The song in this is Broken by Amy Lee and Seether. Please read and if you like the story review. It will make me post sooner. ENJOY!

Chapter 4

Not Now or Maybe Not Ever

"Hey there. I finally get you alone." She looked up from her journal and gave a small tight smile, even though she was not happy at being interrupted.

"Hey." She looked down at her journal again hoping he would get the hint. He sat down next to her, just a little too close. She looked back at him and he had a small grin on his face.

"So Jude Harrison how are you enjoying your first tour?" She put her journal and pen down resignedly.

"It's been good. A lot to take in." He nodded with all the wisdom of his 19 years. She wanted to roll her eyes, but controlled herself. He continued talking about his experiences on tour, and she started to zone out, her thoughts back to the song she had been working on. He didn't seem to notice how quiet she had gotten. Anyone who really knew Jude, knew she wasn't the silent type. Her ears perked up when he mentioned Tommy's name.

"Hey I heard you dated Shay for a while." She nodded. "Did you ever meet his aunt?"

"You mean Portia? No..."

"She's a nice girl. I think you'd like her. You know she and Tommy got married? It's supposed to be all hush hush though. You know bad for the Boyz Attack image and all that."

"So why isn't she here?" She found herself asking, even as she kicked herself for encouraging him.

"She got offered the chance to do a 4 month design class in Paris. Big D wouldn't let her refuse it, even though she wanted to stay with Tommy. But enough about boring married couples." He gave her a smile that was supposed to be charming, but she found slightly plastic. "How about you and me grab a bite to eat later?" She tried to look regretful. She really did.

"Look Chaz you seem like a nice guy, but the thing is...I don't date industry guys. Things just get too complicated."

"Come on you can make an exception. I think we could have some fun together." He cajoled. He never took 'no' for an answer. She shook her head.

"I just want to concentrate on my music right now. I mean I'm just starting out and there's already so much to take in."

"Can we at least hang out as friends?" She didn't know how to say no to that.

"Sure of course." He would get to her, he knew. He had months to work on her and he could be patient when he wanted to be.

Then You Found Me

It was about 11 at night when Tommy came back to the hotel. He had gotten bored at the bar, the girls holding no interest for him and just wanted to go back to his room. As he walked by one of the conference room's he heard music playing. Curious, he opened the door to investigate. This was one of the rooms the hotel had let them use to practice, so all the tables and chairs had been stacked to one side. She sat on the floor with a pen in her mouth, looking over a journal. Instrumental music he had never heard played on the laptop next to her. She took the pen out of her mouth and started to sing the lyrics to one part of the song.

The worst is over now and we can breath again.

I want to hold you high and steal my pain ...away...

there's so much left to learn

and no one left to fight

I want to hold you high and steal my pain

She stopped singing and started to write again. Her voice had stunned him for a second. Here was a girl who didn't need gimmicks. He found himself walking into the room, even though he usually avoided her. She had never warmed up to him, had an unnatural dislike even.

"Hey." He said as he walked closer. She looked up her big eyes startled.

"You scared the crap out of me."

"Sorry...What are you doing here by yourself?" She sighed frustrated, as he sat down next to her.

"Damn Spied was supposed to help me finish this song, but he ran off with J.P. And the guys. Something about topless dancers. Now that I have it written and the instrumental done, it's driving me crazy that I can't do the vocals."

"Why can't you do the vocals? What you just sang sounded great." She gave him a small smile.

"Thanks...It's a duet actually."

"Can I help?" She gave him a doubting look. He knew he should be offended, but at least this was something different to do.

"It's not really your style..."

"How do you know what my style is?" He asked, irritation leaking through. She had judged him, the minute she had walked onto their tour.

"Right I don't... Well I guess it can't hurt if you want to try." She handed him the journal and pointed to his part. She played the instrumental on the laptop again, so he could hear it as he scanned the words.

"Got it?" She asked. He nodded and stood up, as she hit play again.

(Him)

I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh

I want to hold you high and steal your pain... away...

I keep your photograph; and I know it serves me well

I want to hold you high and steal your pain

Her eyes widened at his voice. He could sing?! And he was actually feeling the lyrics.

"How did that feel?" She asked when he stopped after his first part.

"Good...I think you should slow it down a little though.. It's supposed to be a rock ballad right?" She frowned, but went to the computer to try it out. He was right she realized as she ran through the lyrics mixed with the instrumental in her head. She replayed it with the change and they sang the chorus together.

(Both)

Because I'm broken when I'm lonesome

And I don't feel right when you're gone away

(Him)

You've gone away...

You don't feel me here... anymore...

(Her)

The worst is over now

And we can breathe again

I wanna hold you high and steal my pain...away...

There's so much left to learn

And no one left to fight

I want to hold you high and steal your pain

(Both)

Cause I'm broken when I'm open

And I don't feel like I am strong enough

Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome

And I don't feel right when your gone away

(Both)

Cause I'm broken when I'm open

And I don't feel like I am strong enough

Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome

And I don't feel right when your gone away

(Both)

Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome

And I don't feel right when you're gone...(Him) away...

They rehearsed it couple more times before making changes here and there. At one point he actually picked up her guitar and suggested a little chord change. She nodded her agreement, surprised again, that he could actually play an instrument. She made him sing it a few dozen more times and he hadn't complained. He asked her what the song was about, because it seemed so dark and sad. She told him how her best friend Jamie had lost his girlfriend Patsy in an accident 6 months ago. She had been driving drunk and run straight into a concrete bridge support. Jamie had been so torn up about not being able to help Patsy with her drug and alcohol problem. He had blamed himself for a long time.

Friends With a Girl

Later on in the night after they had completed Broken they sat on the carpet, relaxing, energy drained, but in a good way. Water bottles were thrown all over the place.

"Can I ask you something?" She looked over waiting for him to continue.

"Why do you hate me specifically? I mean you seem to get along fine with the rest of my band now, so it's not the boy-bander thing. I mean what did I ever do to you? Ever since that first day..." She sighed and looked chagrined.

"You're right. I've been bitchy to you. I'm sorry."

"But why?"

"You'll think its totally lame." He just looked at her until she continued. "My sister Sadie has been in love with you since you sang your first cheesy song. She has all your posters on her bedroom walls and she plays your music all the time. She sang Pick Up the Pieces until my ears bled. She can't sing." He started laughing. "You'd like her. She's a blond cheerleader Barbie, just your type." He eyed her and thought he liked a different blond type better.

"Wait Sexy Sadie and..." She interrupted him, before he could say the hated phrase.

"Don't even say it."

"Why? What will you do?" She glared at him. "Hey...Jude..." He sang. She tackled him to the carpet, straddling him, tickling him mercilessly. He caught her wrists and their eyes met. He rolled her off of him and hovered over her, leaning down to capture her lips. The merest brush sent, electricity dancing between them, before she rolled away from him, sitting up. She shook her head trying to clear it a little.

"I'm not doing this with you Tommy." He looked at her in puzzlement, a little frustrated she hadn't given in like every other girl he met. "Look. You've been great helping me out tonight. It's actually been fun hanging out with you and who knew you could really sing or play the guitar." She teased. "But... I'm not looking to be anyone's one night stand. I don't date industry guys anymore, especially not notorious players." That was fair, he had done things to deserve his reputation.

"So what do you want?"

"I'd like it if we could be friends?" She suggested. Friends with a girl? He had never had one of those before, just ones he slept with and now an accidental wife. He had had a surprisingly good time with Jude tonight and he had loved making music with her.

"I guess I could try the friend thing. What was that about dating industry guys anymore?" Jude turned a light shade of pink.

"I'm surprised D didn't tell you" Now he was intrigued. He knew there had to be a good story behind this. "A couple of years ago I was interning at G-Major before I got my contract and I met his nephew Shay." Tommy's eyes widened when he made the connection.

"Wait that was you? You're the girl who broke Shay Shay's heart?!" She rolled her eyes. Tommy agreed. Shay had always rubbed him wrong, maybe because they were too much alike.

"He cheated on me with that bleached blond bimbo Eden, who couldn't hit a high note if a cobra bit her on the ass. I don't know how he gets off playing the poor dumped boyfriend." Tommy understood why she wouldn't put herself in that position again. Jude apparently learned her lessons well.

"He did write that song for you." She snickered.

"I can't believe that hit #2." She had never thought Shay's music very original or inspired and he didn't usually write his own stuff.

"It's the image." She looked over at him and tried not to smirk, both of them knowing what she was thinking.

"So can I ask you a question?" He shrugged. "Do you ever want to do something different?" He had seemed to like working on this rock song with her a lot.

"You mean music wise?" She nodded.

"I've thought about changing our sound, but Chaz doesn't want to. Why mess with a good thing and all that. This pop crap is getting old." He admitted.

"What about going solo?" He looked over and found himself telling her truths that he had never told anyone.

"I've thought about that too, but I don't know...This is all I've known."

"Hey you've proved tonight you can sing."

"I don't know how my fans will like a different approach." Jude grinned.

"Well I've got an idea." She picked up the CD they had made, waving it in front of him. "Back home my friend Jamie interns at this small radio station. They have a open mic. block every Sunday. If a song that gets sent in is good, listeners call in and request it. So this is the perfect way to find out if people would like you without the bandanna." She smiled at him.

"But I'm under contract..."

"We won't tell anyone it was you."

"It's your song. You can do anything you want to, with it."

"Aww come on. You know you're curious." He shrugged as if he didn't care. On the inside he was a little excited about the whole idea. He didn't really think about the song again though until 3 weeks later.