AN: YAY! I'm really happy now, cuz people actually reviewed! Lol! Thanks to camsma, Tanya, Lizzy, Ally, judetomfan101, and Shannon for reviewing. Anyway, here's the next chapter. And as always, let me know what you think, even if it's just to say "This sucks!"

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Instant Star and the characters. Then Tommy'd be all mine!

Chapter 31 – A Done Deal

I awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. I glanced over at Jude, who had her head on my shoulder and her arms wrapped around my neck. I reached over, trying not to move to suddenly, so that she wouldn't wake up. She looked so peaceful, so serene, like nothing in the world could bother her.

"Hello?" I said softly after picking up the receiver.

"Tom, where you been, man?" Kwest said, his voice full of relief. "I tried calling you forever last night."

"I was out with Jude," I said, as Jude shifted in her sleep. She clung tighter to me and then lay still. I smiled, loving how she only felt safe in my arms.

"Oh, that explains it," Kwest teased. "So, got any plans today?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna check out some places, see if I can pick out a good place," I said. I already had a few locations in mind, and I'd start out by looking at them first.

"K, you know I'm here if you need anything," Kwest said..

"Thanks, man," I said, hanging up.

I slipped out of Jude's embrace, knowing I'd have to wake her before I left. I made her favorite breakfast, poured some milk into a glass, then got a rose out of the vase on the table. I set it down before her, and gently shook her awake.

"Jude, it's time to get up," I said. Jude stirred, and then moaned, "C'mon, just 5 more minutes."

"Jude," I repeated, then kissed her awake. Jude smiled into the kiss, wrapping her arms around me. Then her eyes opened slowly, and she pushed me away. "POP-TARTS!" She ignored me as she dove for them, busily cramming them down her throat as fast as she could without choking.

"Thanks, I'm glad to see I come in second to a toaster pastry," I remarked.

Jude finished eating in record time, and wiped off her milk mustache to kiss me into silence. "Never, Tommy, I was just hungry. Now I have all day for you," she said again, leaning into another kiss.

"Jude, I'm gonna be checking out some places for the new studio today. You can stay here, since you won't have any fun going around town all day." I said, knowing she'd be bored out of her mind.

"No, I wanna come," Jude insisted.

"What about your dad?" I said.

"Easy, I'll just tell him I'm trying to get my old job back." Jude smiled deviously.

"Yeah? And what will you do when he wants to go and chew out Darius for firing you in the first place?" I countered.

"Good point," Jude mumbled under her breath. She looked down.

"Here," I said, "Take this," I reached into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and pressed it into her hand. "Go shopping, just don't break the bank, OK? I'll need every cent for the studio, then once we make it big, you can buy anything you want."

"I already have everything I want," Jude said, gazing up at me with her big blue eyes. "So, can I come or not?" I fought the urge to break my eye contact with her, and crumpled.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you about being bored out of your mind," I reminded her as she hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Now go get dressed, we have a lot of ground to cover."

Jude jumped up, raced away, and came back minutes later in her usual T-shirt and ripped jeans outfit.

"Hon, you're gonna need to wear something a little more formal than that," I laughed, as Jude looked defiant. She disappeared again and came back with a formal business suit and tea-length skirt.

"No, that doesn't fit you either," I said, taking her hand and going over to her closet.

I rummaged through her wardrobe until I found the perfect one. "How about this?" I suggested, holding up a nice blouse and mini-skirt. It was casual, yet formal. The perfect mix.

"OK," Jude looked at it doubtfully, then a smile broke out on her face. "Hey, I just had a great idea!"

"What's that?" I said hesitantly, knowing we didn't have much time before we needed to leave.

"You try it on," Jude laughed, as I looked on in horror.

"No way. Besides, we need to go pretty soon. We don't have time to waste." I looked at my watch, noting the time.

"Fine," Jude pouted. She put it on, then said, "You need to get changed too."

"Be right back," I said, disappearing into the bathroom with my clothes. Minutes later, I came out looking like my classy self.

"Ready to go?" I said, slipping my hand into hers.

"Been waiting forever," Jude teased. We left, and drove to all of the places. Most of them were run-down studios that needed a lot of work before they could be open to the public. Others were just not there for me, and I couldn't see them as places resembling the music scene. The last stop was a building that seemed to be just right. It had the look (once it was touched up), it had a piano in the middle of the place, and tables and chairs that were covered with cloth to prevent the dust from settling on them. But it had been unused for so long that we'd need to get a professional cleaning team in there ASAP. It was absolutely perfect.

"We'll take it," I said to the agent. Then I remembered the area we were in. "Is this…Is this the Chrome Cat?"

"Yes, it used to be called that. You really know music, don't you? All the greats used to perform here. It was even said that…" The agent trailed off as I finished it off for him. "…the King performed here."

I smiled as my mind began planning it all out. Of course, Elvis' music was the last thing I could picture being performed here. I'd already planned on having the hottest artists, the coolest new acts, anything that would keep this studio alive and packed with people every day of the week, every week of the year.

"OK, let me just draw up the papers, and once you sign them, this place is all yours," the agent said. "If there's any problems, Mr. Quincy,"

"You'll let me know," I said, knowing there was more than enough reserve for the deal.

"I'll be in touch," the agent said as he left.

"Congratulations!" Jude squealed as she flew into my arms. "You did it!"

"We did it," I corrected her. I picked her up and swung her around. "I could never have done this without you."

"Let's celebrate," Jude suggested.

"Where would you like to go?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"To Kwest's," Jude surprised me.

"Does he know about this?" I hoped he didn't mind having us over.

"Of course. I asked Sadie to ask him. She's coming too. So are Georgia and E.J."

"Just checking. I wouldn't want Kwest to throw us out or anything." I joked. Kwest was my best friend, he'd never do anything like that. He was too nice.

"Course he wouldn't. Now come on, they're expecting us," Jude grabbed my hand, and we took off for Kwest's.

AN: So, what'd you think? Please let me know, OK? If it sounds good, tell me. If it sucks, tell me. And if I sound blocked, tell me. Just tell me something…anything…OK?