Hi--Here's the next chapter. I realized that it's actually appropriate that we're moving on to Chapter 20, as this chapter brings Jude and company into the third and final full day stuck in the house. But before then, we see Tommy get some words of wisdom from Sadie. Anyway, thanks again for all of your amazing reviews--you guys always have the best feedback and ideas. I love it all. Enjoy!

"Sadie, I really need your help. I need to get her back," Tommy said.

"Back? Why is she gone?" Sadie asked, confused.

"Well, I sort of made the mistake of starting something last night and then taking it back this morning, so now she won't even talk to me. I don't want to upset her any more, but I can't seem not to," Tommy said sincerely.

"So that explains the overly dramatic interest in Drew…," Sadie thought aloud, to which Tommy nodded in agreement. She turned back to him. "Well, you've kind of been a jerk to her. Not more than you were to me, but a jerk nonetheless," she said, her tone warming.

"I know. I need your advice. You know Jude and you know me—do you think there's hope for me?"

"Maybe, depending on how you handle this," she said, leaning against the dryer in thought. "First, don't try to make things right until you're positive as to what you want. If you go back to her with doubts, she's going to know and then your chance will be gone."

"Okay, but let's just say, hypothetically, that's not an issue. That I know what I want. Then what?"

"Hypothetically? I would work to gain her trust. Be there for her. Show her that you're serious and that you're not going to run away. She's not going to want to be with you until she knows you're not going to hurt her again."

He nodded, "Okay."

"And don't just make her believe it—you have to believe it yourself. For somebody who has more confidence than anybody I've ever met, you always seem so anxious whenever it comes to my sister."

"Tell me about it," he admitted shaking his head.

"If you do this, make sure you're smart about it. Don't make it harder than it needs to be."

"Got it," he said, leaning over to hug her. "Thanks, Sadie. That was really helpful."

She hugged him back, "Listen, Jude and I have had our differences, but the girl is still my blood. I'm stuck with her even when you're out of the picture. If you play your cards right, then maybe that won't be so fast," she said grinning. She felt at ease with the situation, like she had genuinely helped him and her sister and had even received the closure she needed.

"I think I'm going to find Ryan," Sadie said.

"Okay, thanks again," he said humbly.

"Well, thank you," Sadie replied, leaving Tommy alone. He stood there for a few moments, recalling everything that Sadie and Kwest had told him. He knew what he had to do, but it wasn't going to be easy.

"Jude, it's your turn," Drew said. "Jude?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry," she said, taking a card from the stack and discarding one from her hand.

They were back to playing Gin Rummy. Drew tried to make Jude love the game, but so far, she only loved watching the drama unfold around her.

Jude watched Sadie and Tommy enter the laundry room, immediately followed by Ryan and Kristen sneaking upstairs. She waited to hear yelling coming from the laundry room, but no such noise was heard. Everything was quiet until Sadie came out half an hour later actually looking pleased. Moments later, Tommy emerged, also looking content, which only piqued Jude's curiosity. She watched as Sadie went upstairs to find Ryan, expecting to hear more yelling. But she and Ryan appeared, walking hand in hand down the stairs, with Kristen following. Finally, she realized that Jamie and Kat were missing too, but brushed this off as being semi-normal.

Jude kept thinking about what had transpired between Sadie and Tommy. Why did they look so happy? She couldn't concentrate, so she told Drew she was going to sleep. As they hugged goodnight, Drew studied her face, which was scrunched up in thought.

"Jude, I have to ask you…is there something going on with you and your producer?"

Jude sighed. "Drew, I thought we already discussed this. Tommy and I are just friends."

"I know what you told me, but I also know what I saw. Yesterday and today. There's something going on, I'm just not sure what." Jude looked down at the ground. He continued, "Look, I like you. And I got the sense that you liked me, at least yesterday morning and this afternoon. But in between, you seem like a totally different person. I don't get it."

Jude looked up. "I like you too and I have fun hanging out with you. I can't make any promises as to where this is going, but that doesn't mean I don't want to find out. I just need some time."

"So you're just going to jump from him to me during that time?"

"Tommy and I are friends, so we're going to talk, I hope you can understand that. But I want to get to know you better without rushing into anything." At that, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, hoping he was content with her response, and they separated.

Jude lay in her sleeping bag later that night thinking.

Why was she so fixated on Tommy's conversation with Sadie? Was she giving Drew the run-around the same way she was getting it? She didn't want to lie to him or lead him on. And since Tommy wasn't about to come back to her anytime soon, she knew she had to let go of her feelings for him and move on with Drew, if that was possible. She fell asleep trying to count Drew's good qualities and forget all of Tommy's.

"Jude, wake up."

Jude moaned and turned over to her side, hugging the side of her sleeping bag.

"Jude, I need to talk to you. Honey, wake up, this is important."

Jude turned back, starting to recognize the voice over her.

"Mom?"

"Good morning," her mom whispered, crouching down next to her daughter.

"What time is it?" Jude asked, sitting up.

"A little after 7:00. I need you to come into the kitchen. I have to tell you something but I don't want to disturb everyone else."

Jude nodded and stood, still squinting at the morning light. She followed her mom into the kitchen. She looked out the window on her way to see that the snow had stopped coming down.

She entered the kitchen, still half-asleep, and saw Sadie sitting at the counter looking equally tired. Jude sat down next to her as her mom stood across from them.

"Girls, I need to tell you something. I'm sorry to get you up so early but it's important," she started. Jude noticed that her mom was clutching her cell phone.

"What is it?" Sadie asked.

"I turned my cell phone on this morning—it had been off for the last couple of days to conserve the battery, but I figured I should check for messages," she explained as Jude and Sadie nodded in understanding. "Anyway, I turned it on and there was one message on there," she said, looking down, clearly getting emotional. "Girls, there's been an accident."

A/N: I know this last event might seem a bit random, but as always, I promise there's a method to the madness! You'll see how it fits in with the next update, bear with me :-)