Knowing Jude

True to Mum's word and thanks to Sam's need to celebrate his birthday twice a year, evening finds the entire Hansen family huddled in their warmest clothes, standing to the side as Trey and I get popcorn and soda for the movie. Sam is running around with Liam, there's no sign of Willow. Maria is standing a few feet away from Mum and Dad, glaring into space and looking as if this is the last place she would like to be at the moment. She tried to deceive her way out of coming, but Mum wasn't taking any excuses. I can only imagine where she wanted to get to instead.

Trey keeps looking around.

I nudge him in the side. "Expecting someone?"

He shakes his head. "No."

"That girl wouldn't stop stealing glances at you back at the restaurant," I tease, referring to a girl who had been at one of the tables at the restaurant we went to for dinner.

Trey turns halfway towards me and motions to his face. "Have you seen this? Of course she stared."

I lift an eyebrow. "Since when did you get so cocky?"

"What does accepting the fact that I'm good looking has to do with cockiness? You should accept and appreciate who you are, Jo."

I assume a serious look and nod energetically. "Yeah, you're right. You could have gotten her number, you know."

"For what?"

"She was obviously interested."

"So? I wasn't."

"You sound as if you're making a lot of effort to get the one you're actually interested in," I jab. Ever since he confessed to liking Jade, I've not heard of any developments. He rolls his eyes. "Just wait."

"Waiting."

We gradually move up the line and get the popcorn and drinks. He gets an extra ticket for another movie, and no matter how much I plead for an explanation, all I get is a secretive grin. Trey leads the way into the cinema and soon we're seated, ready for the start of the movie.

Trey disappears halfway through the movie. Shortly after Maria does the same, and unlike Trey who shows up after half an hour, she doesn't return.

"Where from?" I whisper, suspecting his disappearance has something to do with the other ticket, given the other movie is showing too.

He settles back in his seat and grabs the popcorn in my hands. "To ruin somebody's date is all."

My eyes widen and I lean towards him. "What?"

He winks and grabs a fistful of popcorn. "I told you to wait. So wait."

"Where's my surprise?" Sam demands from Mum as we file out of the cinema. The boy is getting too bossy if you ask me. After making us sit through a GE animation meant for seven-year-olds-which was humorous but still-he dozed his way through the last half.

"Right outside," Mum replies. "Outside?" I wonder.

"What is it?" Sam asks excitedly.

Mum shakes her head. "You'll see when we get there."

What follows is a semi race for the outside as Sam manoeuvres through the throng of people heading outside and others in the opposite direction. Liam's hand is clasped tightly in his, and I'm right behind the two. "What could it be?" Trey asks from right beside me.

"I have no idea," I reply, laughing at our excitement to discover what Sam's surprise is.

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We burst through the massive entrance and rush down the stairs, the boys right ahead of us. There's nothing extraordinary in the vicinity, just people moving on the sidewalk and cars crawling by in the street. Sam turns around, his face flushed. "There's nothing!" he whines.

We halt to wait for Mum's explanation.

We hear the surprise before we see it.

"SAMMY!"

I whip back around the same time Trey does. Lilian is running towards Sam, and in the next instant has him raised in her arms, swirling him around.

"Holy shit," Trey whispers beside me.

Nobody was expecting her. Other than Mum and Dad, obviously...

Sam cackles out loud, wrapping his little arms around her neck.

"How's that for a surprise, uh?" Mum comments quite proudly, finally appearing beside us.

"Eleven over ten," I playfully stroke her ego.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be so late! The traffic was so heavy!" Lilian apologises, adding Liam into the hug.

I'm grinning hard, so happy to see her. She's dressed in a pair of jeans, a heavy jacket and a beanie, her long hair flowing down her back. Her feet are shoved in a pair of comfy-looking booties that I immediately covet. Sue me.

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Trey and I stand by as she hugs the folks, and I see that even Dad looks relaxed enough. Hopefully, his stance has been thawing over time.

Then she's practically jumping on us, Trey instantly complaining as she pulls the two of us into a hug at the same time.

"I missed you guys so much!"

"Won't help if you squeeze us to death," Trey grumbles.

Lilian laughs and pulls back, then pinches his cheeks. "Cuter than ever, I see."

Scandalized, Trey swats her hand away. "Jeez, Lilian. I'm not Sam and you're not grandma!"

I burst into laughter at the obvious blush on his face. I wonder what happened to accepting and appreciating who you are...?

Before Maria's absence could be noticed, she appears behind our parents and lets out a small shriek at the sight of Lilian.

She comes at her with outstretched arms.

"OMG, Lili! Did you get me those shoes you had for the London show?"

I don't get a lot of studying done something I'm sure to regret with the first glimpse of the Biology paper-no matter how much I try because of how rowdy the house is. Sam won't stop running around the house calling Lilian's attention to his achievements for the term, Lilian won't stop teasing Trey, and Maria won't stop coming into my room to pore over Lilian's suitcase. Then, of course, there's Maria and Trey's endless squabbles.

I'm highly tempted to text Jude on my new non-webbed phone that Lilian surprised me with-about his belongings that he so carelessly dropped outside my window, but I bid my time. Monday's coming, and he's going to have a case to answer. I might start withering if I have to endure one more of Maria's all-knowing condescending looks.

She has the feeling she got me wrapped around her little finger. No doubt planning on taking me down with her if it comes to that. And I have a sick feeling it might... How much longer can she sneak around on Mum and Dad without getting caught?

I keep reminding myself that I've done nothing wrong, other than room Jude at night without my parents' knowledge, but it's not much consolation.

Jude had better have a satisfactory explanation in some corner of that brilliant mind of his.