hey guys, I got some sort of good news, but it's not with any guarantee. I'm trying to get this fan fic finished by the time the actual new season of Instant Star premeires, which means I'm gonna have to get to updating every few days. Lucky for you guys, but I'm gonna be bustin' my butt off. It won't be too hard though. Finals are at the end of December, and I only have two classes I actually have to study for so the rest I'll have plenty of time to write. And I have this whole week off for Thanksgiving, so I'm gonna really, really, try to pick up the pace on this thing.
Now, like I've said before, almost everything that happens, happens for a reason. In later chapters you'll understand why specific things took place and this is a chapter that falls under that category. Don't worry, the outcome won't be as bad as you think. Anyway, without any other rambling, here's the chapter.

WARNING:The Following Material May Not Be Suitable For Children Under 14. References To Illegal Drugs Are Brought Up. Please Don't Act On Anything You Read & If You Have Any Questions Or Comments Please Talk To A Parent, Friend, Adult, Or Teacher.

"Romeo and Rebecca" is a song by Blink-182.

"Always Late" is originally titled, "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me" and is a song sung by Jude and the Speiderman Mind Explosion; originally by Fall Out Boy, I did not write it.

"What Happened to Us?" is a song performed by Jude; originally by Hoobastank, I did not write it.

505

Romeo and Rebecca

The wind howled while snow lightly fell from the Toronto sky, the temperature definitely in it's twenty's as Jude and Tommy quickly made their way from Tommy's Hummer to the G-Major doors.

Alexz Voice Over

Believe it or not, for the first time in almost five months my life's finally slowing down. 'Turn to You' is skyrocketing on the charts quicker than I'd of thought, and 'A Little To Late' isn't doing too bad either.

"If—if it gets—gets any—gets any colder," Tommy stuttered from the breeze.

"I know…" Jude replied, teeth chattering out of control as she pulled her hood from her jacket over her head. "I don't—I don't—Know about—about you, but—I'm havin' some—" her body shook as she quickened her pace to the door, "—I'm makin' some hot—hot choc—hot chocolate, or—or something."

He only nodded to agree with her as he brought his hand from his coat pocket and grabbed hers with his, hurrying to the door.

"Watch your step." He quickly told her as they stepped onto the icy curb took the last few steps to the door.

Since Kaiden's been home, Speed's thankfully been his old self again, which everyone is happy about. Things are still a little edgy, but I'm sure she's going to be her old self again real soon as well.

Inside G-Major, Liam stood on the opposite side of the receptionist desk, showing a girl who looked to be about twenty something how to work the computer.

"Alright, I get it." She sweetly stated as Liam could only smile at her.

"You're a quick learner Miss Thomas."

A big grin came across her face, "Thank you."

"And you understand how to use the phone? Transferring calls… Answering pages?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Well," he began, not knowing what else to show her since they've covered everything. He stood up straighter overlooking her surroundings, but Jude and Tommy's abrupt entrance distracted him.

Both shivering and laughing at God knows what as they fumbled with their coats. The receptionist looked over at the two from her desk. A questioning look on her face as she stared at Tommy.

"Ah, Mr. Quincy. Miss Harrison, how nice of you to join us—" he checked his watch, "—My God, and actually on time."

"Wow, Liam, I didn't know you could tell time!" Tommy sarcastically commented, which burst Jude into a small fit of giggles.

"And Miss Thomas, this is our other V.P. of the company." He announced as Tommy and Jude walked toward the front desk.

"Tom Quincy," he introduced himself. Turning to Jude, "And this—"

"Oh my God!" the young girl exclaimed, "I knew I recognized your face!"

Jude hid her laugh seeing as the girl must have been a big Boyz Attack fan. The girl stood up and held her hand out to Tommy who hesitantly shook it, a little creeped from her outburst.

"Little Tommy Q." She identified. Liam rolled his eyes.

"That's me." He responded with sarcasm only Jude recognized. "Um, what's your name again?"

"I'm Rebecca. Rebecca Thomas."

"Nice to meet you Rebecca."

Rebecca's eyes moved to Jude, who was still holding back giggles from the outburst. Tommy followed her gaze and felt he could introduce Jude now.

"I don't know if any introductions are needed here, but this is Jude."

"She your girlfriend?" she asked.

Jude quickly let out a nervous laugh to hide suspicions from Liam, "No. He's my producer. I'm Jude Harrison."

"Oh, the Instant Star girl." Rebecca stated with no enthusiasm.

She mocked Tommy's sarcasm from earlier. "That's me."

Not really wanting to talk with Jude, Rebecca turned her attention back to Tommy, "So, I take it your single then?"

Quickly offended, Jude answered her question before Tommy could, "Blunt much?"

"Just tryin' to get to know my co-workers. And I believe I was talking to Tom."

"Miss Harrison could you please treat your fellow workers more respectfully. Just because Darius lets you do everything your little heart desires doesn't mean I will."

Tommy spoke up before Jude could reply to Liam. "No." his tone dropped, "I'm single."

"Oh." A grin spread across her face, "Well then, maybe I'll see ya around."

Going from offended to just plain angry, Jude sent a possessive glare to Tommy, but he wasn't looking at her, he was smiling at Rebecca. She thanked herself for knowing him too well. She thanked Tommy for giving a fake smile.

"There's an inter-office relationship policy." Jude stated while grabbing Tommy's arm.

"No there isn't Miss Harrison." Liam corrected. "I believe Darius just doesn't want you two together."

Rebecca flashed a snobby smile in Jude's way, but Jude ignored her as she gripped Tommy's arm tighter and dragged him into the studio.

"See ya Lil Tommy Q." she winked as he and Jude disappeared down the hall into Studio A.

And just when I wasn't looking, oh look, another curveball thrown down my way.

Opening Credits

Jude followed Tommy into Studio A, angrily closing the door behind her. As Tommy turned around to talk to her, she brushed right on past him toward the door to the recording booth.

"Jude—"

"You didn't have to flirt with her, ya know. At least not in front of me." She told him bitterly.

"Flir—What? What are you talkin' about?"

"C'mon Tommy. You're not an idiot." She answered harshly, "Little Miss Receptionist was all over you and you weren't fighting back."

"Oh, come on, stop." He reached out for her arm, but she quickly pulled away.

"Don't play perfect boyfriend with me now."

"Jude—"

"No, Tommy!" she angrily whispered. "I don't want to hear it."

"I was flirting?" He asked. She rolled her eyes at his question. "Whatever, I don't have time for this. We have to—"

"You had all the time in the world a few seconds ago with—" she mocked Rebecca's tone of voice, "—Rebecca."

"Jude I wasn't—"

"Flirting?" she finished his sentence.

"I wasn't!" he argued back.

"Keep your voice down before Liam comes in."

"Then get to your senses. Why would I flirt with her?"

Her emotions began to show, "I don't know. You're getting tired of me or something."

And the guilt came, "I'm not tired of you," he spoke softly as he, again, reached out for her, yet her actions that followed caught him off guard.

"Don't touch me." Jude ordered. "Go mess around with someone who wants to be messed with."

"Jude, what is wrong with you?"

"You!" she some-what screamed back as she began to make her way for the door to leave, but Tommy stopped her.

"Jude," he began; getting hold of her shoulders, he looked down at her, but she wouldn't look at him, "Jude you have to calm down. What is going on?"

"Just forget it Tommy, I gotta go."

"Go?"

"Yeah. I'm heading out with Jamie and Patsy," she lied, as she spotted the two outside the room.

Tommy looked over his shoulder at them then back to Jude, "Where?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll talk to you later," and with that she brushed past him and made her way out the studio door.

Jamie and Patsy were on their way toward the exit when Jude quickly joined them, "Hey guys." She greeted as the two looked in her way.

"Hey," they replied simultaneously.

"Where ya headed?"

Patsy shrugged, "I was more in the mood for some adventure in the day, but Jim-bone here wants otherwise."

"It's in the twenties out there. Wouldn't you rather be inside?"

Jude took her coat off the rack as the three approached the door, "I don't know. But I think the rehearsal space is callin' our names."

Jamie and Patsy exchanged looks of 'why not?' as they turned back to look at Jude, "Lead the way, Miss Harrison." Jamie instructed as they filed out the G-Majors doors.

The three casually made their way up the hallway and all simultaneously slowed down as they got closer to the door hearing the music from the outside.

"Is that rap?" Patsy questioned.

Jude looked over her shoulder at her, just as lost as they both were. "I think so…"

"If Jimmy's in there—" Jamie began, but Jude quickly cut him off.

"I didn't give him the key Jame'."

"Thank God." He replied watching Jude go for the handle. "Whoa, what are you doing? You don't know what's in there."

She laughed, "Jamie calm down."

"Will you girls stop bein' scaredy cats?" Patsy commented as she stepped between them and opened the door.

The music volume had doubled as they stepped inside to see quite the small party going on. Wally and Kyle sat on the couch laughing while over by the stereo Speed sat playing DJ to some rap song which the rapper was talking so fast you couldn't understand a word being said. Two girls made their way across the room, one Jude recognized as Wally's life-long girlfriend and the other resembled a finalist from the latest Instant Star competition. The main attraction seemed to be Kaiden who stood by the stereo pretending to rap. Her hood was over her head along with a beanie as her arms moved all around, making gang signs and acting all gangster.

Jude started to laugh a little at the site, and Jamie kinda couldn't hold it in anymore as his hand covered over his mouth. Patsy just stood there. Looking up from laughing Speed spotted the three by the door and turned down the volume.

"Hey, dudes." He said, following a laugh.

Kaiden looked in their direction and only started laughing.

"What is going on?" Jude asked with a chuckle.

Clearing his throat Wally spoke up, "Kaiden met Jimmy earlier today."

"Oh God," Jude replied while rolling her eyes into the back of her head, "What happened?"

Wally was about to continue, but Kaiden beat him to it.

"I'll tell ya what happened." She cut in. With the music still playing she turned to Speed, "You can turn that off now," she laughed, as he hit power and the music died. "Me and Speed were leaving a coffee shop and Jimmy walked in. He said hi to Speed and I asked Speed who he was. The guy turns around all cocky and stuff like, 'I'm Jimmy Williams' blah, blah, blah. So I was like, 'I wasn't talking to you' and he gets all G-Unit on me. Tellin' me to respect him."

"I was about to step up for her, but… She kinda beat me to it." Speed informed them.

"Well for one I yanked one of his earphones outta his ear and the fool was listening to Kottonmouth Kings."

"Who?"

"Some hip-hop, rap group from California." Kyle answered.

"Well," Jude defended, "he was probably listening to better his rapping."

"Why do you keep defending him dude?"

"He's not that bad."

"See, now you know how I feel about Liam."

"You're just whipped Jamie." Wally commented.

"Anyway," Kaiden cut in, "Before I could get in on the Kingspade wannabe he gets all on me!"

"And I pulled her out of the shop before she threw her coffee at him."

"Yeah." She replied, giving him an evil glare.

"You just have to get to know him." Jude told them while taking a seat.

"Dude," Speed stood up, "You realize you're like his only friend?"

"And," Kyle cut in, "he totally screwed you over."

"Screwed you over?" Kaiden asked while scooting over to let Speed sit next to her.

"It wasn't that bad." No sooner had the words slipped out of her mouth did she get glares from all the SME boys. "Alright… it was."

"What happened?" Kaiden asked.

Speed looked to Jude who gave him a look to tell. She didn't want to.

"The dude got her hammered before her performance at Instant Star."

Kaiden hopped up, bouncing like a boxer, "Oh! This day just keeps getting better and better."

"Don't do anything Kaiden." Jude some-what pleaded.

"Don't do anything? Shoot, this is like my chance to take out all the stuff I wanted to say to Freddy with this guy."

"Speed," Jude pleaded, begging him to get her to stop.

"Dude, I agree with her."

"I won't feel bad sayin' stuff to him man. I mean Stalker-Boy was your boyfriend and all, but this guy's free game."

Patsy spoke up, "I say we find where he lives and egg his house."

"Or fill his car with latex gloves…" Kaiden mumbled.

"What?!" Jamie exclaimed.

Jude quickly backhanded Kaiden's arm.

"That was you!?"

"Calm down Jamie. It was like, three years ago."

Speed started laughing, "You still have that phobia?" he asked as Wally and Kyle let their laughs out as well.

"At least I can watch a scary movie," he fired to Jude, ignoring Speed's comment.

"Not it if was Attack of the Latex Gloves." Kaiden commented as the room broke into quiet chuckles and giggles.

A chirp came from Jude's cell interrupting their fun.

"Tommy?" Kaiden asked.

Jude opened her phone and read the text, 'Meet me at GM alley in 15.' She read to herself. "Uh, yeah." She closed the phone, "A studio opened up. I guess Mason canceled" she grabbed her bag and made her way to the door, "You're comin' over later Kaiden, right?"

"I'll call." Kaiden answered as Jude opened the door.

"Well this was fun guys. Jamie, watch out for those gloves."

"Later Jude."

Jimmy stood in the alley behind G-Major bouncing on his heels to keep warm. His breath was visible in front of him as he leaned against the wall waiting for Jude. When she arrived, she was shivering from the cold, running her hands up her arms to keep warm.

"There a re—reason you—want—" she shivered, "—Why're we outside?"

"If I get caught with this I'm as good—" his body shook, "—whoa. Uh, as good as dead."

Jude nodded her head. Standing there shaking she felt Jimmy's eyes on her. He noticed the loss of color in her face except for the redness in her nose.

"You walk here?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you drive?"

Her eyes traveled to G-Major, "Me—me and Tom—me—Tommy are sorta… fighting." She looked to the ground, "I don't want him to know—know I'm here."

"Well, do you want to sit in my car?" he nodded to the direction of his car.

Following his nod, she wanted to say no, but the weather was strongly disagreeing with the right answer. Jimmy watched her head go up and down so he pushed himself off the wall and directed her toward his car.

Once inside, Jude still felt cold, but the temperature had definitely gone up. Jimmy jumped into the drivers' seat and started blowing hot air onto his glove-less hands. As they both stopped shivering Jude watched Jimmy pull out a small clear bag from his pocket in which contained quite the variety of capsules and tablets.

"So," breaking the silence, "How come you and Tommy are fighting?"

Jude shook her head, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Understandable." He quickly replied as he opened the bag and poured out a few pills into the palm of his hand. "Take the ones by my thumb."

Obeying his actions, Jude took the two pills and held them in her hand, "What are these?"

"Nothin' to special. Narcotics."

Jude looked at him uneasily, "Pain killers?"

He nodded, "They'll relax you." Jimmy faced her, "Sounds like you need some relaxing with this Tommy feud you guys started."

"How'd you know to bring these? I just told you we were fighting."

"That's not what I brought for us to try, but that's what you should take. We'll take what I brought some other time."

Curious to what he brought she decided to question the matter, "What was it?"

Jimmy debated telling her or not in his head a good minute before he dug into his pocket and pulled out another bag that contained a good fifteen to twenty pills. "These." He paused, watching Jude's clueless expression eye the bag, "LSD." He simply told her, but Jude was still clueless.

"What's that?"

Jimmy stuffed the bag back in his pocket, "Some other time, Harrison."

The halls of an old apartment building were filled with little kids running around, giggling, playing and even arguing with one another. A few doors to the apartments were open, obviously so the children's parents could watch their kids play. Jude heard her name whispered a few times, but kept her focus on one thing; finding Kaiden's apartment number.

Of course, with the luck she'd been having all day, Kaiden's was the last door in the hallway. Jude knocked once and stood outside patiently; watching two girls fight over a Barbie doll, and a little boy sat their laughing at them. The door flew open as a lady dressed in a white collar shirt and a knee high black skirt stood there looking at Jude wondering what she wanted.

"Yes?" she asked in an impatient tone.

"Uh," Jude's eyes ran over the apartment number written on her hand. It matched the one next to the door. "Is Kaiden here, by chance?" she quietly asked.

The lady rolled her eyes as she looked over her shoulder, "Kaiden, door!" she hollered. Turning back to Jude, she overlooked her appearance, "Wait, you're that Jude Harrison aren't you?"

Jude hesitantly nodded, "Yeah." She quietly spoke.

"Oh," she let out an embarrassed laugh, "Sorry, I thought you were in that band with that boyfriend of hers. They keep coming to the door."

Now Jude let out an embarrassed laugh, "Yeah, they're my back-up band."

Before Kaiden's mother could reply Kaiden appeared in the doorway, "Hey, Jude." She greeted while stepping in front of her mother, "Come on in."

"Thanks." She said as she stepped inside.

The surrounding was unfamiliar to her. As she'd grown up in life, she had spent her time in her home, Kat's, Jamie's or her relatives. Sure there was the occasional birthday parties, where she'd be invited to her other friends' home, but never had she'd been in a lifestyle to the standard Kaiden was put at. The room she stood in couldn't have been much larger than her own bedroom, and the kitchen at the back of the room didn't look much bigger than her bathroom. The apartment was small, and trashy, and Jude hated herself for mentally pointing them out when it was her best friends living situation.

After everything Kaiden had helped her with, she pays her back by judging her off her at home life. Maybe it was just a temporary place while they got on their feet. Even if it wasn't so what? She was still the same person whether she lived in the white house or the poor house.

"Mom this is Jude." Kaiden introduced.

Jude turned toward Kaiden's mom again, "Call me Kimberly. Or Kim."

"Nice to meet you Kim."

Kaiden shut the front door. "I'd introduce you to my dad, but he's uh," she stuttered, and Jude could tell she was about to lie as she fumbled over her words, "he's at work."

Kim and Kaiden quickly exchanged looks as Kim lit up a cigarette, "Before you go anywhere you better have this place cleaned up. I don't want your father coming home to another dirty apartment."

"I know."

"Do you want some help?" Jude offered.

Kaiden looked around at all the toys and in the living room. There was everything from Barbie's to Buzz Lightyears, from coloring books, to fisher price instruments, and the kitchen wasn't much cleaner. The sink held a pile of dirty dishes, and no dishwasher was found, while there was newspapers and cereal bowls all over the small kitchen table.

"I think I can get it all."

"You sure?" Kim asked as she blew out smoke.

"Well when's he gonna be home?"

Kim's eyes moved to her wristwatch, "Thirty minutes," she answered with the cigarette between her teeth.

"To clean this whole place?"

Her mother nodded.

"Psh. Rub a lamp."

Jude let out a small laugh, as Kaiden's mom simply rolled her eyes, "I know you're your father's daughter." She told her as she leaned over and kissed Kaiden's forehead, "I'll be home later tonight. I'm not sure how long this meeting is going to last."

"Alright." Kaiden replied, watching her mom make her way toward the front door.

"It was nice meeting you Jude."

"Nice meeting you too."

"Oh, and Kaiden, Brenda's gonna stop by to pick up Charlie and Tanya in about twenty minutes, so make sure they're ready to go."

Kaiden nodded her head in understanding as she watched her mom make her way out.

"Sorry it's such a mess." She apologized while beginning to pick up her brother and sister's toys.

"It's okay." Jude replied while picking up some of the toys off the ground with her.

"When we moved in we just kinda threw everything through the door." She explained. After getting an armful of toys she stood up and made her way toward an open room, "Just toss the stuff in here." She told her while throwing the handful through the door.

Jude followed her actions, "This your brother and sister's room?"

"All of our room's actually. We could only get a two bedroom on such short notice."

"Oh." Jude tossed the handful she had picked up next to Kaiden's.

"So what's got you all glum?"

"What?"

"Look on your face. What's up?"

Jude collapsed on the couch at the question, "Tommy."

"Oh no," Kaiden replied in a jokingly tone, "What happened?"

Shaking her head she replied, "I kinda blew up at him this morning."

"Kinda?"

"Okay, I totally blew up at him this morning."

Kaiden laughed, "What'd he do?"

Her voice was shaky, "Well, G-Major got this new receptionist and she was totally hitting on him this morning, and, well he was being nice back, but I didn't like it." she explained, her discomfort for the earlier situation showing, "I knew what was on her mind, and I couldn't step up and say he's mine, ya know? Liam was right there, and I had to sit back and let Tommy interact with hoe Barbie."

"Want me to go ty-kwan-do on her?"

Jude let out a small laugh, "I want to go ty-kwan-do on her."

"You know I'll do it." Kaiden kept going, "I'll catch her when she's going to the car. I mean, I still got my old ski mask, she'll never know it was me."

"Okay, stop. No one's going ty-kwan-do on anyone."

Kaiden smiled, but stopped the jokes as she focused back on the problem at hand. Whatever Tommy did. "So what'd you get mad at Tommy for?"

A loud sighed escaped Jude's lips as looked toward the floor, "I accused him of flirting with her. I mean I got really over-exaggerated on the subject with him." She explained, "It's just, I hate that we're a secret ya know? And when that girl was hitting on him there was nothing I could do." Her emotions started to get the best of her, "I just want him all for myself ya know? I don't want to share him anymore."

"Hey," Kaiden set her hand on Jude's shoulder, "Don't beat yourself up, I mean, it's gonna be okay."

Jude shook her head, "No, it's not."

Before Kaiden could answer the front door flew open and two kids ran inside screaming at one another.

"I'm gonna kill you Charlie!" the girl yelled as the door crashed into the wall behind it.

The little boy screamed as he jumped into Kaiden's arms. "Stop her!" he yelled.

Kaiden looked down, but not quick enough before the little girl pulled out a small gun and shot water all over Kaiden and Charlie.

"Tanya!" Kaiden shouted as Jude held in a laugh.

"Ha ha, you're in trouble." Charlie taunted while sitting on Kaiden's hip.

"You're both in trouble." She informed them, observing her shirt, "And this better be water."

"It is." Tanya replied while looking away.

Kaiden slid Charlie back on the floor then ripped the water gun from Tanya's possession. "Brenda's gonna be here soon. You guys better find some dry clothes to change into before she gets her."

"Mom didn't do the laundry though."

Jude saw Kaiden glance in her direction, and she could tell she felt ashamed of her new home life. What better day to come visit then the day the house is a mess, the laundry isn't done. Kaiden was overly embarrassed and Jude could see it, and tried her best to make it seem like she didn't notice.

"Here," Kaiden pulled a sweatshirt off the coffee table, "put this on, and get Charlie changed into a sleep shirt or something."

"What about you?"

The look came back across her face as she glanced in Jude's direction again, "I uh—"

"She's gonna borrow one of my shirts." Jude spoke up.

Kaiden looked over her shoulder and mouthed a thank you. Surprisingly, Kaiden got the apartment cleaned up; her brother and sister out, and had a few minutes for her and Jude to take off before her father came home.

The door to the apartment building closed behind the two as they stepped foot into the parking lot and toward Jude's car. To Kaiden it was an awkward silence, but Jude just it was just silence.

"We're just getting' on our feet."

"What?" Jude asked, Kaiden's words taking her by surprise.

"The messy apartment, crazy brother and sister, MIA dad—"

"Kaiden I'm not judging you."

"Feels like everyone is. Like since I've been back."

"Kaid' don't worry what other people think alright."

"I know. Same to you, and if you think about it…" she paused as they approached Jude's car, "You'll know what I mean."

Kaiden stepped inside, yet Jude wasn't moving, just letting Kaiden's words sink in, and trying to think what they actually did mean.

First Commercial

His headphones were on as 'Always Late' played into his ears and throughout the recording studio he stationed himself in.

(I don't blame you, for being you,)

Head banging with himself, Tommy didn't notice when Rebecca walked into the studio. She smiled, watching him act like a little kid and felt kind of bad watching him rock his head as if no one was around when she was.

(Always, Always, on! You said you'd keep me honest.)

Tommy used his feet to push the chair to spin throughout the bridge. On his first revolution his eyes were shut so he was still unknown to her presence, yet his eyes opened the second time around.

(Always, Always, on! But I won't call you on it.)

He let his heels screech him to a stop as he hit the switch to turn down the music. Embarrassed, he removed his headphones and turned to see what Rebecca wanted. She giggled a little, and Tommy didn't feel as embarrassed anymore as he laughed at himself.

"Sorry about that." He began, but she only shook her head.

"Don't worry. You reminded me of my brother. I must have walked in on him doing that so many times when my mom would have me go get him for dinner."

"Yeah?" he conversed.

She nodded her head, "I'll tell you one thing, you sure take it better than he did. He'd yell at me so loud I thought people in China could hear him."

Rubbing his hand on the back of his neck, "Embarrassed easily I guess?"

"I guess," she agreed. "So whose song was that?"

"Uh," he turned his chair facing more toward the sound board, "It's Jude and SME's new song they're recording."

"They're her back up band right?"

Tommy nodded his head as he watched Rebecca make herself more comfortable by leaning against the wall.

"Yeah, I saw a few pictures in the hallways and thought it'd be good to get some info on the people I'd be working with."

"Got a good group of people here."

"I'd say. Little Tommy Q, and the Instant Star winners. Who wouldn't want to work here?" she chuckled.

"Yeah. It's got a good atmosphere."

"So far so good, except that Jude girl doesn't seem to like me too much."

He shifted in his seat, knowing he had to defend her, he wanted to defend her, but in a way that doesn't show him defending her because he was her boyfriend. Jimmy already picked their act apart after a week of working around them, and Tommy thought that guy was an idiot.

"She's just goin' through a tough time." He explained.

Rebecca rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I don't mind actually, I mean some celebrities aren't as nice as others."

He shifted again, not liking how she was talking about Jude at all. "Jude's probably the nicest celebrity you'd meet. And I mean, you weren't exactly too friendly this morning either."

"Whoa, calm down there." She chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood, "Forget I said anything."

"I will."

Rebecca stood up straighter, feeling uncomfortable. Looking at the position he'd put her in, Tommy felt some-what guilty, but he didn't care. She'd asked for it.

"What'd you come in here for anyway?" he asked in a calmer tone.

Her eyes instantly doubled as she looked down at the clipboard in her hands, "Oh, shoot!" she said under her breath, "Darius wanted to talk to you."

Tommy rolled his eyes as he pushed himself up from the chair and listened to her get all over herself under her breath. "Hey, I'll tell D it was my fault okay. Just… Head back to your desk, and—" but Tommy was cut short when Darius appeared in the doorway.

Wondering why he'd stopped mid sentence, Rebecca turned around to the face of doom. Seeing Darius begin to get on her, Tommy cut him off.

"Sorry I'm not in there yet D. I asked her opinion on SME's track I'm working on." He lied. His eyes found Rebecca's hoping she'd go along with it, and her smile in return let him know she was.

"Well why couldn't you have both waited an extra five minutes when you go off for lunch?"

"Sorry." Tommy replied, "Didn't know it was that late."

"Well if you're gonna get wrapped up in some big conversation do it on your own time and not my time, ya hear?"

"Yes sir." She replied quietly.

"You can head out for lunch then." He said as he started making his way out.

Rebecca looked over to Tommy whose head was down. "Uh, Tom." She spoke, making Tommy's head look up at her, "You wanna catch somethin' to eat?"

Darius stopped his exit and turned toward Tommy to see his reply, and that's when Tommy swore his world froze. "Uh," he tried to think of something quick, but nothing came to mind. His eyes traveled everywhere, but stopped at Darius, "Darius didn't you want to talk to me?"

Now Darius stopped, "Oh, yeah. It'll only be a few minutes if you want to join the girl though Tom." He turned to Rebecca; "You just moved in town didn't you?" she nodded as Darius' gaze fell back to Tommy, "You can show the girl the good spots to catch a burger."

Tommy silently nodded, "Yeah, I'll join ya Rebecca." He told her weakly.

"Just give us a second." Darius told her while closing the door to the studio and taking a seat.

A little spooked by his actions Tommy carefully watched as Darius sat there looking like he was questioning whether or not to say what he was going to say, but then his eyes met Tommy's and he decided to just cut straight to the chase.

"How you holdin' up with this whole Julie thing?"

Tommy was taken back as the words fell out of Darius' mouth, "Uh," he replied, running a hand through his hair.

"Sorry if that was bold, but I just want you to know I'm on your side with this."

This time Tommy looked for the hidden camera, "My side? Over Porchia's? Your sister?"

"I know. Who'd of thought that one up?" he rhetorically asked, "But listen, I know how much Julie means to you. I know you wouldn't want to give her up, so I know this is probably eatin' you up. 'M I right?"

Tommy nodded.

"Look, if you want to talk, or need any help, just ask me okay. You're a big part of why that girl's the girl she is." He watched Tommy's head bounce up and down again, yet his eyes stayed toward the floor, "Anything I can do, ask me."

At that Tommy looked up and saw the seriousness in Darius' face. "There's one thing you can do." He began, as Darius just gave him a look to continue. He deeply exhaled as his eyes drifted off, but before asking they found their way back to Darius', "You can let me bring Jude to court with me. For support. To be there for me."

Darius didn't show any sign of objection in his face, however no sign of approval showed up either. His face never flinched or showed any emotion, as Tommy sat there waiting for an answer. He knew Darius was thinking hard about it, and was more than thankful when, "Okay," slipped out of Darius' mouth.

The day had progressed as one of the slowest days that both Jude and Tommy will remember. Tommy had in fact went out with Rebecca to lunch, but it was totally against his will and as he plopped down on his couch in his empty house he grabbed a couch pillow and put it over his face, hoping to suffocate himself because he knew telling Jude was going to be the death of him.

Jude had too been feeling guilty all day of how she had treated Tommy earlier. Driving through the snow she made her way to Tommy's house with an apology ready to give. The sun had gone down from the time she left her house to the time she had made it to his front door, and the temperature felt like it dropped as she shivered on his doorstep. For the first time since she can remember she placed her finger on the doorbell and waited patiently for Tommy to answer.

Grunting that his pathetic suicide attempt was interrupted he grabbed the pillow from his face as he stood up, throwing it back on the couch as he made his way to the front door. Passing a mirror on the way he checked his appearance. Sweat pants and an old t-shirt, but he wasn't in the mood to dress himself up to answer the door more than likely for some mail.

To his surprise Jude stood on the other side of the door. Her breath was visible as she stood there trying not to shiver.

"Jude?" he questioned while opening the door wider. His arm reached out for her shoulder as he pulled her inside, and shut the door behind them, "Why'd you ring the bell?"

Not exactly knowing why herself, she shrugged. He sighed, as he ran his hands up her arms to warm her up, leading her into his living room where a warm fire was going. "Want me to get you something warm?" he asked, but she only shook her head as they both took a seat on the couch.

"I have some apologizing I have to do."

"Jude—"

"No, Tommy I do. I'm sorry. I don't know what was wrong with me—why I said what I said." She confessed sounding truly disappointed with herself. "I didn't like how that girl was just… just like, I don't know… hitting on you. I hated not being able to say, 'back up, he's mine.' Or something along those lines."

"Hey, don't worry about it. You weren't the only one who messed up today."

"What are you talking about? You were just being nice to her—"

"No, Jude…" he sighed, "Look after you left... God, I was just mixing 'Always Late' and Rebecca came in."

Jude watched him tell his tale and felt that she wasn't going to like the ending.

"Darius came in to talk to me about Porchia and while he was in there Rebecca asked me to join her at lunch and Darius just thought it was the greatest idea ever."

Her head sunk.

"It was just lunch Jude."

She shifted in her seat.

"I couldn't say no."

The tears built up behind her eyes.

"I didn't want to go."

"None of what you just told me takes away what happened today." She said quietly while standing up.

"Jude—" he followed her lead.

"Forget it Tommy. I have to go."

"Jude," he started again, following her to the door.

"I have plans with Sadie. I'll see you tomorrow." And with those final words she stepped back out into the cold, leaving Tommy alone again in his house.

As the door closed he let his head fall back and his eyes roll at how complicating everything was getting. Looking toward the living room he started back in to where he was before Jude arrived, "Where's that damn pillow?!" he angrily asked himself.

An hour of driving around Toronto got boring as Jude found herself pulling into G-Major, her second home. It wasn't too late, only a little past eight, so she was sure someone would be there to keep her company. She turned the engine off and for a second just sat there. The day's events playing over through her head. One event stuck in her mind, as she dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out another narcotic. She didn't remember the name that Jimmy told her that it was. Hydro something, but she didn't care. If it was supposed to relax her, that's all she cared about.

After she had swallowed the pill she decided to finally go on in the studio where the first person she saw was Rebecca. Remembering Tommy and hers' conversation she greeted Jude with a simple "Hi, Jude," but Jude just kept walking, ignoring the girl whom had made her pop four pills that day. She just thanked herself for being able to drive under those conditions.

Studio A was empty. No Kwest, no Mason, or Jimmy. The Speiderman boys weren't supposed to come in until the next day, so she didn't even try to search for them. She heard Karma singing, but Karma wasn't one of her most favored people to talk to.

Giving up on Studio A, she checked Studio B, and again, nothing. Continuing through the studio she ended up in the kitchen where she heard Kwest and Sadie chatting away.

"Hey guys," she greeted. "What's up?"

"Not too much." Kwest replied, "You?"

Jude opened her mouth to reply, but noticed both their coats on and Sadie slipping on gloves, "Oh, you guys were on your way out weren't you?"

Sadie looked up to Kwest then back to Jude, "Mom and Dad are meeting Kwest's parents." She informed her as Jude only nodded.

"Well, I won't hold you guys up." She told them while waving a small good-bye and heading back in search of someone to interact with.

After her search proved to be the most unsuccessful search she found herself parked in Studio C with an old guitar and a notebook, and by the time everyone had cleared out, not knowing she was there, she went out into the lobby and curled up in Tommy's jacket she had found left in Studio A from earlier. The need for sleep came quick as her eyes closed, and she drifted into dreamland.

Eight thirty seemed to have come too quickly the next morning. Jude was still sound asleep when people had started showing up for work, including Tommy. He and Darius had both arrived in the parking lot at the same time and ended up walking in together.

Rebecca was stationed at her desk when they walked in. Darius hoped for Tommy and her to spark up conversation, but all she informed him of was that Jude had spent the night in the G-Major lobby. She didn't even receive a thank you for the information as Tommy made his way in search of her, and when he found her sleeping on the couch with his jacket keeping her warm, he thanked God that Darius was no where around.

Positioning himself so he was eye level with her, Tommy crouched down and moved the pieces of hair that covered her face behind her ears. She stirred at his touch, but wasn't fully awake. "Hey, sleepyhead." He greeted as her face slowly scrunched up. A small moan came from her, wishing she could sleep longer, but he couldn't let her sleep away at G-Major.

"Jude," he tried again, as he eyes opened slowly. "Girl, c'mon. You can't sleep here."

"Why not?" she asked as her eyes shut again.

"Because," he sat her up and took a seat next to her, "You know Darius, and you know Liam. They find you catchin' Zs and you'll never hear the end of it."

A small smile spread across her face at those words.

"God, I am so sorry." He told her.

With those words, last night quickly played over in her head. She knew why she had fallen asleep at G-Major, instead of at Tommy's where she normally slept. Her body stretched out, an attempt to try and wake herself up more, but it failed.

"I didn't mean for you to end up crashing here."

"Don't worry about it." She replied in a tone that showed complete sorrow.

"I'm gonna make it up to you, girl."

She looked over to him, "Yeah?" she questioned in an emotionless tone, "How?"

He knew she didn't believe him. He knew there wasn't a way he could take away everything she was feeling, but then the answer came into view. Darius walked out of his office, closing his cell and attaching it to it's holder on his belt.

Tommy made eye contact with her, "I'm gonna tell Darius the truth."

Her eyes studied him, and the second she found out he was being serious her head slowly shook back and forth, "Tommy are you sure?" she asked him, following his gaze, seeing Darius just behind them looking over something a sound tech was showing him.

Their gazes both found each others, "I'm sure." He sounded sure. "I'm gonna get this over with."

Jude's heart stopped when Tommy sat up from the couch and for a second she just sat there. Sat there scared of what was going to happen, but her worries faded out of her mind when realization hit. He was going to tell Darius. She was about to lose her producer. By the time she stood up Tommy had just joined Darius' side. To not look suspicious, she slowly made her way toward them.

"So," Darius began, "How'd lunch with Rebecca go yesterday?" he asked, just in time for Jude to get into ear shot.

Tommy shook his head, "I don't think I wanna keep that as an occasional thing." He stated.

Darius frowned, "Why not, T? She's smart, good looking; I mean you could use a girl in your life."

He sighed, just as Jude casually stood beside him. "Darius, I have a girl in my life."

Darius' eyes pierced into Tommy, then quickly went in Jude's direction, "You?" he asked, showing that his anger was about to show.

Jude took a step back while shaking her head, "No." she told him, sounding like he was crazy. "I told you Darius, I wasn't going to ruin my career for a relationship that—you yourself even said—could possibly just end in disaster."

Tommy looked down at her, and even though she only looked his way for a split second, that one look told him she wasn't going through with it, and he knew that even now, Darius still just didn't understand.

"Who's this girl then, Tom?"

"Huh?" he asked, caught off guard from his thoughts.

"This other girl, you're talking about?"

"I just," he scammed his mind for familiar faces, "I've been wanting to talk to this girl up at the coffee shop up the street. I mean, we've talked a few times, but I never got to askin' her out. Felt a little stupid asking someone who worked at a coffee shop out for coffee ya know?" he nervously laughed.

Darius nodded, and they both knew he didn't buy it, yet his words said otherwise, "Whatever. You two should start mixing though."

"Yeah." Jude replied quietly. Once Darius was out of ear shot Jude looked to Tommy who looked as if his dog had gotten run over.

"Can we sneak out to your place?" she asked, and instantly got his attention, "I just want to shower and change my clothes."

He silently nodded, and they both quietly made their way out of G-Major. Even the ride to his house was quiet. Both had everything in the world going throughout their heads as they drove the fifteen miles to Tommy's. Neither had even told anyone they had left. When they pulled into his driveway, Tommy just sat in the car. Jude didn't make a move to get out either.

The silence, however, got the best of her. After a few minutes of nothing spoken, she broke it, and not with what either wanted to hear.

"How long are we gonna keep this up, Tom?" she quietly asked, hoping he didn't hear, hoping he wouldn't answer, but he did.

"I don't know."

"Are we gonna live the rest of our lives in secret?"

His head shook slowly, as the quietest words leaked out his lips, "I don't know."

She sniffed, fighting back tears as they sat their in the cold Hummer. Snow began to lightly cover the windshield, but all she could see that was as just a blanket covering them up, and that's what it was going to be.

"How long are we going to go through with this? Which one of us is going to be the one to say it?"

"Jude,"

"Really, Tommy. I know you know what I'm talking about." But he didn't reply. "I know you know." She told herself this time.

"He can't control us forever."

"I don't want to lose what he can control though."

It was silent for a few moments, before Tommy started to point out his own facts, "You know what it would mean, don't you?" he asked, but didn't receive an answer, "You know it would mean giving up so much that I know you don't want to give up." She was still silent, 'If we broke up…" the words stuck in his throat. He couldn't listen to himself anymore. "You know it would mean you can't care about me like you do now. You can't say the things you say to me anymore. Is this what you want?"

Tommy looked over to her, but couldn't believe he saw tears, "I have to say yes." She told him.

He faced her, "But that right there meant no."

"Everything we do…" and she was right, "no matter how hard we try, something or someone stands in our way."

"Jude," he began, "Rebecca is nothing."

"You like her though."

"No I don't. I think she's nice." he confessed.

"Look, Tommy," Jude paused, still trying to figure out how to say what she knew she had to tell him. "I'm just gonna say what I think we both need to hear."

"Jude, don't." he pleaded, "I told you, nothing happened—"

"It's too hard keeping these secrets and lying to everyone, Tom. I think we really need to face some hard truths and facts. They've been thrown in our face way too many times, and we keep ignoring them, and doing what we want, but it's still not right."

He let his head fall down as he ran his hands through his hair. Deep down he knew she was right. The only way to be together was in secret and behind everyone's back with lying and deceiving.

"You should call Rebecca." she told him with silent tears going down her cheeks, trying her hardest to hold it together.

"I don't see her like that—"

"Please Tommy," she begged, cutting him off.

He sighed as he looked out at the snow covered street, then back at Jude who was slightly shivering. He wanted to give her his jacket or something, but knew that it would only tick her off. "I'll call her."

She sniffed and ran her hand under her nose, "It's the only way." she quietly said, barely even audible.

He nodded his head as they both just sat there in the cold, both waiting for the other to make the next move.

Second Commercial

It'd been a few hours since Jude had left Tommy's house. Within those few hours she had gone home, cried, cried some more, and cried some more. She felt weird making her way toward the stage. The last time she performed at The Chain was when her mom took off. Now, she and Tommy were over. It was like her stage to get her emotions out and as the lights moved on her, that's just what she, did.

Taking a seat on the stool in front of the mic she hit a few repeating notes then began playing small chords as the words exited her mouth. "I thought it was too good to, be true, I found somebody who, understands me. Someone who would help me to get through, and fill an emptiness I had inside me. But you kept inside, and I just denied, some things that we should have both said. I knew it was too good to be true, 'cause I'm the only one who understands me."

Jude hit the power chords on her Stratocaster as the chorus came into play. "What happened to us? We used to be so perfect, now we're lost and lonely. What happened to us? And deep inside I wonder, did I lose my only?"

She quickly slowed her playing down as she got back into her original rhythm from the first verse. All the words she had said to him echoed through her mind, but she couldn't let them get the best of her. She needed to focus. The song at hand needed to be played, so that's what she did.

"Remember they thought I was too young, to really know what it, takes to make it. But we had survived off what we have done, so we could show them all that they're mistaken. But who could have known, the lies that would grown, until we could see right through them. Remember they knew I was too young, we still don't know what it takes to make it."

Again, the music picked up as the chorus followed, but this time she only sung the words to the crowd, not herself. During the time sang, she saw what her life had in store for her. Not one face in the crowd did she recognize. No Darius.

"What happened to us?"

No Jamie. No Mom or Dad.

"We used to be so perfect, now we're lost and lonely."

The Speiderman boys were out of sight, and Kaiden wasn't anywhere to be seen either.

"What happened to us?"

Mason wasn't around, and Patsy was absent, yet the empty face that hurt the most was Tommy's.

"And deep inside I wonder, did I lose my only one?"

The music tempo came down to a soft level as Jude hit random notes on her guitar as she held it together. She had no idea how she was standing up so strong at a time she had felt so weak. Although the club was filled with her fans who came to see her perform. She couldn't break down in front of them. What would she tell the press her reasoning? There weren't any. The truth had to stay hidden. That was the only way.

Clearing her head, she started in on the bridge, knowing shortly the song was on its way to the end, meaning she could go home and hopefully let the end of the worst day finally come. "We could have made it work, we could have found a way, we should have done our best to see another day. But we kept it all inside, until it was too late, And now we're both alone, the consequence we pay, for throwing it all away, for throwing it all away.

"What happened to us? We used to be so perfect, now we're lost and lonely. What happened to us? And deep inside I wonder, did I lose my only? What happened to us? What happened to us? What happened to us? What happened to us?"

And as the music faded, Jude simply unplugged her guitar from the amplifier, said a quick thank-you into the mic and disappeared backstage, wanting no one other than Tommy to find her, but she knew that was never going to happen.

506

St. Jimmy

promo

Without Tommy around to protect her, Jude's getting out of control, and Jimmy seems to be her only friend with any answers for her, but when Tommy discovers untold truths, can he help save her life, or is she so lost that not even Tommy can bring her back?