When Jude came storming into the studio, Georgia had been expecting something raw, something sad or angry or scared. Instead she got Temporary Insanity.

"Losing my mind, losing my mind, losing my mind…" Jude sang while Georgia looked on in shock. The girl was in papers in Canada and the States because she was held hostage along with Tommy Quincy, and this was what she wanted to sing about?

As Jude let out the last "da" EJ frowned. She spoke over the ending of the song, succeeding in annoying Tom and Jude further than she would with her next comment alone. "It's good, could be a hit, but we can't release it as a single, not yet at least. Jude, we need something… angry. After an incident like yours angry rocker chick sells."

Tommy clenched his fists around the arms of his chair and held back. Jude, however, never held back. "You know what EJ, I can't force out the songs you want. I am not a jukebox. You take what you get or you fire me, and either way it is of no consequence to me, because to some of us this is about the music, not the money, and you'd do well to remember that!" Tommy put a hand on her arm, trying to calm her down. Jude slapped it away. "Sadie's picking me up in five. You can do the final mix by yourself, although you might be able to convince Kwest to come in and help." She picked up her coat and walked out.

Tommy turned to EJ, eyes blazing. "She's right, EJ, the money doesn't mean shit. You can't expect Jude to commercialize herself. She's not just some bimbo pop star!" As he turned to leave, EJ said something that made Tommy have to stop and calm himself.

"Is that why you haven't slept with her yet?" she asked bitterly. "Is that why she's not wrapped around a tree, like Angie? You remember Angie, right Tommy? My best friend, the only woman you've ever loved, who you abandoned for a solo career that flopped?"

"You have no right!" Tommy yelled. He opened his mouth to yell at her again but stopped. "You're not worth it," he muttered, and ran outside to find Jude.

He found her in the alley, sitting on a dumpster. He quietly walked up and sat down on the ground, facing her. "I suppose we need to talk."

"EJ's a bitch, so what?" Jude said, chewing a hangnail.

He chuckled. "Well, yes, that's true, but I meant the song. We need to talk about that."

"Oh, that," Jude said, quietly. She clicked her heels together a few times with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Well, I suppose it's pretty obvious that I'm feeling a little confused. I just need the song to relieve that confusion. You know, figure my feelings out."

"And?" he asked.

"I'll get back to you," she said, smiling wryly. He smiled back.

"If it's of any consolation to you, I'm equally confused," he said.

"Well then-" Jude paused, staring at the wall "-I guess we'll just have to ignore it until at least one of us figures it all out."

"Fair enough."

--

"Are you Jude Harrison?" asked a boy. Jude turned to look at him; he looked to be about her age. His half emo, half dork look also seemed familiar.

"Yeah. Hey, aren't you in my English class? Jamie Andrews, right?" He nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, that's me!" He dug around in his pocket. "I absolutely love the stuff you did on Instant Star- you're songwriting is like… like as good as a rare Nirvana bootleg!" Jude smiled. He finally found what he was looking for. "I was going to give this to you anyways," he said, handing her a strung guitar pick. "It's Joe Strummer's."

"Really?" Jude asked, shocked. "I mean, are you serious? That's so awesome!" She bit her lip. "I couldn't- I don't even know you."

"Hey, you're going to be a famous rock star soon; people are going to give you all kinds of shit. Get used to it." She glared at him.

"A Joe Strummer relic is not shit. It's, well… a relic." He grinned.

"Glad to see you have a taste for good music. Most people our age just like boy band pop and crap." She grinned, and it lit her whole face up. This guy was just what she needed to cheer her up; he hated boy bands and he hadn't once mentioned her encounter with Tommy's mother, which he must know about, considering her face was plastered over every Canadian paper's front page. "I've gotta go," he said, sighing. He'd been enjoying this meeting with his semi-new musical idol.

"Wait up!" she said. "You have second lunch?"

"Yeah," he said, stopping.

"Great!" If it was at all possible, her smile got brighter. "Let's talk tomorrow over lunch."

"That would be amazing!" he said. "I've got so much to ask you and-"

She laughed. "Save it for tomorrow. See ya!" They both parted.

--

That Friday, Jude and Jamie were having dinner when her dad called. "One sec," she said, flipping her phone open. "Dad? Hey."

"Hi Honey. Tommy called; he wants me to let you know that you guys have a session at four tomorrow."

"Sorry Dad, no can do. Jamie and I are out and he wants to show me this cool little shop over in Manitoba-"

"Manitoba! Jude, how the hell are you guys going to get over there? Does Jamie have a license? Is he older than you? How much older?"

"Dad, it's fine, we're taking the bus, and it's just over the border. I also left you a note; check the fridge."

Jude heard footsteps and then; "Oh, okay. But Jude, you should tell me before you make a weekend trip." He sighed. "You know I think it's a good thing you're making friends with people your own age, but you haven't been into the studio since the day after the… thing."

"Dad, it's cool, just tell Tommy I'm… mulling it over." Avoiding him is more like it.

He sighed. "Fine, Jude, I'll tell him, but if he barges into your hotel room in the middle of the night demanding you come back…"

"Then I left without your permission. Got it." She shut her phone and turned to Jamie. "I forgot to tell you, we're going to Manitoba, so call your mom. Don't worry, I've got money for bus tickets and stuff."

"What the hell are we going to do in Manitoba?"

"Just look around and… generally be away from Toronto."

"Why don't you want to go in the studio?" he asked curiously. "You said you love the studio."

"I do, I'm just sort of… avoiding somebody right now." She bit her nails, her expression tense.

"It's EJ, I bet. She sounds like a bitch," Jamie said, laughing. Jude joined him, and her face relaxed.

So I finally got to work Jamie in. Yay! Although, you might not like him so much next chapter. Maybe you will, I don't know. I guess it depends on how… um, liberal(?) you are…