Chapter Ten---Getting Together

A/N: Hi, again! I knew you guys could get me 77 reviews! This one is a double-update. I loved writing this chapter...messing with Shay is always fun. Anyway, tell me what you think.

And don't be too sad, but there are only a few chapters left. I know. :-) But I might write a quick sequel, and I've got a couple more stories up my sleeve. Okay, on with the chapter!

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Shay and Jude pulled up to the curb in front of Jude's apartment, hip-hop music blaring from the speakers of his SUV. Shay cut the engine and the two of them got out of the car. Jude hopped happily up the steps to her apartment. Opening the door quickly, she stepped in, excited as all hell.

Jamie was sitting with Kat on the couch. Spied, Wally, and Kyle were standing around, eating Cheetos. There was rock music pounding from the stereo in the corner.

"Hey, guys!" Jude exclaimed, bouncing in from the hallway, Shay in tow.

"Hey?" Jamie eyed Shay who had been silent since his entrance.

"SME, this is Shay. Shay, this is SME…Spied, Kyle, Wally." She pointed them out individually, smiling.

"Nice to meet you." Shay said politely, obviously uncomfortable. They nodded at him, just as embarrassed.

Jude walked over to Kat, leaning into her ear. She whispered, "Hey…what are you doing here?"

"Jamie invited me." Jude raised her eyebrows and grabbed Kat's upper arm.

"Boys, we'll be back." Her and Kat stumbled over the couch and ran down the hallway giggling. They heard a door slam and they all jumped.

The five guys sat in an awkward silence, not quite sure what to say to each other. Finally, Wally broke the silence, "So…you're the one who left Jude for Eden?"

---

Jude slammed the door to the bathroom behind them. She collapsed on the toilet and Kat leaned on the counter.

"So? You and Jamie?" Jude asked and Kat shrugged. "When did that happen? I thought you said you were over him!"

"I lied," she admitted sheepishly. The two girls laughed, Jude almost falling off the toilet seat. "I mean, I really tried to get over him, but…it's Jamie." She sighed dreamily.

"So, he invited you here, huh?"

"Yeah," Kat smiled to herself, lost in thought. "I hope he still likes me."

"I'm sure he does. Or else he wouldn't have invited you, right?"

Changing the subject, Kat interrupted, "So what's up with you and Shay?" Jude raised her eyebrows, grinning. Kat gave her a sideways glance and Jude shrugged, losing her smirk.

"I don't know, actually. When he cheated on me and I hated him, it was easier to forget how hot he is. But now that he's being sweet again, I don't know. I think the feelings are still there."

"What about you and Tommy?" Kat was intrigued.

"He said he loves me," she mumbled.

"Oh, my God! Really!" she gushed, excited.

"Yeah, but he said we can't do anything about it so I think that's over."

"Oh…"

Knock. Knock.

The girls jumped, giggling hysterically. Kat cracked the door open just a bit, looking outside. Turning back to Jude, she mouthed, "It's Shay!"

"Have you seen Jude? I need to talk to her." Kat opened the door, revealing a sad-looking Shay. Jude stood, meeting him at the doorway.

"We can go out to the fire escape if you want," Jude mentioned, walking toward a door at the end of the hallway.

"That's fine." Shay held it open, allowing Jude to step out first.

"Why, thank you." Jude strolled over to the railing, shivering from the cold night air. Shay unbuttoned his top shirt, handing it over to her.

"Here." She shook her head.

"You're only wearing your undershirt, you're gonna freeze."

"I'm Shay. I can deal with just a wife beater." Jude smiled gratefully.

"Thanks..."

Shay smiled at her and she could tell something was on his mind. "You know, Jude... I thought about you every day I was on tour."

"Shay..."

"No, let me finish." She nodded at him. "I regret ever hurting you, girl. And I don't know if I'm crazy, but I still like there's...something...between us."

"You're not crazy, Shay. You were my first real boyfriend. Of course there's...something."

"Then don't hate me for this." Shay leaned in swiftly, kissing Jude gently on the lips. Pulling away after a bit, he looked deep into her eyes, making sure he didn't just make the biggest mistake of his life.

Shock and disbelief were floating in Jude's eyes. Suddenly, she leaned into Shay and pressed her lips firmly against his in a forceful kiss. Jude put her hands on the back of his neck and pulled him closer, successfully deepening the kiss.

Shay pushed Jude up against the railing, moaning into her mouth. This was way too much--not what he had been expecting at all. He hadn't even truly expected her to kiss him back, let alone this. He ran his hands through her hair, his lips having yet to leave her mouth.

A gentle cough behind Shay separated the two of them. Jude looked toward the door, where an uncomfortable figure was standing, staring at her and Shay.

"Tom, I...uh..." Jude was at a lost for words.

Tom felt like he was in some alternate universe. Last he knew, he and Jude were hating Shay--not kissing him. And certainly not kissing him like that. This was too much. He had to get out of here. Turning from the scene he had just witnessed, Tom headed for the door.

Jude pulled away from Shay and took a step toward her old producer. "No wait! Tommy, please!" She rushed out the door, leaving a very embarrassed Shay alone on the fire escape.

"Every time..." he muttered with a smile.

---

Jude followed Tom to the living room, grabbing a hold of his upper arm. "Tom, that was not what it looked like," she pleaded.

"You don't have to make any excuses for me, Jude." She could feel the hurt radiating from him.

"Please, let me explain! I got caught up and---"

"Save it, Jude," Tom spat, "for someone who cares." Jude's eyes widened as Tom stormed out, the door slamming behind him. She gasped and fell to the ground, finding it too hard to stand anymore.

"What's going on, Harrison?" Spied asked finally.

"I think my life just ended."

---

Tom hopped into his Viper and sighed deeply.

Son of a bitch. I can't believe her! This is too much. This has always been too much. But this is it. Finally. I think this is finally it.

He pounded his fists on the steering wheel, pissed as all hell. I need a drink. Bad. Starting his car, Tom sped off toward his apartment.

---

Sadie stepped inside her living room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She giggled uncontrollably and collapsed on her couch in a fit of laughter. Just then her doorbell rang and she heard a knock on her door.

"Got it!" she called out. Staggering over to the door, she flung it open, chuckling all the time. She screeched when she saw who it was, "Tom!"

"S-Sadie," he slurred, tripping into her.

Boy, were they some couple.

"What...what are you doing here?" she asked, vaguely remembering being mad at him, but she couldn't tell why.

"Sadie...I...I am sorry. So sorry...about...about...Ju-Ju-Jude. I want...want...want...to be with...you!" Tom laughed, running his hands through his hair. "I...I was...st-st-st-stupid. Forgive me? I am...so...over...that Jude...Jude thing. I am so...so...ded-ded-dedicate-dedicated to...you."

Tom leaned in, breath reeking of whiskey, and plants his lips sloppily on Sadie's. Their kiss didn't last long because he moved the kiss down her face to her neck, leaving a trail of alcohol-smelling saliva down her skin. As Tom returned the kisses to her lips, Sadie threaded her fingers in Tom's ruffled hair, pulling him with her to couch.

Stumbling over each other, they both landed in a pile, never breaking contact. Tom moaned loudly into her mouth, the two of them dead weight. A audible gasp echoed from the door. Tom sat up and met the gaze of a very surprised...

"Jude!" Sadie yelled in a sing-song voice.

"I guess...I guess you two are...something, huh?" she choked out, jaw almost touching the floor in shock. Tom watched as tears began pouring down her face.

"Jude...wait," he slurred out, getting up and stumbling toward the door. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek gently. Jude recoiled at his touch, the hurt look in her eyes breaking his heart.

"Don't, Tommy," her voice a low warning.

"Ju-Jude, I'm so...so...sorry. I've been so...stupid...P-P-Please...forgive me?" He leaned in unsteadily, pressing his lips against hers vigorously. Jude pulled back, glaring at him.

Taking a step back, she slapped him across the face. He rubbed his reddening cheek and she warned, "Don't do this, Tommy." Without another word, Jude turned her back and stalked out, slamming the door behind her in Tom's face.

"Over Jude, huh?" Sadie's voice startled Tom enough to turn him around. Her chipper attitude was gone and replaced with one of anger. She was almost screaming at him, "Do you always kiss girls you're 'over,' Tom?"

"Sadie," his voice was a mere whisper.

She was becoming borderline hysterical. "No, Tom. Just get out. I'm tired of this, and I'm tired of you. Portia was right...waiting for you will never be worth it. You will never be worth it." Tom stood there in shock, still too drunk to know exactly what to do. Sadie screamed, "Get out!"

Tom stumbled out the door, still a bit confused. Sadie slumped against the back of the couch, exhausted from drinking and fooling around and yelling.

"What's going on in here!" Victoria hissed from the hallway. Sadie looked up, startled, and saw her mom standing there wearing her bathrobe half asleep.

Sadie turned for the stairs, "Nothing, Mom. I'm going to bed," she slurred out. Attempting the staircase, she stumbled at the bottom step, falling into a sobbing pile at the bottom.

"Sadie Marie! Are you drunk!" Victoria scolded, eyebrows furrowing. Her daughter glared back at her.

"I was just practicing for university. Remember? That place you're shipping me off to tomorrow? Plus, I'll be 19 in two months."

"That's not the point, Sadie!" Victoria sighed. "Just sleep on the couch for tonight. We'll deal with this tomorrow."

Victoria helped Sadie stand and led her over to the couch, where she promptly collapsed. Her mother laid a blanket over her, watching her fall asleep. Victoria fought to choke back her tears.

"I'm losing both of them..."

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A/N: Well, I was hoping to post both chapters today, but FanFiction is being super weird. My documents aren't showing up. SO, I'm posting this one now, and I'll get the next one up ASAP!

Review here for now, and I'll post as soon as I can!

Always,
Jude Quincy

NEXT CHAPTER IS CALLED: GETTING YOUR CAKE

NOTE ON TV SHOWS: Instant Star first...I can't wait until April 7th! YAY!

Wildfire...OMG! I loved it. It made me cry, laugh, yell, and cry some more.

NEXT WEEK'S LOOKS SO GOOD! KRIS AND JUNIOR! ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT, FEEL FREE TO IM ME OR E-MAIL ME:-)

The cutest moment between those two in last week's episode…probably when Kerry showed up the morning after and Junior leaned into her and whispered, "Whatever you do, just do it for you and no one else." That was so adorable. :3

Not that I didn't tape it and pause on the second they were wrapped up together. Then draw a fanart of it…lol.

Well, I'm gone for now. Review, please!
-Jude Q