A/N - Hey yall...well..I didn't get this out as soon as I wanted to..but..atleast I got it out in the same month period as the last one, right? heh..sorry. Thanks so much for the reviews from last chappy and I hope you like this one as well. Please continue reviewing yall..it gives me inspiration. Especially since i'm sick..it makes me feel better :).

Disclaimer - I do not own Instant Star

Chapter 26 - I'm here to stay

Jude's Pov -

The ride home was uncomfortable. Mason knew what was going on..Jason knew what was going on..so the awkwardness was cleary there.

Mason kept shooting me sympathetic looks. Tommy might as well already be gone. I can see how things are going to be already.

But I guess to clear the tension a bit..Mason..made a few comical remarks. I didn't laugh..he had Jason rolling though.

The laughter quickly stopped as we pulled into the parking lot of G-Major. Mason and Jason quickly shut up and I couldn't take my eyes off Tommy. His face was expressionless. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. But he kept driving, unable to form words, I imagine.

After parking in his usual spot, he got out and I sat there along with Jason and Mason..scared to get out. Scared to see how Tommy was actually going to take this.

No one's Pov -

Tommy stepped out of the car angrily and stalked over to his fiance and none other than..

"Darius." Tommy spoke inbetween clenched teeth.

Darius arm lingered around Destany's frail shoulders.

"Tom..glad to have ya back." Darius said, smiling widely. Destany kept her view in the distance, refusing to meet Tom's eyes.

"Glad to have me back? heh..that's nice D. So tell me again, why did you send me with a chaperone?" Tommy asked.

Darius narrowed his eyes.

"I think you and I both know why, Tom." He replied.

"Haha, really? 'cause quite frankly, I thought I could trust my boss alone with my fiance, but apparently I was very wrong..and I'm the one who needed the chaperone?"

Tommy snapped, his voice rising with anger.

"Tommy it's not like that.." Destany cut in.

"I don't even want to hear it. All the accusing you did with me and Jude and you're the one kissing my boss, outside my work of all places and you have the room to say it's not like that? Tell me Destany, what's it like then?" Tommy asked.

Jude, Mason, and Jason finally decided it was about time to get out and see what all was going on..considering they could hear the screaming pretty clearly through the thin glass windows.

"I don't like being second choice Tommy." Destany said, bluntly.

Tommy stood there for a few minutes just staring at her, before taking a quick glance at Jude.

"Don't bring Jude into this."

"See? I didn't even say second choice to her, YOU knew it was her. It is her. It's always been her and I can't compare." Destany continued.

"You don't have to explain to him.." Darius said, bringing her closer to him.

Tommy couldn't say anything else. He couldn't stand there and yell at her for doing the same thing he did. They were both wrong, and he knew it. Hipocracy was in the air.

"I'm sorry Tommy." Destany said.

Tommy didn't say anything back, he just turned and walked away, kicking the sidewalk on the way.

Jude watched him walk away. Her heart was breaking for him. Things were finally going to go good for him..he was actually going to try to make things work. Get his life together..and something like this happened.

"Just go after him, Jude..it's what he wants. It's what you want. It's whats best." Jason said.

Jude shook her head.

"No. It's not whats best." She said lightly.

"Stop lying to yourself, Jude." Mason urged, pushing her shoulder lightly.

Jude just gave him a look and walked inside of G-Major.

Darius let go of Destany and pushed her towards G-Major as well, leaving Jason and Mason outside.

"Why the hell do they both have to be so damn stubborn?" Jason asked.

"Well..I don't know about Tom..but Jude..she doesn't have any faith in him anymore. Can you blame her?" Mason asked.

Jason shrugged.

"I don't even care. I don't want to be here." Jason said. Mason smiled.

"You do care..or else you would still be after Jude. You know they're meant for eachother." Mason said.

Jason narrowed his eyes.

"All I know is if anyone can change Tom..it's her." Jason said, before walking into G-Major as well.

Mason nodded.

"Agreed."

Jude's Pov -

Here I am..in the alley. It's so quiet out here..for once. It's nice. It's peaceful. It's un-heartbreaking..that's always a plus.

After seeing Tommy hurt.. I just couldn't stick around. Destany hurt him, that was obvious. But why did he look at me? What was the whole second choice thing? Didn't we go over this? Didn't we settle that it was too complicated for us? Why doesn't Mason and Jason see it that way? Especially Mason..he's been around to hear most of this. Notice how incredibly difficult Tommy is. Why don't they see? It's hurting him..and it's hurting me. But most of all..Why can't I see? I can keep telling myself that if he's gone..I'll be better. But I won't. I can keep telling myself that all my worries will go away and I'll love again..but..I won't.

"It feels like I barely know you anymore..

So why does it hurt so much?

Your cries are raining down on me

And I won't move, I can't seem to budge

Your pain weighs me down

I want to make it go away

Because I know you're breaking inside

But I've run out of comforting things to say

My heart bleeds for you

And my eyes are always wet

Soaked with the misery i feel for you

Drenched with the feeling of regret.

It feels like I barely know you..

So why does it hurt so much?

Your cries are raining down on me

And I won't move, I can't seem to budge

Just close your sad eyes and listen to my voice

Drift off to a peaceful place and always remember

I'm here to stay"

I sang quietly. Not even loud enough for my voice to echo through the emptiness of the street.

But loud enough for the hidden ears to listen.

"Darius'll like it." The voice came out of nowhere and my head turned towards it.

I smile lightly and shrug.

"You think?" I ask.

He nods.

"Your new producer can help you get the melody down." Tommy said, stepping out of the shadows.

I lower my head and nod.

"Still leaving, huh?" I ask, voice cracking.

"There's nothing here for me anymore." He said plainly.

"Was there ever?" I ask, sarcastically. He turns to look at me.

"At one point.." Tommy trailed off..

"What's that supposed to mean, Tommy?" I ask, crossing my arms.

Tommy sighed.

"Nothing." He said, lightly.

"No Tommy, come on, explain yourself."

Tommy stayed silent.

"This is so like you..you'll say something and have nothing to back it up." I say.

He nods.

"You agreeing now?" I ask, on a laugh.

"What do you want me to say? I screwed up multiple times. This was it..the one time to make it right..and now thats done and over. I'm a failure. Everything I've ever done..everything, nothing but failures." He says, walking over to the wall opposite of him, "And I'm not looking for sympathy..hell, I deserve what I've been through. Every bit of it." He continues.

"Everyone screws up," I say, getting up and walking over to him slowly.

"Everyone makes mistakes." I continue, placing my hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"Some people deserve happiness.." He says, turning around and meeting my eyes. I smile and he lowers his head.

"I'm not one of them, Jude." He says.

"What? Tommy..you know that-"

"I can't do this." He says, taking my hand in his only for a few minutes, before dropping it and walking away.

A/N - So what did ya think?