Jude was the only one in the house.

Uncle Andy had left earlier to do some grocery shopping and run errands. Lenny was on a date with Erik. Juliette had already agreed to pick her up from the movie theater. She was working on assignments and studying on campus. Earlier in the day, she had a done a quick clean of the house, vacuumed, loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the tabletops and counters, and dusted a little. She had left the kitchen and living room windows open.

Late September-scented air traveled through the open window and the evening sun washed Jude's still figure in an orange glow.

His body was stretched out, taking up the entire length of the larger couch that was across from the television. One of his arms was behind him, wrapped around the curve of a pillow he had folded beneath his head. His deep brown curls were getting longer and they picked up the attention of the sun's last light as the ceiling fan speedily churned above him.

He was wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a white and heather blue baseball tee he hadn't worn since the tenth grade. It had the word wasted in print across his chest. As the sun began to set, he shielded his eyes from it's permeating warmth.

The final credits were playing of the second season of Broadchurch. Jude had binge-watched the last three episodes.

He let out a moan and squeezed his eyes shut. After rubbing his hands up and down his face, he sat himself upright and sighed. He checked his phone that had just lit up on the coffee table in front of him.

Nathan: Hey, man. Adam is having a party at his place later tonight. I don't have to work, so I am heading over to Brock's first. I can come by and pick you up if you want.

Jude: No thanks. I'll be at Brock's in about an hour.

Nathan: Alright. See ya.

Jude stood up and lifted his hands above his head. He tilted his head back and ran his fingers through his hair before pushing his curls behind he ears. He needed to take a shower, but he felt like smoking out back on the porch first. This was a routine he was growing accustomed to ever since the beginning of summer.

He sauntered over to the kitchen and picked up his green pack of American Spirit cigarettes. He placed one between his lips and slid another behind one of his ears.

The flame from his black Zippo lighter seared the end of the cigarette just as he walked through the front door and the screen door smacked back into place behind him.

As he inhaled, holding the cigarette between his pointer and middle fingers, he looked up into the rustling green leaves above him. He minutely detected some spots of yellow and orange on them and the faint smell of autumn as it traveled past him before he exhaled and the smoke fogged his vision.

After looping around the side of the house and taking a quick look at the exterior of his Falcon, Jude went up the porch stairs with quick and sure steps. He pounced and made a thud after he ascended to the top and then lazily made his way over to the swing.

He rocked his bare feet against the wooden floor below him as he swung back and forth and smoked with slow inhales and exhales.

Dirt and blades of grass fell from his feet as he brought them forward and crossed them at his ankles. He wiggled any remaining bits of nature from his toes, placed the cigarette butt in the ashtray he had placed on the railing in front of the porch swing, and then lit his next one.

He did not savor this cigarette like he did the previous one, which was his first cigarette of the day. Usually, he tended to only smoke after sunset.

When he had turned eighteen last summer, he had bought a pack of cigarettes just because he could.

Also, they reminded him of his uncle.

Andy had always sneaked off after Sunday dinners in the old Wakelin home, making his way out to the deck beneath the flood light Jude's dad had installed several years before. As an adolescent, Jude would watch through the sliding glass doors as smoke rose above Andy's head and disappear out into the night air.

Young Jude had wished he could play the guitar or sing the way his uncle could. He was not musically gifted though, and he had a hard time figuring out what his strengths and talents were.

Inhaling and exhaling steadily, he began to muse about the night ahead, and as the length of his cigarette lessened, so did his patience.

He hardly ever sought out a relationship aggressively. Often times, he had to turn away girls, smiling at their advances and then excusing himself to go outside for a cigarette.

Cigarettes, even just one, had become the perfect device for Jude to forget, to befriend, to interrupt, to engage, to annoy, to flirt, and to escape moments he would rather not get sucked into.

After he took a shower, he brushed his teeth, gently rustled his hair with his towel, put on his dark-wash jeans and a favorite garnet colored long sleeved shirt. He left the top few buttons undone and rolled up the sleeves to show his rose tattoo--deep red and in bloom.

He slid on his black Vans, emerged from the basement, looked over at a dozing Andy on the couch, quietly went out into the darkness, and locked the door behind him.

***

It was almost ten o' clock and Brock's Bar and Grill was already packed, mostly with fans of the local rock cover band, Bred For Lust. The lead singer wailed into his microphone, reaching one arm above his head as he turned his body sideways and then swayed to the music.

Young men nodded their heads to the music while either looking towards the stage with stern faces or letting their eyes roam the audience for something more tantalizing.

Upon entering, Jude found his friend, Nathan, seated at a high top table close to the bar.

"Here's a rum and coke for you, man. On me," Nathan said as Jude took a seat beside him.

"Here," Jude reached into his back jean pocket for his wallet.

"No, man," Nathan stopped him. "I don't know what you did to my car the other week, but it's runnin' real smooth now. It's the least I can do. You wouldn't take any money from me, so let your first drinks be on me, please."

Jude could not argue with that. He sipped his cold rum and coke and smiled lazily as he set the drink down on the table.

"How's your week been?" Nathan took a swig from his bottle of IPA as his eyes roamed over the crowd in front of the stage.

Jude had to raise his voice higher, as the bass and drums pounded louder and louder, "Pretty good. Things were busy at the shop. I've just started to do some work with my uncle on a sweet little 1984 Datsun 300ZX. "

"No way. Let me know when y'all are done with that one. I'd like to come by and take a look at it."

"Yeah, sure."

"That blonde over there," Nathan chuckled, "has her eyes on you. Man, her eyes are intense."

Jude shrugged, "We'll see. It's always better for them to come to you anyway."

Nathan chuckled some more and shook his head. The young men drank and listened to the music.

He tread carefully and figured it was okay then to ask, "I haven't seen you around here anymore with Rachel."

"No," Jude finished his drink, "I broke it off a few days ago. I really messed that up. I hooked up with her best friend."

His friend knew exactly what girl he was talking about, but he did not ask anymore questions.

He still remembered Jude's screams and the way he barely spoke for the rest of the night. Jude only murmured thanks for the water and then the beer Nathan had offered him after what had happened.

"Playin' the field again, huh? Want another rum and coke?"

Jude nodded. "Thank you. I'm gonna go out for a smoke."

"Alright."

After a couple more rounds, the boys had loosened up some and began talking and laughing.

"I never ever did that! You're lying," Nathan protested, crossing his arms and frowning, drunkenly.

"Why would I make it up?" Jude ran his fingers through his hair and rested his palms on the base of his neck, "It's true! We were all at Steven's house. Remember? It was like his tenth birthday, or somethin', and, " Jude tried but failed to hold back his carefree laughter, "you were standing there, completely horrified. We had all caught you looking around in his older sister's room. You had a pair of pink lace panties in your hand, man! I swear! Your face was red! Red!"

Jude titled his head back in laughter and gripped at his stomach, trying to break free of his laughter to take in some breaths.

Nathan was dumb-founded. He had absolutely no recollection of that ever happening.

"No way. Are you sure it was me?"

"Yes! How could I forget that dopey face of yours!"

Jude broke down into a laughing fit again. Once he could finally breathe, Nathan smacked his shoulder.

"Hey," Jude began, apologetically, "You're a very handsome guy. Any lady would be very happy to have you."

"No," Nathan shook his head, his features had become serious, "forget about that. Look. Is that her? Is that Malia?"

"What?" Jude's face fell and he searched the crowd by the bar in the direction Nathan was pointing.

He could make out the line of a familiar figure. She wedged her way in between two patrons. Her hair was long and dark. He could not see her face, but it was Malia.

Tight dress. Toned legs. Nude strappy heels. Dark purple faux leather jacket.

Even though he partly feigned much of his confidence at times, the four rum and cokes he had downed had given him the perfect amount of conviction that his next move was the right one.

Nathan's eyes went from Malia to Jude and back and forth before he said, "I'm gonna...put in an order for some wings and fries now."

"Okay," was all Jude muttered into the air before he made his way over to Malia.

He licked his lips and shoved his sleeves back up. He had to do what needed to be done, or else he knew he would regret it.

Nathan stood at the other far end of the bar and took a quick glance at his friend. He gave Jude a knowing nod before turning to place their order.

The booming music ceased in Jude's mind. All Jude could hear was his heart beating as he got closer to Malia.

With every step he took towards her, he drew his eyes upon every inch of her body. Emotions within him stirred and tugged at him--emotions that he wanted to feel with her in his arms.

His eyes lingered on her neck. She had just brought her hair over to one side as she took the first sip of her drink and the back of her neck that was exposed enticed Jude further.

He was only inches away from her then. He lightly rested his hands on her waist. He could feel her body tense under his touch.

He whispered into her ear, longingly, "Malia."

She set her drink down slowly and turned to face him.

He had closed his eyes for just a moment, to breathe her in.

He took a step back and when he opened his eyes, they widened in disbelief.

She was not who he thought she was. She was not Malia.

She was Rachel. Rachel.

Her wet and trembling eyes blazed with vehement rage.

She did not say a word. She did not have to. Her face said it all.

As Rachel turned to look away from him, Jude blinked and brought his hand to his chest. He finally allowed himself to breathe again.

Before he could move out of her range, or perhaps, he froze knowing he deserved what was coming, she turned back around with her drink gripped tightly in her hand. The quick splash of her icy vodka tonic burned his eyes and soaked his face and shirt.

Rachel sped past him and out of his sight.

Nathan cautiously walked up to his damp friend, holding out a small stack of paper towels he got from one of the bartenders.

"Here you go, man," he said, pushing the paper towels further in front of Jude's face, "Whoa. I've never actually seen that happen in real life before."

Jude clenched his jaw and wiped his face. Most of the patrons were too busy listening to the band wrap up their set, but a few had front row seats to what had just occurred. They were laughing and pointing.

"I'm gonna go outside for a smoke now," Jude said flatly and squared his shoulders as he walked out to the gated patio.

In the most distant corner of the patio was a group of girls, smoking and laughing, arms looped around each other.

He felt some silky fabric brush against his bare forearm as a petite blonde walked past him. She was the same girl Nathan had pointed out from earlier.

He took a seat at an empty table not too far from the group of female smokers, and got out his pack of cigarettes that were inside his shirt pocket. As he brought a cigarette to his lips, the blonde advanced towards him.

"Here, lemme light that for ya," she leaned down before him and took his cigarette out of his fingers.

She smiled and set the cigarette between two full and pink glossed lips. Her blonde hair was straight and grazed her collarbone. Her breaths were heavy and her cheeks were flushed.

A friend of hers whistled and the other girls sprang into uproarious laughter all over again.

"Wouldn't want such a beautiful face like yours to go up in flames. I saw what happened in there," she lit his cigarette with her lighter, took a short puff and then placed it delicately between his lips.

He stared at her as she pulled out a chair to sit beside him. She lit a cigarette of her own and asked, huskily, "You're a bad, bad boy, aren't ya?"

Jude took a long drag from his cigarette and lifted his chin up in the air.

As he answered, he drew his face downward and the smoke exited his mouth slowly, playing in the air between them, "You could say that."

A/N:

Hiya!

This chapter was a fun challenge from my friend, Malia!!! (Hey, mujer!)

lizzymeetsmalia

She has TWO amazing on-going stories that are packed with drama. Go check her out, por favor!! You won't be sorry. Show her some well-deserved love---she writes beautifully and she is not scant in drama or romance. <3 <3 <3

If anyone loves Jude as much as she does, please please please spill your feelings about this chapter in the comments!

Let's talk about Jude, bay--bee!! Haha!!

Again, a huge thank you to all my lovely readers! I am convinced I have the best readers because I see that they are returning and that makes me so happy! Well, beyond happy, over the moon happy.

I have attached "Sleepwalking" by The Chain Gang of 1974.

I love the song purely for aesthetic purposes. I love the way the song sounds along with the vocals, but the lyrics of the song really say it all--giving you a clue into Jude's mind in the weeks that followed his dramatic meetup with Malia.

Thank you so much for reading!
Remember, votes and comments propel me to write and keep this story going.

XO,
Leanne