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Jude tries his best to ignore being greeted with his old childhood nickname by those who came up with it in the first place.
“Hey,” putting on a smile, he hugs Mariana first and Callie second.
“How’s the apartment?” He looks around at where his sisters have been living for almost a year, now.
“It’s nice. You should come stay sometime. There’s room.” Callie offers.
“How’s your dorm, this year?” Mar’ asks.
“Good. It’s a single, this year.” He’s happy to say.
“Classes?” Callie goes through the routinely rundown.
“Fine. Don’t wanna lose my scholarship, so, I can’t be caught slipping up.”
“You mean you can’t and won’t slip up at all, right?” Callie’s eyebrows raise.
He grins. “Yeah. That’s what I meant.”
“Sit down,” Mariana offers, bringing them to the kitchen table and sitting in-between them.
“So tell us: what’s new?” She asks him.
“No one-er, nothing.”
“Speaking of getting caught slipping up,” Callie teases, she and Mar’ giggling as Jude tries to laugh it off and not blush.
“Who is he?” Callie asks, her brother looking off into space and contemplating revealing anything.
“Well, I’ve been trying not to make too big a deal about it,” he looks at them. “But he’s someone I’ve been seeing for almost a month. I really like him. Cyrus, is his name.”
“He go to USC?” Callie wonders.
“Yeah. He’s sweet.” Jude won’t say much else.
“You think you two might get serious?” Mariana can’t help but dig.
“We’ll see. But, it feels nice to maybe settle down with someone after being single since high school. Maybe he wants it too.”
“What’s on his dating resumè?” Mar’ teases.
“He dated some guy in high school that was bad news.”
“Then it’s a good thing you came along.” Mar’ beams.
If only any of them knew just how much accuracy and impact that statement will soon show to hold.
He didn’t want to tell the girls that he’d be going straight to Cyrus’ ‘cause he didn’t want them making a big deal of it.
“Hey. How was seeing your sisters?” Cyrus sits at a table in the dining hall with his phone in hand, Jude sitting on the other side.
“Good…! I, uh, mentioned your name.”
He grins. “Really? What’d you say about me?”
“Nice things.” Jude can’t stifle his smile.
“Those are the same kinda things I’m gonna be saying about you to my friend from high school.” Cyrus shows Jude his phone screen that displays a public Instagram profile of a guy named Jonah Beck. “He just popped up in my recommended. It’d be nice to catch up.”
Jude’s eyes go dull. “How’d you know him?”
“School.” Cyrus giggles. “I actually had a ginormous crush on him in seventh grade.”
“Really?” This isn’t worrying Jude any less.
“Yeah. But no worries it’s not like those feelings are gonna come back or anything.”
“They might.”
Cyrus chuckles. “Jude...don’t you trust me?”
“I do trust you!” Jude panics. “I just don’t trust people not to sweep you away from me. Oh my God that sounds ridiculous. I’m sorry. I-“
“It’s okay.” Setting down his phone, Cyrus sincerely takes his hands. “I can tell you’ve been wanting to be more exclusive, and I have no problem with that.”
Jude brightens. “Really?”
“Yeah. Sorry if I’ve been taking things too slow. My last involvement with a guy was just, pretty messy.”
“Don’t worry. Mine too.” Jude understands. “We can totally go at your pace.”
“You’re the best…” Cyrus makes him blush. “Uh, Jonah’s actually in the area. If he says yes, would it be okay if I met him for lunch or something?”
Jude hates that he feels required to even ask. “Yeah. Yeah, of course! Don’t worry. I’m super cool about this.”
“Can I ask you something?”
This only makes him shrink down in his chair.
“Was your boyfriend from high school...unfaithful?”
“What?”
“It’s just that that would explain-“
“Me being jealous?” Jude chuckles awkwardly. “No, actually. He wasn’t. Just a huge stoner.”
“Well mine was. Unfaithful. Not a stoner. More of a vaper, actually.” Cyrus clarifies.
“I’m sorry.”
“But even if you were meeting up with an old flame, I’d keep my cool. ‘Cause I trust you. Not that you’re not keeping your cool or that you don’t trust me.”
But that’s not what Jude’s fixating on. “So, he was an old flame?”
“What? Oh, no. God no he did not like me back. It was just a stupid middle school crush. We’ve all had one of those, right?”
“Yeah…” Gazing on past him, Jude refuses to let himself reveal that his ‘crush’ from middle school was far beyond that.
This wouldn’t be the first morning that Connor’s roommate woke him up in a frenzy.
“Wake up!” Jonah repeatedly shakes him, the other boy groaning and daring to open his eyes.
“It’s an emergency.”
“Is it a real emergency?” Connor sits up.
“Yes! Guess who I just got a message from. Cyrus. You know- that Cyrus. The Cyrus from high school who I was desperately in love with but never had the courage to confess to and ended up losing touch with? That Cyrus.”
“Does he finally love you back?”
“He wants to catch up.” Jonah doesn’t have time for Connor’s dry humor.
“Ooh, we all know what that means.” Connor’s eyebrows wiggle.
“Shut up. He probably has a boyfriend. How couldn’t he.”
“What’d he contact you on?”
“Instagram. I didn’t see any pics of him with any guys-“
“A good sign-“
“ But that doesn’t mean anything. I can’t believe I lost my chance with him. He had a crush on me in middle school but my dumbass didn’t pick up on it until he was dating that asshole in high school who will remain nameless.” Jonah goes ahead and sits on Connor’s legs.
“You’ve never even told me his name.”
“Yeah. Exactly.”
Connor rolls his eyes. “Just go meet him. There a time and place?”
“He’s at USCLA. Wants to meet at The Grove. That’s a pretty far drive for him. He really wants to drive all the way out for me?” Jonah doesn’t understand.
“Yes. Dude, just go. What have you got to lose?”
“Uh, let’s see. My dignity, my pride,”
“Your virginity,”
“ That has already been found.”
“What?” Connor doesn’t even want to begin to figure out what that means.
“ If I go, you have to go with me.”
“As your fake date?” Connor’s hoping this isn’t the case.
“Ew. No. As a lookout. Just in case anything goes wrong.”
“Thanks for trying to keep it sensitive.” Connor says.
“There are a ton of guys that are into you but you’re too reserved to do anything about it.” Jonah points out.
“And? I am perfectly content with being a bachelor.”
“Well at least you’ve had someone that loved you back.” Jonah remarks.
“Jude was pretty special.” As of the past few years, Connor’s had no problem opening up about his first love gone wrong.
“Is that why you’re so reluctant to be in a relationship? ‘Cause you don’t think you’ll find something as good as what you and him had?” Jonah puts it out there.
“ What? No. Don’t include me in your dumb little fantasies.” Connor pushes Jonah off of him and stands up. “Just go see Cyrus.”
“Not without you! I already agreed to tomorrow morning.”
“I’m busy tomorrow morning.” Connor fibs.
“Connor, fuck off.” Jonah already knows that’s untrue.
“Alright. Fine. But if you make a fool out of yourself that is not my fault. You know this isn’t a date, right?”
“ Yes I know this isn’t a date.” Jonah’s offended. “I’ve had enough reality checks to know that life isn’t some fairytale.”
“You and I both.”
Except maybe, sometimes it’s allowed to hint at something of the sort.
“I’m meeting him…”
“What…?”
Arm around him while sitting together on the single bed of his dorm, Jude tries not to look at Cyrus with too much disbelief.
“Tomorrow, for lunch. At The Grove.”
“That’s a pretty long drive for someone you went to highschool with.”
“A friend.” Cyrus corrects. “That’s all he was, and ever will be...You don’t trust me?” He hates to assume.
“I do.” Jude stresses. “It’s just like I said,”
“You don’t have to worry about other people when you’re the only one I wanna be with.” Cyrus assures. “C’mere.” He gives him a quick kiss on the lips.
“You believe me now?”
Face flushed, Jude feels a smile expand across his face. “I dunno, I’m gonna need a little more proof.”
Cyrus giggles, going ahead and making sure their next one is even stronger.
By the end of the night, they’d have had their final handful.
It’s morning, so that means Connor’s being subjected to another one of Jonah’s freak-outs. Only worse this time, thanks to the time of day.
“It’s too early for this.”
“Just tell me if I look okay!” Jonah’s modeling his next outfit.
“You look fine.”
“Too casual? Too formal?”
“You do remember it’s not a date.” Connor’s just checking.
“ Yes. This outfit doesn’t make it look like I think I do, right?”
“No. We’re getting coffee.” Connor rolls back over in his bed.
Jonah sighs. “I’m sorry I’m such a spaz.” He walks you to Connor’s bed. “I know I can be...a lot, sometimes. It’s just that Cyrus still means a lot to me. Doesn’t Jude still mean a lot to you?”
“I dunno, man, that whole thing happened like seven years ago.” Connor’s voice is muffled against one of his many pillows.
“I know but, if you had the chance to see him again, wouldn’t you take it?”
“Would be pretty awkward, don’t you think?”
“Maybe not.” Jonah considers.
“Can we stop talking about him? It’s history.”
“Sorry. It’s just that what you guys had was so special and if I had something like that I’d never let it go-“
Connor impatiently turns over, staring him down with a scowl.
“Are you forgetting the part where I had to get away from my homophobic father? It’s not my fault we couldn’t handle the long-distance.”
“I’m not saying it was your fault-“
“You have no idea how privileged you are that both your parents still love you. At least you’re bi and could still fall for a girl.”
“Connor I’m sorry…” Jonah didn’t mean to bring out the fire in him. “I know how lucky I am that my family accepts me.”
“No, I’m sorry…I’m being a dick.” Connor realizes. “I’ll take you to The Grove and keep an eye out.”
“Thank you…” Jonah smiles.
“Now come on. Let’s get some coffee before I yell at you again.”
“Coffee hasn’t stopped you before.”
Sounding a contagious snicker, Connor playfully puts his hands on a continuously beaming Jonah and gets out of bed.
He’s half the reason why he ever does.
Still in bed half asleep, Jude yawns while slowly comprehending the noises of a fully awake Cyrus moving around.
“What are you doing.” He knows he’s not usually up this early.
“Getting ready.” Cyrus stands before him showered and newly dressed.
“Already?” Jude sits up.
“It’s a long drive, remember?”
If Jude did, he would’ve woken right up with him.
“Are you sure you wanna drive out that far? You know, early morning traffic.”
“Jude, don’t worry. Jonah’s not just gonna magically win me over like he did in middle school. He’s probably seeing someone just like I am.”
Hearing that does make Jude feel better, but unfortunately not enough to let his insecurities disband.
“Have a safe drive. And a good time.” He truly means it.
“I will.” Cyrus smiles, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back for you, alright?”
It’s what Jude loves to hear, but it’s nothing he can believe until it actually happens.
“I’ll be here.”
Arriving at the restaurant where Jonah agreed to meet with Cyrus outside, he and Connor exit out one of the back doors where there’s exterior seating.
“Okay. Sit at a table not too far away but not too close.” Jonah tells him. “Got it?”
“Yeah.” Watching Jonah choose a table, he sits at one three spots down.
“Why can’t I just sit with you until he’s here?” He calls out to him.
“Because, then he’ll see you! He’s almost here.”
“You can’t introduce me as your roommate?”
“You’re here to be a lookout. If things go fine, maybe I’ll introduce you as my roommate that just so happened to be here.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Walking into the outside dining area, Cyrus is instantly drawn to Jonah whose face is flushing and eyes are growing huge at the sight of him.
“Hey!” Cyrus almost can’t believe it, heading to Jonah’s table and going right in for a hug.
“Hi…” Almost trembling as their torsos touch, Jonah can barely even feel their arms around one another until it’s over.
“How have you been?” Cyrus sits in the chair next to his. “I can’t believe I never knew you were in the area. Well, for the most part.”
“Yeah. I’ve uh, been at Irvine.”
“Good school. I wish we would’ve known we’d be in the same city.”
“Yeah.” Jonah’s glad to hear that it seems like Cyrus wishes they never grew apart. Except there’s definitely no way he knows that there was a reason why it had to happen, let alone what it is.
“Oh my God remember that time you were gonna teach me how to skateboard and I broke my finger? That pops into my head here and there and it cracks me up.”
It’s funny how one event can be looked back on so differently. For Jonah, that was the day when his crush on Cyrus fell into place. Watching him stand on the skateboard, telling him he was thinking that they could skateboard together. In a way, that was Jonah’s version of confessing his pining for something beyond a friendship. Of course, he was far from aware of that in the moment.
Then, seeing Cyrus get injured...it was like something set off in him. His care and concern for Cyrus had already been set in stone, but that day; it was the start of him realizing that maybe what he felt for him wasn’t all too platonic.
But between going back and forth with his old ex-girlfriend and getting involved with other girls, his feelings didn’t catch up with him until it was finally too late.
Cyrus had fallen for someone new, and by the time that hell of a relationship was over, Cyrus and Jonah’s friendship drifted out of existence.
There were no hard feelings or cold shoulders. Just, awkward silences and glances that were hard to hold down. Cyrus always knew Jonah never approved of the boy he dated, but it was difficult to even consider that romantic reasons had fallen into the mix when there were already a list of reasons not to like the guy.
“Yeah.” Jonah strikes up a genuine enough laugh. “That day was quite eventful.”
Cyrus’ smile is the same as it ever was. Fulfilling, contagious, and warm.
Little does Jonah know that the same can be said about him.
Jude meant what he said. He will be there when Cyrus returns. However, he never said anything about staying there until the time being.
As Jonah and Cyrus’ waiter walks out to take their beverage orders, Jude reluctantly stays behind before the door, looking outside to make sure the coast is clear.
Carefully walking out, his eyes gradually set on the last person he was ever expecting to see ever again.
Right away, Connor feels his gaze and sees him with an equally phazed expression.
He always ignored Jonah when asked about what he would do if somehow presented with Jude again.
As for what he feels, it’s a mix of everything.
For both of them.
Although when it comes to pain, that’s the last emotion on the list.
It’s nostalgia. Sweetness. Joy. It’s so easy to think that seeing someone you had a tragic end with naturally means an uneasy reunion.
But as far as Jude and Connor are concerned, all that pain is left in the past.
Neither of them have smiled like this in a long time. Connor, especially.
Jude would love to make a scene, but would hate to blow his cover just as much. He dashes over to Connor’s table with pure elation, sitting right by his side as Connor excitedly looks him up and down.
“Holy shit, dude, how the hell have you been?” He speaks as enthusiastically as he does loud, but luckily not enough to bring the wrong attention.
“Good!” Jude knows to keep a lower volume. “Yeah, uh. I’ve been at UCLA.”
“Irvine.” Connor says.
“ Nice. I wouldn’t have applied there if weren’t for my Moms insisting for me to.”
“Oh my God how are they?”
“Good. They sold the house not too long before I came out here.”
“No shit, really?” Connor’s mind is brought to all the memories between them that took place there.
“Yup, they officially have an empty nest.”
Still in stunned disbelief, Connor sits back to get a good look at him.
“Damn, this is really something. I can’t believe it. Jude-Adams-Foster in the flesh.”
That was a bit too loud for Jude’s liking.
“ Jude?” Cyrus asks from his chair, the other three tensing up at his name for different reasons.
It just got interesting, for Jonah especially.
The Jude?
“Cyrus…!” Jude’s gonna admit, he almost forget he was there.
“Uhh I was just meeting up with-“
“ Jude? The Jude?” Jonah’s still in shock.
“Yes, Jonah, shut up.” Connor grunts at him.
“Do you know him?” Jude asks.
“He’s my roommate. I was only here ‘cause-“
“Jude, did you come here to act like you were meeting with him just so that you could eavesdrop on me?” Cyrus feels insulted.
“No! N- no way this is...Can we all please have this conversation at the same table?”
Jonah and Cyrus walk over and sit across from the exes.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I promise.”
“Yeah. We were talking.” Connor naturally backs him up. “Why would he eavesdrop on you?” He’s curious.
Cyrus looks at Jude, expecting him to explain.
Jude narrows his eyes, pausing to recollect his explanation.
“We’ve been seeing each other, and I was irrationally worried about Cyrus seeing Jonah again.”
Jonah breaks out into a sweat. “Why…?”
Cyrus looks at him. “I liked you in middle school. It was nothing, but,”
Connor and Jonah can only look at each other as Cyrus continues.
Connor’s expression is one of sympathy, in response to Jonah’s that’s nothing but sullen and bleak.
What he already knew has officially been confirmed.
That his chance with Cyrus was already long gone.
“What’s wrong?” Jude asks them, Cyrus having stopped speaking to hear an answer as to why.
“Nothing…” Jonah can’t say this here.
“Uh, Jude,” Connor gets his full attention.
“Can you come with me to...show me where the bathroom is?”
Jude instantly picks up on his cues. “Yeah.” He stands, giving Cyrus an expression translating that he understands. With Connor here, letting him go suddenly isn’t so hard.
Though Cyrus is still puzzled, confused as to why this has all immediately become so serious.
The couple that once was and will be again leaves them alone, going out the gate and to the bench beside the main entrance.
“So, what’s the story?” Jude asks, figuring Connor would know being Jonah’s roommate and all.
“By the time I figured out you had liked me…” Jonah begins telling it to Cyrus back at the table. “You were already with someone else.”
That was the easy part. Here’s the hard one.
“By then, I realized I was in love with you. I still am.”
Cyrus can’t tell what stuns him more: that Jonah loved him at all then or that he still does after all this time.
“Jonah…” From now on, saying his name feels different.
“If you would’ve told me, back then, I promise I would’ve left him and ran to you in a heartbeat...I still can…And I will.” Cyrus' heart falls just as hard as he has for him.
“If you’ll let me.”
It takes more than a few moments for Jonah to put those words through a translator. If he’s not getting too ahead of himself, Cyrus is saying he would’ve ran to him beyond middle school, high school, and now.
“I never particularly stopped crushing on you.” Cyrus chuckles. “That guy in high school was just a distraction. Then when that was over, I didn’t know how to reconnect with you. So I didn’t. Not until recently.”
“Did you ever see a future with Jude?” Jonah asks.
“I thought I did, but only I knew he wanted more. He never talked about Connor.”
“Well Connor talked about Jude a lot.”
“I’m assuming there’s history?”
“More than enough.”
“So,” Jude’s still by Connor’s side on that same bench after hearing him explain Jonah’s side.
“Jonah still loves him.” He concludes.
“ Very . Do you...Love him? Cyrus?”
“What? No. I mean, I like him, of course…”
“Enough to follow him and spy on his reunion with an old flame.” Connor smirks.
“Yeah, but, look who I ended up running into.” Jude couldn’t be happier.
Connor beams. “Yeah...Small world.”
Jude’s face falls at what he knows needs to come next. “Connor, I’m so sorry things ended the way they did for us.”
“Hey. We were young. Maybe a bit too young.” Connor admits. “No hard feelings. Not anymore.”
“Yeah…” Jude nods. “I’m just sorry I didn’t try harder.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t stay.”
“In the end, I was the one who ended up really leaving.” Jude was reluctant to admit for the longest time. “I’m sorry.”
“Jude,” Connor touches the back of his hand. “Don’t feel so guilty. I’m just, so ecstatic that I get to see you.”
“Me too...I thought about us... all the time.”
Connor’s glad he wasn’t the only one. “Do you think Jonah and Cyrus will…”
“Yeah.” Jude nods. “But it’s okay.” He grins at him. “I don’t mind.”
“Should we go back and see?”
“Yeah. Just...One more thing.”
A kiss commences, one soft and forever memorable initiated by the one who plans to stretch their relationship far beyond the past.
It’s a good thing the future is now.
“I’m not going anywhere this time.” Jude promises this the moment their lips separate.
“If you do, then I’ll have to follow.”
For a second, they’re hesitant to even approach Jonah and Cyrus at their table, where they’re currently cracking one another up and giving each other the goofiest of smiles.
“Hey,” Jude starts, the next couple to be slowly coming to a stop and looking over.
“Hey.” Cyrus notices they’re hand in hand.
“Sorry for interrupting. We were just sitting around front.” Jude states.
“Were you guys planning on staying?” Cyrus asks.
“Oh,” Connor glances at Jude for an answer.
“‘Cause we were gonna go walk around.”
“Okay!” Jude says while Connor flashes a nod. “Would you wanna meet us back here?”
“Yeah.” Cyrus stands up with Jonah. “We won’t be long.” They walk past the other two who reclaim their seats.
“Hey.” Cyrus calls out to Jude, getting his and Connor’s attention.
“Thanks for following me here.”
‘Thank you’ doesn’t begin to cut it.
“Thanks for being here.” Jude gives each of them kind glances.
Beaming at one another, Connor and Jude watch as Jonah and Cyrus do the same on their way out.
By the time their meals arrive, they get the hint that the other couple who’s most definitely and officially a couple by now, might not be returning.
“Is there even anywhere to ‘walk around’?” Jude asks.
“No.” Connor has a strong feeling as to where they might be. “Open.” He feeds Jude another bite of mashed potatoes.
A mischievous smirk crosses his face. “I have an idea.”
He feels inside his pocket to clutch Jonah’s keys.
Being able to see right into the car when Jonah and Cyrus have been making out for the past hour in the backseat, Connor holds the keys in anticipation with Jude by his side.
Unlocking the vehicle with just the click of a button, he takes in the sound of the car’s double beep, also known as music to his ears that leave Jonah and Cyrus instantly breaking apart.
They look out the window to see Jude and Connor cackling hysterically, Connor holding the keys in the air and happily strolling on over to the vehicle.
“Nice.” He says the moment he opens the back door, Jude smugly approaching behind him as the other couple tries scoffing it off while exiting the car.
“That’s the last time I leave you with my keys.” Jonah takes them back.
“We finished our meals, in case you were wondering.” Jude says. “Sorry to interrupt yours.”
They all guffaw extensively.
“So, what happens now?” Cyrus asks once it’s out of their systems.
Soon enough, there’s an arrangement for their double date taking place right back here on Saturday night.
It’s surely to become their favorite pastime.