Here's our next part...hope you all enjoy!
"Whoops…sorry, didn't mean to intrude," Sadie's voice came from outside the closet.
Snapping back into reality, Tommy gently put Jude down and stepped away, looking flustered. Jude backed away, smoothing her clothes and staring towards the light to decipher the image.
"Sadie," Jude said quietly. "We were just…it wasn't what you think…"
"Right. I heard a crash and wanted to make sure everything was okay," she said, placing the flashlight back on the ground, adding, "Looks like it was more than okay…" She turned and walked upstairs silently.
Jude and Tommy just stood there, not knowing what to say.
"Jude…," he started quietly.
"I know, please don't say it," she pleaded, not wanting to hear about how it was a mistake. He opened his mouth to disagree with her but stopped himself. She felt a lump in her throat as he just nodded in understanding. She knew not to get her hopes up when it came to him but was disappointed regardless.
Don't get upset. He doesn't feel that way about you.
"I guess we should pick up this stuff," he said looking down. Jude looked and saw a mish-mash of Scrabble tiles, checker pieces, and Monopoly money scattered all over the floor.
"Yeah, guess those were the real casualty," she said, crouching down and picking up a handful of pieces.
After the basement was cleaned, they silently grabbed the boxes and flashlight and headed upstairs, acting as though nothing had happened. Everyone immediately fought over the games, excited about the activity options. Kwest and Tommy grabbed Battleship and started playing.
"You almost what?" Kwest asked with surprise.
"Would you keep your voice down?" Tommy muttered. "We sort of…almost…kissed. Almost, not actually did."
"Close enough. So who walked in with the flashlight?"
"Sadie," Tommy mumbled, moving one of his pieces on the board.
"Are you kidding? Your ex-girlfriend walks in on you almost kissing her sister."
"Okay, enough. It doesn't matter since it didn't happen."
"But it could've."
"But it didn't."
"But it could've. And you would've been into it."
"Says who?"
"Says anyone who's ever been within 20 feet of the two of you," Kwest responded with a grin.
Tommy glared at Kwest and continued playing, trying to disregard Kwest's words. "I sunk your battleship," Tommy declared, to which Kwest groaned and threw his pieces on the ground.
Meanwhile, Jude, Kat, and Jamie were involved in a heated game of Scrabble.
"Earth to Jude! It's your turn," said Jamie, snapping his fingers in front of her glazed face.
"Oh, sorry." She looked down at the board. After a moment, she put down her letters.
K-I-S-S
"That's your word?" Jamie said irritably.
"Yeah. The "K" is a double letter, so it's not so bad."
"Um, Jude, let's review your last few words," Kat spoke calmly. "'Heart,' 'adore,' 'tears,' and now, 'kiss.' Do you sense a pattern?"
"Yeah, they're all made up of letters I got stuck with," Jude responded.
"Jude—what's going on? I know you're coffee-free but this is beyond caffeine," Kat asked.
Jude shifted uncomfortably. "It's nothing. Just thinking."
"About Drew?" Kat asked.
"Drew? Why about Drew?" Jamie asked abruptly.
Jude ignored Jamie and answered Kat. "No, not Drew…the other one…"
"The other one?" Kat asked perplexed. She thought for a moment and then raised her eyebrows, getting the hint. "Ohh..him! Why?"
"Well, we sorta had an incident in the, ummm, mouse-infested region," Jude implied, trying to avoid Jamie's questions.
"What kind of incident?"
"HELLO? Do you people not see me? I'm sitting right here!" Jamie exclaimed.
Kat leaned over and whispered "Tommy" as his eyes bulged.
"AGAIN? Jude, you know how this always ends…"
Jude irritably looked at him. "I know, Jamie. It was nothing. We just…had a moment."
"Another moment to add to the list," Kat said. "Maybe one of these days these moments may actually become something."
"Always gotta see the glass half full, don't you?" said Jamie, annoyed with Kat's point of view.
Jude smiled, as the conversation subsided and the game continued. Everyone only put their games on hold briefly for peanut butter sandwiches and then played throughout the afternoon. It was a good distraction from being stuck inside, although Jude was in her own world, trying to avoid ending up in the same game as Drew so she could think on her own.
As it started to get dark, Steven handed out mugs of hot chocolate. Sipping her drink, Sadie, bored from her Connect Four re-match with Kristen, had an idea to revive the afternoon. She gathered everyone around, except Tommy and Ryan who were helping Steven gather wood, and announced a new game: Truth or Dare. Jude hesitated at the suggestion, especially coming from Sadie, but followed Kat and Jamie into the circle regardless. Sadie reviewed the rules and then started the game.
The game was going well and Jude was having fun getting to know everyone. Kristen gave Jude her dare, which was to do her best Eden impression. They were all cracking up at Jude squealing an Eden song along with outrageous dance moves as Tommy and Ryan entered.
"What game are you playing now?" Ryan asked, joining the circle.
"Truth or Dare," replied Sadie.
"Truth or Dare? Isn't that a little immature for you, Sadie?" Tommy smirked.
"No way, it's a classic," Sadie replied turning back to the game. "Okay, Jude it's your turn."
Jude looked around the circle. "Kwest--truth or dare?"
"Hmmm…DARE," Kwest responded eagerly.
"Okay…Do you see my mom making soup in the kitchen? I dare you to go up to her in just your underwear and ask if she has any hot chocolate left."
The whole circle burst out laughing as Kwest smiled and nodded. "Okay, no problem."
Kwest stood up and hid behind the couch taking off his layers. Once he was done, he ran off, in his Scooby Doo boxers, towards the kitchen. They all cracked up watching him go and then heard his muffled conversation. Two minutes later, he came prancing back into the living room in his boxers proudly holding a mug of hot chocolate.
"And there you have it," he said, as they all applauded.
They all continued to laugh as Kwest put his layers back on and sat down, choosing Sadie for the next round.
"Truth," she said.
Kwest thought and asked, "When was your best kiss?"
Sadie blushed and turned towards Ryan. "Ryan—our first kiss in the park," she said giving him a quick kiss. Tommy shot Kwest a disgusted glance.
Sadie turned back to the circle and continued, "My turn, and I choose--Tommy. Truth or dare?" she asked with a glimmer in her eye. He looked at her and knew that she wanted him to say truth, so instead, he quietly mumbled, "Dare."
"Dare, huh? Okay…" Sadie thought. She looked around the circle and smiled at her own mischievous idea. "Okay, I dare you to kiss Jude."
"WHAT!" Jude and Tommy yelled simultaneously.