Knowing Jude

In the evening, I lag behind Isaac, Simon, and Nicki towards Isaac's car in the school parking lot. For once in very many weeks I'm going to spend time somewhere that's not school or home. It's encouraging, and I'm excited about it, even though I'm busy trying to downplay the excitement.

It's not like my parents have restricted me from going anywhere else. It's entirely my fault that I never go anywhere.

I had a little issue about hanging out at Isaac's because of Mrs. Rutherford, but Isaac assured us she won't be around, and even if she would have been, that she wasn't scary at all. I just felt a little odd hanging out at a teacher's house. Maybe if she wasn't my teacher I wouldn't mind.

"I really love your hair," Nicki is telling Isaac up ahead, running her fingers through his dark soft curls. She's in a much better mood than she was earlier on. Actually, she's in her best mood. It's hard to imagine she was the same girl tearing up not so long ago.

"Thanks," Isaac says and doesn't move to get rid of her hand.

It's Simon who does it for him, swatting Nicki's hand away. "If you let her have her way with you, she'll keep picking on you," he tells Isaac.

"If you want my hand in your hair, all you gotta do is ask, not get all jealous," Nicki tells him, smiling sweetly.

Simon rolls his eyes. "Yeah right."

She lets go of that thread and says, "So, I was thinking of dyeing my hair."

"What?"

"WHAT?"

"Don't even!"

"You're crazy enough without going all visual!"

"Okay, okay, jeez!" she silences Simon and me, laughing her little ass off. "I was kidding."

When we've just managed to get back our breaths, she adds, "I might just cut it, all of it, off."

"No way," Simon objects. "You'll look horrible."

"Just because your brothers look good bald doesn't mean you will too," I agree, nodding.

"Shit, yeah, you'll look just like one of them. Your family has enough boys, Nicole!"

Nicki looks between us and sighs. "Wow, I have the best friends ever. Very uplifting. Supportive. Good for my esteem."

"Look at it like this," I propose. "If you shave, where are you going to keep all those brushes and pencils that are always sticking out of your hair?"

She gets a little frown on her face as if she's really thinking about it. "Damn, you're right," she says finally. Solemnly.

I shake my head and trod along.

As we manoeuvre through the parked cars, I catch a familiar figure in the corner of my eyes and I turn my head to look.

Jude is standing against his car, sucking on a lollipop. My eyes linger on his red lips for a second too long, then shift upwards to find him looking at me. He doesn't say anything, so I turn my attention back to Nicki. We've barely walked past him when he calls out my name.

I slow down, a little surprised, and bump into Nicki. She pushes me in his direction.

"Yeah?" I ask him, letting my friends go ahead.

He points at me with his red lollipop. "That's called blatantly ignoring someone."

I shove my hands into my hoodie's pockets and shrug. "I wasn't sure you want to talk to me."

"Why not?"

"After yest="

He cuts me off with a laugh. "Oh God, you're kidding me. You apologised and I said it's cool. I'm so over that!"

I rock back on the heels of my shoes. "Okay. Thanks."

He rolls his eyes as if amused. "That was just my father and his stupid fiancée. I couldn't be bothered to give a fuck about them."

I start nodding, automatically, when his words register.

Fiancée?

His father's fiancée?

"I can literally see the wheels turning in your pretty curious mind, Jo."

I shake my head quickly. "Nope. Nah. Never. Not poking my nose there again."

"Dying to though, uh?" he challenges, getting comfortable as he crosses one foot over the other.

Damn right. If that was his father's fiancée, where is his mother? Are his parents divorced? Is that why Jude hates the two?

"I can survive," I mutter.

He laughs again. "So, where are you off to with your little clique?"

"Shit," I curse, turning to look over at the others. They have gotten to Isaac's car, waiting on me. "I gotta go, they're waiting on me."

I start to walk away but Jude grabs my hand. "Not before you answer my question."

"To Isaac's," I reply.

His hand drops from mine. A frown crowds his face. "What?"

I sigh. "You heard me, Jude. I don't want to keep them waiting, can I go now?"

"Why are you going there?"

"Because he's my friend?" I reply in a 'duh' tone. "You know, if you keep throwing questions my way and getting your answers, you're going to have to return the favour one day." "Whatever, Avery."

I roll my eyes and walk off. "Later, Walker."

Isaac's place is in the opposite direction from my home and a ten-minute ride from school, in fair traffic. He parks in the driveway of a red brick house that's much similar to mine in terms of size. So is the neighbouring house. They are a reflection of middle-class families, not over the top and not struggling. The two houses are separated by a low picket fence, and we can see into the other compound.

We hop out of his car, Nicki and I emerging from the backseat.

"What beautiful flowers!" she exclaims, then she's at the colourful flower beds, sniffing into them.

I watch the bees that are buzzing around. "You'll get stung."

She lets out a pfft sound and proceeds to pluck a yellow flower. She tucks it behind her ear. The boys are already making their way towards the house. I follow after them, not wanting to risk getting stung by an angry bee.

I don't get far however before Nicki grabs my arm from behind, whispering harshly. "Look, look!"

She doesn't give me a choice though, as I am violently turned around to look at whatever she's talking about.

And damn, is it a sight.

Right there, on the porch of the next house stands Jade and Jared.

Jade and Jared, Jude's siblings.

I stand and stare, not even afraid of getting caught staring like a weirdo.

Jade has Jared backed up into the wall, and it looks as if she's trying to explain something to him. Her hands are gesticulating all over the place, while he watches her with a slight smile on his face, his head tilted to the side. He looks so much like Jude with that certain posture, and the fact that it's clear he's having fun infuriating his sister.

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!

"That's Jude's house, I presume?" Nicki whispers from beside me.

I nod, the wheels Jude mentioned earlier already turning. Jude is Isaac's neighbour. And they don't get along. And the impression I'm getting off Jared right now is so different from the one I got the first time.

The door opens and another girl steps out. This one I've never seen before. I don't know whether she's one of the siblings, because she is dark-haired. Or maybe she is but took after the father. They all couldn't have gotten their mother's perfect genes, right?

I nudge Nicki in her side. "Who's that?"

She replies, "Jared's twin sister," at the same time Simon hollers for us, "What are you two still doing down there?" which leads to the three siblings next door looking over at us.

Me and Nicki being put on the spot for being nosy, she takes my hand and we hurry towards the two boys as if we hadn't just been spying on the Walkers. "Twin?" I mutter.

"Yeah."

"Is that all of them?"

Nicki nods again as we get to the boys.

"I swear you have been drawing attention from all the wrong places of late," Simon says, looking sideways at the Walkers.

"What?" I mutter, feigning ignorance.

"Jared is looking at you as if he knows you from somewhere. Met him before?"

I want to lie, but what comes out of my mouth is contrary. "Once."

A sting spreads across my back after Nicki delivers a slap that must have been meant to be playful. "How come I've never heard of that story?"

I roll my eyes. "There's no story."

Isaac saves the day by inviting us into the house.

I spend my evening like a normal teen for once, having fun with people my age. Isaac's younger sister is called Jane. The moment we got into the house behind Isaac, she rose from her place on a couch in the sitting room and disappeared upstairs, as if she was running from us.

When the evening wears out, Isaac drops Simon and me at a junction where we can take a bus home, while he drives Nicki, whose home is in a different direction. The two could surely do with a little bonding time. And I could try and poke a few answers from Simon.

"What do you know about Isaac and Jude?"

"That they're neighbours?"

I fight the urge to clobber him on his head. "They don't get along, do they?"

"Isaac used to be tight with Jared, and Jared and Jude have never gotten along."

"Why?"

"How about you ask Jude that question?" he suggests.

"He won't tell me anything," I whine.

He shrugs. "Well then, it's not my business to tell."

"Come on Simon!"

A bus pulls up to the stop in that instant, and Simon hurries to get on. I hurry in after him but unfortunately, I don't get to refresh our conversation. Maybe I should really stop poking my nose in stuff that doesn't concern me. Jude, 9.27 pm: Why bother having an Instagram if you don't post any pictures?

I swear these texts keep getting more random.

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! Jude, 9.28 pm: Or maybe you only use it for stalking?

I roll my eyes and settle on my back on my bed as I text back.

Me, 9.28 pm: You wish.

Besides, he must have been stalking me to realise I rarely post photos on there, right?

Jude, 9.29 pm: You don't wish for things you've already had ;)

I snicker.

Me, 9.30 pm: Do you have a particular reason as to why you're bothering me right now?

Jude, 9.31 pm: Actually......no.

I shake my head and type away.

Me, 9.31 pm: So I saw your home.

Jude, 9.33 pm: There's a big difference between a house and a home.

I frown, gnawing at my lip. He can't give me such a suggestive sentiment and expect me to lay back. Or maybe I should ignore it and talk about something different.

Me, 9.35 pm: ??

Jude, 9.36 pm: If you lived with people who don't want you there, would you call that home?

He's being uncharacteristically generous with information, so I decide to take advantage.

Me, 9.37 pm: What do you mean?

Jude, 9.40 pm: Just that. Anyway. Why didn't you tell me your sister is a model?

This is definitely not going to be the day I fill all the blank spaces.

Me, 9.40 pm: Why would I do that?

Jude, 9.41 pm: Because I'm a model too?

Me, 9.42 pm: >_>

Jude, 9.42 pm: 23rd person I'm following.

I scoff.

Me, 9.43 pm: Do your precious follows have life-giving powers or something?

Jude, 9.44 pm: ;) you never know.

Me, 9.45 pm: Aren't you busy tonight?

Jude, 9.46 pm: Nope.

Me, 9.47 pm: Clearly.

Jude, 9.48 pm: I'll see you tomorrow, night.

Me, 9.49 pm: Night too.

Tomorrow, the last day before break. I can't wait.