A/N...rock on:

Alright, I get to rant for a few moments and explain this whole story. There is no plotline. I'm not much of a writer- I write when I'm inspired and shut up otherwise. So it's gonna be updated on/off, I'm really sorry about that. I personally hate when fanfic authors wait like 2 weeks to update their stories. Actually, I hate when they wait more than 3 days.

Anyway, I've written probably 2 other chapters so far excluding this one, so you'll definately get at least that far within the next week... School starts for me in literally 6 days so if there's a lack of updates, I apologize.

Oh, yeah. And I promise, Tommy does enter the story eventually. In the flesh...

Also, anyone have any ideas for a title? Reviews/Feedback/ect... greatly appreciated. You could bash me, for all I care, at least you'd be being honest.

----I'll shut up now----

Georgia and EJ's conversation... (I wasn't sure how to put this in the story, seeing as how it's Jude's POV. I figured the best way was to just make this part in third... Also, I hope the change in tense doesn't bother anyone)

Georgia lead EJ into her office and took a seat behind her desk. EJ sat in one of the chairs in front of Georgia's desk.

"I received a call a few minutes ago from a certain Tommy Quincy..."

EJ gasped. "No, way. Tommy? What for?"

"You know what for. He wants his job back." Georgia smirked.

"Way to be subtle. Trying to weedle back into producing on her birthday?"

"I know." Georgia started ruffling through papers on her desk, sorting them out and trying to pretend the matter wasn't serious.

"And what did you say? You didn't give him the job back, did you?"

Georgia stopped moving papers. She sighed. "It was a tough decision. I know how it was between him and Jude. I know how much it broke her when he left. But let's be honest; he's a damn good producer, and he and Jude work well together."

EJ sat up straighter. "You gave him the job back? No way. Are you gonna tell Jude? You have to tell her. This is amazing news. But who knows how she's gonna react to it-"

"I gave it some thought. Today's her big day. I think the last thing she'll want to hear is that Tommy is back."

EJ grinned like a chesire cat. "Or maybe it's the first thing she'll want to hear. And anyway, won't he want to come to the party tonight?"

"He gave her a world of hurt. I'm not so sure she'll forgive him right away." Georgia frowned. And I wouldn't blame her if she didn't, she thought. "He wasn't invited to the party, was he?"

"No, he wasn't. But if he works for G Major now, he has every right to come."

"But he's not on the guest list," Georgia pointed out.

"Maybe he should be. Maybe it'd be a nice surprise for Jude," she prodded.

"...You're in charge of the invite list, EJ. You make the decision."

EJ grinned. "Great! I better get back to Jude, then. We're picking out her shoes."

----Jude's POV----

EJ comes back into the room with an unreadible expresson her face, but I think nothing of it. She goes straight back to the prospect of tonight's outfit and within the next hour my entire outfit's planned out and ready to go. Surprisingly, all of this girl talk and planning already has me exhausted.

With my part of tonight's plan complete, I head out into the lobby and collapse on the couch. There's chaos all around me. Things are being moved in and out, and not too long after I hit the couch I'm being asked to get up so that it can be taken away.

Great, now where to do I rest, I thought tiredly. I curse myself for my inability to sleep last night when Georgia spots me and waves to me from across the room. She closes up her conversation with Kwest and heads over to me. She's got the same unreadible expression as EJ had on earlier.

"Jude. Hey. How are you feeling?"

Tired? Really tired. But excited.

"I'm great. I can't wait for this party. It's gonna be so much better than my 16th."

Georgia smiles. "You'll love it. We'll have a corner of the room set up for viewing/listening to your new single like last time. You'll get to do a live performance, give your speech, be all prettied up thanks to EJ-"

"About EJ, Georgia," I interrupted. "I know it's probably none of my business, but what did you pull her out for earlier? When she came back in she was kind of... I don't know. Expressionless? Like she was trying to hide something."

I try to read her face, but nothing comes across. She's as indecipherable as ever. "It was nothing, just party planning stuff. You have nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure? You're not hiding anything from me, are you?" I joked.

Georgia smiled. "Birthdays are always full of surprises..." She got up and walked off.

I figured after a few minutes that since my job was done, the best thing to do would be to go home and rest. A nap sounded really appealing at the moment. I wouldn't have to be back at G Major until 6, which left me plenty of time to eat, sleep, and mull over the 18 long years of my life with Jamie and Kat.

I kept my windows rolled up and my radio off during the drive home, both unsual for me. There weren't any sounds other than the car's engine and the occasional tinkle from the bobblehead, which turned out to be really distracting. Every time I stopped the car I snuck a glance at the little porcelain cat. And every time I looked at that cat, I thought of that stupid hula dancer and that stupid Tommy.

By the time my car's parked in my driveway, I'm convinced that the cat is an omen. Why am I thinking about him so much now? For the past 1 and a half years, he hasn't been a part of me. But now he's back, and I figure I can blame it on the cat. Blame it all on the inanimate object. Of course.

I must be going crazy in the head.

As soon as I'm home, I raid the fridge for a snack. Sitting on a stool in the kitchen, I lean my elbows against the cold countertop of the island and admit defeat. It's about time, a little voice inside me says.

I give in and let myself remember. It hurts to remember, but I know that someday I'll have to, and that someday is now. It feels right to try to clear things up in my mind. Maybe because now I'm 18.

Flashback

Tommy's sitting in his chair, rubbing his temples. It's clear how frustrated he is with me right now.

"Jude, you gotta understand. You of all people should understand..."

I'm near tears. "I know, Tommy! I know how much you want a solo career. I know..."

"So then why is this so hard for you?" He asked for the millionth time, exhasperated.

"Come on, Tommy! As soon as we finish my first album, you spring this on me? One album and now you wanna quit? I can understand if you want a solo career, but can't you keep producting me, too?"

I pace the room, trying to fight back the wave of hurt. He's leaving me, he's leaving me. He can't possibly be...

"Jude, it doesn't matter who your producer is. You're gonna be a star, no matter what. You don't need me around for that."

"Maybe I do!" I cried. "Maybe I do need you, Tommy. There's no on else I'd rather have around to help me through this."

Tommy leaned further back into his chair and spun it around, facing away from me. He stands up and walks across the room until he's right in front of me. He grabs my wrists gently and looks me in the eye.

"You know how much I need this.It's my dream, it's been my dream ever since Boyz Attack ended."

I pulled my wrists out of his grasp and looked away. "I know, okay? I know, I know, I know! But Tommy..."

End Flashback

I pull myself out of Dreamland and face reality. It's time to stop remembering and start living.

I can't think about this, not now.

By now I'm angry. Angry at myself and at Tommy and at the world. 1 and a half years later and he's still under my skin.

He's still under my skin.

I let out a frustrated groan and kick the fridge on the way to my bedroom. I need sleep.