Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy.

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Chapter 13

When they arrived at G Major, this first thing they heard was Darius' voice booming. "T, Jude, my office now."

"It took Jude back to when Darius was trying to get her to take four months off before her second album.

Jude couldn't even listen to the teacher in her last class. She had a song in her head and couldn't wait to get to Tommy. She barely acknowledged Spied as she was rushing out of school. She went straight to where she knew he'd be when she got to G Major.

"I gotta start locking that door." He said when she threw him some red licorice.

"I'd probably just kick it down."

"They're waiting for you."

"They?"

"Darius and Liam. I don't know what it's about. I've been in here with Mason all day."

"Wish me luck."

The meeting was pretty much Jude's worst nightmare. They wanted to put her on the backburner, and take four to five months off then they'd book her in the for the second album. Darius felt like people didn't take her seriously and felt like time off would hype her up. She felt like she was being pushed out of G Major.

She went back to Tommy after the meeting. She felt like she was going to cry. "I know you're busy, but can I have a minute?"

"Mason, take a fifteen minute break. What's wrong?"

"They want me to take four to five months off. Darius is all like in with the new and out with the old."

"He's your manager and he wants you to put you on the back burner?"

"Yeah, Looks like. Now I have to go home and suffer through "family" dinner with my dysfunctional family. You gonna be here late?"

"Yeah. I have a meeting with them after I finish up with Mason."

"Call me tonight?"

"Of Course."

Family dinner was a disaster from the beginning. Her mother invited her divorce lawyer, and her parents were fighting over who should be in charge of Jude's money. Listening to them argue, Jude's crazy mind came up with the perfect idea. She would release a bootleg. She called Tommy, but only got his voice mail. "Spied, meet me at G Major." She needed someone to back her up when she pitched her idea to Darius.

She thought the fighting would stop with the divorce, but she was wrong. Her parents were still arguing when she got home. The only good part of her day was Darius agreeing to let her have three hours of studio time to record one song. The bad part was Liam would only give her seven am the next morning. At least she had her music to tone out the argument going on inside the house. She waited for Tommy to call, but he never did. She felt like the world was working against her.

The next morning, Tommy was already there waiting on her when she got to the studio. "Last time I saw Saturday morning it was still Friday night. You better have something good, Harrison."

"Yeah I do. I have two parents tearing each other apart, a four month hiatus, and now that you're corporate king of all music everywhere, no boyfriend. The world is working against me."

"It's a promotion. That is what my meeting with them was about. You've got me here now. What do you want to do?"

"Scream."

"Booths sound proof."

Jude started screaming and even got Tommy to join in. It finally felt like them again. She just hoped they could pull something off because she had to record. It was going to be the only way to spend time with Tommy.

Three hours went by and nothing was accomplished. Liam came in and got into an argument with Tommy. Jude went to Liam hoping to smooth things over, but only left more pissed off.

"Anything I need to know before I go in there?" She knew Tommy wanted to help.

"Don't. It won't help if you spew anymore testosterone and pee all over each other." She didn't think he should jeopardize his job anymore than he had to.

"Dude, for real?" Spied asked, and they just looked at him.

"What are you gonna do then?"

"Call MTV because this girl is joining the real world and getting herself a crib." She decided that's what she needed a place to chill out, write music, and jam with her band.

All the places she found in the paper were expensive, and she wasn't able to make her dad see why she needed a place. So, when Spied found a place with reasonable rent, Jude went to her mom for the money. There for making Victoria in charge of her trust.

"So, I found a place. Well, really Spied did." Jude told Tommy that night on the phone.

"Really. That was quick."

"Yeah, he's already sending word out that we are going to jam tomorrow. But I'm not sure if I like what I did though."

"And that would be?"

"I made mom in charge of my money. She agreed to give me rent money. Dad told me to use the basement at home."

"Your dad will understand and come around. I know you said they were fighting again."

"Yeah, mom invited her divorce lawyer to family dinner. Then ambushed dad about my trust. So, dad might not come around that soon. I just needed to do something. If I can't go to G Major everyday, I need somewhere to go."

"I understand. I have an idea. Why don't we record the bootleg tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Look I am sorry I didn't call you last night. Darius had me…"

"Tommy, don't. You don't have to explain anything to me. I don't want to be that kind of girlfriend. I trust you."

"Good, and I don't want to do anything to break that trust. So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow. I should get some sleep. I didn't get much last night."

"Okay, goodnight."

"Hey, Tommy." She said before he could hang up.

"Yeah, girl?"

"I love you."

She heard him chuckle. "I love you, too."

The next day was a blast. Jude had forgotten how fun it was just to jam and let loose with her band. Spied and the boys were really taking care of her. They had invited a crowd of people. She was enjoying it all, but when Tommy got there, she had a smile permanently on her face.

"It's a nice space. I like it." Tommy told her after everyone was gone.

"Yeah. It feels right... Like a place where anything can happen."

"You know, you're a full-fledged artist now. You fight hard, and pretty soon you won't need anyone else."

"I wouldn't have thought about doing the bootleg here. That was your idea."

"We got a lot more in us, huh?"

Jude nodded.

"You know this bootleg sounds way better than it ever could have sound in the studio."

"You think?"

"Yeah. We'll get this online, get it to Darius, and get the two of us back in the studio soon."

"But until then if the door here is ever locked."

"I'll just kick it down."

Jude couldn't help but hug him. They were actually alone. "Did you see the couch?"

"Yeah."

She looked down and then back at him, he was just smiling. "You want to go try it out?"

"Thought you'd never ask." He smirked as they headed back inside.

Jude collapsed into the chair in Tommy's office. "How could he do this?" They'd just left the meeting with Darius.

"He's the boss."

"I know but do you see what he is doing? He gives us opposite schedules so we don't get to see each other. He's still trying to keep us apart."

"Girl, it's just a week. It won't be a problem."

Jude couldn't help but whine. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too. Look on the bright side, you'll be here with all your friends, and I will be in Montreal with Karma. I might loose my mind. Speaking of I need to get to studio B to meet with her."

"Okay. I love you." She gave a pout that made Tommy laugh.

"I love you too, girl. More than you'll ever know." He said before kissing her. It was meant to be a sweet soft kiss, but with what happened the night before, and with the fact they were going to be separated for a week, the kiss was full of passion.

"Okay you need to get to work." She said pulling back.

"Yep. While I'm gone, work on the presentation for your album, and we'll pitch Darius when I get back."

"Okay." She smiled as he walked out of his office. She was going to miss him like crazy.

"Hey little sis. Why do you look all dreamy?" Sadie asked walking in the room.

"Huh?"

"You looked like you were somewhere else."

"Oh yeah I was somewhere where Darius doesn't exist."

"Why? What did he do now?"

"He booked me a show every night for the next week around town."

"Oh that evil manager of yours." Sadie said sarcastically.

"And is sending Tommy to Montreal with Karma for the next week."

"Ouch, that is evil."

"It's like he is still trying to keep us apart."

Sadie could see something different in Jude, but she couldn't figure out what it was. "Jude, did something happen between you and Tom?"

"No. Why do you ask?" Jude wasn't lying, nothing had really happened.

"Are you sure? You don't have to lie. You're practically eighteen."

Jude knew she had to talk to someone. "I'm not lying. Nothing really happened. Last night Tommy came over after working with Karma. We ate, watched some TV, and went to sleep on the couch. But we woke up, and things got a little heated, but he pulled way and went upstairs to take a shower."

"Thank god. I would have never sat on that couch again. But that sounds just like any other night. What happened different last night?"

"After his shower, I was in my room, and we talked. He told me he wasn't pulling back from me. Then we were so close, Sades."

"But what?"

"Well, he sort of didn't have…. He didn't have protection."

"Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry sweetie. And you were hoping.."

Jude finished her thought. "I was hoping that he and I would have a chance to finish what we started, but he leaves this afternoon for Montreal for a week."

Sadie gave Jude an encouraging hug. "It's only a week, Sweetie."

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