Chapter Seven

There was only about a week or two until school was out for the semester. Every class was piling on the work, making it hard for Jude to find time to study for finals. She usually found Songwriting to be her favorite class because it was so simple, but even Professor Quincy had begun taking the lessons up a notch.

It was the end of the class, and Jude was cramming all of her books into her bag. Mason had already disappeared out of the door, probably heading straight for food. Jude looked up and noticed that she was the only one left in the classroom.

Tom was at his desk, shuffling through some papers and putting them in folders. Jude slung her bag on her shoulder and headed for the door. She stopped at the doorway and turned around.

"Professor Quincy?" Tom looked up and stared straight at her. He looked so worn out, she could tell in his eyes. It didn't look like he had been able to get much sleep.

"I take it the end of the semester is the hardest timefor a professor." She joked lightly, inching towards his desk. Tom sighed and closed his laptop, putting it in it's case.

"You could say that." Jude nodded, looking away.

"Well that's good to know." Tom chuckled.

"You're a music education major aren't you?" Jude nodded.

"Yup. I guess I have this to look forward to." Tom grabbed his laptop and briefcase and stood up. He walked towards the door but stopped in front of her.

"Just make sure that this is what you really want." With that said, Tom disappeared out the door. Confused, Jude left as well, closing the door behind her. She looked down the hall to see Tom's retreating back. Jude sighed and went the opposite direction to find Mason.

Jude entered the cafeteria and saw Mason sitting at a table snacking on a bag of chips.

"Hey Jude, it's about time you got here. I was beginning to worry!" Jude smirked and looked at his bag.

"Yeah, I can tell you were real worried." Mason shrugged good- naturedly.

"Yeah well if you weren't here by the time I finished this bag, I would have started worrying." Jude laughed and helped herself to his chips.

"So what are you doing for break?" Jude shrugged.

"Going home. That should be a world of fun! I can already see my parents fawning all over Sadie. You know, their daughter who's on her way to becoming a lawyer. What parent wouldn't be proud?" She rolled her eyes.

"You're parents are proud of you Jude. They might not show it, but they're proud of you."

"Yeah whatever. So what are you doing?"

"Skiing." Jude perked up, intrigued.

"Really? I can't imagine you skiing." Mason wiggled his eyebrows.

"I have many talents Miss Harrison."

"Oh, please stop! I'm eating!" Jude held out her hands, trying to block him from her view. Mason grabbed his bag of chips.

"Yeah, my food!" Jude grinned sheepishly.

"Don't mess with a hungry girl!" Mason chuckled.

"Tell me about it!" He said in his "gay" voice. Jude laughed.

"Okay, seriously, don't do that ever again. Not unless you have some weird desire to get your ass kicked by someone."

"Please, Jude, this is college. Everyone experiments." Jude raised one eyebrow.

"Everyone?"

"Unless of course you're a Kennedy." Jude laughed.

"Well you can just call me Jackie!" Mason ran a hand over his head, which for once wasn't covered by his cowboy hat.

"We should not be having this conversation." Jude agreed.

"Anyway, I think I'm going to go back to my dorm." Jude stood up, ready to leave when Mason stopped her.

"So what kept you after class?" Jude sighed.

"I don't know. I was talking to Professor Quincy, and… I don't know, I guess I'm just a little concerned. He isn't looking to good these days." Mason nodded. He stood up as well.

"For a girl with a boyfriend, you sure spend a lot of time thinking about Professor Quincy." Mason started walking towards the doors.

"Mason, please, he's our teacher!" Mason just held up a hand and continued out of the cafeteria. Jude watched him leave and sunk down into her chair. Mason was way off base. Just because she happened to be concerned with Professor Quincy's health, it didn't mean that she had a thing for him.

Jude left the cafeteria and headed back for her dorm, Mason's last words echoing through her head. It was ridiculous. She loved Speed. She did. Really.