A/N: This is a oneshot, but it has two parts. Um, there's some language, so be forewarned.That's about it, so I hope you read it and like it! Please review if you want the second part!

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, Tommy, Jude, or the song "Scars" by Papa Roach.

Part 1: Stupid

He was weaving through traffic, one hand casually on the wheel as he jerked it back and forth, maneuvering between the other cars. As for a speed limit? It didn't exist in his world. His electric blue baby could leave any cop that tried to challenge him in the dust.

Bored and restless, he switched on the radio. The song on the current station annoyed him, so he turned on scan, hoping for a decent song to be playing. A familiar voice soon caught his attention.

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And my scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel...

Hearing the words, he pressed his foot down on the accelerator.

...I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you're drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassion's in my nature
Tonight is our last stand...

The lights from buildings flew by faster and faster and became a yellow blur.

...Cause you're drowning in the water
And I tried to grab your hand
And I left my heart open
But you didn't understand
But you didn't understand
Go fix yourself...

The indicator on the speedometer continued to increase...65, 70, 75, 80, 85.

...I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life...

And he just kept going and going and going, like the energizer bunny.

...I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And my scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel...

But then he suddenly stopped.

...And that was Jude Harrison, the Instant Star from eight years ago, with her new single "Scars." Now on to the local weather forecast...

Because the light turned red.

He switched the radio off again. Anger began to boil through his veins. Without a second thought, he swerved through two lanes until he reached the median. Once there was a break in the cement barrier he smoothly completed a 180, despite the sign that had a giant "U" in a red circle crossed out.

xxxxx

Coming to a screeching halt in his driveway, he leapt from his car and stormed up to the front door of his gigantic house. He grabbed the handle and shoved inward with his shoulder, unexpectedly being repelled backwards as the lock was strained against the doorframe. Shouting an expletive, he flipped through his key ring until coming to the correct key and jamming it in the keyhole. After flinging open the door, he stormed up the staircase towards the master bedroom.

This time, the door wasn't locked when he yanked on it. He gazed around the dark room, then flipped the switch to turn the lights on.

At the sudden brightness, a figure stirred in the bed, trying to rouse from the deep sleep which had consumed them until this abrupt intrusion.

Seeing the movement, he yelled, "What the hell was that?"

The shouting didn't startle the aroused, merely hastened her sitting up, revealing long, silky waves of auburn hair. After rubbing her eyes, she pushed her hair out of her face and blinked rapidly, trying to adjust her eyes to the bright light.

"Well? Answer me, dammit!"

Still, she didn't reply, not having fully escaped from her sweet dreams and regained consciousness to this contemptible world.

"Tommy?" she asked softly. "What's going on? What time is it?"

"Who cares what fucking time it is! Now answer me!"

Finally completely awake from her reverie, she began to comprehend the situation. Releasing a weary sigh, she calmly asked, "What was what?"

Her calm demeanor had the opposite effect and only fueled his rage. "Don't play stupid with me! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

Apparently her patience was at an all time low this night, because she immediately snapped. "Don't you dare call me stupid! I'm not the one who comes home at"--she glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand--"two o'clock in the morning and barges into our bedroom yelling while someone is obviously trying to sleep! And I don't know what the hell you're talking about, because obviously if I did I wouldn't have to ask you!"

Tommy ground his teeth, every fiber of his being overwhelmed with an incredible anger. "Fine. I'm talking about your song. Explain it. Now."

"You're gonna have to be a little more specific than that, Tommy, because I have over a hundred songs. I'm not psychic; how am I supposed to know which one you're talking about?"

"Jude, you don't wanna get smart with me right now. And I mean your new song, 'Scars' or something like that. What is that shit supposed to be? And why haven't I heard it before?"

"Because you haven't been around, you're always drunk. Believe it or not, I still have a job to do at the studio, which is writing and recording songs. I wrote that one last week and recorded it and then released it, ok?"

"You still haven't explained it."

"Well what do you want me to say about it?"

"I don't know, something along the lines of who it's about and what caused you to write it. 'Cause I know you Jude and you don't write songs for no reason."

"Is that the only thing you've learned about me in the three years that we've been married?" she questioned, removing herself from the bed and walking slowly towards her husband, her gaze never wavering from his. He didn't say anything. "Is it, Tommy? Tell me."

Tommy continued to stare right back at her. "No, it's not--"

"Well that's good I guess, because you know, you could ask just about anyone that and they'd tell you the same thing about me. And you knew that about me before I had even turned sixteen."

"Jude, just shut up! Don't try and switch topics on me and make me feel guilty because our marriage sucks, just tell me about the song before I get really angry!"

"And what, you're not really angry right now? Could've fooled me..."

"JUST TELL ME WHAT THE DAMN SONG IS ABOUT!"

"Fine--it's about you! Practically all of my songs have been, anyway. But this one's different, and obviously you noticed that, because you've never made a fuss about any of my other songs before."

His eyes grew darker, but that was the only noticeable change in him. "Go on."

"Isn't is obvious? It's about you and your drinking, I'm sick of it! I'm sick of you! I tried to get you to go through rehab but that didn't work and every other idea I came up with failed, too. I don't know what else to do! I want you to just stop, all of it! The song was just a way for me to let it out, ok? Now can I please go to bed? I have to be at the studio by 8 tomorrow."

She dropped her head in defeat and exhaustion as she turned away from him and headed back towards the bed that she had vacated only moments earlier. But after only a couple of steps his voice stopped her.

Venom and scorn dripped from his voice as the words exploded from his mouth. "What is the matter with you, Jude? I know my drinking can be a problem sometimes, but I've tried so hard to fix it, and it took enough energy as it was to deal once the press got hold of it. What do you think they're going to conclude from that song? We're going to be eaten alive! My God, how stupid can you be?"

It was the last sentence that got to Jude. Her tone was steel as she responded to his outburst. "I thought I told you not to call me stupid, Tommy. Was I not clear enough when I said that?"

He simply sneered. "I can call you whatever the hell I want."

"And what makes you think you can do that?" Jude asked as she slowly revolved around until she was facing him once again.

"Because, Jude. You're my wife. You're mine. And I can call you whatever I feel like."

"You're wrong, Tommy." That was it, that was the last straw. "I'm not yours. Not anymore." With that she grabbed the ring on her left hand and twisted it until it was loose enough to slide off. "I'm done with this, with you. I can't take any more shit from you and I won't. We're done, you blew it."

Once the ring came free, Jude held it in front of her face and stared at it for a moment, taking in the beautiful stones and their exquisite quality and cut. Giving a harsh laugh, she made as if to throw it at him but, on second thought, twisted until she could see the trash can in the corner of the room. In a seemingly careless move, she tossed the ring into the metal bin where it landed with a dull, resounding thud.