Chapter 6

The next month went smoothly for Jude. Jude started going out more while still keeping up with her work. She hung out mostly with Sadie and her group of friends, which meant she was seeing Tommy a lot. At first things were a little awkward and Jude didn't know how to act around him after their "date," but Tommy had a way of making her feel comfortable in every situation. Jude was also becoming more outgoing with her classmates. In fact, a cute American boy named Tyler had been trying to get her to go out with him. She always declined saying it would be to weird since they were in classes together and that she wasn't really interested in a relationship right now. He continued to pursue her anyway.

As much as Jude's social life had improved, she was getting a little homesick. It was a good thing that Kat and Jaime were coming to visit her this weekend and Parent's weekend was right after. Jude had told Kat all about Tommy and how she liked him but didn't think he felt the same way since he had cut their night short after running into Sadie. She also kept her up to date on all of their conversations and how she felt like she was getting mixed signals from him. He was such a great friend to her and they talked and hung out a lot, but things stayed more or less platonic. She still felt sparks when they touched and she swore he held onto her tighter and longer each time they hugged goodbye.

Jude had just returned from class when her cell phone rang. Seeing the number she grabbed her jacket and walk back out the door. "I'll be right there." She hung up and smiled as she walked briskly down the stairs and out of her door. Seeing him get out of a cab she burst into a sprint and ran to him throwing her arms around him.

"Jeez Jude, when did you turn into a linebacker?" Jaime asked breathlessly being that Jude had knocked all of the air out of him.

Seeing Kat behind him Jude switched to her other best friend and the girls hugged and then squealed as they pulled away and hugged again.

"Okay I'm going deaf over here." Jaime yelled over their high pitched conversation. The girls laughed and Jude led them inside.

"It has been way too long guys. Seriously it's not the same without you two around. How come you both had to go to New York, eh? Leaving me all alone up here."

"Well Jude, you could always transfer and be near us." Jaime said, knowing it was more wishful thinking on his part.

"God Andrews, give it up already. What about Patsy, huh? You two seemed pretty close last time we were hanging out." Kat said suggestively.

"Patsy?" Jude asked eyes raised and a smile on her face.

"She's just….um…"

"She's just Andrew's crazy gothic girlfriend. Seriously, she wears way too much black. But anyways enough about him, tell me about all of the hotties you've met here."

"I'm still in the room you know." Jaime said not wanting to hear all the girl talk.

"Actually you'll get to meet everyone tonight. My friends Tommy and Kwest are having a party tonight at their apartment. Should be fun, just a bunch of friends, not to many random people."

"Can't wait." Kat said grinning ear to ear.

"Who are Tommy and Kwest?" Jaime asked. Kat and Jude just laughed as they left to go look around the campus.

--

After walking around for awhile, they stopped by Jude's dorm to change and then headed over to Tommy's.

They were buzzed up to the apartment and greeted by Kwest at the door. Kwest and Sadie had started dating and he had turned into a good friend and older brother type towards Jude. He gave Jude a hug and she introduced him to Kat and Jaime. They all shook hands and Kwest told them that Tommy was handing out drinks in the kitchen and to have fun and make themselves at home. There were about 30 people in the spacious apartment but as soon as she walked into the main room she felt a specific pair of eyes on her. She turned around to be greeted by none other than Tommy. She smiled and walked up to him giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She turned around to introduce him to her friends. It wasn't lost on Jude or Kat how Tommy kept his hand on Jude's lower back as they all talked.

"Hey Tom, we're running low on beer. It's your turn to make a run." Kwest yelled from the fridge.

"Sorry guys, I got to go play host." He said then turning to Kat and Jaime. "It was nice meeting you two. Jude we'll talk more later?"

"Sure." She said as he made his way out the door.

Jaime went to get the three of them drinks as Kat pulled Jude into a spare bedroom.

"Jude he is totally into you. Did you like forget to tell me that you two started dating? I mean I wish I had a guy in my life that hot and sweet." Kat gushed.

"I told you Kat, we're not like that. I like him but I'm pretty sure he just thinks of me as his little sister."

"Jude I saw the way he was looking at you, that is definitely not how someone looks at their sibling. Besides his body language towards you, and the two of you together, I mean, you guys make like the perfect couple."

Jude smiled and shrugged feeling even more lost than before on the Tommy subject since she had her friend's opinion. There was a knock on the door and Jaime came in holding 3 cans. "Sorry it took so long, Tommy just got back." At the mention of his name Jude's eyes lit up. She grabbed her drink from Jaime and the three of them reentered the party.

After Kat and Jaime had been introduced to most of the people in the apartment and had settled into separate conversations, Jude went in search of Tommy. She found him in the kitchen with his back to her and some girl whispering into his ear. He laughed at whatever it was she said and turned around seeing Jude standing in the doorway.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just came to get another drink." She said and walked to grab a can from the fridge. Tommy didn't know what to say. Jude left the kitchen without saying anything else. Tommy excused himself from the girl and followed Jude into the main room.

He grabbed her arm and made her face him. "Jude it's not what it looks like. She's an old friend, she was just telling me something—"

"Tommy there's nothing to explain. We're just friends."

"Ya, just friends." Tommy repeated.

They stood in silence for a moment when Kat came up to Jude saying something about Jaime drinking too much and needing to get him out of here before he made a fool of himself.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Jude said to Kat. "Um, Tommy, my mom wanted to know if you wanted to join us for dinner next weekend. Sadie's bringing Kwest so, I mean, if your not busy, you're more than welcome to come. Just let Sadie know and I'll see you later." Jude offered rushed and in an indifferent tone as she walked away from Tommy and went to help Kat with Jaime. As she was walking out the apartment door she turned around and gave a small sad smile in Tommy's direction.