"Best Friends?"

Summary: Tommy Quincy hates Jamie Andrews with a passion. But why? Takes place after "Date With the Night."

Disclaimer: All chapter titles are songs by Fall Out Boy. Also I don't own anything related to "Instant Star" except for a couple of Jude-centric fantasies.

Author's Note: Here we go.

Tommy felt like shit. That was the only way to describe it. During the past hour Darius had ranted and raved, Liam had called every private investigator in the city, Stuart had punched numerous holes in a wall, and Jude had been forced to relive the events of that night; andall the while she and Jamie had held onto each other as if their lives depended on it.

"After he took me upstairs I don't remember much; just flashes," Jude finished.

"It okay," Jamie said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Tommy felt a pang of jealousy but pushed it away. What was he expecting? He'd just returned and Jamie had always been Jude's pillar of support. But there was still a part of him that said, 'Anyone but Andrews.' And he hated that.

"Jude," Liam spoke, "we're gonna get the son of a bitch who did this."

Jude nodded and slowly stood. "Thanks." She paused slightly before she added, "I'm kind of tired. Can we finish this tomorrow?"

"Of course," Darius said. After a few goodbyes Darius and Liam left with Spiederman, who was driving them home.

"Jude if you need anything," Tommy said as he approached.

"I know." She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I know." Tommy reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"See ya tomorrow." He turned and walked out, Jamie following. "She's brave," Jamie said.

Tommy stopped at the edge of the Harrison's lawn and faced Jamie. "I know she is." He hesitated, collected his thoughts. "And as long as she's got you, she'll be fine."

Jamie shook his head. "No way, Quincy. I'm just her friend; you're like, the love of her life or something."

Tommy smiled and patted Jamie on the back. "Thanks for the words of confidence, but I think she's had her quota of me for awhile."

"We'll see," Jamie said knowingly. There was a moment of silence before Jamie said, "Did we just bond?"

"I think we did a little," Tommy confirmed. The two men shivered at the thought. The door to the house opened and the duo turned to see Stuart exit.

"Hey," he greeted. He joined them at the end of the driveway. "I wanna thank you guys."

"For what?" Jamie asked.

"For...everything."

Tommy suddenly felt very self-conscious. "Mr. Harrison we..."

Stuart held up his hands. "You're both good friends to Jude. And I want to thank you for that."

Tommy opened his mouth to speak but Jude opened the door and poked her head out. "Jamie," she called out. "Can you come here a minute?"

As the teen headed toward Jude, Tommy's phone began to ring. "Hello?"

"You gonna come get this girl or what?" It was Kwest.

"Oh shit, Kwest," Tommy cursed. "I'm sorry man."

Kwest laughed. "Hey it cool, bro. She's actually alright."

"She must get that from me."

"Yeah, right." Tommy hung up, said goodbye to Stuart, and left. The following morning, after dropping Anna off with Portia, Tommy returned Jude's house, hoping to talk things over with the girl.

He knocked on the door and a few seconds later Stuart opened it. "Tommy," he said, clearly surprised. "What brings you by this early?"

"Just came by to check up on Jude," he answered. "How is she?"

Stuart ushered him inand walked to the kitchen. "She's okay, I guess. She's still asleep."

Before Tommy could reply, his cellphone went off. "Excuse me for a minute," he said sheepishly. He walked to the living roomwhere he answered the call. "Hello?"

"Tommy," Liam's voice said. "Get Jude and get back to G Major."

"What? Why? What's going on?"

"The blackmailer has sent us an e-mail." There was a brief pause before Liam continued. "He's threatening to post them on the internet today if we don't pay him."

"Shit. Alright, I'll get Jude and we'll be there in twenty minutes." Tommy hung up and quickly explained the situation to Mr. Harrison.

"Goddamn him," he muttered. "I'm coming too."

Tommy felt no need to argue with him and ran upstairs to get Jude. "Jude," he called, knocking on her door. "Jude wake up!"

There was muffled sound and then footsteps. As the door opened Tommy began talking. "Jude we've got problems. The-" Tommy stopped. "You're not Jude."

"No. I'm not," Jamie replied.