Knowing Jude
Chapter 33

"Cold weather makes me sleepy," I mutter almost an hour later as Jude takes me through a problem that I was stuck on in my Math assignment. Because of the weather, he suggested we have our session at Ma Bea's, and I readily agreed. He has a smug grin on his face as he shows me how to work the problem, extremely smug that for the first time, he's the one showing me Math.

He looks up and gives me a stern look. "You'd better be paying attention, Jo."

"I am," I mutter, wrapping my fingers around my hot mug. It's warmer in here, and I wouldn't mind coming here every other time. I don't mind the free chocolate either. "Honestly though, doesn't it just make you want to bundle up into your blankets?"

"Warmer if you got someone with you," he mutters, not looking up from my workbook. "Warmer if there's some sort of under the sheets exercise involved. You should try that sometime."

I scoff and take a sip of my chocolate.

"And there you have it," he says triumphantly, dropping the pen on the book. "Got it?"

I nod. "Yeah, thank you. Can we go now?"

"After this," he replies pointing at his mug.

I nod and huddle closer to the steam so that it can hit my face. We're tucked in the very back corner booth, away from other patrons. My eyes slide through the small establishment. Today there's thankfully no group of girls from school, the kids our age I can spot being from other schools.

"Did Ma Bea replace a new waitress?" I ask Jude looking back at him.

"Oh yeah, one of Cole's..." he trails off, looking up from his phone. "Yeah, she did."

I arch an eyebrow. "One of Cole's what?"

He shakes his head. "Forget it," he says and gets back to his phone.

I look towards the counter where I can see the waitress from my last visit here, and another one whose hair is a bright shade of yellow, facing away from the café. "The yellow-haired one?" I ask, turning back to him. "Yeah. As wild as her hair too."

"You would know, wouldn't you," I mutter drily.

He looks up, a sudden smile overtaking his lips. "You know, I always wonder."

"About?"

"You're always calm and collected, at least on the surface, and I wonder how wild you can get."

I scoff and shake my head. "Get on my wrong side, Jude, that way you'll know how wild I can get."

"What I did earlier, wasn't that getting on your wrong side?"

"You're lucky you're my friend, I managed to be a little tolerant."

"No, you were very tolerant," he points out.

"Just never try it again."

"I already said I wouldn't."

"And where do you get the idea that I trust your word?"

"If you don't, that's your problem, not mine."

I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth and take a sip of my chocolate.

"Does what happened that night happen a lot?" he asks, and I almost burn my tongue because I thought we would never talk about that. And he's bringing it out of nowhere.

I continue holding the mug to my lips, somehow hiding. "Nope," I reply, popping the p to sound as casual as possible and not like I'm lying.

"What if I say, I think even that first night, you were having a nightmare but never got to talking, just tossed and turned around?" he presses.

I place my mug back on the table. I look up at him. "I'd say you're wrong. I'm a restless sleeper."

He scratches his left eyebrow. "I know—"

"Did you say I talked?" I interrupt abruptly when my mind catches up to his full statement. "I don't talk in my sleep."

Jude chuckles. "How would you know, Jo? You're always asleep when it happens."

"I don't, you're making that up."

He holds up a finger. "Actually, I now remember. That first night, you were talking, but it was all gibberish. But the next night I could hear you just fine. Do you want to know what you were saying?" "No, no, Jude."

He ignores my plea and goes ahead. "She used to be your best friend, right? You have nightmares about her."

I glare at him. "Shut up, Jude. I don't want to talk about it."

"Jo-"

"I'm done, can we go now?" I interrupt, getting to my feet. He has no idea what sort of memories he's bringing up right now.

"Okay, sorry," he says, not sounding sorry at all. I watch in suppressed irritation as he collects his stuff leisurely, taking his sweet time. And, of course, he just so happens to have more to say. "But you know what? I'm going to quote your father right now. Talking about it is the key."

He just proved my suspicions about him being my Dad's client right, but I don't acknowledge it.

"Not that I entirely take heed," he adds, smiling again.

"No surprise there," I Mumble and lead the way outside.

Minutes later, in his car, he reaches over and pokes me in the side. "Stop being mad at me."

I swat his hand away. "I'm not mad at you."

"That does not explain why you're glaring at the windshield so hard."

"I am not glaring at anything."

"Okay." He says it like a parent trying to placate an angry child.

I roll my eyes.

When he finally drops me at home, I'm already walking up the driveway when he calls to me. "One last word. Try thinking about something else, it helps. See ya."

Then he's gone as if he's afraid I just got madder.

Jude, 9.37 pm: Still mad?

I curse as I read the text and practically hammer the letters on my phone's faulty keyboard.

Me, 9.38 pm: Keep asking that and I might as well get mad.

Jude, 9.39 pm: Feisty.

Me, 9.40 pm: *eye roll*

Before he can text something I follow that up with a question.

Me, 9.40 pm: How would you know what you said helps?

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! Jude, 9.41 pm: You agree I'm right?

Me, 9.42 pm: You said it like you tried it and it worked.

Jude, 9.43 pm: Oh, now I see where we're headed with this. Always curious, aren't you?

I laugh a little because I've just gotten caught. Now that I'm sure he's Dad's client, I wonder why he needed his services in the first place.

Me, 9.44 pm: Never denied the fact ;)

Jude, 9.46 pm: I'll tell you something if you promise to take my advice.

I don't even think about it.

Me, 9.46 pm: I promise.

Jude, 9.47 pm: Eager, I see.

Me, 9.47 pm: Jude!

Jude, 9.50 pm: I lost someone too, and I used to have nightmares.

My eagerness gets doused immediately and I stare at his text in silence. He sends another text.

Jude, 9.51pm: No questions about it, Okay? I've got to go.

Me, 9.52pm: Sorry about that, I know it's horrible.

Jude, 9.53pm: Yeah, now think about me, you might have sweet dreams. Night.

I laugh and shake my head.

Me, 9.54 pm: Taking your advice, night too.

I might be teasing him but I'm not even kidding, he's all I'm thinking about.

"He's not coming over tonight?"

I jerk onto my back, almost letting out a scream at the sudden voice. Simon is leaning over by the side of my bed, in a position that suggests he has been reading my texts over my shoulder. He straightens now, chuckling. "When did you get in here?" I ask, perplexed because I didn't hear the door open, or him enter the room.

"It was open," he says, hooking his thumb to indicate the door. "So..." He wiggles his brow suggestively.

I grab my pillow and go to whack him but he skips back, laughing. "You're so nosy."

He and Liam finally came over today and with them, it's like I've acquired two more siblings. Annoying siblings. Simon might get a little special treatment from my parents, but he knows the rest of us don't spare him given the closeness of many years.

"It's not always that I replace you so engrossed with texting someone," he says.

I roll my eyes and pull myself up to lean against my headboard. "I'm so glad you brought yourself over because I have questions for you."

He comes forward and sits on the edge of my bed. "You always have questions for everyone," he says drily.

I scoff and cross my feet together. "How come I never noticed you having a thing for Nicki?"

He takes off his glasses and wipes the lenses on his sweater. "Because I never showed it?"

"You really like her don't you?" I ask, biting on my lower lip.

"I..." He trails off with a heavy sigh. "Uh..." He tries again, then puts on his glasses. "I think it's just a crush, nothing to worry about."

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 arch an eyebrow and watch him closely. "Oh yeah? Since when?"

He turns to look at me. "Don't give me that tone, Jo. For how long have you been crushing on Jon? Years. So don't bother saying because I've liked her for a while it's something more." "But you actually know Nicki, so it's very likely-"

"Nothing," he interrupts. "And I hope I grow out of it soon, it's not fun."

I sigh. "I know," I mutter then drag him towards me by the back of his sweater. He obliges and sits beside me. I give him a brief side hug.

"I'm just worried about her. I mean Cole..." he says a while later. "I mean, I know it's not a choice, I just hope she doesn't end up hurt."

I nod in agreement.

"And you, whatever the hell you think you're doing with Jude"

"Chill, bro! I'm absolutely not doing anything with Jude!"

He hums. "Not what I saw..."

"Shut up."

"Just keep in mind exactly what sort of boy he is," he tells me.

A bad boy. The trouble is, the more I get used to him, the more I keep forgetting that fact.

My door blasts open and Liam runs in, screaming at the top of his voice.

"SIMON! SIMON!"

He rushes through the room and jumps onto my bed, pushing himself behind Simon.

Laughter originates from the hallway outside and Trey steps in seconds later, a grotesque mask on his face. Liam whimpers from behind Simon. Trey slumps against the wall, laughing. "Stop terrorising Liam, you jerk," I tell him, fighting my own smile.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Simon asks his brother, trying to pull him from behind him. "Come on, he's just joking."

Another figure comes through my door and Sam stands there, arms crossed over his chest as he glares up at Trey. "Mum says to stop bothering Liam right now!"

Trey takes off the mask and makes a horrible face at him. Sam runs out of the room, screaming for Mum.

Wait for it...

"TREVINO, YOU BETTER STOP RIGHT NOW OR I'M COMING TO GET YOU." My mother's voice yells through the house.

Trey doubles over in laughter. "Oh God, these kids," he wheezes.

"You're going to be the one screaming if you don't shut up soon," I tell him. Liam is now seated beside Simon, looking at Trey then the door, as if gauging his escape chances.

Mum appears at the door in that instant, however, with a scowl in place for Trey. She reaches out to clobber him on the head but he skips away, grinning. She turns to Liam with a smile. "Come on, Liam. Let's get you to bed." Liam climbs from the bed and runs to her side.

"And the rest of you, to bed, it's a school night." She glares at Trey for effect and he scuffles past her. Liam is watching him warily and when he makes a mock move towards him he jumps and clutches onto Mum's skirts. My mother turns away, livid. "Trevino!"

I burst into laughter as the three disappear down the hallway, and with the sounds Trey is making, I assume Mum has gotten hold of his ear.

I finally burst into laughter, feeling sincerely happy for the first time today. Maybe the rest of the week is going to be okay.