Another Good Day [Jude, tag: Eddie]

[Jude Sheffield]

The crowded cafeteria was once more avoided by the blonde as she took her packed lunch out to the quad, choosing a semi-shady spot on the grass. Sitting down carefully to not wrinkle her pale blue and grey striped spaghetti strap sundress as she folded her legs underneath her.

Taking out her lunch from the brown paper bag, she examined her pasta salad with cheese on the side, Jude was glad her mother was always the one preparing her lunches. The elder Sheffield always knew what her daughter wanted. If her lunch was up to her father, Jude knew it was going to be a powerbar and some screwed up version of a power milkshake. Those were not good alternatives.

Jude settled in her spot and dug into her salad, loving the fact that her mother was a very good cook. Despite being fed cuisine meals her whole life, she never grew tired of her mother's cooking. In fact, every day was pretty much a new adventure with her mother who loved experimenting with her cooking. This particular dish had a hint of cilantro that made the dish that more flavorful.

Enjoying her meal, Jude didn't really pay much attention to her surroundings, choosing to concentrate more on how many times she needed to chew before swallowing so digestion could take place easier.

[Mike Spruill]

It was like that book "Alexander's no good very bad day". Thats what Mike was having. He was having a bad day. Why do you ask? Let's see... last night his dads played a round of who can beat the shit out of Mike and make him suffer even more, oh and then this morning he missed the bus and had to actually ask his dad Frank for a ride, which he almost did not get because Frank was in a mood to keep Mike home, not very pretty. However, Mike cam up with some lame excuse that he had a test.

Mike made it just in time for second period with a note he forged claiming he had a doctors appointment for his arm, which still 'supposed' to be in a sling due to the shooting, but Mike was not one to follow the rules. Mike had tried, to give up the drugs and be good. But it was too much especially on a day like today, when his whole body hurt. So Mike decided one extra pain killer could not hurt. He was trying and he had been through the withdrawals in the hospital, he laid off the heavy stuff, even if pain killers were just as bad, but he really needed them right now. So Mike popped an extra one.

Mike decided lunch in the caf was too much right now and decided to take it outside. Thank god he packed his own lunch. His fathers might give him something gross just for evil fun. It was like living with Dr. Jekyll and Hyde. One moment his dads were great and caring and lovely and spoiling Mike and the next they both took their anger out on him, although you should see what they do to each other, talk about an explosive relationship. Mike was walking along eating his PB&J sandwich when he noticed a beautiful blond that made him stop and star a moment as he decided to walk over. She was defiantly a girl he needed to get to know. At least introduce himself to. Mike smiled as he walked up, 'Thats an awful lot of concentration just for a salad. Must be a good Salad." Mike said laughing.

[Jude Sheffield]

The fact that she was concentrating too much on her food was enough indication that she hadn't expected anyone to come up to her and talk so while she was chewing her second to last spoonful, she almost didn't hear Mike coming up from behind her. It took him a few more tries before Jude actually snapped back to the present. Looking up, the sight of a boy she didn't know made her hesitant to smile but she forced one out and let out a shy hello from her lips.

His comment made her relax and giggle almost inaudibly. Jude was exceptionally shy around new people but would be rather gregarious to those she had made friends with so when the boy broke the ice, she wasn't exactly sure what to do with herself. Looking down at the indicated salad and back up to the newcomer, Jude tilted her head slightly before replying. "My mother made it...it's very good. I guess I got lost somewhere." She said in a slightly dreamy tone. "Would you like to sit down?" She asked, patting the spot beside her gently before scooting a little to the side. He wasn't who she was hoping would come by but what were the odds of Eddie finding her out here? He was probably being swarmed by the theater girls right now.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike smiled as she spoke a soft hello. "Don't mind if I do." Mike slowly sat down. He winced a few times. He tried to hide it, but he doubted he did very well. It was hard to hide pain sometimes. He really could use more pain pills. Forget his arm. His arm was the least of his painful worries, "Thanks. Well good food is easy to get lost in. My dad makes this awesome chicken Parmesan. Its enough to make someone get lost in their heads." Mike told this lovely young lady, "I'm Mike." He extended his hand to the girl.

Mike could not help but admire her looks. She seemed to have this innocent look about her. It reminded him of Julia, the girl he saved in the shooting, which of course made Mike feel guilty for not sticking to his promise of getting help. She was the only women, hell the only person who knew he was a punching bag for his dads and then some. However, whether she had told Jeremy or not....Mike had no clue. But since he had yet to be confronted by Jeremy, Mike assumed the bigger man had no clue. Which is good.

"So why is a lovely lady such as yourself, sitting all alone?" Mike could not imagine why she did not have some guy or a few trying to get her attention. She was beautiful. Sure there was more to people then that, but still. Some guys were shallow enough to just like looks. Mike had pursued a few girls and guys based on looks, but he still enjoyed trying to get to know people. "It is a lovely day outside, I can see why you choose this spot to eat. "

[Jude Sheffield]

Jude was tempted to ask what was the matter when the boy physically winced but she was also a bit too shy to do anything of the sort so she kept quiet but scooted a little further away so he had space to adjust himself. His comment about dads and chicken parmesan made her smile and laugh as she thought of her own dad. "All my dad can do is burn his toast and make cheese sandwich." It wasn't that she was ragging on her dad but she found it silly that a grown man who could run an empire couldn't even make himself a decent meal.

When he reached one hand out without wincing and introduced herself, Jude took it and shook it lightly before sliding her hand down to her lap with a smile. "My name's Jude. I'm new." She said and blushed when Mike looked at her in a way that indicated that he was checking her out. She wasn't the type to blow her own horn but she knew she had looks so in a way she didn't really blame Mike for staring but she really was very uncomfortable when someone looked at her and only found physical attraction. Maybe that was what happened between Eddie and her...

Mentally shaking her head of her thoughts, she blushed even more when she heard what Mike said. She wasn't used to people being this nice without a motive. And calling a woman a lovely lady was slightly corny and very old fashioned and Jude didn't know how to respond to that except with the simplest of answers. "I just moved here...so um...I don't really know anyone." Her voice grew smaller by the end of the sentence and she tried to cover it up by shoving the last spoonful of pasta into her mouth. She was rather embarrassed by this encounter and it showed. She just hoped Mike wasn't the type to just blow someone off just because they were socially retarded.

[Mike Spruill]

Mike found the social awkwardness very cute. She seemed so innocent. Mike knew he would never hurt a girl like her. Not that he was planning on doing anything with Jude, although she was cute enough too, but no...she did not deserve that. Girls like her and Julia deserved a guy that was better then who Mike was. Mike was not the commitment kind of guy. He had tried and failed with Jade, so he settled on the single life. Being a hedonist had that consequence.

"For my dads it was a trial and error. For a while we survived on pasta cause it was easy for them to boil water and noodles and just add sauce." Mike informed her hoping she was not put off when he mentioned the word dads. Yes it was suppose to be plural. He just hoped she was open minded. Some people were not and although his dads beat him, he loved them both very much. "Being new is not so bad. Someone has to be...if you ever want someone to show you around town let me know. I am pretty free in the afternoons." Mike was sure he could borrow a car. Besides he could use more innocent friends. Made it easier to keep away from the drugs and crap.

Mike just smiled as her voice seemed to grow smaller. it really was adorable. "Well now you know me and I could introduce you this this other girl I know named Julia. She is very friendly and has a ton of friends, so don't worry soon, you will know a few more so being new wont seem so lonely." He told Jude. Man being nice was hard, but Mike was proud for doing it. He was a naturally friendly guy after all.

[Jude Sheffield]

Having two dads must be hectic, Jude thought to herself. She had never been judgmental no matter what the circumstance. Growing up the way she had, she'd met with a lot of people with very vast backgrounds and so she had no reason to not give Mike the same benefit. It was easier to assume the worst of people. It took a bigger person to get rid of any bias. Jude liked to think she was a bigger person despite her small stature.

"I had the same problem when my mom opened a franchise outside of Georgia and had to leave for about two weeks to settle some stuff. My dad was horrible for the first few days that we ended up mostly eating out or getting some delivered." Jude admitted, although it did help that they could actually afford eating out everyday without affecting their overall budget. But Mike didn't need to know that little tidbit of course. Jude wasn't the type to advertise her wealth.

When Mike offered to show her around, she was immediately reminded of Eddie. They were supposed to have hung out by now but he never called. Was it really a fluke then? Did Eddie realise he had made a mistake by taking her number? It wouldn't be a surprise to Jude though. Eddie must have realised he had made a mistake and deleted her number. She sighed inaudibly and smiled at Mike when he offered his own friends for her. "That would be great. Thank you. I think I would like to have more friends."

"That's very nice of you, Mike. But how come you're not with your friends now?"

[Eddie O'Flaherty]

Eddie had really been hoping he'd casually run into Jude at school, but so far he had been unlucky. He was never the Casanova type, especially when it came to girls he didn't know well. He was a hit with girls he was friends with, though a lot of that might have had to do with the fact that he also had a long term girlfriend so his female friends knew he was harmless. Still, it was always easier to date a friend than a girl you randomly met.

For starters, he didn't have any clue when he should call Jude, and what he should say. Should he just straight up ask her out on a date? That worked for some guys on some girls, but it was impossible to tell what kind of girl liked that. And then there was the matter that he was new and didn't really know any good date spots. There was the Santa Monica Pier, but he was sure that was over done.

But he was getting ahead of himself. He wasn't even sure if Jude liked him. He kinda got the feeling maybe she did, but that could be all in his head. Thus the hope he would casually run into her and it would solve all his problems. Thus it was that when the lunch bell rang, Eddie was determined to “accidentally” find Jude and hopefully have lunch with her.

He wandered through the crowded cafeteria but saw only other students entirely unconcerned with him. He started to feel slightly lonely, thinking back to his old school where any number of tables would have someone he could sit with and have a good lunch. He escaped the thought by exiting the building, deciding Jude would have the good sense to be outside on a beautiful day like today.

He spotter her almost instantly, but the rush of excitement was almost immediately replaced with utter devastation. Some guy was sitting with her, and he looked all too friendly. She seemed shy, but she also seemed shy with Eddie. It was just how she was, or so he assumed. Here he was, all worried over this girl that was having a picnic with someone else. He was an idiot for thinking he had a chance with a girl like that. Hopefully she didn't notice him and he could escape back into the cafeteria.

But as if his luck could not get any worse, at that moment her eyes rose up and from across the lawn met his. His only thought was to smile and wave, standing like an idiot on the sidewalk. He didn't know whether to approach or not.

[Mike Spruill]

Why did the innocent ones always have to be so damn cute. First Julia and not Jude. Not to mention it seemed as if Mike was attracted to people with J names. There was Jade and Jeremy. All J's. He was surrounded. Come to think of it, it was actually very funny really. God if Mike ended up with a person with a J name in the forever part of his life, that would be killer. Thank god he was way to young for that thought to be a blip on the radar. When Jude went to open her mouth and spoke about her mother and her father Mike let out a small gasp and smiled. He would defend his fathers to the end, but some people could be so cruel. Thank goodness this beauty was not. She was so sweet and shy. Jude might not be the best looking girl, but she had the best personality he had ever met. Well one of the best. Julia was there too.

Mike knew the question of his friends would come up. He had gotten it before since the shooting. he sighed and ran a hand through his shaved head. "Well to be honest I am kind of between friends." It was the truth, technically. "My old friends are bad influences and I am trying to stay away. So I am kind of friendless at the moment with the exception of Julia." Mike told Jude. "So i guess you and I can make friends together." He told her. "Would you care to go out with me sometime? We could get to know each other better?" It was a harmless invitation. Yes it was a date, but he was serious about getting to know her.

Mike waited for her answer. Although he hated rejection, he was use to it, but he hoped she would give him one friendly date, just to see what happens. He could not help it if he was attracted to innocent. He noticed her looking at some guy and turned his head. There was some guy just standing and waving. The man looked so familiar but Mike could not place him.

[Jude Sheffield]

Mike's response about friends made her adopt a sympathetic look. The poor thing didn't have friends either except this Julia character who seemed to be quite nice if she had a lot of friends. Of course, that was entirely Jude's perception of people with many friends. Her own group of friends back in Georgia were pretty close-knit. It helped that they lived in a small community where everyone knew everyone else's mother.

His invitation made her stall for time, still hoping that Eddie would finally come by and go around town with her like he had mentioned at the club the other night. Then, what of Mike? He was being so nice, offering his friends to her. It wasn't a big dilemma she had to sleep on but she would certainly like some form of confirmation on it. On the one hand, as much as she hit it off with Eddie that night, the fact that he never called or even looked for her in school indicated that he wasn't interested in her in that way. She figured a day was enough for a grace period, at least that was what she thought was protocol. Shouldn't Jude give Mike a chance?

And there it was. Mike was asking her out. Maybe not on an official date but he was asking her if she wanted to go out with him to get to know each other better...wait, that was a date wasn't it?

She had been ready to make her final decision when from the corner of her eyes, she saw the person that had invaded her mind for quite a bit. A smile immediately spread on her face when she saw Eddie way over at the school entrance waving down at her with that smile of his. Her heart beat that much quicker. He found her...

Jude waved back and gestured for him to come over. Her smile was infectious as she looked over at Mike to point Eddie out. "That's Eddie...I met him a couple of nights ago. We could be friends...together." She said, her cheeks flushed as her back straightened and her eyes shone. She was that excited because Eddie remembered her.