"Please, Callie."
"No, Jude. It's not worth it for you to see me like this. I don't want you to!"
"And, so, what? Me seeing you for the last time in the hospital is what you want me to remember?"
"That's really not fair," Callie said, and Jude could picture the stern way her eyebrows would draw together as she said it.
"Isn't it? How long are you going to tell me 'no' for? Until you're sentenced? What if I'm not able to come see you? Don't you want to see me?"
"It's not that I don't want to see you. I don't want you to know me like this. I don't want to know me like this. I don't want you to see this place or how I'm living."
"I just want to see you. You're what matters. Please?"
"No, Jude, I don't want to. Let's not spend all of our time on the phone fighting."
"You're not going to tell me anything so what's the point?"
"You can tell me about you," Callie said. "Are you still okay with … with living with the foster parents?"
"Callie, I'm safe now. I'm actually safe now and I'm not even sure what to do with it. Stef and Lena have been really good to me."
"And the other kids?"
"I'm their only foster kid. I think Mariana and Jesus like me. I think Mariana likes me more but I think that's just because Connor was right when he said Jesus gets too wrapped up in himself." Jude glanced nervously toward the door, like any of them might overhear what he was saying, though he had holed himself up in Brandon's room with the door shut. "I haven't met the oldest son, Brandon, yet. I guess he's coming during his February break so I wonder if they'll make me sleep on the couch."
"He's a bio kid?"
"Yeah, of Stef, not Lena."
"Right." Her tone went flat. "Okay."
"Callie, they're good people and you shouldn't make faces."
"You don't know I'm making faces."
"I do know you're making faces."
"Fine," Callie said with a snort. "Just stay safe while I can't protect you."
"Maybe if you could see me and see that I'm fine you wouldn't have to worry about me or the decisions that I make."
"I'm always going to worry. You've been my responsibility since we went into the system. Do you want me to not care anymore?"
"Callie, that's not what I said. You know that's not what I said. Don't get mad at me because you're scared. I'm not going anywhere."
"You're too smart, Jude." Callie sighed loudly while Jude glanced at Brandon's desk.
His homeschooling materials had finally arrived. His second-grade homeschooling materials. Connor and Lena had been assuring him that he would pick things up quickly and that the point wasn't where he started but how he worked along the way. Jude wasn't convinced, but he could appreciate how hard they were trying to comfort him. He knew that he needed it. He was to start his lessons after getting off the phone with Callie. He wasn't looking forward to it. He felt like more was resting on learning from Lena. It wasn't like his informal tutoring with Connor. Jude had a secret fear that if he was too stupid that the system would blame Stef and Lena and force him to leave. He didn't want to leave.
"You're smart too, Callie."
"Not smart enough. I gotta go, Jude."
"When can I come see you?"
"When I get out … but you can call me at this time every Tuesday."
"And you'll still write me letters?"
"Yeah. Anything you want."
"I –"
"Except for letting you come see me."
"Fine … Love you, Callie."
"Love you too," she answered and Jude hung up the phone.
He hung his head for a moment and then forced himself to go downstairs, his books in his hands, to face Lena.
(-.-)
Jude's bag was heavier than normal, though not as heavy as his head felt. Jude had spent long hours with Lena, trying to puzzle out things that seven-year-olds would find simple. He had been frustrated by the end of it and Lena had let him go to the hospital, provided he finished the worksheet she gave him by the time he arrived home. He stepped off the elevator and blinked, feeling like he was in the wrong place. It took him a moment to get his bearings. He shouldn't have been surprised that the children's ward had been decorated so brightly for Valentine's Day but Jude definitely hadn't been expecting it. Valentine's Day was a week away, he realized, but he hadn't taken notice before. He'd been too wrapped up in waiting for a decision about whether or not he was allowed to get tested for a kidney match. He was supposed to have heard back yesterday. Stef said they shouldn't have been surprised they were running behind and that they'd give a few ore days before calling them. The delay left Jude anxious but he couldn't show it because he couldn't tell Connor why.
He crept through the flowery pink and red hallway until he got to Connor's door. Connor's gaze flicked to Jude. He lifted a hand weakly.
"I think a cupid exploded in the hallway," Jude grumbled.
"Right, you hate Valentine's Day."
"Don't say that like it's a bad thing," Jude said, kicking off his shoes so he could pull his feet up on the bed with him. "Valentine's Day is stupid."
"It's just a day."
"Exactly! It's stupid because it makes people stupid. All those stupid ads? You literally can't avoid it! It's designed to make people feel bad."
"Tell us how you really feel."
Jude rolled his eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"Heavy. Like, moving just feels like too much effort. I'm tired, Jude."
"Go to bed early tonight."
Connor half-smirked. "Okay. Did you start school today?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"It sucks and I'm stupid."
"You're not stupid!"
"It makes me feel like I'd rather put my head than think one more thought!"
"That's not you, that's just school."
Jude groaned. "So, this is never going to go away? That's what you're telling me?"
Connor shrugged. "I guess so."
"Thanks. That's helpful. I really appreciate that."
"Whatever. Don't be so sarcastic."
"I'm only good at, like, three things. Let me have this."
"There are more than three things."
"Math is not one of them and Lena gave me a math sheet to finish before I went home. She said you're allowed to help me but you're not allowed to do it for me."
"Is that you asking me to help you with your homework?"
"… Yes." Jude pulled a face. "See, I'm not good at that either."
"Just practice it: 'Connor, will you help me with my homework?' It's not hard."
"Now you're just making fun of me!"
"Yeah," Connor said, laughing.
Jude shook his head and laughed too, cutting himself off when a knock sounded. He turned to face the door, wondering who Connor knew that would knock instead of just barging in.
It was Daria, standing in the doorway.
"Connor, hi." She looked at Jude and then shifted her gaze back to Connor. "I thought I'd come say hi."
"I'm going to find a vending machine," Jude announced, feeling like Daria didn't want him there. "Maybe my brain needs sugar to work properly."
"Okay. Do you need change?"
"No, I've got some, thanks."
Jude sidled by Daria and back out into the flowery hallway, realizing that he had no idea where to start looking for a vending machine.
(-.-)
"Um, what's up?" Connor asked, pushing past the surprise of seeing her.
"I thought … I thought I should come see you, you know? I didn't want to think that I should have come to see you when I had the chance." Daria tucked her hair behind her ears and sunk down on the chair closest to Connor.
Connor had always thought of Daria as a confident person, happy and easygoing. She was the type of popular, striking person Connor had always thought he would have ended up being if he had never gotten sick. It was strange, then, that Daria struck Connor as nervous now.
"I guess that's kind of selfish to say," Daria said.
"No, I get it. I'm glad to see people."
"You get many visitors?"
"Jude and my dad come every day and Ms. Adams comes every so often."
"Oh." Daria looked down at her hands, fiddling her fingers together. She finally looked back at him. "You know, something made me think of you."
Connor sat up a little straighter and adjusted his hat down over his head, not wanting to risk her seeing any part of his head. What could have happened to remind Daria of him?
She reached into the bag that she had over her shoulder. She pulled out two chocolate roses on long green stems, covered in bright red foil.
"We're putting together the candy-grams for Valentine's Day. I thought this was something else I should do before I wished I hadn't." Her brown eyes met Connor's. "I like you. I've liked you for a while. I invited you to my party and covered it in mistletoe because I really thought that you were going to kiss me. I thought you might have liked me too."
"Oh."
Woodenly, Connor reached out and took the roses, staring down at them. Daria had liked him? That didn't make any sense. Why would Daria like him? Connor had never been able to confidently say that they were friends – friendly but not friends – and Connor didn't know what to say to her. He looked up to her, surprised to find how uncomfortable Daria looked. His stomach rolled and he hoped it was his emotions and not his dialysis. Now was not the time to be getting sick.
"You don't like me back, do you?" Daria asked, her eyes downcast.
Connor shook his head, wondering what to tell her. Did he tell her he was gay, give himself away when it came to Jude? Connor rejected that. He didn't want to tell her that. He felt like he owed Daria something but he knew that he didn't owe Daria that.
"No. I never thought about you like that. I'm sorry."
Daria just shrugged. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, should I? It's … I just thought I should say it. Ms. Adams said you weren't coming back to school."
"No, I'm not." He didn't want to be dark and gruesome but there was no need to lie to her. "I'm not getting better."
"I'm sorry, Connor."
"It's not –" Connor's stomach rolled again and he knew it was dialysis illness. "Sorry!"
He curled away from Daria, grabbing the basin, feeling his stomach clench as he threw up.
"Oh God!"
Daria's shriek barely registered.
"Connor, what do I do?"
"Don't worry."
Jude. Jude had come back. Connor threw up again as Jude pressed the nurse's button. He sat at the end of the bed as Jude offered him water. He rinsed his mouth with the water and took a deep breath, trying to see how he was feeling. He felt dizzy but his stomach felt empty and he just felt too tired. The nurse took his basin, saying that she would be back with a new one. Connor turned himself back around, laying under the blanket. He felt too weak to draw the blankets back up and so Jude did it for him. Jude pushed the water glass into his hand again and Connor forced himself to take a sip of it. If Jude was going to take care of him, he could at least do his part. He gave the water back to Jude who put the cup to the side.
"Sorry you had to see that."
"It's okay. I, um …" Daria looked over her shoulder toward the door.
"It was good to see you."
"You too."
"Don't feel bad if you don't want to come back," Connor said, knowing that he had to give her an out; he didn't want her to feel guilty over not being here. He didn't want anyone's pity.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." Maybe in another life, he and Daria would have been better friends. Connor couldn't imagine a world where he was into women but, maybe, if there were enough other lives out there, there was one where he and Daria liked each other. Maybe it was stupid to think but he wondered if she was thinking the same thing.
"It's okay. Um, bye, Connor."
"Bye, Daria."
She looked over at Jude, said another quick and awkward 'goodbye' and then she was out the door.
"You feeling okay?"
"Dialysis. You know."
"I know," Jude agreed. "What did Daria want?"
Connor picked up one of the roses that were still laying among his blankets and he offered it to Jude.
"Valentine's Day?"
"She has a crush on me. She wanted to tell me. I can't believe I never noticed."
Jude snorted. "You told me Jake reminded you of Daria, remember? And I told you Jake liked you."
Connor rubbed his forehead. "I still don't see how I didn't see. It doesn't matter. It's not like I liked her back or anything."
Jude went to hand him the rose back.
"No, she left me two. Consider it my Valentine's Day gift to you."
"I'm against Valentine's Day."
"I'm giving it to you anyway."
Jude twirled the stem between his palms. "It's not even really Valentine's Day."
"It's a candy gram. If you'd gone to school, you probably would have gotten one anyway. They're handed out the week before Valentine's."
"What's a candy gram?"
"Chocolate roses. People send them to their friends and their crushes, that sort of thing." Connor couldn't help but watch Jude's face carefully at the mention of the word crush. Jude didn't seem to react to that at all.
"Thanks. Don't think I'm giving you a Valentine because of it. It's a stupid holiday."
"No expectations," Connor said, but his heart hurt. He'd been jealous of his classmates and their desks of candy grams while people gave him and his illness a wide berth. He had just thought that Jude might be his one-real chance for a Valentine. He shouldn't have been lost in his hopes like that. It distracted him from the Jude in front of him and Connor really liked the Jude in front of him.
Jude put the roses over on the bedside table and then fiddled with the blankets, pulling them higher up on Connor's body. Connor curled his hand around the edge of the blanket, wishing that he could hold Jude's hand and wishing that Jude didn't have to take care of him.
"Feel sick again?" Jude asked.
"No, tired."
"Meds will be in soon and then you'll be out for the afternoon."
"Your homework."
"I will stare at it while you sleep and you can deal with my brain leaking out of my ears when you wake up."
"Keep your brain in your ears," Connor instructed, though he smiled.
Nurse Mac stepped into the room. "Okay, Connor, Dr. Meyer wants to try a new drug today."
"What's this one do? Not sleep as long? Not sleep at all?"
"You're going to find yourself sleeping more often no matter what drugs we give you," Nurse Mac warned him. "So, unfortunately, this is probably going to make you feel fuzzy but it will take away the nausea you've been complaining of."
"What nausea?"
"I've been feeling gross outside of dialysis," Connor said. He could see Jude's brow knit in worry and he had to glance away from Jude, back to Nurse Mac's face. "So, it's a better option?"
"For the short term. It'll give you a better appetite."
Connor's eyes shifted over to Jude's face. Jude was shaking his head; Jude knew he hadn't been eating nearly as much as he should have been.
"Okay. Let's try it."
"Some side effects of this drug can include minor memory loss, headaches, and dry mouth. If you experience any of these, let use know. Especially if you wake up with a headache."
Connor nodded seriously and tried not to sigh as he took the new medication. He didn't want Jude to see how frustrated he was with feeling poked and prodded and experimented on. He knew it would make Jude worry even more and he knew Jude would probably tell Adam. He knew they talked about him while he slept and it didn't bother him. He knew it was because they cared about him and how could he be upset about that?
(-.-)
Jude didn't turn to watch Nurse Mac leave. Instead, he just watched Connor. Nurse Mac said it wouldn't take long for the new drug to kick in. Connor rubbed at his forehead and concerned rose within Jude.
"Do you have a headache?"
"No. My head just itches."
"I guess it's allowed to."
Connor rolled his eyes at Jude. "Get your homework."
"Why?" Jude said, feeling whiny.
"So, I know you're actually going to work on it while I sleep."
Jude shook his head but fetched his bag anyway, pointedly placing the worksheets next to him before settling in properly next to Connor. Connor looked deep in thought before he shook his head and gazed up at Jude.
"What?"
"Daria," Connor murmured and, to Jude's well-tuned ears, Connor's voice already sounded off.
"What about her?"
"I don't like her."
"I know," Jude whispered, a lump in his throat as he thought that Connor might still like him.
"I'm gay."
"I know," Jude repeated, now glancing toward the door. It was early for Adam to arrive but he knew how Connor would be kicking himself if his father found out that particular detail while Connor was babbling like a drunk person.
Connor stared at his hands and then flopped backward on the bed, looking half-asleep as he went back to staring at Jude. "I wish you were gay."
"Connor?" Jude couldn't breathe. "Why? Why would you wish that?"
"I'm sorry." Connor squeezed his eyes shut and he hid his head against Jude's bicep. "I know."
"I don't know," Jude said. "Tell me why you wish I was gay."
"Because I think I kind of love you and I want you to love me back."
"Connor!" Jude's brain went blank and he felt like his heart had stopped. "Did you really just say that?"
"Yeah," Connor murmured. "Yeah."
Jude only felt a little bad as he jostled Connor in an attempt to keep him awake. His heart had started again and now felt like it was going to explode out of his chest. Did he tell Connor the truth? Connor had said it first and that wasn't something that people just blurted out. He had to mean it.
"Connor … Connor, I …" But Jude lost his voice.
Connor made a small sound in the back of his throat and then curled himself up against the pillows. Jude watched his face, knowing Connor had fallen asleep. He couldn't help himself and he reached out to take Connor's hand. It wasn't unusual and no one who saw them holding hands thought twice about it. Jude didn't even think about it anymore. Now, Jude stared down at their clasped hands, drinking in the warm feel of Connor's fingers, playing the words 'because I think I kind of love you' over and over again in his head. Jude had known that Connor had liked him – Connor had kissed him at Christmas and Jude would never forget how sad he'd looked when they were talking about just being friends. But, Jude had left that fact mostly unacknowledged living in the minefield that was Nic's house and, now, Connor was dying.
If Connor was going to die, though, wouldn't it be better to let him go, knowing that Connor knew how Jude felt? What was holding back now? So, so much, Jude thought, watching Connor breathe. Sure, Stef's and Lena's was welcoming and safe but that didn't alleviate Jude's long years of hiding who he was and lying to himself. And, just because he had Stef and Lena now didn't mean he'd stay. He was a foster kid; he was always at risk to move and the next house might not be as welcoming or as safe. And, what if it changed too much for them and Jude couldn't be with Connor the way that he wanted to? Jude felt overwhelmed with fears and he knew that many concerns meant it was better not to say anything at all.
Jude already felt like that was going to be a hard decision to stick to. When Connor woke up and returned to the conversation with clear eyes, would Jude really be able to look at him and say he didn't love him back? Jude really didn't think he had the inner strength to do that.
He turned on the bed and rested with his back against the pillows. He pulled his knees up toward his chest, staring blankly ahead. I think I'm kind of in love with you. And, then, Jude started to smile because Connor loved him too and that was everything to smile about. It warmed him and made him smile just thinking about it because being loved back by Connor Stevens meant everything. Jude looked over at Connor's sleeping face.
"I love you too," Jude said aloud, trying the words out. The only person he'd said those words to was Callie but that was so different from what he was feeling and what he was feeling now. And saying it to Connor, though Connor was asleep and had no idea that it was being said, made Jude feel light. He felt like years of weight was being lifted from his shoulders, all because he had been able to let go of something dark inside of him and let himself fall in love instead.
Jude sunk down on the bed, Connor's head on his shoulder. He rested his head down on top of Connor's and played with Connor's fingers. He felt happy, he realized, lying like that. Jude had a long, long list of things to worry about but, right now, he didn't feel concerned about any of them. Connor loved him too.
He tried not to look too giddy when Adam walked in for his afternoon visit. Adam would certainly ask and Jude knew he certainly couldn't say.
"How is he?"
"They're trying new medication."
Adam nodded. "Yes, it was explained to me last night. I don't know if it's good – he hates feeling hazy and confused but it's likely to happen with this medication. But, I thought, if Dr. Meyer thinks it's a good idea, then we should try it."
Jude swallowed hard. "Well, there's got to be a lot of things to try, right?"
"Yeah, that's the hard part. There's a lot out of there but some things are right and some things are wrong. I don't have a medical degree. I don't know what the right decision is anymore than you do so I just have to trust what Dr. Meyer is said to me. She's been his doctor since the very beginning and I know that she would like to see him get his kidney just as much as I would."
Jude's stomach clenched painfully at the word 'kidney'. He glanced down at Connor's face and then back up at Adam.
"He doesn't think he's going to get one."
"No but who knows whether or not he will. None of us know, Dr. Meyer doesn't know. Whoever gives him the kidney doesn't know. We just have to hope that it happens for us, sooner rather than later." Adam leant forward, resting his arms against the side of bed, rubbing Connor's arm. "Or that the end is painless."
Jude shut his eyes, his stomach falling out of his body. There was going to be an end and he hated thinking about it now more than he hated thinking about it when he first realized it. Jude squeezed Connor's hand but Connor's sleeping body didn't respond.
"How has your day been, otherwise?"
"I've been doing a lot of schoolwork. Which I don't like but I have to do it and I know that. Other than that, things have been … starting to feel almost normal, I guess."
"Have you met Brandon yet?"
Jude shook his head. "No, soon. He's coming home in a couple of weeks for his school's break, so, I guess I meet him then."
"They're all good kids. You have nothing to worry about."
"Thanks," Jude said, but he would worry anyway. Something new was always something to worry about. And he worried, if Brandon didn't like him, Stef's and Lena's opinions of him might change. He was new enough to their lives that it was always likely that they might change their minds on him anyway.
Adam didn't say anything after that. There wasn't always something for them to share, once they were done talking about Connor and how Jude's life was going. Jude still wasn't sure if he liked the conversation or the silence more. Something about the things Adam would sometimes say made him uncomfortable, since he felt like Adam shared too much sometimes, but the silence was weighty. He couldn't tell what was on Adam's mind, really, and sometimes he worried about it. They waited with one another long enough that Jude was sure that Adam was running over his lunch break. Finally, Connor started to stir and Jude couldn't help but feel anxious. What if Connor woke up talking about the same thing he'd gone to sleep talking about? What did Jude say?
Connor's eyes opened blearily and then quickly closed again.
"Do you have a headache?" Adam asked him.
"Tired. Thirsty. Little headache."
Adam pushed the nurse's button while Jude fetched water. He sat in the chair while the nurse came in and took his stats, asking him questions. Connor seemed confused as he talked, like he was still just waking up, but it was taking too long.
"Is this normal?"
"Yeah. It's not ideal and it means we probably won't keep him on this for too long. Just until we find something that we think will help with pain management as well as this does."
Adam nodded.
"We will also try adjusting the dose tomorrow and see how the pain goes versus the haziness. Let us know if that headache gets worse. It shouldn't."
Jude watched the nurse leave the room and then he moved back onto the bed with Connor, sitting so that he was facing Connor instead. Connor still looked barely awake, trying to reach out and grasp onto the water glass. Adam carefully handed it to him, keeping his own hands close, like Connor was a small child that needed help sipping at his drink. But, he clearly did need the help, since he ended up spilling some on his type. He then pushed the cup away and fell back against the pillows his eyes closing.
"You're not in pain, are you?" Adam asked anxiously, though Jude distinctly remembered the nurse asking Connor that barely five minutes ago.
"No," Connor whispered. "No, just … No brain."
"That's okay. Just rest."
"It's all I do," Connor said and then he rubbed his hands over his face again. "Jude."
"I'm right here," Jude said, moving a little bit closer, wondering if this was going to be the moment that Connor went back to what they were talking about before he fell asleep.
Connor's hand found his own and then he closed his eyes again. Jude looked down at their locked hands, feeling warmed and saddened by the fact that it was all Connor wanted.
"Connor, I'm going to go back to the office for an hour or two. I'll be back for dinner."
"Okay."
"Call me if there's any change, Jude."
"I will," Jude promised.
He turned and watched Adam go and then his gaze snapped back to Connor's face. Now. Connor was going to go back to it now. Jude was going to have to figure out what to say to him but that was also based on what Connor said next.
"Okay, this has to be what feeling hungover feels like."
"I guess that sucks." Jude looked down at the blanket. Did he say it? Was that was Connor was waiting for? "I didn't do my homework."
"What?"
"You asked me to do my homework while you were sleeping. At least, you asked me to try to do it. I didn't even look at it."
"I don't remember that."
"How do you not remember?"
"Feels fuzzy. My whole head feels fuzzy." Connor sighed. "I barely remember Daria leaving. She did leave, right?"
"Right," Jude confirmed.
Connor continued, "I hate this. I don't want whatever this is again."
"Oh."
"Did we talk about anything important?"
"Homework. You said you'd help me."
"Oh. I'll do that …"
"You've got to eat something first. Maybe you'll feel less gross. I'm going to be here for a while yet."
"I know." Connor smiled. "You're always here. I like that."
"I like being here with you too."
Lunch was dropped off and Jude finally picked up the half sub that Adam had left behind, eating with Connor. Connor picked at his food but Jude checked how much he had eaten and, by what he remembered, it looked like he was already eating the slightest bit more than he had eaten yesterday. Connor lazed around for a while after he had finished eating and then, they got down to business on the homework sheet. Connor was patient, as Connor always was, as he tried to explain exactly how the simple math worked. It took much longer than it should have and Jude knew that. Jude knew it was because he was dumb and his brain just couldn't get it. Connor kept him motivated as best as he could. As weak as Connor was, he still kept pushing Jude and Jude knew that he couldn't let him down. They had very little time left before the end of visiting hours by the time they finished the sheet and Jude wished that he could stay the night again. He always wished that there was more time, especially on a day like today. Jude didn't think that Connor would lie to him about forgetting bits and pieces of his day but he also couldn't believe his luck that Connor would say it to promptly forget.
Lena knocked on the door. "Hi, guys, how are you?"
"Finished the sheet!" Jude announced.
"Jude did it mostly by himself."
"Connor's lying."
Lena just smiled at the two of them. "All right, well, I'll just choose to believe neither of you. I know Jude worked very hard nonetheless."
"I did," Jude agreed. "My school headache would never go away."
"Ready to go home?" she asked. "We picked up a pie for dessert. Maybe that and some ice-cream will help."
"Maybe." Jude looked over at Connor. "You okay if I go?"
"Dad should be back soon. He promised he would be."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Jude."
"Bye, Connor."
Jude followed Lena out the door and into the elevator. While the floors were ticking down, he admitted, "I tried really hard but Connor did have to correct me a lot."
"The trying is the important part. Everyone needs the help and support when they're first starting out. You're learning how to do it on your own; you're not expected to know how to do it alone right away."
Jude wasn't sure what to say to that as he pushed himself into the passenger seat of Lena's car. He liked the words but he also didn't like how rehearsed Lena's words could sound, sometimes. She sounded like a guidance counselor who had repeated the words a hundred times to a hundred different kids who needed to hear the same thing. It was exactly who she was. Jude knew that she meant all of the words she said, though, and it made Jude forgive her.
"What did you do today after we did school stuff?"
"Oh, boring school stuff. More administrative paperwork than anything else. Makes for a long day."
"Sounds annoying."
Lena laughed. "It kind of is."
She stopped the car in the driveway and they walked into the front door of the house. Jude heard no sounds coming from the house – no music playing from upstairs or down, no sounds of arguing from Mariana and Jesus though they were both supposed to be home tonight. All there was to indicate that someone was home was the fact that lights were on. Jude felt slightly dizzy. This was it. This was the other shoe that he'd been waiting to drop. Nic's goons had hunted him down for some reason and had killed off the family that had been good enough to take him in.
Then, Stef appeared from around the corner, looking relaxed and happy. Jude could have wilted in relief.
"Welcome home!"
Jude's instinct pinged again. She sounded wrong.
"Where's Mariana and Jesus?" Lena asked, sounding normal and herself.
"I sent them away for the night. We need to talk to Jude."
"About what?" Jude and Lena asked, almost in complete synchronization.
"Jude, I heard back about the kidney testing."
The floor fell out from underneath Jude and his knees went weak. Please, please, let this work out. Please let me save him.
Please.
If you have a song that reminds you of The Island Of Misfit Toys and would like it to be on the playlist, send it in and let me know! I'd love to hear your playlist suggestions. This week's songs are: You Might Be The One by Greyson Chance; and Whenever You Need by Jamestown Story.
So, on tumblr I'm: we are all of legend now (with dashes between every word). If you want to find my replies to anon reviews, add backslash tagged backslash anon dash replies. If you want to see anything I post about The Island Of Misfit Toys, go to my tumblr URL and add backslash tagged backslash the dash island dash of dash misfit dash toys. Punctuation is spelled out due to Fanfiction's restrictions. If you're having any trouble accessing the tumblr content please send me a pm and I can format it for you in a different way.
~TLL~