safe in my arms

Jude

You're blushing your cheeks
and I'm falling for it

If he loves just one thing about her - an impossible ask - it’s that she never shies away or grows exasperated with his anxieties, always bridging the gap with her smiles and laughter that bring him back to solid ground. Her surety is reassuring, settling his nerves right when she swaps their roles, suddenly uncertain herself. Jude returns the favor, squeezing her fingers gently as she plays with his curls and works through her thoughts.

“No, I don’t think so,” he reassures rather firmly. Maybe it’s years of Harper emphasizing being open and connected to his feelings or maybe it’s just the fanciful notions in his young head, but Jude doesn’t think it’s too soon at all. “I love you too.” It makes something giddy twist in his stomach, just on the safe edge of being nerves. “I don’t think we should worry about being best friends and ruining that. Why can’t you be my best friend and my girlfriend at the same time?” His expression is warm and strangely calm, sure of himself. His dad had been best friends with both of Jude’s mothers, it’s the best sign he has that they’re actually setting themselves up for success here. furthermore, his mom and dad were actively working on being friends again, and they had been deeply hurt by their separation. If he and Sohalia ever did the same, Jude would never stop trying to rebuild that platonic bridge. “It just means you know me, and I know you. And if we ever broke up, I won’t ever stop being your friend.” There’s a strange intensity to his expression as he says it, willing to make a vow if that’s what she wants to hear because he believes so intensely that he can uphold it.

Realizing that maybe he is being intense, Jude blushes. “N-Not that I want that to happen of course.” There seems to be so many details they need to iron out, and Jude doesn’t know where to start doing that. “But I think we can say we’ve been on enough stand-ins for dates that we can just say we’re going steady?” Expression going a touch mischievous, hoping she’ll agree with his not-quite-logic.

Because everything sweet
comes with a warning