Chapter Nine: The End of an Era

I had to leave school early for some community service thing for my church. It was twelve in the afternoon on a Friday so it's not like I was going to be missing a lot, most classes just relax on Fridays. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes, and then I had to do service until four so I would be off my phone which is actually good for me.

Jude and Sabrina have been having problems all week. Jude confronted Sabrina about speaking to Gio again and it did not go well at all, she reacted as if Jude accused her of a crime. She yelled at him and accused him of thinking of her as 'some sort of monster,' and I will quote her on that one. It was a bit of an exaggeration if I may say so myself. Only Jude apologized for hurting her precious little four-year-old feelings. She didn't even deny talking to Gio or say that it was just as friends, she just yelled at Jude.

Jude got moved up to varsity for basketball this week and like a good friend I wanted to take him out to celebrate but he insisted on telling Sabrina and being with her. All she said was 'Congrats! That's good!' which really pissed off Jude. She couldn't celebrate with him because she already had plans with her other friends.

I tried to talk to Jude today, but he just was not in the mood. He's been contemplating on breaking up with her since that day, but he doesn't have the courage to. Gabby and I have been trying to get him to do it, but he just won't budge. I'm almost at the school I'm doing service for when I get a text from Jude.

Jude: i think i'm gonna do it

Me: do what exactly?

Jude: break up with her

Me: wait r u serious?

Jude: i'm gonna do it after school

Jude: i already told gabby and she's gonna help

Me: i'm really sorry I can't be there

Me: but i have to go i'm really sorry j

I had to turn my phone off because it was time for service and we're not allowed on our phones. I felt so bad because I couldn't be there for him. Before I turned off my phone I texted Jordyn to tell me everything that happens. Out of all the days to do this he picks today to end things. It may not be a big deal, but for him it really was.

I get in the car and see that I have almost 40 messages from Jordyn, Jude, Gabby, and to my surprise Luke. They were all about Jude, he did it. He actually ended things with Sabrina, and Jordyn even recorded it. She was thrilled, you could even hear Gabby laughing a little in the background. Luke's messages grabbed my attention.

Luke: jude broke up with sabrina?

Luke: what does that mean for the two of u?

Luke: how r u feeling?

Luke: can we talk?

Me: yea for sure, come by my house at 7?

What's got Luke so worked up all of a sudden and why does he care about it? I remember him saying he doesn't want any part in that drama cause he's 'cool,' or so he says. Luke replies almost right away.

Luke: sounds good

I reply to Jordyn next asking her if he was okay. Then I texted Gabby and asked how Sabrina took it. Lastly, I texted Jude who was probably really upset and devastated. Worst part is that he has his first basketball game on the varsity team tonight and his head was not going to be in it if he gets put in.

Me: i am so sorry jude, is everything okay? how do u feel? do u want to call? i'm here for u

Jude: can i come by after my game tonight?

Me: yea, of course

Jude: i love you, aly

Me: love you, too

I couldn't help but smile, it was so random for him to say that. He's just in an emotional state and is hurting is what I tell myself to keep the butterflies away. I feel so bad for not being there. I'm supposed to be his best friend who is always there but today I wasn't and I feel shitty. I couldn't control it though, I kept trying to tell myself that because I knew it was true but I just felt like I could have done something different.

Luke is already sitting on the steps to my house when I get there. I walk up to him and greet him then tell him to wait so I can put my stuff in my room. I ran up the stairs and put everything down then ran back down and sat next to Luke on the doorsteps.

"So what's up?" I question him. He's looking at the ground rubbing his hands together nervously.

"I like you Alyanna," he pauses.

"What?" I was caught by surprise.

He finally looks up into my eyes and grabs my hands in his. "I like you. I've always liked you. I like the way laugh at almost everything even if it isn't really funny. I like how you tell jokes because you think you're funny, but even you know deep down you're not. I like that you have different laughs for almost every situation. I like how you crinkle your nose when you lie and just can't help it. I like everything about you, your beautiful deep blue eyes anyone can get lost in, your kindness 24/7, and the way you put everyone else before yourself."

I am in complete awe. I don't know what to say. He must think I'm dead or something because I just sat there in silence looking at him with a blank expression. I was not expecting this at all. I thought we were just friends. I didn't think a guy like him would ever be interested in me, I didn't think any guy would ever like me. I would be lying to myself if I didn't say I was thinking about Jude right this second. He broke up with Sabrina, there's a little part of me that was hoping we could get together now, but that's a terrible thing to think.

"Luke, I-" he cut me off.

"You don't have to say anything. I know you have feelings for Jude, but I wanted you to know before you jump into Jude even though he has no romantic feelings for you. I'm sorry Aly, but you deserve better than him. He treated you like dirt and I was always there when you were hurting about Sabrina. Just know, I wanna be with you. He doesn't."

He got up and left. He just left. Just. Like. That. I didn't even get a chance to say anything. I don't know how I feel, I don't know how to feel. Luke likes me. Luke really likes me, but what about Jude? God, I am a shitty person for thinking about Jude right now when Luke was the one who just declared himself to me, not Jude. Luke could have anyone, but he chose me. I have some serious thinking to do.

I just laid in bed thinking about what had happened 3 hours ago on my doorsteps. I heard a knock on my door. I sat up to look at the time, 10:07 pm, who the heck is at my house at this hour. I looked out my window and saw Jude, crap, I forgot he was coming over to talk.

I opened the door and he already had tear-stained cheeks. I embraced him in a hug. My arms around his neck and his around my waist as he buried his head in my neck. After the hug, we walked upstairs to my room and closed the door behind me.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked as he laid on my bed.

"No."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just hear my cry. I know it sounds weird but I just need you with me please." His voice was so soft and gentle, he was really hurting.

"Of course I'll be here." I just sat on my little mini couch next to my bed and watched him fall asleep. I was about to get up to go sleep in the living room when I felt him grab my hand.

"Stay with me." I nod and sat back down, only that isn't what he meant.

"Lay with me, I could use a hug."

And so I laid down next to him and fell asleep in his arms. I forgot about everything that had happened that day, it just felt like it was us against the world and it felt good.