Chapter 4

When Tommy left the studio, he had a lot of things to do. Mainly, part of Jude's birthday present was coming in today, and he had to pick it up. He had errands to run all over town to get ready for her birthday. He wanted to make her eighteenth special. He wanted her to know just how much she really meant to him. He thought about when he knew he loved her.

Things with Jude were going good. Of course they weren't taking things public, but the people close to them just knew. Since, her mom wasn't causing a fuss, they seemed to be falling into a comfortable relationship. He hoped it would stay like that for a while.

"Did you read this?" Jude asked as he walked into the studio one day.

"She's just trying to extend her fifteen minutes of fame." He responded. It was an article of Eden saying Jude was stalking her.

"I couldn't care less about her anymore. She can have Shay." She threw the magazine almost hitting Kwest.

"Hey now." He said laughing.

"Sorry. I just wish they would forget about all of that. I've moved on, everyone else should."

He couldn't help but smile at her statement. "The media will die down, you just have to wait it out." He said putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. He heard her give a happy sigh.

"We could create a scandal." She said with a hint of laughter and he knew she was joking.

"That goes against one of your mother's conditions. Remember, we have to stay out of the tabloids." He glanced up at Kwest who was trying to hold in a laugh.

They had made an agreement with Victoria that he'd always have her home by curfew, they'd cut out really late recording sessions and they'd stay out of the tabloids. With his track record, that was going to be the hardest part.

"Okay, no scandal, but…" Before she could finish they heard Georgia clear her throat.

"Tom you have a visitor." She said pointing at none other than Chas Blackburn. He was the last person he wanted to be in the same room with. And definitely didn't want to do this in front of Jude. By the time he walked back in the room, he was about ready to throw something.

"What he want?" Jude and Kwest asked at the same time.

"He wants Jude to do Music Helps."

"That's great publicity for her." Georgia offered.

"Yeah." Jude agreed. "But why are you so upset?"

He stayed quiet.

"I'm going to go talk to EJ about getting a press release ready." Georgia said leaving the room.

"I have to go call Sadie. Later." Kwest left.

It was just the two of them, and he was still being quiet. He didn't want to tell her why he was upset because he knew what she'd say.

"Hey, you're so far away. Come back to me." She said touching his face.

"Hey."

"Tommy, what's wrong? What did Chas do to make you mad?"

"He wants me to do it, too. Jude, I haven't performed in five years. And I know Chas always has an angle."

"Then don't do it for him. Do it for the cause."

"I don't have any new material, and I'm not doing a "Boyz" song."

She smiled at him. "Then do a song you helped you super hot girlfriend write. They are just as much your songs as mine."

"I'll think about it. So, tonight what's the game plan?"

"I have to be at dinner with my mom. She's insane! She lets Sadie go out, but wants me at home."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah but she's eighteen, and not dating me."

"What ever. I'll call you before I go to bed."

The next day she stormed into his office. "Why do other girls exist?" And sat down on his couch.

"What's going on, girl?"

"First Kat won't talk to me. She's acting like I stole Jamie from her. I was wrong to call Jamie away from her fashion show. I know that. She won't listen to my apology. Then, you want to know what I saw on TV while Jamie and I were hanging out after school?"

"What?"

"Eden! Saying we're doing a duet for Music Helps."

"Chas didn't mention that to me. That's it I'm pulling us both." He said reaching for the phone.

"No way, so she can tell the whole world I punked out? No, I have a plan."

"Plan what are you thinking?"

"I'll do the duet, and I will just have to show her up. She may have Shay, but I got the real prize."

"And what would that be?" He asked smirking.

"You." She said moving over to where he was sitting.

He was about to kiss her when he heard someone cough.

"Georgia." He said almost jumping out of his chair.

"Jude, press conference is this afternoon. Be here after school." She gave them a knowing look and left.

"I better get going. Maybe I can grovel to Kat some more."

"It'll get better. I'm sorry all of this is like it is."

"Don't. As long as I have you, I am fine."

He knew all of this secret stuff was getting to her. The only people that they could actually act like a couple in front of were Kwest and Sadie. She wasn't even telling her friends about them. Now all this crap with Eden was bringing Shay back up. He wished they could leave sometimes, and just be by themselves.

The day was long. He had a band to work with, plus he had to pick a song to sing. It wasn't hard to pick his favorite Jude song. 24 Hours just seemed like the natural choice. It was the first song they worked on together, when he pushed her to change the lyrics. While he was waiting on Jude to get there, he decided to give it a try.

"Oh, can you stop? You're hurting my ears." Jude came in with a smile.

Tommy couldn't help but laugh.

"What can I say? You've made it yours." She said walking over to him.

"I gotta admit it feels right. This is the same direction I wanted to take Boyz Attack right before I left the band."

"What happened? Why is there so much bad blood?" She asked touching his arm.

"Chas accused me of hogging the spot light. He never wanted to listen to my ideas. I wanted to take us out of the boy-band phase."

"I'm sorry, Tommy. It must have been hard."

"Let's just go get this over with."

After the press conference, Tommy was furious again. Chas had tricked him into a Boyz Attack performance not a solo performance.

"Tommy, it's just one song. It won't be that bad. You're a producer. Change the arrangement up. Make it different and let them hear it." Jude said when he was taking her home.

"Chas will never go for it." He felt defeated.

"Won't know if you don't try. I better go in. Kat will be here in a bit, and I'm hoping I can fix things tonight."

"Okay I'll call you later." He kissed her lightly before she got out.

He was heading home when his cell phone rang, and he saw Jude's picture. "Miss me already Harrison?" He said with a chuckle.

"Always, but I'm calling to ask a favor."

"What's up, Girl?"

"I know you are angry, but don't go get drunk tonight. Just go home and calm down. Maybe, I can get out of the house later."

"For you, anything." He hung up with a smile on his face. It was odd the effect she had on him. He really would do anything for her.

The day for Music Helps finally came. Tommy pulled out of the performance. Chas wanted them to do the whole thing like they used to, white suits and all.

"Shouldn't you be in a whit suit by now?" Sadie asked.

"I'm not doing it."

"I'm going to be nice right now because you're my sister's boyfriend. Tommy, don't disappoint your fans because your big ego is in the way. Jude and Kwest have told me a little of what is going on. Where is Jude anyway? It's about time for duet with Eden."

"She had an idea that would patch things up with Kat. She should be back by now."

"Oh well, if she doesn't show up, at least Eden can embarrass herself."

"I better call her before Georgia gets pissed." He flipped his phone open.

"Hey, I'm on my way now. Am I too late?"

"Listen." He put the phone out so she could hear Eden. "What do you think?"

"Georgia is going to kill me."

"I have a plan. Meet me backstage."

Taking the stage with the Boyz was totally different this time. This time he and Chas weren't fighting over the spotlight. They were putting the spotlight on his girl. While she was singing, he had to focus so the audience wouldn't notice how he looked at her. At the end of the song, he couldn't quit smiling.

"You loved it didn't you?" She asked smiling brightly.

His first initial thought was 'I love you.' But he caught himself before saying it. "Anything for charity." He said wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

It hadn't scared him that night making that realization. He knew Jude, even then, was it for him. It just seemed natural being with her. Picking up her main present, he hoped she would like it as much as he thought she would. He ran by his apartment to hide it. That was a challenge in its self. Jude had a habit of finding things when she wasn't even looking for them. Then it was back to the studio for a recording session with Karma.