“John?”
That’s what Jude exclaims when we run into my dad in the living room, on our way to the kitchen where mum ought to be.
My eyes widen as I look between the two, but mostly at Jude, to make sure he hasn’t grown a second head. It’s not everyday I hear someone call my dad so casually by his first name, and most absolutely not anybody my age.
All I see on Jude’s face is an expression of surprise, as if he hadn’t expected to see my dad here, so I look back at my dad.
He doesn’t look pissed that some teenage boy is being disrespectful towards him. Instead, he steps forward, a grin and a frown both on his face at the same time. He slaps Jude on the shoulder, in a friendly manner, twice.
Like two old friends.
“Jude! What a surprise, boy. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
I admit, the first thought to cross my mind is to leave.Then Jax lets out a broken sob and my heart squeezes behind my ribs.I imagine Angeline hovering somewhere around, watching us. It’s something I do a lot, and I know it might sound stupid or creepy but I can’t seem to be able to control it. I have always been paranoid, so I always imagine she’s in my room, or in class where we would sit together, and half of the time I would almost believe that she’s going to show up.It sounds messed up, and I’m sure if Dad knew the sort of thoughts I have he would most probably make me have sessions with one of his colleagues or something like that.I can’t push the thoughts out though, because every time I think of her it always ends up in the lines of what if she’s here? What would she do? What would she say? What did she use to do, say, et cetera?
"Sam! Sammy! Samuel! Get back here you little..."I stand in the front doorway for a second, surprised as to why Nicki's loud voice is booming throughout my house, and what exactly is going on between her and my brother. I knew she was going to show up with Simon, but I didn't think they were going to show up this early.I take off my shoes and walk into the living room.Nicki and Sam are going circles around one of the couches, with Nicki trying to get hold of him. Paces away another little boy is sitting, quiet but with a grin on his face as he watches the two."Hi, Liam," I call out, waving and smiling at him.He waves back, a shy smile on his face. He is usually quiet when in people's company, but you wouldn't recognise him when he is with Sam. He might be sitting there right now all innocent and silent, but wait until Sam gets tired of bothering Nicki and they get together.I probably shouldn't refer to them as a duo from hell sin
In gaining one friend – Isaac, regaining another one, - Jax, I have also sort of… Well, definitely lost one.Three weeks later, I still have no idea what happened.I have a feeling Jax breaking up with her has something to do with it, because she doesn’t talk to him either. He also told me she didn’t take the break up well.Does she think I had something to do with it? That maybe I asked him to stop things with her? I might have not approved, but that wasn’t my call to make.I would like to talk to her, but she doesn’t hang out around me anymore, and she went ahead to switch her sitting position in English class. I have had a lot of time to assess the status of my friendships, and I think it’s a bit worrying that Nicki is the only girl left in my life I can call a friend. I talk to Lilian regularly, but she’s my sister and I might be chea
I should apologise.I've been telling that to myself since I left the supermarket, all through preparing dinner, through dinner, and now that I'm in my room about to sleep, it's the same song.He was right, I was being too nosy. If he had been rude, then I had been rudely nosy. Who was I anyway, to say the two hadn't deserved his rudeness? It might have seemed odd to me for someone to behave that way towards a parent, but then again Mr. Walker hadn't been exactly warm towards his son. Maybe that's how they dealt with each other, no love lost, and there I was, being the nosy know-it-all.Me, 11.32pm: Hey.That's how long it takes me to gather courage to type out that single word. Two long hours. Knowing Jude, he is still awake.And still mad?My phone buzzes a minute later, and I check the text, heart in mouth.Jude, 11.34pm: Hey. Jo? It's Cole.Oh. I feel myself deflate. Why is Cole texting back on Jude's phone? D
In the evening I lag behind Isaac, Simon, and Nicki towards Isaac’s car in the school parking lot. For once in very many weeks I’m going to spend time somewhere that’s not school or home. It’s encouraging, and I’m excited about it, even though I’m busy trying to downplay the excitement.It’s not like my parents have restricted me from going anywhere else. It’s entirely my fault that I never go anywhere.I had a little issue about hanging out at Isaac’s because of Mrs. Rutherford, but Isaac assured us she won’t be around, and even if she would have been, that she wasn’t scary at all. I just felt a little odd hanging out at a teacher’s house. Maybe if she wasn’t my teacher I wouldn’t mind.“I really love your hair,” Nicki is telling Isaac up ahead, running her fingers through his dark soft curls. She’s in a m
.Nine Days Later.A lot of things happened during the mid term break. A lot of things, some of which I’m just learning about standing in the hallway beside my locker, listening to Nicki give me a full countdown of all the interesting stuff that happened because she’s more informed than I am.A little break from the semi-hell that is school, a little freedom, and kids run loose.I should know.I’m going to be a little fair to everyone else who is currently feeding into the school gossip mill and start with my own share of midterm break… Waywardness.It was Wednesday night, middle of the break. Sometime after eleven o’clock at night, and I was out like a light.What woke me up was a series of raps on my window. At first, I thought I was dreaming, being half groggy from sleep. A louder rap had me shooting from my bed, my wide
The next day, on Thursday, that’s when I started falling into the trap Jude had set — intentionally or unintentionally — for me. Which is why right now I think I might be developing feelings for him.‘Think’ being the operative word.He came rapping on my window yet again, the time being similar to the night before, and I let him in through my window. I was surprised at his appearance, because I had thought Wednesday night’s visit would be a one time occurrence.Later on I sat against my headboard and regarded him through half open eyes.“You look fine today, why are you here?”He had left early that morning, while I’d still been fast asleep. As so was everyone else in the house, thankfully. I could only imagine the kind of storm my parents would kick up if our little arrangement came to light.
“You heard about Jon, right?” Nicki asks me now, casting a careful glance around as if watching for eavesdroppers.I nod. “Yeah, about his break up with Jane?”That is all around, it’s one of the topics keeping the rumour mill turning. I have to say, I was pretty impressed at my reaction to that piece of news. My heart didn’t stuttered with joy, though I was a little too glad he had decided to ditch the bitch. But that was just it. Insane possibilities of how I now had a chance with him didn’t crowd my mind, which just goes to prove me right. I’m over him.But I can’t be sure until I come face to face with him and see whether my heart goes flying off into the clouds.Nicki shakes her head. “Not about that. About the other thing.”I frown. “What other thing?”“I g
"I need you to stay away from Jude." I stare at my father across his study desk and wonder whether I heard him right. "What?" I ask. When he called me to his study, I didn't think my boyfriend was going to be the topic of discussion. Maybe my plans now that high school is behind me and I have several months before leaving for university, but not this. Dad clasps his hands on top of his desk and leans toward me. "I'm his doctor, and I'm your father. I have both of your best interests at heart. He's like a son to me. And right now what's best for him is that he stays away from you." I press a finger to my temple. "We are not doing anything wrong, if that's what you're worried about," I say, my gaze fleeting to the ceiling. "And I don't want to stay away from him, he's my boyfriend!" He nods. "I know." I look back at him. "I love him, I can't just stay away from him." "Jude's not well--" "He's fine! His wound healed
'Don't get mad.' I stare at the text on my phone, and I can guess what else Jude is currently typing. Here it comes... 'I'm outside your window. ' Of course. I drop my phone and crawl out of bed. I pad to my window and pull the curtains apart. Jude smiles at me from the other side, as if he's aware that the little expression is enough to thaw me any time. I try to look as pissed off as possible as I unlatch the window and push it open. Jude climbs in. He shuts it behind him then turns to me, smile still in place. "I couldn't--" "Stay away," I complete the sentence for him. I've heard it almost a hundred times in the past month, half that time with him crawling through my window. He grins, then pecks my lips. "I missed you." I sigh and turn away, going back to my bed. I don't get there though since two strong arms come around me from behind. "Please don't be mad at me," he pleads.
"Am I interrupting something?" At the sound of Nicki's voice, my first instinct is to jump out of Jude's laps immediately. I don't get anywhere because his hold on me proves to be tighter than I thought. My flaming face turns towards my friend, who's standing at the top of the stairs, eyebrows meeting her hairline as she takes in the sight in front of her. "Don't let me interrupt," she says saucily, then proceeds to come forward. I feel Jude's face against the side of my head, his laugh muffled. He presses a kiss to my ear then finally lets go of me. "Hi, Nicki." I say, moving across the table back to my seat. "Hello, friend who didn't bother telling me she's been snogging her hot study partner all along." She perches on the table, facing me. "Other than that one time, that is." "I--" "What one time?" Jude pipes in, the amusement in his voice apparent. Nicki turns toward him. "The one time you both skinny
I can't stop pacing in my room, already regretting my decision to leave without checking on Jude.I should have stayed, even if only to make sure he was okay. Someone doesn't just lock himself up in a bathroom while not taking a shower for that many minutes if he's alright.Why did he get so mad?I refuse to acknowledge the voice that keeps telling me that he got frustrated because he couldn't get what he wanted all along.He said I rejected him. Did he really mean it? Did he really want to ask me out? Me, as his girlfriend? Girlfriend?Knowing that sleep will be a hard thing to get without knowing that he's at least okay, I dial Cole's number. It rings through the first time without a reply, but I hit the dial again. I know it's late, half past eleven, but this is Cole and the chances are he's awake.It almost stops ringing the second time round when it's picked up and a drunken feminine voice responds."Who are you, why are yo
My phone rings at a quarter before midnight and to be honest, I’m not surprised. It has become a routine for Jude to call me at insane hours of the night, and to talk about what? “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” he says now when I pick up. I smile at the sound of his voice. In a span of several weeks, it’s gradually managed to become my favourite sound. “Why?” I ask, rolling onto my back. I can’t remember there being any special occasion for tomorrow. “So that I can see you,” Jude responds. “And?” “There’s an and?” “I mean, of course you’ll see me tomorrow, we have school.” “Does that mean I can’t miss you?” I let out a small laugh. “You’re kidding, we were just together like, four hours ago?” “You’re not here with me right now, are you?” I refrain from making an audible ‘awww’ sound because I still can’t believe he’s actually saying this to me. I mean, I know by now that he does appreciate my company, but he’s sounding like we’re in a relationship or something, and we’re not.
My bright Monday morning is ruined when I spot Bethany standing next to Jude’s locker, clearly waiting on him. The smile that has been plastered on my face all morning drops instantly.Apparently, all it takes to demolish the castles I’ve been building all weekend is a single sighting of Jude’s extremely gorgeous ex girlfriend.Gorgeous and clingy.That sounds better.It shouldn’t even bother me since he said there’s nothing between them, right?I hurry up so that I can get out of here before I witness something that might ruin my day. In the name of Jude appearing and flirting with her like he has been doing of late. I cast one last look towards his locker…And almost drop my bag to the floor.My mouth goes dry when I see Jude coming towards me. My eyes dart behind him to his locker, where Bethany sti
"Wake up.” Shake. “Get up.” I press the pillow to my face and wish the voice away. What sort of human being disturbs perfect morning slumber? “It’s nine already, Jo.” “What?” I yell and fly up, shoving the pillow away. It’s not that late, is it? Jude is standing beside the bed, regarding me with an amused smile. He looks put together, like he woke up a long time ago. “Shit.” I hop out of bed. “I need to go home.” The last of that sentence finds me at the bathroom door. I get in quickly, do a quick clean up and put on my dress. When I get back to the room, Jude is sitting on the bed. He quirks his brow. “What’s the hurry for?” I give him a look of disbelief. “I don’t want to get into any trouble!” “Your parents already left for work by now, right?” I nod.
“Nothing different,” Jude persuades, pulling me into the room, walking backwards towards the bed. “Still a bedroom and still just you and me.”Yes, but before we hadn’t kissed, had we?His bed is a large white affair, and a part of me just wants to jump on it and cuddle in his bedding. He has a lot of pillows and my mind can’t help forming images of him asleep, blond hair fanned out on a pillow, pink lips in a pout…I break out of my thoughts when he sits me on the edge of the bed. He steps back and gives me an assessing look.“You on my bed. Beautiful picture, just one little detail we need to take care of.”I lift an eyebrow. “Yeah?”He points at Cole’s jacket. “Can you please get rid of Cole’s jacket?”I wrap my arms around myself, wanting to tea
Jude picks up the phone on the first ring, to my relief.“Look who’s calling me,” he says, amused.I manage a smile past the tears that won’t stop streaming down my face. I take in a deep breath and try to keep my voice even.“Hey Jude. I need a favour.”I fail terribly, sounding as if I have grains of sand stuck in my throat. My body shivers, a fresh sob threatening to surface.“Jo? Are you okay?” Jude’s voice drops the playfulness, becoming urgent.I suck in another breath. “No, I… Can you pick me up please?”“Of course,” he responds without missing a beat. “Where’re you?”“You know Ana Grace right? Do you know her place?”“Yes, yes I do, is that where you are?”