---Cherry Red---Chapter Ten---Sort of Rated R ((Deals With Rape))---

"Tommy, its Officer Carden. The police officer that put John in jail." Officer Carden got off the ground angrily and was wiping the dirt off himself. "Yeah, and against my will he got let out." Tommy stepped in front of Jude to block this guy from Jude. "So, being a policeman doesn't give him a reason to attack you Jude!" Tommy was so frustrated.

Jude looked up at the man in front of Tommy, "That's right, he's out. And he has people like me, his parole officer, and his gang supporting him."

Carden just looked at them with a smirk, "Well where were you when he got attacked tonight. The Front Brothers, you remember your rival gang from 23rd street? Yeah, you might want to go warn your little pimp, I am sure your old friends would like to see you again, Whore."

Jude immediately pales and started running. Tommy ran after her. "Jude! Jude' what's he talking about?" Jude just turned around and reached her hand into Tommy's pocket, he was taken aback and looked at her. "What are you doing?" Jude pulled the car keys out of his pocket and dangles them in front of his face. She ran to the Viper and got in the drivers seat, as started that car so Tommy quickly climbed into the passenger's side. Jude pressed her foot to the pedal and pulled away.

"Jude, what is going on? What was that guy's problem?"

"He had some problems with John's dad. So Carden was always trying to nail us for the smallest things. But John always found some loophole. Well, we had a rival gang and they called themselves the Front Brothers." Jude was crying now. "Me and Sabrina were walking to one of John's parties with Paul when we were jumped by one of their groups. I was only thirteen and Sabrina was fourteen. Paul was twenty two. We were late so John came out looking for us. He saw Paul getting beat, he put up a good fight but there were at least 7 of them. John started going at them too but eventually they got Paul and John pinned to the ground. Then they turned to me and Sabrina…" Jude was crying hysterically now and started to swerve the car.

Tommy leaned over and grabbed the wheel, keeping the car going straight. "Jude, pull over."

"No!" Jude screamed, hitting the wheel wither fist, the car was still driving. "No! I need to get this out!!"

Tommy sat back in his seat; he had tears of his own. Here was the love of his life pouring her heart out to him about how she got raped at the tender age of thirteen. "Alright, alright…"

"Those guys raped me and Sabrina, right there in the alleyway. That's why we were best friends; we were the only ones who understood each other. John sent a bunch of our guys to beat the crap out of them but someone tipped Carden so he had some of his guys waiting. Matt got arrested that night, along with a bunch of other guys. Carden offered them a deal, give up John and they don't go to jail. But, number one rule of the gang, protect our brothers and sisters, because we're the only family most of us had. John went to visit them everyday. Me and Sabrina never cried rape but that defiantly made us both have a colder exterior. We became stronger and I became more independent. Meanwhile Sabrina became a slut; she started dating John right after the incident."

Tommy nodded; he wanted to kill these guys. "Anyways," Jude continued, "It wasn't the first time. John and the group made peace a year later. I was fourteen then, and the guys that did that to me and Sabrina had been locked up so John, being the leader, made peace with the rival gang. But it wasn't real, John thought they were genuine but they weren't. I was a quiet little fourteen year old so when they started whispering to me and touching me, I thought they were just into me, not getting ready to rape me again. Ever since it happened Carden has been using it against me because he knew that I was the youngest in the gang and he figured that made me the most likely to crack and give him something on John…"

Jude pulled the car over and jumped out. They were in front of the rehearsal space. Jude was about to go inside but Tommy stopped her by grabbing her arm. She spun around and fell into his chest; he hugged her close to him, trying to get all her bad memories and feelings to vanish. He could feel her crying into his shirt so he picked her up bridal style and led her upstairs to the space. When they got in John was lying on the couch, all beat up, dry heaving. Jude started crying harder. She ran to his side and started stroking his face. "Cherry, I…I'm sorry…" He managed to rasp out.

Jude shook her head, "Don't worry about me, John. I'll go get you something." Jude walked into the kitchen area and came back with some aspirin, a wet cloth, and some ace bandages. Jude kneeled down next to John and pushed the aspirin through his lips and helped his drink the water. She dabbed his cuts with the wash cloth and gently kissed the cut going along his hairline. Gently holding her wrist to stop her movements, John whispered to her, "You look so beautiful Jude, I am sorry I ruined your night…" Jude shrugged, "I would rather be here taking care of you then out in the real world with you over here hurt."

John couldn't take it any more. With much difficulty, he lifted his head and brought his lips to Jude's. Jude didn't respond, nor did she push him away. She just let him kiss her. John set his head back down on the pillow and let Jude, wordlessly, wrap his head in an ace bandage with some ice, and then lift his shirt to clean the cuts on his abdomen. "Rahhhh…." He yelled as Jude wiped some peroxide along his cut, after seeing some dirt in it. Jude bent over and gingerly blew some cool air on the cut trying to relieve the pain.

This whole time Tommy was standing there watching them. If one were to look at them they would see someone who was pissed. But inside Tommy was making peace with himself. 'She cares about him, she always will and I just need to deal with it…' he reasoned with himself. 'I just hope she can care about me like that one day…or at least I find someone who will…'

Tommy walked over to Jude when she got up to get some more things from the kitchen, "Jude, I think I am going to go, unless you want me to do something else."

Jude looked from John to Tommy and then back again, "No, I think I should stay here anyway. I'm really sorry our night ended like this. It was perfect up until Carden attacked us…"

Tommy nodded and swiped a strand of hair out form her face and tucked it back behind her ear. "Hey, you're perfect, just being with you was a perfect night." Jude smiled as Tommy leaned in to kiss her. Jude returned this kiss tentatively, knowing that John was most likely watching them. She walked Tommy to the door and told him that she would most likely miss the studio tomorrow but she would be in the day after. Tommy said he'd call her and for her to call him if she needed anything or any help with John. Jude agreed and waved as he left.

She walked back into the kitchen and was rinsing out the wash cloth when someone started touching her hips from behind. She felt lips on her neck and swiftly turned around. Suddenly the lights were out and Jude couldn't see anything. "John?" She asked, thinking he was up and fine. "Jude?" she heard him call in the distance. Getting really nervous now that the person touching her wasn't John she looked around but it was too dark and her eyes wouldn't focus. Suddenly two hands grabbed her from behind, Jude screamed and she heard shuffling from the living area. "Cherry? Jude?" John asked trying to walk toward the kitchen but his fractured leg was making it really difficult. Suddenly someone grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground, "And stay down" the voice whispered. John took a few swings in the direction he heard the voice but he didn't hit anything. Suddenly everything went black, "Jude…" he whispered one last time.

"John?! Help!!" Jude tried to scream but got no response; the body lowered her onto the ground and forced her jacket and shirt off, which wasn't hard since Carden ripped it. Jude whipped out her cell phone before the mystery man threw her clutch bad across the room. Suddenly Jude felt someone else, besides the man on top of her, standing above her. Jude started to cry and tried even harder to fight the guys off. She held down Tommy's speed dial and prayed that he answered. Suddenly Jude felt something against her face. 'Pick up, pick up…' Jude silently prayed.

Suddenly something was thrusted into her mouth; some guy started forcing himself in and out of her. Jude started to gag when she heard the beautiful voice of Tommy. "Jude? Hello? Something wrong?"

Tommy heard Jude crying and gagging through the phone and quickly turned the Viper around. He sped all the way back to the rehearsal space and took the stairs two at a time. When he finally got up there he tentatively opened the door and stepped in. "Jude?" he called. He turned on the lights and followed her whimpers. He walked into the kitchen and saw some guy holding Jude down to the kitchen floor and he was pulling down her panties and some other guy was kneeling above her head, forcing her to blow him. He looked over and saw John knocked out on the ground. His immediate reactions kicked in and he ran over, kicking both guys' asses. After many punches and kicks the guys got up and ran out of the space. Now if it were any other situation Tommy would have followed them and made sure they both died, but right now Jude was his number one priority.

Tommy pulled Jude up to his chest and held her while she cried. Tommy looked beside her and noticed a pin. It resembled the wings pin that airline attendants get when they fly or something like that. Tommy looked at it closer and saw an engraving, 'Front Brothers on 88th street' Tommy closed his fist on the pin and held it, silently vowing to get whoever went near his girl again.

The next day Jude walked into the studio, tears still in her eyes. Tommy had stayed with her until she fell asleep and then when she woke up Matt and Lucas were standing above her. Matt looked pissed and Lucas looked sympathetic. Jude finally convinced the guys that Carden was onto them and to not go after the Brothers. She then went to the studio to find Tommy.

Jude walked into Studio A and saw Tommy with his head phones on bobbing his head to a beat. Jude walked over to him and took off the headphones gently. Tommy turned around, "Hey, sorry I wasn't there this morning but I needed to be here so I got your phone and called Matt and Lucas because those were the most recent calls…" Jude just smiled sadly at him, "Yeah its fine. I'm okay…"

Tommy smiled and cupped the back of her neck; he brought her head down so she could rest her forehead against his. "You sure you're okay? Because it's alright to not be…" Jude shook her head, "I just need to bury myself in work right now. But I promise I'll be alright." Tommy smiled and kissed her cheek quickly before letting her go in the booth.

Jude softly started strumming her guitar but then started hitting the strings harder. Tommy knew that he would only get this much emotion once so he quickly pressed the 'record' button.

((I'm With You by Avril Lavigne))

I'm standing on a bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now

Images floated through Jude's head, she was walking through the alley happily with Sabrina and Paul; they passed a dark alley and Jude started to get scared when she heard heavy footsteps coming toward them.

There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound

Isn't anyone tryin to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home

Jude was lying on the cold concrete ground with one of the Front Brothers hovering over her, she was crying hysterically, calling out for John or Paul to help her but they were both pinned to the ground just feet away.

It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you

Jude took John's hand as they walked around years later. But did she really know who he was? His past, who he was, all these thought floated through her mind as he leaned down and sweetly kissed her. 'This moment is all that matters, its all I can control' Jude heard her tell herself.

I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know
'Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a mess
And no one likes to be alone

Jude walked into the rehearsal space but no one was there. She dropped her pocket book onto the end table and shrugged off her jacket, looking around. She checked her phone for any missed calls or messages but there were none.

Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you

Tommy was lying in the kitchen with her, holding her whole she cried. And she thought, did she really know who he was either?

Oh why is everything so confusing
Maybe I'm just out of my mind
Yea yea yea

Jude was running around in a place of nothingness, Tommy and John stood next to each other and she didn't know who to run to. So she kept running and Tommy and John just watched her run away.

It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you

Jude started to sing with more passion then ever. She was strumming harder and harder against the guitar strings.

Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you

She just wanted to get up and run. She didn't know where or why but she wanted to run where no one knew her, and she could start fresh.

Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you...

Jude started to silently cry, Tommy went to get out of his seat to go in and comfort her but a big hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked up and saw John standing there. "Let me go, okay?" Tommy nodded and watched the beaten man limp into the sound booth.

Deciding to give them some privacy he got up and shut the door to the studio behind him.