hey guys! okay, soooo sorry there hasn't been an update in like two weeks, or whatever it was. like i said in an earlier post, my computer got hacked into a couple months ago and as time went on it got more and more complicated to work with. but its back, and all cleaned out. i think you guys will like this chapter.

next update? ill try as soon as possible. i saved this chapter on a floppy disk to regular wordpad, but the rest were in wordperfect and that got cleared out when he fixed my comp, so until i find the software it may take a few days until my computer guy comes back over to help me out.

"What Happened To Us?" is a song by Hoobastank.

"Never Had A Dream Come True" is a song sung by Jude; originally by S Club 7, I did not write it.

"Unfaithful" is a song recorded by Jude; originally by Rihanna, I did not write it.

410

What Happened To Us?

Alexz Voice Over

So life's been pretty crazy lately. My best friend's been waiting to find my boyfriend alone so she can rip him to shreds. My dad and Yvette seem to never be around. My sister's searching for a new job, and my producer has magical powers that, no matter what mood I'm in, when he's around, I'm happy.

Kwest and Tommy sat in the recording booth, both listening intently to Jude record, "Never Had A Dream Come True."

"I never had a dream come true,

Til that day that I found you,

Even though I pretend that I've moved on,

You'll always be my baby.

I never found the words to say,

You're the one I think about each day,

And I know no matter where love takes me to,

A part of me will always be with you,

Somewhere in my memory I lost all sense of time,

And tomorrow can never be,

'Cause yesterday is all that fills my mind,

There's no use looking back or wondering,

How it should be now or neither been, (or neither been)

Oh this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go,

I never had a dream come true,

Till that day that I found you,

Even though I pretend that I've moved on,

You'll always be my baby.

I never found the words to say,

You're the one I think about each day,

And I know no matter where love takes me to,

A part of me will always be with you,

You'll always be the dream that fills my head,

Yes you will, say you will, you know you will, baby,

You'll always be the one I know I'll never forget,

There's no use looking back or wondering, (or wondering)

Because love is a strange and funny thing,

No matter how I try and try,

I just can't say goodbye,

No no no no,

I never had a dream come true,

Till that day that I found you,

Even though I pretend that I've moved on,

You'll always be my baby,

I never found the words to say,

You're the one I think about each day,

And I know no matter where love takes me to,

A part of me will always be with you,

A part of me will always be with you..."

As Jude finished the song, Tommy gave her a thumbs up, making her smile.

"That's a wrap girl, you can head out if you want."

"Old age kickin' in Quincy? You're my ride home." she said smiling still.

Tommy's car came around the corner and up Jude's street, stopping in front of her house. Once she got out of the car, and Tommy drove outta sight, she spotted Freddy.

"Oh God.." she said under her breath as she made her way to her door step.

"Long night again Jude?" he asked, not looking up at her. He sat on the steps in front of her door, holding flowers for her.

"Freddy—"

"Wow," he said cutting her off, "I'm surprised you remember my name." Freddy stood up, leaving the flowers where he was sitting and began to walk to his car.

"Freddy," she said, jumping in front of him, "Wait, just hear me out!"

He looked away.

Jude took that as he'd listen to her, "Look. I'm almost finished wrapping up this album. That's why I'm always at G-Major—"

"No, you're always with Tommy!" he yelled cutting her off again.

"Oh, come on Freddy, not this again."

"Ya know, a normal person would think it'd be weird if I wasn't saying something about this."

"What?"

"I'd think you'd be wondering if I weren't bringing this up—No one spends more time with their ex boyfriend than their current one!" he told her, making his way to his car.

"Yeah, and not too many people beat up on their girlfriend's sister!" she shouted back, making him turn around.

"I told you, I didn't touch her!"

"And I'm not doing anything with Tommy. Me and Tommy are just friends."

"Coulda fooled me." he said quietly as he opened his car door and got inside.

Jude didn't say anything. She knew he had a big point, and that he won that argument with his last words. She hated him driving away like that.

Yet there are still some aspects of my life that are a different kind of crazy. A kind that I can't give a name to.

Opening Credits

Jude walked into the studio and found Tommy and Kaiden playing piano on a keyboard, while Speed sat in a chair playing guitar.

"Hey guys." she said while setting her backpack down on the ground.

Kaiden and Tommy looked back at her, "Hey." Tommy said as he stopped playing.

"Kaiden, you play piano?"

She kept playing, "Yeah. I'm just freakin' awesome aren't I?" she said sarcastically.

"Inspired much lately Harrison?" Tommy asked.

"Uh," she began, as she took a seat and grabbed her backpack, "I guess, why?"

"Well, I talked to Darius and 'Breathe' isn't going on the album."

"What?" she asked surprised while pulling a water bottle out of her bag, and setting it back on the ground.

"Apparently it's going on the Movie Soundtrack."

"Yeah dude we saw your movie trailer last night!" Speed told her as Kaiden turned around from the piano.

"Yeah, but I thought you said you were in it?"

"What? I wasn't in the trailer?"

Kaiden started to laugh, "Yeah you were, you were, calm down."

"That wasn't funny."

Tommy started to laugh.

"And what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, girl."

"Aw, Tommy stop being embarrassed," Kaiden said, "He was laughing at you Jude."

"Oh you're hilarious Kaiden," Jude said as she squirted water from her water bottle at her.

Kaiden quickly jumped up from the cold water, "Jude!" she yelled.

"Hey, girl, my keyboard!"

"Don't worry Tommy," Kaiden said staring down at her clothes, "all the water's on me."

"Dude, you look like you peed your pants."

Kaiden shot a look over at Speed, "Thanks Vincent."

Jude laughed, "Don't worry, I mean, I'm sure not everyone's gonna think that."

"Funny." she said plain and simple as she grabbed Speed's backpack.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked while sitting up and seeing what she was doing going through his backpack.

She pulled out a pair of Speed's swim trunks, "Good thing you went swimming before you came here." she told him as she walked out carrying his shorts.

Tommy wiped the few spots of water that had gotten on the keyboard off and took a seat again.

"Don't worry Tommy, it still works." she told him.

"You're lucky it does."

"Or what?" she asked.

Tommy opened his mouth to answer but stopped as someone knocked on the door, and invited themselves in.

"Hey." Freddy said as Jude turned around, recognizing his voice.

"Hey!" she said, excited to see him. "What are you doing here?"

Freddy leaned down and kissed her then took a seat next to Jude. "Thought I'd stop by and see my favorite singer."

"Hey guys." Kwest said walking in seconds after Freddy. "Having a party in here or something?"

"You know it Kwest man." Speed said as he began to strum at his guitar again.

"Okay," came Kaiden's voice from around the corner as Kaiden came in too, "Whoa, when did the population double?" she asked looking for a chair to sit in. Kwest had taken her seat so she took the seat next to Tommy in front of the keyboard.

"Why you wearing guy shorts?" Kwest asked looking at her shorts.

Before she could answer, Freddy spoke up, jokingly, "She wants to be a man."

Kaiden shot an 'oh no you didn't' look at him, "I guess that makes two of us, doesn't it Freddy?"

Tommy and Speed didn't even bother to be polite as they laughed out loud. Kaiden simply turned around and began to play the death march. Jude stopped biting her lip and laughed, she couldn't hold it any longer.

"I can't believe you're laughing." he said looking down at Jude.

"Oh come on Freddy. That was funny."

"Whatever Jude." he said while standing up and making his way out the door.

"Freddy wait!" she said going after him, closing the door.

Kaiden quickly jumped for Jude's seat, which was closest for the door, and carefully creaked it open so they could all eavesdrop. "Did she really think we were gonna keep this door closed?"

"What's with you lately?" Jude yelled making Freddy stop in his tracks and turn around.

Speed turned his chair toward them as Tommy took Freddy's seat by Kaiden, and Kwest pulled his chair up.

"What's with me? You're never around anymore!"

"Sorry Freddy, I'm working!"

"Yeah, it's always something else. Work, the movie, a release party, Kaiden and Speed are fighting, Tommy needs to talk to you—ya know it's getting old!" he yelled, "And I mean the real stuff we should be talking about, I don't bring up!"

"Like what?"

"Like you and Tommy all over each other in the papers on the day of the bank robbery!"

"Oh, excuse me, it wasn't like he risked his own life to save mine!" she shouted. "Damn Freddy, I wouldn't of been shocked if you hadn't rushed out and planted a big kiss on him!"

"He didn't save your life Jude, I did! I was the one who saved your life! You wouldn't be here today, breathing this air, if it weren't for me!" referring to last summer.

Jude didn't argue. "Ya know this is completely stupid!"

"Yeah, and it's beginning to be a waste of time."

"Well then go blow steam out on someone else!"

"I can't believe this is happening!" he shouted turning his back to her, throwing his arms in the air.

"What's happening?"

He turned back facing her, "This! I don't get how I'm messing up a relationship with the girl I'm in love with!" he told her, "I can't believe that same girl's all wrapped up in some ex boy bander either!"

"Me and Tommy are just friends, dammit! How many times do I have to tell you for that to sink into your skull?"

"Then come with me right now."

"I can't.." she said in a low tone while looking away from him.

"It hasn't sunk in yet then." he told her while storming out.

"Just go!" she yelled frustrated.

As Jude make her way back toward the studio Kaiden and Tommy flew back over to the piano bench seat as Kwest and Speed placed their chairs back where they were.

"Crap I didn't close the door!" Kaiden said but Jude charged through so fast she didn't even notice it wasn't closed all the way.

"Okay Tommy, I'm inspired now!" she shouted.

"Hey, don't yell at me."

"Sorry," she said while sitting down shaking her head, "He's just really making me mad lately."

"Join the club." Kaiden said as she turned around facing the keys and began to play, making something up off the top of her head.

"He wants to think I'm with Tommy so bad, let him!" she yelled, more to herself than anyone else. Her thoughts faded away as Kaiden's piano playing seemed to be the only noise.

As Kaiden noticed it her fingers started to move slower on the keys as she looked around at everyone staring. "What?"

"Play that again," Jude said while staring off at nothing really, but just listening to Kaiden's piano playing.

"Uh.." she said looking back at the keys, hoping she remembered the whole thing. As her memory mastered the beginning she was proud of herself, then looked back at Jude who was listening to the song very closely and seemed to be mouthing some words to it. "Tell me I'm getting a check in the mail for writing the music to a new song?" Kaiden asked smiling.

Jude looked up at her, then to Tommy, "We're gonna record this."

Jude set up in the recording booth, placing headphones on her head as Kaiden set Tommy's keyboard next to her. After Jude had taken down a lot of little notes of possible lyrics, she was finally ready to record.

"Ready when you are girl." Tommy told her while placing his headphones on.

"I'm ready." she said with an assuring smile.

"Murderer, take one. In five, four, three, two—" and Tommy pointed at the two as Kaiden began to play, and seconds later, Jude began to sing.

"Story of my life,

Searching for the right,

But it keeps avoiding me,

Sorrow in my soul,

Cause it seems that wrong,

Really loves my company,

He's more than a man,

And this is more than love,

The reason that the sky is blue,

But clouds are rolling in,

Because I'm gone again,

And to him I just can't be true.

And I know that he knows I'm unfaithful,

And it kills him inside,

To know that I am happy with some other guy,

I can see him dying,

I don't wanna do this anymore,

I don't wanna be the reason why,

Every time I walk out the door,

I see him die a little more inside,

I don't wanna hurt him anymore,

I don't wanna take away his life,

I don't wanna be...

A murderer,

Our love,

His trust,

I might as well take a gun and put it to his head,

Get it over with,

I don't wanna do this,

Anymore, (anymore)

I don't wanna do this anymore,

I don't wanna be the reason why,

And every time I walk out the door,

I see him die a little more inside,

I don't wanna hurt him anymore,

I don't wanna take away his life,

I don't wanna be...

A murderer, (a murderer)..."

"Damn." was all Kwest could say as Tommy played it back. Jude had her feet rested on the soundboard with her hands behind her head like it was a job well done, but she felt like crap. Yeah she was mad at Freddy, but this was more than messed up.

"Dude..." Speed spoke up and looked at Kaiden, "If you ever sing that song to me.."

Kaiden smiled at his stupidness.

"Don't worry Speed, she can't carry a note if her life depended on it."

"Can too!" Kaiden fired back.

"Bull!"

"Sorry Kaiden, but I've heard you singing..." Tommy said as he shot a look at Speed, and just shook his head.

"So not everyone can sing."

Tommy leaned in, whispering to Speed, "Sadie sounds better."

"Tommy I might not be able to sing, but I sure as hell can hear."

"Yeah!" Speed told him, getting on Kaiden's side. He mouthed "Sadie?" to Tommy who just grinned in response.

"Is this national stupid day or something?" Kaiden asked, startling Speed, "I'm practically sitting on your lap and you think I can't read lips?"

Tommy put his head down, holding in a laugh, then looked over to Jude who was staring off into space, "Jude?"

Jude snapped back into reality, "Huh?"

"You okay murderer?" Kaiden asked.

"That's not funny Kaiden."

"Oh get over the freakin' fight already. You know he's gonna say something really sweet and it's gonna make your heart melt and you'll say I love you, and he'll say I love you too and you'll go off together, and you know why? Because that boy knows exactly what to do to, piss. Me. Off!"

Jude didn't respond.

"Jude do you want me to take you home?" Tommy asked.

Jude looked over to Tommy. "Sorry. You can't."

"This not having a car thing sucks doesn't it?" Kaiden said speaking up.

"My dad sent it in for a touch up, something like that. It isn't til the end of the world."

"Yeah, but the end of the week seems to be farther and farther away."

"Okay, you've had a car for four days. I know. Everyone knows. All of Toronto probably knows. And ya know why? 'Cause you don't shut up about it." Jude said harshly.

"Don't get on my case 'cause your lover's got you in a bad mood."

"Fine, I won't get on anyone's case." she said while grabbing her bag and storming out.

Tommy watched her leave, debating on wether or not to go make sure she was okay or not.

"Don't Tommy." Kaiden said, reading his mind.

He looked over to her, "Why not?"

"She just needs to blow off some steam. Let her go."

Jude walked through G-Major, heading for the exit, as she went through the lounge, heading for the lobby where Sadie worked and saw the last person she'd expect. Freddy. She froze. What was he still doing here?

Freddy looked over and saw Jude. He stopped talking to Sadie and straightened up as he shook his head at Jude and turned on his heel for the exit.

"Freddy!" she called as she started to run after him, stopping at Sadie's desk, "What's up with him?"

Sadie looked down at the computer screen then back at Jude, "He kinda overheard the new song you recorded.."

"Great!" she yelled, leaving Sadie mid conversation and running after Freddy, but by the time she made it to the parking lot he sped off past her. Aggravated, she threw her foot into Speed's front tire of his car.

Stuart and Yvette were out on their anniversary, as Sadie went out with a few friends, leaving the house all to herself, Kaiden and Speed, although Jude spent most of her time on her front steps, waiting for Freddy to pull up, like he always did after a big fight. The headlights coming down the street put a smile across her face, happy he came, knowing he would. He parked the car by the curb as Jude stood up and watched him walk over to her, stopping a few feet away from her.

"We really need to talk Jude."

"Yeah. And I think I should start..." she told him, and when he didn't object, she carried on, "Freddy, that song earlier, it wasn't real." He rolled his eyes, "It wasn't." she told him, her voice more forceful. "I was mad, and you wouldn't stop saying I was with Tommy."

"Well, writing a song like that isn't gonna make me think you hate him Jude."

"I don't hate him, but he's a very special person in my life that I enjoy being around and you need to know that."

"I know. I don't like it either. And this thing with Kaiden and Speed is gettin' on my nerves too!"

"Oh you deserved that today."

"I was kidding. Ya know, the thing Kaiden is famous for."

"Yeah, and she does it all the time, but you came outta no where with that, I'm surprised calling you a girl was all she did."

"I don't know Jude. I want to be with you, and for this to work, and there's so many more times than not that it's going great, but I can't stop thinking about what you're doing when I'm not around. Who are you with? Is it Tommy?"

"Freddy..."

"No. And I mean, on those good days, I'll try and get closer to you. I'll try my hardest not to push you into something you don't want to do, but it's like an invisible wall that won't let me go there. That is only for someone else. Almost nine months. That's a long time."

"I know," she said crossing her arms over her chest, biting her bottom lip while fighting the tears back.

Freddy walked toward her and placed his hands on her arm, "I want to be with you Jude, but I don't want to have that worry anymore. I don't want to be with you and shortly down the line I find out you feel different. I don't want to worry anymore.."

Jude didn't look at him as she caught her breath, "You don't have nothing to worry about Freddy," she told him while looking up at him, "I promise."

Freddy sighed in relief as he kissed her lips, "Thank you."

"I have to go inside though." Jude told him breaking away from his grip.

He nodded his head, "Am I picking you up tomorrow?"

"Will you?"

"Of course." he told her while smiling, "I love you Jude." he told her, his smile growing bigger.

"I love you too." she told him as she smiled and made her way inside.

Speed and Kaiden were in the living room playing Halo 2.

"Crap, crap, crap." Kaiden said quickly.

"You're looking at my screen!"

Kaiden laughed, "Am not."

"Then why'd you see I had the sword and run away?"

"Well if you didn't kill me when I had the rocket launcher I coulda blown you and your pathetic sword to bits!"

"And that's exactly why I killed you."

"What are you guys doing?" Jude asked in complete confusion.

"Playing Halo dude."

"Yeah, there's another controller if you want to—Speed!" she yelled as Speed started laughing.

"Pay attention then."

"I thought I was." she said as Jude came around the back of the couch and plopped down in the chair. Kaiden looked over at her, "Oh puke."

"What?" Jude asked.

"Freddy stopped by didn't he?"

Jude did a double take, "How'd you know?"

"You got that pathetic look on your face. Dammit I knew this was gonna happen."

"I'm not listening to this Kaiden." Jude said while standing up.

Jude didn't even make it to the stairs until Kaiden and Speed were totally back into the game, so she just went upstairs and decided to turn in for the night.

Jude woke up the next morning to yelling and screaming going on downstairs, which she was so not used to anymore. Kaiden and Yvette had been getting along a lot better with school going on and her being with Speed all the time. Jude knew something was up though when she heard her dad yelling too.

She walked down the stairs, stretching her arms out. An extra hour of sleep would have been perfect she thought as she came around the corner and saw Speed. "Speed!"

He looked back at her in fear as Yvette continued to yell, Kaiden yelling back.

"What are you doing here!" she asked in a whisper as she walked closer to him.

Before Speed could answer Stuart did, "You're sixteen years old Kaiden! You're not getting off the hook for having your boyfriend sleep over!"

"We fell asleep!" she shouted back, irritated.

Jude's attention flew to Speed, "What?"

"Dude we just fell asleep nothing happened."

"Uh huh.." Jude said eyeing him.

He just rolled his eyes at her. He didn't have time to play her stupid games.

"You're too young to be having sex!" Yvette spat out as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"Take me to go get a test if you want! We were up late playing video games and fell asleep, come on, do you really think, I'd sleep with my boyfriend—in the living room, with Jude able to walk downstairs at anytime, Sadie to burst in with God knows who at any time, and you and Stuart to walk in at anytime?"

"Teenager's aren't always the smartest with their choices."

"I'm not stupid though!"

"You're gonna end up just like your mother, I swear." Yvette said while setting her glass down.

The atmosphere died down a little, "What?" Kaiden asked simply. When Yvette ignored her question and Stuart gave the look that he didn't have any clue what she meant Kaiden spoke again, "You knew my mom.." she paused, "My real mom?"

"Yes."

Kaiden looked down. Now what? She shot a look back to Yvette, "You never told me.. You said no one knew her."

"People lie. But hey, don't get mad at me. My sister didn't seem to tell you much either."

"She knew her too?"

"We all grew up together. But I'm late for work." Yvette said as she grabbed her keys, "Come on Stuart you're my ride!"

Stuart took a quick drink of Yvette's orange juice and followed her out.

"What idiot sends two cars in for a check up at the same time?" Yvette shouted as the door closed behind them.

Speed slowly walked up from behind Kaiden and grabbed her hand.

"I don't wanna talk about it." she said as she pulled her hand out of Speed's and walked up to her bedroom.

"Hey, uh, Jude.." Speed said, trying to find words himself, "I'm gonna go okay. I don't think she really wants to talk to anyone."

"Yeah." Jude replied quietly as she watched Speed helplessly make his way out the door.

Jude was sitting on her doorsteps outside, like the night before waiting for Freddy to pull up. She heard the exhaust on his car from up the street, and slightly smiled as he pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.

Freddy could see the expression in Jude's face. He guessed she was a little upset, but couldn't tell. "You okay babe?" he asked.

Jude looked up at him and took a big breath, exhaling loudly while staring back at the ground. "No." she said flatly.

Freddy paused. "What's wrong?" he asked, about to take a seat next to her, but Jude jumped up and took a few steps away, not looking at him. "Jude.."

"Freddy I..." she began, losing her words, "I can't..." again, she couldn't talk in a complete sentence.

"Can't what?" he asked, showing worry in his voice.

Jude was catching her breath as she turned and faced him. Eyes red like she'd been crying, but she hadn't. She sniffed; a clear sign that tears were coming, but she was being strong. She'd been through so much, this should be a piece of cake holding her tears back. Hell, two weeks ago she was in a bank robbery.. but somehow this still seemed harder. "I can't keep that promise."

Freddy stood there. He was confused. "What do you mean?"

"That you have nothing to worry about..." and there came the silent tears, going down her cheek.

He wanted to go and hold her in his arms. Comfort her, but didn't. "Jude what's going on? What do I have to worry about?" he asked figuring the obvious questions were best to ask at first.

"I can't do this Freddy.. I'm so sorry." she told him, her breathing getting a little shorter and quicker and even though tears had escaped her eyes she kept the fighting up.

"Don't tell me you're breaking up with me."

Jude looked down, nodding her head.

"No!" he shouted.

Jude didn't react to the unexpected shout, only gave up on holding the tears in.

"Why? Everything last night was so right!"

"No.." she told him shaking her head, looking at him again, "It wasn't Freddy.. It's never going to be either—"

"I can't believe this. What—Who'd you talk to, huh? Did Tommy tell you to do this?"

"You think this isn't hard for me?" she yelled back, even though her voice wasn't loud, not enough energy to do so.

"Nine months, down the friggin' toilet!"

Jude couldn't hold her head up as she let it stare down, squeezing her eyelids shut and letting the tears out herself.

"I'm not coming back this time Jude!" he yelled, making his way to the car.

Those words only caused Jude to cry harder. Was she making the right decision? It was no use.. Freddy cranked up the engine and Jude's body didn't have the energy to move quick enough to look up and stop him.. and her mind wouldn't work fast enough to tell her if that's what she really wanted to do or not. As she finally picked her head up, it was only in time to see the back of his car circle around the street and speed off. What had she just done?

Kaiden came out, maybe close to a minute after Freddy was gone. She carried a trash bag in her hand, "Shouldn't you be at G-Major?" she asked, dropping the bag in the trash bin. She turned back and saw Jude standing there and noticed the tears, "Jude?"

Jude shook her head and looked up at Kaiden, "It's over.."

Kaiden walked toward her, "What?"

"Freddy.." she said looking away again, "It's over."

A sympathetic sigh came out of Kaiden as gave Jude a hug, comforting her. Although Kaiden was ready to do back flips, she saw that Jude was really messed up about it. "It'll be okay."

"Will it?" Jude asked, not wanting an answer.

First Commercial

Jude sat on the couch, not doing anything, just holding her knees and biting away her nails, staring off into nothing.

Kaiden came down the stairs holding the house phone, "I just called Tommy. I told him you weren't feeling good." she told Jude, who wasn't really listening, "He said it was no problem that you stayed home today."

Jude ran her hand below her nose and sniffed, "What'd you tell him?"

Kaiden took a seat at the end of the couch, "You were hackin' your brains out. Could be morning sickness, could be the flu.."

Jude smiled, but just a little.

"Listen, I don't know if this is gonna make it easier or not, but you did the right thing. He was a dick."

"Kaiden.." she said half chuckling, half irritated.

"He was Jude. Him and his stalkerish, Jude obsessiveness, puney minded opinionated self was too into himself. He treated your friends like crap, they treated him like crap, I mean, I've seen you cry only a few times in my life, but when Freddy came around it was all the time. Lately, there's been two people that make you cry. Freddy, 'cause he's an ass, and Tommy, because he plays Clark Kent around you."

"You're right."

"I know I'm right."

"I just don't get why all my relationships turn out so bad.. Speed was the only one that ended in peace."

"Speed's a good guy." Kaiden told her, trying not to be cocky that she was with him.

"I'm gonna deny ever saying this," Jude said while wiping away at her tears, "I wish for a guy that feels for me even just half of how Speed feels for you."

"What do you mean?"

"The way after almost two years how his face still lights up when you walk in the room. How he can't look at you without smiling. How, even when you guys get in your famous thirty minute arguments, he'd still do anything for you."

"Jude," Kaiden began pausing on how to word it, "How do you think Tommy feels about you?"

Jude made eye contact with Kaiden, "What?"

"Okay so maybe when you and Tommy argue it lasts more than thirty minutes before you're calling to apologize, but Jude, you cannot look me in the eye and tell me Tommy isn't that guy you just described. He could have been killed a couple of weeks ago, for you. Now that's something Jude. Wether you see it or not. That's something."

"I'm over Tommy." she responded with no emphasis.

"Then you can come with me tonight."

Jude looked up at her, "Where?"

"He let me take his keyboard home, but he needed it back today and when I called you in sick he asked if I could just drop it off at his place later, and I don't know how to get there."

"You've been there with me before."

"I know, and I've been once after, but everytime I get completely lost in those streets."

"I don't know.."

"I'm not saying you have to get out and socialize because I know you want to just sit on your ass all day and watch sad ass chick flicks. I just need someone to show me how to get there."

"Alright, whatever, but just til then," she told Kaiden, "Can I just, ya know, have some alone time?"

"Yeah. I'll call Speed or something, I have to talk to him anyway." she told her as she got up, "It'll all be okay Jude. Everything's gonna be fine." she told her, while leaving Jude alone to think like she had asked.

Kaiden and Jude pulled up into Tommy's driveway. Jude didn't even bother to get dressed. She was still in her spider man pajama bottoms, and had only thrown her jean jacket on over a small overshirt and tank top. She missed her jacket. It took her way back. Red hair, jean jacket, converse sneakers.

"Okay, I'll be just a second." Kaiden said as she hopped out of the car and opened the door to the backseat. She drove a Honda CRV, the little mini SUV things. She quickly ran with the keyboard up to the door, covering it with her coat. This weather change was gonna have to stop. Yesterday it was hot enough to go swimming and today it looked like it was going to pour with rain for hours. Tommy was on the front porch, whatever you'd like to call it, since it wasn't really that big.

"Hey," he said as she ran up the steps, "Where's Jude?" he asked looking down toward the car.

Kaiden handed him the keyboard, "Umm," she began as she looked back down to where she was parked, "Well," she looked back to Tommy, "Her and Freddy split this morning."

Tommy's face filled with sympathy as he looked over to the car, "Is she okay?"

"Well, she broke it off with him."

Tommy's eyes doubled, "Really?"

"Shocked me too," she told him as she kept looking back, checking on Jude, "Never thought she had it in her."

"I sure as hell didn't think so." he said as he set the keyboard down on the table, "I'm gonna go talk to her."

"Tommy," Kaiden said, stopping him in his tracks, "Don't say anything that's gonna make her feel bad okay? You know what I mean."

He nodded his head, "I'm not." he told her as he made his way down the steps, Kaiden following behind him, down the path and through his front gate where her car was parked on the other side.

Tommy put the collar on his jacket up as he walked over to Jude's door. Being polite she rolled the window down, but tried to look at Tommy's as least as possible. "How you doin' girl?" he asked as Kaiden got in the car.

Jude turned to Kaiden, "You have a big mouth."

"You never told me not to say anything." she said in her defense.

"Hey," he said while putting his hand on Jude's shoulder, "You're gonna be okay."

Jude looked at his hand, then at Tommy and nodded her head, "I hope.."

"Jude, your better off without that loser." Kaiden said while scamming radio stations.

"She's right ya know."

"Why don't you guys just keep that as a given? I mean, think of how much time we'd save if you did. Kaiden is always right." Kaiden said as she shut the radio off.

Jude smiled.

"Just keep doing that, Jude." Tommy told her, "Just keep smiling."

"I guess that's what I'm gonna have to do to get over the break up 'ey?"

Tommy smiled, "Why'd you break up with him anyway?"

"I don't know." she told him, because she really didn't. "I don't know any of my reasons for what happened.."

"Well hey, keep your chin up okay?"

Jude nodded in response.

"Alright, well you're getting soaked Tommy." Kaiden said as she buckled up.

"You comin' in the studio tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I gotta clear my head."

"I'll see ya then I guess."

Jude nodded again as Tommy made his way out of the sprinkling of rain, and Kaiden hit the button to roll Jude's window up. She kept her eyes on Tommy as he went through his front gate and through his front yard. He once told Jude he had landscaped the whole yard, but she didn't believe so. As Kaiden slowly drove farther down the street Tommy went out of sight.

"I really broke up with him, didn't I?" Jude said as she drew on the window that started to fog up.

"Do you even know why you broke up with him?"

"What?" Jude asked.

"You know why you broke up with Freddy don't you?" she said again, stopping the car at the stop sign at the corner of Tommy's street, and putting it in park.

Jude tugged on the sleeve of her jacket, "I don't."

"I think you do." she said looking over at her.

Jude looked over at Kaiden then out the window, trying to think, what she should do. Then she saw it, what she had drawn on the window. A heart. A whole heart, almost perfect shape too. It hit her, plain as day. She knew why she broke up with Freddy; she'd known all along. Her heart didn't hurt because it was broken, it hurt because it was longing for something else—someone else. Right as Kaiden took the car out of park, ready to drive home Jude quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door.

"Jude!" Kaiden yelled as she slammed on the breaks and hit the button to roll Jude's window down.

Jude looked from Tommy's house back to Kaiden.

"Dude it's raining outside!" Kaiden yelled to her.

"Not that bad." Jude told her as her clothes began to get a little damp. It was picking up, from before, definitely raining pretty hard.

"What are you gonna do?" she asked.

She looked down at Tommy's house again, "I'm not really sure.. Make it up as I go I guess."

"A true artist." she told her, but Jude didn't respond. Kaiden looked at her, unsure of what to say, "I can drive you ya know?"

Jude nodded her head and looked down the street, "I'll be okay."

Kaiden rolled her eyes, smiled at Jude with a small laugh and rolled the window back up. That was it. Jude's cue to go after the reason why she couldn't stay with Freddy anymore. The reason that troubled her from the beginning, but Jude never paid attention to it. She knew she wouldn't of been able to deal with it, but now she recognized it. She knew, as she ran in the rain, that it was all going to be better. In just a few more seconds, it was all going to be better.

Tommy was still outside when Jude ran through the front gate, "Tommy!" she yelled right as he opened the door to go in.

He looked back, setting the keyboard inside, "Jude?" he said to himself as she ran up the steps.

Jude rested her hands on her knees catching her breath. It wasn't that easy running with your clothes wet. She looked up at him, out of breath, "It was you." she spat out as she stood up straight.

Tommy looked at her with total confusion on his face, "What are you talking about?"

"You—Tommy." she said catching her breath, "You're the reason." Jude told him. "It was all you." she finally got out. They both looked at each other. Jude wasn't sure what to do. Did he even understand what she just said? She broke up with her boyfriend because Kaiden was right. Tommy is the guy she's always wanted. The one who's face lights up when he sees her. The one who'll risk his life for her. The guy who, no matter how bad of an argument, will still be there at the end of the day for her. Her impatience grew short. She couldn't take the silence and the look of confusion on Tommy's face any longer as she reached for his face, and crashed her lips hard on his.

The force of impact Jude caused as she kissed him made Tommy back shuffle, but it wasn't long after that, that he moved his hands on her waist, kissing her back. One of her hands slid behind Tommy's neck as he continued to back shuffle into his house, throwing his foot at the back of the door, closing it behind them and taking his jacket off his back and throwing it to the floor. Tommy's back hit the back of the door as they broke the kiss. His eye's narrowed down to Jude's and a smile broke across his face. He ran his hands up and down her back as he slowly went down and kissed her again. This slow, easy kiss, turned into Tommy picking Jude up, and her legs wrapping around him, with that single kiss getting more and more passionate.

His bedroom door slammed into the wall as Jude and Tommy came through. He gently placed her back to a wall, like he was pinning her in place.

"It was me?" he asked while planting kisses below her ear, sliding his hands over her shoulders, and separating her jacket from her shirt, which wasn't too easy since her clothes were soaked from the rain, his as well.

"It's always been you." she told him while running her fingers through his hair and feeling her jacket slide off her arms and drop onto the floor. Was this really happening? Jude's body got tense as Tommy continued to kiss every inch of her neck and collar bone. How could something that felt so good and so right be confusing the hell out of her?

Tommy could feel that she was tense, but he didn't understand why? He wasn't sure wether or not to go on any farther, he wasn't sure what she wanted. He knew all he wanted to do was make her feel good in every way possible, yet she had just broken up with her boyfriend, but it was her that threw herself to him. She started it. So why was she having, what Tommy was led to believe, second thoughts? Then it clicked.

"Jude," he said a little out of breath.

She looked down at him, and a tear almost escaped her eye, but she quickly wiped it away.

"Jude, what's wrong?" he asked as he moved the bangs from her face. She didn't seem sad. Maybe she was happy. Maybe she was scared.

Her feet came to the floor, as her arms slid from behind his neck gently down, resting the palms of her hands on his shoulders, looking away.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, a little out of breath.

She nodded her head, then stared right back into his eyes.

"Jude..." he said as he let her take a seat at the end of his bed, him sitting next to her, hand on knee. He opened his mouth to talk but she spoke before he did.

"Tommy..." but that's as far as she got. Tommy put his arm around her, pulling her into his chest as he kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek on her head.

"I'm not going to push you."

So hesitant, and this was the part Jude was putting off saying, she got herself together, "Tommy, I've... I've never..done this before." she whispered, hoping he wouldn't hear her, but he did.

Tommy looked down at her, and gently faced him towards her, "Are you serious?" he asked, trying to make his tone sound comfortable, like her answer wouldn't change anything, because it wouldn't.

She nodded then sniffed, running her hand under her nose. "I never let myself get that far. I'd always stop it.." she said, making it completely obvious at how uncomfortable she was telling him this. But she couldn't have led him on, making him think she was experienced when she wasn't and when he obviously was.

"Why?" he asked, gently erasing a stray tear from her face with his thumb.

Jude looked up at him. She was scared. So very scared, "They weren't you." she told him, looking up into his eyes. They looked like the eyes of an angel. He was definitely sent from Heaven for her.

"I'm here now." he told her, grabbing her hand, and holding it tight.

Jude stared from his eyes to his lips as Tommy leaned down and kissed her. Her hand slid behind his neck as her other on the cupped the side of his face as she leaned back, pulling him down with her. Surprisingly, Tommy found himself following her lead, although they were only making out.

Tommy broke away and looked down at her, "I miss being able to touch you." he told her, slowly running his hand on the side of her face. He leaned down to kiss her again, but Jude pulled away.

Tommy smiled at her, "What was that for?"

She looked up at him, not breaking eye contact. Tommy was laying next to her, hovering over her, supporting himself with his left arm as he watched her stare at him intensely. She slightly sat up, allowing a little room between her and the bed below her as she began to slowly take off the sweater she had on, over her tank top. It was just a little over shirt thing that came with the tank itself. Tommy's eyes stayed focused on the sleeve to her sweater go down her arm, "Jude are you sure?" he asked her, as he moved his eyes to hers which were full of worry.

Jude nodded her head, not even sure herself, but she wasn't looking at having sex with Tommy just a good time that she was about to have. No. That part didn't scare her. She was seeing what, she thought, was about to happen, as her and Tommy actually making love. That what their bodies were about to do wasn't going to be just for a good time, but to put complete trust in each other, and show how much she really did love him, and how much he really loved her. She was about to be closer with him, than anyone she'd ever known. She was terrified, but knew she was ready to show Tommy how much she loved him. "I'm sure."

Tommy cupped her face with his hand as he smiled down at her, "I'll be gentle Jude. I promise I will." he told her as he kissed her forehead, that extra ounce of comfort.

Jude leaned up and kissed him gently on the lips, "I know you will."

Later

Jude laid in the pocket of Tommy's arm, her head on Tommy's shoulder, wrapped up in Tommy's shirt, in Tommy's bed, smiling, because of Tommy. She was so close she could feel his breath, and felt so safe in his arms as he gently played with her hair.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah." she told him, not moving her head from it's comfortable place. "I can't believe I cried.." she said with a little embarrassment and humor in her voice.

Tommy smiled and rubbed his hand up her shoulder, "You're not the only one who's ever cried Jude." he told her, comforting her.

"I messed everything up.."

Tommy looked down at her, "Hey," he said, causing her to look up at him, "You were perfect Jude."

"How?" she asked, feeling that he was only saying it to make her feel better.

"Because it's always better when you do it with someone you love. And I did."

She smiled, and closed her eyes, soaking in what he had just told her, breathing in his scent, but unsure of what to say.

Tommy smiled and snuggled Jude closer to him, even though it seemed like there was no way she could be any closer. He stared into her eyes, they were the eyes of an angel, he thought. She was definitely sent from Heaven for him.

"What are you feeling?" she asked, setting her head back on his shoulder, and holding on to him a little tighter, closing her eyes.

Tommy closed his eyes as well, "Like I'm on top of the world."

She could feel him smile without even looking at him.

"What are you feeling?" he asked.

"A little floaty." she told him, unsure of how to describe how she felt.

After maybe a minute of comfortable silence Tommy told Jude how he really felt, "I love you Jude." he kissed her forehead, "So, so much, girl."

Jude looked up at him, and opened her mouth to reply to him.

"Really." he said, reading her mind.

She watched his hand reach for hers and placed his fingers between hers. A perfect fit. She felt like they were each pieces to a puzzle and have finally put the pieces where they go. "I love you Tommy."

He smiled, "I'm never letting you go again Jude."

And with those words Jude smiled, and drifted off to sleep, hoping that she'd find Tommy in her dreams.

Second Commercial

Jude woke up the next morning, laying on her side, facing Tommy, smiling. She was still so close to him, so happy. How she could get used to waking up to his smile every morning.

"Hi." she said in a whisper.

"Hey," he replied, placing his forehead on hers.

Jude smiled as their noses touched. She nuzzled his nose with hers, making him chuckle.

"Do you want to do this right this time?" he asked, pulling her closer.

Jude looked at him confused, "Hold on, what?"

Tommy laughed, "I mean—us."

"Oh." she smiled.

"Can't get enough of me 'ey?" he said with a devious smile.

"You caught me."

"So," he began, rubbing his hand up her arm, "What about it? Want to give this another shot?"

"I thought we were just friends Quincy?"

"Well I lied."

She paused to smile at him, "I did too." Jude watched Tommy's smile, "I want to give us another try."

A look of relief went over Tommy's face as he kissed her forehead, long and soft, then wrapped her up in his arms.

To avoid questions of there whereabouts, Jude and Tommy didn't show up to work together. Jude got there earlier, hoping to get there, avoid questions, and hit the studio, but of course, nothing ever goes as planned.

"Where were you?" Kaiden asks in a tone like she knows something.

"You're late, you know that dude?" Speed said in a tone that Kaiden had filled him in on what she knew.

Jude sighed, "What?"

"Spill."

"Spill what?"

"Lets just ask Tommy what happened then." Kaiden said.

Jude threw her head over her shoulder to see Tommy walking in. Quick change of subject, quick, "Hey, uh, how come Sadie wasn't at her desk?"

"She didn't tell you?" Kaiden asked back.

Jude shook her head.

"Oh that's right! You weren't home last night."

Walked right into that one, Jude thought as she bit her lip and tried not to look at Tommy who was on his cell over by Darius' office.

"Don't you have a home?" Jude asked.

"Yeah, I do. It's your home too, which, wait, you didn't come home to last night."

"Okay!" Jude yelled to get her to shut up, "What do you wanna know? Get ya to shut up."

"Ah, nothing can get me to shut up."

"Apparently."

Kaiden watched Tommy close his phone and make his way over, "You're no fun," she said referring to Jude, "So Tommy how'd your night go?" Kaiden asked before Jude could stop her.

Tommy looked over to Jude, trying to hide his smile, "It was fine," he said looking back to Kaiden.

"Uh huh. You two probably hooked up big time." she said sarcastically, and turning her attention back to the magazine she was looking at.

Speed caught Jude glance at Tommy, "No way!"

Tommy and Jude looked over to Speed, along with Kaiden.

"No way!" he said again, leaning his guitar against the chair and standing up.

"What?" Jude asked.

Kaiden stared at Speed before she put the pieces together. She shot a look up at Tommy and Jude who weren't sure what expression to put on, "No way." she said, in a tone lower than Speed's. "What happened last night?" she said, in a louder tone. Kaiden sat up on the couch, her weight on her knees, as she faced the two.

"We're gonna try being us—" he grabbed Jude's hand, "—again."

"Don't mess with me boy! Jude's a hell of a lot happier when you two are in your moods, so don't be pullin' my leg."

"Well we're not gonna try." Jude spoke up.

Tommy looked down at her worried.

"What?" Kaiden asked, disappointed.

"We are gonna be us again." she said smiling at Tommy, and him returning her smile, both happier than ever, that they were back.

411Lookin' Out My Back Door

promo

Jude's got a handful. Her second chance with Tommy, Sadie moving out, Yvette and Kaiden arguing twenty-four seven again, and something's definitely bothering Darius, but what? Jude definitely needs to clear her head, and do what she wants. Write great music, but will she get a chance to?