Wow, like quickest update ever huh? Well lately at least. So this is the chapter that's putting the story to it's take off point. The next one's another one of my favorites. There's a scene in there I wrote probably a year ago, and it's weird that I'm finally at this point, so I should rush through the next chapter too. This chapter I was a little iffy on, and it was just a joke when I brought the whole 'Lion King' thing into it, but it was fun to write. I think I watched the movie about five times since I've started writing this cuz I got in a Lion-King-watchin' mood, but oh well, I like how it turned out, and hope you guys do too. Enough rambling, here's the chapter. Enjoy!


605 Lost In Hollywood

"Lost in Hollywood" is a song by System of a Down.

"I Knew I Loved You" is a song sung by Speiderman; originally by Savage Garden, I did not write it.

"Circle of Life" is a song performed by Mason; originally featured in Disney's The Lion King and written by Elton John,I did not write it.

"I Just Can't Wait To Be King" is a song performed by The Speiderman Mind Explosion, originally featured in Disney's The Lion King and written by Elton John;I did not write it.

"Be Prepared" is a song performed by Patsy, originally featured in Disney's The Lion King,;I did not write it.

"Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" is a song performed by Jude and Tommy; originally featured in Disney's The Lion King and written by Elton John,I did not write it.


605

Lost In Hollywood

Alexz Voice Over

There's a quote, a quite common quote, defining the friends in your life.

The scene looked as if Tommy and Jude were in detention. Detention run by no one other than Darius. With an angry look on his face, and newspaper in his hands, the two knew that the reason they were called into his office, ordered to take a seat, and threatened to stay quiet was not good on their behalf.

"A week's passed." Darius began, walking from the front of his desk toward the back where his chair was. "A week's passed and I haven't said a word."

The quote revolves around a person being in a jail cell. Just like I was a week ago.

Setting the paper on his desk before him, he eyed the pair. "You vandalized a reporters house."

"He─"

"I don't care what he did, Jude. You vandalized a reporters house with toilet paper and eggs. How old are you guys? Twelve?" he asked, his voice rising in volume.

Jude peaked a look over at Tommy, seeing him holding back a laugh. "Darius," she tried again, but he only shot her a look of silence and she didn't carry on.

"I'm not finished." He said in a quieter tone. "Now, as if the vandalism wasn't enough, you end up running from the cops, crashing a car, and one of you's sent to the hospital and the other jail? Are you guys trying to ruin G-Major's reputation?"

The quote states that a good friend will come and bail you out of jail. Get you out of the horrible fate of waking up to some chick named Helga who hasn't had human contact in too long of a period of time.

"That's a question." Darius stated in a heated tone.

"Sorry," Tommy apologized, "You said don't talk."

"Well, now it's a question."

Nodding, "Yes sir."

"We didn't mean to cause this much of a publicity scandal." Jude cut in, "It was supposed to be some harmless prank to get back to the guy for mugging Tommy."

"By giving him a life supply of toilet paper?"

Tommy tried holding back a laugh, "We didn't mean to get caught, but D c'mon. You know you're only upset because of all the publicity we're getting."

"Exactly. You're getting all this attention, but it isn't good. It's bad publicity. Instant Star tries killing off producer, do you think I want headlines like that?"

The two shook their heads as Jude cut in again, "Well, I think we learned our lesson. I mean Tommy nearly died, and I lost my license."

A better friend would bail you out of jail but then lecture over how stupid you were to get thrown in the big house.

"I know I learned my lesson. Like I'm never letting Jude near the drivers seat of my Viper again."

"Hey, if it weren't for me, that car would still be trashed!"

"It's because of you that it got trashed in the first place though." Tommy threw back.

"And it's because of me that your car's like brand new." Darius cut in, getting their attention back on him. "So before we get into detail on how you two are going to clean up the mess you've made, do any of you have something to say?"

And the ending of the quote states, that your best friend will be the one sitting next to you saying,

"It was pretty awesome." Tommy announced, causing Darius to roll his eyes as he and Jude shared a small laugh.

"Alright, enough." Darius told them while grabbing a piece of paper from his desk. "here is your agenda for Friday."

Taking the paper from Darius, Tommy read over the title of the pamphlet. "G-Major Records Presents The Lion King. Darius what is this?"

"Puttin' on a concert this Friday up at the city park for kids with cancer. You two are responsible to make sure it goes great. I don't want this messed up."

"Okay… but by put on… you mean like a play?" Jude asked, unsure of what Darius actually had planned.

"A song performed from the movie, with video footage played in the background." Tommy read. "So Jude will sing a song while the movie plays behind her?"

Darius nodded, "It's getting all put together. But to show you two aren't delinquents, the program's in your names. Helping out kids with cancer should really take this whole arrest and accident off everyone's minds."

"I guess that's why they call it St. Jude's." Jude joked, but got no response. "Sorry. That's… That's not something to joke about."

"Getting back to business," Darius continued, "You two have just over two days to get this thing wrapped up. I guess you better get to learnin' your songs."

"Whoa, whoa, I have to perform too? C'mon Darius, I just got out of the hospital for surgery. You can't…"

"Talked to your Doc' and he said that you'll be fine to do that. If I remember correctly you were the one braggin' about how quick recovery from this surgery is."

"Suck it up, Quincy." Jude told him, "If I have to perform, so do you."

"You're an artist. You perform almost every day. Me? Darius called my solo opportunity off. Remember D?"

"Alright Tom, I don't have time for this. You sit back and produce this thing." Darius told him while sitting up from his desk. "Now both of you get out of here. I got stuff to do. Cleanin' up your two's mess."

"Yes sir." Jude replied, standing up from her seat and following Tommy out of the room. "That wasn't fair." She said while smacking his arm.

"Ow! Ex surgery patient, thank you." Tommy told her as they made their way to the lobby.

"You might have suckered your way out of performing, but that doesn't mean you're suckering your way out of helping."

"I am on this ship one hundred percent." He told her, but she just rolled her eyes. "C'mon Jude. I'm not gonna have my first performance since like ever, be a Lion King Cover song." Not wanting to play his games, she rolled her eyes. "Hey, I saw that."

"Good." She told him, looking over her shoulder with a smile.

Catching up with her, he threw his arm around her shoulder, "You're lucky I'm your friend."

All she could do was look up and smile at him as they continued their way to Studio A.

Yeah. I am pretty lucky.

Opening Credits

"Soo," came Patsy's voice, "You two screw up and we all have to pay for it 'ey?"

Jude was sitting on the couch, looking over the paperwork with Tommy as those words went through her ears. "What are you talking about?" she asked, looking over her shoulder, as SME followed in after Patsy. "How come you guys are here?"

Pulling out a flyer from his back pocket, Kyle read aloud, "G-Major artists, Jude Harrison, Patsy Sewer, Mason Fox, and the Speiderman Mind Explosion, are to participate in Friday's Lion King concert."

"Guys, this is for kids with cancer. You're not thinking of backing down?"

"No, Jude," Patsy cut in, "This is for you and Quincy gettin' caught. When I told you two to get revenge I didn't mean get caught!"

Ignoring what she had said, Jude gaped at Patsy, "Wait a minute. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be home? You just had a baby."

"And I couldn't feel more free!" she replied, "Besides, Q's on bed rest too and he's walkin' around like nothin' happened."

"I don't listen to Doctors." Tommy announced.

"Apparently not."

"Alright, alright, listen. Darius has already put this concert into effect. So what's the big deal? It's not like we've never performed in front of kids before."

"Dude we're singing along to cartoon songs." Speed told her, while Wally and Kyle nodded behind him. Jude only gave him a dark glare, warning him not to back out on her. "But we're in. Just, Jude, next time you want to TP someone's house… Don't get caught."

"So SME's in." she announced as the three boys made their way toward the studio.

"I'm in too." Patsy announced. "You're lucky I haven't got to play in forever, or else this sheep would've flown the coop on this deal."

"Thanks Patsy." Jude said while looking over the papers, "Mind tellin' me what song you'd like to sing?"

Rolling her eyes, "Just pick one that I won't pull all my hair out over." She told them while spotting Jamie walking in with the baby. Seeing Kwest head to studio, she hurried after him, "See ya!"

"So what song are you puttin' her down for?" Tommy asked seeing as the only song taken was 'Circle of Life' by Mason.

"Be Prepared is a Patsy Sewer song, ya think?" she looked to him with a questioning glare. Watching him nod his head she gave him a smile before jotting down her name beside the song.

"SME's probably more fit for I Just Can't Wait To Be King?"

"Either that or Hakunah Matata." She suggested, "Although that one's more dialogue than actual lyrics."

"So that leaves you with Can You Feel The Love Tonight. Duet with Shane I'm guessing?" Tommy pried, but Jude didn't give him the reaction he was hoping for.

Jumping up, she tossed the papers over to him, "I have a date! Sorry, Tommy, I'll umm, I'll call you later okay?" she yelled while running out of the lobby.

"Great goin' Quincy." He mumbled to himself while scooping the papers together and heading to his office.

Rushing out the door of G-Major, Jude was paying too much attention to getting her coat on rather than where she was going and collided straight into Speiderman. "Whoa, dude. Slow down there." He said while catching her before she tumbled to the ground.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She replied, straightening herself out. "What are you doing out here? Weren't you in studio?"

"Was. Until Patsy and Jamie started duke-ing it out. That poor kid of there's gonna be deaf before her first birthday."

"They weren't yelling in front of her were they? She's barely a week old, all that noise─"

"Nah," Speed shook his head, "Handed Michelle over to Wally. That's why I high tailed it outta there. Don't need Michelle's breakfast on my shoulder."

She chuckled, before glancing down at her watch, seeing that she was almost late to her date with Shane. "Hey, I uh… I gotta go." She told him while making her way down the sidewalk.

"Jude, wait!" he called, stopping her in her tracks. Seeing the seriousness on his face, she waited, ready to listen to what he had to say. "Can you… I just wondered, ya know… How's she doin'?"

Not expecting that at all, she drew in her breath, before putting on an apologetic expression. "Speed… I'm sorry. I… I can't be middle man for you two anymore. I'm... I'm sorry."

He nodded his head, but the look on his face, the look of deep sorrow, only made her feel even worse. Speiderman did, only just look away, waving her to carry on, and she did, but not without a huge wad of guilt stuck in her stomach.

Darius skimmed through files spread out over his desk with the sponsors for the concert in his hand. Trying to get everything organized just didn't seem to fit into his schedule that day however, as someone else knocked on his office door, distracting him yet again. He sighed as his attention stayed to the files, searching for the best deals. "Come in." he said over his shoulder, and a few seconds later the door to his office squeaked and the last person he ever expected, walked into his office.

"Wow," the familiar voice spoke, "I love what you've done to the place."

He stopped searching and set the papers on his desk. Slowly he turned around. "Well, if it isn't a ghost from the past."

"You never were good with greeting people, Darius." Georgia replied as she welcomed herself to a seat.

"What brings you here? Last I heard you were down in L.A. working for another G-Major."

"Just opened up last spring actually." She informed, watching him walk around his desk to take a seat.

"Record company's growing. That's the third—"

"Fourth."

"Fourth, studio that's opened."

"First in the States now."

He sat back cockily, "Guess we just know what we're doing."

"I apparently do." She replied, "Just got promoted to managing the new studio. EJ's also doing pretty well."

"Are we going to be expecting her here too?" he asked with a slight tone of sarcasm.

"Don't worry, she won't be bothering you."

"Well, what about you? Why're you here?"

She sat up in her chair, not breaking eye contact with him, "I want my girl back."

Darius gave a small laugh, "Jude?" Georgia nodded. "What gave you the slightest idea you'd get my number one artist?"

"Well," she began, sitting back in her seat again, "One. I am under the understanding that her contract should be needing to get renewed within the next month, seeing as for the past two years you stupidly gave her only twelve month contracts."

His facial expression dropped.

"Two, I have more to offer Jude in Los Angeles than you can in Toronto."

"How so?"

"Want to talk this over Darius? I believe you'll have to buy me lunch to get out the details."

He eyed her coolly. She had said just enough to get him hooked, and now she was reeling him in. Soon he'd be the fish out of water with Georgia in control. "I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?" he stood up, and headed towards the door.

"Why not?" she asked curiously.

"If I don't get the details, I'm pretty damn sure you'll feed 'em to Jude. Last thing I need is you fillin' my artists head with dreams the girl probably couldn't refuse."

"Sounds like I've won then." She replied, standing up and following him out.

"Not yet G. Not yet. You lit the torch, but no one's won yet."

"California wants her." She told him, stopping in her tracks.

He did the same, stopping at his door to look over his shoulder at her, "But does she want California?"

The bell rang over the door to the local record store as Jude walked inside, searching for Shane.

"Hey." She heard from behind her as Shane came from behind a bin of CDs.

"Hi." She replied, surprised she'd found him so fast. "I'm sorry I'm late, I─"

But he cut her off by pulling her in for a hug. Chuckling a little, "Ya don't have to apologize. I know you're busy. Little things like lunch are bound to slip your mind."

Pulling away, she continued on, "But lunch isn't a little thing. It's my chance to be with you. I mean ever since the accident─"

"Jude, Jude, shh," he tried quieting her down, "It's okay. You're here, and that's what's important okay?" Giving her a kiss, he felt her start to calm down. "Better?"

"Uh huh," she mumbled, "So uh, what CD do ya got there?"

Bringing the CD into view, "Your first one. I never bought this one."

"Ugh, don't. Total flop."

"But it's you." He told her. "I bet each of those songs mean something to you."

"Yeah." She told him while taking the disc from his hand to read over the songs. "Lets see," reading over the track list, "Two are about Shay. Three about Tommy. This one," she pointed to the track, "was classified by my best friend as 'gimmicky corporate crap.' Oh, and 24 was butchered so badly, I couldn't recognize it anymore. Umm, ah, and here," pointing to another track, "and this lovely little song was about when my Dad cheated on my Mom."

Taking it all in, Shane could only nod, "Well when they say put yourself in your music, you weren't lying were you?"

"I was fifteen. Gimme a break."

He kissed her forehead, "I'm still buying the CD." He told her while reclaiming it as his own. Looking over the tracks himself, "So what does Time to be Your Twenty One mean?" he asked while putting his arm around her and heading to the check out stand.

Answering as if it were no big deal, "That's just a song about Tommy." She told him, reaching the line.

He nodded, "What about That Girl? Write a song about yourself?" he asked, trying to make a joke, but was unsuccessful.

"Nah, that's another one about Tommy. More actually me talking to him, than about him if you think about it."

"Your eyes about Tom too?" Shane asked, getting a little uncomfortable.

She shook her head. "That one's about Shay."

"And we're stopping with the who's this song about game." He announced, not wanting to know anymore.

"You okay?" she asked as they stepped up to pay.

"Yeah." He gave her a smile, "I just want to go hang out. You and me. In fact, I think I have your second album in my car. We'll listen to that on the way to the restaurant so we're not bringing Tommy and Shay along."

She sighed, "Shane, I can't make it to the restaurant."

"Fourteen seventy eight." The cashier rang up, but Shane's attention was on Jude's last sentence.

"You can't make it?"

"I've been tryin' to tell ya. Darius has this concert planned this Friday that me and Tommy have to put together."

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair, "Why didn't you tell me this when you first got here, or called me or something?"

"Well I had a little time to run down here. That way I got to see you too, but I really have to get down on that concert thing."

"Fourteen seventy─"

"Alright! I heard you the first time!" he yelled, annoyed at the situation he was in.

"Babe, I'm sorry." She apologized, seeing how upset he was getting.

"No. It's not your fault." He told her while pulling a twenty from his wallet. "You're a busy girl, and I knew that."

"Five twenty two is your change." The cashier said while handing Shane his change and CD.

Pulling her to the side, he continued to explain, "I just don't get to hang around with you as much as I'd want to."

"Well, that's about to change 'cause I got you a gig." She told him. "With me."

His eyes lit up, "What kind of gig?"

"You've seen Lion King right?"

He chuckled, "When I was a kid, yeah."

"How would you like to do a duet with me at the concert this Friday. I have to sing Can You Feel The Love Tonight, and need a partner."

Smiling, he gave her a quick kiss, "I'd love to."

Throwing her arms around him, she pulled him in a tight embrace, "Thank you Shane. You're making this easier by the second."

"Don't worry about it. Time with you singing Disney songs is better than no time at all." He said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek, making him feel happy to be with her.

"Why don't you stop by later?" she asked, while breaking away from their embrace. "We can go over the song."

He nodded. "I'll be there."

Smiling, she made her way to the door, "Alright, well I gotta meet up with Tommy, so I'll see ya later, okay?"

And that one word changed his spirits. However he forced a nod, and watched her walk out the store. At a stand still, he looked down at the disc and checked over the tracks again. "Two are about Shay. Three about Tommy."

With nothing better to do, Kaiden sat in front of the X-box, headset on, and Halo2 playing on the screen. Her eyes were focused on the screen before her as she killed her last opponent. "Yeah! Take that!" she shouted into her headset, only getting angry responses in return. "Ah, quit winin' ya big babies." But before she could start round two her doorbell rang.

Removing the headset and closing herself out of the game, she made her way to the door, checking the peep hole first, but not seeing anyone in sight. Slowly and cautiously she opened the door to see the last person she wanted to.

"Kaiden, don't shut the door." Speed said while jumping for the door to hold it open. "Please just talk to me." He begged, but she only shook her head. "Then will you listen?"

Looking behind him she spotted his acoustic, and decided to stop fighting him. For those few minutes at least. "You wrote a song?"

"I wrote the truth. It just happened to rhyme and pick up a melody." He replied, picking up the guitar and starting to play. Soft chords filled her ears as he played just enough to get her hooked, and sang the song.

"Maybe it's intuition. But some things you just don't question. Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant. And there it goes, I think I've found my best friend." Not helping but letting a smile come forth, Speed made sure his eyes never left hers. "I know that it might sound, more than a little, crazy but I believe,"

Pausing slightly, he stopped playing and let the lyrics be the only sound, "I knew I loved you—" the guitar playing come back to play, "—before I met you. I think I dreamed you into life. I knew I loved you before I met you." Slowing down his playing he hummed out the last line, "I have been waiting all my life."

Knowing the song was over she avoided eye contact. "So… the song's over."

"Yeah. Well, I wrote a second verse and hook, the whole deal, but I didn't even think you'd let me get past the first line."

"Then why'd you come over here?" She asked, finally looking at him.

Shaking his head like she should know the answer, "Because I love you Kaiden. And if I have to write a thousand more songs to show you, I will." Stepping closer to her, he saw the tears and hurt in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"I can't keep letting you let me down. I need to stand on my own." She said through silent tears. Running her hand over the tears on her face she concluded, "This can't happen."

"Kaiden," he took her hands, getting her to look at him, "I want to marry you someday. I want to have kids, get a house—everything. I want to grow old with only you." Setting his forehead to hers, "I'm not gonna let you go. Whether I'm the same for you, I know I want to be with you till the end. I'm just sorry I hurt you along the way."

The two were silent, forehead to forehead, hand in hand, and Kaiden still had tears in her eyes. "I want to trust you." She said in an unsure tone.

"Kaiden, I love you." He replied, eyes still closed, praying she would take him back.

Not moving from her spot, she did, however, open her eyes, seeing him with his closed. Taking in a breath, her mind went a million miles an hour as she contemplated on what to do next, but in the end was drawn to one simple conclusion. She slipped her hands from his and knew sorrow instantly filled within him, but she was about to change that, for her hands gently took his face, as she kissed him with all she had.

Like a reflex, and even though he was caught off guard, his hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her back through a smile he couldn't get rid of.

"I love you too." She whispered while breaking away, her forehead resting back on his.

"Thank God." Was his response before picking her up and walking into her apartment, giving her a kiss with all the love and passion he had in him.

Up on the G-Major roof, Jude leaned against the railing, over looking the city and letting the November air hit her face. It was her first break all day, and she was using it to her advantage as a perfect opportunity for her to clear her head. A door closing behind her alerted her that her presence wasn't alone anymore and seconds only passed before she saw Shane at her side.

"Hey," he quietly greeted, taking hold on the railing just as she did.

Happy to see him, she gave him a smile, "Hi." She replied, but he only nodded before taking a look out at the city before him. "It's a pretty scene." She commented, getting another nod from him in return.

"I think sun set's my favorite time of day. Especially on the beach." Looking over to her for the first time since he got there he smiled, "It's funny." He said while looking back out over the city. "I never thought I'd get to share something like this with you."

Smiling, she got a little closer, taking her hand with her own, "Watching the sun go down?" she asked, but he shook his head.

"No." Un-entwining their fingers he took a deep breath, "Just… Being with you. Ya know, I just… after a while I kinda gave up on it. Never saw it happening, and then when I found out all that stuff with you and Tommy… I just… None of this seemed to be possible." Taking another deep breath, he found her eyes, "And now I know it isn't."

Furrowing her eye brows, she looked at him curiously, "What… What are you talking about?"

"Ya know it's okay." He said in a shaky voice. "I'm okay that you don't see me that way."

"Shane, what's going on? What are you talking about?" she asked again, fearing the worst.

Shane let his eye cast down before taking her hands in his own. "When I met you… I thought you were the one. Everything about you was just… It was perfect, and I felt so lucky to even play in the same band as you, let alone get to be as close as I am with you now."

Having a feeling of where this conversation was going, Jude couldn't help but look away. Another break up? Another boyfriend she couldn't satisfy? What was she doing wrong?

"But after seeing what you and Tommy share I just… at first I was mad when I saw you two together. How you would light up for him, but not for me. How he can make you laugh like you mean it and… just everything."

"Shane, me and Tommy─"

"Let me finish." He said, cutting her off. Finding her eyes once more, he took a deep breath. "I'm the kind of guy who believes in soul mates. The kind that believes there's only one person out there for you. Meeting you made me think that you were that person, but it wasn't till all this Tommy stuff was thrown in my face I realized you weren't the one."

Remaining quiet like he had asked, she couldn't help but look away. Every break up had to do with Tommy. Almost every break up at least. But yet at the end of the day, the guy who put all her other relationships to an end, couldn't keep a relationship with her at all. Only having one person out there for you never crossed her mind. What if Tommy was that guy for her? What if he wasn't?

"I want you to be happy, Jude." He said while pulling her closer to kiss her forehead, "But I can't be the guy who does it. I've tried for almost a month now and… Well it's just not happening."

"Shane…"

"It won't happen. I see the way you look at him, and I know how I look at you, and it's not even the same caliber. It's not fair for me to keep you away from him."

Knowing she had to say something, Jude spoke up, "Listen, me and Tommy don't work out. We've tried. We've tried more than once and─"

"And you'll try again."

"Shane…" she sighed, "I'm happy. With you. And… I know I might have some feelings for Tommy, but I don't want them anymore. I want to be happy with you."

"And that's the thing. It's what you want, not what you are. You have feelings for Tommy, feelings you'll never have for me. Like I've been trying to get out… I'm okay, because you're happy. That's all I care about. You're happy."

"I'm happy with you though."

He shook his head, the sorrow finally coming forth, "I'm not an idiot. I'm so happy you gave me a chance, and… I'm thankful you let me know that the person for me is still out there. I just have to find her."

And there it was. Words that ended hope. "This is it then? We're… we're breaking up?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes, but she still had strength to hold them in.

He let go of her hands and gave her a tight hug, not wanting to let go. "I love you enough to let you go. It's what I have to do. For both of us."

Tightening their embrace, she let a few tears fall down her face. She'd been dumped… again. Throughout their entire relationship, she saw it just as a fling, and now she was crying because it was over. "I hope you find the girl who you're supposed to be with." She whispered into his ear.

"I hope you and Tommy work things out." He whispered back, kissing her cheek, and keeping her hold on her still, for when he let go, it would really be the end. The end of a relationship he was so excited to start. No one would believe he was the one to call things off, but he couldn't do it anymore. He loved her enough to let her go. That's just what had to be done.

First Commercial

It was near midnight when Tommy wandered down the halls of G-Major. Spotting a light on in Studio A, he made his way down the hall to shut off the lights, but was put to a halt when he spotted Jude inside.

"You Lion King-ed out yet?" he asked, peeping his head in.

Her head quickly glanced over her shoulder, the voice alarming her. "No." she replied, keeping terms simple.

"Girl?" he asked, noticing her tone of voice. "Are you crying?"

Sniffing, she tried hiding her face from him. "No." she replied, her voice evident of tears. Seeing Tommy come around to face her, she spilled what was wrong. "Shane broke up with me."

Sympathy washed over him, "Aw, Jude," he sighed, running a hand down her arm for comfort. "Girl, I'm sorry."

Her eyes stayed straight, focusing on the wall before her. "And I don't know if I'm more upset that I lost another boyfriend or that I lost Shane." She confessed, as Tommy took hold of one of her hands. "What kind of person thinks that?"

"Jude, you're upset, you're probably thinking of a ton of things."

She shook her head, "No. No, I'm just a hallow person."

Sighing, he took her other hand, trying to get her to look at him, "Girl,"

"If you knock on me, I'll echo." She continued, and Tommy noticed she was ready to break. "And now I'm duet-less. Friday's gonna come and there I'll be. Alone."

"You're not gonna be alone."

"Yes I─"

"Jude, I'll sing with you." He told her as she shook her head. "I'll sing with you."

"I still have problems." She mumbled through tears. "Shane broke up with me. Jamie... he's losing Patsy. I'm just getting tired of everything."

Standing up, he pulled Jude with him, "C'mon. It's late."

"He dumped me." She said again, as Tommy tried to get her to stand her ground. "What's wrong with me, Tom?"

"Nothing, Girl. Nothing."

"God," she said as a sob came forth. Her body felt so weak when she noticed she'd been standing up. "Tommy, what's wrong with me?"

Pulling her into his arms, he picked her up and cradled her to his chest shushing her from talking anymore. "C'mon. I'm taking you home."

"I'm so tired," she cried into his chest. "I'm so tired.

"We're goin' home now. It's gonna be okay." He told her, kissing the top of her head for comfort. "I'm takin' you home."

The next few days weren't the easiest. Still in a slight depression, Tommy made sure everyone walked on egg shells around Jude as he put the rest of the show together and when Friday came along, it was like the same ol' Jude.

"On the path unwinding." Mason sang, his voice lowering down, "In the circle… The circle of life." A break in the song came, as the kids watched on the screen behind Mason, the clip from the movie.

"Hey," came Jude's voice as she walked up beside Tommy. "Kids look like they're having fun?"

Tommy nodded, "Looks like they are."

"Ya know," she sighed, "I was six when this movie came out." Jude commented, and Tommy just laughed.

"I was thirteen."

Letting out a chuckle herself, "So, you ready for the big duet Quincy?"

"Singing with you isn't that painful. I'll manage." He joked, causing her to just smile.

"The circle of life! And it moves us a─ll. Through despair, and hope. Through faith and lo─ve. Till we find our pla─ce, on the path unwind─ing! In the circ─le, the circle, of life!" The kids went crazy as Mason tipped his cowboy hat to them. "Thank you." He said into the mic before exiting the stage.

Still applauding from Mason's performance, the kids got even more excited when Jude came on to announce the next act. "You guys havin' fun?" she asked, as the kids cheered with excitement. "Alright, how would you guys like to hear from my back up band?"

More cheers were heard and a few calls of 'SME' broke through the crowd as the Speiderman Mind Explosion filed out on stage to take their place for their act.

"Alright guys, here they are!" Jude announced, pointing to the band behind her. "Wanna hear who can't wait to be king?" she asked, as the kids got even more excited. Smiling out at them, Jude turned toward Speed, placing the mic in his mic stand. "Good luck guys." She told them before making her way off stage.

"Ready?" Speed asked, as Wally and Kyle nodded.

Kyle hit his drumsticks together a few times before cutting in to start off the all too familiar song, causing the kids to jump for joy from the well-known beat. Soon after that Speed and Wally jumped in, and it wasn't long after that that Speed stepped up to his mic to start the show.

"I'm gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware."

Wally stood up to his own mic, taking over his scripted part, "Well I've never seen a king of beasts with quite so little hair."

"I'm gonna be the main event, like no king was before. I'm brushing up on lookin' down, I'm workin' on my ROAR!"

"Thus far, a rather, uninspiring things."

The music pausing for a second, as Speed sang out, "Oh I just can't wait to be king!" the kids in the audience singing along with him.

"You've rather a long way to go young master if you think…"

"No one saying do this," Speed sang as the music tempo slightly changed, "No one saying be there. No one saying stop that. No saying see here!"

"Now see here!" Wally wailed.

"Free to run around all day… Free to do it all my way!"

"I think it's time that you and I, arranged a heart to heart."

"Kings don't need advice from little hornbills for a start."

"If this is where the monarchy is headin' count me out!" Wally sang, mocking the character almost too well, "Out of service, out of Africa, I wouldn't hang about. This child is getting wildly out of wing."

With a big smile on his face, Speed sung into the mic, "Oh I just can't wait to be king!"

Kyle broke into a small drum solo as Speed came back with the starting beat, before continuing on with the song, "Everybody look left, everybody look right everywhere you look I'm, standing in spot light!"

"Not yet!"

The chorus appeared in the back corner of the stage, taking over their part of the song, "Let every creature go for broke and sing! Lets hear it in the herd and on the wing! It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling!"

Jumping to his mic, Speed let out a "Wahhooo!" letting the crew backstage laugh, but the kids were over delighted, for he matched the call from the movie almost exactly. "Oh I just can't wait to be king! Oh I just can't wait to be king! Oh I just can't wa─it… to be, ki─ng!" Speed carried out the last note as the music came to its end.

The kids cheered and applauded as SME took their bows and exited off stage, passing Tommy along the way. "Good job guys." Tommy complimented as he made his way center stage to introduce the next act.

Jude watched from behind the curtains at how Tommy interacted with the kids. She couldn't help but smile when he would make them laugh and applaud for him when he told them about the next act.

"So, you and Tommy ready to feel the love tonight?" Kaiden asked, interrupting Jude's trance on Tommy.

Quickly, Jude let go of the curtain, and faced Kaiden. She knew Kaiden knew what she had been doing, but decided to still try and hide it to her best ability. "What?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you heard me." She replied, "Wonder what you were looking at."

And with those words, Jude turned away from Kaiden, and made her way to the clipboard, overlooking the rest of the performances. "I was watching for Patsy to get on so I can check her name off."

Eyeing her suspiciously, Kaiden let out a small laugh, "You ain't that happy to see Patsy." She told her, but Jude simply ignored her remark. Looking out on stage, she saw the horror on the kids faces. "Patsy's on." Kaiden announced, as Jude over looked her clipboard, checking off Patsy's performance. "I think she's scaring the kids though."

"Seriously?" Jude asked, while pulling the curtain out to peak at Patsy's performance.

"Its clear from your vacant expressions, the lights are not all on upstairs, but we're talking kings and successions." Her voice rose as she jumped to the edge of the stage, "Even you can't be caught unawares!"

"Well they didn't all jump." Jude commented, but Kaiden only shook her head.

"Might not have jumped, but hell, I'm an adult and would probably wet my pants if Patsy jumped at me like that."

Jude let out a chuckle, "I wouldn't go around telling people that."

"So prepare for a chance, of a lifetime, be prepared for sensational news. A shiny new era, is tip toeing near the,"

"And where do we feature?" Speed asked, popping in as one of the hyenas.

"Just listen to teacher." She replied, before her voice rose a few octaves, "I know it's sound sordid, but you'll be rewarded, when at last I am given my dues. And injustice, deliciously squared. Be prepared!"

In the back of the concert, Darius, Liam, Georgia and EJ, watched over, waiting patiently for Jude to make her performance. "And what if this Mike fellow doesn't like Jude?" Liam asked, but Georgia didn't even blink.

"He'll like her."

"Li' have you met someone who doesn't?" Darius asked, taking his eyes off Patsy's performance. "The girl's hit so many number one's, I mean… she's made music history. What record company would be stupid enough to pass her up?"

"Apparently this one." Liam replied, before walking away from the group.

Watching the expression on his face, "Don't cower out Darius." Georgia warned him. "Jude's still a part of G-Major, remember that."

"And unless you love bossing her around that much," EJ cut in, "there really isn't much to think about."

Wanting to drop the conversation at hand, Darius put his eyes back on the stage as the curtains were pulled forward and Patsy had walked off.

On the other side off the curtain, Kaiden and Speed both sat on separate stools waiting for the curtain to pull forward and reveal the audience. The kids cheered loudly as the two held their mics and the background music began, cueing Kaiden to begin her part of the skit.

"I can see what's happening."

"What?" Speed questioned, as the kids in the audience giggled to the all too familiar skit.

"And they don't have a clue."

"Who?" he asked dumbly, getting even more giggles from the crowd.

"They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line. Our trio's down to two."

"Oh."

In a mock-French accent, "Ze sweet caress of twilight," she said sarcastically as she switched her dialect to normal, "There's magic everywhere. And with all this romantic atmosphere, disaster's in the air."

The music picked up as the spotlight quickly moved from the two toward the opposite end of the stage where Jude emerged, mic in hand. "Can you feel, the love, tonight? The peace the evening brings. The world, for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things."

Another spotlight quickly lit up the other corner of the stage as Tommy came from behind the curtains singing his part. "So many things to tell her, but how to make her see? The truth about my past? Impossible! She'd turn away from me." he finished as he joined Jude in the center of the stage.

She quickly walked around him, singing to him over her shoulder, as she hit her next part."He's holding back, he's hiding. But what, I can't decide. Why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?"

Tommy joined Jude in the chorus as he walked toward her, both singing to each other.

"Can you feel, the love tonight? The peace the evening brings. The world, for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things."

They finally both stood next to each other and faced the crowd as they began to sing the final verse together.

"Can you feel the love tonight? You needn't look too far. Stealing through, the night's uncertainties, love is where we are." they finished as the light dimmed on them and another lit up on Kaiden and Speed.

"And if, he falls, in love, tonight." Kaiden began, "It can be, assumed."

"His carefree days, with us, are history." Speed replied, sounding sad, as Kaiden joined him on the last line of the act.

"In short our pal, is doomed." Speed carried out the last note as he threw his arm around Kaiden, pulling her into him, and began to act like he was crying hysterically like the characters had done in the actual movie, although Kaiden was laughing at Speed as the light on them dimmed as well and the curtains came forward.

"Funny I don't remember the song going like that." Kaiden commented as she ran into Jude backstage.

"Like what?" Jude asked while taking a drink of her water bottle.

Catching up to walk beside her, "How you and Tommy made it your love song."

Shaking her head, "No we didn't."

"You changed the lyrics." Kaiden stressed.

Jude continued to shake her head, "Did not."

"It goes, love is where they are, as in Simba and Nala. You two went, we are, as in Tommy and Jude."

"Okay Kaiden," Jude began, turning to face her, "There's nothing going on with me and Tommy. I have─"

"Had a boyfriend."

"I wasn't gonna say that."

"Were too."

"Was not!"

Seeing the two going at it, Speed hurried over, stepping between the two, "Ladies, ladies."

"Enough is enough." Came Darius voice.

Stopping their little fit, they turned their attention to the voice behind them, catching Jude a little too off guard. She was frozen in place as her eyes went over the people before her. "Georgia?"

Kaiden's head flew to Jude, wondering how she knew these mystery people. "Who…" she whispered to Speed, but didn't finish.

"EJ? How… When…" and words left her.

"Well ya gonna stand there all day kiddo, or you gonna say hello?" Georgia asked with a smile on her face and open arms.

Walking over she gave both a hug, still in shock they were actually there. "It's great to see you guys."

"Hey Darius some reporters want a word…" Tommy announced as he walked to the group. "Georgia? EJ?"

"Well that's how everyone else is welcoming us." EJ replied.

He chuckled, "What… What are you guys doing here?"

Darius noticed Tommy's tone and watched as he over looked the scene before him. "Tom, why don't come with me. Georgia and EJ want to talk to Jude."

Tommy kept his eyes on Georgia, trying to put the pieces together and figure why in fact they were there. Feeling Darius take his arm, he let himself be pulled away from the scene before him.

"Lets go find a more comfortable place to talk, shall we?" Georgia suggested, as she EJ and Jude filed out backstage to Jude's dressing room.

"Now, Mr. Speiderman." Kaiden broke the quiet, "Care to explain who these mystery people are?"

"Only if we can find a more comfortable place to talk too." He said with a sly grin, causing Kaiden to roll her eyes before following after him.

"Georgia is not signing Jude." Tommy stated as Darius shut the door behind them.

"Tom─"

"No, Darius!" he fought back. His eyes shot through Darius'. "Jude's career is doing perfectly fine here. Her album is selling great─"

"And that's why Georgia is here."

"No!" he said again, his fist slamming down on the table beside him.

"Jude," Georgia started, "Why don't you take a seat? There's something we'd like to talk to you about."

Smiling she followed what Georgia said and took a seat. "Should I be worried?" she asked with a laugh, trying to hide the nerves.

"Trust me sweetheart." EJ cut in, "This is far from bad news."

"She's right Jude; you have nothing to be worried about."

Nodding, "Alright. So… What's up? What do you need to talk to me about?"

A coy smile came across her face, "How does the word California sound to you?"

"Sounds like it just melted the snow off my doorstep." She joked, not seeing where Georgia was going with this. "Is that where you two've been? D'you sell G-Major to move out there?"

"Jude, I did not sell G-Major." Georgia clarified. "Darius bought me out, but I must say it seems it turned out for the best. Look at where you're at now."

"But what about you guys? You lost the company, your jobs…"

Georgia shook her head. "Temporarily. But like everyone else, we got new jobs."

"Better jobs." EJ added.

"Jude," Georgia began; taking a seat beside her and pulling out a small business card. "Has Darius ever mentioned to you just how many G-Majors are out there?"

Her eye brows furrowed. "There's more than just this one?" Georgia nodded. "So, Darius owns─"

EJ snorted, "Sweety, Darius doesn't own anything."

"Darius simply runs this specific studio here in Toronto, where as the people who do own G-Major records work out of a small office in Sacramento, California."

Jude remained silent, trying to figure out what she was being told. "So… Is that where you guys come in? You…" but she let her words run out, for Georgia shook her head.

"We don't own the company, Jude." She clarified.

"We're in charge of the studio in L.A." EJ announced.

Getting eye contact from Jude, Georgia carried on, "And the studio wants to sign you."

Gaping, still, she miraculously found words, "What?"

Chuckling a little, Georgia handed her the card, "Now, I know this is a lot to take in, but you have to weigh out your options."

"Georgia, you want me to move on the other side of the continent in a new country. What's so different from that G-Major and the one at home?"

"I figured you'd see it like that, so here." Reaching on the inside of her jacket she pulled out a pamphlet, "Read it over. All the pros and cons of the switch."

Looking over the pamphlet, she couldn't focus. Her mind was in overdrive with everything that Georgia had dropped on her shoulders. "Why… So let me get this straight. You flew all the way up here, just to talk to me about signing over my contract to you? Why couldn't you just call me on the phone?"

"Because as easy as that would sound, it's not." Pointing to a name on the pamphlet, Georgia continued, "Mike Phillips. He's in charge of the Los Angeles division for G-Major records. He is the guy who decides who's signed and who isn't."

"Whoa, major déjà vu to when Darius wouldn't let me get the cover." Jude announced while massaging her temples. "So, I have to impress this Mike guy? Georgia, I don't know. I mean, I loved working for you, but… this is my home. I don't know."

Giving her an understanding nod, "How about we make a little deal. You write us a song. Perform it for when Mike comes up. Then you can decide whether you want to stay or not."

Sighing, Jude looked over the pamphlet again. "Just one performance?" she asked. Both Georgia and EJ nodded. "In Toronto?"

"In Toronto."

"And then if he likes me I'm off?"

Shaking her head, "Not exactly. He'll fly back home, go over some figures and you'll get a call about a month later. Plenty of time to think it over."

Nodding again, Jude over looked the two. "Okay. Alright I'll perform for him, but I'm not promising taking off to Cali with you two."

"No promises needed." Georgia clarified while leaving her seat, "Just, look over how much more we're offering you. If you think you're doing great now… Hollywood will shoot you up ten times that much."

Jude nodded again, watching as the two were making their way to leave. "I'll look into it. Make it so you didn't fly up here for nothing."

"Thanks, Jude." Georgia said while opening the door to leave, "We'll keep in touch with you okay?"

"Okay. It was nice seeing you guys." She said as they waved her a goodbye and left her alone. Letting out a deep exhale, Jude fell back on her couch, hoping to process everything Georgia had just dropped off on her.

Second Commercial

Out on the balcony of the rehearsal space, Jude rested her arms on the rail, as she continued to think over Georgia's words. "What am I gonna do?" she asked herself.

"You can talk to me about it." Tommy said, as he came down the steps.

Looking up from her shoes, she saw Tommy come near her. "Hey. How long've you been here?"

He chuckled, "Don't worry. I didn't hear you talking to yourself too much."

Smacking him, she gave a small laugh, "I don't talk to myself."

Taking a place beside her, he mocked her actions by resting his arms on the rail. "So…"

"So…" she repeated, "I'm sure Darius filled you in."

Tommy nodded. "You gonna go?" he asked, looking over to her.

She shrugged. "I don't know. There is a lot more out there for me."

"Yeah," he agreed, "But don't you think they'll offer you that same stuff here. I mean, I'm sure Darius doesn't want to sell you out. He'll match her offer."

"Tommy, this is Darius Mills we're talking about. Do you know how much hell I've put him through since he signed me?"

"And he's still got ya here. And so what if he doesn't match her offer. You're doing fine here. I mean, if Georgia never showed up, you wouldn't know the difference. You would've never thought of L.A."

She smiled, seeing the truth behind his words. "I didn't say I was going." But Tommy's facial expression didn't change. "Want me to stay Quincy?"

Sneaking a glance, he tried to hide that he did. "I want you to do what's good for your music."

"You can say it, Tommy, ya know." She told him, wishing to hear that he doesn't want her to leave.

"Say what? That's you're too tied down here to be heading down to California."

Sighing, she rolled her eyes and found herself staring down at her shoes again, "Yeah. Say that."

Tommy looked over to her and felt a wave of guilt rush over him. Of course he wanted her to stay, and she should know that. Telling her to her face that he wanted her to stay was a little different. Too much background to come off telling her that. He wanted her to stay because he didn't think he could live without her. She'd just broken up with her boyfriend. He couldn't come off saying things like that.

"Georgia seems pretty determined to sign me out there." Jude told him, breaking the awkward silence they had formed.

Tommy let out a sigh before turning to look at her, "What can Georgia possibly give you that you want? That you wanted before she came into the picture."

She smiled, "Well… I have everything I ever wanted right here. Great music, amazing friends, and you."

Trying to hide his grin, he cleared his throat, "So… your answer is?"

"I don't need California. My home is here, with my friends, and where would I be without the producer that gave it all to me?"

"Good." He told her, "Because I don't want my income to drop from not producing you anymore."

Her jaw dropped, feigning hurt. Smacking his arm, "Not funny, Quincy!" she told him as he dodged her attack, laughing under his breath.

"What? You want me to go bankrupt?" he asked, as she smacked him again, holding in her own laughs. "Those BoyzAttack! memorabilia will only last so long."

"Yeah, well keep makin' jokes and there'll be one less white suit." She threatened, holding her own laughter to a minimum.

Tommy chuckled, "Catch me if you can, Miss L.A. One day in that sun, and those white legs will keep you from moving for a month."

Not being able to hold a laugh back on that one, she still went for him, shoving him away, but couldn't help but know, in that moment, this was exactly why she was staying, and could never leave. Because of her producer who gave her it all.


606 Westbound Sign Part One

With Hollywood in the picture, does Jude have too much on her hands?
"Keep your pants on Quincy." she said quickly.
Or can Georgia keep her promise so her decision isn't as hard as it looks?

"You write a single, play it for Mike, you do great, we go out for dinner to celebrate." Georgia explained as they made their way into Studio A. "Easy right?"
Either way, things seem to get complicated.
Georgia nodded her head, but decided to keep prying. "Would she stay for you?" but Tommy didn't move a muscle.
And complicated isn't good.

"Have you guys seen Tommy?" Jude asked, but everyone only exchanged looks, instead of giving answers.
Especially at the last minute.

"Dude, they're about to call you on stage!" Speed told her, trying to snap her out of it.
"Where's Tommy?!"