A/N - Hey y'all..wow..17 reviews..thats a record for this story. Thanks so much you guys..it truly means everything to me. Alright well like I said..it's gonna be a while before I can get a new chappy out after this. Hope you like the chappy. Review:)

Disclaimer - I do not own Instant Star

Chapter 18 - A mistake

Jude's Pov -

"Tommy?" I finally ask, heart beating a thousand miles per minute.

"Yeah?"

"..do you love her?" I ask. Okay I know..I sound really repetative and annoying but I have to know. Is it really a big deal? I mean he's getting married to her for Christ's sake. He has to love her..right? Why didn't he just say yes from the beginning?

Tommy stares at me for a few minutes. His blue eyes quickly became hazy and hypnotizing.

"No." He finally says. What?

"No?" I ask, breathlessly.

He looks down at his hand and shakes his head.

"I thought I did..but..you can't pretend you love someone when your heart belongs to someone else." No way..is this seriously coming out of Quincy? The Tom Quincy?

"What do you mean?" I ask.

He gives me that look...you remember my seventeenth birthday? We were locked in that room together? Remember that look...THE look..yeah..he gives me THAT look.

"You know what I mean, Jude." He says. Oh my god.

"But..you guys are getting marri-"

"Jude." A deep, echoing voice interrupted.

"Hey..Darius." I say, turning around and smiling sweetly.

"My office. Now." Ugh..okay..this isn't going to be good.

-In Darius' office-

"Where were you?" Darius starts.

"I-"

"You are an artist Jude. You are a part of our staff. When I call a staff meeting that means every staff member is required to go."

"D-"

"Not almost everyone. Not everyone but you. Everyone needs to show up. No exceptions..so why is it that everyone but you could make it? It better have been a life threatening situation." He hissed.

I lower my head and bite my lip.

"That's exactly what I thought..Jesus." He continues, voice rising.

"D..I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it Jude. The meeting was held so we could discuss your upcoming album. Every artist' upcoming album. I need hits."

I look up at him, completely scared of what he might do. He is clearly mad.

"G-major needs the money and I can't tolerate slacking or slackers."

I nod sadly. I screwed up big time..I should have just got up when Sadie told me to.

Darius takes a long deep breath before stepping closer to me. He seems more calm. That could be a good thing..but then again..

"Alright..here's what I'm going to do. You listen and you do as I say, no buts."

Now that can't be good..

So he explains. I listen and nod. I don't dare protest..but I know someone will.

---

"What?"

"You heard me Tom."

"Darius..you know I would man, but I just don't have the time right now. I'm up to my ears in wedding planning and Destany is on my back all the time about spending too much time with Ju--my artists and I just can't handle this right now."

"You came back T. I'm sorry that this is a bad time for you but this is your job. This is your responisibility, and you shouldn't have come back if you weren't willing to take on these responsibilities."

Tommy shook his head.

"For how long?"

"As long as it takes. I want atleast three that I will gaurantee will be instant hits."

Tommy nodded. You could tell he was still angry..well..I could tell.

"Barbie isn't going to be happy about this." I say. Yes, I felt it was time to add my two cents in.

"This is business," Darius says with a shrug, "Besides, you didn't think I was sending you two alone..did you?" He continues with a coy smirk.

Oh boy..

I look over at Tommy and notice he has the same scared expression as me.

"Who did you have..in mind?" I ask lightly, afraid of the response I might get.

Darius looked over at the door behind us and nodded.

"Hey." The person says, walking in.

"You've got to be kidding me." Tommy says, well..more like groaned.

"Nope. This way Destany and I will be assured that this trip will be strictly business." Darius says.

I can tell Tommy is real upset, but I can't really blame him..

"D-"

"Look Tom-Just make sure the songs are top notch and you'll be back in no time. Chaperone and all." Darius says, still smiling.

I am really not going to like this.

"Oh and this shouldn't take longer than a week. I expect you two back by wednesday."

Darius says, getting up and walking toward the door of his office.

"You leave tomorrow morning." He continues, pushing us out before Tommy could protest again. And with that he shuts his door and I'm left outside with...if you haven't guessed..Jason and Tommy.

So we're all standing outside of the office now and Tommy is shooting death glares at Jason.

"Hey it's not like I asked to come. I'd rather stay here than go to some ranch anyway." Jason protested.

Tommy gives him a look and then looks over at me before returning his look to him.

"Right." Tommy says.

"Tommy just calm down..no one asked for this." I say, trying to calm him down a little.

"Alright. We already have one song done..right? We have two to go. No big deal. It shouldn't take a week..maybe a few days." He continues.

"Right..wouldn't want to keep you away from Destany too long." I say.

"Look, I know. I'm sorry, okay? but I do have alot of things going on right now." Tommy protests.

"Darius is right. Why did you come back? You're more worried about Destany than anything else." I say. I say.

"Shes my fiance. What part of that aren't you getting?"

"I get it, okay? But I didn't ask for it either. Hell, I was fine with Kwest being my producer."

"Hey you wanted me back." Tommy says. Oh god he sounds so..arrogant and big headed.

"Well maybe it was a mistake." I blurt out.

He stares at me for a minute before nodding silently.

I take a second to process what I had just said..and I deffinitely didn't mean for it to sound as harsh as it did.

"Pack your things. We leave tomorrow morning..after that I'll arrange something with Darius. You can work with Kwest again." Tommy says, walking away. Is it possible to actually feel someone elses pain? Because I could feel his as he said that..every word was dripping with sorrow. I so didn't mean for it to come out like that.

"Tommy.." I say, but it's too late. He'd walked away.

"Do you two always fight like that?" Jason asks.

"Ever since he got back." I say.

He nods. I give him one more look before giving a weak smile and walking away.

--

"I'm dead serious. I don't know how I'm going to do." I say into the phone.

"Well it's obvious Tommy doesn't want his brother there because he wants you for himself." Kat replied.

"What? Kat..no-"

"Jude come on..he told you he didn't love her. Isn't that a huge hint right there?"

"..they're getting married." I groan.

"I don't think they will..not the way he looks at you." Kat says.

"Besides..if it doesn't work out with Tommy there is always his brother." Kat continues.

"Yeah..right." I say, a light smile forming.

"Is that a smile I hear miss Jude Harrison?" Kat taunts.

"No..well I have to pack. I'll call you later." I say.

"Keep me posted." Kat says and I hang up the phone.

This is going to be a long trip..

A/N - Whatcha think:) review please?