Chapter Eight: Need You Now

Jude has been a much better friend nowadays. I guess he realized he didn't want to lose me. I mean he almost did, but it was luck that I had forgiven him even though I probably shouldn't have. I realized lately how I do deserve better, but I just can't imagine my life without him as my best friend.

I guess he fixed things with Sabrina, but he's been making an effort to hang out and talk to me more. I do have to try and balance out hanging out with him and the friends who have been there for me the past few months. I started to talk to Gabby more and she told me she doesn't think Sabrina loves Jude as much as he loves her. She also has been trying to tell him that they aren't right for each other. He just doesn't seem to listen to anyone.

Jude has been doing so good in basketball recently that the coaches have been thinking about moving him up. He had told me and he told Sabrina too, but all she could say was 'good job' or 'wow that's good' which really pissed off Jude. I, on the other hand, might have been a little extra but Jude thought it was very thoughtful and sweet.

All he talked to me about yesterday was how upset he was about Sabrina not acting like me. I told Jordyn about it and she immediately thought he was starting to catch feelings for me, but that was not possible because he was still head over heels for her. I mean my heart did skip a little beat because it just sounded like he wanted me to like you can't say you want someone to act as another person unless you begin to think the other person is better.

I check my phone as I'm still laying in bed thinking about everything in my life, to my surprise I received a text from Gabby.

Gabby: I think Sabrina is starting to talk to her ex again

Me: the one she's been on and off again with for like ever???

Gabby: yup that's the one

Me: should we tell Jude? do u think he knows?

How would Jude feel about all this, he would be crushed if he didn't know. He knows only bits and pieces about their relationship, he knows that they always go back to each other because they have so much love for each other but can't figure out how to stop arguing. I feel the need to tell him, but it just isn't my place. What if he thinks I'm trying to tear them apart or something? What if he doesn't believe me? 'Then I guess he just isn't really your best friend if he doesn't trust you' the voice inside my head told me, and I knew it was right.

Me: I'm gonna tell him

I called Jude... no answer. I tried again and still no answer. He's probably with Sabrina or at basketball practice, I always seem to forget when he has practiced. It's Saturday morning so I think he has them from 8-10 am, and it's barely 9:30. I need to call Jordyn about this and see what she thinks.

"Hey girl, can you come over? Like now" I said as soon as the ringing stopped and she picked up.

"Yeah, I'm walking out the door now. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just need your opinion on something."

"Okay, I'm coming."

"Thanks, bye." I hung up the phone and set it back down on my desk. Only true best friends would come over at 9:30 in the morning to talk about problems. Times like this I wonder why I never had any girl friends, I've only ever had Jude and I might not have that forever.

Jordyn arrives at my house only a few minutes later. She greets me with a hug and then we make our way to the living room and sit on the couch. My dad isn't home, he's been working a lot lately and it feels lonely sometimes.

"Aly, what's up?"

"Gabby texted me and told me that Sabrina started talking to her ex again, and I'm not really sure what to do," she stares at me with a blank expression.

"Are you serious? This is your emergency? This is why you got me out of bed at 9 in the morning?" She says with sarcasm in her voice.

I smack her arm, "Seriously Jordyn, what should I do?"

"This is great news, Aly! Now he will break up with her and you two will be together!" She says with such excitement in her tone. I can't help but laugh at her comment.

"Oh shut up! What if he thinks I'm lying? What if he thinks I just want him to break up with her because I don't like her or because he isn't hanging out with me?"

"Breathe," she inhales and then exhales, "you know what I am going to say. If he doesn't trust you or believe you then he isn't really your best friend, let alone friend."

I know she's right, but I just always tend to believe in the worst. I need to start believing in the good things about life and the positive side of things. "So you think I should tell him?"

"Yes."

Jude came over to my house after his practice to talk and ask about why I called him during his practice. I mean I guess I did make it sound super serious when it was barely even really a big deal. I need to work on this more.

"Hey Jude," I greeted him as he walked in and made his way to the couch, "I forgot you had basketball this morning."

"Is everything alright though? Did something happen? You are never up that early." He was right, I usually wake up around noon on the weekends or when we have days off of school.

"It's nothing, really."

"Aly, just tell me."

"Nothing." I wouldn't budge.

"Alyanna, we don't say that." He was right, we never let each other say 'nothing' or 'never mind' because we want to make sure everything is said because everything we have to say is important.

I sit down on the other couch next to the one he is sitting on. "Gabby texted me this morning. She told me that Sabrina started to talk to Gio again. I didn't know if I should be the one to tell you or not because it really isn't my place and I didn't know how you would react and I was–" he cut me off.

"Stop." I listened, I stopped talking and just looked at him. I wasn't really sure how he was feeling. We were silent for about a minute or two before I decided to clear my throat and speak up.

"I'm sorry," I paused again, "are you okay?"

"I knew she was acting differently towards me. She became dry when we would text and make up excuses not to talk to me, like saying she needed to shower for an hour even though she took a shower earlier. Do you think she might be cheating on me?"

"Jude," I waited for him to make eye contact with me before continuing, "I don't know her well enough to answer that, but if Gabby texted me to tell me that then maybe it is possible."

Jude just placed his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair a couple of times before I said something. "Is there anything I can do?"

He looks up and locks his eyes with mine as he says, "just be here."

"Of course," I respond and give him a hug. He needs me right now, and I plan on being there for him through all of it.