Jude held up his sandwich with one hand and called Taylor back with the other. He glanced at the half-open door of his work's break room and inched over to close it. Taylor had called him three times since he'd been at work, so whatever she had to say might be said in such a high, shrieking tone that it would disturb the rest of his small store.

Finally, Taylor picked up. Instead of exploding with her usual dramatic vigor, she was sniffling loudly.

"Are you crying?" Jude asked. "Is everything okay?"

"I screwed up," she slurred.

"Are you drunk?" Jude double checked the time. "Taylor, it's ten a.m."

"I screwed up," she repeated and then burst out into sobs.

"What happened?" Jude asked. "It can't be that bad. It'll be okay."

"Liar!" she wailed. "Daria kicked me out! She and Thomas broke up! It's all my fault. She hates me. What do I do?"

"She kicked you out?" Jude repeated. "Where are you now?"

"In a bar," Taylor said. "My mom's on her way to get me. I don't know how to tell her about what happened. She's going ask. I don't know what to tell myself about it. I just made such a stupid mistake!"

"We can fix it," Jude assured her. "Daria just needs time to calm down. It can't be that big of a deal. But you have to stop drinking right now, okay? I think you've had enough."

"They cut me off," Taylor admitted. "They gave me water. I'm just waiting for Mom."

"What can I do?" Jude asked.

"Come home," Taylor said. "I want to see you."

"Sure," Jude said. "I'll come home tonight. I can stay with you tomorrow, but I work on Sunday and I have to be back for that."

"Okay," she agreed quietly. "I just need to know I still have a friend."

"Daria is still your friend," Jude said firmly. "She just needs time. This is a big deal and you know that. She'll come around."

"Please be right," Taylor whimpered.

"I am, I promise."

Taylor sighed and then there was a soft thud from her side of the phone, as if she'd hit it against her cheek. He heard her say in a sad voice, "Hi, Mom."

"Taylor, honey, what is it?"

Taylor sniffed and then turned her attention back to Jude. "See you tonight?"

"Absolutely," Jude said. "Early this afternoon. I'll leave right after work. I'm not going to leave you alone, Taylor."

"Thanks, Jude. I love you, you know?"

"I love you too," Jude said. "Bye."

"Bye," she whimpered.

Jude hung up and then he hung his head. He didn't know what to think or what to do. Taylor's lies had been her own undoing, but he wasn't going to blame her for what happened. She didn't need that right now, not with Daria reacting the way she had. Not that Jude could say he blamed her either. He looked at his uneaten sandwich and realized that he just didn't feel hungry anymore. He slid it back inside of its plastic bag and then realized he had plans to cancel, and picked his phone back up.

(-.-)

"I'm really sorry, Connor."

"No, I understand," Connor said, loitering outside of the café he was supposed to be meeting Jake at. "Taylor needs you this weekend. I can go alone or we can reschedule."

"Maybe Jake or Alex might want to go with you," Jude suggested.

Connor eyed the door of the café again. "I haven't even met Alex yet. I might not like him. And Jake said he was a 'nerd'."

"Well, I'd call you a nerd, baby, but that doesn't mean you don't like the batting cages."

"You'd call me a nerd?"

Jude laughed. "Don't sound like such a wounded puppy, baby, it makes me feel terrible."

"You shouldn't feel terrible," Connor stressed. "A nerd?"

"Not in a bad way! But, you know, you like books and studying. I saw you get excited about pens the other day."

"They were really nice pens!" Connor said. "But, um, I guess I see your point. Maybe that's why Jake thinks he and I will get along."

"I do hope you and he become friends. I think it'd be nice."

"We'll see in a few minutes," Connor murmured. "So, um, I should head inside."

"Okay. I might text you a little tonight but I think Taylor's going to just need me. I'll definitely call you in the morning, though."

"Jude?"

"Mhm?"

"Will, um, you at least tell me you got to your Moms okay?"

"Of course."

"I think I might ask Jake if he wants to go with me. If you're sure it's okay with you."

"Spend time with your friends, baby," Jude said. "It'll never not be okay with me."

"Thanks, Jude."

"I love you."

"I –" Connor bit down on his tongue. He had become even more unsettled about that since he had last been in Jude's bed, thinking about stripping his shirt from his body. "One."

"Okay," Jude said, and he chuckled, but it didn't sound like a genuine laugh to Connor's ears. "Have a good day, baby. Good luck with Jake."

"Have a good rest of shift," Connor said. "Good luck with Taylor."

"Thanks," Jude said, and then he sighed. "I think I'm going to need it. Anyway, bye, Connor."

"Bye, Jude."

Connor hung up his phone and then took a deep breath. At the least, the café wasn't crowded. That was going to make things a lot easier. He slipped in the front door, but Jake and Alex weren't here yet. He got a drink from the barista and then sat at a four-seater table in the corner. He could see the entire café, but he was protecting by walls on two sides, and that always made him feel better. He had only gotten to take one sip of his hot chocolate when Jake walked in, followed by a man that was roughly of Jake's average height and weight, but with light blond hair.

Jake lifted his hand in greeting. "Did you order already?"

Connor nodded. Should he have waited?

"Cool," Jake said. "Need anything else?"

Connor shook his head. He cupped his warm drink until Jake and Alex had joined him. Both, thankfully, sat on the other side of the table, and it was Jake that sat across from him. He was able to relax even further into his chair back. This was going to be fine.

"Hey, I'm Alex." He spoke with a thick English accent.

"Hi, I'm Connor."

Connor briefly shook Alex's hand over the table. His grip was loose, as if he weren't really trying at all. Connor wasn't sure what to do with that assessment and he let his hand float back down to the table.

"Are you feeling better?" Connor asked Alex.

"Much, thanks," Alex said. "And how are you, mate?"

"I'm all right, thanks," Connor said. "And how are you, Jake? And Amy?"

"Amy's feeling over-worked," Jake said. "So, I'm going to surprise her for spring break. I'm booking time off work for her and we're getting plane tickets to go to Miami."

"It's an expensive surprise," Connor said. "I'm sure she'll love it."

Alex waved his hand dismissively. "Jake's one of those rich kids that you want to be."

"Shut up," Jake said. "That doesn't matter."

"You're taking your girlfriend to Miami. I think it matters."

"You do what you can for people you love," Jake said. "It just so happens I can do this."

Connor picked up his hot chocolate and sipped at it slowly. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? That was the trouble when he was with two people that knew each other better than he knew either of them. He had felt it when he was with Jake and Amy too; he wished he had Jude with him. It would make things slightly more even. Or, he wished that he had another friend that he could introduce Jake too, but he didn't. He bit down on the inside of his lip.

"What do you think you'll do in Miami?" Connor asked quietly.

"I'd like to spend most of it on a boat," Jake said, "but I'm not sure. I'm just getting us there. It's Amy's trip. I'll let her figure it out when we get there."

"That's sickeningly sweet," Alex said with a scoff. He eyed Connor. "You got your own cute relationship?"

Connor glanced down at the table and then nodded, the thought making him happy. So much of his last relationship had been secretive. Now, he was free to share. There was no part of Jude that he would ever think of hiding. Jude had said proud once, when he spoke of them being together. And the longer that he was with Jude, the more that he felt the same way about his boyfriend.

"You?" Connor asked.

Alex shook his head. "I don't get it. I don't want one. Never have."

"At least you have what you want," Connor said, and Alex laughed so loudly that it startled him.

"I like that," Alex said, laughing again. "It's true."

The conversation slowly turned toward the class, and Connor was nearly delighted to find that he and Alex seemed to like to study in the same way. It was a small thing but studying was a large part of Connor's life. He was, as Jude had put it, excited to find someone who was as excited about pens as he was. Alex wasn't as conversational as Jake was and Connor ended up glancing toward Jake a lot when the conversation had lulled. He wondered what he and Alex would end up talking about, on the off chance they were ever left alone, and by the time they had finished their drinks, Connor hoped they never would be alone. Most of the conversation had been built of Jake's and Alex's banter. Connor had liked listening to it, but he didn't find that he had much to contribute.

"All right, I should go," Alex said, checking his phone. "Nice to meet you, Connor. We should do this after class sometime."

"Sure," Connor said. "I'd like that."

"See you, Jake." Alex briefly clapped his hand against Jake's shoulder and then he was gone.

Connor watched him until he was out of the store and then looked back to Jake.

"I should head out in the next ten minutes or so," Jake said.

"Oh, that's … cool," Connor said. He had been about to say 'fine', but then realized that might sound too much like permission. He wasn't anyone to give permission to anyone at all. "Um, are you busy tomorrow?"

"During the night," Jake said, "but I'm free during the day. What's up?"

"Well, I was, um, just wondering if you would want to go to the batting cages? With me," Connor tacked on quickly, as if Jake could think otherwise.

"Sure," Jake said. "That'd be fun. I did my share of t-ball back when. Though I played more golf than anything else."

"Oh, I've never really played golf," Connor said. His ex had, a lot. It seemed he had a lot of meetings with other lawyers that took place on the golf course.

"Then, it's a deal," Jake said. "This time, I play baseball with you. Next time, you play golf with me. Amy and I love to play together. I can bring her and you can bring Jude if you think he'd like it."

Connor had no idea if Jude would enjoy actually playing golf or not, but he had no doubts that Jude would go with him if he asked.

"Um, we'll see how work schedules go," Connor said carefully.

"Ah, that's a plan. I'll meet you around one?"

"That works," Connor said, although it was far later than he was hoping to go.

"Nano dorms, right? I'll pick you up."

"Oh, sure!" Connor agreed quickly. Too quickly. He was going to have to get into a car alone with Jake? He was sure he could do it. It wasn't as if Jake were out to hurt him after all. If Jake had wanted to hurt him, he already had plenty of opportunities to and he hadn't yet. "Um, nano dorms."

"I remember," Jake said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you," Connor said, and then Jake was gone.

Connor took his time taking his cup to the trash. He was halfway back to his dorm when Jude messaged him that he had made it back to Stef's and Lena's safe. Connor sent off one more text to Jude and then he walked into his room, to spend the evening alone. He felt as if he had a good day and he was ready to sit down at his desk and open his books. When he got to his room, he made a quick decision to throw open his window and let a soft breeze roll through.

He felt good.

(-.-)

Jude slowly descended into Taylor's basement, feeling her mother's concerned touch still burning on the side of his shoulder. Before he even hit the bottom stair, he heard her crying, and he felt his heart drop. He rushed down the last few steps and landed on the couch next to her. Desperately, Taylor wrapped her arms around his neck, her tears soaking his shirt.

"It's okay, Taylor," Jude said, though it was hard to be assuring when she looked so utterly broken.

"I've ruined everything!"

The smell of alcohol was still so strong on her breath that Jude thought she had to have been drinking since her mother picked her up in whatever bar she had been in.

"Not everything," Jude said. "You've still got me."

"Always, right?" Taylor sniffed.

"Always," Jude promised her. "And you'll have Daria again, too. I know that."

Taylor wailed harder. Out of habit, Jude took the blanket from the back of her couch and wrapped it tightly around her shoulders. She hugged onto him and Jude just held her, breathing in the fruity scent of her vanilla body spray. She'd be okay, he knew. She was tough, but so was Daria, and therein was the problem.

They'd all be friends again. It was something Jude was positively sure of.

The chapter's title is after the song Take A Chance On Me by JLS. 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~