A/N: When I was cleaning out my 'Don't Stand' files yesterday, I found myself getting not only very nostalgic, but also very frustrated – with myself. I had envisioned something different than what I have now. But I knew that the only way I'd feel satisfied is if I reworked the entire fic. I know I've mentioned it before, but I don't think that'll happen at all (and if I ever do, it'll be when this is completely finished).

So I did the next best thing, I rewrote this chapter – three times. Reading old chapters was my saving grace. I wanted to get back what I felt I had lost.

Anyway, what I'm really trying to say is that though this story has not come to fruition the way I had hoped, I'm so thankful for everyone who is still reading. Thank you for your reviews, pm's, and constant support. I really really appreciate it. :]

Lastly, this song has been in my head for at least three years and I was going to use it for Jude's Senior Talent Show performance and at the last minute changed it. It fits better here – given where they are and where they're going. 8 more. :]

THANKS: to you.

Disclaimer: A/N at the bottom (with song info). Mistakes are mine.

R&R or R&L please.

THANKS MUCHO!

From "Lost":

She pushed her way through the crowd, rushing outside. Someone yelled a profanity at her as she ran past them, but she didn't hear them. She could only hear the beating of her heart and the tears that had started to fall.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Chapter 33

"G-Major Showcase"

The couch squeaked as she moved her legs to a more comfortable position. Again. She clenched her teeth and rolled her eyes. Staying as quiet as possible was obviously not going to work.

Soft laughter started from the producer's chair and she bit her bottom lip. She had tried to pretend that he wasn't in the room or that he didn't exist at all, but the world was not giving her any help.

"It's really not that funny," she said, her voice flat.

"Jude, you've moved your legs into the same two positions for the last hour. And every time, it sounds like a fart. It's hilarious."

He smiled in her direction, laughter on the edge of his lips, and she glanced at him through her bangs. "Fine. It's funny."

He watched as she fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt. Then he got out of his chair and walked toward her. He knew he was pushing whatever invisible boundary they had created during the recording process, but he couldn't help it. Seeing her sitting there so thoroughly bothered by whatever stories her imagination was creating had him forgetting everything.

She barely noticed his presence until a shadow loomed over her. She saw the frayed cuffs of his jeans and swallowed back a breath. She knew how her body reacted to Tommy Quincy. A year hadn't changed that. A thousand years wouldn't change that. It was dangerous territory. An innate knee-jerk reaction – the way her skin flared, her palms started to sweat, and her body temperature spiked.

She bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming out and then he was there, kneeling and in her face. Within inches of her fingers. He reached out and with his calloused hand, pushed her bangs out of her face. She froze. "There," he whispered, smiling.

Her breathing stopped. All she could do was stared him back in the face. He softly sighed and then said, "I don't know why you're so nervous. You're a pro."

She wasn't really hearing any of the words that were coming out his mouth. The moment she realized he was standing next to her knocked all of her senses off-kilter.

"It's just a few investors and the G-Major crew. They all love you already. Quit worrying," he said. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled. "You're going to knock'em dead, Girl."

As if his mere presence wasn't bad enough, he had to use the term 'Girl?' What was he trying to do to her – put her in cardiac arrest? Her breathing came back full force and she gasped before putting her arms around his neck and giving him a hug.

He kneeled frozen with his arms out like a bird, taken aback by her sudden gesture. In the weeks that followed his performance at The Bitter End and the start of Jude's album recording – she hadn't put her hands on him once. She hadn't displayed any sense of warmth towards him at all.

Every day passed in a flurry of yells, cuss words, ripped papers, thrown pencils, and the slamming of fists on the soundboard. They started out strained and by midday, there would be a split second of their old relationship peeking out. A smile. A knowing look. A laugh. But sometime around lunch, he'd find some way to fuck it all up. A smile. A knowing look. A laugh. And then Jude would shut down on him like a roll-up door. It never failed.

Maybe she didn't trust him, not that he could blame her, but he had the crazy thought that she would be excited he had come back. And even more excited that they were going to work together.

He couldn't put his finger on it. What was making her shut him out? What was stopping her from being friends?

But everyone else saw it. They just weren't telling him. Georgia and Kwest were always whispering. Samantha was giving him extra-long kisses and Jude lots of once-overs. He was even getting a head shake from Jessica, the receptionist.

But today their lack of a working relationship, or any relationship at all, didn't really matter. Today it was all about Jude proving herself. It was the first G-Major showcase of the quarter.

Tommy relaxed in her arms, taking the hug in stride, but just as quickly as it had happened, it was over.

She pushed him away and scrambled to get off the leather couch. Tom watched her retreating form run out of the studio. His curiosity got the best of him and he followed her into the lobby. But before he could pull her back to ask her about the small change of heart, he saw she was already talking to someone else.

Georgia. Tom watched as Jude stood next to her, whispering something in their boss' ear. A smile formed on Georgia's face and she nodded.

Kwest nudged Tommy. "What was that about?"

Tommy shrugged, barely noticing his best friend's sudden appearance. "I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about this."

Kwest smiled. "It's Jude. She won't do anything stupid. She's already done the stupidest thing she could possibly do."

Tommy turned his head toward his friend. "Go out with me?"

Kwest frowned. "You take all the fun out of my digs."

Tommy rolled his eyes and Kwest walked toward the temporary sound booth they had created that morning off to the side of the lobby stage. The energy in the room shifted and he watched as Jude took the stage, reaching for her acoustic guitar. People started to mill around in the lobby as Jude tuned. He listened for a few seconds, taking in the sound, waiting for the tempo to pick up.

But it never did. Then he realized it was nothing like the song they had decided she was going to perform.

He took a deep breath, feeling his body tense. This was not okay. This was never okay.

Jude moved her guitar behind her back and called out to Kwest. He turned around in his chair and smiled at her. When she spoke to him, the smile faded quickly. Tommy closed his eyes. Whatever she was planning, she needed to not go through with it. Didn't she realize she was too green to be playing with her future?

When he opened his eyes, the pair was on opposite sides of the stage, a tense look on each of their faces.

Tommy's stomach dropped, coffee swirled. What was she doing?

Georgia didn't introduce her. Instead, Jude walked up to the microphone with a large smile and started to play her guitar. Tommy noticed Kwest taking stock in Jude's performance. It was obvious that she'd sprung this change on his best friend as well.

Every time I feel alone
I can blame it on you
And I do, oh

You got me like a loaded gun
Golden sun and sky so blue

The lyrics to her new song hit him like a ton of bricks, crushing all the air in his body. It was as if their year apart had never happened. She was still hurting and he was still the cause of it. There was a large part of him that had foolishly believed Jude had completely understood why he'd left.

Maybe his explanation wasn't good enough.

Maybe he was the only one who still bought into his bullshit excuses. Well, maybe not the only one.

There was still Samantha.

Tommy sighed. Samantha. Just another innocent bystander who had been dragged into his mess of a life.

We both know that we want it
But we both know you left me no choice

You just bring me down
So I'm counting my tears

'Til I get over you

His heart clenched and he closed his eyes as everything became very clear to him. Her anger. Her resistance.

His year away hadn't changed her feelings. His actions affected her more than she'd ever admit to him now – given the situation he'd put them in.

He shook his head. How could he be so blind? Coupled with his song from a few weeks ago, the year they'd spent a part, and the appearance of Samantha, it was no wonder Jude didn't want anything to do with him.

He'd sprung all of that on her and thought she'd be accepting? He was a fool.

He needed to talk to her – really talk to her. He needed her to know that he still cared.

And despite the year he'd spent with Sam – she wasn't Jude.

Hell, she didn't even know Jude was his "girl." The one he'd cried over in group so many times. The one he'd written most of his songs and journal entries about. The one he'd come home for.

Sam didn't know any of that. Because he hadn't let her in. He'd given her the bare bones version of his life and she never asked for more. She seemed content knowing the Tommy Quincy he'd become in his year away. But Tommy knew he was more than that and always would be.

Jude knew it too – even if she didn't realize it.

It was what brought Tommy back to her. The fact that she always fought for him. She wanted more – the best for him.

And the best was her.

Sometimes I watch the world go by
I wonder what it's like
To wake up every single day
Smile on your face
You never tried

We both know

We can't change it
But we both know

We'll just have to face it

Had there been another way the whole time? Or had he always meant to run? Tommy rolled his eyes. There had always been another way, but he hadn't seen like that. He needed the time and space to figure himself out. To make himself right. For Jude. For them.

Hurting Jude was never a part of the plan. He hadn't meant to do it a year ago. And he certainly didn't mean to do it now.

His intentions had always come from the heart, but his methods seemed to go awry.

Jude had always been forthright in what she had expected and wanted from him. And he hadn't given her any of it.

Maybe now was the time.

You just bring me down
So I'm counting my tears

'Til I get over you

If he was honest with himself, he had never wanted Jude to get over him. He'd just wanted time. But they had been running out of it. She was going away to school and he – well, he never had a plan for his future. He just figured things would evolve the way they needed to.

But he probably should have had a plan. Especially since his life involved Jude.

There was no closure for her. Just a goodbye. He didn't tell her to move on or wait for him.

He just left. Left her in a world of confusion and hurt.

If only I could give you up
But would I want to let you off of this soapbox, baby?
We both know that we want it
But we both know you left me no choice

If he was going to do this, he needed to be honest – with everyone. But especially with Samantha and Jude.

It was one of the things he'd learned while he was away. He'd spent 6 days a week going to therapy and each day he was forced to relive the past he'd tried so hard to forget. He'd been taught to take responsibility for his mistakes and accept the things he couldn't control. This was just another mistake. He needed to show Jude he was a changed man.

And that meant breaking down some walls.

You just bring me down
So I'm counting my tears

'til I get over you

We both know that I'm not over you
I'm not over you

Jude's voice softened and her guitar cut, and then the crowd began to clap. The sudden onslaught of clapping startled him and he remembered where he was at and who he was around.

He watched as Jude walked off the stage and directly into a sea of investors. They were full of smiles and handshakes and even though she was smiling back at them and shaking their hands, she was able to seek him out.

She locked eyes with him for a beat and he swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.

Her face said it all.

He needed to make a choice.

A/N: Preview

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Chapter 34

"21"

Teasers will be posted very very shortly. Check my profile for them. :]

Song info: Michelle Branch – "'Til I Get Over You"