Chapter One -- Getting In Between

Story Disclaimer: I own nothing. Instant Star is NOT mine (sniff). Nothing belongs to me… unless I say otherwise.

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Jude stepped out of Tom's Viper and shut the door quietly, leaning against the door. "You sure you're ready to get back in the studio?" She nodded, yawning widely and running her hands through her newly-blonde hair.

"Come on, Quincy. No more stalling. You're getting into the studio whether you like it or not," she teased, tugging on his arm.

"I'm not stalling." Tom muttered under his breath, stepping in front of Jude to hold the door for her. A blast of cold air conditioning hit the two square in the face.

"Jude! Tom! My two favorite people." They turned to look in the direction of the voice; Darius was standing in the lobby to G Major, arms open. "Step into my office, please?"

Jude glanced at Tom and the two of them shared a look. Sighing deeply, Jude led the way to Darius' lair. They each took a seat across from their boss' massive oak desk.

"I've brought the two of you here to share some exciting news. First off, as you know, Jude will be starting work on her second album soon and she'll need some new songs. I've been thinking and--"

"Darius, while I was on tour, I wrote a bunch of new songs. Tommy and I can go over some chords and things, but I really like the sound."

"Actually, Jude, what we had been working on was a songwriter for you. Since you've gone blonde and everyone loved 'Stupid Girl,' I think that's where we want to take you." Jude couldn't even find the words to describe the anger she was feeling. "So, I just want you to keep working with your band for now. We're gonna get you a couple more covers to learn and hopefully by then we'll have found you the perfect songwriter. One that really goes with your image."

Jude was close to tears--tears of anger and tears of frustration. "Darius, I want... I want to play my own songs."

"Jude, I'm sorry. If you want to stay with G Major, I need you to work with me. Take care of the coach and the coach takes care of you, remember? I promise, your album will sell. People will buy blonde. People will buy 'Stupid Girl.' You have nothing to worry about."

Except my integrity.

"Darius, I don't mean to interrupt, but why am I here." Tom leaned forward in his chair, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

"Tom, Tom." Darius laughed to himself. "I'm giving you your old job back."

"My old job?" Tom raised an eyebrow at Darius.

"In Boyz Attack?" Jude asked, dumbfounded.

"No. As the new Instant Star's producer. Tom, you're gonna be Mason's producer for his first CD, just like you were with Jude."

Jude smiled, "That's exciting. Another first CD?"

"Yeah, Mason is a good kid. He's got a nice sound," Tom agreed, settling back into his chair.

"Jude, that means I need you to meet with your new producer as soon as possible." Darius shuffled some papers on his desk and handed one to Jude. On it, there were a list of names she didn't recognize.

She choked. "New producer?"

"Tom's gonna be busy with Mason, so we'll need a fulltime producer for your second CD. I have a couple people lined up and I want to pick as soon as we can, so you can get started."

"New producer?"

"Jude, give it up," Tom growled low in his throat. Turning to Darius he asked, "When do you want me to start working with Mason?"

"As soon as you can. He's in Studio 1 right now, working on some new things." Tom nodded.

"I'll head in there right now." As Tom stood, Jude groaned loudly.

"This isn't fair! Tom signed on as my producer!" she whined, reminding everyone else in the room of the age difference and her lack of maturity when it came to her music career.

"For your first CD, only. Trust me, I made sure this was legal, Jude. You know me, I always do my homework first."

"But, Darius, we make amazing music together! Tom and I...we're partners. He's my wingman."

Darius chuckled to himself. "Jude, Tom did not win you that contest and Tom did not help sell your records. He didn't even go on tour with you. Wake up and smell the cappuccino, Jude. This is all you."

"I never thought I'd say this, Jude, but Darius is right. I think you need to this one without me. Plus, Mason needs a producer, and who's better than me?" Tom grinned at her.

Jude paused for a second, glancing around the room. Darius was smiling at her. He knew she was going to say 'yes.' He knew she had to. She looked at Tom. He wouldn't even look at her -- he was looking at everything else in the room. "Okay," she squeaked.

"Wonderful, Jude. I'll let you know when we find you a songwriter, okay?" She nodded.

"Can I go work now? Spiederman's waiting in Studio 3."

"Sure," Darius smiled a grin that went across his face. Jude stood, not looking at Tom, and walked out of the door, letting it fall shut behind her.

"Jude!" Tom's voice drifted from behind her. She didn't slow down or turn around. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't want to hear his lame excuse for why he didn't stick up for her if he really wanted to work with her. The only excuse was that he didn't want to. "Jude! Come on!"

She felt a strong hand touch her shoulder and she stopped abruptly. "Jude, please?" Turning slowly, she faced Tom.

"What could you possibly have to say right now?" she snarled at her former producer.

"Jude, don't do this. Didn't you see this coming?" She looked confused. "The second you defied him, Darius was not going to let you be happy. He took away the two things that mattered most to you...your music and your producer."

This remark seemed to dissipate her sadness and fuel her anger. "A little full of yourself, Quincy? Since when were you one of the 'Top Two Things In Jude Harrison's Life,' huh? I think you gave that up when you abandoned me on my tour and went to Italy with Sadie, okay!"

Grabbing her upper arm, Tom leaned into Jude and whispered, "Don't do this. Not now."

"No, Tommy. I'm gonna do this. Right here and right now." She smiled spitefully. "So how is this my fault and not yours? Remind me."

"Jude..."

"No, Tommy. Tell me...why is this all my fault that we're not working together?" Tom glared down into Jude's eyes. "Okay, then tell me this. Why don't you care? Why don't you want to work with me anymore?"

"Jude...please."

"No, were you too busy doing my sister to even miss me while I was gone? Did you even remember that I was on tour!" Her face was getting redder with every word.

Tom tightened his grip on her arm, "Jude, stop!" By now, everyone who had been wasting time in the lobby of G Major was tuned into their conversation. Tom glanced around and pulled Jude into an empty conference room.

"Well, Tommy?" She was close to tears.

"Jude, of course I missed working with you. You said it yourself, we make great music together!" Jude smiled,

"Actually, I said amazing."

"Jude, I was only in Italy for a week. Then all this drama at G Major happened and I raced straight back here. Do you know how many times I wanted to call and tell you about all of this? Jude, we're partners. We've always been partners. Working here without you...it felt like something was missing. Something huge."

Tom leaned over and placed a hand delicately on Jude's shoulder, "Jude, I missed you." Ignoring Jude's speechless moment, he turned toward the door. "Don't ever forget that."

Before Jude could even register the entire conversation, Tom was out the door. "He missed me?" she whispered to herself.

Jude slumped to the floor, resting her head in her hands. "He missed me?"

Sadie took a step from the Harrison mailbox toward her door, humming a Boyz Attack song under her breath.

"You were right." Startled, Sadie turned toward Jamie's voice, coming from next door.

"Thank you," she smiled, walking over to his hunched-up body. "Right about what?"

"Jude...She and Tommy will always choose each other, wont they?" Jamie sighed.

"What happened, Andrews?" she asked, hovering over him.

"Nothing." An awkward silence fell between the two as neither knew what to say to the other. Ironically, they were in the same situation at different times. Jamie was at the end of one Jude-Tom cycle and Sadie was at the beginning.

"Jamie, I know this sounds harsh, but...I think you need to get over Jude." Sadie said matter-of-factly. "This is always going to happen and you're better off with someone else."

"Why are you so confident? We're in the same boat, here, me and you. Why do I have to get over Jude while you get to date Little Tommy Q?"

"You see, Jude will always have a crush on Tom--it's a fact. But this time, Tom seems to really want to make this work with me."

"But that's just temporary. You said it yourself," Jamie stood solemnly, "Be careful, Jude and Tom will always pick each other." Jamie stepped inside his door, leaving Sadie alone on his porch.

Maybe Andrews is right...Why am I any different than him?

A/N: Okay, Chapter 1 is done! I have a few chapters planned out and I'd love some response to see if I should work on the next few chapters. Thanks!
Jude Quincy