Cardigan Weather – Chapter One
Jude sighed heavily. She did not wanna go to school today. Going to school was pretty low on her priority list. But here she was, grabbing her car keys and getting ready for her first day of 11th grade.
Most kids were excited to get back to school. Yeah, it meant no more free time, but it also meant they would be able to see their friends everyday. Jude, on the other hand, hadn't been to school since grade three, when she moved away and was home schooled. It wasn't by choice; home schooling was the last thing she wanted to do. But after a few years of it, she began to like staying at home and doing lessons when she felt like it.
All of her time spent alone gave Jude more time to learn things that normal teens didn't. Her favorite was music, and she was a virtuoso at her craft. So good, that she managed to score a record deal after the nation selected her as their very first Instant Star.
So now, not only does she have to juggle recording her first album, she's moved back to her old town and she has to deal with being semi-famous, all while going back to a public school after years of home schooling.
Now you know why she wasn't up for this.
"Jude, after school you're gonna have to order something to eat. Your dad and I are going to see that new show downtown and we don't know what time we'll be back," Victoria, Jude's mom said.
"Why can't Sadie do it?" Jude didn't want to have to order food. She wanted to go to school and come home and sleep. Of course, that probably wouldn't happen, since her producer needed her to come up with a single, fast.
"Sadie has debate practice until seven, and then she's going to the library to work on her case," Victoria said.
'Oh naïve mother, you can think Sadie's going to the library all you want.'
Jude knew exactly what her sister was doing, and it didn't surprise her that their mother didn't know anything about Sadie and her new boyfriend.
"Sure, well I'm gonna go then," Jude said.
"Look, sweetie, I know that you don't wanna do this, but you're gonna need to make some kind of interaction with kids your age," Victoria said.
"Yeah I know mom." Her mother was always telling her why she should be like Sadie and have more friends, be more involved in school. Jude had friends. Back in grade three, she had three best friends, but that was grade three. People change. Sure she had friends back where she lived while she was home schooled, but she was never really able to open up to them like she felt she should.
"If you want, you can invite some people over for dinner," Victoria said.
"Okay, bye," Jude said. She walked out of the house and into her car, letting the sounds of JamisonParker soothe her.
"Vincent, come on we have to hurry up," Eden whined. Spiederman groaned. First she told him they had to stop so she could get her chai latte and now she was rushing him.
"I can't go any faster babe, we're at a light," Speed said.
"Make it change faster." She poked her lip out. When she first did that, he thought it was a little cute. Not, it annoyed the hell out of him. What was she, five?
"It changed. We'll make it in time for you to do your little thing," Speed said.
"It's not my little thing, it's my big thing. I have to see what this year's class is gonna be like, and I can only tell by seeing who's in our class," Eden said. Every summer students try out to be in the school's band. It's not band like trombones and marching or anything; no it's an actual band. Only a few students every year are permitted to join again, and Eden was sure she got chosen to be the singer. She was the best the school had to offer.
Speed could care less. He wanted to be in it, but he was sure he would have a lot more fun outside of school jamming with his best friends than he would in a class, any day.
"Just tell me if I'm in there or not. I'll see you in homeroom." And with that, he got out of the car, hugged her, and walked over to his friends. Or at least, tried to walk over to his friends. He was almost hit by a car.
"Watch where you're going!" he yelled at the driver.
"You're the one who was in my way. I'm trying to park here!" the driver retorted. Speed went up to the door to give the driver a little piece of his mine. Little did he know, she was thinking the same thing.
"Vincent, it's only the first day of school, and you're already in trouble? School hasn't even officially started yet, you know that? This has to be a record for you," the dean said. Jude and Spiederman both got out of the car and started shoving each other. Thankfully it was broken up before it escalated into anything more violent.
"And you, young lady. I would think someone of your kind would be able to handle situations like these without getting physical. It's also your first day here, and you're in trouble as well. I hope it's the last time I see you here," he continued.
"Mr. G, you're gonna let this one slide. It's only the first day of school, and the fight ended way before it got worse," Speed said.
"I'm gonna let this one slide?" Mr. G asked.
You gotta love the Jedi Mind Trick.
"Thanks Mr. G. I knew you'd see my side of things," Speed said. He and Jude walked out of the office without any form of punishment. The two glared at each other one last time, to let the other know that they still had some unfinished business to settle.
"Speed! I didn't get in," Eden said, running up.
"What? That's not possible," Speed said, giving Eden his attention.
"I know, how could this school not choose me? I made it to the final 48 in Instant Star. Who could possibly be better?" Eden asked.
"Who made it instead of you?" Speed asked.
"I don't know, some bitch named Jude Harrison," Eden said. She wanted to kick something, she was so upset.
"I don't think we've met. I'm some bitch named Jude Harrison, winner of Instant Star," the redhead said. Eden's jaw dropped.
'That's where I've heard her name from.' Speed knew her name sounded familiar, but he had a feeling he knew who she was before she revealed herself as the winner of the contest.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you a bitch. I was just upset, you know?" Eden said. She didn't know why she didn't recognize her. It all made sense now.
"Yeah, whatevs. Now if you're done wasting my time, Vincent, I'm gonna get to class," Jude said, turning on her heel.
Two things just occurred that Speed did not like. He did not like being called Vincent, and he did not like not getting the last word.
"What was that all about?" Eden asked. Speed shook his head and walked to class, where his best friends awaited him. His two best friends who were currently fixated with their new classmate.
"Alright class, you're going to tell me your name, and one thing you did over the summer," the teacher, Mrs. Marks said. Jude rolled her eyes. It was just like grade three.
"How about you, Miss Harrison. You seem so thrilled to get this over with," she said.
"Well, I'm Jude Harrison, and I moved here over the summer," Jude said as kindly as she could.
"Oh, really? Where did you move from? And do you like it here?" Mrs. Marks asked.
"BC (British Columbia) and yeah I guess. I used to live here until I was nine, then we moved," Jude said.
'Jude Harrison, Jude Harrison. It can't be the Jude I know. The Jude I know is gone. Wait, why do I care. She's not important. She's just some girl who tried to kill me. But she's beautiful. Wait, no I have Eden. And this girl is not pretty. I must be delusional. I'm sitting here talking to myself, I am delusional.' Speed was having a battle with his mind and so far he was losing.
"Vincent, you look troubled. Thinking too hard again I see," Mrs. Marks said.
"I am thinking just fine, thank you very much. I'm Spiederman, most of you already know, and this summer, I started a band with these two dudes," Speed said, pointing at his friends, Kyle Bateman and Wally Robbins.
"Nice to know you did something productive with yourself," the teacher said before moving on. He glanced over at Jude who was staring intently at whatever was on her notebook.
Jude knew he was watching her and it was starting to creep her out. She looked up and gave him a dirty look, one that would normally make most people cower in fear. It took years to perfect this look, and it usually worked. For some reason, it wasn't working on Speed.
'Why won't this idiot stop looking at me?' Jude didn't like Speed. Two reasons: one he had been a jerk to her, when it was clearly his fault, and two, he didn't remember her.
That's right, Vincent Spiederman was best friend number one.
Eight Years Ago
"Jude I don't want you to leave, you're the only person I trust," a nine year old Vincent Spiederman said.
"Awh come on dude, you can't get all soft on me. You're gonna make me cry," Jude said.
"But we've been friends ever since I can remember," Speed said.
"Vinnie don't worry, we'll always be friends. I'll write you, everyday. And you'll still have Jamie and Kat to keep you company," Jude said.
"They don't even come close to being you," Speed said, hugging his best friend. He didn't want to see her go. There were so many things he wanted to experience with her.
One night, after sneaking into Sadie's room and watching a few of her movies, (Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Heathers), they made a list of things to do before they turned 18.
"I'm gonna miss you Vin," Jude said.
"Me too, Jude," he said. They hugged one last time before she got in the family van.
"So much for BFFL," Jude mumbled when the bell brought her out of her thoughts. She grabbed her things and headed out of class, smacking right into someone.
"Jude Harrison?" a guy asked. Jude looked up at the guy and recognized him as her dorky neighbor from before.
Enter Jamie Andrews, best friend number two.
"Andrews! I didn't even recognize you without your glasses!" Jude exclaimed. He looked exactly as she remembered him, sans glasses.
"I got contacts last year. Oh wow, I can't believe its really you," Jamie said.
"I know, I thought no one would remember me after all of these years," Jude said.
"How could we forget you. I mean, especially not after you won Instant Star. I voted for you, every week," Jamie said. Jude's heart warmed.
"How'd you know it was me?" Jude asked.
"I could never forget you, Jude. We all couldn't," Jamie said.
"Except Vinnie," Jude said.
"Speed? Oh man, I haven't talked to him since grade five. He became friends with Kyle and Wally and we just kind of drifted apart," Jamie said. Jude frowned.
"Well what about Kat?" she asked.
"She, eh, we don't really get along. Neither does Speed," Jamie said.
"Wow, this is all, just wow," Jude said.
"I can't believe Speed forgot you. Are you sure he forgot you?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah, like, I knew it was him the minute he got in my face about almost hitting him. Then we got sent to the dean's office and he only confirmed my suspicion. But Vin, he has no clue who I am," Jude said.
'It's like I faded away into obscurity.'
"It looks like we have English together. Cool," Jamie said after seeing her schedule.
"Yeah," Jude said. Jamie immediately sat next to some girl, and noticed the rest of the class started to sit off with their friends. Jude had never felt so left out in her life. She took a seat in the back of the class and awaited the end of it.
"Mr. Spiederman, glad you could join us," the teacher said.
Jude looked up. Great. Another class with him. Another hour of being forgotten.
"It looks like there's only one more seat left," the teacher said, pointing Speed to the desk next to Jude.
Of course, the only seat left for him to sit in, had to be the one that was next to her. It's only fitting.
"Uh, well since we're gonna be sitting next to each other for a whole year, I figure we should make nice," Speed said. Jude just raised an eyebrow at him.
"Look, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention and I didn't mean to walk in front of you," Speed said. Everyone that heard him gasped. It was rare that Speed apologized for something. He was usually a cocky guy who claimed he was always right, even when he was wrong.
"Whatever," Jude said, a lump forming in her throat. She didn't think it would really matter, but it truly hurt to have him not remember her.
Speed knew there was something up with this girl. There was something about her, some sort of familiarity about her, and he couldn't quite remember it.
"Jude, you should look for me at lunch. We can catch up on old times," Jamie said as class ended.
And then it hit him. She was Jude Harrison. His Jude Harrison. Not some random girl who shared the same name, no she was the girl who he used to stay up at nights thinking about. And she was inches away from him.
"Jude!" Speed called out. She turned around sharply and glared at him.
"I need to cross this off of my list," he said, pulling her close. Their lips touched, only for a second, but it was a second of bliss for him. She pulled apart and slapped him.
"You jerk," she said and ran off.
Eh, eh, first chapter? I don't plan on making this story long, six chapters max.
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