Sun and Shadow

Chapter 1 - What Happened?

AU: Events take place starting at the end of summer school during season 3 - starting at 3x08.

Jude and Connor were sitting in Jude's room after getting back from seeing Callie and coming home. They set quietly for a bit on Jude's bed, Connor waiting while Jude struggled to find the words.

"I'm sorry" Jude said finally. "I was just so mad about everything, it was just too much."

Connor watched Jude but didn't say anything.

"Aren't you going to yell at me or say I was stupid or something?" Jude asked.

"No" Connor said quietly. "what's the point?" he smiled slightly.

Jude looked over with a slightly puzzled look on his face as he watched Connor's smile grow. "What?"

Connor just smiled even more and leaned over and kissed Jude briefly. "You should really take your own advice more" he teased.

Suddenly remembering that first day in his room, Jude smiled as his boyfriend "Dork."

"Your dork!" Connor smiled back. Then the smile faded as he looked at Jude "why didn't you talk to me?"

Jude looked down not able to meet Connor's eyes. "It was all happened so fast. I just couldn't process it and snapped. I should have talked to you, I know you are there for me. I just don't get it. Why is she doing this AGAIN!?"

Connor didn't know the story but there was only one "she" that could make Jude react like this: Callie. But until he was ready to talk, Connor would have to wait. He reached over and grabbed Jude's hand and squeezed gently. Jude leaned over and put his head on Connor's shoulder and sighed. They would talk about it, but later. Now he just needed this. To rest in the presence of his boyfriend.

End of summer school

It was the last day of summer school and Jude was glad to be done. Connor had an appointment and had left early and Lena had a late meeting but Jude decided to wait for her. After cleaning out his locker, Jude walked towards the beach. It was very quiet as there was no one on the beach and most of the students had fled the school at the first chance. Jude was walking along the beach enjoying the calm of the ocean and the overcast day. He wasn't sure why but over the last few weeks he had noticed that he preferred nighttime and that sunlight was less and less enjoyable.

"Well look what we have here" a sneering voice said behind him.

Turning around Jude saw Tyler Roberts and along with two other guys (Rickie & Walter, I think) walking towards him. Tyler was a jerk - no other word for it. He and his cronies had been making rude comments about him and Connor since they had been outed by Taylor at the end of the year party.

Rolling his eyes, Jude tried to ignore them and look back at the waves.

"Hey fag! Where's your boyfriend?" Tyler yelled no longer content with snide comments, this was the most aggressive he had been.

"Why don't you grow up Tyler?" Jude said tiredly. He was really getting bored with this crap. You would think that they would get bored with this stuff, but no, it seemed to keep coming back just when you thought it was over. Jude stood up and headed back towards the school.

Rickie jumped in front of Jude and snarled "Where do you think you are going homo?"

Jude looked back and saw that Tyler and Walter had surrounded him and that there was no one nearby. "Really guys, you want to kicked out of school? Not too smart since Anchor Beach has a no fighting policy." Jude tried to move between them but they shoved him back.