Chapter 7

Jude's Mom arrived late Friday night and she and Jude both went to stay at Sadie's for the night so the three women could have the Friday night family dinner that had been missing while the girls were at school. Victoria cooked her daughters a big dinner and then they sat around catching up.

"Sadie, I can't wait to meet this guy you've been seeing. What's his name again?" Victoria asked her older daughter.

"Kwest. His name is Kwest, and yeah he's great mom. I really think you'll like him." Sadie's face was glowing as she talked about her boyfriend. "Oh and Mom, Tommy is going to come to dinner if that's still okay?"

Jude's face turned somber at the mention of his name. She hadn't talked to him all week.

"So Jude, any guys in your life I should be worried about?" Victoria asked.

"Um, actually, there's this one guy. His names Tyler and he's been asking me out for a while now and I finally accepted the invite this week. I mean, it's just a first date so who knows, but he's a sweet guy."

"I didn't know about this. I thought we told each other everything Jude." Sadie asked trying to seem hurt by being out of the loop.

"C'mon Sades, like you've never kept a secret about a boy from your sister and me." Victoria alleged. "So, when's the big date Jude?"

"Actually he wanted to go out late Saturday. I told him we had this dinner and I'd let him know. But, if you don't mind, I was gonna have him pick me up at the restaurant."

"No sweetie, that's fine. Just make sure you stay for most of the meal."

"Of course."

--

Saturday night the Harrison girls, Tommy and Kwest went out for a nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant. They were seated at a circle table, Victoria, Jude, Kwest, Sadie, Tommy. It was a very pleasant evening and everyone got along very well. Victoria was very pleased with the people her daughters were spending time with. Sadie and Kwest noticed the slight chill between Tommy and Jude.

"What's up with those two?" Sadie asked quietly to Kwest as the others were in conversation.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kwest said taking a sip of water in hopes that Sadie wouldn't further question him. He wasn't sure how Sadie would react to the news that Tommy liked her sister.

"Please, I can tell you know something. What is it?" Sadie asked again giving him a seductive smile and placing her hand on his knee.

Knowing this was a losing battle Kwest gave up. "He likes her."

It took Sadie a minute to process the information. Tommy liked her sister? How did she not see it before? Realizing what a great couple they would be and excited about the prospect of her good friend dating her sister Sadie squealed out a "REALLY!"

Everyone at the table turned to her with quizzical looks on their faces. "Really what, Sadie?" Victoria asked.

"Um, nothing. Kwest just told me about some concert tickets he got."

Before anyone could further question Sadie, Jude's cell phone went off.

"Sorry, guys." Jude said as she answered the phone.

Tommy watched as Jude whispered into the phone. Ending the call, she apologized again to the table.

"That was Tyler. He said he'd be here in a few minutes. Thanks again for dinner Mom. I'll see you guys later." Jude gave her mom a kiss on the cheek and excused herself from the table.

"Who's Tyler?" Tommy asked.

--

Jude had had a lot of fun on her date with Tyler. He was really fun to be with, but she wasn't sure if she liked him as more than a friend. She was willing to see what happened and had gone out with him a couple of times. It had been two weeks since the dinner with her mom and Jude was going out with Tyler on Thursday night.

Jude was on the phone with Sadie as she finished getting dressed for the date. She had told Sadie all of her thoughts on the Tyler situation.

"Well Jude, if you don't feel that same about him that he does towards you, then you should be careful not to lead him on."

"Sadie, no one's leading anyone on. It's just some casual fun. He knows that. I'm sure he knows that."

"If you say so. Hey, have you talked to Tommy lately?"

"No, not since dinner with mom. Why?"

"No reason, it's just, he cares about you. It seems like you've been avoiding him. I'm just looking out for the happiness of two people I love."

"Sadie, Tommy and I are just friends. Look I got to go. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow okay?"

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow Jude. Have fun." Sadie said trying her best to sound happy for her sister.

--

Tyler took Jude to a party off campus. They were having fun but Tyler was drinking pretty heavily whiled Jude had stopped after one drink since she had classes the following day.

Tyler was getting pretty drunk and belligerent. He kept making advances on Jude which she was doing her best to ward off, not wanting anything to happen. After awhile of this little game, Tyler started getting kind of angry. Jude noticed the change in Tyler's demeanor. It was like a switch had flipped and the sweet funny guy had turned into some loud, angry filled person.

"What's up with you Jude? Why don't you want to do anything?"

"Tyler, calm down. I think we should maybe call it a night."

"Yeah maybe. God, I never would have wasted so much time on you if I'd known you were such a prude!" Tyler yelled right into her face as she visibly saddened realizing her poor judgment in his character.

She left the party, only to walk outside into heavy rain. She realized she had forgotten her jacket upstairs, but not wanting to face Tyler again, she walked briskly down the street, getting soaked and cold. Jude walked around for a while, slightly in shock to how everything had turned out with Tyler. Feeling the cold, wet chill down to her bones, Jude walked into a familiar apartment building. She called Sadie from the lobby but her sister didn't answer her cell. Not wanting to wait any longer in a lobby and needing to get out of her wet clothes, Jude walked upstairs in hopes that someone was home.

She knocked on the door and waited for what seemed like an eternity as she heard the door unlock and slowly open.

"Jude?" Tommy asked surprised to see the soaked girl standing at his door.