AN: OMG, you guys totally rock! Especially Shannon, Tanya, tommyandjude4ever, Rachel, and Chloe, who are my most consistent reviewers. You guys are the best! I'd make it better, but I'm sick right now, and I'd rather be in bed than coughing and sneezing nonstop. My head hurts, so I'll make this a short one. But once I get better, I'll make sure it's longer.
Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Instant Star or the characters. But I really wish I did.
Chapter 23: Just When I Thought All The Drama Was Over
I got to the studio around 9, since I'd been working unbelievable hours the past week. Chalk it up to good old Darius, who insisted that Georgia was letting everyone off easy. Georgia agreed, but not because Darius made her. She decided to try it out and see how it went. Not one of her better ideas, because today she was off.
I walked inside to see Troy, Darius's usual choreographer, working with the stars. Jude was there already, shooting nasty glances at Nicole and Eden, who tried to trip her every time Troy was looking the other way. Jude had caught on to Eden's game, since Shay and Mason, another of Darius' artists, were too busy singing to notice.
"Stop! How many times to I have to tell you? It's like this," Troy was annoyed, even though they were learning a new routine and had been at it for an hour. He glared at Jude, who'd fallen into Nicole and had knocked Mason over.
"Sorry, I'll get it. Just as soon as Eden moves her big feet," Jude said, smiling innocently at Eden.
Eden scowled back, saying, "My big feet? What about your ability to screw up the dance moves? We've been at this for an hour, and everyone has it down but you."
"Yeah, right. It's not my fault you're always trying to trip me and push me into them," Jude fought back.
"Come on, I would never do that," Eden said, her voice dripping with sweetness. She glanced at Troy as if to say, Jude's the troublemaker, not me.
"Would you both shut up already?" Nicole was tired of them fighting all this time. "Let's just get this down, alright?"
"Yeah, let's," Troy cut in. "Enough arguing. My kids can dance better than you, and they're 6 and 8. And you call yourself professionals."
"Excuse me?" Shay said, getting up in Troy's face. "I did not just hear you say that I can't dance."
"Uh, yeah, you did," Troy said. "What are you going to do about it? Go running off to your uncle D and telling him that big, mean Troy just told you the truth? You might think you're professionals, and you're right. Professional babies. Now let's go people. I don't have all day!"
Shay glared at him, but kept silent. Mason kept quiet, and focused on getting it right. Eden, Nicole, and Jude glared at each other, but took up their positions again.
"And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight…" Troy counted off as the group started dancing.
Darius walked by a few minutes later. "How're my artists?" he asked Troy.
"Take five, everyone," he said, and they all went off in different directions. Jude went off to write in her journal, and Shay followed her. Eden, Nicole, and Mason sat down, and didn't say anything to one another.
"I really think we should bring in some dancers. These guys can't dance to save their lives," Troy said. "How do you expect me to work with these people? They can't even keep up with the rhythm, their moves are stiff and awkward, and they're going to be booed off stage."
"That's what I hired you for," Darius said. "By the end of the day, I want them to have it down. So you're going to make sure that happens. Got any problems with that?"
"No," Troy said quickly, knowing that although he was tired of them not getting it already, he valued his job with the music mogul too much to give it up just like that.
"That's what I like to hear," Darius smiled. Troy walked away quickly, thinking about how to make them get it.
Meanwhile…
"Jude, we need to talk," Shay called after her.
"Leave me alone, Shay. We've already talked, and we both know it's not going to help," Jude said, reaching for her journal.
"Jude, please," Shay begged. He grabbed Jude and spun her around. "I'm sorry…for cheating on you, for hooking up with Eden, for everything. Please, believe me when I tell you that I want to take it back, so we can just start all over again."
"No, Shay, you lost your chance when you gave me up. I'm not letting you back in, not again." Jude remained firm.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Shay responded softly.
"But we can still be friends, just not friends with benefits," Jude said.
"Deal," Shay said, holding out his hand.
"Deal," Jude said, taking it. As soon as she took Shay's hand, they moved closer and closer until their lips met.
"Aww, isn't that cute?" Eden said, not bothering to knock as she opened the door.
"Eden, leave us alone," Shay stiffened as she came in.
"Yeah, Eden, get out," Jude spat out.
"Hmm…let me think about it…No." Eden said, walking over to them.
"Eden, it's over between us. I love Jude, and I'd never do anything to screw that up." Shay said, taking Jude's hand.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that. It's what you said right after we met on tour. Then we hooked up, and you ditched this no talent, wannabe rock star for a real woman. I can give you much more than she could ever hope to give you, and you know it. And if I have my way, we'll hook up again on this tour." Eden purred into Shay's ear, just loudly enough for Jude to hear.
"Eden, I…" Shay was about to respond when Jude grabbed Eden and dragged her to the door.
"Time to take out the trash," Jude said, opening the door with one hand while throwing Eden out with the other.
Eden just smirked at her, ignoring her last comment even as the door closed in her face.
"So, Jude, about us," Shay said, as soon as Eden was gone.
"Shay, I can't. I can't trust you, not after what you did." Jude grabbed her journal, and ran out of the room.
"Jude, wait," Shay called, not going after her, since he knew she wouldn't want to talk to him for a while.
Jude ran into one of the empty studios, and began scribbling ideas down for another song.
AN: So, what'd you think? Good? Bad? Like it? Hate it? Tell me, please! I really have to know!