Connor's Tale - A Jonnor story

Chapter 13 - The Green Eyed Monster

BACK TO THE BEACH

"Aww. That is so sweet" Daria said with a smile. "I never heard that story before."

"Yeah, it's kind of cool to have a secret birthday. He won't be mad you told us?" Taylor asked cautiously.

"I don't think so" Connor told them. "After that party he didn't seem to care about that and once he was adopted it was even less important I think. The secret birthday was his and Callie's special thing to help them through the troubles of the system. Once he was out of it, he didn't seem to need it anymore and he wanted his whole family to know now."

"Okay, but what about Maddie and Chelsea?" Taylor asked. "They have to show up somewhere. Maddie is definitely crushing on Jude."

"Like someone else we know" Daria teased. "Ouch!" she yelled as Taylor smacked her in the arm. "What was that for?" she asked feigning innocence.

Taylor just glared. "Okay, I deserved that" Daria admitted.

"Anyway" Connor said trying to change the subject "Maddie was getting up her nerve to make her move and it was going to change things. She was crushing on Jude and decided that he was too shy to ask her out, so she would do it for them. And I did not like that one bit."

ADOPTION WEEK

Connor walked into school and headed for his locker keeping an eye out for Jude. He didn't see Mrs. Adams-Foster's car this morning, but he could have walked. Grabbing his books he looked around and waited for Jude to show up. He looked over and saw Chelsea and Maddie walking by and they did that whisper giggle thing they are always doing again. He really didn't understand them.

"Hey Connor" he heard Jude say behind him. Turning around he smiled and said good morning. Jude was grabbing his books before they walked to homeroom. They were talking about not much of anything when Jude suddenly stopped and looked really nervous.

Connor stopped and looked at him and wondered what was wrong.

"Uh...Connor" Jude stammered "I was wondering if, you don't have to or anything, but if you wanted to and weren't busy I mean, I understand if you have plans already..." Connor had never seen Jude this nervous since he started at Anchor Beach.

"Jude, what is it?" Connor asked with a smile. "Just tell me."

Taking a deep breath, but not looking directly at him Jude asked "Moms said I could invite good friends and I thought you might want to come."

"Come where?" Connor asked trying not to laugh at how nervous Jude was being. It was really kind of funny how worked up he was getting.

"To my adoption" Jude whispered.

"Wait? What?" Connor said surprised. "I mean I know you said you were getting adopted but I wasn't sure what that meant."

"Callie and I have to go before a judge who will sign the papers to make Lena and Stef our moms for real. They do this signing thing and then we have a party after and they said it was for good friends and family so I wondered if maybe, if you wanted, you would like to come?"

Connor was once again surprised by the guy standing beside him looking so scared of rejection. Ever since he met Jude he kept finding himself overwhelmed by the things he never even thought about that Jude dealt with without complaining. He knew some of the things that Jude had faced being a foster kid, but he also knew that Jude wasn't telling him about a lot of the bad stuff too.

"I would love to come" Connor said with a smile. "I have to ask, but when is it?"

"This Thursday" Jude told him.