A/N: Okay, first things first. Sorry. I know it hasn't been that long, but I think with school and work and reading for my 2 lit classes and everything, I felt like I hadn't written on this thing for like months. Literally.

And then I was like, "Oh my gosh. I have to post something or tell them that I'll get around to it." And then I thought about it and I was like, "Wait. It's only been like a week or two. I can finish this and post the chapter today, if I work really hard."

So…I've been working my butt off since this morning. Kind of. Sort of. I was also playing around with screen caps (for a website I don't even know if I'm making anymore), Photoshop, trying to find a damn website that had short track live feed (only to realize it doesn't start until later tonight!), and then posting on Apolo sites. So this was kind of in between all that. LOL. But then I got tired, so I decided not to post it until right now.

But I think it worked out since I knew what was going to happen…I just had to make it happen, you know. And I will say, I'm kind of happy with the ending. :P I guess you'll just have to read to know what happens.

And I think that's it. I did the thanks last this time so I could actually remember if I missed anything. So I hope it worked. I have a little bit written for the next chapter and as I sit here, I realize that I had an idea about the next chapter from like a month ago and that I need to actually put that in there. I think it might make some of you happy…who knows?

Okay, I'll stop rambling (chalk it up to me being really tired :D). Here's the new chapter!

THANKS:

JommyIS4ever: LOL. It's okay. I understand. Life happens. Thank you! It did in a way…just a way for them to kind of get over all this and start thinking about a future. LOL. I hope. Um, should I be honest? LOL. I have 50 (altogether). I think that's on the extreme, but I might make it 45. Not that that really does anything. I just kind of see every chapter as needed at this point, but you never know…I might be able to meld some together. I originally had 30, but then I added some stuff and they tacked on about 10 chapters a piece. But I still don't see everything as concrete. So I guess we'll have to see. :D

love2burn4tim: Thank you! They are. LOL. And as you'll see it only gets worse from there. Ooops. I wrote that before I read the next part of your review. LOL. Um, yeah. I guess I should say that just because there's stuff in the way, that doesn't mean that they won't make it through it. Um, yeah. LOL. I'm posting now!

alexzrules: Yay! Thanks. LOL. I agree. AHAHA. You never know. ;D I think the Kwest hater's club is still accepting applications if you want to join. :D I'm posting now!

scrubslover: It was bound to happen, I think. LOL. I'm glad you loved it. Now you don't have to wait anymore. Here it is.

101ISFAN: LOL! I think that's a good thing…but it makes me a little nervous for when I post a preview in the next chapter though. LOL. I won't say anything though…but it's um, you know,that chapter. ;D I'm hurrying! Promise. I'm posting now!

miss massacre: LOL. It's okay. I totally understand. Thank you. I know. They would have gotten more than just suspensions. LOL. I'm sorry you don't like him. Maybe he'll redeem himself one day. Who knows? I'm posting.

Pip'235: LMAO! That's something I've never heard used to describe Kwest, but I like it! It's totally understandable…it's life. It had that affect, you know. LOL. He is an idiot for lack of a better word (I think Jude uses the better ones in this chapter. ;D). Maybe on both points. :D LOL. Now I see the tired part enter the story…pregnant zebra, huh? LOL. It's being posted now! Uh, yeah! Read my response two thanks up, there you go…2 chapters! Plus, I think I've waited long enough, don't you think? Me thinks so. :D

brandnewx3: LOL. A few still. Thank you! Ahaha…yes, she is. He's kind of getting on my nerves too cause I'm so used to writing him being Tom's wing man with his fountain of past Tommy knowledge and witty comments. Now I think I'm using the fountain in a draining way. LOL. Jealousy? Why I…what would make you think that:D LOL. So true. But this time, there are more witnesses, unless he takes him out back, which at this point might be a good idea. One less character for me to write about. LOL.

Jessie's girl15: I'm posting now! Thank you for loving it!

bbybty9: I'm sorry! It kind of has to happen since she already called him. LOL. She won't break it off with Tom in this chapter. Promise. I know. I'm sorry for that too. You can kill them when I'm done with them. Promise. LOL.

mandy1485: LOL. I know, but imagine if I had left them together for 10 more minutes? Come on….something would have happened. LOL. I'm posting now!

Camsma: THANK YOU! She just might. I know…me neither. LOL. That would be kind of funny if they did. Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind. But it won't happen. Cause Angie has got…um, yeah. :D Me too. I'm posting now!

madisonko: Thank you! I'm posting now!

Carlz02: I know! Thank goodness! Eww…oh, well that's good. LOL. AHAHA. Nice. I won't tell your brother. Promise. Instant Star sisterhood, remember:D I'm glad. Sounds like something he'd say. At least in this story. LOL. I know. It gets annoying when you're rooting for the opposite of what he wants. LOL. I hope your guesses are right! Thank you for loving this.

Raylo94: Thank you! Yeah, I think it was a bit of a surprise. Just what I like. :D Jonathan. Yeah, I guess I should say…he isn't who everyone thinks he is. At least not who Jude thinks he is. :D Just thought I throw that out there. LOL.

Disclaimer: I don't own Led Zeppelin, Kashmir (such an amazing song :D). I do own Ringo, the stuffed dog. Oh yeah…there's a lot more cussing than normal in this chapter. But I think when you read it, you might understand.

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

R&R or R&L please.

THANKS MUCHO!!

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Chapter 18

"Keeping Up Appearances (Part 1)"

She lay on her bed, thinking of the two songs she wanted to sing for her talent show performance. Neither one stood out in her mind. It was beyond frustrating.

She sat up suddenly, remembering something else.

The party.

She needed a date.

- - - - -

He strained his ear to hear what was disturbing his flow. Led Zeppelin flowed through the Bose speakers into his garage where he was working out.

He held the free weight in midair, waiting for the noise to make another appearance.

It rang loudly.

It was his phone.

The free weight crashed against the metal stand and Tom got off the bench reluctantly.

He didn't like answering his phone. It was, as of late, only causing problems.

He walked over to the table nearest the door that led back into his house and glanced at his phone, the screen lighting up.

He gazed at the number and smiled.

He picked it up, opening the phone and placed it to his ear.

"Hey," he said, walking towards the speakers and turning them down slightly. Kashmir could wait for a few minutes.

"Hi."

"So how did your parents take your suspension?"

She bit her bottom lip, wondering what would be the appropriate answer to his question. "Um, they don't know. I mastered the Harrison signature a long time ago, Quincy. Plus, I am legal."

One eyebrow rose significantly as he sat on top of his washing machine, the lid making a slight pop from the pressure of his weight. "Ohh, you were one of those."

"What?!" she asked, her brow furrowing. She leaned back against her headboard and sighed.

"You were rebellious."

Bingo, she thought. She smiled widely. "Well, someone had to. I had perfect Sadie on my side. Someone had to shake things up."

"Gotcha," he said, nodding to the empty garage.

"I chalk it up to the music," she responded, shrugging. "Rock 'n' roll makes you do bad things," she finished, her voice low.

A chill went down his spine at the tone of her voice. "So I've heard," he said weakly.

"Yep," she said, a smirk growing on her face. She knew she had affected him and it felt great.

He cleared his throat trying to regain his composure. "So…"

Jude sat up straight. "Oh, the reason I was calling…"

"Yeah."

Jude bit her bottom lip, trying to be cute, even when there was no one in the room besides her stuffed dog, Ringo. "What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked in a sing-song voice.

He is so going to love me, she thought.

He coughed, slightly choking on his breath. How was he going to tell her? What was he going to say? Hey babe, I'm a complete jackass because I'm hanging out with Angie, not you. You remember, my former fiancé, woman who killed our kid – No. That wasn't going to work even if it was the truth. "I'm busy," he responded. "So whatever you were thinking…I can't."

Her eyes widened.Really specific, Tom. Thanks, she thought. "Oh," she started. She heavily sighed and then breathed deep, thinking she'd need the courage to bite her tongue. "Well then, I'll let you go," she continued, nodding. "So you can rest up for…whatever…you're doing tomorrow."

He closed his eyes, and rubbed his temple with his forefinger and his thumb, already able to tell that a headache was coming. "Jude, don't do this."

She let out a sardonic chuckle. "I'm not. You did."

Click!

She hung up on him.

Tom sat on his washer, no longer worrying about his head, looking out into his garage, thinking how she had just hung up on him because no one had ever hung up on him.

Ever.

He was left with the pounding in his head, the dial tone on his phone and the faint sound of Kashmir from his speakers.

- - - - -

FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

That's all she could think after slamming her phone down on her bed, letting it bounce off and onto the floor.

Fuck. Him.

A frustrated scream left Jude's lips as she dramatically fell onto the bed she had just left. This was not how her suspension was supposed to go. It had been a breeze since Monday and she thought today was going to solidify all the hope she had had. It was suppose to end in what some may have called their first date.

If the some were okay with teachers and their students dating.

Yeah, right.

Sure.

She screamed again into her comforter this time, her head beginning to ache the more she deprived it of oxygen.

She slid off her bed and leaned against the foot of it.

It was official.

Her boyfriend sucked.

She wasn't even mad that he had told her they couldn't hang out.

Okay, that was a lie. It was part of it.

But now, the more she thought about it, it was the fact that he was so vague in his details. Like he couldn't tell her for fear of – Oh.

Her face heated at the thought.

Fucking ass.

Kwest.

It was all his fault. It was something he had done. She was sure of it. But what had he done?

That was the question.

Jude leaned against her bed, for what felt like forever, her butt beginning to get numb. She couldn't place it.

Then it hit her.

He had been against their relationship since the moment he walked into Tom's house.

Which meant only one thing.

He had to be at least a partial advocate for a former Tom relationship.

With Angie.

Yeah, it was official.

Her boyfriend was the biggest dumbass ever.

He was hanging out with Angie. Or Kwest and Angie.

Either way, he couldn't – or wouldn't – tell her.

She slammed her hands against the rug underneath her.

Mother fuckin' Tom Quincy.

- - - - -

She fucking hung up on me! he thought.

His head began to spin as the anger began to grow within him.

She had hung up on him.

But he was a grown man.

He could take it.

Like a big boy.

If that's how she wanted to act, then fine. He would ignore her. He would deal with her later. He could –

He picked up the phone sitting next to him on the washer and hit speed dial. He placed the phone up to his ear and listened as the other line rang.

"Hey it's Jude. The beep's coming. I hope you know what to do."

So much for acting like a big boy.

He let out an exasperated sigh, waiting for the beep to come. Because he was smart and knew what to do.

Most of the time.

Like now.

He was groveling.

Good boy.

"Jude, I-" he started. But words had left him in a horrible place. He couldn't think of anything to say that would make up for what he had done. He sighed heavily and started again.

"I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. Worse than an idiot. I bet there a bunch of adjectives and nouns that you are using to describe me right now, none of which could be used in class," he continued, nervously chuckling as he finished.

Nice, Tom. Real nice, he thought, shaking his head.

He brought his thumb and index finger back to his temple and began to rub. "What I'm trying to say is…we can't hang out tomorrow because…" he began. He sighed heavily, knowing he had to tell her. "Because Kwest asked me if I would go to this music thing at his work, G-Major, with Angie. And he had already told her I was going, so I kind of had to."

He cringed silently as if he was waiting for a response. But nothing came, just the wind blowing against his metal garage door. He sighed again and continued.

"Please don't be mad, Jude. I know that's asking a lot seeing as how I would probably be livid if you hung out with someone who represented Angie. But know that I'm doing this for us. We have to keep up appearances somehow. I mean, I don't think anyone would believe either one of us if we said that we weren't hanging out with anyone. I know that's not an excuse. I just want you to know that I didn't really want to do this and that I would rather be there with you. I'll be thinking of you all day tomorrow. I promise."

He sighed heavily, deciding to end his message before he said anything else he'd regret later.

"I love you, Jude. Don't ever doubt that. I love you. Bye. Please call me back."

Beep.

- - - - -

She paced around her room, a scrap of paper in her hands, her father's scrawl written on it.

It was a number. A phone number to be exact.

She looked at the clock on her bedside table and counted to five.

She could do this.

She could be strong.

It wasn't a date. They were just friends.

She didn't want to go alone and she didn't want to ask Jamie or Kat to come with her. She didn't have enough tickets.

But she knew she was going.

She wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.

And if this didn't work, she had a last resort.

Her father.

But she didn't really want to go with him.

So she hoped this worked.

Especially since her mother was already making wedding plans in the back of her head. She told her parents it was nothing.

But nothing was always a something with a Harrison.

Jude shook her head, trying to get the swarm of thoughts to leave her head.

And they did.

All except one.

The one that kept saying…call him.

Just ask.

She took a deep breath.

That's exactly what she was going to do.

She punched in the numbers from the scrap of paper into the phone, her breath in her throat.

She pressed the final number, 7, and brought the silver phone to her ear.

Don't pick up, don't pick up, don't pick up, don't-

"Hey, you've reached Jonathan. You know what to do."

Pick up, she thought.

"Um, hi. This message is for Jonathan," Jude started. It came out like every other message she had left when she was at Toto.

When she was at work.

Well, this wasn't one of those times.

"Hey, you've got me. What's up?"

Shit. He picked up, she thought. She racked her brain, trying to think of anything to say that didn't make her look like a big loser than she had already put on.

"Hi. It's Jude. I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Stuart's daughter?"

Jonathan leaned back in his director's chair, his computer screen flashing before his eyes. He turned the laptop away from him, the glare beginning to distract him from the now important conversation he was having.

It was Jude.

And he had hoped she would call.

Like he hoped they all would call.

He was Jonathan after all.

"How could I forget you, Jude?" he started, a wide smirk forming on his face. "You're the one with the beautiful blue eyes and music obsession."

Jude's cheeks began to color even though she tried to resist the action. She rolled her eyes. "You don't have to butter me up, Jonathan. I'm the one asking a favor."

"Well then, what can I do for you, Jude?" he asked, looking up at his wall calendar. He was a busy man.

She clenched her jaw, trying to dissipate the anxiety running through her veins. "I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me to a party," she said nonchalantly.

Jonathan smiled widely. Parties were his middle name. "A party? I don't really do parties."

Jude rolled her eyes and pulled out her director chair before sitting in it. "Well, it's not really a party. It's an event of sorts, I guess."

Jonathan smirked. "Color me intrigued."

Jude lightly laughed. "Funny. It's for G-Major."

Jonathan sat up straight. He cleared his throat before answering. "Wait," he started. "G-Major as in G-Major?"

Jude chuckled. "Uh, if that's what you call it, then yes. G-Major."

"Alright I'm in."

Her eyes widened. It couldn't be that easy, right? There had to be a catch. "Seriously?"

His eyebrows rose. "What?! I can't want to hang out with a gorgeous girl and listen to kick ass music?"

"No," she started, shaking her head. "I just didn't think you'd-"

"Give in that quickly?" he answered. "Yeah, I know. I'm easy," he said, shrugging.

She smirked widely. "I'll have to remember that."

A wide smile formed on his face. "I hope you will."

She bit her bottom lip, wondering how long she could continue to talk to him for. Then she remembered why she was asking him in the first place.

Because she didn't want to go alone and see her butthead of a boyfriend.

Yeah, that's why.

"Um, pick me up at 7 on Thursday?" she asked.

"You got it, Super star."

"Cool. I'll see you then," she said.

"You will. Bye Jude," he answered.

"Bye Jonathan."

He placed his phone on his desk and placed his hands behind his head, intertwining his fingers. A large smirk formed on his face as he stared at his wall calendar. Thursday.

Yeah, it was good to be Jonathan.

She dropped her phone immediately as if it was burning her skin. She jumped up out of her chair, thinking about what she had done.

But was it really that bad?

It wasn't as if she was going to do anything with Jonathan. They were friends.

Yeah, like Tom and Angie were friends.

Jude shook her head roughly.

No, she was not making herself feel guilty.

So what? She was taking a boy to some event that wasn't her boyfriend. It wasn't as if everyone was going to be so thrilled once they found out her boyfriend was her teacher.

And like Tom had said…they had to keep up appearances.

She was doing this for them.

- - - - -

She closed the door tightly after making sure certain aspects of her past were occupied…or asleep. She used the key in her hand to lock the door, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

She turned around and gasped.

He was standing there in front of her, rocking on his heels like a nervous kid. But she knew it was necessarily nervousness that caused it; it was more him being anxious.

She knew his quirks well. Hell, they had been together for years. She should have known him well.

His leather jacket conformed to his body in ways she didn't want to notice but she couldn't help herself.

It was almost like a reflex when it came to him. She couldn't control it.

He eyed her curiously as she didn't speak. "You have company? Why did you agree if you had people over?"

She furrowed her eyebrows, looking confused. He couldn't know, could he? No. It was impossible. She had covered her tracks. "The laughter. It travels," he explained.

Her eyes widened slightly and nodded once. That was close. "Oh, it's nothing. Just some friends, but they understand," she answered.

He eyed her again, knowing she was lying, but didn't press it. "Are you sure?"

Angie put on her fakest smile and glanced at Tom, knowing full well he could read her like a book. They had a very long and treacherous history, she was sure, and he knew her better than anyone. "Positive."

He moved to the side and let her pass him as they walked towards his Viper. He instinctively placed his hand on her lower back and continued walking. He opened her door and once she got into the passenger seat.

He closed it behind her, slightly smirking at her through the glass as he walked to other side.

Something he had done numerous times before.

When they were together.

And if he had been paying attention, he would know that they were treading a thin line.

A very thin line.

A/N: Preview:

Chapter 19

"Keeping Up Appearances (Part 2)"

"We?"

"Yeah, Tommy forgets his manners so often. I'm Angie. I'm one of the teachers that Tommy works with. You're Jude, right?"

- - - - -

"So who are you here with?"

"Um-"

"Jude, I got your soda."

"Thanks, Jonathan."

- - - - -

"It's Kwest. How are you, man?"

"I'm here with the most beautiful girl here, so I'm great. How about you?"

"Fabulous."

- - - - -

"Who?"

"Jude."

"Oh, I thought we were talking about Angie still."

"T, like I said…I can see it your eyes. He can't hurt you anymore."

"Fuck you, Kwest."

- - - - -

"Yeah, cause you don't want to know about Break Up #15."

"Kwest, that's not funny."

"Why do you think I'm not laughing, Jude. This is serious. He's serious."

- - - - -

Man, it was hard choosing stuff for this preview cause the more I started to write…the more I thought, "Oh, that'd be good. Oh, what about that one?" LOL. So I tried really hard to give you something from every scene. I hope it works. :D