Chapter 8: Confrontation

"Natasha I am really sorry for yesterday", said Nick.

I looked at him surprised and with the sharp intake of breath I heard beside me so was Jude.

I looked at Nick with disdain, "Its ok Nick but I'd be very careful if I were you." I said with an evil smile.

Nick looked as if I had snatched his favorite toy from him. It was so funny, I almost started laughing but Jude beat me to it. Just like that everyone else started laughing. I smiled evilly at Jude then turned away, he got up and walked away scowling.

I looked up in time to see Stephanie stare at me daggers and then she attempted to make her face blank. Ha! I thought to myself. Not quite the ice princess, are we? Almost as if on que, Gary came out and told us that the food was ready and we should start eating.

I was seated between Ellen and Gloria; it was fun talking to them. I quiet enjoyed talking to Ellen. She was really sweet and was talking to us about her pregnancy and her husband. They had been married for 2 years and still seemed to be very much in love.

Gloria told us about how she was going to start her job from tomorrow and how excited she was. I smiled at her enthusiasm and thought she definitely had a better job than me.

I looked up to see Jude with a pained expression on his face. I turned to see what he was looking at. What I saw made me throw up a little in my mouth. Nick and Stephanie had been feeding each other throughout the lunch but now that they had one last piece of prawn left, Stephanie was holding one in her mouth and Nick was eating plus kissing her at the same time.

I hated what they were doing to Jude. I don't think I was thinking straight when I gobbled two pieces of prawns from my plate and picked up the third one and walked to Jude. I sat down on his lap and he looked startled.

"Wanna share?" I whispered in his ear while everyone watched us with open mouths. I put the prawn between my lips and inched forward. The next thing I knew was our lips were crashing against each other and I was kissing Jude like this was my last kiss ever!

Jude though startled at first started playing along and kissed me back. It was soft at first and then he was more aggressive his hands roaming on my back. I forgot where I was and all I knew was I loved what he was doing to me. My heart was pounding and my blood was singing in my ears.

Somewhere from a distance I heard a wolf whistle. I think it was Gary.

"Get a room you two!" that did it. We broke up and I saw Jude's eyes had turned a stormy blue.

We were struggling to breathe and I smiled embarrassed and Jude pulled me in a hug. I buried my head in his chest while the others teased us about not being able to keep our hands off each other. I was sure I had turned an unattractive shade of red.

Jude rested his chin on my shoulder. Finally, when I thought that my face was back to its normal color I got up from Jude's lap and looked up to see Stephanie and Nick's stunned faces. They both looked like they had bitten into a sour lemon! I smirked at them; mission accomplished!

Gary shouted out that we were gonna karaoke! Jude groaned and I squealed "OMG you have a karaoke machine?" Gary nodded amused.

Soon he had set up the machine and the mic. His rules were simple, everyone had to participate. I gave him a huge smile, after all I loved music!

Jude looked at me scared and I realized he was thinking of the times I had sung in his presence and laughed to myself. Gary had written everyone's names on small pieces of paper and whoever's name was called out was to go and sing. This was going to be so much fun!

Jude's POV

I was still reeling from Natasha's kiss when Gary announced it was karaoke time. I hated this game but when Gary set his mind on something there was no way out, everyone had to give in.

I remembered Natasha's terrible singing and I also remembered Stephanie used to sing really well. I also knew she could be a real bitch to others who didn't measure up to her and I didn't want Natasha to be embarrassed.

She was so excited ever since Gary announced that we were gonna have a karaoke session. The song choice was left up to Gary. First name was Gloria's.

The song selected was Hotel California by the Eagles. Everyone cheered, I mean who doesn't love that track. Gloria did an ok job singing it and everyone cheered her as she finished.

Next up was Gary himself, he sang Jamming by Bob Marley and most of us ended up singing with him, Natasha even got up and started dancing and at some point, pulled me to dance with her. The next name pulled out was Stephanie's.

The song she had to sing was Don't cha by pussy cat dolls. She started singing and for some weird reason she looked at me. Well once she started singing it was clear why she looked at me.

"I know you want me"

"I know you do"

"That's why whenever I come around she's all over you"

"And I know you want it (I know you want it) "

"It's easy to see (it's easy to see)"

"And in the back of your mind"

"I know you should be home with me"

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me"'

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me"

"Don't cha, don't cha"

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me"

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me"

"Don't cha, don't cha"

As she sang the last line, she raised an eyebrow and looked at me and I wanted to break something. She had me really confused I was so sure I was over her but every time I saw her with Nick it was like a dagger was being plunged into my heart.

I know it sounds dramatic but it really hurt. I mean in a day I had lost the love of my life and my best friend who was like a brother to me.

I wasn't sure who I was angry at Nick for taking the love of my life away from me or Stephanie for taking my best friend away from me.

Next up it was Jason's turn and he sang a really terrible version of Justin Timberlake's rendition of Cry me a river. We all laughed and he took it good naturedly. Next it was my turn.

I was in no mood to sing but Natasha pushed me and gave me a kiss on my cheek and cheered for me as if I was in some sort of competition. I looked up at the screen and almost laughed. Gary was truly the best. The song that he had chosen for me to sing was Forget you by Cee Lo Green.

"Woooooooo go Jude!" yelled Natasha. I grinned at her like an idiot and started singing editing the lyrics a little to my situation. I felt so good finally venting it out. I hadn't really confronted Stephanie or Nick since that day and it felt good to let it out.

"I see you driving 'round town"

"With the girl I love and I'm like,

"Forget you!

Oo, oo, ooo

I guess the change in my pocket

Wasn't enough I'm like,

Forget you!

And forget her too!

"I picture the fool that falls in love with you"

(oh shit she's a gold digger)

"Well

(just thought you should know nigga)

Ooooooh

"I've got some news for you"

"Yeah go run and tell your little boyfriend"

"I see you driving 'round town"

"With the girl I love and I'm like"

"Forget you!"

Oo, oo, ooo

I took a deep breath I was near the end now. I looked at Nick and Stephanie square into their faces and yelled the last two lines

"I guess the change in my pocket"

"Wasn't enough I'm like"

"F**k you"

"And f**k her too!"

I was pleased to see both of them flinch as if I had physically inflicted a wound on them.

"Wooohoooo!" yelled Natasha and ran up to me.

She jumped on me and hugged me tight I was surprised but caught her and held her tightly.

"I am so glad you finally vented it all out." She whispered in my ears.

I just smiled like an idiot and nodded as I held her tight.

"Ok!" yelled Gary, Natasha you're up next. Natasha cheered and was about to take off.

I grabbed her wrist and spoke in a low voice so that only she could hear me, "You don't have to sing you know."

She looked at me confused, "What are you talking about? I love singing."

Then she looked at my face and I saw hurt reflecting in her eyes, "You think I am going to embarrass you, don't you?" she whispered.

I shook my head quickly, and was ashamed to realize that was part of the reason. She snatched her hand away from me and walked away with a determined expression.

I felt like an idiot. After all the support she had shown me today all I could think of was that Natasha could embarrass me with her singing? Seriously? What sort of an ass am I? The biggest one said a snide voice in my head.

I heard the music streaming and saw Natasha grinning she looked at me and blew a kiss but I saw it was an act for benefit of the others present. Her green eyes didn't sparkle as they usually did when she smiled. I smiled as I realized which song Gary chose for her.

The moment she started singing, my jaw dropped to my knees. She had a beautiful voice and could carry the tune perfectly. She had like this aura around her like she was truly a rock star, hell she carried an attitude! All I could do was stare at her. Her beautiful read hair flew in the wind making her look like a diva. Her eyes were closed as she started singing.

"He was a boy she was a girl

can I make it any more obvious?"

"He was a punk, she did ballet

What more can I say?"

*Here she shrugged her shoulders sarcastically. *

"He was a skater boy,

she said see you later boy

he wasn't good enough for her

she had a pretty face

but her head was up in a space

she needed to come back down to earth"

"Sorry girl, but you missed out

Well tough luck that boy's mine now"

*She pointed to herself with a huge smile*

"We are more than just good friends

This is how the story ends"

"Too bad that you couldn't see

See the man that boy could be"

"There is more than meets the eye

I see the soul that is inside"

"He's just a boy and I'm just a girl

can I make it any more obvious?"

"We are in love, haven't you heard?

How we rock each other’s world!"

"I'm with the skater boy

I said see ya later boy

I'll be backstage after the show

I'll be at the studio

Singing the song we wrote

About a girl you used to knowwwwwwww."

With that she jumped off the stage straight into my arms. I pulled her close and whispered an apology she shrugged and whispered back, "You are an ass."

I laughed into her hair.

"Wow!" said Gloria.

"Natasha that was awesome. I felt like I was at a show or something!" Natasha giggled and blushed and muttered thanks.

Everyone praised her performance; it was by far the most energetic performance of the day. Well everyone except for Stephanie and Nick who looked pretty pissed by now. I think they finally understood Gary's motive behind inviting them today. They left pretty soon after that.

We all went inside and kept discussing Stephanie and Nick's reaction. Gloria was laughing so hard she fell off the couch and Natasha had tears flowing down her cheeks. It took quite some time for the girls to calm down while Gary, Jason and I looked at them with amusement. Suddenly, Natasha's phone rang she glanced at the display and bit her lip.

"Hey Joey!" she said and cringed from all the yelling at the other end. She got up and walked away to talk to her friend.

"So" said Gary "aren't you glad that I had this lunch today?" I smirked and said, "Gary, bro I hate to admit it but you were right."

Gary punched me playfully in the shoulder. Natasha came back clutching her head.

"Is everything ok?" I asked her. She nodded and said, "That was Joey and she is upset I haven't called her since the past two days. She wants to meet us in the evening."

I sighed, I realized since we had broken the news of our engagement neither of us have had any time for ourselves. I was kind of nervous, Joey wasn't that easy to convince. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.