Knowing Jude
Chapter 16

I love P.E because it's a chance to spend actual school time outside the class. That doesn't mean I like it one bit when the teacher goes all out on us like we are some professional team in training. I'm pretty unfit for a girl my size I rarely get through one lap around the field without huffing like a broken train.

It is the last class on Monday, and I walk out of the girl's locker room and trudge behind some other classmates towards the field. I'm wearing school-issue sports shorts that have the school's initials right across my ass.

We come to the massive field that includes a football pitch, a track, and an outside seriously dilapidated basketball court, which is no longer used. There's a new one in the school gym.

The teacher is already gathering the students, and I walk over to the small group, hoping he won't tell us to go laps.

"Five around the field," he says the moment everyone is gathered and listening.

I groan and I hear a familiar mocking laugh behind me. I swing my hand back knowing it will get him, and when it slams into his stomach he groans and I turn to watch satisfactorily as Simon bends over, clutching his stomach. "So violent," he groans.

I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth, then I notice someone standing beside him and I turn my head to look at him.

"Hi Jo," Isaac greets, smiling at me.

"Hey," I reply.

He is in our P.E class?

A sudden clapping of hands makes me jump, and I look to replace the teacher glaring at me. "What are you waiting for, Hansen?"

It's then that I notice the rest of the students are already making their way down the track. I shoot off, Isaac and Simon on my heels.

Gradually we get past some of the slower students, but then we are only on the second lap, and I'm sure I'll be among them very soon. The two boys, Isaac and Simon, have maintained their positions on either side of me all along, and it's awfully quiet.

I nudge Simon with my elbow. "How many classes do you two have together?"

"All the ones you are not in," Simon answers smugly.

I know what that means, alright. Physics and Computer.

"Okay, geek," I say and turn to Isaac. "What school were you in before?"

He looks down at me, our height difference obvious. "It's a few hours from here. I used to...," He trails off. "It's a few hours from here," he repeats the first part. "Chase High, you might not know it."

"I've heard of it," I reply. "How's your first day going so far?"

"He has me, how do you think?" Simon flaunts from beside me. I get the urge to swing my hand again but refrain.

"Great," Isaac answers with a smile.

I'm about to say something else when my hair suddenly tumbles down my face and past my shoulders. My hand flies to my head, and I turn to demand for my hair band from Simon, but I realise he is a little ahead of me now. I gaze backwards and come face to face with Jude Walker's infamous smirk. His presence is a surprise because he is not in my P.E class, and I lose my footing and almost fall but Isaac holds onto my hand, keeping me upright.

"Thanks," I tell Isaac, then turn back towards Jude. "Give me my hair tie," I demand. I have to slow down a little because he is just jogging along. I can see my black hair band in his hand and move to snatch it from him but he moves his hand away. I stop running backwards to avoid another stumble. I see Isaac looking at Jude, and I look back at Jude, who is watching him too, with slightly narrowed eyes.

What's going on here?

They break the gaze, and Isaac speeds up ahead, catching up to Simon.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Jude.

"My class got switched," he replies.

"Why?" I prod.

He shrugs, then tips his head towards Isaac up ahead. "Why are you talking to him?"

My eyebrows shoot so high, they almost disappear into my hairline. My hair...

"My hair band," I demand afresh. "Give me back my hair band!"

He lifts his hand and I snatch it away. I huff as I tie my hair back up. My perfect bun is gone. I glare at him but he just lifts an eyebrow.

"What's with you and whoever I talk to?" I ask, remembering him asking about Cole. "Girls don't use you to get to him too, do they?" I add saucily.

"I said sorry!"

"You still said it," I point out.

"So my apology doesn't mean anything?"

"It does," I reply. "But that doesn't mean it's erased from my mind."

"You suck."

"Nah, I don't."

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"No, I won't," I answer stubbornly. Why should I? Why does he want to know?

"Just be careful," he says.

I frown and look up at him. "Uh?"

"You heard me," he says and picks up speed. I try to keep up but I can't. I'm already panting like a dog.

"Jude!" I call after him, but all I see is his back disappearing into the faster crowd up front, thanks to his athletic build. I look back to see who else is back here with me, but you got it right, I'm the very last person.

He slowed me down only to leave me behind. I'm not that unfit, am I?

"I can't write," Jude whines, holding his right hand in his left.

I sigh and rub the end of my pen into my scalp. My eyes flit towards the clouds outside, judging the possibility of it pouring, but the sky seems pretty fair. "Stop fucking around, Jude," I warn. It's five-thirty and I don't plan on being here past six.

"I'm not fucking around," he says, drawing the expletive along and keeping his blue eyes trained on mine.

I feel my cheeks heat up. I puff them to hide that fact.

The corners of his lips turn up, but he holds back his chuckles and uncoils his arm to show me the back of his wrist. My eyes flit across his knuckles. His busted knuckles. "I've not written anything all day," he says.

"Did you fight James again?" I ask because the bruises look pretty recent.

"I have better things to do than waste time on that cunt," he replies, blue eyes flashing.

I purse my lips. I know I curse a lot, but that's pretty course even for me.

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Jude rolls his eyes, most likely noticing my reaction. "Okay, pussy. Is that better?"

I automatically throw my pen at him but he swats it mid-flight and it clatters to the floor. He chuckles and withdraws his hand. "You're so innocent."

I huff and gather my books. "Then I guess I should get going."

"Where?" He asks.

I give him a blank look. "Really?"

He rolls his eyes. "I want us to do something before you leave," he says.

"Like what? That wouldn't possibly involve your injured hand?"

He rises in his seat, picks my pen, and hands it to me. He then picks up the ball he arrived with and picks up his bag. "Come on."

"What do you want to do?"

"You said you can kick a ball?" he asks with an arched eyebrow.

Oh. That? Really?

"Now?" I whine, looking at the ball.

"Want to back out? We should have put a bet on this," he says, a smug look on his face.

I scoff. "You wish. Let's go."

Minutes later we are in the empty school field, and he leads the way to one of the goalposts.

"How are you going to catch the ball with your injured hand?" I ask him.

"I'm sure I can handle your kick," he says.

I cackle. "Okay."

We place our bags aside and he hands me the ball, then he moves to stand in the goalpost as the goalkeeper. In the back of my head, I marvel at how I'm out here, on some random school evening, alone with the most popular boy in school having a football challenge. Not something that occurs occasionally in my life.

I bounce the ball, keeping my eyes on him. He is standing in the middle of the goal line, his hands across his chest, watching me with a derogatory look.

Ah.

"Don't you have anything important to do right now?" I ask because I'm honestly wondering.

"Math with you but since that ain't happening..." he trails off with a shrug.

"And before we started this Math thing? What did you use to do before that?"

His gaze changes into an annoyed one. "Are you always this curious?" "Maybe."

"You're so annoying."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "I'm not."

His eyes narrow considerably, and I'm certain his patience is wearing out. "Kick the stupid ball right now, Jo. Or I'll come there and..."

He trails off and I quirk a brow. "And?"

He drops his hands and starts off towards me. Laughing, I drop the ball to my feet. "Okay okay, I'm kicking."

He stalks back to the goalpost. I'm tempted to ask why he bothers-with someone like me but I bite my tongue. I position the ball in the right spot and take a step back. He still stands carelessly in the goalpost. "Aren't you going to get into position?" I ask.

"I doubt you'll kick it anywhere near the posts," he says.

"That bet sounds really promising right now," I say because I can see him losing.

He perks up. "If you lose, I can get anything I want?"

I scoff. "You wish. Kicking in three,” I announce. I run forward and rear my right leg back. I kick the ball with the side of my sneakers and it soars into the air. Jude reacts at the last moment when he realises the ball is actually headed in the right direction, but it's too late and it curves past him into the net. I smirk and fold my arms across my chest. "Does that answer your question?"

He looks back at the ball lying behind him, picks it up, and looks at me. "No, no, I...underestimated you, I thought you would do a wide shot or something...can we have a repeat?"

I laugh. "Hell no."

"Come on, I swear you won't get past me this time," he swears.

"You lost the challenge; can I go home now?" I ask, smiling brightly and starting off towards my bag.

"Come on, Jo!"

"Do you agree I can kick a ball?" I ask, my own smirk now plastered on my face.

He chews on his bottom lip. "Let's play one touch for a while and I'll tell you."

I shake my head. "No, I have to go home."

"We have twenty more minutes, don't you want to play with me?" he asks, his voice pleading. I look back at him. He's totally giving me the puppy dog look, his long lashes fluttering over his blue eyes.

He looks so...

Nothing.

I can feel my resolve weakening.

"I need to go and do some revision; I have that Math contest tomorrow."

"You're perfect in Math, you'll do fine," he says.

"I always almost shit myself before a test!" I reveal. No matter how many exams I pass, with every new one, I feel as if I know absolutely nothing.

"You'll do great, Jo. Trust me. In fact, you need to get your mind off that for a little while. It'll be good for you. I'll even give you a ride. And buy you anything you want. Do you want chocolate? I also have candy, lots of candy in my " "Okay fine," I agree raising my hands in surrender, chuckling. "No need to bribe me, I'll stay."

The blinding absolutely gorgeous smile he gives me is all the bribing I need.