This one's practically seeping with drama. :) Also, I changed my username...if you hadn't noticed. xD

Chapter 9: Rainy Confessions

Had the situation been different, the dramatic way in which all six teens skidded to a stop just outside of the mall's front doors—managing to run into each other simultaneously which resulted in a chorused round of 'Oof's'—would've been funny; something to look back on days from now and laugh at until their sides ached. Unfortunately…

"Aw, it's raining dudes!" Usually such weather wouldn't phase Jude—it just made the ground all the more slippery as he skated down the sidewalk. However, it was a bit too late to consider skateboarding, and...well...there was another reason he wouldn't be able to do this...but the thought was quickly shrugged off. As he and the others were beginning to huddle under the little awning that shaded the front doors, it became obvious that this detour would hinder their chances of getting home even more on top of the episode they'd just experienced with Ron. Groaning, he tugged his black beanie farther onto his head.

Nikki merely sighed as she continued to stare ahead, resisting the oh-so tempting urge to utter a sarcastic remark, if only to lighten the mood a bit. 'Oh, is it really now? I figured we were all just enjoying each other's company outside in the freezing cold just because.' Of course something like this would happen. Just when she figured that her plan would have them free of any other predicaments for the rest of the night… It. Just. Had. To. Rain.

Call it instinct, but Caitlin had felt the urge to lean out from under the awning, craning her head upward as if to make sure that Jude's exclamation had actually been true. Needless to say, as large drops of rain proceeded to pelt her face and temporarily blur her vision, she immediately scolded herself for even doing what she did while scrambling to the back of the group, a whimper escaping her lips as she hastily rubbed at her eyes. "Oh noo! This can't be happening…I totally just straightened my hair this morning!"

It seemed as if Jen was refraining from speaking as well, though her hesitation was brought on from said blonde's worry over something as small as her hair. Funny how she had never truly realized how annoying Caitlin tended to get until the two of them were in a heated argument such as this one. "Uh, Jonsey," she began with no previous intention of calling her step brother in mind…though she could only hope that maybe a plan would come to her as she spoke, "…how far of a walk…er, run would it be from here?"

"Are you serious? We can't run! We'll get soaked!" Not that her condition could possibly worsen at this point, but Caitlin would have rather sat around and waited until the storm passed over.

Ignoring this outburst, Jen had shot a glare in her direction while the green-eyed teen was preoccupied with using her trembling hands to smooth down her barely-frizzy hair as much as possible.

Jonsey meanwhile, glanced over at his step sibling with a look that would make anyone think the girl had more than two heads. "How am I supposed to know? It's not like we'd be able to see our way around, anyway!" The body heat surrounding him was doing no help to warm him up—in fact, he was getting goosebumps from it. Awkward.

"Well I don't know about you guys…but as much as this little rendezvous has been fun, I personally am missing my heated home at the moment, so…" allowing her voice to trail off, Nikki slowly edged her way towards the area where the awning broke off, water trickling down over the edge and making a small puddle right at where her feet stood. As of right this very second, the only person she was still absolutely certain about friendship-wise was Wyatt, so it was a small relief to watch as he came to stand next to her, a warm smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, I'm with you. My house is on the way to yours, anyway. On three?"

"…One…"

Jen tore her gaze away from the two before glancing at Jude. "Can't you skateboard home?" She wasn't trying to get rid of him per say, but it wasn't as if anyone would be willing to stick around and finish what they had started back in the theater.

"…Two…"

Jude merely shot her a lazy grin as he shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Nah dudette, I sorta left Sally back in the theater.." Ah...maybe that had came out a bit more casual than he had intended.

Dead silence: Nikki and Wyatt in mid-step, Caitlin suppressing a small gasp, Jonsey not entirely sure what was going on from having not been paying attention, but still managing to look as surprised as ever while Jen gawked at the laid-back teen with wide eyes.

It was painfully obvious now that they looked at his empty hands; so it was a surprise that nobody had noticed their skater friend get kicked out of the theater without his most prized possession tucked under his arm.

"And…and you're completely okay with this…?"

He blinked, head tilting to the side in confusion. "…Huh? Yeah, totally! I haven't really been skateboarding as much as I used to anyway, so it's all good. They'll probably toss the thing in the 'Lost n' Found', right?"

"Jude!" Wyatt turned around, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and shaking him wildly. "I don't even know you anymore, man! Please tell me you just want to break into the mall to get Sally—not 'the thing', Sally!—at this very moment!" So many pent-up emotions were beginning to make the African-Canadian teen completely hysterical.

Why was everyone freaking out about this…? "Uhm…no…?" The blonde winced as he braced himself for another round of accusations, the cold air finally getting to him as he shivered.

Jonsey's mouth formed an 'O' in realization as it finally began to process what was occuring. "Jude…without a skateboard…? Is that even a possible sentence?"

"Only if you add the words 'isn't Jude' between them," Nikki muttered dryly, pretending to not notice the quick flash of hurt on said boy's expression as he turned to her.

"Jude…" Caitlin whispered as she lightly touched one of his arms, causing the boy to jump slightly. "…You never go anywhere without Sally. What's…what's gotten into you?"

It was only a single interpretation of the question that everyone had wanted to ask him for weeks now. And as Jude looked from her weary features to the curious eyes of all of his friends, he understood this too. It only killed him a bit more on the inside as he knew he wouldn't be able to give them a straightforward answer. Fiddling with the chain on his pocket, he attempted to block out everyone's steady breathing; focusing on the light patter of the rain, which still seemed to be as heavy as ever. "N-nothin's wrong…I'm just…experimenting…and trying out new things. I-I mean…I still like skateboarding but…not as much as I used to…it's just distracting me from…"

"From what?"

"…from a thing!"

Wyatt and Nikki locked eyes for a split second as the former mouthed a word that had the latter stiffening slightly. 'Trisha?'

Caitlin had noticed this silent exchange, and maneuvered her way past a surprised Jen so that she was directly next to Jude, even if that meant a part of her was now exposed to the rain. "A thing, Jude? …Or…or…" oh God, her voice…it was cracking…she could feel water in her eyes that felt much too warm to be rain… "…a person…?"

"Caitlin!" Now it was Jen's turn to explode, her hands in fists as she stared at the girl who had now dropped her pleading expression in favor of a cold stare that was far more bothersome then the air that surrounded them. "You have no right to be getting into Jude's business. In fact…" she glanced around with a frown, "none of us do! And this isn't the first time I've said this!" 'YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH THAT INVOLVE JONSEY!' The remainder of her sentence sounded out so clearly in her head, and yet…she couldn't bring herself to say them out loud.

"Stay out of this, Jen!" Just when they were getting through to Jude, she had to go and steal the spotlight with her…whatever she was mad about. God, Caitlin was done. Beyond done. And as if to emphasize her point, she had made a point to voice this out loud with the utmost confidence, only vaguely noticed the remaining four friends backing away. A slight satisfaction came out of the sight of the redhead fuming. But, before anymore words could be exchanged, the rain came to a complete stop, the night sky now visible through the disappearing clouds.

"We all need to go home," Wyatt soon said with a shaky voice, no sooner did Jen harshly grab Jonsey by the arm and begin walking in another direction. Nikki had disappeared moments after he had even spoken, her gaze flickering from Jen to her supposed boyfriend before she went on her way. A loud sob erupted from Caitlin as she glanced at Jude for one more minute, turning away as soon as the boy had felt her gaze on him.

And then, Wyatt had done something he knew was completely out of character for him, seeing as…he was still supposed to be the peacemaker.

'Screw it all.'

Wrapping an arm around Caitlin, he began to lead her off while occasionally muttering some last-minute reassurances, leaving Jude standing under the awning completely alone, and the sight of his friends separating before his very eyes replaying over and over again in his mind.

His ringtone shattered the silence as it began sounding from his pocket, and one glance at the caller ID had his breath catching in his throat.

Now Calling: Trisha.

Before he realized what he was doing, his thumb hovered over the green button, signaling 'answer'.