A/N: Wow! After four very positive reviews, I guess I'll have to speed up the progress on this story. Well, here's the next chapter. JxC (Just a little bit. Nothing there to get horny over. :-P)

Jude stumbled in the hall as he struggled to catch Caitlin. Running in heels that high takes a lot of talent. He panted as his lungs ached in his chest. If his legs could speak, they'd be using cruder language than he did earlier. He ignored the protests of his body as he ran faster to catch the crying girl. He caught her shoulder with his hand and she stopped, she knew there was no getting away at this point. She turned to face him, tear lines shining under every part of her eye.

"Caitlin…" He began.

She raised a hand to stop him. "No. I don't want to hear it. … Mmm, ok yes I do! Why Jude, why?"

She collapsed onto his chest and began sobbing uncontrollably. Jude wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in closer. Caitlin found it hard to believe that she felt comfort in his arms. Jude brought his lips to her ear and began to whisper soothingly.

"We didn't do it. She must've put that in my pocket after forcing herself on me. I would never do anything that would hurt or upset you, I swear. I swear Cait…"

With that his eyes joined in tears as he buried his face into Caitlin's hair. Caitlin moved her head and pulled away from the safety of his arms.

"I don't know whether to believe you or not…" She muttered as her eyes followed a small, unidentifiable bug on the floor.

Jude could feel anger well up inside him, but he remained somewhat calm. "You would rather believe Trisha than me?"

"I haven't heard Trisha's side of the story yet!" She snapped.

"When was the last time that bitch told the truth?" He demanded.

Caitlin hesitated. He made a point. Jude looked into her puffy, emerald eyes as she struggled to retort.

"I… I… Fine. You've made a point." She said, knowing she was defeated.

Caitlin turned and wrapped her arms around her stomach, though she wasn't feeling ill. Jude came up behind her and put his hands on her own. She stuck her elbow in his ribs, but not hard. Jude pulled away and stared at the ground.

"Why don't you believe me?" He asked sadly.

"You betrayed me in a way I thought was impossible, and in a way that I thought you'd… never…" Caitlin broke into tears again.

"Exactly. Never. I would never give myself up to her, let alone let her lay a finger on me. Caitlin… I care for you deeply. I'd hurt myself before ever dreaming of harming you." He muttered.

Caitlin turned to face him. "What are you saying Jude?"

He sighed. "I'm trying to say… I… I love you."

A moment of silence followed Jude's declaration. He rubbed his arm as Caitlin stood with her jaw gaping. Jude moved closer and took Caitlin's hands into his own.

"I love you." He whispered.

Caitlin turned her head away and took back her hands. Jude shoved his hands deep into his pockets and stood with his head hung and shoulders slouching, similar to the way he left the stage. Caitlin put her hand under his chin and lifted it up so she could stare into is oceanic eyes.

"Then explain why you look like you just had sex. I promise I'll listen." She said quietly.

Jude never broke away from her gaze as he spoke. "Trisha met me in the hall and began to hug me. I told her to get off. She said that I really needed a hug. I was like I didn't want one from a cold-hearted bitch." He paused to let Caitlin chuckle. "She said that I was lucky that I'm so hot or else she would have slapped me. I had hesitated at that point; I didn't know what to do. That's when she threw herself on me. I had panicked and froze. Also, because I was nervous, I started sweating. That's when she rubbed her hands down my sides and put the wrapper in my pocket. She started kissing my neck, and that's when I pulled away and slapped her. I told her not to touch me again and I called her a filthy whore. She moved in and messed up my hair and clothes before I could slap her away again. Then she left."

Caitlin stood in silence for a moment before speaking. "So she made it look like you two had sex?"

"Yeah." Jude replied.

"I can't believe she did that." Caitlin muttered.

"I know… it doesn't make any sense." Jude said.

"Did she mention me at all?" Caitlin asked.

"Yeah. She said that she was much prettier than you. Trisha only wishes." He replied with a wink.

Caitlin smiled, and then let her lips form a frown. "I have to go."

Jude grabbed Caitlin's arm. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going home to think about how stupid I was to be friends with her." She lied.

"Wait, before you go…"

Jude pulled Caitlin's arm in and he wrapped one of his around her waist and pressed his lips on her own softly. Caitlin's eyes widened, and then closed as she returned the gesture. Jude pulled away after a few moments and stared into Caitlin's eyes.

"I've waited for a long time to do that." He chuckled.

She smiled. "You waited too long."

Caitlin gave Jude a quick peck before turning to leave and "think". Jude stood in the hall for a few moments wearing a child-like grin on his face before returning to the table again. His parents disappeared from his thoughts, for the time being.

Jen was tapping her fingers nervously and twirling her hair. They were gone for a while now. Nikki raised a pierced eyebrow.

"Jen, what's the big deal?" She asked.

"What deal? There's no deal here, ha ha. You're so silly." Jen replied quickly, darting her eyes quickly to the direction Jude and Caitlin ran off to.

"Yes there is. Don't hide it. You have a problem with them hooking up." Nikki spat.

Jen gasped. "I do not! Caitlin can have whatever guy she wants, I don't care."

"You're lying through your teeth. You had such a problem when Jonesy and I dated, and now you're all of a sudden cool with dating within the group?" Nikki barked.

Jonesy nodded in agreement. "You followed us on our first date and tried to stop us."

Jen stood up and smacked the table. "I eventually accepted it, didn't I?"

"Yeah, and then you screwed up our anniversary." Nikki retorted.

"Hey! That wasn't entirely me..." She muttered.

Wyatt sighed. "Can we enjoy this day please? We aren't in high school anymore. Let's just chill and have fun instead of arguing like normal."

Jonesy nodded. "Yeah, I'm gonna have loads of fun at the party tonight."

"A party?" Jen asked.

"Yeah, I'm holding it at the house… I guess I forgot to tell you… eh he."

Jen smashed her fist on the table. "A party? At OUR house? Are you MAD! People will break things and be loud and… and annoy me! You are moving that party somewhere else mister."

Jonesy shrugged. "It's too late to change the date."

Jen raised an eyebrow and frowned. "When is the party?"

Jonesy hesitated before answering. "… Tonight? He… I gotta get ready, bye!"

He stood up and darted down the hallway. Jen chased after him screaming like mad and throwing whatever she could get her hands on. The table began to laugh.

"Now that's more like it." Wyatt said.

Jude returned and sat down in a chair, resting his feet up on the table and leaning his chair back. He folded his arms behind his head and was beaming. Jen had returned by this point, satisfied with the amount of pain she inflicted on Jonesy. Shelooked at Jude.

"You seem in a much better mood." She stated.

"You bet dudette." He said happily.

"What happened between you and Cait?" She demanded coldly.

"I told her what really happened. She believed me. Why can't you guys?" Jude said.

Nikki shrugged. "If she believes ya, I will too. Besides, I was doubtful that you had actually done it. I mean, who's stupid enough to have sex with YOU?"

Jude laughed for a moment, and then stopped. "Hey!"

Wyatt placed a hand on Jude's shoulder. "I'm proud of you man. When we all thought you did it, you were smart enough to use protection."

"Guys, cut it out. Enough with the jokes." He pleaded.

Jonesy had returned, holding the back of his head and limping. "Why did you have to throw so much… ow… Jen?"

Jen glared at him. "Because you're stupid enough to hold a grad party in our house! If anything breaks, you're the one paying mom and dad, not me!"

Jonesy gave her a re-assuring smile. "No worries. Nothing will get broken. I've thrown all the people that are a hazard to our things in the special 'booze basement'."

Jen screamed. "BOOOOOOOOZE! THERE'S BOOZE AT THIS PARTY? JONESY GARCIA! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?"

Jonesy flinched before responding. "Ouch, go easy on the ears. I'll lock the basement once all the boozehounds get down there. Unless you want all the people that will break things upstairs…"

Jen growled in defeat. "If even one of them gets upstairs, you're a dead man."

Jonesy raised his right hand. "I promise that none of the drunkies will set foot on the staircase."

"They better not." Jen snorted.

Jonesy smiled and ruffled his stepsister's hair. "They won't."

"What time does the party start?" Nikki asked.

"9:00, and there's a special make-out room for us." He replied, purring seductively.

Nikki looked at him for a moment. "Well uh… good luck getting me in there… ha ha."

Nikki's eyes shifted downward and she strummed her fingers on the table. Jonesy looked at her, then shrugged.

"Party at nine huh? Sounds awesome man." Jude said.

"Dude." "Jude." A high five followed their catchphrase.

"Who's going, other than us?" Wyatt asked.

Jonesy shrugged. "I dunno. Tons of people."

"How many?" Jen asked through gritted teeth.

"In at least the late… 70's." He answered quietly.

"JONESY!"

"Jen, calm down. All the bad people are downstairs."

Jen balled her hand into a fist. "Which probably means the only people left upstairs are me, Jude, Caitlin, Nikki and Wyatt right?"

"Hey! What about me?" Jonesy demanded.

Everybody gave Jonesy "the look". "Ok ok, so I might belong down there… Wait, are you saying that I'll drink booze?"

"No, we're saying you'll trash the house," Jen replied, "seeing as you do it on a regular basis… you owe me $30 for that lamp mister!"

"I'll pay you back once I get a job."

"So I'll be 80 by the time you have enough money to pay me back?" Jen asked.

"Nope. 95." Jonesy chuckled.

"I'd put my money down for 150." Nikki laughed.

"No way. Dude has to hit at least 225 before he earns thirty whole bucks." Jude said.

"Ok ok. I get it. Enough. I'll never get the thirty dollars, so you might as well forget about it Jen." Jonesy stated.

"I'll get the money by selling some of your junk. Like your hockey card collection." Jen said.

Jonesy jumped from his seat and stomped his foot in protest. "If you even lay a finger on my hockey cards…"

"You'll what? Leave your crusty underwear on the bathroom floor. You already do that…"

Jude laughed. "Crusty eh dude? Man, I'd hate to be the dude that had to pick 'em up."

Jen growled. "That dude is me!"

Jonesy shrugged. "You don't have to. Just learn to step around them."

"I would, but you leave them EVERYWHERE!" Her hands waved dramatically as she spoke the last word.

Nikki cleared her throat. "Enough about Jonesy's crusty underpants. Shouldn't we be getting ready by now?"

The gang agreed and they all left the mall to change and head for The Garcia House.