Knowing Jude
Chapter 53

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 still is, talking to Cole now. She catches my gaze over his shoulder though, her eyes daggers that seem to be trying to murder me. I look back at Jude. There's a hint of a smile on his face as he approaches me.

I busy myself with locking my locker to try and reduce the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. That doesn't work. He comes to lean against the locker next to mine, and when I look at him I can't help the smile that takes over my face. "You seem very happy this morning," he says, crossing his legs.

That little streak of bravery with a side of recklessness that always has the worst timing ever decides to break through. "Because you're mine."

There's a moment of silence, then he leans towards me.

"What did you say?" he asks in a tone that indicates he heard what I said, but can't quite believe it.

My cheeks burn. "Nothing."

Why would I even say that? It's him ignoring Bethany that's making my mind run off in all sorts of directions in uncontrollable ecstasy. "No," he refutes my denial. "Please say it again."

I shake my head and turn away from my locker. His hand sneaks out to hold me in place.

"That's the hottest thing I've heard in a while." He pauses. "Actually, ever." He squeezes my hand. "Say it one more time."

"No way."

"Oh?" he asks, his tone challenging.

I meet his eyes for a second and nod. He just wants to embarrass me.

"You can either say it or I'll kiss you right here in front of everyone."

I jump instantly, trying to tug my hand from his in vain. "You wouldn't dare!"

He quirks a brow. "Oh?"

"You're always blackmailing me into doing things!"

"It gets them done, yes?"

"I hate you."

"You know you don't."

I suppress a groan and glare at the floor. "Because..." I try to repeat what I said, but I feel the tips of my ears burning up.

"Because?" he prompts, and I look up to replace a thoroughly satisfied look on his face.

"Fuck you Jude."

His brow arches. "Anytime."

"You make me say it and I'm not talking to you all day."

Two can play this game, right?

"What makes you think I can't go a day without talking to you?"

I tilt my head. "Something you might have said?"

We spent most of yesterday chatting on the phone like a new excited couple-which we are not-and even though I might not know what his feelings are exactly, I know enough to know I'm right. He chuckles and lets go of my hand. "I know you mean that."

I nod, smugness taking over. "I see you know me fairly well."

"Don't get cocky, though. I'm sure I'll have you saying it, moaning it, or whatever manner you get it out of your lips, at some point today."

Moaning it?

Really?

I huff.

They say all dreams are valid but this one? He'll be dreaming forever if he thinks I can mess around with him at school.

Cole approaches then, looking like the Cole everybody knows. Smiley, charming, absolutely gorgeous. Nothing like the lost boy I saw Saturday morning. "The next time you want me to do the dirty work for you, please make it someone who's interested in me too, not just your sex life, okay?" he requests Jude, clapping him on his shoulder.

"I'll try," Jude responds drily.

Cole comes over to my side, putting an arm around my shoulder. The glare Jude sends him is almost comical.

"Now, princess. Are you sure this is the choice you want to make? I promise I offer more variety than him."

"Get lost, Adams," Jude tells him.

"Afraid of a little competition?" Cole teases.

"From who?" Jude looks around as if he can't see Cole standing right here. "The Cole I know is somewhere at the feet of a certain girl grovelling for her to notice he really wants her because he's being a pussy about it." His eyes fix at some point behind us. "A girl who is currently approaching so please can I have mine back?"

Cole goes still against me. "Sure?"

"Why would I lie?"

Cole drops his arm from me and pats his hair. I watch in amusement and utter satisfaction.

He can deny his attraction all he wants.

Just not for much longer, I hope.

Jude reaches for my hand and pulls me to his side. "Sorry, bro."

Cole looks at him in a dazed manner. "Uh?"

I look behind him and no, there's no Nicki in sight.

I give Jude an accusing glance. He got him worked up like that for nothing?

Jude laughs and starts pulling me down the hallway just as Cole turns to look behind him. Cole is cursing after us seconds later as we rush down the hallway laughing. "You would tell me if you two were dating, right?" Simon whispers in English class.

"What?"

He shrugs. "Don't give me that look. I've witnessed a lot of hand-holding today." Pause. "Just saying."

"We were not holding hands," I whisper-seethe. "And no, we're not dating."

"Yet."

"No comment on that funny insinuation," I say, praying that Mrs. Ford appears and causes a stop to this conversation. Someone else produces the same effect soon enough. Katherine Johnson passes by my desk and stops beside Simon's. What follows is something I could never have expected to see, not in this life or the next.

She lands on his lap. I gawk, frozen. She presses his cheeks with her palms, then plants a long, wet kiss on his lips. Even though I know I should, shock doesn't let me look away.

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! When she finally pulls away, Simon's glasses are askew, his face flushed. Katherine tosses her hair, her eyes cutting across the room to rest at some point. "Just wanted to make a point clear," she says. I follow her gaze to see Amber Rosen, a girl in our class, returning her glare.

Holy cow, cats and dogs.

Are they....

"Are they fighting over you?" I ask Simon the moment Katherine sashays to her seat. "Wait, Katherine? I called it, didn't I?" Simon fixes his glasses. "It's nothing."

I gawk at him. He's acting like what just happened is normal. It's not. Not when it comes to Simon Benson.

"You were just interrogating me about holding hands with Jude and you just let some cheerleader suck your face in class."

He wipes his palm across his lips, coming away with red lipstick.

"Have you slept with her?" I whisper.

He chuckles. "I said it's nothing, Jo."

"Does she know it's nothing?"

"I don't care. I mean, I told her. It's just about twelve weeks and then we leave high school and everybody in it behind."

I'm still regarding my best friend like an alien when the teacher finally makes an appearance.

Looks like everything around me is changing.

Jude: Meet me behind the gym for P. E.

I'm in Biology, bored, and sneaking glances at my phone when Jude's text arrives. P. E is what comes after Biology and if I'm reading him right, he wants to skip. A welcome thought. It's something I've always desired to do but never had the guts to. And I guess enough sense not to because of the consequences that would follow.

I have no idea where the sense flies to however, maybe it cowers in the face of the thousand nerves that break out in my stomach. Excited nerves.

Giddy, I type out a positive reply.

Twenty minutes later, I hurry towards those back stairs where I used to hang out with Angeline, and a wave of nostalgia hits me.

My thoughts don't get to start down the dark lane however because I'm grabbed right before I clear the last corner leading to the stairs. I barely register Jude's face before he's pressing me against the wall and kissing me. It doesn't take me long to get over my surprise and thread my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer.

I can just imagine the Jo who existed for seventeen years until like a month ago standing by, staring with her jaw on the ground, eyes bulging as she wonders how this future self got here.

Jude pulls away finally, and I drop my hands. His drop to my waist. I look down the length of the wall, where there is a tennis table, but there's no one in sight.

Nevertheless, I push his chest a little. "Don't do that again."

"What, this?" He leans in and pecks my lips.

I push him harder. "Jude!"

He takes a step back but keeps a hold of my hand as he brings me down to sit on a step with him. "How long have you been back here?" I ask, eyeing his backpack that's leaning against the wall.

"Not long," he replies dismissively, but I get the feeling that he was here even when he texted me. "Why did you want me to come here?"

"I didn't think you would agree. It's a good feeling to do things you actually want to do, right?"

I refuse to give him the satisfaction of agreeing and shrug.

He rolls his eyes. "How about we take this to the next level? Let's drive out of here."

"No, I'm not doing that. It's only about thirty minutes and then we can get out of here without getting into any unnecessary trouble."

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! "What do you want to do, then?"

"You tell me, you called me here."

"Okay. I have a few ideas."

He snags my hand and pulls my upper body against his, kissing me again.

I pull away, slightly mortified. "Jude!"

He gives me an innocent look. "What? You asked me what I wanted to do."

"You're always wanting to do that."

"Not exactly. More could do but hey, not complaining."

"You're an asshole."

"Your asshole, remember what you said in the morning? I'm never forgetting that."

I roll my eyes and reach for my phone.

"Well then, since you're too scared to leave the school now, will you come with me once the bell rings?"

"Yes." I pause, thinking. "Wait, where?"

"I can buy you ice cream at Ma Bea's."

"Deal. You know I don't turn down food."

"And do you know what I don't turn down?"

"No thanks." I'm pretty sure I do.

Almost four hours later, with the sun gone and the streetlights on, Jude pulls up to the curb outside my house. We ended up cooping up at Ma Bea's all evening, working through our assignments and consuming gallons of free coffee. "Thanks for the evening," I say, unbuckling.

"Pleasure's all mine."

"See you tomorrow?" I say, reaching for the door handle. It's still locked.

"What's the hurry for? We're not done yet."

My gaze turns stern. "Please don't try anything, who knows who's peeking through the curtains?" I throw a cautious glance towards the house. No curtain is drawn but still.

"Is it wrong?"

"What?"

"If I kissed you and someone saw, would that be a big deal?"

"Of course! Have you forgotten the outrageous accusations from not far back?"

"Is that the only reason?"

"Yes," I blurt.

It's not. They would want to know whether we're dating and we're not, how could I just say 'oh it's just for fun?'. Then I'd be back where I was during the holiday.

Jude still pulls me across to him and kisses me senseless, and I return the kiss because every moment his lips touch mine, sense flies out through some open window in my mind. He pulls back, a boyish grin plastered on his face. He unlocks the

door on my side.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

I can't wait for tomorrow.