Finally got this chapter. A surprise guest comes in this chapter...hehe! Please leave some awesome reviews!! Thanks!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Instant Star, the song I Just Can't Live a Lie by Carrie Underwood, or Heartbreak Hotel by Whitney Houston.
Chapter 6: Deadly Scorpions
Tommy was at the studio still thinking about the news that happened earlier that day. It was almost midnight, but he had to get to the studio to escape his problems. He could probably write a song or two, also. Once he made it inside there were still some interns and secretaries running around and getting everything cleaned up. Tommy looked at his feet the whole way to studio 2. He closed the door behind him and then he heard a voice. His head whipped around so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. It was Cathy with her arms crossed. She was wearing a black silk skirt that barely covered her ass. The shirt she was wearing was white and strapless. It just reached down to the top of her navel and showed off her scorpion belly button ring. Her golden-brown hair was curled at the bottom and reached to mid-back.
Tommy looked at her and gulped. Cathy scoffed and laughed. She turned around and walked towards the couch. Tommy saw the tattoo that was located on the right of her lower back. It was a scorpion and it looked incredibly sexy on her. He watched as she swayed her hips and then finally sat down on the couch. She spread her arms out on the top of the couch and crossed her legs. You could see her silver heels and a little bit of a view as her skirt went up a bit. They just stared at each other for a moment. "You have a fascination with scorpions?" Tommy asked as he stood a good distance away from her.
"Remember when all the guys use to call the Little Scorpion?" She answered with a question.
"Of course," Tommy said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Cathy got up and went to him. Tommy tried to back up but he was already against the wall. Their faces were inches apart and Tommy could smell her vanilla perfume as he inhaled a sharp breath. He tried to control his instincts as he watched Cathy's lips intently as she spoke. "Well, they called me that, because when I sting you," she started as she used her fingers tracing lines down Tommy's chest, "my poison courses through every vein in your body, and I seduce you to death; a death that you would gladly greet with open arms." She whispered it seductively in his ear. Her hands reached down to his belt.
Jude was at G-Major. She wanted to talk to Tommy. She woke up and found herself alone in her bed. So she just dropped a sleepy Stephanie off at Sadie's house and drove to G-Major. She walked in and found that the last of the interns were just walking out the door. She started to look all around. She checked Tommy's office, D's, and Studio 1. She was on her way to Studio 2 when Cathy walked out. Jude stopped in her tracks and stared at her in complete shock. Cathy looked at her and smiled evilly again. "Oops," she said and walked out of G-Major. Jude stormed in Studio 2 just in time to see Tommy putting on his shirt. He was facing the wall and didn't see her. Jude stood there mouth agape. Tears stung her eyes and she ran out of there.
Tommy finished putting on his shirt and kept staring at the wall. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Cathy really knew how to get to him. But he was stronger this time. Right when she forced his shirt off, he kicked her out. He resisted again and he smiled proudly at himself. He turned around and flopped down on the couch. He ran his hand through his hair and started to hum a tune. His mind drifted off to Jude again. No more babies; she couldn't have anymore. Why was God tormenting them? He didn't know if he could take anymore. He didn't know if they could take it anymore. Stephanie was going to be gone in a month, and now they can't have anymore children of their own. There was an ache in his heart as he thought about this. He looked at his watch. It was 1:01am. He decided to go home. He couldn't concentrate on a song right now. He got his infamous leather jacket and his keys, and headed home.
Jude quietly knocked on Sadie's door. Sadie tip-toed to the door; careful not to wake Stephanie on the couch. She unlocked the door and opened it to find a broken down Jude hugging herself. The rain masked her salty tears as Sadie hurried Jude inside her house. She led her little sister up to her room and go t a towel to dry her off. Jude sat there with the towel draped around her shoulders after telling Sadie everything. "I am so sorry, Jude," Sadie said holding her sister close.
"I don't get it," Jude's voice cracked. "Kwest said he didn't do anything with her. So why would he start now?"
Sadie tensed up when Jude mentioned Kwest. She didn't trust him. If this kept happening, and he was always there for Jude, Jude would do something. Maybe divorce Tommy and then go with Kwest. That would be a terrible mistake. But maybe the real reason she didn't want it to happen would be because Sadie still loved Kwest very much. It broke her heart when she realized he loved Jude instead. "Well," Sadie tried to answer, "Maybe it was a misunderstanding?"
"A misunderstanding? How the hell is it a misunderstanding, Sadie!?" Jude shouted.
"Shh," Sadie hushed. "Your daughter is sleeping downstairs, remember?"
"I'm sorry it's just…" She paused. "I don't know what to do anymore. You have no clue how bad it really is; how bad it feels to fight all the time. All this started with that stupid miscarriage." Tears started to comedown her face as she remembered that day clearly in her mind. "He blames me, I know he does." Jude started to hug and Sadie hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Jude, no he doesn't. Ok? He doesn't." Sadie tried to convince her.
Jude pulled away. "Sadie, you can't see the way he looks at me. He has this look in his eyes. And when I told him I couldn't have anymore children…" She started to cry even harder thinking about it. "No wonder he's cheating on me."
Sadie hugged her younger sister, no knowing what to say to convince her.
Tommy was laying in his bed wondering where is wife and daughter had gone. He was thinking of calling Sadie but it was way too late. He sighed and grabbed Jude's pillow and held it close to his body. He inhaled Jude's scent that was on it and smiled. He would call Sadie tomorrow.
Tommy walked into G-Major hoping to find Jude and Steph. He saw Sadie at her desk and walked up to her. He stopped short when he saw the death glare she was giving him. What was her problem this morning? He saw Kwest coming out of Studio 2. Tommy smiled at him, but Kwest gave him the same glare. Did he miss something? He was trying to figure out why both of them looked like they wanted to kill him. He scratched the back of his head. Only now did he realize that the people around him were whispering and pointing at him.
Tommy decided to approach Sadie anyway. He slowly made his way as Sadie kept her eyes on her computer. He leaned on the desk. "What do you want Tom?" Sadie snapped suddenly.
"Uh, hi. I was just wondering if you've seen Jude," Tommy asked trying to be polite.
Sadie laughed bitterly and shook her head as she started typing. When she didn't reply, Tommy tried again. "Sadie," he sang.
"What?" she sang back but with bitterness in her voice.
"Have…you…seen…Jude?" He broke the words up, as if talking to someone mentally handicap.
"Yea, I have. I've seen her crying. I've seen her drenched; standing out in the rain helpless. I've seen her blaming herself for everything that has happened." Sadie finally looked at him and stood up from her chair. He looked at her confusingly. Sadie rolled her eyes and sat back down. "She's at my place."
"Well, can I call her?" Tommy asked still utterly clueless as to what was going on. Kwest walked up to them with his arms crossed.
"I don't think she'd be too thrilled to hear your voice right now," Kwest intruded the conversation.
"Alright, somebody better tell me what's going on here," Tommy said frustrated. Kwest sighed and got the tabloid from Sadie's desk and threw it over to him.
"Look at page 12," he growled.
Tommy just rolled his eyes and turned to the page. That's when he saw a picture of Cathy coming out of G-Major, and then another one of Jude running out crying. His eyes went wide as he read the article. Tommy looked at both of them. "Guys, you have to believe me. I didn't do anything with Cathy. I wouldn't do that to Jude."
Sadie scoffed. "She saw Cathy walking out of the studio and got there in time to see you dressing yourself."
"I have to call her. I need to talk to her!"
"No," Kwest said sternly.
"Kwest you have to believe. I kicked her out before…"
"Tommy, you can't win this one," Sadie said. "Just leave my sister alone."
Jude was at Sadie's house still crying her eyes out. How could everything just go so bad? It wasn't supposed to be this way. 'That asshole! I hate him!' Jude thought even though she knew it wasn't true. She still loved him. She shook her head as she handed Stephanie her lunch. Steph wasn't doing so well either, she missed her dad. Jude wiped her tears with the back of her hand and turned on the T.V.
"Welcome back, everyone! Now everyone knows Tommy and Jude Quincy, right?" The announcer asked. "Well, we have some news. Last night, Cathy Richards was caught coming out of G-Major and seconds later, Jude running out crying."
Jude's mouth became agape. She turned off the T.V. Suddenly, she felt something vibrating in her pocket. She took out her cell phone and answered it without looking at the caller I.D. "Hello?" she answered as Stephanie finished her sandwich and put the plate in the sink.
"Jude, don't hang up," Tommy said on the other line quickly.
"Tommy? What the hell are you doing calling here?" She asked coldly.
Tommy sighed. "Please, you have to believe me. I didn't do anything with Cathy."
"Yea right," she scoffed. "That's why I saw you putting on your shirt?"
"No, listen, please," he whispered.
"Why are you whispering?"
"I'm not supposed to be calling you."
"So why are you?"
"Just give me ten seconds."
"5."
"Cathy came by the studio. She was trying to seduce me, to say the least. She took off my shirt and tried to kiss me." Tommy made sure he stressed the 'tried'. "But I was pushed her away and kicked her out. That's why you saw me putting on my shirt. I didn't do anything Jude. Please, baby, believe me."
Jude sighed and looked down at her hands as she registered the information that she had just been given. She felt a tear escaping her eye. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore, Tom."
"Please Jude, I'm literally begging you."
"I…I have to think about it. I have to go Tom. Bye."
She hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She looked at the time. It was almost two. She took Stephanie upstairs with her so she could get changed and they went for a ride. "Where are we going Mommy?" Stephanie asked as she looked at the scenery.
"We're going to visit an old friend," Jude responded with a smile.
They drove for about an hour until they finally made it to a very rural neighborhood. They reached a ranch and Stephanie pointed at the horses and donkeys. Jude and Stephanie got out of the car once they reached a gravel driveway. The house was like a log cabin, only much bigger. It was almost like a mansion. It seemed like they had over 300 acres of land. Jude knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it. Finally, a maid had opened it. "Mrs. Quincy, it's so very nice to see you again!" The maid squealed and let her in. "It's been such a long time."
"It has. I miss you Harriet. You remember my daughter Stephanie." Jude said as Stephanie waved at her.
"How could I forget? Of course, last time I saw this little one she wasn't this big."
"Is he here, Harriet?"
"Oh yes dear, let me get him."
Harriet went upstairs and soon a bubbly guy came running down the stairs. "Jude!" He greeted happily as he hugged her.
Jude returned the gesture cheerfully. "Hey, Spencer! Oh, my god, how have you been?"
"I've been great! Hey Steph, how have you been princess?"
"I miss my Daddy," Stephanie said and looked down. Spencer looked up at Jude with a questioning gaze.
"You know what Steph, how about you go with Ms. Harriet. She'll take you to the ponies outside. Would you like to see them?" Spencer suggested.
She smiled sadly and nodded. Harriet went up to her and led her to the ranch out back. Spencer escorted Jude to the couch and sat her down. Spencer had moved back to Canada after his dad had died. His mom still lived in the States. Spencer's dad left him all his money and now Spencer was very rich and even created an album with his band Broken Limbs. The song 'My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend' was a huge hit and it went multi-platinum. Jude looked at Spencer for a bit. The last time she had seen him was almost a year ago. He had changed a lot. He was a lot more muscular and his once dirty blonde hair had turned midnight black. He also had another tattoo under his eagle one. It was some kind of tribal symbol that went around his bicep. "So, what brings you here?" Spencer asked.
"I decided to see you. I needed to get out of the house," Jude said not looking at his questioning gaze.
"Jude I'm not stupid. I know you better than I think you do. And the whole Cathy Richards story is on every music channel and news station." Spencer informed her.
Jude rolled her eyes and the tears started to come. "He-he called me. He said he didn't do anything."
"So what's the problem?"
"How can I believe him? I don't know if I can trust him anymore. All the shit that has been happening is just too much. You know, I'm about to lose Stephanie too."
"What?" Spencer asked completely shocked and confused. He was one of the clueless people that fell for their "happy" faces.
"They found her other grandparents and they're taking her away. There's nothing we can do about it." Jude's tears were falling down her face now and Spencer hugged her.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Jude. Have you told her yet?"
"No, I don't know how to. But I can't bear losing her. I already lost so much."
"The baby?" They pulled away and Jude started to sob. Why did he have to bring that up? She hugged him again and cried into his chest. He kissed her temple and stroked her hair.
"Oh Spence, what am I going to do?"
"Shh, it's okay. Everything will work out, okay?"
Jude just nodded and kept crying.
Tommy sat in his office blankly looking at his computer screen. He was supposed to be listening to demos of a new artist but his mind was clogged with other thoughts. 'What if she doesn't believe me and doesn't take me back? What if she hates me for the rest of my life? How would I live without her? I'm already losing Steph, and I'm also losing Jude in the process.' Thousands of questions kept running through his head. Sadie came in his office and threw some paper work on his desk. She looked at him with cold and angry eyes and walked away. Kwest hasn't spoken to him once either.
He ran a hand through his now messy hair and banged his head against the desk. He needed to prove to Jude he didn't do anything. He was thinking about go to Cathy's house and telling her to call Jude, but with the paparazzi everywhere now, that would just get him in even more trouble. Tommy heard a knock on the door. When he didn't respond they let themselves in. He looked up and saw Darius standing there with anger in his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not you too," Tommy said frustrated. "I didn't do anything. I promise nothing happened."
"Don't tell me that. Tell your wife. You know Jude, or have you forgotten already?" Darius voiced coolly.
Tommy rolled his eyes. "Did you come in here to accuse me or is there something else that you wanted?" he asked.
Darius came into his office and put another demo CD on his desk. "It's Jude, listen to it."
"How'd you get it?" Tommy asked picking it up.
"She came in late sometime last week and recorded it. I got Sadie to get me a copy."
Darius walked out and shut the door. Tommy looked at the CD debating whether to listen to it or not. He decided to and put it in his laptop. He pressed play and listened to the soft music playing, and then heard Jude's angelic voice fill the room.
Lately nothing I do ever seems to please you
Maybe turning my back would be that much easier
Cause hurtful words are all that we exchange
But I can't watch you walk away
Could I forget about the way it feels to touch you
And all about the good times that we've been through
Could I wake up without you everyday
And would I let you walk away
No I can't learn to live without
And I can't give up on us now
Oh, I know I could say we're through
And tell myself I'm over you
But even if I made I vow
I promise not to miss you now
And tried to hide the truth inside
I fail cause I…I just can't live a lie
Could I forget the look that tells me that you want me
And all the reasons that make loving you so easy
The kiss that always makes it hard to breathe
The way you know just what I mean
No I can't learn to live without
So don't you give up on us now
Oh, I know I could say we're through
And tell myself I'm over you
But even if I made I vow
I promise not to miss you now
And tried to hide the truth inside
I fail cause I…I just can't live a lie
Oh, and I don't wanna try
Oh…
I know I could say we're through
And tell myself I'm over you
But even if I made I vow
I promise not to miss you now
And tried to hide the truth inside
I fail cause I…I just can't live a lie
(Just can't live a lie)
But even if I made a vow
I promise not to miss you now
And tried to hide the truth inside
I fail cause I…I just can't live lie
No, I can't live a lie
Oh, I can't live a lie
Tommy sat there astonished. God, how could he let things get so bad? He hid his face in his hands. He took in a sharp breath and pressed play. He listened to it almost all day. He had to figure out how to fix this. There had to be someway. Jude just had to believe him.
Jude and Spencer were in his room. He was playing the guitar and she was singing. Spencer thought it would be a good way for her to just let everything out and it did help. They even wrote a song.
All I really wanted was some of your time
Instead you told me lies when someone else was on your mind
What you do to me, look what you did to me
I thought that you were someone who would do me right
Until you played with my emotions and you made me cry
What you do to me, can't take what you did to me
"That was amazing," Spencer mused. Jude nodded. It felt so good to sing again. But then she also felt a pain inside of her every single time she did. Stephanie came into the room and so did Harriet. Harriet handed Spencer two pills and a glass of water. "Thank you Harriet."
Jude looked at him and her eyebrows furrowed. "What are those for?" She asked as Stephanie climbed on the bed with them.
"They're to keep my emotions in check," he responded and swallowed the pills.
"Oh yea, I forgot you were bi-polar," she realized.
"Now that is the nicest thing I ever heard you say." He smiled and Jude smiled back. Jude's cell phone started to vibrate and she looked at the called ID. She looked at Spencer.
"It's Tommy," she said. Spencer nodded at her to pick it up. She sighed and opened up her phone. "Hello?" she answered.
"Did you think about it?" Tommy asked on the other line. Hopefulness was in his voice.
"Yea, I did," Jude responded.
"Well, whatever decision you made, I just want you to know that I love you more than anything and I didn't do anything. I'll swear on anything you want. But I would never cheat on you. I don't know how to prove it to you, but I just hope that you'll believe me."
Jude smiled and looked at Spencer. Spencer smiled back to give reassurance. "I believe you Tommy. Cathy is a snake anyway. Are you home?"
"Yea, I am. Where are you?" Tommy asked happiness filled his voice.
"I'm actually at Spencer's place."
"Really? Well, listen; come home as soon as possible, okay. Tell Spencer I said hey, and he should come and visit sometime."
"Okay I will."
"I love you Jude and thank you so much!"
"You're welcome. I love you too."
Sneak Peek-Chapter 7:
"And what exactly did you think was going to happen? That everything would be peachy keen again and you guys would live happily ever after?" He yelled at her. She found tears in her eyes and he immediately regretted the words he just had said.
"I was trying...to believe," she whispered.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Please, please, don't lie to me," Jude whispered as she caressed his cheek.
"Okay?" he said confused.
"Do you love me?" she asked. He looked at her with shock on his face. He closed his eyes as he felt her warm touch on his skin. He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. She waited patiently, hoping whatever he said was the truth; that whatever he said was what she wanted to hear.