A/N: I don't own Instant Star. Reviews are always welcome.

Episode 4 – Welcome To My Life

Part 1

The media had a field day when they found out I'd become emancipated from my parents. There were pictures of me in my viper, of me hitting the club with Shay, painting me as if I'd become some rock star diva living it up. Man was it far from what was really going on. How many rock stars do they know that does their own laundry?
Now if only I could learn how to cook? I can't live off take out forever? Or can I? I was just thinking about what I was gonna order for dinner when the door man buzzed that there was someone here to see me and if I wanted him to let her up. When I opened the door to my shock it was Sadie. Before I could even open my mouth to say something let alone process what was going on she said, "We need to talk" and shut the door. (cue music)

Part 2

"Sadie" I say. "Jude" she says. "So, mom tells me you're emancipated now. It's not enough that our parents got divorced. You had to divorce them, too. Mom was, is devastated, Jude. How can you do this to her? And dad he's even worse than mom. How can you be so selfish?" she says with her hands on her hips. I stood there getting angrier and angrier. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" she says exasperated. "Both of them tell me you've been freezing them out. Jude, I'm in college now I have my own life where you're not the center of attention now, why should I have to come back here every time you have a fight with mom and dad? It's not fair," she looks expectantly at me to answer. I have to wait a few seconds to stop my shoulders from trembling from anger and slow my breathing, but all I could see was red. "I came home with my parents divorced and my sister thousands of miles away; nice to have to find out from mom and dad that you decided you loved Italy so much that you decided to stay there and go to school. It wasn't enough going to university in the same country as your sister. You had to pack up your bags and flee. My entire family abandoned me and you're yelling at me about divorcing my family. You were the ones who left me all alone. So pardon me if I had to pull you out of your universe and drag you all the way back here to Toronto. Sorry to have wasted your time. You can tell your parents that if they want to talk to me they shouldn't send their lap dog and come talk to me themselves. And you can get out. Get out!" I yell before shoving her out the door and slamming it in her face.

Part 3

Sadie is fuming in the hallway. Shay walks by her in the hallway on the way to Jude's apartment. "What the hell are you doing here," she says to Shay. "I live here," Shay says coolly. "You've been gone a while Sadie and you have no idea what's been going on, neither do your parents. None of you have been here for her. So don't even try to lecture me about anything. I'm a different person now because of Jude. We're friends, really, so you can stop giving me that look, too. She forgave me. Can I say the same thing to you?" Shay says with annoyance in his voice. He quickly slips by her and enters Jude's door. As he opens the door something is quickly hurled at his head. He ducks and the vase shatters on the door. "Oh, sorry Shay I was just working some stuff out," I say. "That was a gift I gave you," he says with amusement. "Sorry," I say sheepishly as I put down more ammo. He gives me a look. "No, I don't want to talk about it. I'll see you later," I say. I quickly run out the door. I get in my viper and just drive.

Part 4

I couldn't get her words out of my head. I drive by my house and see a 'for sale' sign on it. My world shrinks and I keep driving for hours. Not really knowing where I am or even what time it is I turn off the car and pull my keys out of the ignition. "What the hell am I doing here," I say as I take in the scenery around me. I turn the car back on and am about to pull out of my driveway when I hear someone call my name. "Jude, are you alright? What are you doing here?" his voice full of concern. I had driven to Tommy's house.

Part 5

"I'm not really so sure myself," I say with a laugh; however the laughter sounds comes out more like a strangled sob. And then the flood gates open, my chest starts to heave and I'm sobbing. Strong arms wrap around me and I can smell his scent, which causes my knees to buckle, but before I hit the ground he catches me. "Whoa, don't worry Jude I've got you," he whispers in my ear. He picks me up and carries me inside. By that point I've exhausted myself from crying and fall into unconsciousness.

Part 6

My eyelids flutter open as I take in my surroundings. There's a strange weight on my hand. When I peak over the covers I see Tommy hunched over on a chair with his head resting on the bed and his hand covering mine protectively. My reverie is broken and Tommy is jarred awake when we hear shouting coming from outside and banging on the front door.

Part 7

Jude's parents, Sadie, Shay, Portia, Georgia, E.J., Jamie, and Kat are all standing in the living room all yelling at Tommy. "Hey!" I shout above the noise. It certainly got everyone's attention.

Part 8

Then the yelling barrage shifted towards me. An hour later, strangely enough we're all sitting in Tommy's dining room table eating breakfast, which he cooked by the way and was utterly amazing, and surprisingly nothing had been discussed. I'm not sure who suggested this delay tactic, but I was truly grateful. When we finished eating we cleared the table and washed the dishes and then headed back to the living room to go over what happened. Everyone took turns telling me what they thought happened and finally their gazes fell on me forcing me to tell them what actually happened. I told everyone about my confrontation with Sadie, about seeing the 'for sale' sign on the house, and of finding myself on Tommy's doorstep. I told them how he took me in and the next thing I knew everyone showed up at his house this morning. I told them everything; I didn't have anything to hide. At the end of my telling everyone got up and went outside except for my parents and Sadie.

Part 9

"Jude, honey, we've really missed you," my parents say in unison, which kind of freaks me out. "I've missed you too sis," Sadie says with a lot of things left unsaid in her eyes. "I've missed you guys, too," I say although it's barely above a whisper. "You've really grown up, Jude," says Jude's dad. "Both of our girls have grown up, Stuart," my mom adds noticing Sadie's forlorn look. "A lot has happened to each of us these past few weeks, these past few months really without any of us in each other's lives. You can't expect me to just welcome you with open arms," I say hurt. "How did we get so far away from each other? When did our family get so broken," I say with tears in my eyes. "Jude, the point is we're all here now and that's what matters," says my dad. "Really, because last time I checked you were living with Yvette, mom was selling the house, and Sadie was in Europe. How long are you gonna be here? Any of you? Or is this gonna be a let's check in on Jude every couple of months sort of thing? When I got back all of you were gone. All I got were your stupid notes. I mean geez I was only gone for 6 weeks imagine if I had been gone for 3 months? Who knows where you'd all be," I said. At that point they all converged on me and hugged me, but I tried to pull away. "Get away from me. Don't touch me!" I yell. A part of me wants them to just leave me alone, but another part of me just wants them to hold me and tell me they were sorry for abandoning me and leaving me to fend for myself.

Part 10

A few weeks had passed and it seemed like everyone was still walking around eggshells around me and it was driving me crazy. I couldn't work because my concentration was shot to hell, so I walked into Georgia's office and told her I needed some time off. She agreed without asking any questions and told me she'd tell Darius. Before I made it out the door Darius walked up to me and told me I could use his private jet for however long I wanted and to charge everything on the company card, which he had given me when he gave me the apartment and viper. "Seriously Jude, don't come back until you've cleared up whatever it is that's going on in your life," said Darius seriously. I make a quick run to the apartment, haphazardly pack, and drive to the small airfield where Darius' plane is waiting, and board the plane.

Part 11

"You're running away," said a small voice inside my head. "You're taking the easy way out when you can fix what's right in front of you," I say. I quickly unbuckle my seat belt and tell the pilot that I'm not flying anywhere today. I get in my car and drive to my old house. I'm about to knock when my mom opens the door. "Jude honey why didn't you just use your key, this is still your home you know?" she says. "Is it mom, because the sign in the front tells me different?" At my words my mom starts crying. "Oh mom I'm sorry, please don't cry," I say. "Jude, do you think it's easy for me to be in this house. Your father cheated on my, then Sadie went to Europe, and then you went on tour," Victoria says. "But mom, when I got back your note said that you were on vacation in Europe," I say. "I was in Europe helping your sister move in to school. I didn't even know she was going to school in Europe instead of here in Toronto, she just dropped it on my lap when she got back from Europe," she says sobbing. "Oh," I say wishing I could have said anything else. "That's the whole truth Jude," she says with a sigh. "Why didn't you mention any of this when I got back?" I say. "How could I when you were in the studio everyday, and then Darius gives you that apartment and car. How am I supposed to compete with all of that?" she says before starting to cry again. "You're my mom you don't have to compete with any of those things," I say trying to comfort her. "And the emancipation Jude that really hurt me," she says. "You and dad were fighting all the time over me. I thought if I got emancipated you two would stop fighting," I say. "I know part of that is true Jude, but I also know what an independent person you are and I guess it just hurt more so because I didn't want to let you go; I knew I'd have to let you and Sadie go eventually, but I didn't think it was so soon," she says. "You'll never lose me mom," I say tearfully and embrace her. "Jude, you should probably see your father. He's hurting just as much as I am, I was. I'm glad we're talking again, honey," she says. "Me too, mom," I say. Before I left to go to see my dad I made plans with my mom to go apartment hunting with her. I went through the same emotional turmoil with my dad, but I think we're okay again. All that was left was to see Sadie, who by now had already returned to Italy. "I guess I'll be needing that plane after all," I say. I made a quick call and found myself boarding the plane once again.