Things You Said - Series

Things you said when I was crying

(Side note: This one-shot, originally titled "I'll still be here when you're ready," was previously written a while ago, that's why it's longer. Quite honestly, I didn't have any other ideas for this prompt, so I figured this would fit enough. Enjoy!)

Jude had always been sensitive, there was no question about it. But he was also tough, and didn't like to show when he was upset, because he saw it as a weakness, or vulnerability. There were only a small amount of people that Jude was able to be vulnerable around. His moms, his sisters, brothers, and his best friend since seventh grade, Connor. In this particular case, he knew Connor was the person he would go to for comfort.

He called him, trying to gain his composure before he answered. Connor answered on the third ring.

"Hey, what's -"

"Connor," Jude sniffed.

"Jude? What's wrong?" Connor asked, hearing that Jude's tone wasn't his usual upbeat self. He always knew when something was wrong.

"Caleb broke up with me."

"Aw Jude... I'm so sorry. What happened?"

Jude almost couldn't get the words out, his throat was closed up, and he was on the verge of tears. With a breaking voice, he said, "he found someone else."

Connor's heart was breaking for Jude, hearing how hurt he was, and he was angry that someone would hurt him. "I'm so sorry," he repeated, because really, he was. "Do you want me to come over?"

"Please," Jude squeaked out, gripping his phone tighter with one hand, and clenching the sleeve of his shirt with the other.

"Hang in there, okay? I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Okay. Thank you." Jude ended the call and clutched his phone as he completely broke down.

When Connor arrived, Jude managed to compose himself enough, but once Connor stepped inside and wrapped his arms around Jude tightly, he just couldn't quite hold it together.

"It's okay, it's okay," Connor said, rubbing Jude's back in soothing motions. "He doesn't deserve you."

"I wasn't good enough," Jude whispered.

"Don't say that. You are more than enough. Don't ever think that you're not."

Jude pulled away and wiped his eyes. "I just don't understand why he..."

"So you may never understand, but you deserve so much better than him. Break ups are never easy, but please don't blame yourself for it."

Jude managed a smile. "How'd I get so lucky to have such an amazing best friend?"

"Pure luck. But really, if I'm being honest here, I think I'm the lucky one," Connor smiled at him. That's when Connor got one of the dumbest ideas he'd ever come up with, and even though he knew better, he pulled Jude just as close as he was before, and kissed him.

At first, Jude was stunned. Maybe even mad that Connor would do something so stupid, but he kissed back, knowing that quite honestly, he wished to do the same thing. Sure it wasn't the greatest timing, and it seemed to come out of nowhere, but it was Connor. How could he possibly object?

Connor broke the kiss first, staring at Jude to study his expression. His eyes were still a glossy onyx brown, but something different flashed across them. He couldn't pin point exactly what it was, but there was definitely something different. "I'm... That was stupid of me to do. Im sorry."

Jude smiled sadly at him. "You're not sorry, and..." He swallowed hard, "neither am I."

Connor pretended not to notice his voice break. Pretended not to notice his own shaking nerves, and pretended not to notice Jude look away.