Knowing Jude
Chapter 47

"Oh my God. Oh my God."

"What is it?" I turn to Trey, puzzled at his sudden panicky outburst. I follow his gaze. "Oh, there's "

Trey pulls me backwards, bringing me around a corner and pressing against the wall. I try to pry my arm from his hold. "Hold still!" he whispers frantically.

"What's wrong with you? That was Jade, right?"

He nods, curls bobbing.

"Are you avoiding her?" I ask, trying to look around the corner. I see Jade, now walking in the opposite direction.

"It's complicated."

I turn back to my brother. "Complicated?"

Trey huffs, lets go of my arm and walks off in the direction we just came from. We are at the mall, shopping for Trey's new cleats. I only came along because afterwards, we'll head to a football game happening some thirty minutes away. "Trey?" I insist, prodding his side.

He looks over his shoulder, then slows down.

"I kissed her," he says.

"What? You kissed her?" I repeat in surprise. "So, you finally told her how you feel?"

"No, I didn't and I shouldn't have done it. What if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore?"

I grab his arm and pull him to the side away from crowd traffic. "Why would you think that?"

He shrugs. "If she doesn't like me "

"Hold on. Did she kiss you back?"

He scratches the side of his head. "Yes but-"

"And then? What happened?"

"She received a call and left; I didn't even get to apologise."

"Apologise? Are you kidding me? And now you're avoiding her?"

He sulks. "I'm feeling the love right now, Jo. I really am."

"Sorry, you're just being infuriating."

He waves a hand in dismissal. "Forget it, it's not like you're going to help."

"What? Of course I will. You need it."

"No, I don't." He shrugs. "She didn't see me anyway."

"She did. She was coming towards us when you turned around. Do you have any idea what she's thinking right now?"

He stays quiet, working his jaw.

"I think you do. You need to fix it."

"But she doesn't-"

"Oh, she does like you Trey. Why else would she kiss you back?"

"Like you like Cole?" he smarts.

No, not Cole.

I ignore it. "She was coming at you with a shy smile on her face, how about that?"

"You're making that up.'

"Jesus, Trey. You're seriously pissing me off now."

"You don't get it."

I crossed my arms over my chest and cock my head to the side. "Oh?"

"It already hurts enough without having her reject me to my face."

I shake my head. "Why are you so confident that she doesn't like you?"

"Because I... I..." he palms his forehead. "Because she's so fucking gorgeous and nice and beautiful, she got it all."

"You two seem like a fit, then, because hasn't anyone told you you're a catch? Girls hit on you, don't they?"

I can see his face darkening in a blush. "What?" he drops his hand. "Why am I even talking to you about this?"

Then he turns and walks off again.

I rush after him. "They do, don't they?" I tease further. "I mean, other than the flirtatious glances I see them throwing your way every way we turn."

"You mean like the one that guy over there is giving you?"

I turn to look not so discreetly and lock eyes with a familiar face. I look away immediately.

"Well?" Trey prods.

Heart rioting in my chest, I feign ignorance. "He's not looking at me. Why would a guy like that be interested in me?"

Yes, why exactly is Jude's nemesis, as I know him, Salve, watching me like he just got his favourite meal delivered? Does he remember me?

Now, I want more than ever to get out of this cursed place.

Twenty minutes later I'm seated at the same coffee shop I went to when I first came here with Jude, waiting for Trey to sort his stuff out.

I put my foot down and said we aren't leaving without him seeking out Jade and clearing things up because I can guess the agony the poor girl is in.

If I kissed a guy that I like and have him blatantly ignore me the next time we met, I would feel trodden beyond repair.

"Did I put him off?

He obviously doesn't like me.

I made a fool of myself.

Was he just testing me?

Am I clingy?"

So yes no, I'm not about to let the poor girl go through that only because my brother is such a cute coward.

I keep my head down with my eyes on my phone, hoping to avoid being noticed by such characters as Salve. I'm going through Jude's social media to see whether he has anything new posted. We have not talked since he took me home that Sunday eleven days ago and he left the country the following day.

Yes, I'm counting the days.

If I'm being honest, I think I'm a little obsessed. Or maybe I just miss him too much. Looking at his perfect photos make me feel a little better, but then at times, it's making it worse. Like the one I'm looking at now.

It's on Instagram, and he's with another guy. I know I'm in trouble because I don't even pay attention to the other guy who is super cute. No, all I can see is Jude's smiley winking face. He looks happy like he's having the time of his life and there's nothing bothering him.

What about me?

I can't get our little kissing session out of my mind. I often replace myself wishing I had just flowed with the moment and not stopped things. But he doesn't look like he has that anywhere on his mind so maybe I made a wise decision. The worst thing about this photo is that I can tell from the background they're in a club. Which makes me think of nothing else but Jude, alcohol, and girls.

He admitted it, didn't he?

I fall short of jumping out of my seat when my phone blares in my hand suddenly, Jude's photo disappearing to be replaced by a caller ID.

Nicki.

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The last time we texted she said she would be home by Saturday, which is the day after tomorrow. At the end of our chat, she asked about Cole, whether I had seen him around. It was clear she had been trying to avoid bringing him up but couldn't help herself. I don't think her plan to get over him is going well.

I slide my finger over the screen to receive her call. "Hey, Nicki."

"HELLOOOO!" her voice blasts in my ear and I immediately pull it away.

"Nicki? Are you alright?" I whisper hesitantly.

"WHAT? YES! YOU CAN HEAR ME, RIGHT? THE CONNECTION OUT HERE IS GREAT!"

"Stop shouting!"

"I'M NOT... oh, am I?" she giggles. "Sorry."

I bring my phone back to my ear. "Nicole, are you drunk?"

She makes a loud pfft sound. "What? No." Her voice turns into a conspiratorial whisper. "Listen, I need to tell you something."

She is drunk. It's one o'clock. Daytime.

"Where're you?"

"At this hike thingie? But I think I'm in trouble."

"What's going on? Are your cousins there?"

"Forget about them. There's this guy." Her voice drops further. "Hot. I think I'm in lust with him."

I frown. "In lust?"

She giggles again. "He doesn't give me butterflies, not the way Cole does. He just makes me want to jump his bones. I really want to. I might never meet him again, and I need to get Cole out of my thoughts. Shit, he smells great." "Smells great?" I inquire, still thrown off by the sudden twists this conversation is taking.

"Yes, this guy. His cologne is heavenly."

"Nicki? Are you Okay?"

"Maybe a little drunk?" she confesses.

I think it's a lot more than 'a little'.

"Be careful, Nick. Don't do anything you'll regret."

"I won't."

I heave a sigh of relief.

"I won't regret it," she adds.

"What? No, Nicole. You can't just give some random guy your innocence."

"I gave my heart to one who's not so random and lost it, so what's the difference?"

I groan. "Come on, Nicki. Is James there?" I ask for one of her older cousins. "Can I talk to him?"

"No, he is not."

"Nicki, come on "

She cuts me off. "Oh my God, there he is. I have to go. Bye, wish me luck!"

The line goes dead.

Holy crap.

I don't need to second guess anything, I know she's serious. This is Nicki, she is erratic. And right now she's drunk, which makes it worse. I dial her number. She doesn't receive my call, even after three more tries.

I know that I can't just sit here and hope the guy is someone respectable who will know to keep off a drunk girl. I can't let her make a mistake she might live to regret, no matter what she thinks now. She's heartbroken, desperate and inebriated, and that's one sure recipe for poor decisions.

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 don't have any of her cousins' contacts, so that's a dead end. I scroll down my contacts, thinking maybe I could ask for a contact from her brother Noah when a certain number at C gets my attention. I almost weep with relief because I know if there's someone who can change Nicki's mind right now, it's the one guy she's struggling to kick out of it.

I click on it.

"Princess?" Cole answers on the second ring.

"Hey, Cole. I need your help," I respond.

"Are you okay?" he asks, concerned.

I nod despite the fact he can't see me. "I'm good. I'm going to ask a question and you better be honest with me."

There's a short pause. "Is this about what happened between us?"

"No. Do you care for Nicki?"

He stalls again. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Answer the question, Cole!" I insist.

"Okay, I do." He pauses. "I mean, she's my friend so..." he trails off.

That's good enough. We'll ignore the blatant denial going on here.

"Okay, call her."

"What?"

"Call her right now and talk to her. Tell her you that you miss her," I tell him.

"What's going on?"

I groan, getting desperate. "Just fucking do it, Cole. Please."

He chuckles. "I love how you beg."

"Cole!"

"Okay, chill out. But why? Is she okay?"

"No, and you're the only one who can keep her from doing something stupid."

"What? Won't you tell me what's going on?"

"There's no time. Just call her. Trust me. Call her and tell her you're thinking about her and stuff."

"But..."

"I'll owe you one if you do this, please. Just do it, Cole," I plead.

I hear his sigh across the line. "Okay, I will."

"Now, please. Right now."

"Fine, now."

"Thank you, I owe you."

"You better remember that," he quips then hangs up.

I sigh in relief, drop my phone on the table, and bury my face in my palms. I hope he gets to her.

I lift my head to take a sip of my coffee only to replace someone standing on the other side of the table, waiting for me to notice them.

"Walker's girl, right?" Salve asks, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

Shit, it really is a bad idea for me to come to the mall, isn't it?