AN: OMG, you guys are the best! I haven't been able to post in such a long time, because I was helping my friend move (she's moving way out of town), and I wasn't in the mood to write anything, since I was really sad (still am), and I won't be able to visit her since it's not within driving distance :o(. But I just wanted to thank MG, Tanya, Rachel, and Chloe (and everyone else who's been reading this), even though it's been a long time since you've heard from me. Thanks for all your reviews, they really inspire me to continue. I hope you like what I've written.

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star. CTV and Epitome Pictures do. But I do own my own plot and my wish for Jude and Tommy to finally end up happily ever after. Or maybe not (since most of us want that too)!

Chapter 19: Facing The Demons From My Past

I drove over to a familiar place from my past, one whose front door I'd never thought I'd see again. My mind went blank as I saw my hand reach up and use the brass knocker that was affixed.

I waited a few moments before the door slowly opened, and a face peered out at me, frowning.

"What the hell are you doing here, Tommy?" Chaz started closing the door in my face, but I quickly put my foot in the door so he couldn't close it.

"Chaz, man, look. I saw Nicole…" I said, hoping that would shock him.

"Are you serious? No, of course you aren't. This is all a big joke, isn't it?" Chaz spat out bitterly, and said, mimicking me, 'Hey look, I'll go tell Chaz that his sister's back, and watch him freak, only to admit that it's all in fun. I love watching him squirm, just like a puppet on a string. Yup, that's me, the greatest puppetmaster in the world. I can make everyone do everything I want, even if it does take a bit of creativity." He rolled his eyes in disgust, then looked as if he was about to slam the door on me.

"Chaz, look, let's just forget the past, OK? I need your help, man. And this time, I really mean it. No jokes, I swear…" I promised myself I wouldn't break down in front of him, but Jude's life was in danger. And the only person who could stop Nicole would be her big brother.

"Oh, right. Of course," Chaz said, slapping his hand to his forehead. "That's what you said the last time, right before everything came pounding down on me from the top shelf of the closet you said your cables were on." He rubbed his head absently as I winced in memory.

"Chaz, I know, and I'm sorry, OK? But that was what? 9 years ago? We were kids, and we sure as hell acted like them. I thought maybe you'd forget about it by now, seeing as how we're all grown up." I said defensively.

"Some of us have," Chaz said, then lowered his guard down. "But even though I still don't trust you one bit, I do want to make up with my sister."

"OK, I'll give you that," I agreed. I stuck out my hand, and Chaz looked at it before hesitantly taking it. "To a temporary truce," I said, as Chaz clenched his jaw and nodded mutely.

"So what do we do about Nicole?" I said, knowing Chaz would know the best way to deal with her.

"Hmm, good question," Chaz remarked. He paused, then asked me point-blank, "Were the reports about her and Jude true?"

Now it was my turn to clench my jaw. "Yes," I said, recalling how helpless Jude was until we rescued her. Throughout her ordeal, she had shown remarkable strength, strength that would normally come from someone who was older and more experienced in the ways of the world.

"Why would she do something like that?" Chaz wondered. He looked at me, as if something about my expression would reveal the answer.

"I don't know," I said, although my guess would have been that she was jealous of Jude getting all the attention, the fame, the fortune. But I wasn't about to let Chaz know that. We'd just managed to resume a relationship that was based completely on speaking terms. "But more importantly, what can we do about it?"

Chaz snapped his fingers together, and said, "What if I set her up with you? She could never resist you, you know."

"Yeah," I said, thinking, "Who could?" Then I added, "Or maybe I could ask her out, only to set her up so that the police would be there to re-arrest her if necessary."

"Yeah, like that's gonna happen. She was always good at getting out of sticky situations, and slipping right past us is like a walk in the park for her," Chaz noted.

"Then what would you suggest?" I said, running my hand through my hair. I had made a pretty good suggestion, even if I do say so myself, and Chaz had knocked it down, just like he always did. He could really get on my nerves, Chaz could, but even as I sighed impatiently, I pasted a smile to my face and maybe even agree to whatever ridiculous demands he came up with next.

"How about…" Chaz stopped, then shook his head. "No, that won't work," he mumbled to himself, and said aloud, "What about…no, that won't work either," We sat in silence, trying to mull over our next move. After a few minutes, Chaz suddenly jumped up and said, "I've got it!" as he began pacing the floor, talking to no one in particular. "Why don't we use you as bait? You know, say how you've finally come to your senses and realized that Nicole is the only woman for you?" He smiled sinisterly as I clutched my head and groaned in realization.

"No way, that'll never happen," I said, although I already knew that Chaz had made up his mind. Once that happened, there was no changing it, no matter what the consequences were. I could tell he was going to force me to date Nicole, so that he could take the credit for it and look like the hero he'd so wanted to be all these years. The one who could've saved Boyz Attack from breaking up for good, the one who got all the girls, the one who'd still manage to make everything work. Unfortunately for him, that was me.

"Fine, T. Then I guess I'll just have to tell her how you and Jude are on the rocks. Then she'll never leave you alone, and you know how that goes," Chaz said, knowing he'd won this round easily.

"Fine, man, but know this: I'll never feel for Nicole in a million years what I feel for Jude in a millisecond," I swore vehemently.

"Whatever you say, T. But I know you, man. You haven't changed a bit since I last saw you. Have we got a deal?" Chaz smirked.

"Whatever, man. I just want this to be over with," I said, already regretting my actions.

"Oh, it will. Trust me," Chaz promised. "So when are you free?"

"Anytime, man. Preferably during lunchtime, though. I don't want Jude to know about it, and it's best if it's done while she's at work."

"OK, I'll go set it up," Chaz said.

"Wait, why do you get to set things up? She doesn't trust you or me, so why would she believe you?" I asked, curious as to what Chaz had up his sleeve.

"Because, man, blood is thicker than anything. No matter how bad it got between Nicole and me, we've always managed to work things out. Except this, man, but she'll come around. She always did," Chaz said, although I wasn't sure he said that to convince me, or himself. "Now, it's time for you two to hook up already."

"What're you up to, Chaz?" I said, since my biggest suspicions were now confirmed. How would me and Nicole hooking up help Chaz? I had no idea, but I was determined to find out.

AN: What exactly is Chaz up to? And how does his plan fit into everything? If you have any suggestions, then please, tell me. I don't really know what to write next (I've been having writer's block like you wouldn't believe.) And please, keep on reviewing. Thank you!