Chapter One – Awkward Beginnings

The rising of the sun marked a new day for Jude Harrison; a day of new beginnings, new choices, and new experiences. Today was the day she was heading off to college. Jude had woken up an hour before her alarm was supposed to go off. She didn't know if it was nerves, excitement or both that made her wake up at such an early hour. She had spent that extra hour writing in her journal. The one thing that made her feel at ease was her music. She was most herself with a guitar, a pen and her journal, that was all she needed to get by day to day.

"Jude, honey? It's time to get up." A kind voice floated up the stairs.

"Already up, Mom. I'll be down in a minute." Jude said to her mother, Victoria. Her older sister Sadie had already left for college the week before. He dad, Stuart, would be arriving any time now and she wasn't looking forward to the awkwardness. 'I hope he doesn't bring Yvette.' Jude thought to herself as she walked down the stairs. She was met with the delicious smells of breakfast. Her mom had evidently made her favorite, J-shaped pancakes.

"Mom, you didn't have to do this." Jude said as she made her way into the kitchen. Victoria smiled and nodded.

"It's the last breakfast I'll be able to make you for a while, honey. I had to do this." She said as she placed the food on the table. As soon as they say down, footsteps could be heard from the living room.

"Where's my college student?" a male voice bellowed from the living room. Jude rolled her eyes as she heard a female giggle come from the same room. Jude chanced a glance at her mother and sighed.

"In here Dad." She replied shortly. Victoria's happy face had completely fallen as soon as she heard Yvette's distinctive voice. Stuart made his grand entrance with Yvette holding his hand. Jude noticeably turned away from them and focused on her mother and her food.

"Hi Vicky." Stuart said trying to be civil in front of everyone. Victoria completely ignored him and glared at Yvette.

"Why are you here?" Victoria asked Yvette. Yvette looked completely shocked at the question. "This is a family moment and last time I checked you weren't a part of this family. You've already done enough and I don't want you in my house anymore. Please leave."

Jude smiled at her mother and did a happy dance on the inside. It was about time she had stood up to the home wrecker. Yvette's face was priceless. Her mouth was opening and closing like a fish and all Jude wanted to do was laugh. She was trying her best to not laugh but a little giggle escaped that she quickly covered up with a cough.

"Vic, there is no need to be rude to Yvette. I brought her here because she wanted to be apart of this and she wanted to see Jude off." Stuart said. Victoria's eyes widened and Jude could see that the situation at hand was about to be World War III.

"Mom, Dad. Can we just sit down, have a nice breakfast and just chill for once? Mom, I'm not condoning Dad bringing Yvette here but I don't want to leave here with everyone fighting. Dad, I appreciate you coming here and everything but don't you think it was just a little bit wrong to bring Yvette here?" Jude said as she looked between the two people who meant the most to her. It broke her heart every time she saw how broken up her family had become. Victoria looked at her daughter and nodded as did Stuart.

'It was going to be one long morning.' Jude thought as she watched everyone sit down at the table and ignore each other.