A/N - Hey, everyone! Here's Chapter One! Enjoy!

(I've decided, I'm gonna make the chapters a little shorter and update more often. I thought you guys would like that more than me making them super long and updating every week or so.)

-JQ-

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Chapter 1 : She Said, He Said

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Jude sighed, wishing she could go home. But her and Tom had to finish her song and then she had to work with Portia on a new outfit for her upcoming birthday bash.

All Jude wanted to do for her seventeenth birthday was go out to dinner with her family—no significant others—and hang out at home. But, alas, the life of an Instant Star.

Darius, Liam, and Portia had planned a big birthday party for her after she had won the People's Picks award a few days before. She couldn't exactly say 'no' and her mom had promised her a quiet party at her house the night after to make up for it.

So, she had exactly two days to get her giant G-Major party together.

"Jude?" Tom's voice floated over to her from the door. She glanced up and sighed.

It was too hard to be mad at him.

"Yeah?" she whispered, not trusting her voice.

"You okay?" She shook her head, a sob escaping her throat. He sat down next to her, careful not to touch her. "You want to talk about it?"

"With you?" Jude looked up, staring deep in Tom's intense blue eyes. "You're kidding…"

"Jude, I know you're not happy with me. And what happened with Sadie. But, can I explain?" Tom set his hand gently on her shoulder, testing the waters. She didn't move.

"Tommy, I…" She took a deep breath. "When you and Sadie went to Europe, I was crushed. I had let myself fall for you again. And it hurt that you didn't want to be with me. But then I realized that if you were willing to go to Europe with her, you and Sadie must be…something. So, I thought, if the two people I love most can be happy, I'll do my best to help them.

"And you guys were doing so well. Yeah, you were busy with work, but I really thought you could make it work. But now, you cheat on her with some girl? I feel like I wasted all this time trying to make sure you two were happy, when you weren't even trying."

"Jude," Tom interrupted. "I couldn't make it work for Sadie. I don't know how to say this…"

"Just say it."

He sighed. "Sadie was…too much of a fan. She didn't act like a girlfriend, and she hadn't in a long time. I can't date a fan. I need someone who likes me past the Boyz Attack history. Someone who knows me past the music and the industry."

"You didn't even let her try, Tommy," Jude retorted. They were both silent for a second, neither one sure what to say.

"Maybe because…I couldn't get my mind off of someone else." Jude's eyes widened.

"Excuse me, Jude?" The blonde turned toward the new voice asking for her.

"Portia," she greeted, pulling back from Tom.

"We need you for a fitting…? Your birthday dress…?" She tapped her fingers on the wall, impatient.

"Sure," Jude stood, stealing one quick look at Tom. He was staring off into space, a perplexed look etched into his face. She followed Tom's ex-wife into the dressing room, where it looked like an accessory bomb had just exploded.

Racks of dresses were lining the walls. Shoes of every color and size were littering the floor. Accessories of every kind—purses, jewelry, feathered boas--were scattered on tables and chairs.

"Welcome to Paradise!" Portia waved her arms around. "Take your pick!"

Jude looked around, trying to take everything in at once. For the next few minutes, she tried on every dress she saw, searching for the perfect one.

That's when she saw it. The perfect dress.

She reached out and touched the silky purple fabric. I have to try this on. She slipped into the floor-length gown, loving the feel of the silk on her bare skin. She spun around, checking herself out in the mirror on the wall.

The dress was made of a beautiful deep purple silk that fell to the floor. There was a long slit up the right leg, revealing more skin than Jude would have had in mind, but she didn't care. This was her dress.

Grinning, she took another long look at her reflection.

Maybe this wasn't going to be worst birthday in the world after all.

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Tom groaned and closed his eyes, hitting his head against the wall. I'm such an idiot! Why can't I just keep my damn mouth shut! First I tell her that I broke it off with her sister because she didn't get him. Then I say I have feelings for someone else? God, I practically shouted that I love her.

"Hey, man?" Tom opened his eyes and saw Kwest standing above him. "You okay?"

"No." Kwest laughed and Tom stood up.

"Let me guess…Jude problems?" Tom raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you know?" he asked suspiciously.

"When isn't it?" he countered, a smile on his face.

"True, true," he nodded.

"Tell me about it."

Tom groaned. "Where to start. Um…I told her I broke up with Sadie because she was too much of a fan, not a girlfriend."

Kwest coughed. "You didn't!"

"I know, I know. Then I told her that I broke up with Sadie because I have feelings for someone else."

He paused. "Not Jude, still?" Tom was silent. "Man, you've liked her for almost two years! She's still only sixteen, Tom!"

"I know, Kwest. Do you know how hard this is? Loving a girl who can't love you back…?"

"Love?" he choked out, eyes wide. Tom shrugged and collapsed against the wall.

"Kwest, I don't know what to do…And she hates me right now. Like, bad."

"Man, she'll come around. She always does." He smirked.

"Who does?" a vibrant voice asked from behind the two men. They spun around and found themselves face to face with…

"Georgia!"

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A/N – Okay:3 Why is Georgia here? Will Jude ever find out about Tom's feelings? Will Jude have a happy birthday yet? Find out next time.

Please review, everyone! It makes me write much quicker!

Love,

JQ