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

Episode 23 – No Right Angles

Part 1

Jake was all over the place, but you couldn't really blame the guy since his release party was tonight. "I look like a penguin," he said trying to loosen his bow tie. "So you're bringing the mystery girl tonight," said Jake. "Yup," said Jackson. "I can't wait to meet her," I said as I walked out of her room. "Me too," said Jake. "I'm his best friend and I've never even met her; Jude you're like his sister, so it's no wonder you haven't met her for fear of your disapproval" said Jake dramatically. Jackson and I just laughed good naturedly. "It was true" I thought to myself. "Jake's right" I said. "What can you repeat that, did you say I was right?" said Jake who had temporarily stopped fidgeting with the bow tie. "Jackson I guess I've thought of you like an older brother since NYC. You've been my rock. Someone I can depend on. I mean who else would have been crazy to enough to agree to give my wedding ring back to my husband. And Jake, I guess that makes you like the annoying little brother" I said. "Stop you're making me blush" said Jake sarcastically. "I really hope you like her Jude; it's important to me" said Jake. "I'm sure I'll love her" I said.

Part 2

Tommy and I had agreed to be each other's dates, well friends who were going together. "You look great" he said surveying me and offering me his arm. "You too," I said. The party was going great and Jake was making out with E.J. on one side of the room. I scanned the other side of the room to catch a glimpse of Jackson and his date, but no luck. "Who are you looking for" said Tommy. "Jackson said I'd finally get to meet his girlfriend," I said. Just then I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

Part 3

Tommy and I looked up in shock. "I had no idea she was coming, Jude" Tommy said under his breath so only I could hear. "Jude, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Portia," he said with a huge smile on his face. "Hi Jude" she said. I just looked at her coldly and didn't say anything. "We've met," said Portia. "You've got some nerve showing up like this," said Tommy. All of a sudden the music stopped playing and all eyes seemed to be turned on us. Jake and E.J. came running over to us.

Part 4

"What's going on guys," said Jake. Portia looked over at Tommy and Jude. "You know Tommy, I was wondering why everyone was so happy when you came back as producer, here" said Portia. "Did you even tell anyone about the letter I left you" I said icily. "Jude, I did. I just left some parts out" Tommy said. "Yeah the parts that clearly saved your ass and let you continue working here when Jude went AWOL" said Jackson. "I wouldn't talk if I were you. I mean obviously you didn't know what Jude wrote in the letter either seeing as how you brought her" Tommy said pointing to Portia. Jackson looked confused as did everyone else who was entranced with the scene unfolding before them. "No I didn't read the letter, but all I know is that you broke her heart and she came to NYC" said Jackson. "Well your girlfriend is the reasons she did" Tommy said. Jackson looked over at Portia who wasn't denying it and then over at Jude. "Is this true," he said looked at the two of them.

Part 5

Jackson's face was stony as were quite a few others. "Portia, you lied to me. It's over. Jude let's go" Jackson said as he took my hand and started walking towards the door.
Everyone at the party was stunned. People started leaving and about an hour later mostly everyone was gone.

Part 6

Jackson and Jude were sprawled on the couch each going over what had just transpired for about an hour now. It was so quiet in the apartment all you could hear was the drip drip of the kitchen faucet. "So, she knew that I was your roommate?" I said. "No" said Jackson. "So then she didn't lie to you" I said. "Why are you defending her?" he said angrily looking up. "She was the reason your marriage ended," he said exasperated. "Because you've just been so damned happy," I said. "It doesn't matter anymore," he said gloomily. "I want you to go find her and work it out," I said. "Jude no way, how can I do that? What about you?" he said. "I just want you to be happy" I said. He looked at me with hint of hope in his eyes, "Are you really sure." "Yeah, go find her," I said. Jackson picked himself up off the couch, gave me a kiss on the forehead, and ran out the door. "One of us should be happy," I said.

Part 7

"I honestly don't know what to say to you, man" said Kwest as he watched Tommy packing up his stuff. "Why didn't you tell me, I'm your best friend" Kwest said hurt. Tommy continued to pack. "Don't you mean ex-best friend?" said Tommy. "No, I mean current as in still best friend," said Kwest. "Look I know how you feel about Jude" Tommy said. "Yeah I love her like a sister and I love you like a brother," he said. "So you don't hate me then," Tommy said looking up. "I may not agree with your actions, but I'll never hate you man, you're my boy" said Kwest. "Thanks man," I said. "You don't have to leave man, you're welcome to stay here," Kwest said. "Plus Georgia didn't say you were fired," Kwest said.

Part 8

Georgia and E.J. were sitting in her office. "I don't know what to say," said E.J. "Well there's a first for everything," said Georgia. E.J. just rolled her eyes. "So are you gonna fire Tommy," said E.J. "It's not my decision" said Georgia. "Tommy and Jude are adults, they need to settle this on their own; an intervention from us isn't going to help this time not like it did the last time," she said fondly remembering when they had locked the two of them up in the conference room.

Part 9

Jude felt a sense of calm wash over her as she got under the covers of her bed, which was odd considering her world was crashing all around her. It had gone from Tommy and Jude to just Jude. She leaned over to turn off the lamp and shut her eyes.

"And the winner of this year's first ever Instant Star: Tom Quincy." Flash forward an hour later.

Jude leaned over the railing to get a better look at Tom Quincy. The Instant Star winner and her next project. She couldn't stop staring at his gorgeous blue eyes or his well chiseled features when she was shaken from her reverie from his words. "Did I stutter. I. Said. I. Refuse. To. Work. With. some Britney, Jessica, Mariah, whatever the hell her name" he said with contempt. "Oh boy" said E.J. who moments earlier had been walking towards Georgia, but was now backtracking in another direction. "First I'm here cause Georgia is a friend. I could care less about you or your whacked contest. Second, the name's Jude Harrison. Don't you ever call me Britney, again," Jude said.

Part 10

Jude sat in the booth with Georgia with E.J. standing in the back as Tom Quincy strummed on his guitar and sang. After a few seconds into it Jude interrupted him, "You wanna stop cause you're hurting my ears." She took off her headphones and made her way towards Tommy taking the guitar from him. "You won a contest with that. You're singing it like it's a funeral dirge. It's boring. You've got t o pick up the temp. Straight quarters at the bottom" she said. Tom couldn't wrap his head around how arrogant this 15-year old red head was. He was patient as she showed him how to play his song; she wasn't even born when he started playing his first guitar. But the clincher was when she told him to change his lyrics. He stormed out of the studio before anyone could stop him.

Part 11

Jude found Tommy at the local record store. He was listening to her CDs, well actually her group's CDs, and he was broadcasting his commentary to any and all shoppers who happened to be at the store. He was in the middle of lambasting the lyrics when he saw Jude who took off his headset and dragged him out of the store. "That was great by the way, loved your insightfulness" she said with a glare. "I booked you at the Vinyl Palace. We have two days to work on your song" Jude said. "Where are we going" said Tom. "Somewhere you won't walk out on me this time," Jude said. "Whoa, this is what you drive," Tom said as he caressed the blue viper. "Are you even old enough," he said with a dubious look. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm almost 16. Besides you've head at least 4 years driving experience. Given your age," she said. "Ouch Jude, low blow" he said while clutching his stomach dramatically. "Just shut up and get in Tommy" she said. "Actually it's Tom," he said. "Yeah if you were like 50 years old" she said. He gave her another look. "Fine I'll call you Quincy, happy" she said. "Whatever, Harrison" he said as he buckled his seat belt and held on for dear life as she pealed out of the parking spot.

Part 12

Jude was getting impatient with Tom Quincy. "That's your tenth chord variation but you still haven't touched the lyrics. You wanna get it right or you want to get it right now?" she said. When he gave her an annoyed look she continued, "You do everything in such a hurry?" He glanced up from his guitar. "I'm on a timeline. Curt Cobain made NeverMind when he was 23" he said as he looked back down at his fingering. That leaves me with just a year then," he said. "Well I've got 8 years to work on my masterpiece" said Jude. "Thanks that really helps, Jude" he said.

Part 13

It was the night of his performance and Tom Quincy was breaking out in a sweat. Jude did her best to calm him down. "If you ever need to talk. Anytime. About anything. I'm here for you, okay? Part of the job" she said and gave him a warm smile. She lightly put her hand on his arm as she said this when all of a sudden she felt his lips on hers. It was hard to tell who was more in shock when they broke apart. "Jude, you're 15…" he said to himself. "How can I even begin to like someone like you? You're everything I hate about music," he said. "Easy" Jude said. "You made me change my song" he said. "Don't give me that because your song is a thousand times better since we worked on it. And you know it." Suddenly Georgia voice came from the hallway, "Tom, we need you." "Okay," he said as he grabbed his guitar and headed out the door. Tom Quincy's performance was everything she had expected out of him. What she didn't expect was afterwards when he told her that he quit.

Part 14

She found him the next morning at the record store only this time he wasn't lambasting her CD, but was listening to Kurt Cobain's NeverMind. He saw her approach and took the headphones off. "I come in peace" she said while waving an imaginary white flag. They both took a seat on the couch. "If I led you on…" she said. "Let's skip this," he said. "Cool" Jude said. "Cool" said Quincy. "Look, working on a song. It's like falling in love. At first it's a rush, but then it gets painful. And sometimes you come out of it with something beautiful. Like that song. I mean change can be good, Tom. You want proof? Just listen. Don't quit because you're it. You're the real thing. You're even better" she said. "Call me Tommy," he said and offered her his hand. "9:00. Monday. Be at the studio" she said before getting up and getting in her car. He watched her drive off knowing that since meeting her, his life had changed forever.

Part 15

Tommy woke up from a cold sweat. "That was weird," he said as he sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. Meanwhile across town Jude woke up as well. "I can't escape him even in dreams," she said to herself. She dragged herself to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. "You don't want to," said a small voice in her head, which she tried to squelch. "Admit it, you still love him after everything he's done, everything he's put you through," she said to the reflection in the mirror. She sat on the cover of the toilet and rested her chin on her knees which she had hugged towards her chest. "I still love him" she said as a single tear fell towards the bathroom floor.