Chapter 3 3. I Didn't Say We Have to Do it Here

In the morning, I'm at my locker stealing glances at Jennifer's to see when she arrives when a lollipop in red wrapping is thrust into my face.

I turn and there is Jude, leaning against the locker next to mine. Grinning. I blink. Once, twice, then take a step back.

He waves the lolly in my face. "Here's my peace offering, for being a jerk yesterday."

"You are not always a jerk?" I ask, not bothering to hide the sarcasm.

His lips, that have already been reddened by candy this early in the day, pull up in a smirk. "And you are not always rude, are you?"

I reach for the sweet, but he holds onto it. He arches a brow. "Off to a better restart?"

"Okay," I agree. I snatch it out of his hands and shove it into my jacket pocket.

He doesn't leave. He reaches into his jeans pocket and retrieves another lollipop. He's wearing severed blue jeans and a white v neck that shows beneath his black jacket, outlining his toned body. He unwraps the lollipop and pops the red ball into his mouth.

"Are you addicted to these things or something?" I ask, frowning.

He shrugs.

I turn back towards my locker.

"So, I thought about it, can we meet in the evenings after I'm through with practice?" he asks.

I run that through my mind for a second. "Wouldn't that be at six? I can't stay back for you, Jude."

"I didn't say we have to do it here," he tells me.

I turn back towards him and cross my arms on my chest. "Your house?" I suggest.

"No!" he replies, leaning up from the locker. He holds the stick and draws the lolly from his lips. He says it as if his house shouldn't even be an option. "Maybe yours, if you don't mind," he says with a shrug.

I think about my house. With Maria snooping around my back, and Trey who thankfully minds his own business. Sam's okay, he's always busy idolising Trey to bother me. I sigh inwardly. If everyone in my family actually knew how to keep their noses to themselves like Trey and not in my business, I wouldn't have to think twice about inviting Jude over. "I'll think about it."

"Hey, guys," a hesitant voice greets, and I turn to find some guy that usually hangs around with Jude. His name is Cole, he's in my History and Religious Studies class. We don't really talk. He looks between me and Jude, obviously wondering what's going on.

Jude clears his throat and looks at him, gesturing towards me. "Uh, Cole, this is Ava-"

"Ava Hansen, I know who she is," Cole cuts him off, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Jude scratches behind his ear awkwardly. "Ah, yes," he says, as if realising other people who have been in the same school with me for three years actually do know my name.

Cole shifts on his feet, looking between us again, suspiciously. I almost squirm under his gaze. Cole is tall, like his friend here, which means he is sort of towering over me. He is also as good looking. Birds of the same feather and all, you know? He is dressed in black jeans, a black short sleeved shirt, and black boots.

"So, see you later?" Jude asks.

I nod. He shoves his friend, leading him away. They are not far off when I hear Cole say, "Dude, I've never seen you talk to her before?" Then I can't catch the rest of the conversation as they move further down the hallway. I turn back to my locker.

"What was that about?" another voice asks, and I immediately turn to face...no, glower, at my best friend. She is wearing a tight short skirt that I have no idea how she manages to walk in, not mentioning the killer heels on her feet. I'd be lying if I said she wasn't gorgeous, though. Then there's me, in my usual getup of jeans and tee.

I put my hands akimbo. "Mind explaining what you were on about last night?"

Jen tosses her blonde mane and rolls her eyes. "Not before you tell me what Jude Walker and Cole Adams were doing here, talking to you."

She puts extra emphasis on the words 'talking' and 'you', as if it's shocking that the two would be talking to me. Which, I admit, isn't something that has ever happened before today. But that is not the major issue here. I lock my locker and grasp my bag on my shoulder. I take her hand and lead her towards our first class of the day.

"Jax?" I ask, waiting for an explanation.

She hooks our arms together, elbow to elbow. "I don't get the big deal, Ava. It's not like we are cheating or anything."

I pout, realising she is right. But still...

"I know," I grumble. "Is Jax even over Angela?" I ask, biting my lip. After all, they were together for two and a half years. You don't last that long in high school unless it's the real thing.

Surely, he's still hurting? I know I am, there are times I sit down and think of her, and tear up. I'm sure he has it as bad, if not worse.

"We are both hurting, Av." Jen says in a soft voice. "We'll get through it together."

I can't help but think, what about me? Who am I going to hurt together with? I nod anyway, although I'm still not fully agreeable with the entire thing.

"Back to you, what's up with you and the two hottest guys in school?" she asks gleefully.

I roll my eyes. "Stop saying how hot other guys are when you already made your choice." She playfully snorts at that and I laugh. "Anyway, I'm taking Jude through some Maths, nothing much."

Her other hand grabs onto my arm, so that she looks like a bride holding on to the groom. "YOU'RE TUTORING JUDE WALKER?"

Her voice comes out really loud and I look around, horrified. Some random kids look at us before moving along. I slap her hand away. "Keep it down, woman!"

"Wait, did I hear something about Jude Walker?" someone asks and rudely walks between us, uninvited. We drop our arms to keep from being bulldozed to the floor. I groan and look in irritation at Simon, my bespectacled friend who is basically my other close friend.

"Watch where you're going," Jen retorts, glaring at him and fixing her strap purse. A school bag would look horrendous with her outfit, so her books are clasped in her hands. Most of the time, she dumps them in my bag.

"Stop sounding like a gossipy girl," I admonish Simon, unable to fight the urge to push his hair back. He has this long wavy black hair with a heavy front wave that keeps falling forward. As expected, he swats my hand away.

He pushes his specs up the bridge of his nose. "Well?" He prompts.

I thought I just told him to stop being girly gossipy...

"She's tutoring Jude," Jen supplies, seemingly over her annoyance.

"Don't let that hot piece just slide by," Simon advises, winking.

I give him a disgusted look and hit him in the back of his head. "Weirdo," I mock. I see the door to our class and I power up, leaving the two behind. I think I've had enough harassment for the day. Funny, because I had thought I'd be the one harassing Jen over Jax.