In a daze, Jude let the letter fall to the ground and her fingers found the second package, ripping off the paper and opening its dark blue casing.

Inside was a ring. She picked it out of the small pocket and examined it. The words 'I love you' were engraved into the plain, silver ring.

It was beautiful, she decided. She pushed the ring down onto her ring finger, but it was loose. Instead, she let it glide down her skin and settle at the bottom of her middle finger, where it felt the most comfortable.

She held her hand into the light, letting it shine off the silver. Sighing, she let her hand fall and quickly, she took the ring off of her finger.

The confusion began to settle in, like a weight on her shoulders, holding her down and letting it consume her. No words or thoughts made sense.

She picked herself up from where she sat on the floor, the ring still held tightly in her hand and walked toward her dresser. She opened the top of her jewelry box and found a silver necklace that she rarely ever wore. Taking off the charm that was already on it, she threaded the chain through the ring and clasped it around her neck, the ring settling below her shirt on her chest.

Good, she thought. Her clothes would hide it so that she could wear it without anyone knowing.

--

Jude reached a hand over Jamie's, pressing a button on the soundboard before he could get to it. He sighed in response, letting her take control for a little while. This was her passion after all. And who could come between Jude and her music?

"How does it sound?" she asked, her head turning to look at him, waiting with bated breath.

"It sounds amazing, Jude," he said, his lips curving into a smile. "I think we're done."

Instead of seeming pleased at the idea, she frowned in response. "What are you talking about? We still have a lot to do."

"I have a lot to do," he corrected. "Everything's been laid down, so it's official, Harrison. You're fourth album is finished."

"Finished?" Her brain couldn't wrap around the idea and Jamie looked at her, confused, concerned.

"Well, we still need to do a few more things and figure out how we're going to get it on the market, advertising, ect. but yeah, it's basically finished. Your part, anyway." He smiled at her, expecting her to be as excited as he was.

But she wasn't.

"I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "I think I need to resing 'That Was Us'. I was a little tired when I did it, so my voice was off. I want it to sound pure, romantic, longing... you know?"

Jamie's eyes roamed over her face, trying to figure out what was going through her head. "Jude, we've already redone it twice. It's good and your voice sounds perfect."

"No, nothing's perfect. It's all wrong." she said, insisting, and she meant way more than just the songs.

He was completely floored by this though and confused. "We're not doing ti again," he told her, his voice stern. "You need to go home and take a break. We've been working for days straight. Maybe you need sleep or something."

"I can't, Jamie," she said, pleading, her eyes tired. "Everything's wrong and I need to fix it. You don't understand."

He stood up from where he sat and quickly crossed the room toward her, his arms settling on both of her shoulders. "Jude," he breathed. "You're not making any sense, okay? Come on, we're going home."

"No, I-" she started, but he shook her slightly, his eyes concerned.

"Come on," he repeated.

He grabbed her hand, his fingers entwining with hers as he led her out of the studio and down their street toward her house, ignoring her small protests. But she didn't say them with much passion. She was too tired to.

Lifting up the rug in front of her house, he pulled out the spare key and unlocked the door.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked, her voice sounding distant. Her hand clutched the top of her shirt, her fingers feeling the outline of the ring hidden underneath.

His eyebrows knit together. "Why?" Not that he was complaining, but they were just friends, according to Jude. And staying with her for the night meant awkwardness for him.

"I don't want to be alone."

Reluctantly, he nodded and led her upstairs toward her room. It only took minutes to convince her to change into pajamas and get into bed. She rolled to the right side, leaving room for him and so he slid in, under the covers, beside her. He could feel the heat radiating from her body.

Her eyes drifted closed, the emotions and pressure from earlier fading away as she drifted to sleep.

--

A/N - It's been awhile since I last updated, so I hope you guys really like this chapter. Please review/tell me what you think. Tell me what you'd like to see happen, ect.

I really wanted to portray here that Tommy's not the idiot we all think he can be sometimes, and he's definitely not that bad... he just makes a lot of mistakes and sometimes, enough is enough, you know? But Jude deserves someone better, definitely. :)