Jimmy was in New York longer than either expected and Stevie and Tom lived in their own blissful love bubble. They sat in the studio, singing Insider and looking deeply into each other's eyes. The door opened and both looked up, their spell breaking as the energy changed in the room.

"Stevie!" a voice said enthusiastically.

"Jimmy!" Stevie forced a smile and got up from her stool.

"God, I've missed you! How long has it been?" He kissed her lips and Tom's fist clenched, watching the dark haired man hug her. He fought the urge to take her hand and make it known that Tom now considered Stevie a girlfriend, or at least much more than a friend.

"It's been a long time." Stevie said. "And a lot has happened. We've been putting the final touches on Stop Draggin My Heart Around and Insider is almost finished as well."

"Then I better jump back in." He took her hand and began kissing all over her and Stevie pushed him away.

"What are you doing?"

"Excuse me?"

"You can't be all over me like this anymore. We broke up. I am here to work."

"It looks like you came just to hang all over Tom."

"It's none of your business if that's true or not. Tom and I are artists. We are working on music and we are just friends."

Tom's shoulders slumped with her words. "So you're really done?"

"I told you that over a month ago!"

"I thought you would have come to your senses, Stevie. This is ridiculous."

"Well, it isn't to me. I came to my senses when I ended our relationship. You're jealous, you're rough and possessive. These are the same reasons I broke up with Lindsey and you said you understood that. You don't own me, Jimmy. I'm my own person."

"No, now you're Tom's."

"Get off it, Jimmy! I am mine and mine alone." Stevie roughly withdrew her hand from his and stormed out of the room.

The tall blonde haired man's eyes followed the woman out the door. Jimmy looked at Tom and Tom at Jimmy, narrowing his eyes. "I'll get her."

"Of course you will." Jimmy said, scoffing. "But not if I have anything to do with it."

—

Tom wandered down the hall, spotting Stevie sitting by the window. Her skirt was puddled around her and her head was down. He walked over to her and sat down.

"Hey" he said softly and she looked up, wiping her eyes.

"Hey."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"I've never known a girl to cry like that and actually be fine."

"Well, I will be."

"I'm sorry he's a jerk, and I'm sorry that he thinks we are something more than we are. Maybe this is my fault."

"It's not your fault. It's mine."

"And why is that?"

"I can't say I'm in a relationship with one man, while also sleeping with another."

"Then you have a choice to make."

"I did. I broke up with Jimmy."

"But you still care about him."

"Of course I do and maybe I always will. I won't stop caring about Lindsey or you or anyone else who chooses to be with me in my future. Maybe he's right. I'm impossible and I'm destined to be alone." Stevie stared into her lap, picking at the crimson polish on her nails.

"Stop that." His voice was firm but she didn't look up. "I told you before that he's a jerk and he shouldn't have said that to you. I'm not going anywhere. You're my friend and I love you." She finally looked up and Tom cast his gaze down, becoming shy about his confession. Stevie reached out and caressed the top of his hand with her fingertips.

"Thank you, Tom. I'm happy to know I have someone on my side."

He looked at her and smiled, though sadly, and placed his other hand over hers. "I'm always on your side. Don't worry about that guy. Soon this will all be over and hopefully you won't have to deal with him anymore." Stevie nodded, hoping he was right. "Now, are you ready to sing?"

She nodded again and Tom stood, extending a hand to help her up from the floor. As they walked back to the studio, Stevie leaned into his side and he out his arm around her. He felt an intense need to protect her and take care of her, that it caught him off guard. Stevie opened the door and sat on the couch with her journal. Tom smiled, watching her recede back into her own little world. The concentration on her face when she wrote, how her hair would gently fall forward, the slight smile that would play on her lips when she felt the weight figuratively lifted off her petite shoulders...he meant what he said. He loved her and he hoped in time, she would love him.

Stevie closed her book and scanned the room. Jimmy had gone, hearing the door close a couple of minutes ago. Her eyes settled on Tom, messing with the dials on the mixing board with headphones on. His foot tapped and she knew it was Stop Draggin My Heart Around. She smiled softly, dying to know what he was thinking about while immersed in the music. Was he picking himself apart or was he satisfied, high on the knowledge that he had knocked another one out of the park? As if he could feel her staring, their eyes met and he flashed a handsome smile at her. She blushed, letting her hair fall in her face. He chuckled, going back to what he was doing. The flirtation was evident and they both felt it. Stevie opened her journal and began to write about the love she had for Tom. You're my friend and I love you. It played in her mind almost on a loop. She was overanalyzing again but maybe somewhere deep inside he loved her as more than a friend because she was starting to feel the same way.