Chapter 6.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fosters.
AN: This chapter takes place the day after the last chapter, at Anchor Beach. Jude and Connor are in the 9th Grade now. Daria moved to Colorado, and Taylor transferred to another school. In this chapter, I am also half fulfilling a request made by a reviewer and am going to introduce an original character, in the form of a foreign boy who just moved to America. However, instead of it being a love triangle, the OC will sort of become Jude and Connor's collective protector and best friend. In no way will he be romantically interested in either Jude or Connor. The next chapter will deal with them learning his story.
Jude's POV.
Connor and I were heading to lunch when it happened.
We had turned a corner and stepped outside to head to our favored table when I was nearly knocked over by a mass of black that stalked past at a steady pace. A black clad arm lunged out and grabbed mine, steadying me quickly.
"Terribly sorry 'bout that, mate." The stranger said, with an accented voice as he released my hand, "I wasn't payin' attention to where I was going."
"S'alright." I said quickly, eyeing up the guy.
I have never seen so much black on one person before.
He was completely decked in black. Under the thin black long coat, he was dressed in a black collared polo and dress pants, and black boots. He wore a black fedora and tinted sunglasses, and leaned heavily on a black polished walking stick with a silver handle. He had a black duffle bag slung over his other shoulder. Even his nails were painted black.
"Whoa." I heard Connor whisper beside me. "Nice look."
The stranger looked at him.
"Thank you, I think."
I shifted nervously. He noticed.
"No need to look so nervous, mate. I'm not gonna hurt you, or anything stupid like that. You look like you're about to have a heart attack."
"Sorry, just not every day I meet somebody my age who dresses like a member of the KGB."
He chuckled, which turned into a guffaw of laughter. The tension was broken immediately.
"Nice. I haven't heard that one before. They usually say I'm dressed like a member of the bloody mafia, or an undercover FBI Agent, or more recently an incarnation of Doctor Who."
Connor and I snorted.
"Do you fine gentleman mind if I sit with you? You're the first people I've met today who are even remotely pleasant."
"Sure, follow us."
We walked over to our favorite table, which sat in the grass right under a tree and gives us the perfect amount of shade, and sat down. He sat his duffle bag on the table, unzipped it, and produced a twenty ounce bottle of Coca Cola and a thermos. He opened the thermos, which was full of ice, and poured the drink into it and took a sip after the fizz had gone down.
"Delicious." He said, before reaching into his bag and producing a roast beef sandwich. He removed his hat and sunglasses. He shook his head, his curly brown hair falling down past his shoulders. His eyes were the deepest shade of green I have ever seen.
"So... what accent is that?" I asked.
"Scottish." He said, "Born and raised in Edinburgh."
"That's cool." Connor said with a smile, "I've never met anybody from another country before. What was it like?"
"It was alright, until..." He started to say, but back tracked quickly, "Um. Never mind."
"Okay, well, I'm Jude, this is Connor." I said.
"Bollocks, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I?" he said, "Forgetting my manners. How rude of me. My name's Daniel. Daniel Evans. But you can call me Danny."
He reached out and shook our hands.
We all sat in companionable silence, but I could feel Danny studying me. I snuck a peek. He was looking between me and Connor, munching on his sandwich. After a few more minutes of studying me, he put his sandwich down.
"Can I ask you two a serious question?" Danny asked.
"Sure." Connor said.
"I hope I'm not offending anybody, but are you and Jude a couple?" Danny asked cautiously.
"Yeah. We are." I say just as cautiously, "Why? You have a problem with that?"
"Oh. No. God, no." He backtracked quickly, "I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I did have a problem it. I'm gay too."
Connor and I stared at him as he casually admitted his sexuality. We'd never seen anybody be so casual about it before.
"So..." Connor began, "How are you liking America so far?"
"Only lived here for two weeks. Haven't seen enough of it yet." He said nonchalantly.
"We could show you around after school, if you want. You could come with me and Connor to my house and have dinner afterwards, too." I offered.
"I'd like that." Danny said. "I didn't expect to make friends this quickly..."
He was interrupted by a loud ruckus coming from the doors to the school.
Connor tenses beside me as his former baseball teammates walk outside, disturbing the peaceful afternoon air, tossing a single baseball back and forth. Danny notices Connor tense and scoot closer to me, and turns to see what the disturbance is. He scowls.
"Trouble I'm guessing?"
"Yep. They've been out to get us since we came out in 7th Grade." Connor said, wrapping a arm around me protectively. Danny growled, his hand slowly inching towards his walking stick.
"HEY FAGGOT! HEADS UP!" One of the baseball players shouted in our direction.
Danny grasped the walking stick, and in one swift movement, rose, spun and swung it. It connected with the baseball with a dull thwack. It flew back at them, smacking one of them right in the face. The baseball thug fell to the ground, clutching his bloody nose. Connor and I stared at him in shock as he rose with a snarl.
"You DARE?" He screamed and stalked toward them, his Scottish brogue becoming noticeably more pronounced and thick, "You lousy, SCUMMY HUMAN SHAPED MOUNDS OF PUTRID HORSE MANURE!"
"Holy shit." Connor whispered to me. I nodded as Danny went into a tirade, limping forward, brandishing the walking stick like a lightsaber.
"What? Ya shocked that somebody's finally fighting back? YOU'D BETTER START RUNNING! 'CAUSE IF I REACH YOU, I'M GOING TO SHOVE THIS WALKING STICK UP YOUR COLLECTIVE ARSE, AND TURN YOU INTO A HUMAN LOLLYPOP!"
The team ran for it.
"YEAH YOU'D BETTER RUN! DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU MESSING WITH MY FRIENDS AGAIN!"
He turns and limps heavily back to his seat at our table. He plops down in his seat. Muttering furiously under his breath.
"They won't be messing with you again." He said angrily, "If there is one thing I can't stand, it's bloody bullies."
"You didn't have to..." Connor started to say.
"Of course I did." Danny interrupted. "You two were the first people today to show me kindness. I couldn't let what they tried to do slide. Nobody messes with my friends. I protect my friends."
"Can you teach me how to do what you just did with the walking stick?" I asked him.
"Sure, I could teach you to fence." Danny said.
"Fence?" Connor asked confused.
"It's basically sword fighting. Dad taught me how. We're both pretty good." He said.
"That'd be pretty cool." I say enthusiastically. Danny smiles at us and lets out a laugh.
The bell to end lunch rings. Danny replaces his hat on his head and puts his sunglasses in a pocket on the front of his coat.
"So... what classes do you two have next?" he asks.
"Biology with Ms. Jackson, then Poetry II with Mrs. Carlson to end the day." Connor answers.
"Cool, I got the same things." He said as he stood up, replacing everything in his bag, "I won't have to sit through Biology without somebody to alleviate the boredom. Shall we head to our doom gents?"
Connor and I chuckled and rose to follow him.
Our duo had become a trio.