A story in which Candace Porter meets Jude Garner in a bedroom during a party, and the two of them begin an instant relationship full of love, trust, heartache and sabotage.
Candace Porter, sixteen-year-old tennis prodigy doesn't know much about Jud...
| W H E N C A N D A C E M E T J U D E | • • • | Candace |
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All eyes were on Candace as she stepped out of Serena's Lexus. Her fingers were woven into the strap of her book bag as the other held onto tightly to the handle of the passenger side door. People stared and stared. Even if she would occasionally catch their eyes—they didn't care.
Candace shut the door behind her, straightening her hunched posture. The blood in her veins felt cold. Her skin felt hot. Her chest felt heavy. And her knees were buckling. It took almost every ounce of strength and pride to haul herself away from the car and toward the entrance of the school.
Serena stood close beside her, which was a shock for Candace. She was sure that once they parked, her older sister would go scarce in the crowd, leaving her to fend for herself.
But thankfully, she didn't.
The two of them walked side-by-side onto the steps in front of the school, their heeled school shoes clinking in sync. Candace reached out a hand, giving the large double doors a push, handing it off to Serena once they were open.
The conditioned air of the building hit Candace's skin like a wave, her chest huffing up and down with drastic breaths. Serena seemed to notice, her hand cautiously coming in contact with Candace's clad sweater, squeezing her arm.
Within seconds, Candace is attacked with a hug. Her feet stagger back a few steps, not really expecting to be swallowed completely hole by someone arms. The hugger pulls back after a few seconds and Candace's features soften after recognizing who it is.
Sloane Benson—one of Candace's good friends since they were just little girls. She held onto her arms tightly, feeling overwhelming grateful that in all of the crazy, they still had each other. Even if they hadn't spoken the entire summer.
"Candace, what the hell? Where have you been?" Sloane whisper-shouted, careful not to let anyone else overhear their conversation.
Candace is almost at a loss for words, forgetting about what she'd told herself that morning in the mirror. Serena watches the interaction with waiting features—as though waiting for her sister to spill the lie she and her family had come up with.
Finally having enough, Serena cuts in, giving Candace's arm another squeeze. "We, uh—we all spent the summer down in Miami with our grandparents. Sorry, she didn't call. You know Miami. All the boys, parties, and even more boys kept her pretty busy."
The lie slides so easily out of Serena's mouth that she doesn't even blink, maintaining steady breaths. Candace nods in agreement, throat bobbing anxiously. "Y-Yeah, things got pretty wild down there. All the b-boys, the parties, and even more boys—" Serena swats her sisters arm, most likely signaling her to stop talking.
