It was 8:15, Jude realized as she glanced at the clock. "Where's Kat?" Jude said impatiently as she tapped her foot on the floor. "I need to get ready, I'm supposed to be there at 9."
"Relax, Jude, don't go all prima Donna on us. You already have your makeup and hair down, you just need to slip on the dress. Besides it's cool to be fashionably late." Sadie rationalized as she came down the stairs. Sadie was wearing a short tube top dress in a metallic color. It fitted her tight on top and ruffled a little at the bottom which ended mid thigh.
"You look awesome, Sadie." Jude looked up at her sister who wore her straight and who's makeup was perfect.
"Thanks, but what are you complaining about now?" Sadie joked.
"I need to get ready, I should have just gotten ready without her, but you know Kat, she'd think I was crazy if I suggested it." Jude replied as she went towards the window and peered out. "Really, where is she?"
"Jude, what's wrong?" Sadie asked, knowing something was up.
"Nothing," Jude shook her head. " I mean, I don't know, I'm nervous. It's ridiculous to be nervous, there's no reason to be."
"Hey, it's not ridiculous to be nervous. It's a big night and with your track record, big parties don't always play out well with you, remember your 10th birthday?" Sadie recalled, trying to lighten the mood.
Jude gave a short laugh. "How could I forget? We were at one of those party places, with games and rides, and those big ball pens. And I was going through the maze, trying to find Kat, and I got stuck in one of those tunnel things, and they had to have the paramedics come to get me out."
"Yeah, and Kat and Jamie refused to leave the maze until you were out safely, I thought the paramedics were gonna throw them out." Sadie giggled.
"I think I'm cursed when it comes to birthdays." Jude looked at her sister, sadly, recalling her 16th.
"I'm sorry, Jude, I shouldn't have brought it up." Sadie said, remorseful.
"Hey, it's okay, I'll be okay. As soon as Kat gets here." Jude said, looking out the window again.
As if on cue, Kat waltz through the door, all raring to go.
"Hey Jude! Happy Birthday! Why aren't you dressed yet?" Kat questioned. Kat was wearing a full flowy skirt in bright red and a tight black tube top. She put a blue tank top under the black so it peaked out on the top at bottom. On anyone else it may have looked weird, but Kat pulled it off.
"You look great, Kat. And I'm not dressed because you told me to wait for you, even though I don't see the point." Jude gritted through her teeth.
"Oh, I did? Didn't, I?" She said oblivious to the fact that Jude was mad. She had more pressing matters on her mind-namely what's going to happen tonight when Tommy makes his presence known.
"Yes!" Jude said, exasperated. "Since we're all here, can I go get dress now?" She said sarcastically as she ran up the stairs.
"Gee, what's her problem?" Kat questioned as she looked at Sadie.
"She's nervous." Sadie proclaimed. ?"But understandably so. I mean look at what happened on her 16th birthday." She reminded Kat as she recalled Jude's night. "I just want everything to go perfect tonight for her." Sadie finished.
Kat bit her lip and looked away, feeling bad. 'Maybe I should have told, Jude.' Kat thought.
"Kat?" Sadie asked, not missing the look that washed over Kat's face when Sadie said she hoped everything would go okay tonight. "Why do you look like Jude's night will be anything but wonderful?"
"What?" Kat looked back, distracted. She couldn't stop thinking about Tommy and how he looked at the park. She'd never seen Tommy Quincy unglued before. "Oh, no nothing. I mean-"
"Kat, you know something, don't you?" Sadie asked, point black.
"Uh," She began as she walked towards the living room.
"Come on Kat, I wanna know if something's going to happen tonight and how bad it's gonna hurt Jude. Is it about Chris? Did something happen with him? Is he gonna break up with her tonight?" Sadie fired questions.
Kat could tell Sadie was sincerely concerned and wrestled with the urge to tell her. Kat would feel better if at least someone else knew. 'But you promised Tommy you wouldn't tell' Her inner voice argued. 'No, you promised you wouldn't tell Jude.' She told herself back.
"Okay, but you have to promise you won't tell Jude okay?" She whispered.
"What is it?"
"Promise?" Kat told her.
"Yes, fine I promise. Now what is it?" Sadie murmured?
Kat looked towards the hallway to make sure Jude wasn't coming, when she was satisfied she went back to the living room and sat on the couch. "Tommy's back."
"Tommy Quincy?" Sadie said, louder than she wanted. She was shocked, but she realized he'd be back sooner or later. She just figured later.
"Shhh! I promised Tommy I wouldn't tell Jude." Kat frantically replied, whispering again
"What you saw him?" She quickly asked.
Kat nodded and quickly relayed her encounter with Tommy, then Jamie. Sadie agreed it be best if Jude didn't know now, she didn't want her sister to freak.
"I should have known he'd be back on her 18th birthday." She said more to herself than to Kat. She knew Jude was with Chris, but when she found out Tommy was back...things were definitely about to change.
Before another word could be said, they heard Jude coming down the stairs. They both scrambled off the couch and walked into the hallway.
Jude came down the stairs in her silk teal colored dress smiling. She wore silver stiletto heels that gave her a few inches in height. Her hair was down, in loose curls that framed her face. The hairdresser did something with her bangs so they fluffed a little, but not too much. The makeup artist smoked her eyes out, creating a dramatic effect. She wore a nude color and plenty of clear gloss on her lips. She looked fabulous.
"You look gorgeous!" Kat exclaimed.
"Hm, of course I picked out the dress. Why wouldn't she?" Sadie said, but sent a wink to her sister.
"I feel like a million bucks." Jude laughed as she came down the stairs to join Sadie and Kat.
Nineteen year old Christopher Line knocked on Jude Harrison's door with 24 long stemmed roses in one hand and jewelry box in the other. He waited patiently until Sadie swung the door open.
"Chris!" She said, kissing him hello.
"Hey, Sadie. How's it going?"
"Good, good. Jude just came down, and man lemme tell you, she looks hot!" Sadie smiled, moving aside to let Chris in and so he could get a view of Jude.
"Wow..." Chris trailed off when he caught sight of Jude. "Babe, you look gorgeous." Chris said as he went towards Jude and greeted her with a full kiss on the lips.