“Why are you in a pissy mood?”
“I’m not in a pissy mood.”
“Yeah right, that’s why this pillow is lying in the doorway…” Simon pauses and bends to pick said pillow. “Flew here, I imagine?”
“It has feathers, doesn’t it?” I offer drily. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”
He closes the door behind him and approaches the bed. “I was with Trey. And I need to convince you.”
I groan and throw another pillow, this time at him, which he catches in his hand. “I’m not sneaking out with you guys.”
“Come on, Jo. You’ve sneaked Jude in and out of this room numerous times. You can do it for yourself. Besides, your brother does it all the time and he has never…” he grimaces and pauses. “I didn&rsqu
His eyes switch between us. “Henry? What are you doing with Jude’s girl? He’s going to kick your ass.”Isaac sighs. “Not doing anything.”“Not Jude’s girl,” I mumble, shifting my eyes away from the perfect specimen in front of me. He’s in fitting dark jeans and a dark shirt. I’m reminded once again how much he looks like Jude… And I’m once again wondering whether Jude’s someplace around.“Could have fooled me,” he muses.“She’s my friend,” Isaac offers, letting go of my hand. He runs his fingers through his curls.“Oh.”“Yeah.”“Of course.”I look between them. Jared looks as if he’s searching Isaac’s face for something, while Isaac’s eyes are fixed on
In the morning, I’m woken by knocks on my door. Heavy fast ones, that indicate that whoever is out there has been trying to rouse me for a while now. My heartbeat accelerates even before my mother’s voice breaks through the barrier.“Avery?”I shoot up from bed immediately.My mother never calls me Avery. It’s always Jo, and rarely Ava, but Avery?Synonymous to trouble.I reach for my phone, fumble, push it from the edge of the cabin and catch it just before it acquires its first series of cracks after one short week in my ownership. Fingers shaking, I unlock it.Ten o’clock.“Do not tell me she’s also not here!”My mother’s raised voice cracks like a whip and it has me hurrying to the door.“Coming!” I call, tur
Monday morning, walking through the school front doors feels like walking into hell.News have a way of getting around, and my incidence on Saturday night sure did. A couple of extra ears beyond the door in the hallway when Jude and Nicki came along took care of that.As if things aren’t bad enough, I see Cole walking purposely towards me. It’s the first time I’m seeing him after he acted all cool and unaffected after our friends walked in on us on Saturday night and I really don’t know what to say to him. If anything, I don’t want to be seen talking to him. The rumour mill in this school has the uncanny ability of spinning and twisting each little detail every possible way. I clutch onto my bag and walk faster. Any contact with Cole would not be a good idea, especially not before I’ve gotten a chance to clear things up with Nicki.I speed walk but then I hear running steps and a
I don’t know what’s worse, the deputy principal pulling me out of class to check my locker, the fact that this is all due to a tip off from my own parents, or the fact that it’s my favourite teacher — Ms. Fernandez — looking through my locker, the disappointment on her face unhidden. Then the next worst possible thing that can happen does. The bell for lunch rings and the hallway floods with students. And here I am, flanked by two teachers checking my locker for drugs. The embarrassment I could be feeling right now is buried beneath shades and shades of anger. The only thing I can think about is how I’m going to make this right and watch Maria writhe in this same murk she has me grovelling in. My parents have shown a complete loss of trust in me. I thought I felt alone before, but not to this extent. I’m completely alone and
"I finally managed to get an appointment with Julia, Saturday morning at ten, so cancel any plans you might have," my mother says on the evening of the Thursday that marks the end of one week since school closed.I'm passing through the kitchen to the back when she says this, so I stop in my tracks. "Julia?""Julia," she expounds. "Doctor Ings, ring a bell?"My insides freeze because the only Doctor Julia Ings I know around is a gynaecologist. "Why?" I whisper, feeling the anger that has been a constant feeling in my radar awaken.One week later, Jude still hasn't found anything incriminating on Maria. Not surprising since she has been quite the golden daughter of late, running errands, not staying out later than six in the evening, and putting the library in the house to use for the first time since we were in lower primary school. She's being extra cautious, and the longer she keeps up the good girl act the longer I continue to suffer.Comi
"I, my dear, am not going to get caught," Simon claims. "It's eight, Jo. Maybe you should get back, the later you stay away the worse it becomes."I crawl towards his head and show him Jude's text. "I think Jude saw me arrive here."Simon shakes his head. "You go to see him and word gets to your parents, talk about shit hitting the fan.""It already has, and remember I don't care? He might even give me a ride home. Besides, we need to look over our strategy.""Yeah, yeah, yeah, excuses to go see lover boy. No one is stopping you, dear. Go ahead."I clobber him in the back of his head."How long is it taking Isaac to get those snacks anyway?" he complains, sitting up.I wonder too...I climb from the bed, texting Jude back.Me: Are you home?Jude: Are you coming?Me: Do you want me to come?A loud sigh breaks the silence, warm breath hitting the back of my neck, bringing my attention to Simon's blatan
I walk into the house like I’m walking on a tight rope. A very thin tight rope placed miles and miles above ground, and one misstep will mean the sure death of me.I close the front door softly behind me and scan the living room. It’s not empty. Dad is sitting on his favourite arm chair watching prime time news.That’s my luck, it runs out fast.Wouldn’t wish it on anyone.I still try to push it a little further though. Heart racing, mind a little jumbled — this from the little near kiss experience in Jude’s car. Well, to some extent, I think. Some part of me was sure he was going for it. I’m sure I didn’t imagine it, he even looked at my lips and—“Jo? Is that you?”I must have jumped ten feet high because Mum’s voice comes out of the blue. Or maybe it’s because I was
“I was five. I was in her room, she was in the bathroom. Started snooping on the drawers. Jared had mentioned once that dad had a gun, but none of us had ever really seen it and I was…” he shrugs. “Curious.“Of particular interest to me was the bottom drawer because it was always locked, you know? And I had looked in the others before. Just mum’s jewelry and stuff. On this day however, when I pulled on the handle there was no resistance. So I opened the drawer, checking to make sure mum didn’t bust me. And there it was, black and shiny just like in the movies.”He pauses to pour himself another glass of wine.“I felt so cool, and excited, to hold it in my hands. Started pulling moves like actors, pretending I was shooting at some villain.”He stops to take a sip of his wine. He ends up downing the entire glass. Pouring yet ano
"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?”