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NOTE:
Remember the latest chapters are on Radish all the way up to chapter thirteen and I'm working on chapter fourteen so it'll be up Friday hopefully. If you enjoyed this chapter don't forget to vote, comment, and share.

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0 7 | Until There Was You

Jude's expression was sunken and distant as he took one step after another.

Waverly was somewhere in the store searching for her own materials and necessities. Jude lingered around the space and walked through aisles. He busied himself by admiring the brands plastered on containers and other entities. Somehow, as he roamed the store he ended up near the employees room where the large letters read no unauthorized persons. Jude strolled past the door, but swore he heard a familiar voice. He stopped dead in his tracks and his gunmetal eyes locked on the door where he heard the voice. It sounded like an eerie echo.

That was his first mistake.

He stayed glued in that spot when the door swung open revealing Bridget. She spotted Jude and her originally, dull eyes widened then softened as she struggled to carry two boxes stacked on top of each other.

"Jude," she said and that's all she said. It was all she could really say to him.

"I didn't know you worked here," Jude responded, looking around the store in a swift glimpse. Bridget blinked, gripping the boxes tighter. That was Jude's second mistake—speaking with Bridget.

"Uh, yeah. I figured why not get a job," she brushed off, but Jude noticed she was obviously lying or hiding something bigger. If word got out at school that she worked at a local store she wouldn't be taken as seriously and her reputation was sure to be affected—not as bad as Jude's but affected nevertheless.

"How are things holding up with you?" she asked.

Jude just shrugged. "Normal."

It was one word, but it was contradicting. The word meant less than what he was saying because he wasn't sure what normal was for him anymore. There was a pause of quietness, cooing softly around them. Some indie song played throughout the store and Jude leveled his eyes so they could meet Bridget's.

"I'm sorry about you and Beverly," she tried to apologize. He would have flinched if it hurt him as much as it did when he found out, but instead he stood his ground. He thought it was safe to miss someone without wanting them back.

"Yeah, me too," he muttered. Then sourly, "I'm sorry about you and Seth. I knew you had a crush on him."

Something in Bridget's eyes shifted, grazing something close to hurt, shame, and resentment. Her jaw clenched and her grip on the boxes tightened even more. Jude knew he hit a nerve. That's what he wanted. He wanted her to feel what he felt when Seth and Beverly's name were put in the same sentence.

"That's so fucking childish of you, Jude. Why won't you grow the hell up?" she snapped. Jude could sense the strain in her voice—the way her emotions seethed through the cracks of her body. The nakedness was inevitable and Jude could see right through her. She was reacting and he knew she wasn't done. Not yet. There was definitely more she wanted to say. That was Bridget in a nutshell.

"Don't blame me for Beverly's actions," she spat, brushing past Jude into an aisle full of canned goods. She knelt down and put some cans on the aisle.

"I'm not blaming you, Bridget. I just think it's ironic how you knew about Seth and Beverly, and you kept it from me like they did. You're no different from them," Jude pushed.

"Beverly's my best friend. I'm not going to go against her for you," she claimed. "The world doesn't revolve around Jude Lockhart."

"If she was really your best friend how come she doesn't know about you and Seth?"

Bridget stopped her actions at that. Jude didn't realize that he neared over to her to finish the conversation they started. Bridget stood up, nearing Jude's face. She was heaving and their faces were so close—so close that he could see her nostrils flaring and her eyes dilating. Jude assumed that she was confused and that she was surprised at the realization in itself. The evidence was obvious as her finger shook and her eyes narrowed. "I wasn't the one who cheated on you. So stop trying to make me out to be the bad person here. You're the one who wasn't good enough for Beverly, not me. Don't pin all of your problems on everyone else, Jude."

He didn't respond and she continued. "God, you're so oblivious and manipulative. You deserve everything that's coming your way."

To say Jude was shocked was an understatement. In fact, Jude was furious and something in him flipped like a light switch. It could have been seen from a mile away. His fists clenched as he stared into the eyes of the girl who just crossed the line. When she realized what she said it was too late. She stepped back and then looked in the direction of the stares that crossed their path. Her voice was rather loud—louder than she expected.

"That's really fucking shallow of you," he concluded and he tried not to let his anger burn him dry. He tried to control himself to the best of his abilities. His eyes glowed a different shade of cold and a different tone of paleness.

"You put all of this on yourself," she said and Jude stared at her for a second longer. He was tired of taking the blame. Tired of being the one hurt every single time.

"Is that what you think? You think I asked for all this."

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything serious," a voice said sarcastically. Then, he saw Waverly from the corner of his eyes—curly hair, hoodie, and all. Her eyes looked at the blonde girl in front of Jude who looked terrified and annoyed at the same time.

"No, I was just leaving," Bridget emitted. Her eyes strayed on Jude with a flat expression. Then, she bent down and picked up the boxes. Jude felt limbo, but was certain that whatever Waverly had in store was better than this. Slowly, Waverly walked over to Jude, holding a massive bag of things she recently purchased.

"One of Beverly's devil spawns?" she wondered, pointing behind her in the direction Bridget went. Jude sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Take that as a yes," she assumed. "Well let's head out of here before another one comes and ruin all the fun I have planned."

"Anything to make this day less shitty," he grumbled to himself. When they reached the exit, standing outside of the store, Waverly began pulling out a pack of candy—sour straws—and a bottle of orange soda. Jude scrunched his eyebrows in deep thought, stuffing his hands in his pocket. The air whistled through his clothes.

"What's that for?" he asked.

"Shush, just try it."

She opened the soda and the candy, stuffing the straw-like candy into the bottle. She handed the bottle over to Jude, who looked at the disgusting combination. She was definitely weird; her nickname suited her well. Who the hell tried things like this?

He watched the sour, green straw float in the liquid. "Just try it and stop judging how it looks."

"What's with you and these weird ass combinations?"

"Just try it, you fucker."

He put his lips on the candy, sipping through it. The drink bubbled as it splashed down his throat. The taste was abnormal—something he never tasted before. It wasn't completely gross, but he wouldn't ever drink it again. There was a sour, unpleasant taste in his mouth making his cheeks squeeze. Through the glass of the store Bridget glimpsed at him and Waverly. He brushed it off.

"Why did I let you make me try that?"

"Because I'm very persuasive."

"Sure," he tossed out as he walked over to his car, trying to scrape the taste off his tongue. When they were both inside he said, "Next destination?"

She was putting on her seat belt when she added, "Eager, aren't we?"

Jude ignored her witty comment, looking at his hands, grasping the steering wheel. The unpleasant taste he captured stayed in his mouth longer than he would like. Waverly seemed to be enjoying every bit of the torture he was feeling as he swallowed his saliva each time. "Drive and I'll tell you when to turn."

"Why won't you tell me the address?"

"Where's the excitement in that?"

Jude sighed. The music popped like static in the background, subsiding with the quietness that filled the car. "Turn here."

He did but it was a bit late and they ended up missing the turn. Jude made a U-turn when the opportunity was handed. "How about telling me ahead of time?"

"That was your fault, dude. You turned late on your own."

"It's also your fault for not giving me the address like a normal person."

She rolled her eyes, pointing straight ahead. "At the next light turn right." 

"Can I ask you a question?" Jude asked and realized that their surroundings looked really familiar.

"You just did."

"Waverly, I'm serious," he huffed. Then, "Why are you helping me? Seth and I were always dicks to you when we were kids. I just thought you'd hate me."

"That's very predicting of you, but I don't hate anyone. Not even your fuck boy best friend."

"He's not my best friend."

She ignored this.

"Well, to answer your question I just thought you seemed alone, and I know how that feels," she responded. "I'm not a complete bitch, you know."

"You're not a bitch at all."

"Was that a compliment?"

"What if it was?" he questioned.

"Then I'd be surprised. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to flirt with me," she assumed.

"I'm not. I was trying to be nice," Jude stated. "You're going to make me take it back."

"I wouldn't want that," she teased. Then, "Now, my turn to ask you a question."

"Ask away," he countered.

"What made you become friends with Seth in the first place?"

Jude passed her a glance, then directed his gaze back on the road where the lines made his head spin a bit when he thought of her question. "I don't know."

And that was the imperfect truth. He didn't know.

"That's the perfect reason not to be someone's friend."

Silence lingered for another ten minutes until Waverly spoke. "That's our destination. Park three houses down so we won't look suspicious," she declared. When the car came to a complete stop she reached down and retrieved a can of spray paint and several rolls of toilet paper. Jude wondered what that had been for and when he looked back at the house and realized it looked really familiar. It was Seth's house. All the lights were off and the only present one was the lamppost that hovered meters away.

Waverly tightened the strings on her hoodie. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"Getting revenge, my innocent friend."

"What if we get caught?"

"Then don't," she suggested.

"That's easier said than done."

"Make a decision, Jude. You're either in or out."

Then she was gone. Jude watched as she crossed the car, walking quietly to Seth's house, holding the objects close to her side. He pondered on the idea for what felt like an eternity until he made up his mind.

"Fuck," he murmured, then he was climbing out of his car jogging over to Waverly.

"Finally, you grew some balls," she encouraged. "Here."

She handed him a roll of toilet paper. "Throw it at his house."

Jude took the roll, launching it full force with the swing of his arm. It flailed through the air, landing and unraveling messily on the roof. A surge of satisfaction gravitated through Jude's body from his head to the tips of his toes. A part of him felt good about this.

"Want another?" Waverly encouraged and Jude took it, throwing it as hard as the one prior to it. It landed in a tree, falling in rows of patterns. Waverly joined in. They looked like lunatics as they threw toilet paper, laughing like nothing else mattered.

Jude was surprised they didn't get caught by the amount of noise they were making. When they ran out of rolls Waverly picked up the spray can, squatting while running to Seth's garage. She shook the can, spraying the paint over the foundation. At first Jude had to twist his head to see what she had been drawing. Then, he realized it was a dick. Waverly smiled.

"Fits him perfectly, don't you think?"  She questioned, then handed him the can. "Want to add something?"

Jude contemplated this for a while—as if his addition would make the artwork more presentable. In the end, he settled for lines drawn with Waverly's creation. "Ah, that's better. Hairy dick. I applaud you, Jude. That's pretty funny."

Jude handed her the can.

"I know," he replied.

"Let's get out of here before we get caught," she insisted. "We have much to do."

Jude agreed, but then one of the lights in the house flickered on and both their eyes widened. "Shit, we have to go quick," Jude whispered in a shout.

"Obviously," she retorted as they ran down the driveway into the street, where Jude's car rested three houses down. Jude sprinted and his football skills came intact. Waverly trailed a few feet behind Jude, but nevertheless remained on his tail. If she wanted she could have been a track star, Jude thought. Then, a voice boomed behind them. "Who's there? Who the hell did this?"

The voice belonged to Seth, Jude knew, and his heart pounded as Waverly yanked him down with her on the opposing side of his car that didn't reveal them to Seth. Jude and Waverly were breathing hard, but Waverly's breathing was far more noticeable. Jude put a hand over her mouth and he could feel her teeth trying to bite at his skin. He would have screamed if it weren't for Seth's presence. Finally, when things started to settle down Jude could hear Seth swearing that he'd call the cops. Hesitantly, he peeked his head out to find Seth half-naked with a flailing fist. Then, he disappeared into his house.

Jude hadn't realized that his hand was still covering Waverly's mouth until he felt teeth. "Shit," he sputtered out, releasing his hand and glancing at where her teeth landed.

"Don't ever put your filthy hand over my mouth again," she demanded.

"I was trying to be cautious," was his reply. "Your breathing would have gotten us caught."

"Cautious my ass," she uttered. "Let's go before the cops get here. My bet is he probably didn't call them because he's Seth."

"Either way, we have to get out of here," Jude suggested, standing up to get in his car. He put his hand on the latch, then his alarm went off. The beeping could be heard for miles on end. Just his fucking luck. There was no doubt that would cause Seth to run back out, despite his lack of clothing.  Waverly's copper-stained eyes widened when she made it to the door on the passenger's side.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jude grumbled, scrambling through his pocket for his keys. If they weren't noticeable when they were throwing the toilet paper and spray painting the garage, they were definitely noticeable now—the whole neighborhood was probably aware at this point. When Jude finally retrieved the keys, unlocking the door, he ran a hand through his hair. The alarm turned off and Waverly laughed in response.

"You're such an idiot," she laughed and Jude looked over at her, slightly confused.

"How was I supposed to know that would happen?"

Waverly ignored this, laughing even more. Jude muttered something incoherent under his breath while fitting the key in.

"What's the next destination?" Jude asked in annoyance when they finally made it out of the neighborhood.

"You sure you want me to tell you?"

"Just say it."

"Beverly Grayson's house," she stated and Jude gripped the wheel tighter. "This should be fun."

The drive took about ten minutes, which wasn't enough time for him to gather himself. He couldn't remember the last time he stepped foot in Beverly's yard since the incident. All he knew was he didn't want to be there as he stared over at her house on the opposite side of the street. There were so many cherished times there. Images of him and Beverly overcrowded his mind.

"Are we gonna sit here, or are we actually going to do something?" Waverly wondered, cutting through his thoughts.

Jude almost forgot she was sitting in the passenger's seat. "It'll make you feel better. Don't stress yourself."

He squinted his eyes and noticed that Beverly's room light was on.

 "She's awake," Jude acknowledged.

"Your point is," Waverly retorted, opening the door. "Just don't make a lot of noise."

Jude followed after Waverly. They crossed the dark street. Every so often he would gaze behind them to make sure they weren't being watched or followed. The latter was probably less likely to occur.

His stomach started to bubble when Waverly handed him several rolls of toilet paper as they stood in Beverly's yard. She also carried a massive container of grass killer and that made Jude wonder. She began spraying it in Beverly's front yard. Jude continued to throw one after another until there weren't any more left. He watched as Waverly continued to spray and his phone was vibrating in his pocket.

Jude looked at the caller ID, where Beverly's name flashed vividly across the screen. His eyes widened then he pressed decline. Waverly looked over at him when she finished her bone chilling task.

 "Who was that?" she wondered.

"Beverly. Do you think she knows we're out here?"

"I doubt it," she brushed off. "We have one more stop, but there's somewhere I want to show you first."

Jude nodded and they started jogging across the street to his car. And he couldn't make Beverly's call disappear as it taunted him over and over again.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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