A/N: Yes, it's me again peeps! I haven't died and fallen off the face of the earth. Long story short, I got an eye infection on Wednesday and didn't go to the doctors about it until Friday and I couldn't look at the computer screen or else I'd be in pain for an extended period of time. Needless to say, it's all good now, and when I tried to update on sat, I couldn't b/c I couldn't log into ff.n! So needless to say, a short A/N on my part and a longer update today…I know, I'm sorry if I'm disappointing anyone on the short A/N, but I'm leaving to go see Stick It soon and btw: Instant Star Friday? Rocked! I loved the prank, and I must say, I'm so anxious for next weeks ep! I loved the promo and the web exclusive…I so wanna see it! Enjoy the chapter and I'll try to post more soon if you guys are good and review like fiends!

Chapter 15

The Next Day

Jude sat in a booth in the small café, watching the door. She sipped her diet coke and waited anxiously for Tommy to come through the door. She felt better after the night before, but nervousness was seeping into her mind as she thought about what they were going to talk about. She knew Tommy probably didn't know that she knew about Stuart. She didn't want him to freak out like he did the other day in the studio, but something told her that he wouldn't. She suspected he'd try and lie and cover for the man. Tommy was never good at much of anything but lying.

The door bell dinged and Jude noticed Tommy walk in. He wore his usual dark sunglasses, but he wasn't wearing his usual cloak and dagger guise that he wore three years before. Jude noticed woman turned and looked, maybe even whispered, but they didn't flock to him anymore. They probably wondered what it would be like to be with him, but they didn't make the first move anymore. Tommy nodded at a waitress as he walked towards Jude.

He was wearing a plain red shirt and blue jeans. He looked good, but definitely aged.

"Hey," He greeted, sitting down across from her.

"Hey," Jude responded, watching him apprehensively. They sat in an awkward silence before Tommy broke it by laughing and shaking his head. "What?" Jude asked, confused as to why he was laughing but she couldn't help but smile at him. He shook his head again and forced back the laugh, a grin going across his face. He pushed his sunglasses up on top of his head and looked at her. Jude nearly melted at the mirth in his blue eyes. It was a rarity to see Tommy actually smile with his eyes. She could count the number of times on one hand.

"Nothing…" He said, looking away from her and smirking. Jude continued to look confused and the waitress came over and got their orders and when she left, Tommy turned his attention back to Jude. "So…how goes the last three years?" Tommy asked, trying to sound casual. Jude sighed.

"It was good…" She said, lying through her teeth. Tommy stared at her skeptically.

"You didn't sing anymore." Tommy noted. Jude shook her head.

"I needed a break." He looked away from her, and then back again.

"Yeah." He said, and added "I can understand that."

"What made you decide to work on a solo again?" Jude asked, perking up in interest. Tommy sighed and frowned in thought.

"Honestly? No clue. I got inspired in the studio one night and just started playing…and then Kwest walked in and recorded it without me knowing. He played it back the next day, and honestly? I never sounded better. I didn't delve right in at first…just wrote a song or two…never recorded. But then Kwest leaked the song to Georgia and Georgia wanted to release it as a single…and well, the rest is history." Tommy said, shrugging as if it was no big deal.

"I'm sad I missed out." Jude said, looking sad. Tommy knew Jude wanted to help him on his solo album since she got Frozen back from Darius. Tommy just gave her an awkward smile.

"Can I ask what made you decide to come back?" He asked, looking into her eyes. Jude sighed.

"I needed answers." Jude said, staring him back in the eyes.

"Jude-"

"Don't, Tommy." Jude said, annoyed at the lie he was about to make. "Tell me the truth." She added.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you…Jude, we went over this before…"

"Which is it Tommy? I won't believe the truth, or you just got bored with me?" Jude demanded, getting annoyed. Tommy sighed.

"I didn't"

"I know about my dad." Tommy's eyes widened and he paled slightly. "I didn't stay long enough to get the full story. I was hoping you would tell me." Jude admitted. Tommy took a deep breathe.

"What do you know?" Before she could answer, the waitress returned with their orders. Tommy and Jude remained silent while she gave out their plates. Once she left, they stared at each other a moment.

"My dad was talking to my dad about me needing to get out more and Yvette said something about me being heart broken, and my dad said I had had three years to get over it. The only person I dated three years ago was you." Jude said, staring at him.

"Jude, I"

"Tommy, don't lie to me too." Jude said, her eyes pleading. Tommy sighed.

"Your dad saw us outside the studio that night…"

"And you didn't tell me because…?"

"Because he threatened to have me arrested for being a pedophile Jude. I'm sorry, but Orange isn't my color and I don't fancy becoming someone's prison bitch." Tommy snapped.

"Tommy"

"Damn it Jude! Don't you think I wanted to tell you! He told me if I didn't break up with you, he'd get me arrested. I had to do it Jude. I had to protect us."

"By ending it? You could have told me!"

"And faked it through one of the biggest heartbreaks of you life?" Tommy asked, both knowing the answer.

"You should have told me. We could have worked it out, together."

"Jude, you were better off without me." Tommy said, looking away from her.

"Damn it Tommy! We're better together! You said it yourself!" Jude argued.

"Jude…you couldn't have faked it. I wanted so badly to tell you…but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it would hurt you more to stay with me."

"Why Tommy? It wasn't your choice to make." Tommy looked at her, his eyes sad.

"You made it my choice Jude." Tommy said and held up a hand as she went to argue. "Jude, how healthy is it to have a relationship in secret? We were always sneaking around, and yeah, it was fun, but how long would it have lasted? How long would you have been happy with just late nights in the studio, no going to the movies, dinner, anything? No holding hands outside, no standing too close, no words of love or any gestures that would indicate anything to someone? Would you have been able to live with that? Would you have been able to live with the being the tabloid couple, constantly being followed around, constantly being ridiculed in public and by your friends and family?" Tommy said, sighing. "At first…I was going to tell you later that night, but Jude, would you have listened if I did? And the more I thought about it, the more I realized you couldn't be a 17 year old if you got mixed up anymore with me than you already were."

"I loved you Tommy…it didn't matter what we did as long as we were together." Jude said, staring at him with emotional depth in her eyes. Tommy sighed.

"I'm sorry Jude"

"Tommy, I want to let you know"

"Tom? What are you doing here?" A female voice said, Tommy turned and Jude looked at the woman standing behind Tommy. She was about Tommy's age, about Jude's height, with brown hair that was thick and wavy. Her eyes were the color of milk chocolate, and her skin was olive colored. She wore black eyeliner and a bit of mascara, with a touch of lipgloss. She wore a white tanktop and a black skirt that fell about her mid thighs.

"Michelle, what are doing here?" Tommy asked, leaping out his chair and giving the woman a hug and a quick kiss. Realization dawned on Jude's face and she looked away from the couple.

"I'm here with some friends." She said, pointing at a group of woman her age across the café, and looked over at Jude.

"Michelle, this is Jude Harrison, Jude, this is Michelle Culbertson, my"

"Girlfriend." Michelle finished, and reached out to shake Jude's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Michelle and Jude both said, shaking hands while Tommy looked anxious.

"I just wanted to say hey," Michelle said, smiling at Tommy. "Nice to meet you Jude. I loved your music."

"Thanks," Jude said, smiling.

"Seriously, I was at your first club tour." Michelle said, grinning at Jude, and glanced at the clock. "Sorry, I gotta run." She kissed Tommy's cheek. "Later boyfriend." She said, running off to join her friends. Tommy shook his head in amusement and Jude couldn't help but like Michelle.

"You've got a girlfriend?"

"Yeah." Tommy said, looking awkwardly.

"Now I feel stupid." She said, looking away from him. Tommy sighed.

"Jude"

"No, I was dumb to think that just because I couldn't move on that you wouldn't have either." Jude sighed. "Do you love her?" Jude asked.

"I care for her." Tommy said, not really sure if he loved her. She definitely didn't mean more to him than Jude. No one would ever replace her in his heart.

"I see." Jude said, taking a bit out of her large chicken club sandwich.

"Jude, can't we be friends?" Tommy asked.

"Tommy, we can never be just friends." Jude stated, staring him in the eyes. "We tried before."

"We can try again." Tommy said, his eyes hopeful. Jude sighed.

"Yeah why not." She said, smiling at him. Tommy smiled back and they turned their attention to their food, catching up on the last three years. Jude told him about Prom, her life in New York, and how she kept in contact with Kat and Jamie and Tommy told her how he met Michelle (in a bar, blind date, per Kwest after 2 years of moping, but he left out the moping part), his solo career and first couple performances and his troubles with SME.

After they finished eating, Tommy paid the tab despite Jude's protests.

"Fine, I pay next time Quincy." Jude said, a determined look on her face.

"If you say so Harrison, if you say so." He said, smirking. Jude smacked him lightly on the arm and they both laughed, enjoying the others company.