Ties of a Friendship

Chapter 9

Monday rolled around all the kids went about the way. Jude and the family was happy that Lena heard good news about getting her job back she had to go to a hearing and hopefully she would get good news. The family hoped as much none so more than Jude since he felt the blame was on him mostly.

The morning went on like normal Jude headed to his to locker to grab his books for class as Maddie came up to locker. When he closed his locker Maddie was standing behind it startling Jude for a bit.

"Hey Jude!" Maddie said holding her books up to her chest.

"Um…hey Maddie," He replied, "How's it going?"

Maddie kisses Jude on his cheek as he blushes a bit, "Saturday was wonderful! I'm glad you came it was fun!"

"Yeah I had fun too actually…" Jude smiled replying back to her. She was on cloud 9 talking to Jude it was what she wanted since she met Jude and now it's happening.

Jude decided to walk Maddie to her class while they talk about this weekend. After the movies Maddie, Chelsea, and Jude decided to go to the mall. Since Connor wasn't answering they decided not to push it. While Chelsea was bummed out that Connor didn't come. During that time Maddie and Jude talked and during the end of the day before it was time for them to leave Maddie ran up to Jude and quickly kissed him. Jude was taken aback by her surprise kiss, but he kissed back. Once they lips unlocked they both smiled and blushed at each other as Maddie ran away. Jude smiled holding his hand up to his wet lips.

"Sorry Connor didn't come I know you wanted him too, but maybe he had a good reason or something?" Maddie told him.

"Yeah I hope your right," Jude replied as he stops at the entrance of her classroom, "I'm sure you're right…"

"So I'll see later today?" Maddie asked him.

"Sure you will!" Maddie smiles and kisses Jude before walking into her classroom.

Jude smiles blushing from the kiss he just receive from Maddie he walks away heading towards his class sees Connor standing in the middle of the hallway almost blocking Jude's path. Connor didn't say anything he just stared at Jude his eyes were hurt. Connor turns away from him as Jude calls out to him.

"Connor?" Jude called out to Connor. Connor ignores him he quickly tries to walk away, "Connor wait up!" Jude finally pulls Connor by his shoulder and turns him around to face him.

Jude didn't want to see the face that Connor gave him. Connor face showed hurt and pain. He tried to pretend nothing bothered him, but Jude knew something was up with him.

"Connor speak to me. What's wrong?" Jude asked him. Connor didn't say anything he just shrugged and pulls him backpack up over his shoulder, "No Connor you do not get to do this not this time!"

"Jude I have nothing to say…" Connor tells him.

Jude really doesn't get mad, but this is one of those few exceptions. Jude wasn't taking no for an answer. He grabs Connor by his arm and pulls him outside. Connor and even Jude himself was shocked at his behavior and that he has hidden strength. Jude finally pulls Connor outside to a bench behind the school. Connor releases himself adjusting himself.

"Jude what the—"

"Shut up Connor!" Jude cuts Connor. Connor looks at him in shock and horror he never seen this side of Jude, "Sit down now!" Connor sits down as Jude sit next to him. Connor looks down ashamed Jude looks at him, "What is your problem?"

"I don't know…" Connor sighed still refusing to look up at Jude.

Jude rubs his eyes a little frustrated by Connor's attitude. He tries to confront him, but Connor pulls away, "Connor what is it? If anyone should be upset I should be. What happened to Saturday? You didn't show up at all…I waited for you, I called and text and nothing you couldn't at least told me something."

"Jude are you and Maddie together?" Connor asked him. Jude was hesitated to answer the question. Connor looks up at Jude right into his eyes, "Please Jude…"

"Yes…"Jude responded. Connor looks down in disappointment, "Connor look it just happened we hung out over the weekend and next thing I know we're a couple…I wanted to tell you, but you wouldn't answer me—"

"My dad's back Jude!" Connor cuts Jude off telling him the news, "Yeah my dad's back I'm sorry I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how."

"Is that why you couldn't come to the movie theater?" Jude asked him. Connor gives him a nod yes, "Is everything okay? I mean with you and your father?"

"I don't know… I had to help take care of him all weekend!" Connor explains to Jude rustling through his hair in frustration, "I can't believe this!"

"I understand it sucks, but maybe you could talk to him about this?" Jude suggested to Connor.

"Sure, but let's talk about you and Maddie…" Connor changed the subject before snapping at Jude, "I thought you didn't like her like that?"

"Connor don't do this!"

"Don't do what? You're dating Maddie dude! How could you do this to me?"

"Do what?" Jude snapped back, "Have a life?! Connor you're my best friend and I will always be there for you, but lately you've been acting funny! One minute we're cool than the next your mad or distance to me! Me of all people! Look Connor I told you I didn't want to be anyone's secret and I did everything for you. You have no right to say I can't date Maddie I wanted to end our friendship because of your father, but now you're making it harder to be friends with you!"

"Well maybe we shouldn't since you want to betray me!"

"Betray you? Have you've lost your mind Connor?! Wait don't answer that because you did I mean really if anything you betrayed me by lying to me because you're scared of you father and you couldn't stand up to him!"

"And you can't keep your mouth close! You had to tell your mom what do you think will happen if anyone finds out about what we did in the tent Jude? You think about that this just doesn't affect you it affects me as well!"

"You think I asked for this Connor?! I wish I was a normal kid who had a normal family, a normal life, normal friends, but it didn't happen like that and I'm sorry you got caught in this, but like I said before whatever issues you have with your father is between you and him and your venting your angry out on me isn't gonna solve it!"

Connor looked away from Jude clearly they were both angry at each other. There's was nothing left to say between them. Connor got up from the bench sliding his backpack firmly on his shoulder. He turns to face Jude one last time Jude looks up at him as well both of them eyes weren't filled with hate, but filled with regret and sorrow. Connor turns away from Jude leaving him by himself sitting on the bench as he went to class.

That day was worst day from both former best friends things were never the same between them. The days went on and both Connor and Jude hadn't say anything to each other. Maddie tried to get them talk to each other, but her efforts were futile.

Jude heard good news from Lena as she told them she got her job back, but the not so good news was that Connor and Jude would have to tell their stories to her and Mr. Stevens when they have a hearing with the Principal in a couple of days. That wasn't what Jude wanted to hear since it's been a few days since he and Connor last talked.

"It's going to fine bud just tell them what you told me and everything will be fine," Lena tells Jude reassuring he has nothing to worry about as he rubs his back giving him a smile. He smiles and nods okay.

Connor on the other hand wasn't too excited about the news he just heard. Besides not talking to Jude for a couple of days now he have to talk about what he did in the tent. He wasn't happy at all.

"But I don't see why I have to tell you guys anything!" Connor exclaimed raising his voice at his mother and father, "Nothing happened between me and Jude so I don't see what's the problem?!"

"Honey I understand you're upset about this, but whatever you did or didn't do in the tent was inappropriate for a school trip," His mother tells him.

"Unless that boy Jude is gay and you and him did something together…" Adam raised an eyebrow looking with suspicious looks at Connor.

Connor calms down before replying to his father, "No…no nothing happened between me and Jude…but something did happen in the tent."

"Which was?"

Connor lets out a desperate sigh, "We made out with girls in our tent and that's really it. It was some dares and you know how you don't want anyone to know plus it was embarrassing doing it in front of your best friend…well ex-best friend now."

Connor's mom looked at her son with a sadden look in her eyes. It broke her heart to see Connor hurt. She looks at Adam giving him a look that says satisfied. Adam looks down at his feet before looking up at his son.

"Son," Adam sighs, "You know that's not what I wanted…"

"But it is dad," Connor replied, "This is exactly what you wanted I had bruises to prove it father. You didn't want me and Jude to be together because you thought he was gay and by me and him growing closer you feared that I would be become gay too, but the problem is he isn't gay I'm not gay he has a girlfriend now Maddie and him are now a couple. So thank you father for all this unnecessary drama."

"Wait isn't Maddie a girl you liked?" His mother asked. Connor gives her a nod yes telling her it was truth, "Wait now Jude and Maddie are dating since when?"

"Since the Saturday I missed the movies to take care of my father," Connor tells them, "Because I wasn't able to go to the movies I pushed Maddie further into Jude's arms and now there dating! Once again thank you again father, now may I go to my room please I have some homework to finish."

"Of course sweetheart," Connor mother dismissed him as he runs upstairs up to his room. Both of his parents could hear the door slammed shut they knew he was angry and upset about the entire situation.

Connor's mom got up from the couch she was disgusted with her ex-husband, "I hope you're happy with yourself Adam!"

"What does that mean?" Adam questions her, "What do you mean are you happy with yourself?"

"Because of you and your homophobic behavior that's what now our son lost his best friend!" She turns back to him.

"You think I'm happy with this? You think I wanted this to happen?! I thought Jude was gay and I made a call!"

"Really Adam, because all I see it a heart broken boy up there saddened that he lost his best friend. And for what because you saw him patting him on his back?! Adam Jude spent the night over your house and mines there were nothing between them what was so weird for you that Connor got close to another male?"

"I was protecting our son!"

"From what having a reliable friend?! Don't you see it was a platonic friendship that's all Adam! You had to read more into it than it needed to be and now look at the mess there end a ended friendship, two hurt boys, and embarrassment that his father is making him reveal what he did on a camping trip for goodness sake we all know we did things when we were young and in school so don't even pretend like you didn't!"

"I didn't want any of this to happen I just didn't want Connor to…"

"To what be gay even if he was what was that going do all we would've did was chase him away from us to be honest!" Mrs. Stevens was completely done with this conversation she was having, "Adam just live go home…"

"But…"

"Adam please just go, now!" She opens the door for him as he grabs his jacket and walks out of the house. She closes the door behind him shaking her head at the events that unfolded.

Mrs. Stevens head upstairs to check on Connor. He was very quiet she just wanted to make sure everything was okay. When she opened his door he was lying flat on his stomach reading a comic. He heard the door opened, but he made no moves he really didn't want to hear anything from either one of his parents.

"Honey," She called out to him. He made no movement just flipped another page, "Sweetheart I know this hard for you and I'm sorry for all of this," She slowly enters the room as she takes a sit next to him on his bed, "You know how stubborn your father can be." Connor said nothing as he continues to flip another page, "It hurts now, but it'll get better trust me…Connor just know whatever happens I love you no matter what."

She kisses on the top of his head and walks out of his room. Connor just kept reading his comic as a tear fell from his face smudging a panel from his comic.

"Knock! Knock!" Callie doors on the door of Jesus and Jude's room. Jude looks up from his book, "Can I come in?" Jude smiles giving her an okay look she walks over to his bed and climb on to it, "So…what's up?"

"Nothing's up…" Jude told her, but Callie wasn't buying it she was giggling which confused him even more, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but when were you going to tell me you started to date?!" Callie asked him, "My little brother is dating now and didn't even say anything! I'm just shocked!"

With everything going on between him and Connor he forgot to tell his sister that he just started to date, "Oh yeah…I completely forgot me and Maddie are…um dating now."

"Congratulations!" Callie screamed hugging her little brother, "I can't believe this when did this happen?"

"When we went to the movies it just happened and we hit it off," Jude tells her.

"Wow that's amazing Jude," She tells him, "What about Connor?"

"What about him?" Jude snapped much to his sister dismay.

"I'm sorry is everything alright between you two?" Callie asked him, "I know you told me that he likes Maddie…"

"No I'm sorry Callie," Jude apologized, "Me and Connor aren't talking right now, um we have to go to a hearing about what we did in the tent and I really don't want to too be honest."

"I know bud, buts it's going to be okay," She rubs his knee, "Just be truthful and tell them what you did and then thats it. If you and Connor are meant to be friends than it'll happen if not or well there's other friends out there don't give up okay!"

It was a couple of days and finally the time of the hearing was upon them. Connor and Jude met up outside in the courtyard. This was the first time in days Connor and Jude were even in the same area or spoken to each other. Connor had both his hands tucked in his pockets he shrugs a bit before looking at Jude. Jude tried not to look at Connor either, but they had to talk about the situation at hand.

"Hey…" Connor started off.

"Hey…"

"You we have to talk about what we did in the tent," Connor told him, "Once we tell them what we did, this is done…"

"That's fine by me," Jude replied coldly, "Let's just get this over with and then we're done. You can leave do whatever I don't care anymore."

"Whatever," Connor shrugged as they both walk to the office where Lena, Adam Stevens and Monte Porter were waiting for the two boys.

"…Okay so what happened between the two of you in the tent?" Lena asked them.

Jude looked at Connor and Connor looked back. He could tell that he should speak since he got them into this in the first place.

"Well like I told my mom after she checked us and lights out for the night we invited two girls and we made out and…" Jude tells them.

"And…" Adam questioned Jude.

"Nothing that was it…I'm sorry."

"Well that's what I was exactly afraid of," Adam told Lena and Monte Porter.

"Is it? Exactly?" Lena was skeptical by Adam's reaction. The last time they all talked he made it clear he was not happy with Connor and Jude sharing a tent together because Jude is gay or so he thought which upset Lena and cause her to overreact and quit her job, but this time was different they set aside there difference to meet and talk about the situation between Connor and Jude.

"Yeah it is," He replied, "Look I know you think I'm some kind of big homophobe or something, but I'm not. I just want to make sure my kid's is properly supervised when he's supposed to be."

"You're absolutely right sir. We hear you loud and clear and we're going to make sure the way chaperone trips like these."

"Thank you. I just want Connor to be able to be a kid. And not grow up so fast. But he is growing up and, maybe your right about one thing, he is getting to old for me to be spanking him so…You're still grounded that's it kay?"

Connor nods his head understanding what his father was telling him.

"Well I think it's safe to say we all learn a little something. Why don't you head back to class?" Monte told them as the two boys gather their things and walk out of the office.

Both headed out of the office and ignores it each other before Jude said anything, "Well I hope you're happy. You're dad been cool with all this."

"Jude don't even I can't even believe you even told your Moms!" Connor was too upset to even hear Jude out, "If you hadn't said anything we wouldn't be in this mess! I can't do this anymore!"

Before Jude could say anything Connor stormed off leaving Jude standing there shaking his head he wondered how it could've went so wrong so fast.

Later in the afternoon after school was letting out Jude went to his locker he avoids Connor he notices him he slams his locker as Jude finishing grabbing what he needed and close his locker when he tried to walk Connor shoulder bumps him. Jude couldn't believe the way Connor treated him he just sighs and head outside to the beach.

Jude finally arrived at his familiar meeting place. He sees a young man enjoying the beach playing in the sand with hands. When Jude walked up to him the young man didn't turn his attention to Jude he smiled he knew it was Jude walking up to him he always knew.

"Hello Jude," Trey greeted him, "Let me guess it got worst didn't it? Of course it did I knew it would eventually."

Jude sat next to Trey, "How did you know?"

"It's obvious to be honest close friendships like you and Connor sometimes some small things or a mistake could break up a friendship," Trey tells him, "Look Jude I won't ask what you did not until you're ready to tell me, but you can either forget about it or you can try and fix it either way is okay."

"But I don't know if I want to end our friendship…"

"Then don't, but at the same time give him some space he'll eventually come to you or you might confront him, but hey don't worry about it for now. One thing I learned is to go with the flow and enjoy what's good in your life and what's not, trust me it'll work out in the end."

Jude smiles understanding what Trey was telling him, he decided not to worry about Connor or anything stress or drama he decided to enjoy the ocean view from the beach with Trey for now he had at least one friend he could talk to.