Knowing Jude
Chapter 34

"Wake up, Avery," Jude says for possibly the tenth time, following it up with a poke to my side.

I grumble, eyes still shut, and swat his hand away. "Stop," I warn. I turn into my side, snuggling my face into my folded hands.

"Jo is sooo lazy," Cole sing songs from my right.

I make a sound in my throat but otherwise ignore him. Can't a girl get a little sleep around here?

"Tickle her," a voice, belonging to my traitorous friend Nicki, comes from the spot right beside me.

I shoot up from my space against the wall immediately, and in time too because Jude is already reaching out. I glare at Nicki and flash her the middle finger.

Jude chuckles, chewing on his bottom lip. "Oh, so that's the trick."

"Don't you ever dare, not even once," I warn.

"That sounds like a challenge, princess. Some of us love challenges."

That comes from Cole and I direct my glare towards him, which I punctuate with a heavy sigh. "Why can't you people leave me alone to my slumber? I'm not the one who told you not to read these past three months so that you now feel the need to cram everything in the last minute!"

"Hear, hear," Nicki mutters, her attention still locked on the biology textbook on her lap. "That's the same girl who wouldn't stop moaning about yesterday's chemistry paper."

"Oops, forgot to read for Chemistry?" Cole taunts.

"Oh please, I can't remember a day I didn't moan about that stupid torture they call a subject."

"Which you miraculously manage to maintain a grade of B+ and above in?" Jude points out, his brow arched. He's not even reading, instead, he has his phone poised on top of his closed textbook.

"Only because I put in a lot of effort, and that's not something I need to do for other subjects."

"Tone down the cockiness, Jo. Is it the Jude effect or what?" Cole asks, chuckling.

I groan in frustration and rub my eyes with the back of my fingers. "Nobody dare disturb me."

I pull out the chair from the library table that's right beside us. We are in the library, in the very back, at a table that's hidden from the others by huge bookshelves. It's the middle of exams, Mocks for us seniors, so the library is teeming. It's that period where some students step inside the library for the first time in a term. After hours of revision, we decided to change the atmosphere a bit by migrating to the floor. Somehow I got sleepier once I got there. We all had a History paper early in the morning and the next is Biology on Monday, so we have the entire day plus the weekend to revise. It's a few minutes before lunch and I want to get in as much sleep as possible.

I go to sit down when suddenly I'm falling through empty air. Some asshole has moved my chair. They're already laughing even before I hit the ground, and I'm already fuming. Only I don't hit the ground. My ass falls right onto someone's laps, and I already know whose it is given the positioning of the chair.

I turn immediately to insult and assault him, only for him to wrap his arms tightly around my middle. He pulls me against him.

"Calm down, tiger."

Now, here's something I absolutely hate.

Someone purposely annoying or irritating me then arrogantly telling me to calm down.

It doesn't work that way.

I grip on Jude's hands and try to break his hold on me. "Let me go this fucking second, Jude."

Cole chuckles from his spot.

"Will you go wild on me if I do?" Jude asks. The major problem with his question is that it's whispered, right beside my ear, his lips brushing my skin.

I freeze for a second.

I've not been this close to him since that little insignificant cuddling a month ago in my bed. And even then, it didn't involve him whispering stupid double meaning sentences down my ear.

And back then, despite loving the feel of being held by him, and secretly craving it every other night ever since, I hadn't felt stupid shivers course through my body. "Jude "

"You're so warm, and it's too cold. We should cuddle more," he whispers conspiratorially as if he doesn't want Cole and Nicki to hear.

I throw my head back in frustration, only to realise how we must look like when Nicki clears her throat pointedly and Cole asks, "You guys want some privacy?"

I wrench myself from Jude then, more flustered than mad.

"Shut up, prick," Jude admonishes his best friend, but I know if I look I'll replace a smirk on his lips.

Nicki clears her throat a second time. I give her another glare because she is clearly not on my side.

"Simon wants to discuss something with me, I'll see you guys later."

She's already rising when Cole grabs her arm and pulls her back to the floor. "You're not going anywhere."

She arches a brow. "Says who."

"Me. Stay here, you'll discuss it at lunch," he suggests.

"I don't want to go carrying books to lunch, Cole."

"He can wait, then."

"It's not like I'm doing anything-"

"Explain this to me," he says, holding up a sheet in his hand and pointing to, I'm quite sure, a random question.

Nicki leans forward and studies it, then looks back at him with a raised eyebrow. "You want me to, uh, explain transpiration to you?"

"What?" Cole asks, taking a good look at the question. "Oh."

I huff to hold back a laugh while Jude gives a low laugh.

Cole smiles at her sheepishly. "Never mind."

I shake my head mentally, a little saddened.

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! He's the definition of a sweet, beautiful disaster.

"Fine, I'm staying," Nicki gives in at last, then bites on her bottom lip, staring hard at the floor.

And he's slowly breaking my friend.

I hear movement behind me and turn to replace Jax coming around one of the bookshelves. We lock eyes and he smiles at me, then stops to give me a brief side hug.

"Dammit, Adams. I didn't think you knew where to replace the library."

Cole gives him the finger. "Shut up."

Jax laughs. "Hey Nicki," he greets her and nods at Jude. He turns back to Cole. "I came to get you."

"I'm busy."

"For fuck's sake Cole."

"Give me ten."

"Right now, bro," Jax adds in a voice that sounds a little desperate. I watch as the annoyed expression on Cole's face falls and he turns to Nicki with an apologetic look. "Looks like I'll be the one leaving, see you later?"

Nicki nods and he stands to his feet. And while he goes past me to follow Jax, he ruffles my hair like he always does. I watch them leave, a little curious.

Like always...

"Guess that's my ticket to leave," Nicki mutters, gathering her stuff. It doesn't take a genius to see her mood has taken a nosedive. "I'll see you at lunch." "Okay," I mutter.

"Take this with you," Jude says.

We both turn to replace him holding up an unwrapped lollipop.

"Aww, thank you!" Nicki coos and takes it, unwrapping it quickly. It's as if she's aware her mood needs a little lifting.

"Careful, now, no foodstuff in the library," I remind her.

"Don't worry, I know exactly how to get past her," she replies, referring to Ms. Lilian, our school librarian. My sister used to be a favourite of hers when she was here, namesakes and all. "Sure you do," I Mumble as she shoves the red ball into her mouth.

She then leaves, leaving me and Jude behind. He's back on his phone. I give a look at Cole's books on the floor and the table. "Will you carry Cole's stuff for him?" "Nope, I'm not his bitch."

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!

A yawn attacks me out of nowhere and I slump into my seat, successfully this time. I fold my arms on the table and rest my head on them.

Monday is a long way off. I can revise over the weekend.

I'm just slipping into the sweet world of slumber when my chair is jerked backwards. "Hey, Jo?"

"Leave me alone, Jude!"

"I need a favour."

Even in my half annoyed groggy state, I remember very well the last time he said those four seemingly harmless words to me.

"Not again, Jude."

"It's nothing illegal."

Jude and I might have very different perceptions of what is and is not illegal, nevertheless, I indulge him. "What is it?"

"Leave your window open tonight, please?"

Cole talked of 'the Jude effect' back in the library, and I'm pretty sure this counts as proof. I wouldn't agree to leave my window open at night for any boy to slip through, but it seems as if it has escaped my mind that Jude is a boy. Well, maybe he isn't any boy. I justify my decision by thinking that I would have done the same for Simon, who's my friend.

So yeah, this is a perfectly normal thing to do for a friend.

Which is really lying to myself because I don't want to think about the repercussions if my parents found out.

I can imagine them assuming the worst.

Maria would have a field day.

I have made sure my door is shut and locked, however, so I think I'm fine.

It's a little after eleven but my lights are on and I'm wide awake.

I'll admit something, if this was Simon I was waiting for, I wouldn't be a smidgen of nervous.

And I have no idea why I am nervous.

Maybe he isn't even coming.

On any other exam week, I'd be out cold by now from all the fatigue of the week, but my eyes don't even droop.

I pass the time by texting Nicki, video chatting with Lilian, and going for a round of good old stalking on social media. I check up on Cole because I'm concerned about Nicki, then Jude who has even more mouthwatering photos up. Sleep catches up with me sooner than I'd have wanted, and I blank out like a light, with my covers pulled halfway.

I wake up what seems like hours later to replace a mess of blond hair so close to my face, a hand shaking me awake.