THE LONGEST A/N IN FUCKING HISTORY AWAITS

This is the point in the story where I feel I must clear something up: THE TIME LINE. Why? Because I feel I've confused people/led them down the wrong chronological path/etc, and it must be set straight. If you've actually been able to follow my "line" up until this point, bypass the proceeding.

Day 1: Chapter 1
Day 2: Chapter 2, 3, and 4 (Late night 3 & 4)
Day 3: 5, 6, and partial 7.
Day 4: 7, 8, 9
Day 5: 10 (EARLY morning), 11, 12 I & II, 13 (mid-afternoon), 14, 15, 16, 17 (very beginning)
---Routine stuff, time passing---
Day 20: 17 (This chapter, I've realized, has a very misleading something I've only caught just now. The time frame I gave it was completely backwards. It kind of sucks since the whole "Rain Man" thing is a joke between me and my friend. LOL) Still on Day 20 – 18, 29, 20, 21, 22, 23

The last chapters (since they are of her disappearance) need to be given a time of sorts. Pt 2 of 17 was in the morning. 18 & 19 – early afternoon. 20 & 21 – mid-late afternoon. 22 – late afternoon. 23 – early-mid evening. Someone mentioned me finally getting to Tommy finding Jude as if to say she thought she'd been gone for ages, but in fact, she's only been "gone" for around 7 hrs. Why are they flipping right now? Each has their own reasons.

Chapters 24 and beyond will all be written to lead up to the resolve. (I've yet to establish how many chapters it will end up being.) What'll go down will have you REELING. And I have a sequel already planned. (Listen; if I have to wait until FEBRUARY for the new season, might as well make the most of it.) I have a couple of prequels I may end up writing as well, but that's a maybe.

OH YEAH! To anyone who has ever wondered what in the hell I was rolling on when I named my chapters, I've provided a supplement: (seven underscores)b (dot) livejournal dot com (forward slash) 18520 dot html (I damn FF for it's hatred of URLs.)

As far as the little things Jude "wrote"... ehh. "Breathe" was from that Seether/Amy Lee song. "Lullaby" was from my own insane 17th year. (I once wrote "Lullaby, Lullaby..." limericks when I was really out of my mind.) "Patented" was from ep 4 and the Q Burger thing. A memory of semi-good times.

Now that I've done this, let's get down to business. It shall be ok. I'm not promising gold, but we'll see what happens...

Oh yes... Beware II – TIME JUMP.

PS: Can you crack this chapter title?

Chapter 24 / No Light Firefly, Runaway from Trains

Instant Star Fades Away

News hit the music world on Monday, and hard! Toronto's own Instant Star, Jude Harrison, has been reported missing after an alleged argument with her producer, Thomas Quincy (of the '90s boy-band BoyzAttack!), sources say. There have been no comments made by her producer, and no statements by her label, G Major Productions.

Sadie found herself crying once again, the realization that her sister could be gone for good dawning and settling deep within her mind. She stared down at the picture of her sister spread across page three, the "top news" headline plastered next to it, skipping and destroying every sentiment that should have been included.

It'd been nearly a week since anyone heard from Jude; nearly a week since Sadie's guilt got the better of her. She couldn't get the freeze frame images to quit flashing every time she closed her eyes; the two of them putting on a show for their parents, protecting Jude in the school yard, and the most recent: the photo shoot they'd shared. She knew they weren't the best of sisters and definitely weren't friends, but she did love her.

She hated knowing the last real conversation the two had was of harsh words and hatred. She regretted telling Tommy that she didn't care about Jude. She wanted so badly to see her sister walk through the doors of their home and to grab her and never let go. Jude was gone and Sadie couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible. If she just hadn't told her mother everything she had... If she just hadn't been so vindictive... If she just hadn't needed to take her anger out on Jude, she might still be there. But she wasn't. She was gone and there was no turning back.

Sadie hadn't left her room in three days, knowing she'd have to walk past Jude's room and listen to her mother ramble on and on about how Tommy did it and what she should have done to stop everything before it turned into the nightmare that it'd become. Her sleep was splashed with grisly images of her sister sleeping on park benches and in alley ways, Jude walking around aimlessly thinking god knows what god knows where, and the worst yet, her sister's body cold and lifeless, lying to decay on a back street no one could find.

I'm sorry, Jude. I'm so sorry. Don't die... Come home...

She collapsed over her bed, sobbing into her down comforter. She pleaded to thin air and bargained with her god, tears soaking the linen beneath her. She blamed herself for the catastrophe that had spun out of control. She knew Jude hadn't meant to hurt her when it came to Tommy, but she just had to have revenge. If only I'd known... WHY! Why did I need revenge so badly?

Her sister was gone and there was nothing she could do to help.

Tommy tossed the home-delivered rag into his passenger seat, sunglasses obscuring his eyes from view. He ran the top of his hand under his nose, sniffing loudly, as he again began driving towards southern Toronto. With his suspension and having stormed out of G Major on not-so-good terms with Georgia, he spent every waking hour of his newfound free time searching for Jude. He felt like a madman, questioning everyone he could think of and burning gas as if just the sound of his car alone would drive Jude out of whatever corner she'd gone to. It was without luck though; he'd always return home alone and that much more desperate.

He'd often times teamed up with Stuart in his searches, the two men venting and building up each other's hopes that today would be the day. They'd return home empty handed, guaranteeing that Jude was probably already at home and if not, they'd find her tomorrow. It built up to five days of mounting madness. He compared his anguish with what Jude could have been going through, and it murdered him. If I feel this bad, what about her?

Tommy couldn't help but notice each time he and Stuart went on their expeditions just how worn he looked and how each day, Stuart became more and more tired. He failed to notice himself, though, his deflated posture and drooping face visible to everyone but him. He just couldn't be bothered. He woke up, showered, and hit the streets. Pomp and circumstance wouldn't bring her back, only rubber to asphalt and the fleeting prayer that he'd see her casually walking the streets as if nothing was wrong.

He'd surpassed the point where he blamed everyone for always interfering and turned against himself. The numerous fights over the past year and some odd months, the lies he'd told himself and made Jude believe, skipping out on her first tour to escape his feelings. So many little things he wished he could change; so many big things he wished he could erase. It became his driving force, his fuel and fire. If anything, he wanted her back just so he could tell her that he loved her and apologize the world over for being so stupid.

Tommy bit down on the inside of his lip, trying to kill the cloudy vision that had consumed him since he'd got home after his fight with Georgia. He again rubbed his running nose and moved to his eyes, tears spilling onto his fingers. He couldn't think about life without Jude, his Jude. Never finding her, never hearing her laugh or seeing her smile. Never again holding her or kissing her. His past had been dark, but a future without the one thing he looked forward to always having blanketed even his most tumultuous times with a blackness he didn't want to see.

I love you, girl... Just... call me at least... Tell me you're okay...

His life had disappeared and didn't know how to get her back.

Victoria paced the cramped quarters of her kitchen, a glass of Cabernet in one hand and the empty tabloid in the other. She sipped her wine purposefully, the bitterness filling her with superficial warmth. She'd tried so hard to keep her daughter's name out of the press junkie's high Times to no avail. Seeing her name written so carelessly only added to her infuriation and trembling depression. She smiled in the picture, presumably happy, but it couldn't have been farther from the truth.

She stopped pacing, killing the rest of her glass, and placing it gently in the sink. Half of her pushed the blame onto Tommy; he'd pushed her over the edge. Jude left because of him. The other half blamed herself; she'd pushed her to the edge. Jude had told her that she needed to get mind okay that day in the café, that everything was driving her crazy. All she could think about was punishing Tommy for the fear she'd felt when her daughter had gone away the first time. She didn't listen to Jude, trying to control the situation like she always did. She just didn't seem to care.

Victoria looked back on her behavior and couldn't believe how heartless she looked. She only wanted the best for Jude, but her best and her daughter's best were worlds apart. It hurt her knowing that she was partially responsible for all that was going on. It hurt her even more than Jude might not ever come back.

I'm sorry, honey.

She'd never called the cops. People advised her that it would probably be the best thing, but she knew it would only cause the mess to intensify. Besides, she wanted to find Jude herself. She'd find her and squeeze the life out of her in a hug, and promise that she'd be more understanding. They could talk and work out all their differences. They could return to being loving mother and daughter once again.

She silently cried, damning everything she could think of damning. Stuart, Tommy, the stupid contest, all the events that had transpired over their year of rifting. They'd all done so much to hurt her, all driven her past the point of insanity, and now she'd vanished without a trace.

Her daughter was missing and she couldn't handle the truth.

The words of Hey, Jude twisted and floated inside and out of Stuart's mind, the near tawdry spread ripping apart his heart. His youngest daughter, his musical companion and equal, his little girl reduced to a few lines that said little but insinuated too much. It made her love seem cheap and harmful, her absence another music low note. He jested on the fact that she admired Kurt Cobain but hated thinking she'd turned into an industry statistic.

How many nights had he stayed up thinking? How many days had he spent with Tommy roaming the ends of the earth to locate her? It all seemed so futile, but he couldn't help but think it did some good, sent some good vibes her way and she was feeling them wherever she was. He was exhausted but couldn't sleep, fearing he'd be awaken by a phone call telling him she was forever gone. What ifs plagued him just like the remnants of what he still had of hers to hold.

Stuart had only reconnected with his daughter and he knew there was so much more talking and time that needed to be shared. He'd missed out on nearly a year of her life and wanted to get it back, but there was no time now for that. He just had to find her, the end. He grabbed his jacket and ran out of the door, thinking over whether or not he should call Tommy to join him. He shook his head to the idea, jumped into his car, and began retracing the miles he'd traveled yesterday.

She'll be out there today. She'll be out there and I can bring her home.

He wound through the intertwining suburban streets, tears rolling from the corners of his eyes and over his cheeks. He didn't care if he killed himself in the search, as long as it helped fight for the cause. She was out there and she would be recovered if it was the only and last thing he did.

His youngest one was astray and the music played on.

G Major was silent save for the rustling of papers, sighs, and occasional footsteps. The atmosphere hung heavily onto everyone's backs. Kwest paced back and forth between sofas while EJ, for once, couldn't find the right thing to say. Georgia kept herself locked in her office, thinking over her decisions and whether or not her laying down of the law was the right move. Interns gaped at the news and the secretaries resigned to taking peeks at the gossip in between calls and speculations. It was the first time everyone collectively noticed how big Jude's role was in the business and it wasn't something that could be swallowed easily.

Their Instant Star was lost waiting to be found.

Where has she gone? Will she return? Has the Star finally faded? There is no word at this time what her disappearance will mean for her, her family, or her label.

---Toronto Explorer