Hey everybody, I hope you like my story. The previous chapter obviously takes place during the middle of Season 1. I didn't like how the rest of the season went after that so I decided to fix it in my own special way. So that means lots of drama and angst. This is my first Instant Star ff, so please be gentle.

This isn't easy for anybody to do, post something they have written for the world to see. So please, if you read the story, review it. It doesn't take long and I always welcome constructive criticism. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not have anything to do with Instant Star. This is a work of fiction and I am just borrowing all the characters.

"Jude!" Georgia said really surprised to see her at the studio. They'd been trying all week to get her to come in but Jude was either busy with school, not home or she didn't want to come in. Georgia had finally gotten fed up and called her mother, today in fact. "Your mom didn't tell me you were coming in when I talked to her."

"That's 'cause she didn't know," Jude said sitting down on the chair in front of Georgia's desk. "I know she told you my whole family drama but I don't want to talk about it. Now or later."

"Jude," Georgia started but stopped when Jude held up one of her hands.

"Now I have a record to finish," she said standing up. She hurried out of Georgia's office and headed to one of the studios. She sighed in relief when it was empty. She needed a moment. She grabbed a guitar and started playing. Getting lost in the music.

Georgia watched her through a window. She was obviously hurting but didn't want anyone to know, or help her through it. She was bottling it up but who knew how long she could do that. Georgia just hoped somebody would be there for her when that happened. Because Jude may have been capable of handling many things, but disappointment from a father, not something that was easily fixed.

"Who ya staring at?" Kwest asked looking through the window. Tommy and EJ right behind him.

"Jude," Georgia said nodding toward the red headed singer in the corner.

"So she decided to grace us with her presence?" EJ asked checking off 'get Jude in the studio' on her clipboard. She hadn't wanted to say I told you so but if Jude let a pesky breakup with a boyfriend bring her down this bad, then maybe it was time to cut her loose. This was a professional Record Label and Jude was an artist. There was no time to mess around.

"Give the girl a break," Kwest said shooting a glare at EJ. "She was publicly humiliated at her birthday. Her heart was broken."

Tommy rolled his eyes. He wanted to admit to his friend right there about the kiss and that she was probably staying away from him, not G Major. But with Georgia and EJ standing right there, it wouldn't be the smartest move. Besides, he wanted to keep it to himself for as long as he could. Hopefully until Jude was at least 18.

"Guys, I don't think it had anything to do with Shay," Georgia admitted. She might be crossing a line here but Jude was going to need the whole team to get through this. And if they all knew, it wouldn't make for those awful uncomfortable conversations about her and Shay. "I just talked to Jude's mom and her parents are separated. Her father moved out earlier this week; the day after her performance actually."

EJ and Kwest looked at each other and then looked at Jude. "Um…yeah, I got something to do," Kwest said backing away. He was never good at the parent thing and he didn't have a clue on what to say. EJ just nodded and followed him.

Tommy sighed and took a deep breath. "I guess that leaves me," he said softly.

"Tommy, she doesn't want to talk about it," Georgia said quickly. "So don't make her talk, make her write."

Tommy nodded and walked into the studio room. He knew now what Jude had been talking about when she said the world didn't revolve around him. It seemed Sadie had finally told their mom about the affair. He almost wished he hadn't kissed her now because it was just another thing for her to deal with. And he didn't want to hurt her for anything. But he couldn't take it back and he wouldn't. He may tell her to forget about it but he didn't blame her if she couldn't. He would never forget it either.

"I don't believe I'll be alright, I don't believe I'll be okay," Jude sang softly. She still couldn't believe that she had sang this song in public and it had gone over really well.

"Jude," Tommy said interrupting her playing. He hated to do it; she looked so relaxed sitting on a stool in the corner of the room singing her heart out. She looked beautiful.

"What?" Jude asked continuing to play the song on the guitar. She had heard the door open and she had known who had entered. She always knew when he entered a room. It was like her sixth sense or something.

"Can you put the guitar down please?" Tommy asked sitting down in one of the chairs.

Jude played a couple more bars but finally put the guitar down. If there was one thing about Tommy she knew, it was that he wouldn't let her record the song until he had his say. She turned to face him, giving Tommy his first real look at her.

Tommy's eyes bugged out and he couldn't believe that she was the same girl that was laughing and smiling just a couple weeks ago. Her eyes were so lifeless. She had the darkest circles under her eyes and if it was possible, she had lost at least fifteen pounds since he'd last seen her. Her hair was limp and she just wasn't Jude. His Jude.

"Girl, what happened to you?" Tommy asked carefully. He didn't want her to get mad and leave but he had to know how she was doing. Jude may not know it but she was his best friend and it was time he started acting like a friend in return.

"What happened Tommy?" Jude asked shaking her head. "Life happened Tommy. And it decided that way too many things were going my way so it needed to knock me down a peg or two. And it did, it just knocked me off a damn cliff."

Tommy nodded like he understood but he didn't have a clue of what she was talking about. Shay, him or her father. "Jude, I'm gonna say something and I don't want you to storm out of here until I finish. If you are still mad at me after I'm done, go right ahead and leave." When Jude just stared at him he continued on. "I'm going to start with Shay. I'm sticking with my original comment. Shay is just a kid and a dumb one at that. He's just doing what Darius wants and as much as you might think you were in love with him, you weren't. Second, our kiss. We can't be together, it's illegal for one and it would be in our best interest to forget the kiss. You are 16, and I am 23. That's jail time babe." When Jude rolled her eyes he sighed. "And finally, your father."

Jude sat up straighter and stared at him in surprise. She didn't know how he found out but this was beginning to be too much. He didn't even know about the situation and he was going to try and give her advice.

"Your father is human Jude. He made a mistake. He cheated and if you don't think he isn't paying for it now in spades. Then you obviously aren't thinking about what the man lost. His wife and his two beautiful daughters," Tommy explained. "He's kicking his own ass right now, he doesn't need you adding to it."

"Who told you he cheated?" Jude asked her voice dangerously soft. When Tommy just stared at her she stood up. "Georgia couldn't have told you that because I know my Mom didn't tell her that. So I am going to ask you again, who told you he cheated?"

"Sadie," Tommy admitted slowly knowing she was going to lose it.

But Jude surprised him again. "Sadie," she said. "You know, I should be more surprised but I'm not. After seeing how close you two were at the farmhouse, nothing she does surprises me anymore." She paused then remembering. "That's when she told you wasn't it. So you knew and didn't tell me. Well, it's nice to know where I stand with you." Jude shook her head but bent down and picked up her guitar again. "We're done here. We have a song to record and that's all I want to do today. No more heart to hearts, no more trying to pretend you care about me. I want to record this song and leave."

Tommy watched Jude walk into the other room and take her spot in front of the microphone. That did not go well. Yeah she didn't walk out but she wasn't exactly giving him a hug for giving her advice either.

Georgia walked in then and took the seat beside him. "How'd the talk go?" she asked making sure Jude couldn't hear her.

"About as good as my last root canal," Tommy said messing with the board in front of him. "She's pissed at me now too."

"Well, I can't say I blame her," Georgia said getting his attention. "Nothing goes on here that I don't know about. Remember that?" She stood up and walked to the door. She turned around and said one last thing. "Jude is amazing, and she was blessed with an amazing talent. But everybody seems to forget that she's just a teenage girl and you gave her the world in one second and ripped it away the next. It won't be easy to repair that. I don't envy you that, but you will fix it. Or I will get her a new producer."

Tommy stared at the doorway long after Georgia had left. This day couldn't get any worse.