Jude had fallen asleep on one of the pillows that smelt of Connor, and it was enough to send him into a happy, dreamless sleep. He was nearly angry to be woken by his alarm, come morning. He'd been enjoying being asleep! But he dragged himself out of bed and into the shower, slowing moving through his morning routine. He had everything timed perfectly, from drinking his coffee to putting on clean clothes, so that he had ten minutes to sit on his bed and go through the e-mails and messages that had collected overnight.
The most disappointing thing was a Facebook message from his head manager at work. Lydia, a woman who was a fairly recent hire, had quit and so Jude was asked to fill one of her now-empty Tuesday shifts. He sighed. He and Connor were supposed to go bike shopping on Tuesday, but he'd have no time with this shift. He hoped Connor wouldn't be angry at him asking him to move some of their plans to another day instead – Jude knew that he should pick up this shift, since he knew that he needed the money. Extra money was never a bad thing, since he had so many places for his paycheck to go – from his rent, to Gerald, to tuition, to groceries, to all of the things that he wanted to do with Connor.
Jude checked the time. He'd find out soon enough. He grabbed his bag and his keys and headed out the front door. He drove to campus, taking care on the roads, since this time of the day was generally crowded in terms of students trying to reach campus. He parked in his usual parking lot, close to Kroger's lecture, and bounced from his car. He was roughly seven minutes away from seeing Connor and that fact kept him moving quickly toward their lecture hall.
"Good morning," Connor said as Jude sat down.
"Morning," Jude answered. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good. For longer than I should have," Connor admitted. "Did you hear from Taylor?"
"Yeah, but she just told me she got home safely and didn't want to talk." Jude sighed. "I have to give her space."
"It'll be okay," Connor said, and then he frowned at himself. "That sounds really dumb."
"It does," Jude agreed, "but it makes me feel better to hear you say it anyway."
He was able to coax a smile from Connor with that and that made Jude feel better too. At the front of the lecture hall, Kroger turned on their mic and then cleared their throat loudly.
"How are you all doing this Monday morning?" they asked. "Ready to get started?"
A few students groaned, but Connor adjusted himself in his chair, eager for the lecture to begin. Jude just watched him; Connor was too cute for words sometimes. Jude took half-hearted notes, but he was more interested in watching Connor concentrate. What did Odysseus matter? Jude watched Connor cross out something and draw an arrow in the margin of his page, and he wondered what Moms would say if they ever met him.
Moms! Jude thought, immediately reaching for his phone. Connor might come to supper on Friday, if it were only going to be the four of them.
Jude: is anyone else going to be over on Friday?
Lena: Just the three of us, I think! Did you want me to call anyone for an invite?
Jude: no!
Jude: Connor's thinking about coming but he's too intimidated if it's more than the four of us
Lena sent him every excited emoji that she had in her repertoire and then she sent him several strings of the emoji with the zippered lips.
Jude: he might not be able to. Don't get your hopes up too high.
Lena: I won't! I promise!
Jude highly doubted that.
Lena: I'll warn Mom not to invite the other kids
Jude: Thanks!
Lena: Hey! Aren't you in class right now?
Jude: Uh … no. Gotta go now!
Lena: Pay attention! Love you!
Jude: Love you too!
He returned his attention to the lecture, trying to pick up on the points Kroger was making, though he had started to get a little confused. He and Connor hadn't done the readings for this week yet and Dylan, in his Greek mythology phase, had never gotten to The Odyssey and Jude was lost. He tried to peek over at Connor's notebook, and Connor shook his head.
"I'm not sharing my notes because you were texting," Connor said.
"But I'm cute!"
Connor made a face, but he also stopped trying to hide his notes. Jude quickly skimmed Connor's page of neat handwriting and then he decided that he'd just take a better look at it the next time they studied together, which, he realized, would have to be tonight, if he worked tomorrow and had their midterm on Wednesday. After Kroger dismissed the class, that was how Jude started his conversation with Connor.
Connor looked hesitant.
"What is it, baby?"
"We've just been sp-sp-spending a l-lot of t-time t-together," Connor murmured.
"I don't want you to feel suffocated," Jude said.
Connor nodded and he took a place on one of the benches. Jude dropped down next to him.
"But," Jude said, "I know we had planned to do that stuff. And with the midterm on Wednesday, I'd really like it if we could get the studying in. We can go bike shopping whenever you want."
"Umm … Well, my dad was hoping I'd look at bikes sooner rather than later. He … doesn't want Halloween to happen again," Connor murmured.
"It's up to you," Jude said. "Really. I'm okay with whatever."
Connor had brought his salad container out, but he left it sitting unopened on the bench as he brought his knees up to his chest. He took several deep breaths, puffing out his cheeks on the exhale.
"Just tell me what you think," Jude added.
"Would you be upset if we didn't study for the midterm together?"
"Nope. But can I take a picture of your notes from today?"
Connor unravelled himself so that he could pull his notebook out of his bag and flip to the appropriate page, while Jude took out his phone to take pictures.
"Who were you texting?" Connor wondered. "If I can ask."
"Always. I was texting my mom about Friday."
"Oh."
"It'll just be me and my moms, no siblings. If you want to come."
Connor looked indecisive.
"You don't have to decide now."
He nodded, looking numb.
"Don't worry too much, baby," Jude said. "Just talk to me and we can sort it out."
Connor nodded again. "I … I … I j-j-j-just d-d-don't w-w-want to spend all my time wi-wi-with you. I r-r-rreally l-like you and I know I don't do much else but I do other things and I spent so long not feeling like I was by myself for even a single moment that I like being by myself sometimes," he squeaked in a rush. "Please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad. I understand. I feel the same way. I just don't want to disappoint you by saying we're going to do something and then we don't end up doing it."
Connor finally took the lid off his salad, mulling over Jude's words. "I understand."
"So, what's the plan?"
"J-j-j-just a little bike shopping trip? Please?"
"Yeah. We can go right after class and you can spend the rest of the night doing whatever you want."
Connor had a small smile at that. "I'm glad you understand me, Jude."
"I do my best," Jude said. "You make me so happy that it's the least I can do."
Connor glanced at him. "Taylor was right, wasn't she?"
"About?"
"You being a romantic."
Jude held up his hand, pinching two of his fingers together. "Only a little bit," he laughed. "She usually says it's the only part of me I still keep in the closet."
Connor smiled, but it was forced. "I see."
"You never told me how things are going with your Entrepreneur group now," Jude said. "After everything that happened."
Connor shrugged. "Alicia apparently dropped the class. Um, Brandy came up with our product. We're, uh, making pr-pride shirts b-b-but we're putting the colours into country flags. So, you can get a rainbow American flag or a Canadian flag with the bi colours and … and stuff like that."
"That sounds amazing."
Connor nodded. "We're j-just making up a b-business plan. Um, Jake is doing the statistics so, um, if a c-country has, like, more bisexual people than asexual people, we'd make more bisexual t-shirts for them because there are more bisexual people to buy them. But, where we're selling on campus, we also have to take into account how many international students there are versus American students and then take that into account so that we don't have a bunch of shirts that don't sell."
"Logically!" Jude said. "Do you actually have to make the shirts or is it just hypothetical?"
"We make them. We have to start doing that … next week if we don't want to be behind. Caitlyn is already setting up a website, which makes it a little easier to market and sell."
"You'll have to get me the URL, babe. I want one."
Connor's eyebrows raised. "Really?"
"Really. They sound awesome and I want to support you."
Connor's cheeks went red as he ducked his head in an effort to hide his smile. "Okay. Thank you."
"Always. Gummy worm?"
Connor stared at the bag Jude was offering. "You haven't been to work in days."
"I always take care of my candy stash," Jude said, slightly offended. "Gummy worm?"
"Thanks," Connor said, pulling one out of the package.
"Welcome, baby."
Jude relaxed against the bench, popping his own gummy worm in his mouth. The faint sun warmed his face, and he smiled. It was, all in all, going to be a good day.
"Oh!"
"Oh, what?" Connor asked.
"I made cookies last night," Jude said, reaching for the container in his back pack.
"Gummy worms and cookies?"
"You to go the gym, you can afford to treat yourself."
Connor smiled. "I thought you only made sandwiches."
"This was an impulse effort that may never happen again. Tell me what you think."
Connor pulled one of the thin cookies out of the dish and slowly sampled it. Jude watched his face anxiously.
"Tell me what you really think," Jude warned.
"They're good. I think you overdid it on the sugar, though."
"They're sugar cookies!" Jude exclaimed.
"They're good, Jude. Even if you can't follow a recipe properly."
Jude rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I do own measuring cups and spoons, you know."
"Doesn't mean you used them," Connor quipped.
"I did!"
Connor glanced at him, but he reached for another cookie. Jude smiled as Connor nibbled on the cookie. He nudged Connor's wrist with his fingers, and Connor took his hand. A feeling of completeness came over Jude. It was definitely a good day.
(-.-)
Connor nearly glared at his phone as it started vibrating on his desk. He had just gotten home from bike shopping with Jude and he had been looking forward to just shutting off everything and studying for CLST. Bike shopping had gone well – he had found a nice bike that would get him from place to place – and being with Jude was always nice. Jude himself wasn't draining, but it had been a rough couple of days. After getting back to his apartment yesterday, Connor had spent most of his time either dozing or fighting off his memories. He hadn't felt like he had really rested since he'd decided to go to the Halloween party.
Now, his father was calling him.
Connor knew he couldn't ignore it and he forced himself to focus on the fact that his conversations with Adam were never very long. He and his father just didn't have that much to say to one another.
"Hi, Dad."
"I see you charged the card. Are you going to send me photos of the bike?"
"I have it all locked up in the bike locker in the basement," Connor said. "I … I'll send y-y-you pictures when I use it."
"Do you like it?"
"Yes. It's j-j-just a s-simple one. It's a g-g-good one. The … The girl working s-s-said she has the same one. Mine is green."
"Did you buy yourself a helmet?" Adam asked. "And a bike lock. You got a bike lock, right?"
"Yes, Dad, I did."
"Good. Make sure you take good care of it."
"I will."
"You sound tired," Adam said.
"I feel a little drained," Connor said. "I've just been spending a lot of time with people and I j-j-just need to … be by myself."
"You know you can tell me that right away? This conversation could have been shorter."
"It's okay, Dad. I want to talk to you."
"I'm going to say goodbye now, though. Rest yourself. Do what you like. Good luck on your midterm coming up."
"Thanks."
"Goodnight, Connor. I love you."
"You too," Connor replied. "Goodnight."
He hung up his phone and put it on the counter behind him. Then, he pulled out everything he had for CLST and breathed a sigh of relief.
He could finally relax.
The chapter's title is after the song If You Need Someone by The Field Mice. If you have a song that reminds you of Barefoot And Bruised and would like it to be on the playlist – and possibly a chapter title – send it in and let me know! I'd love to hear your playlist suggestions! (Chapter titles are mostly chosen via shuffle.)
So, on tumblr I'm: we are all of legend now (with dashes between every word). If you want to find my replies to anon reviews, add backslash tagged backslash anon dash replies. If you want to see anything I post about Barefoot And Bruised, go to my tumblr URL and add backslash tagged backslash barefoot dash and dash bruised dash. Punctuation is spelled out due to Fanfiction's restrictions. If you're having any trouble accessing the tumblr content please send me a pm and I can format it for you in a different way.
~TLL~