A/N: Okay, seriously don't shoot me. I started a new fan fic. LOL. But I'm not posting it any time soon. It's still a work-in-progress and I haven't edited yet, so who knows. And plus its a few shot so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. About this story…the next chapter is my favorite (thus far), but I haven't had that much time to work on it, so…I hope sometime this week or next, if I get a chance I'll post it. Maybe. I'm at Starbucks as I write this so hopefully I have more of the next chapter finished, then I can give Carlz02 her preview. :D

I'm glad I got mixed reviews about Angie and Tom and Jude. It's nice. :D I won't say more…cause I'll get myself into trouble, but know that I appreciate it.

This chapter is sort of filler, but you also see what life has been like since the "break-up," if you will. And I don't think you should hate Tom, he's just messed up. Which you will see…some time later. Anyway, if I open my mouth up anymore I'm gonna give the whole storyline away, so I'll stop. :D

THANKS:

pwbhswriter2009: Yay for it being good! Now you don't have to wait, but obviously I didn't post this last week like I wanted too. I hope I can get the next chapter done so you guys will have it this week. I really want to finish it soon, but there's a lot that going to happen and I'm not that close to being done. But I have my fingers crossed!

scrubslover: Crying? WHAT?! I didn't mean for that to happen. But I guess it's nice to see that you are that connected to the story. LOL. :D Without saying too much, I hope that you are crying when you read the next chapter (good tears, of course…because an idea just hit me. Like right this second. LOL. And I really really like it!). You'll get and honest Tommy. I promise. I'm updating now.

love2burn4tim: Yeah…drama. But I'm not done. :D Your questions…they kind of get answered in this chapter. And the next…:D I hope you like the answers. I'm posting now.

InStrFan: I think it's your first. I honestly don't remember seeing your name before. But YAY…for new readers! Thank you! It is…it's kind of the road they chose as well. But things may change. Maybe…Maybe not. You'll just have to wait it out. :D Angie….Angie…Angie…I originally had one storyline for her, but the more I thought about it…the more it changed…so her new storyline is a mix of old and new. You might hate her, but you also might love her. I don't know. Yeah, they do suck at communication. Hopefully they'll get their act together one day. :D

JommyIS4ever: I love awesome. :D Thank you for loving this. I hope the teasers don't disappoint. Now you don't have to wait. Yes, it is! I love it! I'm posting now!

funnechick: LOL. Tom kind of bypasses the date actually. It was a generalization, but what Tom doesn't see is that he makes Jude work for the both of them. Instead of being completely and utterly forthright with his feelings and the reasons for his actions, he makes her think there is more than what meets the eye, leading Jude to overreact. So in most cases, if Tom would just come out with all of his crap from the beginning Jude would most likely believe him because she believes deep down she loves him (like crazy, romantic, passionate love). Granted I think if any woman found out who Angie was and the past that she and Tom share, I don't think any of them would be too keen on them being around each other, going to dinner, or anything that resembles more of the past they once had together. About your suggestion, I have taken it into consideration and…well, you'll see…something. But you are right, Jude (like Nine) has a hard time finding people on her level (which is why Tom is such a blessing and Kat and Jamie are her best friends). Well, things are different, but how long will it take them to get back to the same song and dance? That's what you should be wondering. :D Angie…you can read what I have to say in InStrFan's thank you. :D She will, but I can't tell you what Tom does about it. I'm updating now!

McDreamylvr: THEY WILL! I promise. I know it didn't look like it, but it will happen. SOON! LOL. Thanks for loving this though. :D I'm posting now.

mgould08: Awww…thanks so much! I love writing it! AHAHA! I wish I could update that fast, but I haven't been writing as frequently as I'd like so the updates are becoming weekly almost. I wish they were more. Sorry! I hope you like this chapter! Thanks, I'll try!

Pip'235: LOL. I think the same thing…in a way. But knowing what I know about Tom, I'm also letting him slide a bit. :D I'm updating now!

mullets: Yeah, it wasn't. But Tom is Tom and he lets things get in the way. :D I'm posting now!

madisonko: I know. Sorry. But they'll get together soon. Promise. Thanks for loving it. I'm posting now.

chocolateelephantz: Yep. To all of it. I know. :D You'll find out, but it might not be what people are thinking. LOL. The wrath of Jude is not a good thing. She does, but she had reason to. I'm posting more. :D

kikiofberlin: I hope you liked the chapter I sent you. I'm posting now and I hope you like this chapter as well. :D

miss massacre: It's cool. Thanks for loving this! LOL. I loved that chapter as well. But I love the one coming up more. I won't tell anyone. Promise. I'm updating now!

Carlz02: LOL. I'm gonna try and get it out by tomorrow, depending on how much more I write tonight. I like when they bicker too. LOL. I know what you mean. I felt bad doing it, but I thought it needed to happen. Thanks for loving this!

Princess of the Rogues: It's okay. We all get busy some time. Um, Portia?! LOL. I won't say anything else. :D YAY! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this next chapter! I'm updating now!

bbybty9: Yeah, poor Tom. He needs to get himself together. Nope, he does love her and vicec versa. But sometimes love is not enough. :D

raylo94: Thanks! My other fan fic (that is now on hiatus) had Angie in it too. I like her character in that she's still IS, but since you don't really know much about her, you can make her your own as well. LOL. Jude is Jude. :D It's understandable. Yes, but should Tom have even been on a "date" in the first place when he is the one who says he loves her? Especially someone like Angie? I LOVE TEACH ME as well. :D It's cool. :D

itzalliballi: LOL. Yeah, pretty much. I hope you made it to work on time! Thanks for reading this! YAY! Thanks! I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't own Led Zeppelin or their music. Don't own The Who or their music. Do own the fictional Toto's (record shop). I like the band Toto (the actual one) and wanted to include them, so their name became the name of a place used in this chapter.

A/N: at the bottom (It's another preview!) :D

R&R or R&L please.

THANKS MUCHO!!

"The Date"

"Jude, please. I love you," he said, his eyes and voice pleading, his grasp on her arm tightening.

She smiled another weak smile, her eyes still shining bright. "Mr. Quincy, I think you should let go. Just let it go, Tom." She pulled away from him, his hand slightly falling. "Let me go."

And with her last words, Tom knew she wasn't talking about her arm anymore.

He stood in the middle of the Milano's parking lot, as he watched his girl walk away from him, his heart dropping into his stomach, tearing a bit more.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Chapter 10

"Teach Me"

She leaned against the sticker-laden counter, hovering over a brochure. The second in a matter of minutes. This time it was Berklee. She was getting a better feel for what it would be like to actually attend her first choice. She had two more weeks before her big day. After her stint at Toto, the record shop that she and Jamie worked at, she had a lesson with the Mistress. And she needed to know exactly what she was getting herself into.

Since apparently she wasn't doing so well in that department.

Case #1: Tom Quincy.

She groaned loudly. Even his name was giving her a headache now.

Two weeks had gone by and they had pretended that the other didn't exist. At least she had. It was the only way she could deal with the fact that she had basically broken up with him.

She tried not to think about him, but he found a way to enter her thoughts at the most inopportune time. Like when she was passing classes and Kat or Jamie was talking to her. Like in her Algebra II class when she was trying to figure out complex fractions. Like on her way home, when the light had turned green and she was still sitting in the turn lane, waiting.

The only plus side to having had her experience with Tom was that she was on fire when it came to her writing. She had filled up three notebooks in the last two weeks since her infamous moment with Tom. He gave her writing more of a spark. Something it had been lacking lately. And she was grateful for that. And only that.

After walking away from Tom, she feigned a stomach ache and had everyone take their meals to go so she could go home. And she didn't cry. She wrote instead.

Now she had even more work to present for her big weekend.

Her foot tapped in time to The Who song that played over the speakers as she flipped another page.

The door opened and the bell ringed signaling another customer had entered, but she didn't look up. She didn't really care.

-+-+-+-+-+-

The top was down and the air was fresh as the sun set and Tom drove around downtown Toronto, looking for something interesting to do. School was becoming a bore since Jude started to pretend he wasn't alive. And it took every bit of restraint he had not to walk up to her in the middle of the hallway and try to work things out. Because he knew she hadn't meant what she said. That she wanted – needed – him, just as much as he needed her.

He needed her to know who he was. He needed her to know that it was hard for him to get close to anyone, especially after Angie.

Angie.

She was not helping. She insisted they eat lunch together now. She would come into his classroom after the bell rang with some amazing meal she cooked up for the two of them. And he couldn't say no.

He didn't want to be rude. What he really wanted to do was steal the lunch she had prepared and kick her out of his room, instead inviting Jude to join him. But he knew that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

Not when she wasn't talking to him, let alone breathing the same air as him.

As he sped down the boulevard, bright red lights caught his eyes. He looked over to his left and smiled.

Instantly he knew what those letters meant. And his heart soared. He felt amazing. As if Jude hadn't torn it in two.

He made a u-turn at the next light and pulled into the parking lot in the back of the large grey building. The top came up and he fixed his leather jacket before getting out of the Viper.

The door slammed shut and he made his way around the corner before pulling the glass door back and entering the business.

He was back.

-+-+-+-+-+-

A hand slammed down a plastic-wrapped vintage Led Zeppelin album. Its turquoise lettering screamed at her and she stared at it, her eyes widening. She had been looking for that album for the past two years. Exactly how long she had been working at Toto. She hesitantly picked it up, examining the cover before exclaiming at the finder.

"Oh. My. God. You found it!" she screamed excitedly. "I hate-" she continued as she looked up at the customer before her face fell. "–you."

Tom Quincy stared back at her, smiling widely.

When he saw a semblance of familiarity at the register of Toto, he thought it was his lucky day. He had hope that he could fix the mess he had made and show Jude just how much she meant to him. But with her words, Jude managed to make Tom's hope slip away slightly. He knew she hadn't been talking directly about him, but that didn't mean it hadn't hurt.

Jude swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving Tom's smiling face. He watched as she cleared her throat, haphazardly threw whatever it was she was looking at underneath the counter, and moved towards the cash register. "Let me ring this up so you can get on with your day."

She couldn't believe Tom was at her work. Tom, her teacher. The same Tom who had once upon a time come close to being more than just her teacher.

Tom walked towards the register and placed his hand over the keys. "Jude."

She gazed at his hand as it smacked against her register. She heard her name and instinctively knew what to say. "That's my name. Don't wear it out," she responded as she smiled at him.

She knew she shouldn't act the way she was, juvenile as it may have been, but she didn't know how else to act. She had spent the last few weeks as if Tom didn't exist, yet here he was standing in front her, very much existing, very much a part of her life.

The smile on Tom's face fell slightly and he took his hand off of the register as Jude scanned the label on the vinyl. "And I wanted to have an adult conversation about this," he muttered.

Jude looked up from the register and one eyebrow rose slightly. "An ADULT conversation?" she started. "Well, that doesn't include me, does it? I'm just a kid."

He knew he shouldn't have brought up the age thing again, but it was hard because the way she continued to act disproved the 'age is just a number' theory. She was very much a kid and he was very much an adult.

Tom sighed heavily as he placed both of his hands against the counter and leaned on them, staring her in the face. "Jude."

Jude looked down at register quickly and looked at the screen. "That'll be 326.64."

She knew the more she looked at him, gazed at him, glanced at him, the easier it would be to give in to whatever lame story or excuse he'd throw at her. But what if he didn't have a story or an excuse? Maybe he was just that complicated. Maybe this was his truth.

Tom clenched his jaw slightly and stopped leaning on the counter long enough to reach around to his back pocket and pull out his wallet. He opened it quickly, pulling out one of the numerous plastic cards and shoving it into Jude's face. "Here."

Jude's eyes widened and she backed up slightly, taking the card with her. She glanced at it and smirked before looking up at Tom. "Oh, a credit card. How adult."

Tom rolled his eyes angrily and clenched his jaw once more. "Jude."

She ignored him, instead sliding the card on the keyboard of the register. The register beeped and out printed a receipt. Jude pulled a pen from her back pocket and hastily placed the receipt and the pen on the counter in front of Tom. "Can I have your signature here?"

Tom picked the pen up off the counter and signed a squiggle as Jude placed the rare vinyl in a plastic bag. She placed the bag on the counter and took the receipt and pen, placing the slip of paper in her drawer and the pen in her pocket. "Here you go. Thanks for stopping by. Don't bother coming back again," her voice full of something that neither one could place; anger or hurt, both possibilities.

Tom picked up the bag and held it in his hand as he resumed leaning against the counter. "Jude."

Jude looked up suddenly, her eyes glaring at him. "Will you seriously stop saying my name like that?" she asked through clenched teeth.

She hated when people said her name with no emotion. She hated when people didn't have any emotion and maybe that's why Tom was beginning to grate on her nerves. He only showed her something when she pushed him far enough. But she was done pushing.

Tom sighed heavily, taking a quick glance away. Just as quickly he turned and leaned against the counter even farther, getting closer to Jude's face. She barely backed up. "This is how it's gonna be?" he asked lowly.

Jude leaned forward slightly, her face becoming inches away from Tom's. "Yep, I think this is how it's gonna be," she said quietly as she looked Tom in eyes. Tom backed up suddenly, leaving Jude to ponder his next move.

"Fine," he said as he walked backwards towards the exit.

Jude watched him as he inched towards the door, watching her. She walked around the counter and waved at him. "I'll see you at school, Mr. Quincy," she announced loudly. As he passed the clearance rack, she walked towards him, in need of some assurance. "You are still gonna be my Advanced Comp. teacher, right?"

Tom stopped short of running into the rack and looked at her before walking up to her. "I wouldn't dream of anyone else doing it justice," he responded shrugging.

Jude nodded slightly before looking up at Tom. "Good. Maybe you'll do your job andTeach Me something," she responded lowly.

Maybe she wasn't done pushing. Underneath her cold exterior of the last few weeks was the same Jude that still wanted the same things. The Tom that had told her what she meant to him and the hope she had had for their fledging relationship. But when and if that same Jude would come out again was a different story.

Tom smirked wildly. Jude's eyes narrowed because she knew under normal circumstances, she would have gone crazy for him. She had gone crazy for him. But not now. She couldn't. He leaned towards her, her ear next to his mouth. Jude slightly backed her head away from him, but he didn't fight it. "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head about things you don't understand. You can bet I'll teach you something."

Jude swallowed hard, her voice in her throat. She knew he was not talking about Advanced Comp. lessons anymore.

But then had she really been talking about them either? Yeah, didn't think so.

Jude cleared her throat and backed away from Tom. "Well, I'm glad we got that out in our very adult conversation," she muttered. Tom glanced at her and smiled slightly. She didn't return the gesture. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head slightly and Tom took his cue.

He turned and walked out the glass door, the bell ringing loudly signaling his exit.

Jude sighed heavily. "Goodbye, Mr. Quincy," she whispered as she watched him get smaller and smaller through the clear door.

And despite how victorious Jude felt at that very moment, she also couldn't help but feel that she had made an enormous mistake.

-+-+-+-+-+-

He made it out to his Viper, placing the album on his passenger seat before slamming his hands down on this steering wheel. He had been close and he had seen the same Jude he had fallen in love with, even if she only appeared for a split second.

"Good. Maybe you'll do your job and Teach Me something."

That was his Jude.

And it was in that moment that Tom Quincy found in the corner of his broken and torn heart, a plan. A plan that would make Jude his. His one and only.

Every day. Forever.

A/N:Preview:

Chapter 11

"The Birthday"

It had been five weeks since Jude and Tom talked at her work and that feeling she had about making a big mistake turned out to be right.

-+-+-+-+-+-

His plan had been building itself up since the moment his Viper left Toto's parking lot. And it had come to this. This day. He was not about to turn back now.

-+-+-+-+-+-

She batted her eyes and pouted once before smiling at the sight in front of her.

Tonight was going to be fun.

-+-+-+-+-+-

He checked his watch again. Two minutes had passed.

It was going to be a long night.

-+-+-+-+-+-

It was him.

Her wish was him.

All of him.

She inhaled deeply, opened her mouth and blew.

-+-+-+-+-+-

He leaned against his car for a second, listening for anything that would give away his presence.

Nothing.

Nothing but the beat of his heart.

-+-+-+-+-+-

So he looked around for something. Anything to help him.

He looked down and saw them.

Pebbles.

-+-+-+-+-+-

She looked around her, thinking it might have been someone's left out phone.

But nothing.

Then she heard it again.

Tink!

It wasn't a phone.

-+-+-+-+-+-

A/N 2: We are about a 1/3 of the way into the story. :D