Hi everyone! Sorry it took me so long to update, but I am back from my vacation so I will post the next chapters soon. The formatting in my documnet got screwed up near the end of ths chapter, but bear with me. The story is really starting to develop and things are going to start getting good. Keep the comments coming!

Chapter 7

Within three days Jude had talked to the blackmailer four more times. Each time she felt more and more desperate. She had cried, begged, even promised to meet him if he would drop his requests for money. But every time he ignored her pleas for mercy and requested more money. He was trying to slowly break her down and he knew he was succeeding. After the last phone call Darius had pulled her aside and informed her that if things had not been settled with the blackmailer in one week's time, it would be in her best interest to leave G Major before they were forced to terminate her contract. She had gone home and cried for hours knowing that the black clouds that had been looming over her head for awhile were about to break open with a downpour of rain. After she had slept off the depression she walked over to Jamie's house and cried in his arms for awhile. If anyone could help Jude keep a level head it was Jamie. She told him everything about Tommy and she explained that she had only heard from him once before Jamie had received the call from him. They had moved to the rehearsal space and were currently lying on the floor playing a game they liked to call 'which makes me think of.'

"Which makes me think of Spam" Jamie said trying to hold back a grimace.

"Which makes me think of a tin can" Jude replied enjoying the simplicity of the game and having Jamie close by unless her world began to break again.

"Which makes me think of space"

"Which makes me think of that awful costume Darius made me wear at the Instant Star contest last year."

"Which makes me think of…" He paused. She could tell without even looking at him that they were thinking about the same thing.

"Jamie, thank you. Thank you for still loving me and telling me to be the Judiest Jude I can be, even after everything. I, I really don't think I would have made it through these past two years without you. And everything that I have done to hurt you… I don't deserve a best friend like you." She rolled at her side so she could look at him. He smiled knowing that she needed him just as much as he needed her.

" Which makes me think of J shaped pancakes" He said, tickling her. "Come on lets go get some food. Is it okay if we pick up Patsy?"

Jude had been trying to forget about everything that was happening in her life. Spending time with Jamie and Patsy had helped, but now she was all alone in her room. Besides the blackmailer calls, she and Tommy had talked twice but both times he had hung up unexpectedly. It was starting to wear on her nerves and she wondered if she would ever see him face to face again. When her cell rang she breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't Tommy's number displayed on the screen. The last thing she needed right now was to be ditched by him again.

"Wings, lets go do something wild and crazy!"

"Dean, it's nice to hear from you." She said smiling into the phone and wondering what sort of adventure he had in mind this time.

"I'll pick you up around seven. Wear something warm" He said hanging up and giving her no time to reply. Warm? It was the middle of July she thought to herself as she wondered over to her closet and began to rummage for a sweater.

Two hours later she and Dean were standing in the middle of an ice rink. She had been surprised when they pulled up outside of the ice rink but she had felt flabbergasted as he enrolled them both in a hockey class. Dean had brought an extra set of elbow and knee pads for her, warning her that the ten year olds were the toughest so she should look out for them. The two of them had fumbled around on their skates for awhile but soon got a hang of the rhythm of the game. She was currently sitting in the time out box because she had stuck her tongue out at the goalie from the other team. She jumped to her feet and cheered loudly as Dean accidentally tripped over his own feet and went flying into the goal with the puck caught in his skate. She had to hand it to him, he knew how to plan a fun date. She liked that he was so unpredictable, not to mention that fact that he was gorgeous and, it seemed, smitten with her. As the buzzer rang signifying the end of the game she got to her feet and greeted him as he was coming off the ice. Unexpectedly he grabbed her and dipped her, like they were dancing, catching her mouth in a victory kiss.

"We won." He said smiling as he pulled her up into a hug. "Did you see that little goalie? He didn't know what hit him when I scored that last goal."

"Oh he knows what hit him." She said giggling remembering the kid's face when he saw that Dean was sliding straight into the goal. "Thanks for the date." She said as they sat down to pull off their skates. "I haven't done anything that crazy since… well since I went bungee jumping." She said winking at him.

"The date's not over yet. I was thinking we could go get some hot chocolate." They walked up to the counter and returned their skates.

"Hot chocolate in the middle of July?" She asked as she slid her hand into his and they walked out into the heat.

Jude wasn't sure how the blackmailer had gotten her cell phone number, but she

knew she didn't like it. He called her in the middle of the night promising the photos

would be released to the press unless his money was delivered in the next few days. She

could feel her heart racing after she hung up. She immediately called Darius who was a

little annoyed at being woken up in the middle of the night, but assured her that they

would do everything the could to take care of this situation before she was forced to quit.

She was just starting to calm down again when her cell rang again. She wanted to just

ignore it, but she reached for it anyways. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw

Tommy's number on the screen, but she quickly remembered her annoyance with his

habit of disappearing on her during their conversations.

"I don't want to do this any more Tommy. If you keep disappearing I am going to

stop answering your calls. I am not your puppy. I refuse to wag my tail and pretend like

everything is okay whenever you decide you have time to play with me!"

"Jude calm down." His voice was smooth and clear.

"Calm down! You keep ditching me Tommy! I will calm down when you start

treating me like a human being again." She took a deep breath wanting him to just go

away, but she could feel her jaw drop open as she processed what he asked her next.

"Jude, how much do you know about the witness protection program?"