Title: '3rd Time's the Charm' - Instant Star
Timeline: set for after 'Lose Your Skin'; Jude's father has left. Tommy and Jude have dismissed their kiss from her birthday; Jamie and Kat have broken up
Pairing: Tommy/oc , Jude/Jamie
Synopsis: When a former flame of Tommy enters the picture, he has to decide between the love of his life or the girl who showed him there was more. And now Jude needs to find shelter in the arms of the one who was there all along.
Note: I got the idea for this story after seeing the preview for "All Apologies". I thought about how things would be if Tommy really had to come a long way before he was the "Nice Guy" he is now. What if the past had much darker secrets than Jude knows about, and it's come back...
"Great session, Jude." Tommy spoke over the mic into the studio. "Just one...just...I'll be in a sec."
Jude couldn't help but snicker a little at Tommy's comments. Things had been a little rocky between them for a few weeks now, ever since the last show...where he found her in the arms of Jamie and after he misinterpreted her newest song, making him seem even more pompous than he already was. Gone from being friends and confidants to barely being able to speak to each other about anything other than the latest lyrics or more than two minutes was not only awkward, but heart-breaking.
But right now, it was all about the music. She had just put the finishing touches on her new song, "Pride Struck". She felt it was her most mature song yet, and with Tommy's help, they were ready to release it as the new single next week. And as much as she hated to admit it, she did need Tommy's expertise in the studio to make the song perfect. But she knew whenever he wanted to talk about, it usually held some amount of criticism. The lyrics, most likely were the target. The meetings post-recording were always about the lyrics. She fished around on her music stand and found her sheet of lyrics; scratched out lines, whited out words, and a coffee stain decorated the bottom from last night's writing session when Jamie spilt his entire extra-large skinny latte all over the paper.
Tommy pushed through the door to the studio. "Really Jude. The song is good so far. It's just..." He reached out and snatched the lyrics from Jude's hand. "...this part, here." He pointed out the bridge. "I don't think its working. 'You took my heart / And put it on a platter./ Gonna run for the stars / And climb the ladder.' It seems...juvenille. Like you weren't even trying."
"I know. Jamie and I...we were having problems with that last night." She had never said something so monotone in her life, and she meant it that way.
"Oh." Tommy ran his hand through his hair, and shifted uncomfortably his designer, yet rebellious combat boots. He and Jamie had had it out the last time Jude performed also. Then again, Tommy and Jamie seemed to have it out every time they spoke. "Well, still. I think this needs to be change Maybe work on this part and this-."
Jude pushed herself off the stool, and in a swift motion, grabbed the war-ridden lyric sheet. "Fine. I'll iwork/i on it." And headed for the door.
"C'mon Jude." The outburts and the snide comments had been going on for weeks now, and Tommy was starting to reach the end of his rope. "How long are we going to act like this?-"
She stopped her angry marching path, and waved the sheet above her head. "Believe it or not Tommy. I can handle this on my own. I don't need this from you." She turned back and walked straight out of the studio.
Tommy followed her towards the lobby of course. "Jude. Jude! Will you just knock it off?" His shouts bounced off the walls but Jude ignored them as she tried to make her escape.
"Jude? Jude Harrison?" In her stomp across the lobby, Jude had failed to notice the woman, even though she was almost standing in her path towards the exit.
"Yeah." She turned back around and looked at the stranger in her midst.
"Oh my god. It's a pleasure to meet you. I followed the Instant Star competition, and you were amazing. I was rooting for you the whole time."
"Thanks." Jude eyed the woman carefully. She was taller than most of the girls Jude knew, including herself. Her hair was brown and curly, and pulled back with a few tendrils hanging in her face. She wore a glittery white flowing skirt, and a brown peasent top, matched with chunky brown and gold belt. She was a little overweight, but still had a pretty face. It was her eyes mostly that made her so appealling, deep brown, with a ring of green around the iris. But Jude was careful not to be drawn in too much. People who complimented her like this woman was doing usually wanted something. "Who are you?" Jude kept looking over the woman's shoulder. She was really hoping to be out the door before she saw Tommy get out of the studio, but he was already rounding the corner and heading towards her.
"Oh, completely forgot. How rude of me." She threw her arm out almost immediatly. "Nicolette Andromedia. You can call me-"
"Nicole." Tommy had come up behind the woman, almost breathing onto her shoulder. And when he got that close and realized who this woman was, he completely froze in place, his mouth gaping open.
Nicolette casually turned her gaze backwards for just a moment. "Hello Tommy." She turned back around and turned all of her attention to Jude. "Nicole. Yes, you can call me 'Nicole.'
Jude put her hand out and shook Nicole's hand out of curtousy. "Nice to meet you." She drew her hand back and folded her arms across her chest. Her gaze moved over to Tommy, who was starting to breaking out of his trance, shaking his head and moving his eyes rapidly around the room. "So, how can I help you?" Seeing as how obviously uncomfortable Tommy was, Jude planned on making this conversation last as long as possible.
"Well, actually." Nicole opened up the Louis Vutton briefcase in her hand and started fishing through the papers within the folds. "I came here to make you a proposition." She found her item, a bright blue packet of papers, folded into an accordian shape. "Here." She held the papers out to Jude. "Take them."
Jude took the packet and quickly scanned over the top sheet. Tommy had finally managed his way over between Jude and Nicole, forming a triangle within the group. He tried to peek over the top of the papers to see what Jude was reading. "What is this?" She asked after a few seconds of quick reading.
"It's a song-writing contract." Nicole smiled politely, but Jude's expression still showed confusion. "I am the manager of BoyzAttack, and I want you to write a song for the group."
The packet nearly dropped out of Jude's hands as she and Tommy both felt their breath catch in their chests. BoyzAttack!" She shouted. "But isn't that-" She waved her finger towards Tommy.
"Yes. It is Tom's former band." She bent down and grabbed the stack on the floor. "But the group has gotten back together, information not yet released to the public. And they need a killer single in order to make their 2nd debut known to the world." She once again made the handoff, but the papers fell limp in Jude's hand.
"But...I...I don't understand." Jude's glances went back and forth from Tommy to Nicole for a few moments, hoping one of them would give some sort of explanation. But Tommy's expression was just as dumbfounded as hers.
Nicole smiled still. "It's very simple actually. BoyzAttach has decided after a string of unsuccessful solo careers, that it would be in their best interest to get the group back together." Jude was about to speak with her finger still pointed at Tommy, trying to sputter out fragments of words. Tommy also seemed just as interested in hearing what Nicole had to say next. "And the group decided it was also in their best interest if Tom did not join the new lineup." She seemed very proud of herself despite the surprising news she had just delivered.
Tommy and Jude on the other hand, shared stunned glances, neither one of them knowing what to say.
"So, what do you say Jude? Are you interested in helping a group relaunch?" Jude blinked several times, looking at the blue packet a little more intensely this time.
"Well, I...I guess but-" Jude finally managed to sputter out.
Nicole started to fasten her briefcase closed. "Listen, I know it's a big decision to make right now. But I really want you to think about it. I wasn't trying to butter you up before when I said you were talented. I honestly think that you would be the best person for the job. So please, think it over. And-" A business card had appeared from her hand and she snuck it on the top of Jude's pile. "Call me when you've made your decision, either way." She started for the glass doors of the lobby, her heels clicking on the hardwood floors below her. She turned around in her stride and looked back at the pair. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Jude and it was nice seeing you again, Tommy." She was smiling again, but this was a different one than before. This was softer, and gave Nicole the appearance of a child. And with that, she walked out the doors towards the elevator.
After trying to make sense of the words on the paper, Jude looked over at Tommy, who looked as if he was trying to do the same. "What was that?" Jude squeaked.
"Nicole. She...uh...I..." Tommy stopped midsutder and looked at Jude. "I'll be right back." He grabbed the papers and the business card and in Jude's hands and bolted towards the door, his boots hitting hard against the floor and his denim jacket waving behind him. He made it through the glass doors and towards the elevators, where he made it just in time to throw his hand between the closing metal doors and step into the box alone with Nicole.
"That was quick. I forgot you could run so fast." Nicole said with a half-smile across her lips.
"What are you doing here?" Tommy said, somewhat breathlessly.
"I thought I had made that clear in my meeting just now."
"I know you Nicole. Why are you here? You KNOW I've been working with Jude since the end of the competition." He started waving the blue packet in front of her face. "And I didn't even think you would be twisted enough to pull something like this. Why didn't you tell me about the group rejoining?"
"Who are you kidding? Even if I called you and told you of the plans, you wouldn't have joined anyway. If I remember one of our last conversations correctly, I think it was 'Who cares about Little Tommy Q anymore? No one! That's who!' Especially you. You're too busy now being Tom Quincy, record producer. Far to self-important to help out with the band that made you what you are."
"BUT COMING HERE? To ask for Jude's help? She's under my care. Her career is in my hands! What kind of move is that, coming here and asking for her help?"
"She's gained national attention for her song-writing, Tommy! You didn't cause that. She's new, she's fresh, and as of this moment, she is unfazed by the music business, and that's what I needed for this new song! That's what BoyzAttach needed for their song. Something different and unaffected. Raw." She huffed, and Tommy thought he saw smoke come out of her nostrils. "Don't let your ego get to you. I'm here for Jude and her talent alone. I would have rather you heard the news about BoyzAttach when the rest of the world did."
The elevator reached the bottom floor, and the doors opened with a ding into the lobby towards the bright sunlight street outside. Nicole walked briskly out, and Tommy was right at her heels. He wasn't finished yet. "Stop!" He shouted as they walked outdoors. She stopped at the command and turned around. The pleasent smile she had been wearing most of the time they had seen each other had given way to an annoyed grimace. "Why didn't you even bother asking me? Not even a phone call?"
Nicole sighed a little and stared deep into Tommy's eyes. "Because I knew it would be like this. Hostile, shouting. I know you too well." She twisted slightly towards the street, and waved her arm in the air, hailing one of the first cabs speeding by. She walked towards and opened the door, and threw her briefcase in. "I have a meeting at Atlantic right now. Why don't you meet me at The Sentry tonight? Eight o'clock. We can talk about this then." Before Tommy could say a word, Nicole had climbed into the cab, and it headed down the street and got lost within the busy city traffic.
Tommy didn't bother returning to the studio. He figured, at this point, he wasn't going to be able to get much done anyway. He was too preoccupied. He went back to apartment and poured himself a small glass of Scotch from the cabinet in the living room. It was six o'clock. Only a couple of hours until his dinner.
The phone by the window starting ringing, and had rung about 5 times before Tommy reached the ledge.
"It's Jude. Sorry to bother you at the apartment but you weren't picking up your cell."
Tommy took another quick sip before setting his glass on the table. "No it's fine. What's up?" For the first time in what seemed like ages, Tommy and Jude were having a civil conversation with one another.
"You just...disappeared when Nicole had left, and I didn't know if everything was alright." There was a slight pause. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah." Tommy was lying. "Everything's fine. I just didn't expect Nicole to show up like that." He massaged his temple with his free hand.
"Did you know? Like, before hand? About BoyzAttack."
"Uh...yeah. Of course I did."
"It didn't look like it. You seemed kind of surprised."
"Nah, it wasn't that. It was...I didn't think Nicole would come by the label. It was a shock to me."
"She was your old manager?"
"Yeah, she managed BoyzAttack when we first formed the group. And I guess, that's what she's still doing."
"Well, I didn't know what you were up to tonight, if you wanted to swing by, and maybe we could go get a pizza and watch a movie or something."
Tommy threw his head back and stared at the ceiling. It sounded so appealing, even if he did consider himself to be out of the 16-year-old "extra-cheese-and-blockbuster" phase. "I would really like to but I have plans already tonight. You know, catching up on work I put off today."
"Oh yeah. Of course." Jude obviously sounded disappointed. "Gotta do what you gotta do, right? So, some other time then."
"Yeah. Some other time." There was another silence as Tommy moved towards the window from his penthouse and watched the sun set over the city. "I gotta go, Jude. See you tomorrow." And before she could say a word, he hung up the phone and placed it back into the cradle next to him.