Disclaimer: I do not own the show Instant Star or any of the characters.

Chapter 4: New home.

AN: Thanks to Destany Mitchell for the correct words to skin.

"Mom," Jude said, "It's not like I'm being shipped over seas, I'm just going to be staying at Tom's house."

"I don't see why..." Her mom replied while moving about the kitchen, fixing dinner.

"Jamie is right next door. It will be so hard just being near him and I'd like to avoid it as much as possible. I just want to be happier."

She looked up to Jude then to Tommy. "Well, I still don't like the idea of you staying with Tommy."

"Mom, I just came back from a summer on tour, I could've gotten into so much trouble but you trusted me then. I'm asking you to trust me now."

"Maybe... School's starting soon you know."

"Yes, I know. How about I stay with Tommy until school starts, and if Jamie, Kat, and I are able to be around each other, I'll come back? And this has so many advantages to it. I mean, Tommy and I will be able to work when we're not at the studio. It will all work out for the best. Please?"

"Alright, but this is just temporary. As soon as you and Jamie settle your differences, you're moving back."

Jude smiled and jumped for joy. "Oh yes! Thank you mom!"

"And you," her mom said, pointing a large and very sharp knife at Tommy, "you lay a finger on my daughter; I will hire a hit man."

"That is definitely noted."

"With all that said, I think you should get your stuff together. Your suitcase from your tour is still packed. You might just want to grab a few more things."

"Thanks mom," she called again before racing up the stairs, Tommy following her.

"I can't believe she's actually letting me do this!" Jude cried as she dug through her drawers. "I mean, she's always so protective of me."

"But she is protecting you by letting you do this. She's protecting you from being near someone who really hurt you and who you don't want to see for now."

And right when Tommy finished speaking, there was a loud "tap" on Jude's window. They heard another and another until Jude opened the window.

She looked down and frowned at the sight. "Go away!" She shouted at Jamie.

"I just want to talk to you!" He called back.

"About what? How you stabbed me in the back?"

"C'mon Jude!"

Tommy came up behind her and shouted, "Get out of here!"

"So you're going to let him fight your battles now?" Jamie yelled.

"No he's protecting me!"

"From me?"

"Yeah, from you! It's tough just being around you right now, Jamie. That's why I'm going to live at Tommy's place for a while."

"You're going to live with him?"

"I'll see you in school, Jamie!" She closed the window muffling his voice.

"You just need to get away from him for a while," Tommy replied solemnly.

"Yeah." She finished packing her bag, grabbed her guitar and tour bag, and headed down the stairs. "Bye Mom," She said before leaving the house.

Tommy followed me out and we got into his car. "Jude, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she mumbled. "Just these encounters with Jamie are leaving me a little frazzled."

"Things will get better though, you know that right?"

"I guess…"

"They will."

"How do you know?"

"I didn't want to tell you this before but a while ago when Boyz Attack was just getting famous, I hooked up with my friend, Tiffany. We dated for a while, then I left for a tour."

"And let me guess, you came back and she hooked up with someone else?"

"Actually, I was with a different girl every night and when I came back, she broke up with me. Several pictures had appeared in a few magazines and she just couldn't take it. She broke my heart."

"But she had reason, no offense or anything."

"Yes, she did."

"But I didn't do anything! I didn't cheat on him… I could've hooked up for Speiderman for all he knows, but I didn't. I didn't deserve this."

"I know… We just need to get away from this place…" He started the car and we drove off.

She sang to herself quietly.

"You never lied to me not once
Its not your fault that I cant trust
Its in my past, its in my path and I can't go there
Making a mess out of this game
To see it all go up in flames
So tired of being ruthless and wreckless

Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your 21
Time to dream that love with last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be
Ohh time to be your 21."

Tommy pulled up to his house and they both got out of the car. It was all pretty silent while Jude got her stuff into his house. It was just awkward; her moving into his house, and they weren't even in a relationship. He was just trying to protect her.

"Um, you want to go out to dinner or something?" Tommy asked me after a little while. "We could celebrate you moving in."

She forced a smile and nodded. "That'd be good."

Tommy could sense the stiffness in her voice. "We don't have to if you don't want to."

"Sorry, I really don't mean to be a downer; I just don't feel like going out."

"No, it's cool. I understand. We can just hang out here." He sat down next to her and leaned back. "I'm really glad you won Instant Star."

"You are? You never seemed like you were…"

"But I am. You really deserve it."

"Funny how you say that. Sometimes I think that I'd be better off if Eden won. Because maybe Shay wouldn't have hurt me, maybe Jamie wouldn't have hurt me…"

Tommy filled in the rest of sentence in his head. Maybe I wouldn't have hurt you… "Don't wish that. You would've been hurt by guys anyways…"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Thanks," she snapped.

"No, Jude, I didn't mean that. Guys are just stupid sometimes and they'll break up with a perfect girl like you for no reason."

"Perfect?"

"What?"

"You called me perfect…"

"I didn't mean… I just… you just… Oh hell!" He leaned over to Jude and kissed her with amazing force.

"Tommy," she breathed after he pulled away. "What are you doing?"

He stood up and backed away. "I-I don't know…" He ran out the door and slammed it behind him.

AN: I don't know why I'm not doing so well with the writing, just having trouble. Anyways, if you like this story, you'll probably like my other story, Returning Home, a lot better. Please R&R!