Ties of a Friendship
Chapter 18
Trey was still in recovery after his mom rushed him to the hospital that night. She was worried about her son she couldn't see him yet so she waited in the hallway. She felt like a failure how could she let her son go through this? Was she doing the right thing by agreeing to her son's wishes that's all she could think about. Her thoughts went back to seeing her son struggling to breathe right in front of her trying to calm him down it was enough to break her, but she wouldn't break not now or ever.
"Please be okay…" She whispers to herself as she prays silently for her son to be okay.
Jude's head was banging the sound of the gunshot ringing through his ears. He looks around he was unharmed, but he was on the floor still trying to figure out his surroundings. He looks up and all he hears is the sobs of Maddie and Taylor. Taylor's father was panicking he heard him call the paramedics and calling out to the kids were they okay. Jude's mind finally rationalize someone was on him it was Connor he turns around to see Connor lying on top of him sobbing from the pain.
"Connor?!" Jude quickly moves from under Connor. He pulls Connor up to him onto his lap. Both boys look where Connor was injured it was his foot. A relief spread across Jude's face even if he was bleeding. Connor's face showed the pain, but he tried to put on a tough act for everyone Maddie and Taylor got some towels and rag and rushed over to the boys. Connor was holding Jude's hand tightly as if he was going to break it. Maddie tells Connor how much they cared about him and it was going to be okay. Taylor put pressure on Connor's foot as he lets out a sharp moan.
"My dumb luck…huh?" Connor tries to make a joke about getting shot Jude was still halfway shock trying to still process what was happening. All he could feel was Connor's grip tightening around his hand.
"It's going to be okay…my dad called the ambulance and they'll be here real soon!" Taylor tells him applying pressure on the wound. She was annoyed with Daria's hysterical behavior, "Daria please! Calm down it's okay its nothing serious!"
"But he was shot!"
"Connor…Connor you'll be fine okay?!" Jude tells him. Connor nods and slightly smiles. "Dang!" Jude thought to himself, "How did this night go wrong so fast?"
Stef was sleeping at home when she received a call telling her that Connor was shot and that Jude was at the hospital with Adam. Stef got Lena and told the kids that they were going to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital Jude was sitting in waiting room in complete shock lost in his thoughts. Lena rushed over to hug him she asked if he was okay giving him a kiss on his forehead. Stef goes to talk to another cop who was at the scene to get information.
"…I guess he thought his daughter was spending the night out. So when the kids snuck in to get alcohol he thought he was being rob and grabbed his gun. It was dark he fired and hit the boy. There working on him right now." The officer explained the events of tonight to Stef.
Stef walks over to wear Lena and Jude was sitting down. Jude was still in processing the events everything in his mind was going too fast for him to even think about anything but seeing Connor making sure he was alright.
Stef took the opposite seat next to Jude and rubs his back, "He's going to be okay love." Jude just looks back his mom with confused look, "You're going to be alright."
Inside of Connor's hospital room the doctor explain that the bullet went through his foot and he's fine that they just need to operate the tendons but he'll make a full recovering. Adams wonder if Connor would be able to play sports the doctor assured him that he would just no time soon. Adams thanks the doctor as he gives the father and son some time alone.
"What the hell were you thinking sneaking out like that?!" Adam question his son, "What kind of idiot breaks into someone else's house in the middle of the night?!" Connor was disgusted with his father questioning him about his actions, but could he tell his father the real reason? "Is it about that girl? That girl Daria is that why you did this? Is that why you snuck out?!"
Daria…that wasn't the real reason why Connor stuck out tonight, yes hanging out with the girls was fun, but his real reason was to see his best friend. The best friend that his father always tried to keep him away from it was too late his dad couldn't keep them apart whether it was a mistake or not. "No."
"It's not?!" Adam pressed for more answers, "It's not why you did it?!"
"It's not! Okay?!" Connor was freed up with father's demanding questions he let the truth finally slipped from his mouth, "I snuck out so I can see Jude alright?!"
Pulled back from his son's confession, Adam was speechless at what his son just told him. Connor shrunk back down in fear of confessing the truth to his father fearfully of what might happen. "What does that mean?"
Connor swallow the lump stuck in his throat and told his dad what he didn't want to hear, "I'm…I'm gay dad." Adam's face expression could tell him all he needed to know, "I'm sorry dad, but I like Jude and keeping us further apart didn't do anything, but made our feelings for one another even stronger."
"Connor you're not gay…it's because of that Jude kid he put you up to this!"
"Dad!"
"No I don't want to hear anymore of this! You are banned from seeing Jude! You will not be friends with him anymore understand me?!" Adams tells his son Connor was clearly upset hurt losing his best friend. Before Connor could say more Adam left to talk with the Fosters.
Stef and Lena begins to question Jude. Jude stated he couldn't remember and he knows it was stupid to do something like that. He apologizes to his Moms just as Adam comes out to speak with them. Jude immediately ask to see Connor, but Adam turns him down telling him maybe later as he ask to talk to Lena privately. Stef reminds Jude that it would be okay. Lena and Adam talks for awhile she comes back and tells Jude that Adam doesn't want him to see Connor ever again and that Connor told his father that he was the one who had the idea to sneak out. Jude was clearly hurt by this he couldn't even answer his Moms with an answer.
Jude refused to leave until he heard about Connor's surgery was successful. Stef and Lena wouldn't argue as he was still getting over a traumatic night. Lena decided to go visit Adam visit to tell him that they wouldn't leave until Connor's surgery was done Adam agreed, but still wouldn't let Jude see him. Lena sighed at Adam's annoyance, but Connor is his son and he has that right.
Lena went over to the cometary to grab a coffee for herself. When she noticed a woman frustrated leaning against the wall. Lena slowly approaches the woman. "Are you okay?"
The startling woman snaps out of her thoughts looking at the girly haired woman holding a cup of coffee. "Oh yeah, just waiting for my information on my son."
"I understand my son's friend got shot and we're waiting for him to get out of surgery." Lena takes a sip of her coffee, "It just seem like the hospital is our favorite place to be sometimes…"
"Tell me about it ever since my son been diagnose I thought we we're going to live in the hospital forever. But he got better or so I thought and now this…I feel horrible that this happened to him."
"It happens…" Lena places a gentle touch on the woman's shoulder, "But don't think you're a horrible mother. I'm sure your son wouldn't want you to think like that. He's in there right now fighting for his life and he's going to want your support."
"Yeah…just sometimes you feel like it's your fault. Losing a child is probably one of the hardest things to go through," The woman tells Lena. Lena understood losing a child with Frankie she lost her and the fear of losing a child is hard. Lena fully understood this.
"It a hurt you'll never be able to get through…but you will make it trust me you have to take it one day at a time."
Lena and the woman talked as Lena try to make her feel better. Sometime later the doctor comes to Adam to tell him that the surgery on Connor's foot was successful. With the good news Adams approach Jude and Stef just as Lena excused herself from the woman to talk to Adam. Adam explains that Connor's surgery was successful and he's asleep right now and would let them know if anything change. With that he left and Jude along with Moms left and went home for the night.
It was a rough night for all parties, but no more than Trey unknown to both Connor and Jude he was also in the hospital fighting for his life. Trey was struggling to breath and his mother found him, but in time as well. He was stabilizing for now, but he had to stay for more testing to see if his condition would worsen over time. The doctor told his mom that they were able to calm him down it was mild attack and nothing serious, but they still wanted to watch him for a couple of weeks. She was much relief, but knew her son wasn't going to be please with being stuck in the hospital for weeks.
Next morning it was rough for Jude. He barely wanted to get out of bed. He just sat on his bed staring at the floor non responds. Lena and Stef decided to let him stay home for today because of the events. While the family was downstairs for breakfast Callie went to confront her brother about the events of last night.
Callie just stood in front her little brother she didn't even know where to begin with Jude. It was so out of her character it was still shocking to Callie herself. She takes a deep breath before speaking placing her hands on her hip.
"You've never done anything like this before Jude. I don't get it!" She tells him shaking her head in disappointment. She waits for an answer from her little brother he doesn't say anything still, "Was it Connor's idea?" Jude just gives her shrug. She still wanted an answer from her brother she continued, "Well…I think he's a bad influence on you Jude. I don't think you guys should be hanging out as much…"
That was all it took for Jude to snap at his sister. He jumps from his bed angry and frustrated with his sister, "You know what just shut up!"
"Excuse me? No do not talk to me like that!"
"Then stop telling me what to do!" He snapped back her, "And you don't have to worry about me and Connor hanging out anymore! Because his dad say we're not allow to be friends anymore! Okay?!"
On the verge of tears Callie nods in agreement, "Maybe that's for the best; you'll make new friends…"
"You know what just leave me alone!" Jude storms away from his sister heading to the bathroom slapping the door behind him.
It was a proud moment for neither sibling. Jude sat down on the bathroom floor with his back to the door. He just wanted to be left alone. He thought about maybe Callie was right Connor did throw him under the bus what was he supposed to do? He wanted to see Connor, but Adam wouldn't let him. He pulls out his phone to text Connor, but heard nothing back from him. A couple of minutes passed and he called him, but Connor didn't pick up. Since Connor wasn't answering Jude tried texting Trey again just like Connor no answer Jude figured Trey was busy, but he really wanted to talk to someone who would listen and right now his family isn't the best option at this moment.
At the hospital Trey was finally coming too. He moans for a bit looking around at his surrounds he saw his left arm was strapped with IV he couldn't really get a clear thought around he slowly lifts his upper body it was stiff as his back pops, "Ugh my head hurts!" Trey places his hand on his forehead gently on his head. "What in the world happened?" Still haze from last night all he knew that he was in the hospital, one of his least favorite places to be. He removes the sheets on him and looked around for his clothes, but he didn't see them. Instead he removes the IV from his arm and slowly makes his way to the door. "I have to get out here! I do not want to be stuck in here again!" He opens the door checking to see if the coast was clear for him to leave once it was he slowly walks out of his room. He was still sore and stiff, but he had to leave.
Making his way down the hallway he saw a nurse walking by he tried to hid from her so she wouldn't suspect him. He felt retarded sneaking around, but he knew that they would send him back to his room and he hate being trapped. He saw stairwell where he tries to make a run for it, but he was spotted by a nurse.
"Mr. Parker?" She called out to him stopping him in his tracks, "What are you doing out of bed you know you're supposed to be resting."
"I'm…fine…I just need to get out of here!" Trey tries to explain to the nurse, but she wasn't having any of it.
"No young man, the doctor made it very clear that you cannot leave!" She started to scolded him, "Come on let's get you back to your room your mother should be coming back soon anyway and I'm sure she had a rough night already she doesn't need to be worrying about you leaving. Let's go!" As much as he didn't want to he reluctantly agreed.
After a few minutes of being sent back to his room Trey's mother enter the room. She hugs her son asking if he was okay. He told her he was fine and wanted to know when he could go home. She explained that there doctors are watching him for a few weeks so he'll have to stay in the hospital longer than he would like much like she predicted he was disappointed.
"Ugh mom this sucks!" He tells her pouting, "Fine if I have to stay here then can you at least bring me some clothes then? I refuse to sit in this hospital with this stupid gown on every day!"
"Fine anything else?" She asked before leaving.
"Um my sketch book might as well draw since I'm here and my cellphone and my iPod I need me some music cuz let's face it the TV here sucks, please and thank you."
She left leaving her son in his hospital room. For Trey the day went on like a blur the nurse and doctor came to check up on him and drawn some blood to run some test to see what his condition was at. After all that it made Trey a little annoyed and tired his Mom brought back everything he asked for which made Trey's mood change a little. He decided to listen to his iPod and drift off to sleep for the time being.
Next day at school Jude hadn't heard anything from neither Connor nor Trey. He's been avoiding Callie for a whole day. Lena and Stef didn't believe it was Jude's idea and that Connor only said what he said because he was scared of his father, but Jude still was in trouble grounded for a week which Jude didn't care.
Making his way through the halls he spotted Taylor who he hasn't got a chance to talk to since the incident, "Hey!"
"Hey," She greeted him back.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay," She answered back, "As long as I don't look online or anything. Kids from school are calling my dad some kind of psycho murder and stuff like that."
"Really?" Jude didn't think anyone who care about the situation that happened between the four friends, but being the son of the Vice-Principal word travel fast.
"And he feels so terrible he hasn't even gotten out of bed today. How are you?"
"Connor's dad doesn't want us to be friends anymore."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Connor told him that the whole thing was my idea. The sneaking out, the drinking…all of it."
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know. Especially since it was your idea."
"Well nobody made you come with us…"
"I know."
"Way to make me feel like a jerk Jude," Taylor tells him clearly hurt by her friend's comment.
"I'm sorry," He quickly apologizes to Taylor. It wasn't her fault he was just upset that Connor betrayed him to his father again. "It wasn't your fault…"
"Thanks…" She accepted his apology she knew that all of them were hurt by the incident so she brushed it off, "Sooo have you've talked to Connor?"
"No he's not answering any of texts or anything," Jude tells her.
"Maybe his dad took away his phone…"
"Maybe but, I don't get it why would Connor tell him that all of this was my idea?"
"I'mma see him later. You want me to tell him something?"
"You are? Why?"
"My Dad and I are going to hospital to apologize…"
"Just…"Ask him why?" Jude tells her as he walks away going to his next class.
At the end of the day true her word Taylor and her dad went to visit Connor in the hospital. Taylor and her dad arrived in Connor's room where he was laying down with his left foot up in a cast. Taylor could tell the tension between both his father and himself. Taylor's dad apologizes to both Adam and Connor and they accepted it. Adam makes light of the situation and let Taylor and Connor be alone to talk to one another.
"Hey how are you feeling?" She asked him taking a seat next to him.
"I'm okay lousy is more like it," Connor replied, "How is everyone doing?"
"We're okay of course Daria still worried and Jude's upset with you of course…"
"Wait why?" Connor set up a little bit when he heard that Jude was upset with him.
"Well your dad told his Moms that you said it was all his idea. And your father bam him from your life!"
"Wait no I never told my dad that!"
"Well Jude sure does seem to believe that," Taylor reminds, "And if you didn't tell him that then what did you tell him?"
"I told him…" Connor was hesitated to tell Taylor, "I told him I snuck out to see Jude that night."
"Wait so not only does Jude have a crush on you like I figured out, you have a crush on him too…wait does Daria know and does that mean you're gay?" Taylor started to piece everything together.
"Wait how did you know?" Connor asked.
"I saw the way Jude looked at you, but you were with Daria and I figured you knew, but you know you wasn't so…,but it makes sense you guys were always so close with one another it was bound to happen."
"What am I going to do? My dad took my phone away so I can't tell Jude anything and banned him from visiting me as well…"
"Here use my phone and text him…you have to make it right!"
"You're right," Connor took Taylor's cellphone and begins to text Jude. Jude was sitting at home working on his homework when he got a text from Taylor.
Taylor: Hi
Jude: How is he?
Taylor: I'm fine. It's me.
Jude: Connor?
Taylor: Yup. Taylor gave me hr phone.
Jude: How's yr foot?
Taylor: Hurt's like a bitch.
Jude: Y did you tell your dad it was my idea to sneak out?
Taylor: What? I didn't.
Jude: Really? R U okay?
Taylor: I told my dad I'm gay.
When Jude saw the last text he smiles to himself. He was happy that maybe there was a chance with Connor one day. Back at the hospital a knock at the door starling both Taylor and Connor it was Daria she came to visit her boyfriend. Connor deletes his messages with Jude and hands the phone back to Taylor.
"Hey Daria…" Taylor greets her, "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my boyfriend of course I wanted to make sure he was okay?" She answered walking over to Connor's side she gives him a kiss on his cheek and hug, "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too…"
"That was scary I'm glad we we're able to get out safe am I right?" She asked her friends they both nod, "Well I have to go I only came for a quick check up on you. I'll see you when you get out of the hospital!" At that time Taylor's father had told them it was time for them to go as well. They say their goodbyes and leave Connor alone in his room.
Trey was reading a book when he heard his phone buzz he put his bookmark in the book and closes it before grabbing his phone. He saw it Jude calling him. He panicked because he didn't get a chance to tell Jude he was in the hospital like he should've.
"Hello?" Trey answered his phone.
"Hey, Trey can I talk to you?" Jude asked.
"Sure can buddy I can use the company anyway. What's up?"
"Well…me and Connor just talked a few minutes ago…"
"Awesome! I'm glad you made up! Unless…"
"Yeah he texted me that he told his dad that he's gay," Jude tells him.
"Well…okay I wasn't excepting that, but that should be great news for you right?"
"Yeah…I mean I guess so it's just…a lot to take in."
"Well Jude remember what I said go for it don't let anyone stop you and it looks like Connor didn't let his dad stop him and let's be honest…Connor's dad is extremely intimating and scary!"
Jude laughs, "You're right he is, but Connor's dad doesn't want us to be friends and bam me from his life."
"And that shouldn't stop you or Connor go for it I say. What it looks like to me is that your friendship was more than just friendship and I say go for it. Life's too short trust me!" A doctor walks in to run some more tests on him and he sigh in annoyance, "Um…Jude I gotta let you go I'll talk to you tomorrow. Remember what I said go for it! Let nothing stand in your way!"
"Okay I won't!"
"Alright see ya!"