A/N: I do not own the lyrics to the song Cold by Crossfade. Also, remember my deal in chapter 6? 5 reviews from 5 different people. Not too much to ask for or no new chapter. So, if you'd like to see more on this story, review…please?

Chapter 8

A Week Later

Tommy pulled the headset off his head and grinned as he finalized the recording of the tracks he was working on. After nearly a month of long hours, he finally finished early. Tommy ejected the disk and stared thoughtfully at his guitar which was in its case in a dark corner of the studio. He hadn't picked it up since before Jude left for tour…and definitely not since Jude had handed him Frozen.

He still got an icy chill whenever he thought about his unfinished album. He set the CD down that he had been holding and crossed to his guitar. He pulled it out of the case and sat down, tuning it slightly before doing any serious playing. He began playing a few chords and stopped abruptly as his mind began to formulate the possibilities of a new song. He quickly shoved his guitar aside.

He wouldn't work on Frozen. He was determined not too. And even if he did; He knew Darius wouldn't be a part of it. He made that mistake once before, it wouldn't happen again. Tommy got up out of his chair and paused before he exited the studio; lyrics to an unwritten song dying to be wrote to paper. Tommy glanced at the clock. It was only 6:00 pm. It couldn't hurt to play around a bit. Tommy glanced down the hallway, tossed the disk back on the soundboard and began to play. Before he was conscious of it, lyrics flooded his mind and a song was threatening to be wrote.

"Looking back at me I see

That I never really got it right

I never stopped to think of you

I'm always wrapped up in

Things I cannot win…

You are the antidote that gets me by

Something strong

Like a drug that gets me high

What I really meant to say

Is I'm sorry for the way I am

I never meant to be so cold

Never meant to be so cold…

What I really meant to say

Is I'm sorry for the way I am

I never meant to be so cold

Never meant to be so cold…to you"

Tommy paused for a moment. He continued strumming on the guitar a bit, humming out the rest of the words when he heard a throat being cleared by the door. He started and glanced quickly up to see Kwest standing there, grinning like an idiot. Tommy quickly set the guitar aside, grabbed the disk that was sitting on the soundboard.

"I knew it!" Kwest said, looking excitedly at Tommy.

"I need to get this to Darius…" Tommy said, not meeting his friend's eyes and tried to move past him, but Kwest blocked his exit.

"You're song writing again…aren't you?" Kwest said, his eyes boring into Tommy's, and his grin a stupidly happy one. Tommy sighed.

"It was nothing man." Tommy said, glancing away from Kwest.

"Yes, it was." Kwest insisted, and put an arm around Tommy's shoulders and led him back into the studio. "Come on man, finish it. You know you want to."

"It doesn't matter if I want it or not." Tommy said, his tone exasperated.

"You got to let go of the past man." Tommy scoffed.

"I'm not hearing this…" He said, shaking his head.

"Finish the song, or the song will finish you." Kwest said, staring anxiously at Tommy. Kwest would never openly admit it, but he loved working on Frozen with Tommy back in the day. It was fun work and he really thought the now producer had a great shot at making it big; on his own, but his big break was taken away from him and the man had been too scared to try again. He ran with his tail between his legs and licked his wounds which never really healed.

"Kwest, it's nothing." Tommy said, and turned to leave the studio.

"You know it's more than nothing." Kwest said, and Tommy stopped. "You wouldn't have sung it if it didn't mean anything." Tommy paused and considered his friends words. Tommy glanced at Kwest a moment and he shook his head. "Finish the song man." Kwest said, picking up Tommy's discarded guitar and holding it out to his friend. Tommy stared at it a moment and seriously considered taking Kwest up on his offer. He longed to be on the other side of the glass again…the feeling of performing has never left him and after performing at Music Helps…it really reawakened his desire to put out a solo album. Tommy went to reach for the guitar and stopped himself. He shook his head to clear it, and realized his mistake. He let Kwest's words get to him…the words he wanted to hear when he was four years younger. It was too late for him; he knew it, most other artists knew it.

Tommy turned his back on Kwest and the guitar and walked out of the studio, the song he was working on earlier playing nagging-ly in the back of his mind.