AN: Kerilyn, I'm glad you like this fanfic. And Chloe, your wish is my command.

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Instant Star or any of the characters. If I did, Tommy wouldn't have run off, he and Jude would've come out to Darius, Liam, and SME, and our favorite punk princess and her beloved prince can live happily ever after in their rockin' realm.

Last time:

SME trooped into the room where Speed had made his discovery, and Speed showed them the cabinet that had Kwest's secret hidden in it. There were a bunch of items in it.

One was a picture of Tommy, Portia, and Kwest that was taken during Tommy and Portia's wedding that showed Tommy in the forefront with Darius, while Kwest and Portia were in the background, looking closer than two friends should be.

The next two pictures showed Kwest in medieval garb. One showed Kwest in tights and a ruffled shirt, another showed him in a full suit of armor. Both of these showed the neon sign reading: Medieval Knights: Dinner and Tournament glowing behind him.

There were also some unfinished letters that Kwest had written to Portia…Kwest's and Portia's letters had begun as a result of Portia asking for Kwest's advice about what to do. Portia knew that Kwest was Tommy's best friend, and she also knew that Kwest knew Tommy better than anyone else. Portia thought she could understand Tommy's actions through communicating with Kwest, but the more they did, the more they found they had much in common. And the more they talked with one another or wrote letters to each other, the more they found they were falling in love.

And that all became evident one day when Tommy came back from the studio to find Kwest and Portia making out at the Quincy mansion. Tommy was upset at first, but after he realized that his marriage to Portia just wasn't enough for either of them, they decided to call it quits. They parted amicably, and Tommy had eventually forgiven Portia for her betrayal. They had remained good friends after that, but although he kept up the same appearance with Kwest, Kwest just wasn't sure how much Tommy trusted him anymore. So he and Portia agreed to break up, and they also agreed never to talk about it to him again, fearing that old emotions would resurface and test the limits of their friendship.

"Cool," Speed said, gazing at the evidence before him. All of this would screw up the delicate balance between Kwest and Tommy, who still hadn't gotten over how Kwest married his ex-girlfriend, and cause a rift between Tommy and Jude, who'd definitely be jealous that Tommy still cared about Portia. He felt that if his plans went smoothly, Jude would come crying to Speed, and he'd be right there to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart. "Right where I want to be," he murmured to himself, as Kyle and Wally looked on in confusion, not understanding Speed's devious plans.

Just then, the sound of footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway.

"Quick!" Speed whispered loudly to his bandmates. The three of them quickly stuffed the items back into the cabinet haphazardly, then glanced furtively around the door before taking off in the other direction.

Chapter 9: Surprise!

Kwest walked into his inner sanctuary, as he always did right before he left and right after he got back. He was usually very meticulous about leaving his stuff unattended, and he hoped that Sadie wasn't the type of woman who would go around snooping in his business.

He strolled over to the cabinet, and upon further inspection, noticed that someone had tampered with its contents.

Kwest's POV: Sadie? Tommy? Jude? SME? It's time to face the music.

He sighed, knowing that this moment was here at last, and he walked out, prepared to face them like he was facing death by firing squad.

Sadie, Jude, and SME were busy in the living room. Sadie had taken out some of her wardrobe to show Jude, who was positively green with envy. She had all the major labels: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, you name it, she had it.

SME, on the other hand, was busy wrestling one another to the ground.

"HEY!" Kwest yelled. Everyone instantly forgot what they were so engrossed in.

"Hey, honey," Sadie said, getting up and going over to Kwest. She gave him a long, lingering kiss in greeting. "When did you get back?"

"Just now, and it's a good thing I did," Kwest looked accusatory. "Sadie, can I talk to you privately?"

"Sure," replied Sadie seductively. She thought Kwest was in a romantic mood. Little did she know how wrong she was.

When Kwest and Sadie had retreated into their master bedroom, Kwest wasted no time in mincing words.

"Sadie, I'm just gonna come right out and say this. Did you go into my private room?" Kwest looked her in the eye.

"No, why?" Sadie looked confused.

"'Cuz if you did, you can tell me. I'll understand," Kwest replied, this time a little more softly.

"I didn't. Why? Is something missing?" Sadie looked worried. She knew how protective Kwest could be of his privacy.

"No…It's just…I walked in there right after I got back like I always do, and stuff had been crammed back in there. Not at all like the way I leave it all nice and neat." Kwest wasn't sure whether to believe or disbelieve her.

"Who do you think did it?" Sadie wondered.

"Honestly, I don't know. But given the track records of everyone here, it'd have to be one of the SME boys." Kwest shook his head, not wanting to cause any more tension. Although, they'd been guilty of bringing it on themselves.

"Innocent until proven guilty," Sadie reminded him.

"I know, babe. But right now, I need some time to think," Kwest looked harried as he spoke.

"OK, I'll go have the cook start making dinner," Sadie left Kwest alone with his thoughts.

After a while, Kwest pulled me aside. "Jude, you got a minute?"

"Yeah, what's going on?" I said. "Are you planning something for Sadie?"

"No, I just want to find out about something," Kwest replied truthfully. "Jude, did you go into my sitting room today?"

"No, I didn't," I said, wondering what had urged him to ask that question. "Besides, I hate that room. No offense or anything, but it's so…practical. No instruments at all. No books, nothing to do but sit and stare at the wall. Unless you have a guitar with you, but you don't even have any place to plug in your amps. Totally boring, if you ask me."

"OK, I get the picture," Kwest interrupted. Did he sound mad? I hope I didn't give him any reason to doubt me. "Do you think you could help Sadie in the kitchen? She's getting dinner started."

"Sure," I said, recalling the numerous times that Sadie had tried to learn how to cook. She burned anything she attempted and everything she ever made. My mom swore that she'd learn how to cook if it took every ounce of willpower and stamina she had. A few occasions later, she gave up, and showed Sadie how to use a caterer.

"Oh, and Jude?" Kwest caught me just before I walked out the door.

"Yeah?" I said, wondering what else was on his mind.

"Is Tommy around?" Kwest asked, trying to act nonchalant.

"No, I haven't seen him in hours," I admitted. For a split second, I wondered if Tommy's disappearance had anything to do with Kwest's problem. Then I mentally smacked myself. No way could Tommy have done something so obvious. He's Kwest's best friend, right? Then I thought, maybe Kwest's jealousy drove him to do something, and Tommy found out about it, and tried to get evidence to expose him.

My POV: Jude, you've been watching too many spy movies lately. This stuff doesn't happen in real life, does it?

I left Kwest alone, and a few minutes later, I saw him call Speed.

I didn't know what happened, but a few minutes later, I saw Speed burst out from the hallway that he had just gone down.

"Someone call 911!" Speed gasped, as he struggled to keep calm.

Sadie had just come back from the kitchen, and at Speed's words, her face drained of color. "Who…what…" she managed to squeak out.

"It's…Kwest…" Speed gasped, clutching his sides.

"What happened?" Tommy walked in just then. I noticed he had a package behind his back.

"Kwest. We were talking, and then his eyes…they glazed over, and he fell to the floor. He's unconscious." Speed's eyes were wide with fear.

"What are we waiting for? Kyle, Wally, Speed, get Kwest, and put him in the H3. Sadie, Kyle, get in, I'll drive. Jude, you drive my Viper, Wally, Speed, go with her." Tommy instructed.

Everyone rushed out of there in record time, and soon were at the nearest hospital. Kwest was admitted immediately into the ER, and everyone waited anxiously in the waiting room.

Hours passed, and with each hour gone, there was still no word. Sadie was close to tears, and Jude was unsuccessfully trying to comfort her. For once, the SME boys were completely quiet, and had not said a word the whole way there. They also managed to keep still in their seats, which Tommy noted humorlessly, was a first.

The sun went down, and night fell as patients were admitted and discharged. Finally, a middle-aged doctor came out, and everyone stood up. He looked grim, and I thought, this can't be good.

Looking over his clipboard at his notes, he finally spoke.

AN: Here come the flames! I know, really bad cliffhanger, and overall, really short, but what can I say? Please review! I live for them!

Side note: I'm kinda upset right now, since my parents found out I just flunked a class, so now I have to go take summer school. Other than that, I'm grounded indefinitely. It didn't matter that I said I didn't want to go, and they said "Tough. You're going, whether you like it or not." So I'm going in, kicking and screaming. I wonder what happens if you flunk summer school? I don't want to find out, but at the same time, the class I flunked isn't exactly useful. I mean, who needs Trig?