A.N - Hey guys, sorry for the slight delay. It's been kind of hectic for me. But that last episode? Anyone else wish that it would just disappear? I vote that we all make Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment the last episode of the season. Then make Tommy's proposal a mini.

Then I'm happy. :)

FIVE

Pretty girl is suffering
While he confesses everything
Pretty soon she'll figure out
What his intentions were about
-- Sugarcult

The next day was a whirlwind of photographers, interviewers, television cameras … What felt like the whole world was camped outside of G Major records all awaiting the arrival of one Tommy Quincy, desperate for his side of the seemingly unprovoked attack on Shay Mills.

It was like they had won Instant Star all over again. Okay, it was like Tommy had won Instant Star and Jude had come an overall last. All the press coverage was on him, not her, for which she was grateful, if even a little worried for Tommy. Sometimes these paparazzi don't know when to stop.

Jude held the phone to her ear desperately, hearing the dial tone ring and praying for someone to pick up. Hoping. Wishing.

"Any luck?"

Jumping up, Jude snapped the phone shut with a start.

"You scared me!" She accused her sister, glancing down at the phone sadly, wishing to see Tommy's face pop up as a caller ID. She'd only been given his number at Darius' insistence but she was glad for that little fact now. "But no, nothing. I don't get it. He has to be somewhere."

"Well," Sadie answered, looking past her sister's shoulder. "Maybe he didn't even leave the building?"

Jude's reply was to jerk her head upwards sharply. "Yeah," she scoffed, glancing over her shoulder to find what had gained Sadie's attention. "Right." Her words trailed off as her eyes clashed with the warm brown ones of Tommy Quincy, hidden in the shadows of the building, out of the public eye.

Immediately, Jude strode towards him purposefully, reaching her hand out to cup his face and push her thumb gently across the purple bruises under his eyes, indicating a sleepless night. "Tommy," she spoke loudly and instantly received a rough, calloused hand slapping her mouth shut and muffling the words.

"Shh," He glanced around the pair, looking for anybody who had heard them before deciding that they were safe and removing his hand from her mouth, only to leave it rubbing circles on her arm. "I'm trying to avoid all of that out there."

It was clear, even with just a head inclination, what Tommy meant and Jude nodded in response, letting herself be led into the studio where Tommy had spent the night. His guitar rested against the recording booth and the piano top was open, music manuscripts scattered across the keys. It was clear what he'd spent the night doing. Jude picked up a sheet covered with messily penned words and chords and read it silently.

"It's beautiful." The whispered compliment rolled off her lips without a thought. Tommy's hand gently pushed the manuscript away and kissed her softly, his scarred hand rising to cup her cheek. "Tommy," she sighed pulling apart from him and pressing her lips to his injured hand. "You're hurt."

"I'm fine," he insisted. "It doesn't hurt."

"Why did you do it?" She traced the fading harsh red scars along his wrist. "You knew … how I feel about him."

"That doesn't matter," Tommy shook his head. "I don't like you with him."

"There's not much I can do about that Tommy."

"Yes there is." He fixed her with a shiver-inducing glance. "This afternoon." At her confused look, he elaborated. "I've arranged a press conference for this afternoon – to explain what happened last night, and to announce that we're together."

She ducked her head and Tommy ducked with her, tucking a lock of scarlet hair behind her shoulder. "So," he smiled. "What do you say?"

"Absolutely not!"

There were now whole new reasons to hate Darius Mills. Only problem is, Tommy had a three-album contract with G Major and therefore was forced to endure him.

Tommy had barely had time to rejoice in the fact that Jude wanted their relationship announced. The age thing they could deal with – they knew there'd be repercussions – as long as nothing overly illegal happened. Jude had wanted to get away from Shay 'recently-had-my-nose-broken' Mills and let Tommy stake his claim – in a manner of speaking – instead. But Darius wouldn't let them.

"But," Jude began, eyes wide and glazed with anger. "Why?"

"I can't have my two stars together." He stated easily, as if they should know better. "That's almost expected to happen. It's clichéd." He said the word with disgust. "No, Jude with Shay is a twist that no one expected. It's going to stay that way. We need the publicity to promote her album."

"Maybe I don't care about my album!" Jude cried. "What if I'd rather just be with Tommy?"

"That's not in your contract."

The two locked eyes in a battle of wills before Jude snapped and stormed out of the office, angrily swiping tears from her cheeks. Tommy jumped up to follow her. To comfort her.

"Hold on there, Quincy." Darius halted him. "I need to talk to you."

"I've already explained what happened with Shay." Darius waved that away.

"I know," he insisted. "I was talking about the other thing. Making your and Jude's relationship public?"

"You mean –"

"Out of the question."

"Then I'm not interested."

He was at the door when Darius' next words made him freeze.

"We can give you a public girlfriend." He suggested. "If you want."

Without another word, Tommy left the room, eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"Tommy Q! Tommy Q!" Reporters screamed his name at him, wanting the Instant Star to answer their questions and no one else's. His eyes fell shut as the question he'd been waiting for pushed its way above the crowd. "Tommy! Why did you punch Shay Mills at your album launch party?"

And, surprisingly, it had taken a while to come up.

"He," Tommy paused. "He was hurting someone I care about."

This started off a fresh buzz of conversation.

"Who?" Was shouted at him. "Whom do you care about? How did he hurt her?"

This is where the problems began. Did he admit how he cared for Jude? Or take up Darius' offer of a public girlfriend? Did he want to make Jude jealous? Make her feel what he felt every time he saw her with Shay?

Sighing, he answered the question.

Because, in the end, there was no choice in it.

Tommy left Darius' office, head swimming with the new information he'd been provided with. He had only a few hours before needing to make a decision but he'd only taken a few steps before he found Jude Harrison, shoulders shaking with the force of suppressing sobs. Silently, he walked behind her, kissing her shoulder calmly and collecting her in his arms.

"It'll be okay, Jude." He insisted, letting the girl in his arms turn and rest her cheek against his chest. He saw the angry tear tracks staining her cheek and felt anger of his own rise up in his chest. He hated seeing pretty girls cry. "I promise you."

"All I want," she whispered, "is to be able to spend time with you – without the fear of getting caught. I want to get away from Shay and his posse. I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you too, Harrison."

She smiled at the sound of her last name rolling off of his tongue.

"What are we going to do?"

His lips fell down on Jude's possessively, showing whoever was watching to stay away from her. She had a boyfriend. Tommy pulled away with a smile on his face. He was Jude Harrison's boyfriend.

He liked the sound of it.

"I'll make the announcement." He promised. "Then, we'll deal."

"Whom do you care about, Tommy?"

His answer was two simple words but he spoke them in a voice full of wonder, awe and happiness.

"Jude Harrison."