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: This chapter has given me more trouble than anything I've had to write before. It's a little weak in my opinion but it's still the best version I wrote and I don't feel the need for this to be super powerful since there's more to come in the sequel.

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Tommy reclined in his chair, watching from six different monitors as Jude and Karma performed their duet. The two were on some popular music show, he didn't really know or care which one it was, and seemed to be getting along. Seemed being the operative word. If they both got along so greatly, then he wouldn't have had to be here, chaperoning the performance.

Once the two were finished he called Darius to let him know that they were coming back. As soon as the two girls were out of the public eye and back in the car, Karma started in. "So Jude, how is it to be a single mom?" Karma asked, echoing a question that the interviewer had asked. Jude had politely answered the question then, but Tommy knew that there would be no such politeness here.

Before the women could get into a nasty fight, Tommy interrupted. "So did you guys hear? Paegan Smith's coming to G Major."

Jude's eyes light for a brief second as she said, "So Jamie got him to sign with us?"

"Obviously," Karma muttered.

Tommy chose to ignore the girl's remark. "Yeah. Apparently Paegan liked him so much he told Darius the only way he'd sign with us was if Jamie was his manager."

Jude smiled. "Good for him."

Tommy nodded, trying not to let Jude's smile at the mention of Jamie unnerve him. "Yeah. Good for Jamie."

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Jamie sat in his new office, trying to get used to now being one of G Major's elite. There was a knock on the door and Tommy poked his head in. "Hey," he greeted nervously.

"You can come in," Jamie said.

Tommy sighed in relief and walked in. "Nice place you got here," he said, looking around. Jamie hadn't really gotten around to decorating anything yet but he figured that since his last office was a closet, Tommy was right.

"What can I do for you?" Jamie asked, knowing that both he and Tommy still weren't quite comfortable around each other.

Tommy took a deep breath and said, "Jude invited us over for dinner. At her place." Jude had gotten her own little house a week ago.

Jamie tensed, not sure what to do. "Oh." He struggled for something to say. "Tonight?"

Tommy nodded. "Yeah."

He looked at his computer screen. "Well, I have a sound check with Paegan at eight but I can probably be there by nine."

"Good," Tommy replied. "See you there."

As Tommy left, Jamie couldn't help but wonder what Jude wanted them for.

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Tommy nervously paced the dinning room, thoughts of why Jude had asked him here floating around in his head. She had asked Jamie to come as well so whatever the reason, Tommy felt sure that the big question in his life was about to be answered. Jude came in from the kitchen, carrying a plate of spaghetti. "Here you go," she smiled.

Tommy smiled back and sat down. Jude went back into the kitchen leaving him alone with his thoughts. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and Jude answered it. There was some talking and then she returned to the dining room, Jamie trailing behind. They all shared an awkward greeting, and even more awkward dinner, before Jude cleared away the plates and began to talk.

"Darius wants me to take some time off," Jude began, "A couple of months to sort through my life and get things back on track."

"That sounds nice," Tommy spoke.

"It is," Jude agreed. "And I've decided that I'm going to spend those months with my dad." She paused and looked at Tommy and Jamie. "In New York."

Tommy felt stunned. "New York?"

"Yeah," Jude nodded. "There's a recording studio Darius owns down there so I can still work if I want. And I'm telling you guys this because...well, there's always been a big black cloud hanging over the three of us and...I just need some time for me."

Tommy tried to ignore his heart, which had begun begging him to flee. "What are you saying?" he heard Jamie ask.

Jude looked down at the table and when she glanced back up, her face was full of tears. "I can't be with either one of you." She sniffled. "I can't do this. I'm not coming back." One of the babies started crying and Jude excused herself.

Tommy sat in a stunned silence with Jamie. Jude was leaving...and never coming back. He was snapped out of his stupor by Jamie who had stormed out. Sighing, Tommy ran after him. "Jamie!" he called out. The young man glanced backward but kept walking. Tommy ran to catch up with him. "Jamie," he panted, grabbing his arm. "It's okay."

"I'm never gonna see my kids again," Jamie shouted, facing him.

Tommy put his hands on Jamie's shoulders. "Of course you are. Jude wouldn't do that to you."

"Do what?" Jamie questioned. "Rip my fucking heart out? Cause that seems to be the one thing she's good at!"

Tommy snapped and all of his anger toward the man before him boiled to the surface. Before he could stop himself he had punched Jamie. Much to his surprise Jamie took the hit well and fought back. They soon found themselves in a fistfight that ended only when they were both too exhausted to continue. As he lay on the grass, the urge to laugh suddenly hit Tommy. He tried to fight it but stopped and gave in when he heard Jamie laughing.

Soon the laughter gave way to dry sobs and the two men pulled themselves up to a sitting position. Tommy glanced at Jamie. "You got a hell of a left hook," he complimented.

"You're uppercut ain't so bad," Jamie responded.

Tommy chuckled and silence descended over them. "She's really leaving," Jamie said.

"Yep," Tommy exhaled. He turned and faced Jamie. "Wanna go get drunk?"

"You bet your ass," Jamie grinned. They stood and began walking away. "You know something, Tommy?"

"What?"

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Shove it, Andrews."

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A/N 2: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and I'll be back here soon with "Haunted and Hunted". 'Til then, amigos.