Chapter 7---Getting Hit Hard

(A/N: This chapter is dedicated to -X-Holly Elizabeth-Cosette-X-. She's a great reviewer and I love her to pieces.

I've been trying to update this for a couple of days. However, tells me that it's updated, but it hasn't shown up. If you're reading this, they fixed it. --()

Hope you guys enjoy this. Love, Jude Q.)

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Jude was outside of her house, hand on the doorknob. She sighed deeply, wondering if she should even bother going inside. She could easily use the emergency fire ladder. She'd be able to get back up into her room, get a few hours of sleep, and then escape back to the studio. No one would even have to know.

I can't do that…I guess it's now or never.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and was bombarded by questions.

"Where were you?"

"What's your problem?"

"Are you okay?"

Forcing a glare in her family's direction, she answered them all in stride, "At the studio, Mom. Shut up, Sadie. I'm fine, Dad." They all looked at her in disbelief. "Now, if you don't mind, I am very tired and going to bed."

Stumbling to the stairs, she went up to her bedroom, collapsing on the bed.

Beep. Beep.

Grabbing her cell phone out of her pocket, Jude groaned and read the text message from Tom.

911 gmajor call me asap

Quickly dialing his number, he answered on the first ring. "Yeah?"

"What's up, Tom? Your message sounded like the end of the world."

"It kind of is, Jude," his voice was soft, as though he was trying to hide from people around him.

"Okay, Quincy, you're freaking me out here. Shoot." She readjusted herself on her bed and ran her hands through her hair nervously.

"Don't be mad, okay? I'm only calling to warn you."

"Tommy, just tell me already!"

"Darius and Liam just called a meeting with me and Mitchem…G Major is going to be getting some new acts. Ones who pay for studio time. Liam thinks you need a break before you start work on your sophomore album and Darius, of course, agreed with him."

"How long of a break?" Jude was starting to get very nervous.

"A few months?" he said tentatively, as though testing her patience.

Jude groaned, "Why are you the one who's telling me this?"

"Because, Jude, I thought you should know---"

"No, why isn't Mitchem telling me?"

"Jude, I know him. He's gonna ambush you get to the studio tomorrow and I wanted you to be ready."

"Tommy," Jude began, before she was interrupted by a knock at her door. "Hang on," she mumbled into her phone before setting it on her bed and opening the door.

Victoria and Mitchem were both in her doorway. "Jude, honey, you have a visitor."

"I can see that, Mom," she muttered dryly. "Mr. Anderson, we can go outside and talk if you want." He nodded and she led him out to her porch.

Her producer took a seat on the swing. "Jude, I am here on a very serious matter," Mitchem began, motioning her to sit beside him. She refused, crossing her arms over her chest in subtle defiance. "Liam and Darius have just informed me of some grave news. You'll be taking a break from time at G Major for now. Just for a few months. As of now, I am no longer your producer."

"Why is this happening?" she asked, her anger dissipating into sadness.

"Jude, I'm not allowed to disclose that information to you, however---"

Suddenly, Jude missed Tom very much. He would have told her everything. He would never have kept anything from her and he certainly would not have ambushed her at her house. "Why not?"

"I'm under contract, and you are not. Therefore, for confidentiality reasons…"

"Tommy would've told me," she spat, anger returning.

"Jude, we've been over this. You and Tom were a great pair…for your first CD. You need to go in another direction now—one that Tom can't take you in. But I can. I can take you to that place."

"Just not for a few months, right?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Mitchem was oblivious. "Right, you're getting it, now. I'm glad." He stood, setting a hand on her shoulder and rubbing gently. "You know, Jude. Even though we aren't working together anymore, I'd still like to see you. Maybe for dinner sometime?"

"You know, Mitchem," she snarled, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Tommy would've fought for me."

He was getting a little tired of being compared to her ex-producer. Liam was right. There is no way those two can ever work together again. They got too close. It was my job to help her see that but she's blind. She really wasn't an asset to G Major, was she? No wonder they're letting her go. "Jude, I don't know if you realized this, but…I'm not Tommy."

"No," she said, heading for her door, "you're not." She stormed into her house, slamming the door in Mitchem's face.

"How did it go?" Victoria chimed from the kitchen, smile on her face. "Mitchem Anderson seems like a great man."

"Well, Mom, he's not the man for me." Sadie scoffed at her sister's comment. "I'm going to work." Jude went through the kitchen, heading for the backdoor.

"Didn't you just come from the studio?" her mother asked.

"Yeah, but I have some loose ends to tie up," she mumbled quizzically.

"Jude, I don't mean to worry you with all of this, but have you decided on what you want to do about moving?" Victoria struggled to keep a smile on her face.

"Actually, Mom, I did." Jude grabbed the newspaper from the table and walked out without another word.

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Jude opened the door to G Major, already feeling a different air greeting her—the air of knowing you're not welcome anymore. Heading for Studio A, she gasped at the sight she saw.

She was glad the recording studio was soundproofed, because Tom was red in the face screaming at Liam and Darius behind the glass. Curious, she cracked the door open just a little bit and tried to listen in without anyone noticing her.

"T, no one takes her seriously. Not in here and certainly not out there," Darius said calmly.

"She's not ever paying for studio time. We're paying her to waste our time to make crap," Liam retorted.

Tom leaned into Liam's face. "You don't know her. She makes amazing music. Her first CD was remarkable. We made perfection together. Now you take away everything she loves about music—her individuality, her studio, and her producer—and expect her to shine?" Tom let out a deep breath, taking a step away from the other man. "You know what? I hope she chooses that other studio. Then you idiots will realize what you've been missing."

"T, don't speak to Liam like that our you'll have to find yourself another studio." Darius warned.

"Darius, I was only at G Major as a favor to Georgia. I could leave whenever I want." Tom growled.

"How 'bout you leave then, T. You won't find anything better than me." Darius grinned. Tom turned toward the door, seeing Jude standing in the doorway.

"Jude," he whispered breathlessly. She walked through the door, red in the face.

"You guys don't get music at all," she screamed at Darius and Liam. "It's not all about money and sales."

Liam scoffed, "Says the girl who doesn't pay for studio time and whose record sales are dismal."

Jude glared at him, continuing, "It's about doing what you love with people you love…and feeling good about it. I haven't felt good about my music since I've gotten back from my tour."

"If you're not happy here, Jude…" Darius left the accusation open.

Liam closed it, "You can find yourself another studio. Which, by the sounds of it, you already have. How convenient." Jude turned to look at Tom. She didn't have another studio. Not really. That was the problem. But she'd rather go live with her mom and be in a new, tiny studio than be suffocated in this giant one.

"Jude, you don't have to do this," Tom said, face twisted in regret.

"No, Tommy. Darius and Liam are right…I'm done with G Major. At least this G Major." Without another word, she stormed out of the studio.

"You're just gonna let her leave?" Tom asked, dumbfounded.

"She's more trouble than she's worth," Liam said.

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Jude sighed, settling on a bench outside of G Major. Flipping open her cell phone, she dialed the first number that came to mind. "Sorry, I didn't know who else to call. Can you get Spiederman, Kyle, and Wally and meet me at G Major?"

Closing her phone, she sighed deeply and slumped down. This is too much.

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Jamie hung up his phone, a bit confused. Grabbing his coat, he opened his door.

"Kat!" The young girl was standing on his doorstep, hand at the ready to knock.

"Surprise," she said, smile on her face.

"Wow, what are you doing here? Come in." Jamie was at a loss for words. He hadn't spoken to Kat since she had left for New York. "When did you get back?"

"Yesterday," she grinned, taking a seat on his couch. "How are you?"

"Great, let me get you a drink. Grape soda okay?" He asked, pulling a can from his refrigerator.

"Awww, you remembered!" She took the can from him, sipping generously.

Jamie took a deep breath and settled on the couch next to Kat. "I have to apologize. You were right." She looked puzzled at him. "About Jude. She was just going to break my heart. I should've listened to you."

"Hey, a girl always knows." Kat looked into his eyes. "Tell me the truth, Andrews, are you over her?"

"Yeah, I guess I am." Kat smiled and thought to herself, Yeah, about as much as I'm over you, right?

Jamie's phone rang suddenly, interrupting the two of them. "Sorry, I gotta get this." Picking up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Where the hell are you?" Jude screamed, obviously angry.

"Sorry, Jude. Just as I got off the phone with you, K—I got a visitor. I'll be right there." Hanging up the phone, Jamie turned to Kat with a sheepish grin. "That was Jude. I was supposed to go get her when you showed up, but…well, I forgot."

"I thought you guys hadn't talked since you broke up," Kat said, a little wounded.

"We haven't. But she sounded super upset, and I gotta go get her." Jamie babbled on, "You want to come with?"

"No, I'm still a little jetlagged. I'm just gonna go home and rest." Some things never change. Ushering his friend out the door, Jamie followed behind her, getting into his beat-up old car.

"Well, it was nice to see you," he smiled at her out his open window.

"You too," she said, bending over and kissing him on the cheek. Leaning into his ear she whispered, "I missed you, Jamie." Without another word, she walked off, leaving Jamie completely speechless.

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Jude paced outside G Major, furious at Jamie.

"Want some company?" a soft voice asked from behind. She turned around and found herself face to face with Tom, a crooked grin on his face.

"Thanks for sticking up for me in there," she said lamely, not really knowing how to thank him.

Tom grinned awkwardly, "I'm sorry for mentioning the other studio. I didn't know what else to do."

"It's alright. You were just in the moment." Tom put an arm delicately around her shoulders and ruffled her hair.

"Do you know what you're gonna do about moving yet?"

"Well, Sadie is going to college tomorrow morning and I get to go with Dad and Yvette to look at houses in Montreal this weekend. Fun wow."

"Do you have to go?" Tom asked.

"No," she said simply.

"Are you going to?" Jude was silent for a second.

"You know what…no. I'm not gonna go. I'm gonna stay here and look for—"

Honk. Honk.

Jamie's beat-up car looked like a circus vehicle. Spied, Wally, and Kyle were in the backseat fooling around, loud rock music pounded from the speakers and the horn was almost a quack. Jude had to laugh.

"Well, that's my cue," she said, pointing at the car. "I'll talk to you later?"

"Of course," Tom said, letting go of her shoulders and waving to her retreating back.

Jude hopped into the passenger seat, buckling in. Jamie pulled away from the curb, tires squealing.

"Where are we going, Jude?" Jamie asked, never taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, Harrison. Where are we going?" Spiederman asked, ruffling her already messy hair.

"To look for a studio," Jude grinned, taking the newspaper out of her bag. "I found this great one over in the city."

"Jude, why are we looking for a studio? What happened to G Major?" Wally asked, utterly confused.

"Just ask Spied, was G Major the place for Jude Harrison and SME?" Jude smirked, winking at her guitarist.

"No way!" the SME boys chimed in unison.

"They want me to take a few months off. And I don't want to. So I told them to shove it."

"Way to go, Harrison!" Spied remarked, high-fiving their singer.

"It's perfect," Jude gushed, taking in her surroundings. The apartment was fairly large. It was a bit messy and in a weird neighborhood, but it was stocked full of recording equipment and it was rented at a low price. Jude was in love.

"It smells weird," Jamie commented, scrunching up his nose.

"That's Wally," Kyle joked, shoving his friend.

"Hey!" Wally feigned being hurt.

"Sure, it needs some fixing up, but come on, guys! It comes with all the recording stuff and there's all this furniture. There are two bedrooms and a pullout couch. I'm sure we can figure something out." Jude pouted. "Please?"

"How much is it, Jude?" Spiederman asked.

"$600 a month, but only $150 a person if we all pitch in." They all looked around. "Come on! This is our future! It's either this place or no place."

Jamie shifted his weight, obviously uncomfortable. "As SME's ex-manager, I think this is a win-win situation. I mean, listen, you guys each pay $150 a month. If you're working on a CD, and playing gigs, you guys will make plenty of money. You have all the band stuff you need. And you guys will play and live together."

"We did get along in the tour bus," Kyle commented, a grin on his face.

"It'd be nice to get the old Jude Harrison back," Spiederman said.

"Not the carbon copy," Wally ruffled her hair. Jamie nodded, smiling at Jude.

"And I'll take the pullout couch and you guys can split the bedrooms." They were all shocked at her. "As long as I get first dibs on the bathroom in the morning." She smiled and the SME boys laughed.

"So, are we doing this?" Jude grinned, eyes shining.

All the SME boys yelled in unison, "Yeah!"

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A/N: Chapter 7 is done and yours! I hope you liked it. SME boys are fun to write. Jamie is a total jerk, but he's coming around and I hope all you folks like him.

In RL, my musical is over, so I have lots of time to write. However, my boyfriend broke up with me, so I have to take a hiatus for a little while. If I don't, I might kill the storyline with a depressing twist.

I'm gonna go for a goal of 65 reviews. If I end up out of my funk and finish chapter 8 before 65, I might post it, but reviews DO cheer me up, so get reviewin', please!

On a happier note, I've started a new thing. My favorite review will get the dedication for the new chapter. Then they get the choice if they want a special sneak preview of the next chapter. If you're the one chosen, you'll get the option when I reply to your review! So send me those reviews!

Love Always,

Jude Quincy

NEXT CHAPTER IS ENTITLED: GETTING OVER IT