Hi—I'm back with the sequel to Is It Worth It? This one is gonna be totally different from all of my other stories. OK, kinda different, but kinda similar. It's a story about what happens when Jude and Tommy open their own music studio, along with Kwest, Sadie, Jude's and Sadie's parents, Georgia, E.J., Speed, Kyle, and Wally, of course, and told almost entirely from Tommy's perspective.

I don't know how the music industry really is, or if it's as drama-filled as what's seen on the show. So if it seems a little much, it's the way I think it'd be, not the way it really is. As always, this fanfic will have my own personal spin on it. It's how I see the lives of Tommy, Jude, and company playing out if Tommy and Jude opened their own studio, and ultimately began the Studio Wars (which is the name of this story).

Background info you'll need to know: Tommy's and Jude's studio is called JQ Studios, although Jude will always refer to it as Pop-Tart Studios. It's no wonder, since Jude loves Pop-Tarts (how'd that start, anyway?)

Other stuff you need to know: I don't have time to write every day, but I'll post when I can. School just keeps getting in the way (grumbles to self). I'm also not planning on doing author's notes for each chapter, just special ANs to those who review. And I'll try and remember to include the disclaimer that I don't own Instant Star or any of its characters. Just Tommy and any other characters who aren't already part of the show.

What I don't own: Jude, Tommy (but I wish I did), the music from Instant Star, or anything from the show.

What I do own: the story itself, the names JQ Studios and Pop-Tart Studios (I don't think anyone else owns them, but if they do, it was theirs first, and I'd rather give it up than get sued. Lol!), and any characters who don't actually exist in the real IS universe.

I appreciate any constructive criticism you might have. So be honest, brutal if you have to. Just let me know what you think. And, as with all of my stories, I hope you enjoy reading it :o)!

Oh yeah, and thanks to everyone who's reviewed the last chapter of the prequel to this story, Is It Worth It?. I'd name names, but this intro is almost a page already. Just know that you all rock! And so does everyone who's reading this! Starts blasting music and dances around like SME in the middle of a concert. You know, bumping into things and breaking stuff. Yup, that's me! Lol.

Disclaimer: I don't own Instant Star, Jude, or anything related to it. Except Tommy. He's mine! Just kidding, he's Jude's. But Tim's mine! Lol.

Chapter 1

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a brilliant beam of light right into Jude's eyes. She groaned and pulled my pillow over her head. "Tommy, turn it off!" Jude said, her voice muffled.

My head hit the mattress, and I groaned as well. This was not how I wanted to wake up. "Right as soon as you give me back my pillow," I growled out. I was so not a morning person.

Jude did just that. She took my pillow, and whomped me in the face with it. "There, you happy?" Jude's voice sounded distant. Then again, the pillow was muffling it.

I peeked out from under it, and scowled at her. Jude smiled angelically, looking as innocent as a little lamb. "Very," I hissed at her. Then a smile came on, as I shoved the pillow underneath my head again. I sat up, my eyes dancing mischievously like a little imp's would.

"Uh-oh," Jude pretended to shiver in fright.

"That's right. Be afraid. Be very afraid," I said in my spookiest voice. Kind of like Count Dracula's, only not as Transylvanian. Or wherever the accent's from.

"Ooh," Jude shivered again, pretending to be scared.

Then my hands took on a mind of their own and reached out and tickled her mercilessly.

"Stop! Stop!" Jude cried out, laughing. I kept tickling her, since I knew she was extremely ticklish. "OK, OK, you win. OK?"

"OK," I said, smiling. I reached out and tousled her hair. Jude grinned back, as I got up.

"Here," I said, holding out my hand to help her up.

Jude smiled and took my hand. Before I knew it, Jude pulled me back down into bed with her. "Say it," Jude demanded, smothering me with kisses.

"OK, OK, YOU win," I stressed the point. "Happy?"

"Yup," Jude affirmed. She took my hand, and we got out of bed together and got dressed.

After we finished getting ready, we walked out of our room, down the hallway, and down to where our studio was. Sadie was already there, making coffee, while glancing at Kwest, who was busy rewiring the sound system.

"Hey, Kwest," I called out to my best friend.

"Hey yourself," Kwest replied. Then he laughed. "Looks like you didn't get much sleep last night."

"No, I didn't. But I don't need the coffee. I'm wired for the day," I said confidently. I glanced at Jude, who smiled and squeezed my hand softly.

"If you don't mind, could you please keep your sexual comments to yourself?" E.J. breezed in, looking like she'd been up for hours already. Speed followed her in, his eyes full of stars just looking at her. Kyle and Wally trooped in a second later, and Jude and I shared an amused, yet silent glance.

"Sure thing, E.B.," I said, using the initials to refer to my secret nickname for her. E.B. stood for Energizer Bunny, although I don't think the poor bunny could outlast E.J. when she really got going.

"Huh?" E.J. looked up from the teetering pile of papers in her arms.

"I said, Sure thing, E.J.," I said, winking at the others after E.J. had nodded in response and turned her back. She rushed off like a whirlwind of constant motion, never standing still for more than 5 seconds, even after a long, hard day of work. The papers flew out of her arms, and Speed hurried to help her pick them up. E.J. gathered them up from the floor and thrust it into Speed's waiting arms. "Don't drop them. Got it?" E.J. said, as nicely as she could without giving away the fact that she and Speed were romantically involved.

"You got it, babe," Speed said, losing himself into her deep brown eyes.

E.J. blushed, and crumbled. "Here, let me help you with some of that," she said. She took half of the stack, and they walked away.

As soon as E.J. and Speed were out of earshot, the rest of us burst out laughing.

"E.B.? Who came up with that?" Kwest said.

"I did," Jude said. She can be soooo smart sometimes. Not that she isn't all the time. Bad Tommy! Implying that your girl's stupid? Of course she's not! I really have to stop saying that.

"Good one, Jude," Sadie said, laughing. She gave Jude a high-five as Kwest struggled to stop roaring with laughter.

"Calm down, Kwest, before you pop something," Sadie said, as Kwest tried to stop.

"I can't," Kwest wheezed, then continued laughing.

Just then, the phone rang. It was Darius.

"D, what's up?" I tried to sound as calm and collected as possible.

"Your studio, that's what!" Darius roared in anger. "Liam told you not to open your own studio, and you just had to go and do it, didn't you? Some things never change, and you sure as hell didn't! Just gotta go keep pushing the limit, don't you?"

"D, we don't have to fight like this. You got your studio, why can't I have mine?" I said. But Darius cut me off. "No way, T. This town is only big enough for one of us. You want to challenge me? Fine. Just make sure you're ready for what's coming. I'll personally make sure you don't get any business, you got that?" I was about to respond when I heard the click of the phone and the sound of the dialtone in my ear.

"What'd he want?" Jude came over after I hung up. She put her arms around me and looked up at me, worried.

"Oh nothing, just the usual scare tactics. You know, don't open a studio, I'll make sure you don't get any clients, your studio will go under so fast that you'll be the musical tragedy of the century, that kind of thing."

"Tommy, maybe we shouldn't do this," Jude said, looking petrified now. She knew what Darius was capable of, and that he'd stop at nothing to protect what was his. Even if it meant taking on all comers.

"No, I have to do this. For us, for myself, for all of us. We can't stand around and let Darius dictate our every move, our every action. We can do this, guys. We just have to be tough."

"I'm with you, Tommy," Kwest said, coming up to us.

"If Kwest's in, I'm in," Sadie said, a determined look on her face.

"We're in," Kyle and Wally took a break from jamming to give us their support.

"Thanks, dudes," I mimicked their favorite word, and they turned away, muttering, "That's just wrong!"

"Whatever," I mumbled under my breath. I was just glad that I had the people who meant the most to me on my side. I was gonna need every single one of them by the time I was done.

"Hey guys, E.J. let me order pizzas!" Speed shouted. He came in, carrying a stack of cardboard boxes. The smells of pepperoni, sausage, the works, permeated the room, and everyone took a slice. Sadie and Kwest shared one, Kwest had a couple more, I had a couple, Jude did too, and the guys took 4 or 5 each. Even E.J. came in and had a couple with Speed. He'd take a bite, then E.J. would make out with him to get the rest of the cheese off his face. Disgusting, if you ask me. But you didn't hear that from me!

After we had our gorge-ourselves-until-we-explode session, Sadie and Kwest volunteered to be talent scouts. They'd go to clubs and other venues looking for the best talent. I know what you're thinking, they don't know as much about music as Jude and I, but then again, they wouldn't cause a mob everywhere they went. Plus Kwest's not completely clueless when it comes to the music scene. Sadie can be there to attract music guys, and Kwest'll recognize anyone who has the potential to be a star.

Jude and the guys volunteered to put up posters and signs all over school to recruit local talent, and E.J. helped to design them.

The first step of our plan was complete. Now we just had to wait and see whether we stood a chance.

AN: Please review! Thank you for reading!