Knowing Jude

"John?"

That's what Jude exclaims when we run into my Dad in the living room, on our way to the kitchen where Mum ought to be.

My eyes widen as I look between the two, but mostly at Jude, to make sure he hasn't grown a second head. It's not every day I hear someone call my Dad so casually by his first name, and most absolutely not anybody my age. All I see on Jude's face is an expression of surprise as if he hadn't expected to see my Dad here, so I look back at my Dad.

He doesn't look pissed that some teenage boy is being disrespectful towards him. Instead, he steps forward, a grin and a frown both on his face at the same time. He slaps Jude on the shoulder, in a friendly manner, twice. Like two old friends.

"Jude! What a surprise, boy. I haven't seen you in forever."

Um...

Jude awkwardly scratches at his eyebrow. "Uh, yeah."

My Dad's grin falls and he fixes a gaze on him. "You need to see me soon," he says, seriously.

Jude's Adam's apple bobs in his throat, and he nods.

I clear my throat, curiosity already taking the better part of me. "Uh, you two know each other?"

Dad looks at me as if noticing I am here for the first time. His brow shoots up as he looks back at Jude. "Are you seeing my daughter?"

It takes me a second too long to comprehend what he means, and my face immediately heats up. "No!" I object hurriedly. "We just study Math together!"

It's embarrassing, especially with the look my Dad is giving me. Jude? He chuckles as if amused. I cut him a glare. "Well?" I prompt, tapping my foot on the floor in impatience.

Jude looks at my father, then back at me. "I didn't know he was your Dad."

Clearly.

"Well then, where did you two meet?"

"That should not concern you," Dad tells me, before giving Jude another fatherly slap on the back. "You're staying over for dinner, right?"

Jude perks up, obviously going to object, but Dad doesn't give him a chance as he turns to me. "Go ahead and tell your mother to set another place."

"It's really" Jude starts, but Dad is way ahead of him.

"None of that, son. Feel at home, okay?" Then he walks past us into the hallway leading to the master bedroom.

"Shit," Jude whispers, running his fingers through his hair, and biting onto his bottom lip. "Mr. Hansen," he mutters. "Shit, I'm so dense."

I watch on as he rants because I have no idea whatsoever of what's going on here. His eyes finally fall on me, and he sighs. I hope he's going to explain, but he doesn't look like he's about to.

"Come on," I say and turn to lead the way towards the kitchen.

He trudges after me, half-hearted, I can tell. The moment we step into the kitchen, where my mother is standing behind the counter handing over cutlery to Sam, her face brightens at the sight of the boy behind me. "Hello, Jude!" I don't think I know my parents anymore.

"Evening, Mrs. Hansen," Jude says politely. I don't think I've ever witnessed him being so polite. It's a rare treat, I guess.

Sam stops beside us on his way to the dining room, a large grin on his face. "Hey, Jude!"

Jude tousles his hair. "Hey, bud."

Trey comes through the kitchen door, just as Sam skips into the dining room. His dark hair is messy, and his eyes look unfocused. Given the marks on his cheek, I can tell he's from sleeping his afternoon away. He rubs his eye with the back of his index finger as he stands in the doorway. "Hey Ju-"

He doesn't get to finish his sentence as Maria pushes him from behind. "Get out of the way," she demands, and he glares at her. Maria's sour look disappears the moment she notices Jude.

"Jude?!" she exclaims, her eyes lighting up, a smile forming on her lips.

I suppress a groan.

This is going to be a long night.

An hour later, I lead Jude out of the house. It's almost eight, but with the moon and the lights outside, it isn't dark outside. I follow him all the way out of the house and close the door behind us. I didn't get any giving details about how my parents are so familiar with him during dinner, so I'm hoping to at least get a clue from him.

He clears the steps leading up to the porch, then turns to look at me. "Thanks for the evening."

I laugh and cross my arms on my chest. "I don't think you mean that, you were so awkward."

"I was not," he denies.

I nod, to humour him. "Yeah, right."

He rolls his eyes. "Good night, Jo. I gotta go, see you tomorrow."

My brows draw together and I give him what I hope is a convincing look. "You're not going to tell me how you know my father?"

"Haha, you're one curious person, uh?"

Yeah...

"Jude!"

"Night!" he says, waggling his fingers at me and turning to head to his car that's parked by the curb on the street.

I sigh, call a "Good night" to him and head back into the house.

I'll find out, one way or another.

I'm still trying to steal a few more seconds, a few more minutes, of sleep the next morning when I recall something and I shoot up in my bed.

My Dad is a psychologist.

No, I had not forgotten that, but I think subconsciously my mind has still been trying to solve the Jude-Dad situation, and I don't know why I never thought that maybe they had met through his work. Like, if Jude was his client. Jude, going to a psychologist?

For?

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! Why?

It would explain the comfortable familiarity between them. I'm sure Dad would want to take a less formal approach towards his patients, right? To gain their trust and stuff.

And he did ask Jude to see him again, right?

Has Jude been skipping sessions?

I might be thinking too much into this when it's probably a false lead.

Before I can think of it any further and keep contradicting myself, there's a knock on my door, then it's pushed open. My mother appears at the doorway. I quickly hop out of bed.

"Awake, awake," I call brightly before she can chase me out of the bed.

"I see," she says. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," I reply, starting to make my bed.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

I stop then and look at her. She's still in the doorway, this collected look on her face. "Uh, yeah?" I reply slowly, my mind already churning through what she could possibly be leaning towards.

"You don't have to go to school if you don't want to, but it would be a good idea to go, I think, unless you and Jennifer have something planned?" she says, and I continue looking at her as if she has lost her mind. I'm about to ask what she's going on about when it registers in my mind.

What date it is.

The date that has been haunting me for three months now, and that has been in my mind since the month started, but apparently, I managed to forget all about it yesterday. Maybe because of everything that happened yesterday, but still. Maybe my mind gladly took the chance to divert my thoughts elsewhere.

I blink and nod. "Yeah, I, uh, I'll go to school," I say.

No way am I going to spend the day alone at home, my memories torturing me. I might have spent the day at home the first time, but back then I was with Jen.

"Okay, call if you need anything," she says, then steps back and closes the door behind her.

This is going to be a long day.

I get looks at school. But not as many as I did that first month, or the previous one. It's a wonder some people even remember, I never credited teenagers to paying that much attention to stuff that happened three months ago. But Angeline was a popular student, so I understand how many of the students are aware that it's her anniversary.

I hate how they're looking at me, however. Are they expecting me to break down in front of them?

I did that before I left the house, and if I'm going to do it again, they can rest assured I won't let them notice.

I just hope I won't run by anyone talking about her because my emotions have an automatic switch, which makes them take a one-eighty on me that I can't really control.

Today we have English just before lunch, and it's the first chance I've had to talk to Jen all day. Mrs. Rutherford is present today, so I hold back and wait for the class to end. Simon is uncharacteristically quiet today. Maybe he doesn't know what to say, but I wish he would say anything. Or do something, like pull my hair or kick my chair.

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! Maybe he's also lost in his mind.

Or he doesn't want to get in trouble with Ford.

After a gruesome eighty minutes in which I don't pay any attention, which never happens in English which is my favourite class-let's not count all the times that I'm busy fantasising about a variety of things-the bell rings and we are dismissed.

Students file out of the class in a hurry, as if escaping hell. By the time I have all my books in my bag, I notice that Jen has already left and is disappearing through the door.

"Jo?" Simon calls behind me, but I hold out a finger at him and rush after Jen.

I catch her down the hallway, having to jog to keep up with her long strides. "Hey Jen, want to come over tonight?"

"Why?" she asks, already searching for something in her large designer bag. She brings out her phone.

"For a sleepover."

"Why?" she asks again, her eyes now flitting to me for a second before going back to her phone.

I blink, frown, and slow down.

"Jo?" she prompts, hurrying down the hallway, typing hurriedly on her phone.

"Nothing," I say, then turn round and head towards the other side of the hallway.

I can't believe she forgot.

I think of the loneliest places in school because I don't think I'm up to lunch. Too many people there, and I'd rather be alone right now because I can feel the tears rising. They are a burn in my throat, and I have to get out of here before they get to my eyes.

I think of the library balcony, then decide against it because the large windows of the library allow people to see into it, and who's to say there's no loner spending their lunch period in the library?

Then I think of the gym, at the very edge of the school, with this set of stairs at the back, where I would hang out with Angeline sometimes. There is this misplaced tennis table out there, but people only play there in the evenings. At a time like this, it's bound to be empty.

I don't look back to see whether Simon is back there as I make my exit. I leave the tuition block and hurry towards the gym. I put on my headphones and blast Linkin Park.

Maybe, just maybe the loud music will drown out my thoughts.

I keep my eyes on ground level, avoiding any sort of contact or interaction with anyone.

By the time I get to my destination, the tears are already slipping free, and I let them because I'm finally alone.

The song in my head doesn't help, it's like a catalyst that's making me let everything go, holding nothing back. And somehow, that's what I want.

I rush the last steps to the stairs, ready to let it all out, but I realise at the last moment that I'm not alone. Because there's Jax, seated right on the steps. Leaning against the wall, shoulders quivering.