Ties of a Friendship
Chapter 3
Darkness loomed Jude couldn't see anything it was endless void no matter where Jude looked nothing but emptiness.
"Jude! Jude!" Jude hears his name echo throughout the darkness he looks around he finally sees Callie. Callie was standing calling out to Jude reaching out for Jude. He runs towards Callie, but he couldn't reach her.
"Jude! Jude please save me!" Callie begged Jude the darkness surrounds Callie as it begins to pull her under she struggles trying to reach for Jude he finally grabs her hand he pulls trying to bring Callie back to him, but nothing he did could save her as the darkness pulled Callie under as she screams in terror.
Jude pounds the ground trying to bring Callie back to him, he cries in horror that his sister is gone. He notices flames followed a few seconds later he turns to see Jesus and Mariana both tied up on a wooden plank screaming in pain as the flames that Jude saw ignited the surrounding area where Jesus and Mariana were.
"No! Jesus! Mariana!" Jude screamed in fear he couldn't save his sister Callie now Jesus and Mariana are in danger Jude reaches out for them, but the flames intensifies pushing Jude away from them, "No!"
The flames engulf Jesus and Mariana as they screamed in pain being burnt alive Jude cried in horror he falls to his knees once again failing to save people that he care about what next what else could go wrong?
He felt someone places their hand on his shoulder the jolt of the hand immediately make Jude looks up he sees Stef overhead. He rushes into her arms, but she didn't return the hug, "You failed us Jude why couldn't you tell us?" She told him Jude pulls away from her confused by what she meant, "Why, after we took you in Jude so why?!"
Jude couldn't grasp what Stef was saying shaking his head to make sense of everything it was like an emotional roller coaster driving Jude crazy.
"I loved her Jude and now she's gone…" Brandon told him, "Callie is gone because of you!"
Brandon and Stef shattered like glass, the shards of glass falls on Jude he covers himself from the shards of glass feels like bullets scratching him up the pain was too much for Jude to bear, then in all in one moment it stopped Jude slowly opens eyes looking around he sees Lena lying down on her side she wasn't facing him. He gets up and rushes over to Lena he turns her around she was unresponsive he tries to wake her, but nothing he did helped he sobs over Lena as another member was gone.
"Gay, you're gay!" Jude recognizes the voice it was Connor's father his homophobic views on Jude kinda of got to him over the past few weeks his father cause the rift between him and Connor and now it's getting worst. Jude pulls away trying not to listen to Connor's father, but his voice echoes through the veil of darkness that was Jude's mind, he couldn't shake it and it was too much to handle.
Everything went quiet then he noticed something familiar, it was the tent that Connor and Jude had shared that night. Jude walks towards the tent he sees Connor and himself having a conversation.
"No I don't think this is a good idea," Jude said to Connor.
Fixing up the tent Connor gets up and turn back to him, "Why not Jude? You're such a worry wart man!"
Jude remembered that Connor's father doesn't want them to hang out and sharing a tent wouldn't be helping convincing his father that Connor and Jude can still be friends, but at the same time Connor is his own person and what could Jude do?
"But…what about your father?" Jude questioned Connor, "Won't he be mad that we're hanging out and especially now…since we're sharing a tent this might cause even more problems than solutions?!"
"Jude…" Connor walks over to Jude he places his hand on Jude's shoulder reassuring Jude had nothing to worry about, "Listen man my father said I can't hang out with you at your home, but he said nothing about school or school trips he can't keep us away from each other okay?"
Jude looks down shuffling his feet in the dirt, "Connor…I don't know…"
"No Jude don't try to talk your way out of this," Connor cuts Jude off, "the truth is I'm glad you start back talking to me…it hurt when you shut me out I knew it was fault that you went silence because I wanted to keep our friendship a secret, but like you said you're not a secret and I don't care what anybody else have to say, you're my best friend…"
Jude looks up to see the sincerity in Connor's face he knew Connor meant every word as Connor smiles at him.
"Well okay if you say so…" Jude replied with those words it made Connor's day he turns around and tosses the sleeping bags at Jude who clumsily caught them.
"Good now set up our sleep bags then!" Connor told him giggling at Jude who almost fell over.
The memory faded away all that was the tent…the tent it started the problem everything that happen came from that tent that night, the night he should've said no. Now everything is happening in a domino effect and Jude doesn't know how to stop it.
"Jude! Jude! Help us! Save us!" Jude could hear the echoes of his family crying out in pain it was too much…within the screams of the echo he jolted up waking up in sweat.
He huffs and puff shaking himself from his nightmare he places his hand over his face next thing he realize the alarm clock just went off he quickly turns the alarm clock trying not to wake Jesus up. Jesus sometimes is cranky when he's woken up too early so Jude let Moms handle him in the morning.
It was seven A.M. in the morning Jude was the first to awake he made it a habit to be the first up it was something he learn after going to foster home to foster home he wanted to make sure he was before the family having all the chores ready and breakfast even though this was his home now some habit die hard.
He slowly walks over to his dresser and pulls out boxer briefs, and white tee, and white socks making sure not to make a sound. He slowly closes the dresser and walks out of his room the house was peaceful and quiet he makes his way to bathroom he slowly closes the door behind him and places clothes on top bathroom counter top he turns on the shower making sure the temperature is just right not too hot and not too cold.
With the shower just right Jude slowly makes his way into the shower. He felt like the shower was washing away his sins releasing him from his nightmare the day had to begin and it wasn't going to be easy.
He finally turns off the shower and dries himself off getting dress he head back into his room with his towel over his head drying his hair off. He opens the closet door where his clothes and Jesus' are hung most of the closet was Jesus' being a foster child he didn't have much, but at the same time Stef and Lena gave him some more clothes so Jude would feel like he had more options Jude pulls out a red long sleeve sweater shirt and some blue jeans with blue slip on shoes he tosses the towel off his finally semi dried hair as the towel falls on the ground of their closet he places his shirt over his face as the baggy shirt easily slides on Jude skinny body he adjusts his shirt then pulls his jeans on a little baggy but Jude knew that eventually he'll grow into them.
He makes sure he looks descent enough to go to school. He picks up the towel he was using and places it in the hamper in washroom. He walks down stairs to an empty living room and kitchen. He yawns still feeling uneasy from his nightmare he had earlier today, but he wanted to get have breakfast ready for his family sometimes cooking breakfast for his family give him some clarity.
He walks over to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator he sees some eggs wondering maybe who want eggs Jesus and Stef of course he looks over and see some chocolate chips maybe he can make chocolate chip pancakes for Callie and Mariana he pulls out the bag of chocolate chips and bowl of eggs placing them on top of the kitchen counter top. He wondered what else he needed to cook; he remembered some bacon as well as grits and toast now that he had a plan he was ready to cook.
The morning went on soon it was eight in the morning the house was rallying full of noses. Callie got up first and made her to the bathroom before anybody else, as usually sibling rivalry the first one to the bathroom makes it, but then Jude can hear Jesus and Mariana arguing down the stairs trying to get to the spare bathroom they hadn't noticed Jude in the kitchen cooking breakfast, Jude thought it was funny because Mariana and Jesus always arguing about he gets to use the bathroom first and who has to wait and Mariana usually wins, but this time Jesus made it to the bathroom leaving Mariana frustrated and angry pouting and puffing she goes upstairs once again not noticing that Jude was in the kitchen cooking for them.
Lena was up before Stef she usually gets up before her wife letting her get as much sleep as she possibly can before she wakes her. She notices the smell of breakfast fuming throughout the house it was pleasant smell she just finished putting her clothes on she walks out of her bathroom she looks at her peaceful sleeping wife she gently tilt over to the side that Stef was sleeping she smiles and wakes Stef up at first she didn't want to move, but then she yawns opening her eyes to see Lena waking her up.
"Morning sleepy head you got to get ready for work," Lena reminded her.
"Morning…" Stef yawned turning on her right giving Lena her attention, "It's already that time?"
"Yeah I gotta go a little early because I have to talk to the Board of Education so the kids are up getting ready for school," Lena said getting up from the bed as Stef watches her grabbing her purse and school information, " I love you I'll call you as soon as I can."
"Hey, not so fast!" Stef scolded Lena. Lena remembered and ran back over to her giving her a kiss, "I love you too…good luck."
Lena rushes out of the bedroom running into Callie who just got out of the bathroom wearing a yellow bathroom robe drying her off with a towel that match.
"Oh honey sorry I won't be able to pick you up from work can you get a ride with Brandon or Mom?" Lena asked Callie.
"Oh that's fine I'll one of them I know you're busy its cool I might go and see Rita and the girls if that's okay?" Callie replied.
"That's fine I'll see you for dinner!" Lena rushed passes her going down the stairs she sees Jude cooking the family breakfast.
The smell of breakfast caught her attention it was too good not too at least eat something before her meeting with the Board of Education. Jude had finish making the chocolate chip pancakes he places them on a plate and places them in the middle of the kitchen table. He finishes the eggs and bacon places the bacon on a small plate while leaving the eggs in the pan for the family to get if they want eggs or not.
"Jude, honey this is amazing you know you really didn't have to!" Lena said to Jude hugging him the behind cheeks touching each other, "chocolate pancakes, eggs and bacon…yummy."
Lena grabs two stripes of bacon before the toast that Jude placed in the toaster just popped out. Jude smiles back, but his face still told Lena a different story.
"Oh Jude it's going to be okay, alright? You have nothing to worry about everything is going to be okay bud?" Lena reassured a concerned Jude, "Thank you for breakfast I'll see you after school." Lena kisses him on his cheeks and walks out of the kitchen.
For Jude just seeing Lena smiles gives him hope her presence was like the radiance of the sun shining through the darkness of Jude's despair. Lena waves bye to Jude as Jude smiles and waves back, Callie finally walks downstairs she sees the breakfast that Jude made for the family she was happy to see her brother cooking breakfast for them.
"Jude! Good morning how is my favorite brother?" She asked him giving him a hug from behind as he giggles from Callie secretly tickling him.
"I'm…fine…ha-ha…that tickles…" Jude replied trying to stop Callie from tickling him, but that's how Callie always got Jude attention in the morning especially when he was quiet and cooking.
"I know…little brother that's why I do it!" Callie laughs before pulling away she grabs a plate that Jude had placed on table. She picks up a spoon and scoop some the eggs onto her plate she sits down near Jude who was still finishing up the last of the bacon and toast.
She grabs two slabs of pancakes and places them on her plate she looks for the syrup, little did Jude know he had forgot to place the syrup out for everyone. Callie gets up from the table walking over to the refrigerator and grabs the syrup it was to right side of refrigerator also pulls out the orange juice placing it on table along with the syrup.
"Have you've heard from Connor since you got home last night?" Callie asked Jude, "I was just wondering if he was still at the hospital is all."
Jude knew Callie wasn't trying to be nosey she cared about Connor's welfare as Jude did, but to be honest Jude didn't even think to ask Connor if he was at home or not. Jude turns around from the stove and places a plate of eggs and toast in the middle of the table before he replied.
"Actually I don't even know he said he's going to be at school tomorrow so maybe I'll see him there," Jude explained to her.
"Okay I'm just making sure tell him we're all here for him," Callie tells Jude as Jesus and Brandon runs down the stairs both brothers trying to get to the table before the other one Jesus got to the table first throwing it in his face, Brandon let him know next time it would be different.
"Alright boys calm down!" Stef scolded her son walking down the stairs behind the rowdy teenagers dressed in her officer outfit wrapping her hair in a bun before walking in the kitchen, "Where's Mariana?" She looked at her children she knew it was no point of asking that question she knew Mariana was still upstairs mostly likely still deciding on what to wear, "Mariana come on down for breakfast!"
"I'm coming mom!" She replied back Stef sighed trying to figure out what takes her so long every morning. She walks in the kitchen giving her daily kisses to her kids each on their heads and she hugs Jude for making breakfast, "Hey bud you know me or Momma could've cooked breakfast?"
"I know I just wanted to…" Jude tells her.
With the family all settling down with breakfast Jude could only think about what happened after he left Connor last night he even turned his phone off so Connor couldn't contact him. Jude knew that Connor was safe, but was he alright he let his thoughts wondered away…
It was seven thirty in the morning Connor awoken from his slumber hair a messy mess he rubs his eyes to get focus he yawns and rustles his hands through his hair tossing the sheets off of his body he looked around trying to figure out where he was. He remember he was his mom's house he didn't even take the clothes he had on from yesterday he got home and fell asleep after giving up trying to call Jude. He sighs slowly walking over to his closet he looks for something descent to put it on he looks at yellow plaid shirt blue jeans and blue t shirt he grabs them from his closet. He slowly makes his way to the bathroom like a snail he wasn't in any hurry.
He turns the shower on let the bathroom fill with hot steam from the hot scolding water he released from shower head faucet. His body feels so sluggish and heavy he stood in front of the bathroom mirror as the steams begins to fill the bathroom Connor just stood there as the steam begins to cover the mirror blurring out his own image in the mirror.
Connor finally moved from the mirror he takes his clothes off and got in the shower. The hot water from the shower head fell on Connor's body he felt like the pain and pressure was washing everything he hated from his body it was a moment of relief he forgot about everything and everyone it was just him keeping the moment for his self he found clarity within himself just enough to make it through the day.
"Connor…?" Connor's mother called out to her son from downstairs, "sweetheart you alright?"
Connor snapped back to his reality after his mother called he quickly shuts off of the shower grabbing his towel of the bathroom rack before finally answering his mother, "Yeah…yeah I'm alright mom! I just got out of the shower!"
"Okay honey, hurry and get dress so you can eat some breakfast then!" Connor's mom told him.
Like any mother after their child seen or experience something they shouldn't of course she was concern about Connor, but felt it was little annoyance of course being hover by his mother didn't help him either. He quickly gets dress brushes his teeth and head downstairs. His mother was waiting for him having cooked an omelet for Connor she knew that he would love omelets especially with ham baked into it. Connor smiles rushing over to the table where the plate was waiting for him he sits down as his mother walks over to him hugging him, Connor was excited and he hugs her back she let her son eats the omelet in peace.
"I'm going to drop you off of school today," Connor's mom told her son as he continues to enjoy his omelet, "Do want to visit your dad after you get out of school?"
"I don't know yet, but I will let you know before school ends today," Connor replied finishing the last of his omelet he gets up and places the plate in the sink because it was close to that time for him to head to school.
"Alright then let's get going okay?" Connor's mom picks up her purse and briefcase opening the front of the door waiting for Connor to hurry and grab his backpack so she can lock the door.
He quickly shuffles out of the door as his mother closes the door behind the both of them. His mother unlock the door for the both of them to get in the car, he opens the door he takes his backpack off and places it on the ground on of the car he climbs in the car and as well as his mother she cranks the car up, pulling the car out of the driveway Connor slowly thought about what he'll say when he sees Jude today, maybe another apology if Jude even wants to talk him he pray he would, but last time Jude went mute on him so only God's knows.
Connor's mom's car finally pulled up to Anchor Beach Community Charter School, it was bustling with students all over because the school's first bell hasn't rang yet Connor gets out of the car he inhales and exhales he can smell the fresh beach air he walk towards the entrance of the school as his mom's honk giving Connor a wave he turns around waving back at his mom as she pulls off he walks into the school waving at some familiar faces going pass the hallway he sees Jude who just closes his locker Jude sees Connor as he walks towards Jude. Jude looks down at the ground he felt embarrassed looking at Connor so he decided not to.
"Hey…" Connor said to Jude at first he felt like Jude was going mute again.
"Hey, Connor…" Jude answered back.
Connor and Jude just glance back at each other no one knew what was happening between the two of them all people saw were two best friends.
"Can we talk?" Connor asked Jude.
"Connor…nothing's change between us, just do as your father tells you okay?" Jude said to him he shrugs and walk towards his first period, "I'll see you later."
Connor had understood it was hard to though because of the fear of losing Jude's friendship, but maybe they should just until everything blows over at least Connor hoped.