A/N: I don't own Instant Star yaddh yadda yadda

Part 9

Jude stared at the clock on the wall willing it to hit five. It wasn't working and she was giving herself a headache trying. She leaned back in her chair and began to massage the bridge of her nose. She smiled when a memory invaded her thoughts. "I can't mooch off you forever, Tommy. And besides aren't you sick of me eating you out of house and home?" she said teasingly. Tommy looked at her appraisingly she had gained some meat on her small frame and color was in her cheeks dissipating the paleness and her eyes were twinkling. "I think I know just the thing, but don't let me regret it, girl!" he said wryly. He then told her about the receptionist position at G Major. She flew off the couch and all of a sudden Tommy was being hugged tightly and he sighed with utter contentment. His nostrils took in her familiar scent and he idly began to rub her hair between his fingers.

"Um the phone's ringing! Are you gonna get that or…" said the youth in front of her. She picked up the phone only to hear the dial tone. "Don't tell Liam he already let me have it when he caught me daydreaming" she said with a nervous smile. "It's a medical condition you know" he said in a serious tone. "He doesn't like to talk about it, but between you and me he never got the stick out of his ass after birth" he snorted before smiling at her expression that was fluctuating between solemness and laughter. "Hi, I'm Jaime" he said offering her a warm handshake. "Jude" she said. "Just Jude!" he said curiously. "It works for Madonna" she said sardonically. Just then Tommy, Quest, and Shay walked towards the two figures in animated conversation. He saw the three of them glare at him and he put up his hands in surrender. "Jude what are you..." "How about" "Do you want to..." three voices said in unison. Jude couldn't help, but laugh meanwhile Jaime made a hasty exit. "I'll tell you what. Why don't we all meet at Tommy's place and then we can decide where were going" I said. "We" they said in unison. "If you don't want to go, it's fine by me I'll just find..." I said with a devilish grin. "No that's fine" they all said, glared at one another, and left leaving me alone with Tommy. "Ready to go Tom" I said sweetly to which he visibly flinched and decided better to keep his mouth shut knowing she wasn't taking any suggestions.

As the viper pulled up, I greeted the doorman with a grin, and got to the apartment ahead of Tommy who looked like he was pouting. I turned on the hot water and let it wash over me. Did I mention how amazing the man's shower was? It had one of those really humongous shower heads that felt like it was raining or that you were under a waterfall. I grabbed the towel and made my way into my walk in closet grabbing a number of tops and bottoms. I decided on a dark halter top, mid calf black skirt with a slit, and black boots that went up to my knees. I played with my hair a bit before deciding I liked it better down and then did my make up. I didn't know how long I took, but by the time I walked into the living room I saw the three of them glaring at one another and Jaime. Since Jaime was the only one not scowling I walked up to him and gave him a hug. "Hey Jaimers" I said as I tousled his hair. I could hear someone snickering in the background and from my peripheral vision see some hand gestures. I decided to confuse the hell out of all of them when I pulled his face down to mine and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I could hear the intake of breath from a number of someone's and looked up to see Jaime grinning like an idiot. "Men are too easy, I swear. It's not fair really" I thought to myself. The four of them barreled into each other as they all tried to open the door for me chivalrously. I walked to the elevator as the five of us scooted in and hit the ground floor button.

When we reached the lobby and walked out the front doors I looked at the four of them unsure as to which car I should get into. They all eyed me nervously. Then Tommy broke from the pack and handed me a pair of keys. He looked at them with a "back off" look to which all complied. We started walking to the garage and I started walking to the cobra. "We're not taking that one tonight" he said putting his hand on the small of my back and leading me elsewhere. I walked over to the viper, but the pressure on my back told me we weren't taking that one either. I headed over to the Harley and said, "Tom Quincy, I'm wearing a skirt I am not going to climb behind you on that..." my voice died in my lips as my heart leapt up to my mouth."Oh my God how did you…" I said as the sob I had been holding finally broke through. I walked up to it with trembling knees and put my hand on it with uncertainty. He dangled the keys in front of me and I carefully took them while he opened the passenger door. He pointed at the backseat and I wept with joy for sitting in the back seat was my guitar case. "Look Jude I know that..." he was saying. If it was happiness or delirium I don't know but I pulled his head towards mine and took in his lips and the world dissolved. He was surprised at first, but that didn't stop his body from responding. Her happiness was sweeter than ambrosia. He drank her in and lingered in the softness of her lips feeling her body melding to his. "Aaah such sweetness" he thought to himself. Their revelry was broken; however, by the sound of 3 car horns and headlights. "Tommy this means...this means" I said trembling. He lifted my chin up so we were eye to eye and he smiled at me. He didn't say a word; he just took my hand in his and squeezed it. He climbed into the passenger seat and buckled in his seatbelt. I put the key in the engine and listened to her purr. Tommy made me check the mirrors several times and reminded me to put on my seat belt. As I was about to put my foot on the gas I looked over at Tommy. His hand was clutching the hand rail and his eyes were closed and his lips were moving. "Praying are we Quincy?" I said. "Don't make me regret it..." he was saying but didn't finish as we streaked out of the parking garage. Tom Quincy made it a habit of making my dreams come true. It was just, me, Tommy, the mustang, and the open road and of course the three guys tailing us.