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look pretty good. I can’t wait for Jude to see me. He’s always commenting on my hair, so I’ve made sure that it looks amazing tonight.
    My parents have gone out for the night, so it’s just Erik and me. We turn on the radio while we wait for Jude to get there and dance around to the music.
    Finally we see headlights pull into the drive. I wipe my sweaty palms against my shorts, check my face and hair in the mirror, then take Erik’s hand and walk outside with a huge smile on my face.
    I see Jude watching us walk to the car and he opens the door and leans on the hood, looking me up and down slowly. He swallows. “Damn, Lex. You look great. You have a hot date tonight or something? Am I going to have to beat someone up for getting too friendly with you on your birthday?”
    I smile even brighter, giggle, and call back, “Something like that, Jude. But don’t worry; you won’t be beating anyone up.” He raises his eyebrows and gets back in the car right when we get to the door. Erik opens the door and tells me to take the front and my face falls.
    Right there, sitting in my seat with her red nails scraping on Jude’s thigh, is Michelle. And she’s smirking at me.
    The look I send Jude must convey my surprise, because he shrugs and lifts the corner of his mouth as if to say he doesn’t know, and then shuts the door.
    I get into the back with Erik and instantly feel as if I’m going to burst into tears. He takes my hand and starts rubbing soothing circles on the back of it, while he hugs me tightly to his side. He whispers in my ear, “I don’t know what she’s doing here. I talked to him before I went to your house and he never mentioned she was coming. I’m sorry, love.”
    As we head to the levee, the car is silent except for Michelle’s incessant chattering about who cares what. She doesn’t seem to notice anything is off and proceeds to ignore Erik and me, as usual, which is perfectly fine by me.
    Once we get to the levee, we head up to the spot where we are meeting the crew from school. A few people wish me happy birthday and more than one brow is raised in surprise at Jude and Michelle, but no one says anything.
    Erik and I take our seats on the blanket we’ve taken out of Jude’s car. We look around and nod at a few people. Typical teenage things are going on. Arguing, some making out, and a few kids are sneaking sips from beer cans and wine coolers.
    Erik wraps his arm around my shoulder and we lay back and look at the sky. We can see the Mississippi River Bridge from where we are just under it and something is kind of magical about it.
    A bit later, someone sits on the blanket with us and they clear their throat.
    It’s Hunter. He’s a senior, like Erik and Jude, and plays football with Erik. He’s had a crush on me for awhile, but he’s never asked me out.
    Hunter is cute in an all American kind of way. He has brown hair, green eyes, and a nice smile with twin dimples. I even like him. He’s sweet, good looking, and a really nice guy.
    He looks at Erik, as though asking his approval, and Erik gives a nod of his head. Then he asks me if I’d like to take a stroll along the Riverwalk with him.
    I look to Erik. He tells me to go ahead, he’s fine on the blanket, and to have some fun.
    Hunter helps me up, and shyly takes my hand as we walk away from the crowd. As we’re leaving, I glance over my shoulder and see Jude watching us, his arm around a clingy Michelle, with a strange look on his face.
    I did get kissed that night. A pretty great kiss, but not the one my heart was set on.
    Hunter and I dated all through that year of school before he left for UCLA. Neither of us was interested in the “long distance relationship” thing, and we decided to stay friends.

Chapter Six
    Lexi

    Present day
    M y bathwater has grown cold as my memories of the first time Jude Delecroix broke my heart run through my head.
    I get up, dry off, put on my favorite snuggly jammies, and pad out into the hallway