sunsets with jude

chapter twelve- the exam hypeman

Emilia

Touch.

When something new and beautiful comes into this world, it wants to know it deserves to be here. It cries and cries until the doctor gets the message it wants to be held by the emotional woman it came from. Its fragile skin is against hers as the new creation realizes it can't live without being held and nurtured several times a day. The feeling of another person's skin is a necessity from the day we're born and is part of our lives in more ways than one. From random kisses on our cheeks to high-fives from sweaty hands after a softball game, the feeling of being touched is necessary for our well being. 

In addition, we need eight hugs a day to manage stress. If it were up to me, I want to be embraced by Jude all eight of those times. His unexpected hug from behind last night and his arms around me as I'm crying are my favorite memories of him.

He feels like one of those weighted blankets, his warm body shielding me from the world. I try my best to stay in his arms for as long as possible before he eventually relinquishes me. 

"You're the best." I sniffle. My voice is nasally from crying my eyes out and I know for a fact my eyes are as red as a methhead's after snorting shit that'll get me kicked off my favorite sports team.

A crease forms between his eyebrows. "I don't know about that, EJ." I can't complain about him at all, but Jude is way too modest. The bullying crushed his confidence and he doesn't believe a thing I say.

"I'm going inside." I walk back inside the off-white house with Becca's face on the lawn. 

Speaking of Becca, she ambushes me with a hug. Hugs from teammates are the best, but nothing can beat Jude.

"Are you okay, EJ?" She studies me with a worried expression. 

I nod. "It's so weird that an asshole like that is your brother." Although they share the same dirty blonde waves and hazel eyes, they don't have the same personalities. Hunter...well, he has his issues. Becca, however, is the best team captain ever. I love throwing myself at every fastball that leaves her hand during a game. Silver Palms will miss our favorite star pitcher while she does great things in Boca Raton. 

"I gave him a talking to, sweet girl." She reassures me. "If Hunter lays a finger on you, I'm driving  four hours from Boca to kill him." 

"You're awesome." I say, hugging her again. "You coming to the party tomorrow night?"

Becca shrugs. "Maybe. I just don't want to fail the mandatory drug test when I pull up to FAU."

"Drugs aren't going to be a problem." Tori puts in, reminding us of her presence. Her face says, I feel bad for you, but this isn't what we talked about, but instead, she says that she wants to go home. 

"Thank you for everything, Beck." I wipe my nose with the back of my hand and the three of us head back to Silver Palms. 

Tori turns her car on while I take the passenger seat and Jude sits in the back without making a sound. I forget he came to this party not knowing anyone, but remember to review my Biology flashcards during the drive home. 

"Welcome home, lovebirds." She says flatly, her car centimeters away from the curb. I get out and realize Jude didn't come out with me. Panicking, I pound the back door's glass windows. The noise fails to get him out of my best friend's Jeep.

"This ain't funny." I open the door to see...aww!

His chest rises and falls and his eyelids twitch. Jude fell asleep during the drive. If I'm being honest, he looks really cute doing so. His cherry lips are parted, tiny breaths escaping the hole. Even though he's sitting upright in his seat, he looks quite comfortable.