Beautiful Storms

chapter twenty-eight | jude

"I just wanna lay next to you and listen to the beat of your heart. I just wanna close my eyes and fall asleep in your arms. I just wanna feel you and forget the world."

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beautiful storms | chapter twenty eight

Jude knew he said that he wanted to wait before dating Cara until he was ready but it still hurts to know that he is in love with her. He was too terrified of her not feeling the same way even though she could like him but not love him. That was something he worried about, her not loving him.

"You sound like an idiot."

He lifts one of his pillows off his bed and pushes into his face then he throws it to the end of his bed.

"How'd you know you actually love her?"

He misses his mother at that moment. She would've told him what to do.

"Jude?"

There was a knock on his bedroom door and he groans, turning away from it.

"Jude, get up!"

"What?!"

He lifts the covers from his face and he glares at the person who opens and it's Cara and his eyes immediately go soft. She backs away, hitting the door and she stares down at her feet.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." Jude gets out of bed and walks towards her.

"It's okay, it's not like I've never been yelled at before." She mumbles. She clears her throat, still looking away from him.

"I was wondering if you wanted to take a drive with me to the lake before we leave in a few days."

She finally finds his eyes and he nods. He could see the flicker of hurt in her eyes before she looked away again before leaving.

"I'll let you get dressed."

Then she walks out of the room and Jude shuts his room door.

"Our last trip to the lake."

Cara whispers as they finally reach the lake and sun beams down against the water and you can see the reflection of the sky through the water and green of the trees as they sway in the wind, blowing some leaves off the trees. A leaf falls into Cara's hair and Jude picks it out.

"I'm gonna go in the water."

She says as she starts to undress and Jude gulps as he grips the towels in his hand. He doesn't know why he's acting like this was the first time he's seen her undress. She's done it before countless times but he glances towards a pebble that was right next to his toe then when he heard a splash it looks back up, seeing her in the water.

He lays the towels on the ground and he gets undressed then he follows her into the water. He still didn't know how to swim but he still tried to swim towards her.

When he gets to her, she's floating on her back staring up at the sky. Her arms and legs move in a steady back and forth movement. She closes her eyes, soaking up the Sun.

"Cara?"

She dips her hand in the water and she splashes him.

"Yeah?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"No, I just got scared."

She furrows her eyebrows and she opens them, rubbing her cheek and water runs down her face.

"I didn't mean to scare you." He says softy.

"I know."

She stands up and she inches towards him.

"I know you aren't like him and you would never hurt me." She leans up and kisses his cheek.

She holds his cheek then she kisses him and she wraps her arms around his neck as he kisses her back. He holds on her waist and she leans her body into his.

Both of them pull away, staring into each other's eyes. He runs his thumb over her bottom lip and he smiles down at her. I love you.

He didn't notice that he had actually said those three words out loud and Cara doesn't look away from him until she hugs him.

"You love me?" She whispers and her voice breaks. Jude hugs her back and he closes his eyes.

"I do." He lets out a breath and they stay like that for a moment just holding each other not moving a muscle.

For some reason, he didn't seem bothered by her not saying it back but he was relieved he got it off his chest and now she knows.

Cara holds Jude's hand as she pulls him out of the water and she grabs their towels and she hands him one. She starts to dry herself off and throws her hair up in a messy curly bun. Jude reaches out and he pulls a single strand out of the bun then he lets it fall. She glances at the piece of hair before turning to him.

"What?"

"You're beautiful."

He says and she smiles before continuing to dry herself off. He dries his hair off and he picks up her clothes and his.

"I'll miss you." He hears her whisper as she stares at the lake that holds so many of her secrets.

Jude smiles again as he stares towards the woods and he sees the sun slow go down. "We should get going, it's getting dark." Cara nods before following him back to her car.

Jude sits his feet on the dashboard and he yawns, closing his eyes. Cara glances over to him with a saddened expression before she turns her eyes back on the road.

"I love you too." She whispers.

He didn't hear her and that gave her some calmness. She didn't notice that Jude had a smile on his lips. He turns to face the window and he watches as they pass the trees and he glances up, seeing the sunset and beautiful orange and red colors fill the sky.

He was overjoyed that she felt the same for him but confused on why she didn't say it to him when they were at the lake. Maybe she was just uncomfortable. But nonetheless, she felt the same way for him that he did her so that fills him with joy. She loves me. He wanted to do a happy dance but he would have to wait until he got back home. She fucking loves me. Me?-She loves me.

"Jude, we're here."

Cara taps on his shoulder and he opens his eyes. He sees Sadie and Jess talking in the front yard and they both looked so happy so carefree even though their lives were nothing but.

"She texted me, telling me she was coming over to hang out with Sadie."