49. Kiss Me
“So what, you’re really not going to talk to me now?”
I jump and turn with my heart in my mouth to find Jude leaning against the pillar behind me.
I put my hand on my chest, trying to calm my heart. “You scared me!”
“Sorry.”
I take a deep breath and look around. Some students walk past us to the front of the school. The school is otherwise empty, since we had stayed behind. “What are you doing here?” I ask Jude.
He shrugs. “Waiting for you.”
“Me?” I ask, a little surprised.
“Yes.” He jingles some keys in his hand. “Want a ride?”
“I… Uh… Actually I’m not going home.”
“Yeah?”
“I promised Nicki I&r
"I need you to stay away from Jude." I stare at my father across his study desk and wonder whether I heard him right. "What?" I ask. When he called me to his study, I didn't think my boyfriend was going to be the topic of discussion. Maybe my plans now that high school is behind me and I have several months before leaving for university, but not this. Dad clasps his hands on top of his desk and leans toward me. "I'm his doctor, and I'm your father. I have both of your best interests at heart. He's like a son to me. And right now what's best for him is that he stays away from you." I press a finger to my temple. "We are not doing anything wrong, if that's what you're worried about," I say, my gaze fleeting to the ceiling. "And I don't want to stay away from him, he's my boyfriend!" He nods. "I know." I look back at him. "I love him, I can't just stay away from him." "Jude's not well--" "He's fine! His wound healed
'Don't get mad.' I stare at the text on my phone, and I can guess what else Jude is currently typing. Here it comes... 'I'm outside your window. ' Of course. I drop my phone and crawl out of bed. I pad to my window and pull the curtains apart. Jude smiles at me from the other side, as if he's aware that the little expression is enough to thaw me any time. I try to look as pissed off as possible as I unlatch the window and push it open. Jude climbs in. He shuts it behind him then turns to me, smile still in place. "I couldn't--" "Stay away," I complete the sentence for him. I've heard it almost a hundred times in the past month, half that time with him crawling through my window. He grins, then pecks my lips. "I missed you." I sigh and turn away, going back to my bed. I don't get there though since two strong arms come around me from behind. "Please don't be mad at me," he pleads.
"Am I interrupting something?" At the sound of Nicki's voice, my first instinct is to jump out of Jude's laps immediately. I don't get anywhere because his hold on me proves to be tighter than I thought. My flaming face turns towards my friend, who's standing at the top of the stairs, eyebrows meeting her hairline as she takes in the sight in front of her. "Don't let me interrupt," she says saucily, then proceeds to come forward. I feel Jude's face against the side of my head, his laugh muffled. He presses a kiss to my ear then finally lets go of me. "Hi, Nicki." I say, moving across the table back to my seat. "Hello, friend who didn't bother telling me she's been snogging her hot study partner all along." She perches on the table, facing me. "Other than that one time, that is." "I--" "What one time?" Jude pipes in, the amusement in his voice apparent. Nicki turns toward him. "The one time you both skinny
I can't stop pacing in my room, already regretting my decision to leave without checking on Jude.I should have stayed, even if only to make sure he was okay. Someone doesn't just lock himself up in a bathroom while not taking a shower for that many minutes if he's alright.Why did he get so mad?I refuse to acknowledge the voice that keeps telling me that he got frustrated because he couldn't get what he wanted all along.He said I rejected him. Did he really mean it? Did he really want to ask me out? Me, as his girlfriend? Girlfriend?Knowing that sleep will be a hard thing to get without knowing that he's at least okay, I dial Cole's number. It rings through the first time without a reply, but I hit the dial again. I know it's late, half past eleven, but this is Cole and the chances are he's awake.It almost stops ringing the second time round when it's picked up and a drunken feminine voice responds."Who are you, why are yo
My phone rings at a quarter before midnight and to be honest, I’m not surprised. It has become a routine for Jude to call me at insane hours of the night, and to talk about what? “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” he says now when I pick up. I smile at the sound of his voice. In a span of several weeks, it’s gradually managed to become my favourite sound. “Why?” I ask, rolling onto my back. I can’t remember there being any special occasion for tomorrow. “So that I can see you,” Jude responds. “And?” “There’s an and?” “I mean, of course you’ll see me tomorrow, we have school.” “Does that mean I can’t miss you?” I let out a small laugh. “You’re kidding, we were just together like, four hours ago?” “You’re not here with me right now, are you?” I refrain from making an audible ‘awww’ sound because I still can’t believe he’s actually saying this to me. I mean, I know by now that he does appreciate my company, but he’s sounding like we’re in a relationship or something, and we’re not.
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 sti