Chapter 10

Waking up with a kiss good morning is always one of Connor's favorite ways to wake. Jude nuzzled his nose in the place where Connor's neck and shoulder met, kissing softly on the warm flesh.

"Well good morning to you too," Connor mumbled, kissing Jude softly. Jude kissed back, but broke apart when the bedroom door opened. Marianna poked her head in the room, noticing how Jude and Connor were cuddled up together in Jude's single bed.

She cooed at the cuteness.

Connor lay in Jesus' bed, curled in a fetal position, afraid to shut his eyes. It was like he was eight years old again and crying himself to sleep to the sound of his parents arguing. He heard the hateful words tenfold as they rang through his ears. He felt the slaps that would come if his father ever had a drink. He smelt the alcohol on his father's breath. He heard himself cry out and felt himself slick with sweat. Connor screamed and soon comforting arms wrapped around his middle and murmured softly in his ear.

"I'm here, Connor, I'm here," the voice cooed. Connor's eyes opened and he looked up at Jude in the darkness.

"It's okay," Jude whispered. Connor kissed Jude's lips thankfully. After the tears stopped, Jude left for his own bed.

"Jude," Connor hissed in the darkness. Squinting in the faint light coming from the bathroom across the hall, Connor saw Jude beckon him over to his bed. Connor padded over and scooted under the covers beside Jude. Giving Jude a quick kiss on the lips, Connor snuggled closer to his boyfriend and fell asleep. This time, he smelt the faint scent of mint that always hung around Jude.

Brandon woke up a sweaty mess. He was breathing heavily, the guilt crushing his chest. Even though he had told Momma (Lena), he still felt the guilt crushing him.

Out in the hall, Callie ran down the stairs toward where Moms waited in the kitchen.

"Callie!" Brandon called. Callie ignored him. Brandon bolted from his room, waking Jesus in the process.

"Hey man!" Jesus shouted as Brandon bounded down the stairs. He caught Callie's arm and turned her to face him.

"Callie, what's wrong?" he asked sincerely, reaching up to wipe away the tears that slid down her face.

"Brandon, no. Don't touch me." Callie jerked her hand away.

"Callie, don't push me away!" Brandon argued. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Liam. He…he…he texted me last night."

"Did-did you reply?" Brandon asked, baffled. How the hell did Liam get Callie's number? Moms had specifically changed her number so he couldn't contact her.

"Are you going to tell Moms?" Brandon pressed. Callie nodded, wiping away tears with the back of her hand. Callie stepped away from Brandon. Her face was eerily calm when she walked into the kitchen and took her seat to the left of Momma (Lena) and to Jude's right. Connor sat where Brandon usually sat, so Brandon took Jesus's seat.

It was after breakfast that the doorbell rang. Brandon opened the door and saw Lou standing in the doorway.

"Hey, Lou," Brandon nodded.

"Hey yourself. I wanted to hear that bit that you were working on for Outlaws. Is it ready?" Lou asked.

"Yeah, sure. Come in and I'll show you." Brandon closed the door behind Lou and showed her to the garage where his piano stood idly in its stand. Brandon rested his hands on the keys and began to play the notes he'd grown accustomed to playing and knew by heart how they should sound. Lou pulled out her guitar and strummed along, her voice echoing in the garage as she softly sings the lyrics.

"That was good," Lou complimented. She paused for a second. "Are you singing lead at our next gig?"

"Sure, if you want me to," Brandon nodded.

"I can sing back up again, but don't get too cocky, I'm still lead singer any other time," Lou teased. Brandon smiled lightly.

Mariana stared at her cell phone. Zac had just called her. He would be coming back to Anchor Beach in eight weeks and he was so excited to see her again, but which her? The girl with black hair who did the play, or the newest dance team member who had blonde hair?

Without thinking, Mariana walked out of her bedroom and stormed into Jude's. Mariana couldn't help but smile by what she saw. Connor and Jude were snuggled up together, Connor contently playing with Jude's brown curls.

"Sorry to intrude," Mariana apologized.

"It's okay, Jude's still asleep," Connor whispered. He kissed Jude's head, cheek and then his still lips. Jude woke and responded slowly. He wrapped his arms around Connor's neck and kissed him harder.

"You two are too cute," Mariana said as she walked downstairs. Popping her head in her and Callie's room before descending the stairs, she saw Callie staring at the ceiling. Mariana walked downstairs and sat in her usual seat. She was shortly followed by Jude and Connor whose make out session must have lasted shorter than usual.

"Moms," Callie breathed when she came into the kitchen, "Liam texted me last night." Mom (Stef) dropped her fork at the news.

"He what?" Momma (Lena) asked.

"He texted me saying 'long time no see'," Callie explained. "How did he get my number?"

"Maybe he called an operator," Mariana suggested.

"The operators have a list of blocked numbers. His was blocked when we had Callie's number changed," Stef countered.

"We will have your number changed and his number blocked again today then, sweetie," Lena patted Callie's shoulder comfortingly. Callie nodded and went over to the coffee machine to pour herself a cup. She took a sip and watched everyone with hawk eyes. Mariana finished her toast quickly; she got up from her seat and ran upstairs to her room, locking the door behind her.

"Well that was strange," Connor noted as he led the way up to Jude's room. There he sat on the floor, noticing the piles of books that littered the floor. "Didn't know you had so many books."

"Just a few Lena got from the school library," Jude muttered. He sat beside Connor, reaching for his favorite book Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan.

"Read this yet?" Jude asked, holding up the book.

"No, what's it about?"

"A kid named Paul met this amazing guy named Noah but he blew it and it's about him trying to win Noah back," Jude explained briefly. "You should really read it."

"Okay, as long as you read Alex Rider-Scorpia," Connor wagered.

"Deal." Jude shook his boyfriend's hand, and Jude pulled Connor into a kiss.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, I had major writer's block, and I have to learn French! I am American so I'm trying to learn French and it is hard. I promise to update sooner and please PM suggestions for this fanfic!

***Another thing! Should this story include the side pairing of BRANDON/CALLIE or BRANDON/LOU? Please give me your opinions!****