Beautiful Storms

chapter twenty-one | jude

"I won't lie, it doesn't get easier. Not if you're doing it right."

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beautiful storms | chapter twenty-one

The car slightly shakes as the engine rumbles under the hood. Jude doesn't know what to say to Cara as the words leave her lips. He keeps his eyes focused on the road and his foot on the gas. Cara sighs as she turns her head to stare out the window. He taps his fingers on the steering wheel, trying to make a beat out of it.

"Jude, talk to me." He turns to look at Cara and he stares at her hair before moving his eyes down to her face.

"Hailey is annoying." He abruptly says. He turns into his neighborhood and Cara laughs.

"She can be loud." He goes on about Hailey until he pulls up on the driveway and he parks the car.

"I could take you home if you want?" He glances over to her and she shakes her head as she unbuckles her seatbelt.

"It's fine." She says softly.

He takes the keys out of the ignition and he hands them over to her getting out of the car. He watches as she climbs over to get to the driver's seat.

"Also, go talk to Sadie," Cara says as she puts the car in reverse and she backs out of the driveway.

Jude runs a hand through his hair and he walks to the front door. He unlocks it, pushing the door open. Sadie is sitting in the living room alone, reading a book. Jude gulps as he shuts the door.

"Sadie, can we talk?"

He walks more into the living room and he sits down next to her. She scoots a few inches away from him. She nods but she doesn't stop reading her book, she flips to the next page.

"About Hayes."

Sadie tenses at the mention of his name and she shut her book. She grips it in her hands, pulling it to her chest. "What about him?" She seemed to grow increasingly uncomfortable as the seconds go on and Jude notices. He grabs her hand pulling her to him and he hugs her, wrapping his arms around and he holds her tight.

"I-I'm so sorry." Sadie's body goes stiff but she slowly relaxes and hugs him back. "I wish you didn't have to go through that and I wish I knew and I wish I could've helped and I wish I called her sooner so he would've never got the chance to hurt you. Everything is m-."

"Jude, shut up. Don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control." She pulls away from him and he stares with a dumbfounded look.

Sadie sighs. "It's not your fault. I just thought you were mad at me because you wouldn't talk to me and you were avoiding me to hang out with Cara or just hide in your room."

"I didn't know how to talk to you." He confesses and he leans back into the couch cushions.

'I was terrified of saying something wrong in fear you would hate me."

Sadie lifts her book and she slaps him in the face with it before getting up. "Stop being an emotional dumbass." Jude holds his cheek and he stares at her in pain.

"I am not and don't hit me!" She hits him again and then he tries to reach for the book but she backs away. She mocks by putting her hand on her cheek and a hand on her forehead.

"I'm Jude and I'm an emotional dumbass." She raises an eyebrow and Jude playfully glares at her before standing up.

Jude ignores and asks, "Did you eat?" before glances at her wrists but she pulls down her sleeves before he could actually see the fresh cuts on her skin.

"Not yet and no, I do not want pizza." He groans as she follows him into the kitchen.

He opens the refrigerator and takes out leftovers from the night before. It was spaghetti and he pulls out two plates and forks. Sadie rolls her eyes before shutting the refrigerator behind her. He heats up both plates of food in the microwave.

"So...you and Jess are friends now?" Jude leans against the counter and he crosses his arms over his chest. Sadie huffs and she nods.

"Unfortunately." She whispers, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I heard that." Sadie's eyes widen and she laughs nervously.

"Do you like Jess?" He asks slowly and Sadie's cheeks go hot and she punches him in the shoulder.

"You!-- Sadie has a crush." Jude jokes and Sadie glares at him but it falls into a smile when he hugs her and crushes her in his arms.

"Put me down, dumbass!"

"Never!"

"Why are you two shouting?"

Their grandmother walks into the kitchen and she sits her keys on the counter and she pulls her hair out of the bun it was in. Jude gently sits Sadie back down and he pats her head.

"I warmed some food, do you want some?" Jude asks.

Their grandmother nods.

She sits down at the kitchen with Sadie who sits across from her. Jude sits their food in front of them and he sits down with his.

"So, how was everyone's day?" Jude says and Sadie ignores him. His grandmother covers her mouth before swallowing and she holds up her hand.

"I went to see my lawyer today and we worked out a few things but adopting Sadie might take a while."

Sadie smiles as she stares down at her plate before she begins to eat, the smile still on her lips. "This is good." She turns to her grandmother. Jude watches the exchange with soft features. He quickly finishes his food and he gets up, taking their plates with him and he decides to clean up so his grandmother or Sadie wouldn't have to do it.

Jude shuts his room door and he flops on his bed with a groan. He closes his eyes and he feels so drained. He felt empty. There's a knock on his door and Sadie walks in, shutting his door behind her.

"Can sleep in here with you?"

She sits down on his bed and he rolls over so she could lay down and he pats the place next to him. She lays down next to him and he watches as she closes her eyes.

"Can you promise me something?"

"Sure."

"Promise me that it will always be you and me against the world no matter what happens." Sadie pulls out her pinkie finger and she pushes it in his face and he slaps her away. He chuckles before pulling out his pinkie. She wraps her pinkie with his and they both shake them.

"You and me," Jude says.