Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, blah, blah, blah…But I do own the plot.

Chapter 6: The Game:

"Go long!" Wally yelled. Speed and Kyle ran to the door, and opened it just as Wally threw it. Sadie grabbed it before it got very far.

"OK, guys?" Sadie said, calling a timeout. The guys groaned, instantly upset that their spur-of-the-moment football game had been disrupted. "I don't have a problem with you playing football, but not in the house, OK? Take it outside."

"But there's just 3 of us. We need an even number of people," Kyle said.

"Dude, wanna play?" Speed motioned to Jude. She rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, but only if Sadie plays too. I don't want to be the only girl."

"Sadie, you in?" Speed gave Sadie puppy-dog eyes.

"OK," Sadie was up for anything, just as long as it was outside. She didn't want Kwest to have a heart attack after coming back to find his house utterly destroyed.

"Wait," Kyle said, "She can't play."

"Why not?" Wally said, confused.

"Because, dude, that makes 5. The only way we can play is if Tommy joins us."

"No way," Tommy automatically replied, as SME, Sadie, and Jude looked at him. "I'm not getting all up close and personal with you guys. Next thing you know, tomorrow's headline will read: Little Tommy Q gets tackled by the Harrison girls during a football game and is sent to the hospital in a full body cast."

All of them, except Tommy cracked up at his statement, while Tommy just looked grumpy as usual.

"OK, how about we vote?" Sadie said. She was really into freedom of choice. "Everyone who wants Tommy to play, raise your hand." Everyone except Tommy raised their hands. "OK, it's unanimous. Tommy, you're in."

"No, it's not," Tommy protested. "I'm not playing, so one of you will have to sit out."

"Tommy, come on. It'll be fun. You can be on Sadie and Wally's team, and I'll be on Speed's and Kyle's team. OK?" Jude batted her eyelashes at him, and Tommy melted.

"OK, OK. I'm in. Happy?" Tommy smiled as everyone cheered, and they moved the lounge chairs closer to the swimming pool to make more space.

"OK, your end zone will be right before the pool deck," Sadie told Tommy and Wally. "And your end zone will be over by those trees over there," she said to Jude, Speed, and Kyle. "OK, who's got a coin?"

"Here," Tommy said, taking a coin out of his pocket.

"Call it," Sadie said, tossing the coin in the air.

"Heads," Speed and Tommy said at the same time.

"OK, 2 out of three," Sadie said, a little impatient. "And this time, make sure you call different sides." Speed glared at Tommy, trying to psych him out. But Tommy looked completely unfazed.

Sadie tossed the coin again. This time, Tommy said "Heads" as soon as Sadie let go. "Tails," Speed said a split second later. They watched as the coin fell down to the ground, and everyone crowded around it.

"Heads it is," Sadie said, relieved that it was over. Everyone could already sense the tension in the air as all six of them headed towards their respective team members to huddle.

Once they broke, Speed walked up to Tommy. "Dude, you're going down."

"You first," Tommy replied, not blinking.

Jude looked at both of them.

Jude's POV: What's going on? Why are Tommy and Speed acting all up-in-your-face? Am I missing something here?

Sadie took her position across from Jude, as Kyle and Wally were too busy shoving each other playfully.

Jude watched as Tommy had the ball in his hand. He moved back, as Speed came at him, and threw it to Wally. Kyle lunged for the ball, but missed. Wally started running toward the goal, but just as Jude was about to trip him, Wally passed it back to Tommy, who had Speed right on him. Tommy took off running, with Speed zeroing in, and just as Tommy was nearing the goal line, Speed tackled him, causing Tommy to crash into a chair and the three of them landed in the pool with a gigantic splash.

Kyle, Wally, and Jude instantly cracked up, while Sadie rushed over to see if they were OK.

Tommy and Speed instantly surfaced, but the chair was soon forgotten as both of them were trying to hold one another under water.

"Speed, Tommy, stop," Jude cried. They both looked at her guiltily.

"Would you mind telling me what's going on?" Jude had had enough.

"Jude, I really don't think now's a good time to talk about this. Maybe-" Tommy began. Speed cut him off.

"No, Jude, maybe it's better that everyone find out," Speed said quietly. "Jude, you're my lead singer, but maybe it's time…" He trailed off as Tommy got out of the pool and went over to Jude.

"Uh, dudes?" Wally and Kyle were still in football-playing mode, so they hadn't noticed that their game had been put on hold.

"Time out," Sadie called, trying to distract them. She bent down and tossed the football rather badly to Kyle. "Can you show me how to throw this? I don't want to throw like a girl."

"Uh, dude, you are one," Wally said stupidly. Sadie rolled her eyes, but let his comment pass.

"Speed?" Jude prompted.

"Look, I know you're kinda into Tommy, but he's way older than you," Speed said.

Jude blushed as Tommy looked at her, amazed that anyone else found out about them.

"What if you went out with someone closer to your age?" Speed suggested.

"What, like you?" Tommy said, annoyed that they were even talking about this.

Speed didn't answer. Instead, he looked down at the ground.

"What? Speed, you like me?" Jude was floored.

For a long time, Speed didn't say anything. But then, he looked up, and Jude could see the determination in his eyes. "Yeah, but you're too wrapped up in your producer to notice anyone else crushing on you."

Now it was Jude's turn to be speechless. "Speed, I- I don't know what to say."

"I do," Tommy interrupted. "Jude, you know how I feel about you. Don't let one immature teenager win your heart. Why be with Speed when you can be with me? Besides, you saw what Yoko Ono did to the Beatles. There's a reason why the #1 rule for musicians is 'Don't date your bandmate.'"

"That goes double for producers," Speed warned.

"Dude, a lot of producers have crossed that line, and no one's had a problem with their relationships."

"Yeah, well, how many of those producers crossed that line with a girl who has another guy crushing on her? And just so you know, you said it yourself, there is a line. So don't cross it."

"Too late, dude," Tommy mocked. "I crossed it the first day I met Jude."

"You did?" Jude was stunned.

"Yeah, girl. I'll never forget it." Tommy said, gazing right into Jude's eyes.

"That's so sweet," Jude murmured, as Speed clutched his throat and pretended to gag.

"Dude, you can't be serious. She's not dating you, so technically, I could ask her out right now."

"Go ahead, I dare you," Tommy taunted. He felt confident that Jude and he had a strong enough relationship that would surpass any relationship Jude had with another guy.

"So Jude, will you go out with me sometime?" Speed asked, hope displayed all over his face.

"I…I don't know, Speed," Jude said uncertainly. "I need time to think." With that, she took off running into the house. Sadie saw her, and ran after her to comfort her.

"Great job, Speed," Tommy grinned wickedly. "I'm sure you'll have Jude all to yourself in no time." Tommy walked away, laughing evilly as Speed shot daggers at his back with his eyes.

AN: Who will Jude choose? And how will the other one deal? Review, and you'll find out soon enough. Maybe even sooner than you think.