Chapter 4

"The Beatles" Jude laughed down the phone

"Huh what do you mean?"

"You mean after all these years you don't remember the first time you came over to mine for that school project and my mum made a Beatles joke"

"And you said it was a band old people listened to, I remember now" Connor said chuckling down the phone

" I can't believe it's been so long" Jude said

"I know right, what happened?"

"Well if I remember correctly you moved away I believe"

"Very funny smarty pants" Connor said sarcastically "I mean how comes we never stayed in touch?"

"I think with the long distance and only messaging each other we never got to hang out"

"I guess your right" Connor said as his body was filled with a mix of emotions, jubilation at hearing the sound of his friends voice after all these year and excitement that they were back in touch but also a little bit nervous, unsure if Jude was the same person who he knew all those years ago. Little did Connor know Jude was feeling the same mix of emotions They were finally speaking after so many years apart. "So how you been?" Connor enquired

"I'm good, I'm studying abroad at the moment"

"Your Mom's mentioned something about that, where are you exactly?"

"I'm in England"

"Really"

"Yeah I know can you believe it I'm on an English scholarship"

"No way I'm on a baseball scholarship, what's it like"

"It's a really great city so much history and culture you should try and visit if you get the chance"

"I'll try my scholarship takes up most of my time"

"We'll I'm heading back to Anchor Beach for the holidays maybe we'll meet up then".

They talked for hours reminiscing about their time growing up together oblivious to the large phone bill that was waiting." Do you remember the time we went fishing and I told you not to stand up in the boat?" Connor asked

"Yeah I remember" Jude replied

"And what did you do?"

"I stood up"

"And"

"I fell in, and as I recall you stood their laughing"

"If it had happened to me you would have done the same"

"True… How is your dad by the way?"

"He's good, why you asking?"

"Just curious, Look it's been really great catching up but I should head off to bed, anyway I'm back for Christmas in about 3 months so well meet up then"

"Ok I'll give you a call later on"

"Con"

"Yeah Jude"

"It was good to talk again to hear your voice"

"Yours to"

Unfortunately Jude never made it back for Christmas that year heavy snow had meant that all flights in and out of London were cancelled. Jude felt gutted not only was this his first Christmas away from home, from his family and in a new country he was looking forward to meeting up with Connor." Look I'm really sorry guys but I can't make it back for Christmas this year all flight out of London have been cancelled".

"No"

"I can't believe it"

"That's too bad Jude" The whole family was gutted Jude ad been away for so long they were looking forward to seeing him again and catching up" Look I'm really gutted to I looking forward to meeting up with Connor, guess that will have to wait".

"Hey bud, the minute you get time off you come back here and see us ok" Lena said over skype with the whole family in the background

"Will do mum, Merry Christmas you guys"

"Merry Christmas Jude" the family yelled over skype. Jude looked at the phone at his phone an noticed he had a text form Connor, 'looking forward to meeting over Xmas'. Jude felt his heart sink 'Sorry not coming back for Christmas, snow to heavy no planes leaving London. Sorry'. Connor was sat at home watching TV when he was suddenly startled by his phone. He saw that Jude had replied to his text. Connor suddenly felt all giddy about seeing his friend again. But all that changed when he saw the text. 'No worries, well meet some other time' he replied, 'Sure, Who you spending Christmas with' Jude replied. 'My folks, there flying out form New York', 'Tell your dad I said hi' Connor gave a light chuckle and replied 'will do'.

However the scholarships proved too much and with the time difference Jude and Connors contact became less and less each day. It was almost one year later when Jude managed to return to Anchor Beach, this time with a boyfriend.