Title: '3rd Time's the Charm' - Instant Star - Part 4

Timeline: set for after 'Lose Your Skin';

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.

January 22, 2000 - 6:57 pm

"I'm serious, Chaz. If I don't see your ass stretching in two minutes, I will stretch you out myself. Got it?" Nicole was running frantically through executive dressing room of the Pavilion in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the last leg of the BoyzAttack tour, promoting their newest album Back in Action. And as of now, the quintet was short a member. "Where the hell is Tommy?" The cell phone in her hand was getting heated from over use, and she was sure her face matched with an equally heated complexion. Tommy wasn't answering and no one had seen him; at the hotel, at the studio, nowhere. With an hour before the show was about to start, and Little Tommy Q, the face of BoyzAttack, was MIA.

"Nicole!" Bru yelled from the couch, peering up from his copy of Time. "Would you please stop pacing? You're going to burn a hole in the carpet or something. Besides you're making me nervous."

"And why aren't you? He's missing, dammit."

"He'll show up." Chaz finally took Nicole's advice and was laid out on the carpet in the center of the room, working his hamstrings. "He always does."

"Here, Nicole." JP came up behind her. "Maybe you should cool off a bit." He spun her around and sprayed her in the face with a bright yellow squirt gun. The whole room burst into laughter, including Nicole herself. "Oh man, I have been saving that one for you ALL DAY!" JP saunted back to the craft service area and high-fived Stevie, who was calmly strumming his Fender Strat guitar.

Nicole used her sleeve to wipe away the drops falling from her face. She saw some of her make-up come off with the water. "I swear, if you made my mascara run-" She was interupted when the phone in her hand started ringing the theme song to "Perfect Strangers." As quickly as she could she flipped open her phone and threw it to her ear. "TOMMY? Oh, Mike. Hey. Still nothing, huh? Well how about the suite at the hotel again? He's got to be..." In her panic over the missing member, she started pacing again and moved to the other side of the dressing room.

Chaz, JP, Bru and Stevie all huddled together when Chaz pulled something out of his jacket pocket. "Nicole's been trying to keep this from us for days now." The colorful paper in his hand was tattered, creased and dented all over, as if it had been read about 50 times already. It was an article from SPIN magazine. The headline was blazing in bright yellow print "The End of BoyzAttack(?)"

Stevie reached out and scanned the article as quickly as he could. "What is this?"

"Apparently," Chaz started as the article was passed around the circle. "someone leaked about the show last month. In Montana."

JP, who tended to be the most light-hearted of the group turned very serious. "You mean where we had to cancel a show and lie about me breaking my wrist in basketball?" He snatched the article violently from Bru's grip. "But when Tommy didn't show up because he didn't 'feel like performing tonight' and decided that 'remastering the new tracks' was more important?" JP's fist was shaking. Even just thinking about the night made him so angry; possibly one of the worst nights of his career.

"Yeah." Stevie said solemnly. "That's the one."

"The press found out about us being on shaky ground. And Bru..." Chaz looked over at his younger brother, "they printed the police report from when you trashed the studio in Atlanta. When you and Tommy were fighting."

"What are we 'fighting' about?" Nicole appeared again, looking a little calmer than earlier. But before JP could fold the article into the cushions of his chair, she had caught sight and knew exactly what it was. "So, you found it."

In a quick motion, Stevie rose from his spot in the group and moved right in Nicole's line of sight. "And when were you going to tell us? Why were you hiding it?"

She was ready for this. "Are you kidding? This is a PR nightmare. I have been working my ass off for the past 3 weeks trying to get the press to focus on something positive with you guys other than the fighting and the 'broken wrists' and missing concert dates. I have been trying to protect you guys."

Chaz moved in behind Stevie. "Protect us? Or protect Tommy?"

The apples of Nicole's cheeks were burning now with his accusations. "Don't you dare! You know that no matter what, the BAND comes first. Not a MEMBER of the band. But everyone as a whole." Now she was sure her face was turning from crimson to purple. "You know perfectly well all the work I put in to keep this all together." She pushed Stevie out of the way and pointed the cell phone antenna into Chaz's face where it was practically touching his nose. "When it comes to BoyzAttack, BOYZATTACK comes first. Never again accuse me of favoritism when it comes to my job." She dropped the phone to her side and walked out the suite door into the hallway. She just needed a minute...to cool down.

Her back hit against the cold concrete and she slid down to the ground. The cell phone in her hand showed her nothing but the time. No incoming calls. Frustration gave in and she threw it against the wall across from her. It cracked and broke into a hundred electronic bits across the floor. Nicole curled her legs into her chest and rested her head on her knees. Her head was pounding and her body was shaking. They cornered her. Her own group, had cornered her.

Realization was beginning to take shape in Nicole's mind...everything that she had worked so hard for was beginning to fall apart. All the blood, sweat and tears that had gone into BoyzAttack, and in a matter of seconds it felt like it could all end. Especially without-

"Nicole." She lifted her head from her knees and saw Tommy coming down the hall toward the suite. She stood as fast as she could and ran over to throw herself into his arms and squeezed as hard as she could, breathing in his scent until she felt a little more at ease.

"Tommy." She kissed his lips very softly and then stepped back and smacked his chest with an open palm. "Where the hell have you been? Do you know how worried I've been? How many people I've sent out there looking for you?"

Tommy rubbed the area where Nicole slapped him and looked down at the floor. He wasn't talking and he looked unmistakably serious. "Tommy. What's the matter? What's going on?"

He took in a breath before he spoke, summoning up every little reserve of courage he possessed in his bones. "I can't do this anymore." No matter what aspect of his life he was referring to, whether it was her or the band, either would be devastation to Nicole.

"What do you mean? Do what?" She moved forward and ran the back of her hand across his cheek. When he didn't answer immediatly, she asked more forcefully. "Do what, Tommy? Talk!"

"I'm done with this, with the band. It's not for me anymore. I want to go solo...I quit." The Q-bomb. It hit Nicole like a truck to the torso. That was it. It's over.

"You can't do this! You have a contract, Tommy!" She began to pace again in her agrivation. "You have bandmates in there, friends. You have fans out there, that paid $75 from their allowance money to see you sing tonight."

"WHO CARES? Who cares about Little Tommy Q anymore? NO ONE! That's who. The BoyzAttack era is over. It has been for awhile now."

She couldn't believe the words she was hearing. Her entire career had been destroyed with just a few syllables. Now, Nicolette Andromedia was a has-been. Tears started gathering in the corners of her eyes, and before she could control them, sobs escaped her lips, and rivers flowed down her cheeks. "You asshole." Her voice was cracking, stiffled by cries. "You selfish, egotistical asshole! You get to make ALL the decisions now, huh? You're suddenly in charge of all our careers! You had a group that was not ready to give up on this. I wasn't ready! For any of it to be over! It's too big to just walk away from."

"I'm not happy, Nic! I haven't been for months now!" He ran his fingers through his hair. "I thought that after I left the clinic that things would get better with the group. That I would want to do this again. But I can't! I can't make this work! I don't want to make this work."

Nicole began massaging her forehead. She rested her head against the wall, and quietly beat her fists against the cinder blocks. "I can't believe what I'm hearing." She whispered.

"C'mon baby..." Tommy moved forward and tried to hug Nicole but his arms didn't come even close to her body before she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me. Don't come near me! Don't even THINK about coming near me!" Now she was close to a breakdown. "You've ruined everything. You've ruined them, and you've ruined me. My career is over! My life is complete shit now!"

"Nicole, c'mon. We can start again, just you and me. Just because I don't want this doesn't mean I don't want you with me. You and I-"

"Get out of here, Tommy." Her voice growled. "Get out!" He tried to hold onto her again and this time, she threw a fist at his face, and connected. She heard a soft crack and Tommy stumbled backwards clutching his jaw. He rubbed it, to try to ease the pain, but Nicole wasn't through with him yet."You failed me, Tommy." Her voice fell like daggers on her own ears. To even think about this made her heart break. "There is no more 'you and I' anymore. You failed me as a friend, as your manager, and...as a love, you are a failure."

The glare from Nicole's eyes could have made a fire shiver, and Tommy obviously defeated, and quite possibly fractured, headed for the exit of the Pavillion.

Even after he had disappeared from sight, Nicole still had to do her part as manager...and perform the hardest task ever given to her.

She tried to wipe the leftover tears from her face, but they just kept on flowing. When she looked down at her sleeve, large black blotches laid all up and down her arm. Her mascara was most certainly running now. After a minute of trying to make herself look as together as possible, she breathed in deep, and opened the doors to the suite.

Before the door had even shut behind her, Bru, Stevie, Chaz, and JP were all standing up, gasping at Nicole's deshelved appearance, puffy eyes, and tear-stained cheeks. "Guys...it's over. It's all over."

The late afternoon bash at Sam Managhan's was exactly like every other party Jude had gone to. Scantily clad women running around a pool. A bar fully stocked with little colored umbrellas all over from discarded drinks. Music blaring across a make-shift dance floor with bodies girating across the squares. In the short time Jude had experienced fame, every party she had gone to looked exactly the same.

She really had no desire to be there. Between the offer from Nicole, the tension between her and Tommy, and Jamie. 'Oh god, Jamie.' Before she had a chance to enter that thought track, Tommy pulled on her upper arm towards the center of the party.

"Tommy, c'mon." But the pulling continued. "Can't we just i tell /i Georgia I came and schmoosed? I really don't want to deal with this right now."

"And you think I do?" The pair reached the pool and hovered around there for some time. One on one, they didn't have much to say to each other, and both had to attend an event against their will. "Look," Tommy finally broke their awkward silence, dotted with squeals from the models and back-up dancers splashing around them. "the quicker you find Sam, the sooner we can leave." Jude didn't move but stared back at Tommy like a petulant child. "So go and find him!" He gave Jude's back a shove and sent her out into the wilds of the party. She turned back and tried to beg Tommy to leave, even if it was with a devastated look, but it was met with a wave of his hand and she stomped away from the pool towards the mansion.

His confidence was such a sham. Tommy honestly didn't want to be there just as much as Jude, but the big G, sent him on a mission and he did what his boss said. He swaggered over to the bar, and asked for a water. "With lemon". The cool ice clicked against his teeth as he scanned the party looking for someone to make the hour pass by faster.

There wasn't anyone...anyone that he hadn't seen before or met, or been bored with in the past. And he caught sight of brown curly hair across the way, bobbing excitedly next to a blond woman with curly hair, and he knew. Nicole was here. After last night, after the Sentry where he swore to himself that he was happy he would never have to see her again if he didn't want to, another part of him was almost excited about her being at Sam's. He took his glass and his pink paper umbrella and followed the same path Jude took across the party.

Before he had a chance to open his mouth, Nicole turned around. Her deep brown orbs locked with his light blue. With her gaze, Tommy felt his knees go weak. "Well," Nicole spoke, her martini sloshing around in her hand. "look at what the cat dragged in."

"What happened to your name at the bottom of my check at the end of the month?" He wasn't quite sure how he should have been feeling at the moment.

"Cool it, T." She took a quick drink from her martini. "I'm here just the same as you are." Her free hand pointed out towards the dance floor. "I'm pushing my product." Tommy looked out to where Nicole was pointing and saw Jude, speaking to a few random rap moguls who he recognized as aqquaintances of her ex-boyfriend, Shay. "We both have to attend these functions, and make the rounds." She downed the last of her drink and thrust the empty glass into Tommy's hand. "And that's where I'm heading."

She walked away with the nameless blonde girl bouncing behind her and giggling excitedly, and Tommy was left alone...and frankly, a little pissed.

Her phone had been ringing almost every 10 minutes like clockwork since last night. She didn't even have to look anymore. She knew it was Jamie.

And Jude really did feel horrible about ignoring him, but she honestly had no idea what she would say once she did decide to pick up. It ended so awkwardly last night, after Jamie had leaned in...after that, he just packed up and left, without another word, only a look of complete and utter embarrassment. She tried to chase him down, but he just ran next door, and slammed the door. And now he wanted to talk to her...it was too much to handle.

Add on top of everything else, less than an hour ago, she got accosted by members of Shay's posse, who were making attempts to be nice, but only made Jude feel more miserable. Apologizing for their boy's bad behavior, and saying how much they preferred her to Eden.

So, here she was. With the past with Shay, the present with Tommy, and the future with Jamie all in question. Without even realizing, completely lost in her own thoughts, she plopped down in a chair and just tried to think. It was almost another hour before Tommy found her, sunken into a deep red armchair in the center of the house.

"What are you doing?" he shouted. His day was already bad enough that he didn't need to deal with Jude acting like this. "Have you found Sam?"

She could barely squeeze the words out. But Tommy was able to hear amongst the breathy voice, a very audible 'no'.

"Jude! What the hell? We've been here all day. And you haven't gotten anything done?"

"I'm sorry, okay." She still didn't move from her chair. "I have a lot on my mind right now."

"WE ALL DO JUDE!"

"FINE! Look, I'm going." She rose from the chair and headed out from the room calling out Sam's name saying and calling out childish phrases like "olly olly oxen-free" and "come out come wherever you are".

As if his day wasn't hell enough, he and Jude were at each other's throats again. He needed out. He couldn't be there anymore. He descended Sam's staircase, across the courtyard, through the party, and to the parking lot where his blue Camaro waited to take him to freedom.

The keys were in the ignition, and he was ready to pull out when there was a tap on his window.

"Where you going off to in such a hurry?" It was Nicole.

"What do you care? I'm just your bus boy." Another encounter with the woman who had pretty much turned his life into misery since she showed up.

"Oh don't be that way. It was only a joke." His stone cold gaze hadn't softened, even after the little chuckle offered to lighten the mood. "Well, your sense of humor has really gone downhill since the last time I saw you."

Tommy stared down at his steering wheel and fiddled with the keys in the ignition. "I haven't exactly had that much to laugh about lately." He paused and pretended to mess with the gear shift. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be off being best friends with Sam and every other person in the music biz?"

"I was worried. You just stomped out of the party, not even a word to anyone. You didn't even look like you were looking for someone to say goodbye."

"Well, I wasn't."

Nicole's expression was obviously disappointed. And Tommy could see it. After all that they had been through, he couldn't believe that they had reached this point: where everything they said to one another could be painful. Off in the distance, behind the mass of cars and towards the area of the backyard bash, "Waste My Time" was blaring over the speakers. Tommy shifted in his seat, and Nicole knew her concern wasn't welcome. "Well, that's my cue." She headed off back towards the guitar beats and rap solo.

She had barely made it 50 feet when Tommy's car pulled up beside her. "Do you want to get out of here?" Tommy yelled through the open passenger side window.

"I don't think that's a really good idea." Nicole continued to stare forward, taking careful steps across the gravel lot in her heeled shoes.

"C'mon." He pleaded. "I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have been an ass." She was still moving slowly, but not even giving Tommy the satisfaction of eye contact. "It's obvious we both don't want to be here. C'mon..."

He popped open the passenger and stopped the car. Nicole looked into the interior, and back to the party, Jude's voice still filling the mansion and courtyard around them. "Alright."

Mission accomplished. Jude had managed to find Sam, have a conversation with him about her new album, play the single at the party, and convince the editor-in-chief of Blender Magazine to do a feature story on her when the album dropped. All in a matter of a half hour. She had to pat herself on the back. And hopefully Tommy would too...when she found him, and they could get out of there.

After nearly an hour of searching every little crevice of the spread, Tommy was still missing. i He can't have left...could he? /i She moved her way across the parking lot to the spot where she was sure she and Tommy had parked a few hours ago. But it was empty, and his car was nowhere else to be found in the lot.

Jude couldn't believe what was happening. Tommy had ditched her. He had actually left her alone somewhere without even a word of where he was going or if he would be back. But she could guess from the time that he wasn't coming to pick her up and take her home. She racked her brain trying to think of people to call. Georgia would have left the G-Major office by now. And EJ would have been right behind her. Her mom was at work, and her dad...well, nevermind.

The first number she found was Sadie's but no one picked up. She left an urgent voice message which she was more than certain would go ignored. She tried Tommy, for the 14th time, but he wasn't picking up either. As she shut her phone and was about to put it back in her pocket, it started to ring. She prayed it was Tommy, or anyone at this point who could help her out. But instead...it was Jamie, again. But at this point, she didn't have a choice but to answer...

"Hello?" She tried to cover it as best she could, but she knew he voice gave away her panicked state. And Jamie was never one to miss out on those little twinges in her voice...that's what made him her best friend.

"Jude? What's going on?" Jamie's voice now matched Jude's panic.

"Nothing." She stuttered. "Nothing...really. I mean...Jamie," She took a deep breath and sighed away from the phone's receiver. "Can you do me a huge favor?"