So, it's the first day of summer school, and I still haven't spoken to Jude or Taylor. Well, I've spoken to Taylor but not about what happened, we've just texted a little bit about some of my math homework. I haven't stopped thinking about her. I go downstairs for breakfast and it's just me, Callie, Jude and moms, Jesus and Mariana are still asleep.

"Go on," Stef says to Jude. Lena told her about our fight. He gets up and walks over to me.

"I'm sorry for what I said the other day, I crossed the line," He says. "And sorry for thinking something was going on between you and Taylor, that's just kind of far-fetched." Callie looks at me.

"Uh, yeah it's fine, I'm sorry too, um can I talk to you outside for a second?" Moms and Callie look at us weirdly, but I ignore them and tug him out onto the deck.

"Everything okay?"

"Um yeah, it's just... don't be mad, I hate fighting with you."

"I won't be," He says.

"You can't promise that. Whatever, I'll just say it." I take a deep breath. "It wasn't that far-fetched, Taylor kissed me."

"What?" He looks confused more than angry. "Wait, when?"

"At Daria's, I had to tell you but it's kind of unfair to her. So, don't say that I said anything." He's baffled, "Jude?"

"It's okay, no I get it, it's just a little weird."

"Weirder than me thinking I could date the daughter of a child molester?"

"Hey, don't think about that. That wasn't your fault."

"So, you're not mad?"

He takes a minute to breathe and think it over. "No, it's cool, we're family." He hugs me. "Besides, families fight all the time, but we never stop loving each other."

Lena drives Callie and me to school and we agree to meet for lunch, seeing as none of our friends had to do summer school like us. It goes pretty well, I'm not as far behind as some of the other kids in my class. Come to think of it, I've hardly seen these kids in school, that's why they're behind. I don't have to stay for English and History so while I wait to go to math for the last period, I spend my time in study hall working on my science assignments. I work out that if I get three assignments by the end of the week, then I'll have to stay for the next couple science classes and then I'll have more free time to do more English homework, and then I might be able to take more Literature classes in the 10th Grade.

On the walk home, Callie continues asking me about Taylor.

"So, you've been texting right?"

"Yeah, well I mean she hasn't replied since yesterday."

"What did you say?"

"I just said that the sleepover was fun, and we should do it again. Oh crap, do you think that was too forward? Because I wasn't talking about the kiss, just hanging out you know? What if I've put her off completely?" I bury my face in my hands.

"Calm down," Callie laughs. "It's just a text, I'm sure she just hadn't had the chance to reply yet."

"It's not funny, I could handle it if she didn't want to date me or anything but what if she doesn't even want to be friends anymore."

"You're overreacting," She tells me.

"I don't think so, whatever, I need to lie down." I walk into the house and make my way to the kitchen to get a drink. Stef is home, I still have to ask if I can go away with Sophia, she's been pestering me about it. Lena's still not home so maybe if I ask Stef she won't come out with an outright no, she'll want to discuss it with Lena before she makes a decision. Which will give me time to figure out if I even want to go.

"Hey, Stef," I say as I grab a glass of water and sit down next to her.

"Oh, hi love, how was school?"

"It was great yeah; I got a lot done. Um, can I ask you something?" I start picking at some grapes.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Well, before you guys adopted me, well before you even fostered me, Sophia invited me to Spain with her and her parents over summer, and I know Callie's going so I was wondering if it would be cool if I go too."

"Yeah, I'm sure that would be fine as long as you finish summer school, I'll talk to mama about it first, though."

"Yeah, of course, thanks." I hug her.

"But we are planning a camping trip, so we'll have to work it around that." She says as I head upstairs.

I walk past Jude and Jesus' room and I can hear Jude talking, he mentions my name, so I can't help but listen in.

"Are you sure?" He says.

"No, but there's only one way to find out, I have to kiss her again." It's Taylor. "I mean, I'm certain I like her, I like her a lot but what if it's just her and not all girls?"

"Does it matter? You don't have to know everything. If you like her back, go for it." Damnit, Jude.

"Yeah, you're probably- Wait, did you say back?" I can't believe he just did that.

"What? Uh, no I-" He tries to cover it up.

"You said 'like her back', which would imply that she likes me, did she tell you or are you just guessing?"

"Okay I shouldn't have said anything, do you like her or not?" Taylor's silent for a second.

"Yes. I like her." She groans "God, I like her a lot, Jude."

"More than you liked me?" Jude cracks up.

"Shut up." I take this as my chance to leave them to talk. Now I just have to pluck up the courage to ask her out, or maybe she wants to ask me out.

I go into Mariana's room to talk to her about it, but when I get in there, she's standing on a step ladder hanging up fairy lights.

"Oh Gracie, do me a favor, hand me that pin." She points down to the shelf.

"What are you doing?" I hand her the pin and I get a strong waft of floral scents up my nose and start coughing. "And what's with all the air freshener?" She pins the lights up and climbs down.

"It's too much like boys in here, so I've been trying to girl it up, so what's up?" She starts fluffing her pink cushions.

"Um, so Taylor kissed me and-"

"Taylor kissed you? What? Why didn't you tell me? So, you're like dating now? Oh my God, tell me everything." She sits me down on her bed.

"No, no, slow down. We're not dating, but I just overheard her tell Jude she likes me. And I like her, and I don't know what to do about it. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help it."

"You like her a lot?" I nod. "So just go for it, ask her out."

"Really? It's not too much?"

"Stop overthinking it. You like her, what else is there to do?"

"I guess you're right, but I've never asked anyone out before. And what if she says no? Wait, what if she says yes? What do I do then? I don't think I can do this."

"Relax, it'll be great, and she will say yes because she likes you."

"Thanks for having me round Jude" I hear Taylor's voice outside the door.

Marianas face lights up. "Go ask her now!" She pulls me up off of her bed and pushes me out of her room and shuts the door behind me, I'm face to face with Taylor.