way out of your league

Preparing for the worst

Andre's POV

Before the weekend when I was supposed to see Nora's parents I was thinking about spending sometime with the guys.We met up at Judah's new apartment. With Julia hovering around Judah,I wondered if these two were becoming serious.Joy came around with Hansel with the both of them joined to the hip.Soon Natalie walked in smiling and I wondered if she had any idea on what was happening with Nathan.

As the girls walked away to another room we started talking "so i'm going to meet Nora's parents this weekend" I said and both Hansel and Judah paused looking at me "Are you prepared" Hansel asked and I looked at him and just shrugged "you need to be mentally prepared dude" Judah said "Any advise from you guys" I asked "I'm not the right person to ask for those kinds of advise, my life is a mess right now" Judah said and I turned to Hansel "expect the worst, that way you won't be shocked or heart broken when it happens" hansel said "and never allow them walk over you,else it would set a pattern of how you are treated in that relationship" Judah added and I nodded "I wish it would turn out well" I said while Judah patted my back saying "relax bro" as I sighed."so what's with your life being a mess"Hansel asked Judah as we drank beer."Catherine broke up with Andrew and she is hinting at getting back together and Julia suddenly wants more"he said "you are screwed dude" I said laughing "Did you ever stop loving Catherine" Hansel asked seriously "No,I never did" Judah replied "And Julia,how do you feel about her" I asked "I care about her,I don't want to hurt her.she was there for me when I needed someone" "Man you are really screwed" Hansel replied "I thought Julia was rekindling her thing with her ex" I asked "Yea,she was and I was cool with that but since Cathy began calling,she wanted more,she doesn't want cathy around me and she said she cares about me" Judah replied "but does she love you though and do you love her" Hansel asked "Enough about me" Judah said

"How are things with joy" Judah asked "Things are great,my girl is everything nice wrapped in a person, oh and she is fiesty too" Hansel said smiling "At least one of us has it good" I replied smiling too "what's up with Nathan" hansel asked "he's gone dark for weeks now,I heard he spoke to you last Judah" Hansel added "Yea he did, he is trying to get his s**t together, I really hope he is ok though,we talk once in a while" Judah said "I heard you and his dad made him get therapy I said "he needs to get his act together if he is getting back together with my sister so that's that but truthfully they are good together and seeing how Natalie is hurting I wonder if keeping things away from her was the right decision" Judah said "I hope she doesn't get mad when she finds out, especially about Nathan" I said "what is going on with Nathan?" Natalie asked as we turned.

"Emmmh.......nothing much,he is just coping"I said "Yea" Judah and Hansel replied "ok" Natalie replied "I hope he is ok" she asked,and we all paused "Yea" we replied as she went back to see the girls "Men this is messed up, my girl would kill me if she finds out I knew what's up all this while and kept shut" Hansel replied while Judah phone started ringing as he brought out the phone we saw Cathy on the screen as the one calling "s**t" he said as we laughed "hello Cathy how are you" he said going silent "there is no need for that Cathy,please don't do this" he said as we stood up and walked away.

That weekend I picked Nora up from her apartment and we drove together to her parents villa.when we got there she held my hands tightly,I guess she was tensed up so I kissed her hands saying "Everything would be fine Nora" even if I wasn't sure.As soon as we walked in Nora was pulled away from me by her mum who hugged her "sweetie how are you doing"her mum said to her "i'm fine mummy,stop squeezing the air out of me" Nora replied while I smiled,as I watched them seeing Sandra there also "Welcome Mr Andre to my home"her dad saud "Thank you sir"I said as we sat down to discuss "Mr Andre first I want to thank you and the other gentleman for helping my son out the other night" he said and I nodded saying "That's us simply being a friend,No thank you is needed we just hope he is better" I asked "he is coping fine" he said "so regarding my daughter,what exactly can you offer her cause I know you are a newbie in the business world" he asked "I love Nora and I really want to have a long and healthy relationship with her but if you want to quantify what I can offer her in terms of money and prestige then you might never see how much I adore and would cherish your daughter"I replied "Nora is from a wealthy and influential family, my family.she is use to these luxury and prestige that you demean,so you should understand why I feel this is not a good match" he said "daddy can you just stop it,I love Andre why can't you see that.why do you keep causing me pain daddy.Don't you know of the pain and humiliation I suffered from the last relationship you forced me into" nora said "Nora it wasn't daddy's fault things turned out that way,Andre also played a part in that" Sandra said.

"Mr Andre can you maintain the life Nora has now on your own,can you afford the luxury she is use to" her dad asked "And you feel only a person who can afford to give her such luxury is worthy of being with her. Is there anything else that makes a healthy relationship you can search for or are they just useless to you. what about love,trust,loyalty,respect, friendship do you even care about those" I asked "Mr Andre you don't understand what loyalty is or even respect if you can sell her out to the media without owning up to it or even apologizing to her and the family so don't tell me anything about those" her mum said "Since Nora claims she is in love with you I would allow this" he said and as I got a little relief thinking things are turning out to be good,he added "Only if you admit to what you did and apologize, either to her or to us" he said "he already did that before we came here and I forgive him even if he didn't" Nora replied. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I thought we were past this,I thought she trusted me and knew I could never hurt her.I didn't mind hearing this from her dad cause he didn't like me but not from her.I couldn't say a word,after I regained a little bit composure I said "I'll never admitted to doing that cause I never did but I apologize that you all still have this low opinion about me" I said and I was cut off by her mum who said "That's who he truly is,he lacks loyalty and respect and can offer you nothing, Mason is very much interested in you and can offer you everything sweetie"

"Mason, I thought he was dating Stephanie" nora asked "They broke up and its been months now" her mum replied "i'll set up a date for you and him" her dad said "I never said I wanted to go on a date with him" Nora said "Going on a date with him doesn't mean you are dating, you could just hear what he has to say and give him your answer.If you don't want to, you simply tell him no and part peacefully" Sandra said and Nora nodded.I stood up and said "it seems there really was no point having this meeting since we all ended up repeating ourselves,at this point i've lost respect for you Mr and Mrs Johnson, so its best I take my leave", As I walked out Nora came with me even if I never expected her to "Andre please just apologize and let's move on" she said but I ignored walking to my car "please Andre" she said and I turned to look at Nora only to find her parents and Sandra outside too.

"I have had enough of this Nora, you don't trust me and once again you've proved it.A relationship can't stand without trust,I told you this before.But right now you want me to drop my self-esteem so your parents would trample on me and I can't do that cause even if I did now I would always be seen as someone who didn't deserve you.this would set a pattern of disrespect for me and I would grow to hate you.its best we part now"I said.Getting into my car i drove off feeling sad.Like hansel said I was prepared for the worst but when it did hit me,it wasn't any less painful.