He wanted to ask her out badly.

There was no getting around it, Jude really liked Starr, but now she was with another guy, and for some strange reason, he realized he was madly in love...with someone else.

But not just anyone, no, it HAD to be her. Her with her long, wavy brown hair, her wide, beautiful eyes, her curved, pure lips. He had known his special somone for a long time. And he knew she was the one.

Her name was Jen.

And, though oblivious to it, she made Jude melt.

Jude Lizowski had known Jen Masterson since age four, when she went through the door with him in Kindergarten. They were both petrified. Later that day, Jude had realized he made three other friends: Jonesy Garcia, Nikki Wong, and Wyatt Williams. So for years the five had been best friends, with an addition of one more friend when they were in their late teens: Caitlyn Cooke. These friends always hung out at the Galleria Mall. It was their friendship that Jude was petrified he would shatter. Or as he would say it, he'd be "scared of killing the great bond of best buds." But there was no getting around it, he still really liked Jen, and couldn't stand it.

He was walking to the Penalty Box sports store, where Jen worked. There he was going to muster enough courage to ask her out. Every step from the Squeeze to the Khaki Barn was harshing on his mellow. But then he turned and ran back. He was too scared. Maybe he could get some advice from Jonesy...but who knew where Jonesy was working that day. After 45 minutes of searching for him, Jude finally found Jonesy, playing Solitaire behind the counter of Nice Cinnabuns.

"Welcome to Nice Cinnabuns. May I take your order?" said Jonesy dully without looking up.

"Wassup, dude? Sweet gig." said Jude.

"Hey, Jude!" said Jonesy, looking up. "How's it going?"

"Oh, it goes, dude."

"C'mon. Let's go see Caitlyn. It's almost my break, anyway."

"Sure, dude. Hey, I gotta ask you something."

"Shoot."

"O.K. There's this girl I like, but she's totally different from me. I dunno how to ask her out, because she's gonna be scared when I do. What should I do?"

"You, my friend, are very lucky to have a friend who's a master at getting dates."

"Dude."

"Jude."