AN: OMG, you guys totally rock! I can't believe you guys are still reading this! You all rock! Especially Chloe, Tanya, tommyandjude4ever, and scott4eva, who always review no matter how bad it is. You guys are the best! I'd make it better, but I really don't have the time to plan my stories out like I know a lot of people do.

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Instant Star or the characters. But I really wish I did.

Chapter 22: Faces From My Past

I turned around slowly, knowing exactly who that voice belonged to, even though I hadn't heard it in years.

"Darius, what are you doing here?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him.

"What I'm always doing, business as usual," Darius grinned widely as I sensed his

purpose.

"I'm just having a nice little chat with Georgia. She mentioned some money trouble, and I just wanted to help out." Darius smiled wider, and I knew exactly what that meant.

"Georgia, you can't," I said, as Georgia just shook her head at me as if to silence me. "I'll gladly take a pay cut, Kwest will too, just don't let…"

"Tom, I know how much you want to help, but it's good for us. We'll get more publicity, more artists, and we'll be able to break even real soon."

"Exactly, I can bring in Chaz as a producer, Shay and Nicole as my artists, as well as a lot more rising stars on the way," Darius stated the obvious. "Not to mention publicity. Everyone wants a piece of me, and artists all over will be fighting among themselves to be able to work here."

"G, don't," I said, this time more emphatically. But I saw Georgia's grim expression, and knew she'd already made her decision.

"So what happens to all the current artists?" I asked. Georgia saw right through my question.

"If you're asking me if you'll still be producing Jude, yes, until her contract is up. Then it's up for grabs. You know the rules."

"I know, but with Darius around…" I knew I'd struck a nerve when Darius flashed an angry look my way.

"What are you saying T? That I don't play by the rules?" Darius looked annoyed more than angry, but I still didn't want to tick him off.

"Course you do, D. By your rules, not THE rules," I said, since there was a definite difference. Darius scoffed at my obvious poke at him.

"Georgia, let me take a look at that paper again. I want to know if I have the right to fire certain producers who make their bosses upset." Darius snatched the paper lying on the table.

"You're not the boss of me yet, D," I said, and got up to leave.

"I will be. Sooner than you think, too." Darius said firmly. "Like Georgia said, will you excuse us please?" He smirked as I glared at him angrily.

As soon as I stepped out, I immediately looked for Jude. "Kwest man, will you give us 5?"

Kwest knew not to question authority. "I'm starvin' anyway. I wonder if this place has any decent food left around." He wandered out of the studio and left us alone.

"Jude, it's Darius. He's going to be taking over." I cringed, even as Jude's eyes grew wide, then she shrieked. "Darius? As in Darius Mills? Mega-producer, uber-famous multi-millionaire king of the musical world, uncle of famous rapper S to the H to the A to the Y? The Darius?" She shrieked again, and I remembered how I'd had the same initial reaction. That is, before I got to know the real him.

"Jude, look. Darius isn't all he's cracked up to be. Just like being a rock star. Sure, there are plenty of perks, but there are a lot of downsides too…" I trailed off as Jude continued jumping around and screaming her head off.

"OMG! I can't believe this is happening. Just wait'll I tell Sadie! And Jamie, and Kat, and Speed, and Kyle, and Wally, and Dad, and Mom, and…"

My POV: Come on, you have to tell her what Darius is really like. What he'll make her do. Just open your mouth and say something…anything. Just do it. Now. What are you waiting for? Go on. SAY IT!

"Jude…" I said, as Jude ignored me completely. She kept on ranting, "I'm gonna be big. This is unreal. I'm going to be huge. No wait, make that the biggest, best, most famous famous rock stars ever to live. I'll be right up there with…"

She went on, and I knew I'd lost her to Darius' empty promises. He just turned ordinary people into extraordinary musicians, and was always looking for the next best thing. Once you stopped giving him music that would be talked about for years later, like I did, he dropped you in search of someone younger, more green, someone who didn't know about the ins and outs of everything that happened in the music industry, someone who took your word for what it was.

Just then, Darius came by, with Georgia watching close by. "T, man. There you are. There's gonna be a few changes around here. From now on, only those who can afford studio time get studio time. Those who don't won't be allowed to stay here or practice. It's a new rule of mine. It'll free up a lot of space to make room for those who'll last. Just thought you should know." He gave a knowing look at Jude, as if she wasn't worth G Major's time or effort.

"D, don't you think that's a little harsh? I mean come on, not everyone who makes enough money from their music is worth listening to, while others who don't always get as much air time as they do are much better at writing meaningful lyrics and melodies, even if people can't recognize them."

"Tom, what have I tried to teach you all this time? That money talks! So if you don't have it, you're nobody. Everyone's interested in someone who's famous, who has the looks, the fame, the fortune. You just gotta learn how to keep it, 'cuz everyone wants a piece of it."

"That's exactly what I said," Shay commented, strutting in, as if on cue. "Uncle D, did you tell them yet?"

Darius smiled at his nephew, and said, "I'm getting there, Shay-Shay." Shay scowled at his uncle's use of his nickname from when he was younger, but knew when to keep quiet.

"What are you talking about?" Jude asked, puzzled as to what they were hiding.

My POV: Damn, I knew I forgot to tell her something.

"Shay's going to be recording here. After he gets back from tour. Just like you've been doing all this time," I said.

"Is there anyone else you want to fill me in on?" Jude's face had gone white. I guessed it was because of the little scene we had earlier, and Jude was afraid that it'd happen again. I'd bet my Viper on it.

"Yeah, Chaz, Eden, and Nicole are coming in to work here too," I saw Jude's eyes flash in anger as I mentioned her two arch nemeses.

My POV: This is going to be fun. Funner than fun.

"That gonna be a problem for you, Jude?" Darius asked, hinting that if there was, they'd all be kicked out.

Jude clenched her teeth as she automatically pasted a smile on her face. "No, none here."

"Good, because they're coming in tomorrow. So I suggest you all take off for now, and get some rest. Tomorrow, we start rehearsals for the tour. I expect you all to be here bright and early, because we have a lot of ground to cover. Don't expect to see any sunshine on your way in or out of this place. Any questions?" Darius said, just like a drill sergeant would.

Jude and I shook our heads no, and Darius smiled again. "Good, now go home."

As Jude and I exited, she said, "Do you think I'll be able to sneak some Pop-Tarts in tomorrow?"

"I don't think so, but I'll let you eat them in the car if you want," I said, giving her the next best thing. I knew Jude wasn't a morning person, and I didn't want her rushing at the last minute, so I offered to pick her up. She gladly accepted.

I dropped her off at her place, because her car was in the shop, and as I pulled up to her driveway, I noticed we hadn't talked the whole way there.

Jude looked at me and said, "'Night, Tommy," a little too coolly for my taste.

I grabbed her sleeve to hold her back. "Jude, about Nicole…"

"I know, Tommy, but when are you going to mean it?" Jude's eyes threatened to fill with tears again.

"Tomorrow. You'll see. If she tries anything, I'll be right there to stop her." I said, hoping she'd believe me.

"Yeah, that's when the two of you are in front of me. But when you're alone…" Jude hinted at the impossibility that I'd be making out with Nicole while she wasn't looking.

"…Nothing will happen, Jude." I finished her sentence. "Jude, don't even think about it. I know you want to, but tomorrow, you have to concentrate on your music. Forget about everything else. Forget what she did to you, forget about Eden, Shay, or anything that might distract you. We'll deal with it later, OK?" I gave her an I'm-in-this-with-you-so-you-don't-have-to-worry look.

"Whatever you say, Quincy," Jude sighed, as if this wasn't over.

"Go on. Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow." I kissed her on the cheek, and was surprised when she didn't pull away. She got out of the car with barely any good-bye, and I watched as she walked to her front door, opened it, and went inside, with no good-bye wave or look back at me.

I sat there for a minute, looking down at the floor of my car.

My POV: I can talk my way out of any situation, but I can't fix a simple little problem between me and two young women? I've got to resolve this thing with Jude and Nicole, and fast!

I sighed also, just before I turned the key in the ignition and the Viper roared to life. I put the car in reverse, then floored it out of there. Tomorrow had enough problems of its own. I just hoped I wouldn't be the one to add even more.