Nodding, Kat threw at her, "You can't fool me, Jude Harrison! What's the reason for your change in spirits?"
"Nothing. I--"
Kat stared Jude deeply in the eye with a giant grin. "Something awesome happened at the meeting, yes?"
Loudly slapping his hands together once, Jamie stated, "Georgia kicked Shay to the curb!"
In an attempt to hide her smile, Jude shook her head and replied, "The meeting was cancelled. At least for me and Tommy."
"What does that mean?" Jamie asked with concern.
Sill, Kat grew even more excited for her best friend. "So you and Lil' Tommy Q?" Kat questioned suggestively. "And I though he was only giving you a ride."
Defensively, Jude replied, "He did."
Both Jamie and Kat tried to read Jude, looking into her eyes and analyzing her actions and body language. Kat brought herself to one conclusion as Jamie tried to find any and every way around it. Even if he was with Kat, Jude's his best friend. She's like a sister to him, and he needed to protect her.
Hiding his frustrations, Jamie asked, "And what else did 'he did'?"
"Jamie!" Kat exclaimed as she smacked his thigh.
Putting her hands on their knees, Jude tried to soothe them. "You guys, nothing is going on with me and Tommy. I was kinda mad at him because--" Jude stopped herself, remembering people still couldn't know what they shared on her birthday. Not even her best friends could know. "--Because he was right about Shay. But today he apologized and I apologized, and we're good now."
Jamie's jumbled nerves finally calmed down. "So we can all be on the happy train now! How about popcorn on the runway?" Jamie asked as he stood.
Kat looked up at his and replied, "Fine. Just don't get butter on the clothes."
"Yes, ma'am!" Jamie shouted as he saluted Kat and left for the kitchen.
Both Jude and Kat shared a giggle. Jude started to stand, but Kat grabbed Jude's hand before it left her knee. She returned to her seated position, but Kat leaned forward, holding her hand tightly.
In a low tone, Kat whispered, "If you're afraid Jamie's gonna freak, you can tell me."
"There's nothing to tell," Jude stated.
Kat released Jude's hand and stood, but still kept her voice quiet. "Maybe you really are hurt that we didn't tell you, so now you're keeping secrets. I know that there's something big, Jude. I know it because I know you."
Also standing, Jude refuted, "Wouldn't Jamie know too then? Kat, there is no reason for me to be hurt, and there are no secrets." Jude suddenly got a grimy taste in her mouth, nearly foaming with lies.
With a straight face, Kat looked Jude dead in the eye. "I'm not wrong, Jude. Jamie can't see it because he doesn't want to see it. And if you don't trust me enough to tell me, that's fine. Let's just get to work." Kat made her way towards the door, defeated.
Feeling a rush of guilt, Jude grabbed Kat's hand before she could fully exit. "Promise not to tell Jamie or anyone else?"
"Jude!" Kat exclaimed defensively. She gave Jude a deeply hurt and impatient look.
Feeling slightly petty, Jude still felt the need for reassurance. "Please, Kat."
Shrugging her shoulders, Kat replied, "Of course. I promise, Jude."