Page 41 of Strangely Normal

“Where is she?” Jude asked.

“She went back to the house. Max mentioned going to—” Jude and I were out the door before Cole could finish.

My heart was pounding by the time we reached the back door. Jude slid it open so hard it nearly came off its slider. “Finley!” he yelled.

“Finley,” I echoed his call.

“I’m right here,” a small voice came from the couch. Aside from the lights coming from the clocks on the kitchen appliances, the room was dark.

Jude switched on the lamp, and Finley lifted up her hand to block the harsh light. Mascara rimmed her eyes as if she’d been crying. She hugged her knees to her chest.

I sat down next to her. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m never going to be normal, that’s all.”

I was relieved to see that she was not completely freaked out or in a panic attack. She was just upset, and I couldn’t blame her. “That’s not true, Finley. You’re more normal than any girl I have ever met. I’ve never bonded so quickly with anyone in my life.”

She wiped clumsily at her nose and looked at me. “Maybe you’re not normal either.”

“You’ve got a point. Maybe we’re both normal in a strange way.” I threw my arms around her, and she hugged me back. “We’re going to get you out of this world you’ve built yourself, Finley. Don’t give up.”

We sat back and Jude plunked down on the other side of her. She peered over at him. “I knew you liked her, you big boob. The moment you saw her in the gym that first day, I saw that hungry gleam in your eye.” Then her tone turned serious. “Jude don’t do anything to fuck this up. I know you thought this was a bad idea—”

“I was wrong,” he said abruptly. “I was totally and completely wrong. And besides, Valley claims she’s never lost her head over any guy. So it’s all good.”

I leaned forward, and his grin was as wide as the coffee table.

“Cocky bastard,” I mumbled as I leaned back against the couch cushion.

Cole appeared in the doorway. “I sent everyone home. Told them I was still feeling shitty from too much partying last night. Max said he’d call you later.”

“Finley, why don’t you tell him what you’re dealing with,” I suggested. “Max seems like a decent guy. I think he’ll understand.”

She leaned her head on Jude’s shoulder. “Maybe some time. But not yet.”

Cole plopped down next to me, and we all sat in silence staring at the dark television set. “Is anyone else thinkingSilence of the Lambsdown in the theater?” Cole suggested.

“I’ve only seen that movie on a small, blurry television set and it freaked me out so badly I crawled into bed with my parents,” I confessed.

“Can’t really blame you. It is a damn creepy movie. It could really freak out a kid. I’m surprised your parents let you watch it,” Finley said.

I looked over at her. “I was sixteen.”

We erupted into a major bout of laughter and then headed down to the theater. Jude stood behind me in the elevator, his fingers hooked in the waist of my jeans. He tugged the material down an inch, and he tickled my back. I gasped and a shiver raced through me.

Finley glanced over at me. “Are you all right?”

“Uh huh,” the sound cracked out of my throat, “just a little chill in the air.”

As I’d expected, the movie was even more disturbing on a large screen with surround sound, and I spent the first half of the movie with my face buried against Jude’s shoulder.

“I have a newfound appreciation of this movie,” Jude commented, as I scooted closer to him with each horrendous scene.

“Yep,” Cole said from the seat he’d taken two rows back. “I make a point of showing it when I’m with a girl who I’m sure will climb into my lap before the end of the movie.”

“I’m feeling nauseous,” Finley called back from the front row where she’d situated herself with a giant bucket of popcorn. Jude and I had chosen seats between their two rows and we’d lifted the arm rest to make it one large seat.

“I’m just saying, if you’re going to watch a horror flick make sure the girl is easy—”

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