Never ever

17. Birthday Part two

**Jason**

Seeing her excitement for the evening made me genuine smile for the first time in a long time. I wanted to go to the party as well, not to cause any trouble but to see her reaction to everything. I just didn’t know where the party was and not forgetting my little focussing problem. Yet when I went to the store with her I had no trouble at all. The invisible pull got stronger and stronger as I longed to be with her, seeing her clearly in my mind. I couldn’t take it anymore. Suddenly like a snap of a elastic band I was pulled out of the apartment into a restaurant. Maya was the center of attention and I moved to the furthest place from her. It was not that I wanted to hide from her but I wanted her not to worry about me being here. I was a fly on the wall, nothing more. I gotta see her happy while getting gift after gift and that was just enough for me. But all of a sudden her demeanor changed. I followed her gaze to the three men that had just walked in recognizing one from the car earlier. Another one is smiling at her, he looks arrogant and probably thinks he is something of a big shot with his leader jacket. He’s trying to be nochalant by stoking though his slick hair before moving closer to her. I don’t like the way he is looking at her and it makes me growl. He congratulates her and when she answers my attention is pulled back to her. Maya’s voice misses her usual confident and warm sound and she is a lost for words. What is happening here? I know she is easily affected by the people around her but it was never in a negative way. I instantly disliked this one. Not that I particularly liked that other one but at least he made her happy and assertive. She is taken to the kitchen by, I assume. Rachel. Maya had told me about her aunt yesterday and she looks like the woman from her dream so I put one and one together. I don’t follow them but I see he wants to, how did she call him, Kian. He’s being held back by the driver of the car, who then goes to the kitchen himself. But just as he is about to walk through the door Maya is coming back in. She looked more like herself again, over the first surprise of him being there I guess. Two of the girls are at her side immediately for moral support and so am I. Careful not to spook her I took her hand and squeezed letting her know I was there for her as well. She went rigid for a second but the girls didn’t even notice. She smiled at them shaking her head, meanwhile guiding my hand to her shoulder placing it there. She was a pro at misdirection, I had to laugh about that. 

“It will be fine and let me introduce you to the reason why” Maya said grinning devious and the girls looked surprised. I had a feeling this was also for me as she guided us to the group who was playing with the boxing bag. The boyish one, from that first night, came towards us the minute he saw the girls coming, putting a protective arm around Maya's waist. 

“Are you alright?” he ask softly and she smiled reassuring him. 

“Gaby, Erica, I want you to meet Noah, my boyfriend” Maya says, there eyes widen as the look from him to her. “Noah, this is Gabrielle and Erica my friend since elementary.” As they extend greetings to each other, i’m looking around seeing Kian watching. He is clearly not happy about Noah’s arm around Maya and that also did not escape Maya’s attention. She leaned in a little closer to Noah but made sure her shoulder was free for me. How bad I wanted her to move like that towards me but I pushed my jealousy down. Tonight was about her and the fact that she wanted me there was enough for now. I could deal with my emotions later, tonight I was her support as that was what she needed from me. 

**Maya**

At first I was worried when I felt his hand on mine, why was he here? When will things start flying but then I noticed his emotion. Jason clearly had seen my reaction and he just wanted me to know he was here for me. I felt powerful with him by my side and when Noah came standing on the other side I was invincible. My protectors I thought glancing over my shoulder to see Kian looking disgruntled towards me. He probably had imagined the night going a lot smoother for him. I leaned in a little closer to noah as he hugged me tighter. Vigilant so no one would notices I smiled and winked at the direction I thought Jason was. I was so happy that he was here with me tonight and If Jason and Noah would get along, things would get a lot easier. Granted it would be difficult given the situation but worth the effort. I was not willing to let any of them go. 

“So let me see this boxing bag you guys have for me” I say smiling getting back into a party mode. I had to try it out of course making them all laugh as Hillary tried to hit me back. The girls finally got there change to give me my present and it made me both happy as nervous. It was a Spa day with them over the holiday vacation next month. While we ate I moved from group to group, Jason always by my side. Rachel had made all kind of tapas and every one was enjoying them. As specially the kitchen crew who helped prepare it all. I was about to talk to Kian and his friend, thinking It would be rude not to and to get it out of the way when Rachel rolled in a karaoke machine to the middle of the dance floor. 

“Oke birthday girl, the honour of the first song is for you” she says through the microphone making sure everyone had heard it. 

“No, I don’t not have enough to drink yet to do this.” I yelled at her trying to get out of it but no one would hear it, not even Jason who nudge me just a little towards the machine.  

“Fine but we will do a duet” I muttered under my breath hoping only Jason would here me and got to the middle of the floor. 

“So we will not do regular karaoke” she announced, everyone still listening to her, “When your up push this button and a random song will be selected for you to perform. Best of luck” She handed me the microphone and everyone started to cheer. Please let it be a good one, please let it be a song I know, I prayed and pushed the button. I turn to the screen they had put up for the machine and song names came flashing over the screen, it slowed down and my song was “b***h” from Meredith Brooks. I didn’t know it at first but by the time the refrain started I was giving it my all singing “I’m a b***h, I’m a lover, i’m a child, i’m a mother, i’m a sinner, I’m a saint, I do not feel ashamed.” As the song ended, I got a thunderous applause and I could not stop grinning. Now it was my time to pick someone to come up and sing and suddenly I saw Steve trying to flee to the kitchen. My victim!

“Steve, don’t leave now, it’s your turn.” I say o so innocent as he freezes, his hand already on the door. He tries to decline but luckily everyone is as persistent as they were with me. Reluctantly he pushes the button and is horrified with the song choice, ‘I’m too sexy’. He does give it his best but he is turning red and starts to mess up the words. Luckily he’s being saved by Rick, the bartender, who finishes the song on a very fals note. He gladly hands over the mic to the next person. Some of the combinations are hillarish, especially when Jesse and his date Zoey get up there and it shows ’baby got back’. He has a little too much fun with it putting attention on her back site and she got mad at him. As Jesse runs after her he gives Noah the mic and he gets up to sing for me. I smile at him hoping he gets a love song he can perform the hell out of. The titles slow down and stops at ”Livin’ on a prayer”. At the first pulls of those guitar strings Noah moved his feet, he clearly knows his classic rock anthems. He starts singing and especially the girls start clapping with and I find myself wo-oo with them as the refrain sounds. Even before Noah’s songs had ended, Kian is next to him wanting to go next. They stare at each other for a minute and I can feel the tension in the air. Kian has already pushed the button and of course all the luck is with him when it stops at bruno mars “Nothin’ on you”. Why did it have to be that song I mentally ask myself while softly moaning. Noah is just about to sit next to me when Kian is jerking me away from him, up to the ‘stage’ so he can sing for me. I want to move back but Kian does let me, I can see the anger in Noah’s stance. Trying to diffuse the situation, I surrender, holding up my hands. Noah is clearly not happy with this but trust me, still he is ready to jump to my rescue. 

“One song Kian” I warn him and he’s smirking at me. Before he can say anything the lyrics start. 

I know those words by heart and so does he, Kian said those words so often to me. It came out when we first started dating and back then I didn’t feel confident about my body or my appearance. Whenever I would feel down or ashamed he would remind me that he thought I was the best girl of the world. So it kind of became our song. I still can’t hear the song without thinking about him. Old feeling are bubbling at the surface as he makes me feel like i’m sixteen again. He clearly has not forgotten how to get under my skin. But then I see Noah looking at me and feel Jason behind me. I have changed, I have grown and I’m not sixteen anymore. Suddenly Kian is not as irresistible as he was, his eyes just lost his magic. Sure I would always have a soft spot for him, I could not change my history and being with him made me the woman that I’m today. I smile at that chain of thought and Kian takes it as his cure, reading something else into it. He moves closer and closer but luckily he does nothing more than kiss my hand as the song ends. But then he doesn’t let go and even when i’m trying to pull away. This doesn’t only trigger Noah, who is already coming for us, it also makes Jason act. I can feel his anger and he protectiveness towards me as he pushes Kian away from me, holding me back. I fall back from the force it took Jason and am shocked. Kian is looking confused as he stumbles back, Noah right in front of him before he can look at me. Hoping Kian will think it was Noah and not Jason I silently move back. 

“I think it’s time for you to go home” Noah growls at him and Kian is glaring back at the guy challenging him. 

“I think It’s not your party so back off” Kian growls back but does nothing more than angrily glare at Noah. He knows I hate useless fighting, especially if it’s about me. He has done this before. 

Jason is next to me and he is giving me the strength to snap out of my haze. I get up and march to them feeling suddenly very confident. 

“That is enough,” I say my voice indicating I mean business, “Noah it’s okay and Kian you can stay IF you’ll stop with this nonsense.” They both back up but Kian is smirking a little too much for my taste, thinking he won that stand off.   

“Noah, this is Kian, my past” I say introducing him and standing next to Noah, “and Kian this is Noah, my future.” Kian’s smirk disappears as Noah puts his arm around my waist again.

“We’ll see” he says bitter and than walks towards his friend who I still haven’t met.  

“Who’s next?” I ask wanting this whole ordeal behind me and i’m glad when Ben takes the mic from me. We give him the stage and when we have a little privacy Noah turns towards me.

“So exes huh” he just says making me laugh. 

“Want to put his picture on my boxing bag?” I ask him as I see hillary staring at me and like that any the tension between us has disappeared. He kisses me deep and sweet and I take it all in. When we pull apart I quickly look around but everyone had their attention on Ben doing his best Beyonce. 

“Have you seen Rachel?” I suddenly ask realizing I haven’t seen her since she brought the karaoke machine out. 

“I think she is in the kitchen. Let’s find out” he says and as we walk towards the kitchen I look through the small window to see if there is anyone behind it, as we do when working. I’m shocked at what I see and stop but Noah doesn’t notice and walked right in finding Rachel in a very compromising position with his brother. 

“Ow god” he exclaims making both Matthew and Rachel jump up in surprise.     

“eeeh Hey little brother” Matthew says buttoning his shirt back up. 

“Please don’t tell Maya just yet” Rachel asks when she had her skirt back in its original position. 

Noah looks behind him confused and sees me hiding out of sight. I shake my head and his face says it all. Please don’t let me deal with this alone… I mouth i’m sorry and he sighs.

“Fine but she is looking for you so hurry up” Noah says acting very convincing. 

“So… you two huh” Noah starts, as he closes the door and I can’t hear them any more. I gave him a couple of minutes and than walk in acting like I have been searching. 

“There you are Rachel, don’t think you can hide in here. It’s your turn at karaoke,” I say seeing happily that they are a couple of feet apart and clothing are back on. They are cleaning up, if for show or if they were doing that before I don’t know. ”Leave the dishes, we can help with that later right Noah.”

“Uhh sure” he says clearly as uncomfortable as I feel. They come with us and I push them onto the stages together making noah laugh. I make sure they have the duet option on and grab a second mic saying best of luck before leaving them staring at me shocked. I walk back to Noah who still can’t stop grinning. There song they get is perfect, Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor “Marvin Gaye”, seeing as they were just getting it on. Matthew is just as good as a singer as his little brother as he saves Rachel from imbaricentment seeing she absolutely can’t. I can hear uncle finn laughing and shouting encouragements to his little sister making the whole thing even more funny. 

“You sure know how to get back at your aunt, don’t you” Noah whispers in my ear and I hadn’t even consider that was what i’m doing before he said it. 

“Don’t know what you mean” I say not very convincing, so I continue, “She can take it and besides she has your brother at her side. Did you know by the way?” 

“No but it does explain a couple of things, seeing it has been going on for a while” he says surprising me. ”I had notice little changes in my brother and it’s also the reason I was so close with Rachel as a neighbor or didn’t you notice that she doesn’t really talk to her other neighbors.”

Now that he mentioned it I realize it’s true, she didn’t even know the name Mrs Robinson when I came living with her. I just thought it was because of the hours that she worked not that it explained why she would have a connection with Noah. 

“Wait, do you think he was with her the first couple of nights when he came back?” I ask him remembering that I heard something when searching for a halloween costume. 

“Probably, but we’ll talk about it later. Now I want to dance with you” he said as he spun me around making me dizzy not expecting it. The Karaoke machine was put to the side and the stage was back to a dance floor, music blasting out of the boxes. We dance into the night and luckily there were no more incidents. As promised Noah and I helped clean up before Matthew drove us to my home. Rachel getting a ride with us sitting upfront with him. I waited the whole time for her to start talking about the relationship but they didn’t say anything. So after thanking her for my party and getting all my gifts upstairs, I couldn’t help myself. 

“Matthew, can you make sure my aunt is getting home safe” I asked him as they got back in the car and he started grinning. 

“Will do Maya, you two be safe” Matthew teased winking a little too offius to his brother.   

“We will, Rachel has them in her second draw in a black box” I said very casual and I could see Rachel already caught on, eyes widening. Matthew on the other hand clearly didn’t think as he said ”Ow I know.”  Both Noah and I started laughing as Rachel exclaimed matthews name. 

“Ooops” he said laughing but Rachel didn’t, I don’t know why she kept it a secret but I guess she had her reasons. 

“So you know” she said looking disgruntled at Noah.

“Yeah, You do know that the kitchen doors have windows, Rachel” I said coming to Noah defense. It took her a moment to figure out what I was saying but then she got it making her eyes widen again and blushing. 

“Yup” I said smiling and then grabbed Noah’s hand, pulled him with me yelling back, “So don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”