Chapter Six---Getting a Clue

A/N: Hey, everyone! Here's chapter 6! (I'm not gonna use any stuff from "Miss World" but didn't we love the piggyback ride and the fire escape scene! Oh, yeah!) Well, enjoy and review!

"Are you kidding me!" Sadie erupted, voice cracking, "You can't be choosing her…again!" She was close to tears.

"Sadie, don't do this."

"No, Tom, you don't do this. I have waited around for you. When you finally decide you want to be with me, I jump at the chance. Now you change your mind and chase after my little sister…again?" Sadie fumed, "No, I am not gonna wait around for you to decide that she's too young still. Either you want me now or not at all." She looked him right in the eyes, as if defying him.

Tom smirked, "Sadie, how well did that ultimatum work for you last time, huh? I've told you already, if you want to be with me, you have to work around me. My job is important. Being a producer is important."

"And so is Jude, right?" she snarled, stepping towards the door.

"Yes," he said, not even thinking about it anymore.

Sadie laughed maliciously. "Thought so." Spinning around, she reached for the doorknob.

Tom was furious. "Sadie, stop acting so childish. Grow up." He grabbed her arm, holding tightly. "My career is more important than any fling I could have with any girl."

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, "Tom, is that all I am to you? A fling? I really care about you. You're so sweet and funny." Seeing him frown at her, she added, "And you're gorgeous and your voice is amazing!"

He scoffed at her, letting go of her arm. "Do you think that when my voice is gone and my hair isn't perfect that I'm even gonna matter to people like you?"

Sadie recoiled, "How dare you! If you think that, then you don't know me at all." Turning up her nose, she flung the door open and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Tom sighed deeply. "What am I doing?" He walked toward his recliner and collapsed into it. "God, I screwed that up."

Glancing over at Jude on the couch next to him, he smiled to himself. Was Sadie right? Did Jude mean that much to him? Why do I always go back to her? Tom didn't know what to do. Sadie had really opened his eyes—Jude was the one he had wanted all along. And now he didn't know what to do.

Sure, he wasn't her producer anymore. But would he just end up hurting her? Like the rest of the people in her life?

Standing, he retrieved the blanket from his floor and brought it back to his living room. "Sweet dreams, Jude Harrison," he mumbled, placing the blanket over her sleeping body, kissing her cheek.

Tom settled back into the recliner next to Jude. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the digital clock on the table beside him. 7:02PM. Closing his eyes, Tom drifted off to sleep.

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Jude opened her eyes, regretting doing so. Her mouth felt like someone had stepped in it—and it tasted like it too. Moaning quietly, she glanced around. The digital clock on the table read, 12:17AM. Tom was sitting in a chair next to her, watching the TV. The lights were all off and it was pitch-black outside. The only illumination came from the screen.

"Hey, you," Tom whispered, turning off the TV and facing her.

"Hey…where am I?" she croaked out, sitting up slightly.

"My apartment."

Jude groaned, "I didn't make a complete fool out of myself, did I?"

Tom smiled, "You were a perfectly lovely drunk, Jude Harrison." She collapsed back on the couch, rubbing her forehead.

"God, I hate this feeling. Don't ever let me get drunk again." Tom smiled and looked out the window. They sat in silence for awhile, much to the happiness of Jude who was reeling from the effects of her first hangover.

After a few minutes, Tom faced her again, ready to tell her about him and Sadie and the conclusion he had come to. "Jude?" He smiled.

The young Harrison had fallen back asleep. Her arm was draped over the side and her face had a flawless smile fixed on it. She looked utterly innocent.

Standing, Tom went to his bathroom and grabbed the few necessities he remembered needing during his first hangover—a glass of water, a bottle of Tylenol, and some wet washcloths. Heading back into his living room, he set them down on the coffee table in front of Jude.

Smiling to himself, he sat in his chair. Tom grabbed Jude's hand that was draped over the edge of his sofa. Holding it tenderly, he let the much-needed sleep come.

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Jude woke up suddenly feeling sick. Glancing around again, the digital clock now read 6:01AM.

God, I've been sleeping for hours!

Feeling a hasty wave of nausea in her gut, she ran for Tom's bathroom.

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Tom awoke with a start, hearing Jude's retching in the bathroom. Should I go see if she is okay? As if on cue, he heard the toilet flush, and water running. Tom stood and stretched out his muscles, heading for his bathroom.

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Jude opened the door to Tom's medicine cabinet.

"Can I help you?" Tom's voice drifted to her from the door. She jumped, startled.

"God, Tommy!" Her hand went to her chest, breathing heavy. "You scared me!"

"What are you looking for? He asked, smiling at her fright.

"Medicine. My nausea is now replaced by fever and headaches," she muttered, forcing a smile.

"There's some out in the living room for you…unless you want to stay in the bathroom?" He half-joked.

"Nah…I think the nausea part is over…I hope."

Tom smiled at her, "You know, I never even threw up during my first hangover."

She smirked, punching him gently in the arm. "Lucky you!"

"Come on, Harrison. Let's go get you that medicine." Taking her arm, he led her out to the couch and handed her the water and two caplets. "Take two and call me in the morning."

Jude faked a laugh, taking the medicine. "You're funny." She sipped the water slowly, smiling at Tom over the rim.

"Let me get you another glass of water, okay?" Tom suggested as Jude lay back down on the couch. She nodded, setting her cup on the coffee table and kicking the blanket on the floor with a smile.

Jude could hear Tom banging around in his kitchen, looking for a cup. "Need anything else?" There was silence. "Jude?"

Tom entered his living room, glass of water in hand. He smiled. Jude had fallen asleep again, but this time she had managed to kick off the blanket and was curled up into a ball. Chuckling to himself, Tom put the blanket back on top of her.

Dropping into his recliner, he grinned. "I could get used to this." Tom watched her, feeling a slow exhaustion creep into his body. Yawning widely, he whispered, "'Night, Jude."

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A soft buzzing next to Tom woke him slowly. The buzzing continued and Tom opened his eyes, still tired. Glancing over at his digital clock, he moaned. 8:32AM.

God, she's the one with the hangover and I feel like crap? Where's the justice? Grinning, he glanced over to his empty couch.

Empty couch?

A look of terror passed over his eyes and he screamed, "Jude!" Tom picked up her cell phone and checked the screen. Three missed calls…HOME. Groaning, he set the phone down and continued to scream for her, "Jude!"

Throwing open his bedroom door, he spotted Jude sitting on his bed. She was strumming on his electric-acoustic guitar, headphones plugged in. Smiling to himself, he tapped her on the shoulder gently.

Jumping, Jude pulled the headphones, spinning around. "God, Tommy, you scared me!" Trying to catch her breath, she frowned at him.

"We have to stop meeting like this," he joked, smiling at her.

"Sorry, Quincy," she apologized, setting his guitar back on the stand. "I didn't want to wake you."

Letting her calm back down, he put an arm around her shoulders, "It's fine, Jude. Let me show you something." Tom walked over to his dresser and grabbed a small, silver key from the top. He stepped into the hallway and walked to the end, unlocking the door. "After you."

Jude stepped through the door and gasped. "Oh, my God!" In front of her was a small studio room. Glass separated the room in half and a soundboard occupied the part closest to them. A door on the left connected the other half, which contained a microphone, stool and an empty guitar stand. A picture window took up most of the far wall. "This is amazing! How did you do this?"

"I've always wanted my own studio and this is just a step," he shrugged.

"Can I try it out?" Jude sounded like a little kid in a candy shop. She touched the soundboard, amazed.

"I'm not your producer anymore, remember?" he teased.

"Tommy, come on! You can't let this baby go to waste!" she whined. Tom glanced at the neon wall clock and shook his head.

"Jude, I think I'd better take you home soon." She glared at him and he added, "Your mom called your cell phone three times last night and I know she's worried."

Jude sighed. "I don't want to go home!"

"I know, but you have to." Tom set a hand on her shoulder, rubbing tenderly.

She looked up into his eyes. "Where do I tell her I was all night?"

Tom shrugged. "I don't know. The studio? I'll say I found you there this morning." Jude nodded halfheartedly.

"Okay."

"Let me just grabbed my coat and keys and we can get going," Tom ruffled her hair, grinning at her.

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A/N: Done! Hope you guys liked it! Well, I want to get to 45 reviews before I post chapter 7. Well, leave reviews, please and I'll see y'all soon! —Jude Q—