A/N – Alright! Here's the next chapter! Thanks for all the continued support! It means the world to me!

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Chapter Fifteen…I Can't Stand On My Own

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Sadie sighed, for once completely content with her life. She had always had fun. She always liked how things were going. But now, she was really happy. And for the life of her, she couldn't ever remember feeling this good.

But her happiness faded slowly, remembering how she had treated Kwest earlier. He had caught her off-guard. She hadn't really expected to see him again right now. Not when things were going so well with Mitchem.

True, she'd always had a thing for Kwest. He had been there for here when no one else was. And that was nice. But she didn't need that comfort anymore. She had Mitchem for that. Even if he had no idea that her mother had just died. She just wanted to leave that part of her life behind. Forever.

She couldn't do that with Kwest. But she could do that with Mitchem. And that's exactly what she planned to do.

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Jude hurried into Tom's bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. It was her only sanctuary away from Tom. She loved him--more than life. Hell, they were finally engaged. But she couldn't deal with his support.

He said he understood her and was going to be there for her. But how could she let him get close to her? How could she let him marry her? She was just going to die anyway. What was the point?

She could hear him enter his apartment, slamming the front door behind him. "Jude!" he screamed, anger rising in him. "Jude! Get out here now!"

She couldn't face him. Not after how she treated him. How could he still love her?

"Jude! Goddamn it! Get out here now!" He pounded his fist on the bathroom door and she jumped. Slipping over to the door, she unlocked it slowly, fearing this confrontation. "Jude, if you don't—"

She opened the door, but refused to meet his eyes. "Tommy, I…" She coughed loudly, tears beginning their trail down her cheeks.

"Jude…" His voice was much softer now. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, hugging her tightly. "I know you don't believe me, but I'm here for you."

"Tommy, what if I never sing again?" she choked out.

"Then you don't sing again! It's not the end of the world." Tom was losing control of his emotions. He wanted to stand strong for her—be her tower. But she was making it so difficult.

"What if…what if I die?" she asked bluntly.

"Jude, don't you dare think like that," he scolded, frowning at her. "You're strong. You'll get through this."

She choked back a sob. "I'm not strong, Tommy. I can't do this."

"We can do this, Jude. I promise." He kissed the top of her head. "We'll do this together."

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Kwest was fuming. No matter what he did, he was invisible to her. He comforted her. He was there for her when she needed it. And gone when she didn't.

But none of that mattered. She was still selfish and conceited. And he was getting sick and tired of it. Everyone told him that he was a good guy.

Well, if he was such a good guy, why did the one girl he cared about not want him around? If he was so great, why was he alone and miserable?

But again, none of that mattered. What mattered was that even after this, he still wanted her. He wanted her more than ever. But he could see inside her. He could see that she was pushing all of this away. And in the end, that would come back to hurt her.

All Kwest hoped was that she needed him when it did.

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A/N – That's it for now. 235 reviews for the next update! Tell me what song "I Can't Stand On My Own" is from to get a preview!