get pucked - l.h.

4

Jude and Ashton didn't stay on the ice long because Ashton was tired and Jude had homework. Setha came over along with Ashton and they did homework together.

Ashton was incredibly smart. He always helped Jude with her homework and anyone else if they needed the tutoring. Jude sat on the couch that was parallel to the bar in the kitchen. She laid down and tried to read while Ashton helped Setha with her trigonometry.

Jude tried to understand the sentence her eyes skimmed over four times, but the words weren't processing. She couldn't get her mind off the fact that Luke called her stupid. It honestly really hurt because that was something she was most insecure about.

"Guys," Jude called out.

"Yeah?" Setha answered first.

"Luke was actually being nice to me today," she explained.

"Well, he kinda had to. You guys were stuck in a box together," Ashton chuckled.

"Well no, because after the whole shift, right before we all got off, we got in a fight. I just don't understand. What is wrong with me," Jude huffed. "Why me?"

"Jude, I told you it's not just you," Ashton sighed and stood from his chair. "He's been in a terrible mood lately. And not only that, but you're not the only one who he's snapped at."

"I saw him today at school and I tried to tell him he could sit with us if he needed some friends at lunch but he acted as though I wasn't a human being," Setha's annoyance was clear on her voice.

"I told him that you were someone that he didn't want to mess with," Ashton chuckled and continued. "He seemed to take my advice but like I said before: He's angry that he's here and he's taking it out on anyone who stands in his way."

Jude processed that and sighed, closing the book. She had had enough reading for the night.

"I promise that he's not that bad," Ashton's voice showed that he clearly wanted to convince us that Luke was a good kid. I felt bad for Ashton because Jude was sure Luke could be a kind guy. Just at the moment, he wasn't and she couldn't help but feel bugged by that.

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The next day school was the same way: boring. She hadn't seen Luke yet which she was grateful for. She was still unhappy with his word choice the day before.

During lunch she walked to her locker to grab the sandwich she made that morning. The hallway her locker was in was almost always empty during lunch and she liked that. It was some peace and quiet that she never really got before.

She grabbed her lunch and set her books on the top shelf so she didn't have to carry them. She shut her locker and headed to table where her friends were.

She sat down next to Michael who was munching on some gold fish from the vending machine. She stole one from the bag and he flipped her off.

"So Luke, how was you first day at work?" Calum asked. Calum always knew how to be polite, even to an ass.

"Good," he nodded. He didn't sound too thrilled, but it was nicer than Jude was expecting.

"That's good," Calum nodded. "Who was training you?"

"Jude." She could hear the smile on his face and her cheeks grew warm at the sound of her name.

"Really?" Michael butted in now.

"I don't understand how you two didn't claw each other's eyes out," Calum joked.

"I'm shocked," Michael was so amused. "Really."

"It's not that big of a deal," Jude shrugged.

"Well, considering the fact that you would have punched him in the face on Sunday, it's saying a lot," Setha added her thoughts.

"You were going to punch me?" Luke smirked now, looking over at Jude. She almost blushed and didn't look him in the eye as she looked his way. "You wouldn't do it." It wasn't that he was doubting Jude, he just genuinely believed she wouldn't.

"Yes she would," everyone chimed in; even Rett who had been sitting at the end of the table in silence the whole time.

"Oh screw all of you," Jude laughed.

"When Jude first met Ashton, she hated him," Setha ignored Jude. "I've never seen her hate someone so much and I grew up with her."

"One day Ashton shoved her. . . or something," Calum continued the story. "Who knows. Anyways, she got up, threw her gloves off and gave him a fat lip."

Jude giggled a bit as they spoke. Her cheeks were slightly pink as she thought back on that time. She tried to hide her blush by putting her face down and continued to nibble on her sandwich.

"Aren't you two best friends though?" Luke asked.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Where is Ashton?" Michael asked.

"Detention," Luke huffed out a laugh. "I wasn't supposed to tell you guys."

"What?" Michael gawked.

"Ashton? Detention?" Rett finally spoke up once again.

"He wasn't going to tell you guys," Luke shrugged and leaned against the table. Jude felt Luke glance at her but she didn't look back at him. In fact, she hadn't looked at him at all since she sat down. She still couldn't get that word off of her mind: stupid.

A few more minutes passed before the bell rang, ending lunch. Everyone got up and Jude said her goodbyes before walking to her locker. She spun the lock and opened the metal door. She grabbed her books and checked the mirror that stuck to the door of the locker. She wanted to make sure there was nothing on her face. Once she was sure she had everything, she slammed the door shut.

She turned to go to class and as she spun around, Luke was walking towards her. She started to move away, pretending she didn't notice that he was walking solely towards her, but he called her name.

She spun on her heel saying, "Yes, Luke?"

"Look," he took in a deep breath. "I uh.. owe you an apology." Jude was taken back. That was not something she was expecting. "I mean, I know I have a lot to apologize for. . . but I want to start with yesterday: I shouldn't have called you stupid. Your reaction showed that it really hurt you and it kinda made me think about exactly how I was treating you..." Jude couldn't help but look at the clock on the wall. She still had five minutes. "I've been kind of a jerk lately and I feel pretty bad about it. So I'm sorry." His voice was a bit emotionless but she took it. He seemed really embarrassed that he had to say something. She wouldn't trust him, but forgiving him was a different story.

"Thanks, don't worry about it," Jude nodded. She appreciated the apology but the only way her mind would be changed was if his actions followed his words.

He seemed to be relieved though.

"Thanks," he nodded. "I'll see you at practice later?"

"Sure," she nodded and walked to class.

That was weird.