A.N - I'm so sorry for the delay in updating. It was part lack of inspiration, part forgetting where I wanted to take this and part laziness. Then, as I chose a song quote, I went on holiday. I got back this morning, I'm shattered, but I'll update for you guys anyway. Cos I'm soooo sorry I waited so long.

Hopefully, now that I'm out of school, updates should be considerbly faster. Hope you like. (:

Six

Stop, turn, take a look around
At all the lights and sounds
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out
And pull the curtain down
I wonder where you've been
-- Yellowcard

There was nothing more beautiful to him than the girl – woman – who was pouring her heart out into the microphone, the complexity of her feelings wrapped in the simplicity of a song.

Jude Harrison – two simple words, one name, that had changed his life more than once. The person who had challenged him, pushed him to succeed in this competition.

Tommy had noticed her almost immediately. Her fiery red hair and slightly out-there look had caught his attention and held it, her luminous eyes, wide with awe at where she was whilst her sinfully red lips chattered excitedly to her best friend. He heard her sing. Her voice drifted from behind the closed audition room doors, twined with the haunting melody of her guitar and he knew that she was going to go far in this Instant Star business.

Just as he knew that he needed to do just as well if he ever hoped to talk to her.

Who would have thought that he'd be able to sit with her, alone, in a studio, listening to her write and record before anyone else knew she had a song idea?

"Jude," his finger pushed the button which would allow her to hear him. It took a few seconds for Jude to snap out of her trance and glance up at him through the pane of glass that separated them. "That was … is amazing."

A small blush settled on her cheeks, hidden by the confident smile she wore instead.

"Really?" She drawled, setting aside the guitar and walking seductively towards him. "Amazing, huh?"

Tommy stood up, meeting her halfway at the door that separated the recording booth from the studio.

"Amazing," he kissed her cheek. "Melodic." Her nose. "Beautiful." His lips lingered against hers, never pushing for more, it was just … there. Soft, gentle … loving.

"So," she whispered. "You like it?"

He nodded and murmured against her lips.

"So you'll sing it with me?" She asked, fear lacing her tone in spite of her bravado. "Tonight?"

It was her fear, more than anything, that had him agreeing before he realised what she was talking about.

"Of course, Jude, if you want me to." He smiled, pulling away from her slightly whilst resting his hands on her waist. His face twisted into an adorable frown. "What's tonight?"

Her ruby lips travelled to his ear, kissing the skin just below his lobe as Tommy sucked in a harsh breath at her unexpected action.

"You'll see," she whispered before placing her hand at the back of his head and pulling him towards her, his lips falling on hers powerfully, the kiss demanding and harsh.

It was a flash of light that had them breaking apart guiltily, and the sound of an unfamiliar man's voice that had them removing all contact with one another.

"I can see it now," the man, who had a rugged beard and a hoarse voice, drew attention to himself by drawing a hand across the empty air in front of him, as if he was depicting a masterpiece.. "That old saying of mixing business with pleasure seems to be true in this case."

Tommy's eyes narrowed at the mystery reporter. "Who are you?" He demanded, immediately reaching for Jude's hand for comfort – an action frozen in time with the flash of the man's camera.

"Can't go a minute without the physical contact," he mused. "Perhaps hinting at a cold family upbringing?"

Tommy froze, his hand snatching out of Jude's as he dodged all of her attempts at re-establishing the contact.

"Lover's tiff, already?" A long finger came up to scratch the beard-covered chin. "Shame, I was hoping for a bigger scoop on you guys."

Jude's eyes darted from her shockingly still boyfriend, to the reporter who had rendered him in this state to begin with. Her eyes narrowed as her anger rose.

"Who are you?" She fired at him. "How did you even get in here?"

He glanced over his shoulder, winking at someone who'd moved away too quickly for Jude to see them. "I have my contacts."

"Listen, buddy," Jude spat. "You are going to leave that camera with us and get out of here, or I'll –"

"You'll what?" The man reacted instantly, rough hands gripping her face tightly. "Hit me with your guitar?" He shook his head sardonically. "Don't you know how much they cost?"

"I'll have you arrested for trespassing."

The man's harsh laughter snapped Tommy's attention back to the situation Jude had gotten herself into.

"In a public place?" He countered. "Not likely."

Tommy thundered towards the man, pulling him away from Jude and gaining some attention from the passers-by in the lobby as a result.

"This building is a business place," Tommy informed him. "I'll fill in a Persona Non Grata on you and you won't be welcome here again. Then you'll be trespassing."

Jude stood, slightly to the side, watching the scene unfold – like everyone else watching – only she was the only one to hear what was being said. Her cheeks were red, the scrape of a nail evident below her eye. It stung.

"Now," Tommy demanded in an eerily calm tone. "Your name?"

The man's name was lost to Jude, covered by a cloak of unbelieving laughter. Tommy, however, was apparently satisfied with what he heard and eased his bruising grip on the man's arm. The man took advantage and twisted free completely, dartingout of the studio before more bodily harm came his way. But Tommy had lost all interest, instead his attention was focused on Jude, his hand cupping her injured cheek lightly as his thumb brushed against the small red welt that stood out against her skin. "Are you okay?"

She barely got a nod out before the studio door was flung open again. Instinctively, Jude was pushed behind Tommy, who took a protective stance in case the reporter from before had ignored his threats completely and returned.

"What was all that about?" Sadie Harrison asked, stopping her sister from actually answering by cutting her off immediately. "Actually, never mind. I don't think I want to know. Darius on the other hand …" She trailed off and Tommy and Jude exchanged a knowing look. "He's pissed. Wants to see you in his office."

He hated himself. Jude had needed him – she would never admit it, but he knew it was true. She had been hurt, in trouble, and he could do nothing but stand still, frozen with the hurt of a past he'd tried to forget.

Whilst the girl that was his present – and possible future – needed him, all he could do was … nothing.

Tommy walked with Jude towards Darius Mills' office, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back. He'd felt useless, and all because of one person.

The man, who hadn't left the building like had been requested of him and was instead watching them from the shadows of the building, camera dangling delicately from his fingers; Tommy could feel the burn of his stare against the back of his head.

One man.

Hunter.