way out of your league

Love and War

Author's note

I'm so sorry for not updating for a while,I had a lot of challenges which kept coming one after the other but thankfully those have been sorted out.

I also want to thank all those who read and loved this.Its my first book and I've been skeptical about my pattern of writing.Constructive criticism on how I can improve as a writer would be appreciated.

I love you all, having said that,let's get back to the story.

Love and war

Hansel's POV

It's seems drama follows my crew of friends whereever we go,no matter how we try to avoid it.First it was Judah and Catherine,then Judah and Julia,I can't forget the circle of mess between Andre and Nora,also the mess between my parents and Joy how fustrating but the recent issue with Natalie and Nathan is totally uncalled for and can be totally avoided if Natalie had just relaxed a little. The video online was making everything messy and I won't blame Nathan for how he acted but that's just my opinion.

There has been tension between Judah and Nathan since Natalie took a break from their relationship and the pictures of Nathan and some girl online isn't helping matters.My baby has been on edge too cause she feels I'm supporting Nathan.In all this,I noticed Andre and Natalie have become so close once again.Nathan has been pissed about it though he tries to hide it but I know a storm is brewing.I discussed with Joy about Nathan's feeling about how close Natalie and Andre is and once again she is mad at me "stop taking sides cause the pictures of Nathan with that Ariana girl is worse than Natalie hanging out with Andre,at least we know they are just friends,can you say the same for Nathan and that b***h" Joy said "You know there was some one sided crush between those two,do you think it's healthy that they are so close when we know Andre's relationship is shaking right now due to the long distance s**t"I asked "Don't insinuate trash about my friend,Natalie is not like that,and Andre would never cheat" she replied pissed. "Ok I'm not saying anything about this again,can we please stop arguing about other people,I know we care about them but I hate fighting with you" I said exhausted.

That weekend we all went out for a couple of drinks and I told Andre about my plans to propose to Joy.He smiled saying "I think I saw this coming,you've always been a straight forward dude,so how can I help"he asked. As we were discussing the details someone called his line,I think it's his girlfriend cause he excused himself to recieve that call but when he came back he wasn't too happy."what's going on" I asked "I really don't know but I keep getting weird vibes from my girlfriend a few months after she moved to another state for work,I know the distance is a b***h in our relationship but we've been trying to work with it"he said sighing.

"It's possible for long distance relationship to work, you guys just need to be extra committed"I replied "That's the issue,I'm trying to bridge whatever gap distance is creating by calls and text,plus we have a plan in place that I visit her two weekends in a month and she visit once but that only worked the first month,she is always cancelling when it's her turn to visit and her calls are reduced plus she isn't available most time I call,it's really frustrating man"he said.I was about replying when we heard Nathan and Natalie arguing,here we go again,the most surprising was when Judah told Nathan to take his hands off his sister.

I love all my friends but I think Judah is overreacting so I said "calm down man you know he would never hurt her" "intentionally,No but unintentionally,I'm not sure cause he is already doing that" Judah replied "Can we all just calm down a bit and try to be civil,we are friends for f**k sake"Andre said "Please just drive me home Andre,I can't stand this"Natalie replied "Nat,I'll do that but first let's try to be civil"he replied "Really,is that why you are roving over my girlfriend,dude you've got to be kidding me right now.Stay the hell away from her"Nathan replied "What the f**k is wrong with you man,I don't know what is going on in your head but stop insinuating bullshit dude"Andre replied "isn't it just convenient that you are always there to take her away from her boyfriend when there is an issue,I don't want you inserting yourself in our issues Dre,stay the f**k away" Nathan replied "He is my friend so you've got no right to say that,at least no one is shipping us as power couple of the month" Natalie replied "Friend,a friend you had a crush on,and must have day dreamed about,I see"Nathan replied "like I said, unintentionally this dude would hurt her which he is already doing" Judah cut in."I can't believe you would say this Nate,did you have to throw a low blow,it's fine anyway cause we are done"Natalie said walking out "This is just messy,talk about a huge mess which could have been avoided if you had kept your mouth shut Nathan"Joy replied with a shaky voice "Babe are you ok"I asked "Just take me home" she replied and that was how we the night ended,Andre took Natalie home while Nathan stormed off pissed.

Getting home I tried pacifying Joy who was moody but she was still sad trying to cheer her up I said "Wifey let go to bed"she smiled sadly then said "I really want my bestie to be happy,now Cathy is settled,I want same for Nat,do you know we always talked about how she would be our maid of honor in mine and cathy's wedding but she can't decide who would be hers for her wedding with Cathy and I petitioning for the spot,how silly right"my baby said smiling sadly,with that I knew I have to postpone that proposal till things were a bit stable with Natalie,cause I want the best for my baby.As for the guys we all need to have a serious conversation soon cause things are just too messed up right now.

I tried getting all of us to talk like civilized human beings but they were all still too angry to show up.Two months has passed and the cold war is still on which is pissing me off too.Natalie and Nathan has officially broken up and he is back to being a dick.Judah on the other hand was working round the clock to clean his sister's reputation.A few months later we were all ready to talk, the guys decided to meet at my place privately,I hope it end well."So can we talk about what really pissed us off"I asked with the four of us still quiet "ok I would go first,I'm mad about this cold war going on, dudes it's f****d up,I feel trapped and it's messing me up too"I said but no one bulged so I continued "I wanted to get married to my girlfriend as soon as possible,I means it's almost three years since the girls graduated and it all feels right cause I love her alot" "whipped"Andre muttered and they all laughed "shut up dude"I replied "I not surprised"Judah replied "I expected that" Nathan said "but you see,I can't cause my babe wants Natalie as her maid of honour and I want you Nathan as my best man but I sense disaster coming if we tried it,guys you are all going to be a part of my wedding,I can't do this without you,so please can we squash this properly,not by ignoring it but by actually talking about it even if it sounds girly"."Fine,I'll talk"Judah said "I hated the fact that your family seems out for my sister and I suspect they have a hand in that video going public Nathan but what's pissing me off is the fact that they have stained her reputation by that video and you expect her to sit back and take it cause you forgave her for some thing I'm sure she didn't do,I don't care if you believe me or not but Natalie is not like that, that's my baby sister and you were suppose to protect her Nate,it annoying man"Judah concluded "I'm sorry about everything,I love her and I messed up but I was always going to clear that up,I knew something was fishy about that video and I only needed time to clear it up but she wouldn't give me that"Nathan replied "I'm already working on it"Judah said "Please let me help" Nathan said "Why"Judah asked "Cause,I also don't give a f**k if you don't believe me but I love her and still do"Nathan replied which was followed by silence.

We all turned to Andre and he said "what,I'm not part of the drama" "I'm sorry I said what I did,it was a f****d up thing for me to say"Nathan replied "So why did you,it's creepy dude, Natalie is like a little sister to me"Andre said "I was scared of losing her to you,and that you could make her happier than I could, you knew her way before me and she love you once,I was scared of losing her but I've lost her now and it hurts"Nathan replied "But she choose you dude,can't you see how much she loves you,dude you are stupid, honestly I wish I had what you guys had"Andre replied "what about Maria"Judah asked "The long distance was a strain,at some point she wanted us to try having an open relationship but I wasn't down for it,plus she was kind of attracted to someone at work too"Andre replied "I'm sorry"we all said "I'm jinxed,I can feel it" Andre replied "stop that s**t dude,we are in the same boat"Nathan said "No,I hate to say this but you brought yours on yourself but I don't seem to do s**t but my relationship falls apart,dude I'm tired,oh and Nathan please beg your sister to stop,she was also sending Maria mean messages to make her leave me,what did I ever do to her"Andre asks "Man you are on your own there cause Nora is not over you,I think she was never over you and dude she is out for you again,so if you are serious this time be firm and direct when pushing her away"Nathan replied "Trust me Dre is not over her,these two are premium drama I tell you" Judah muttered "hey dude" Andre replied and we all laughed.

"So how far have you gone,in trying to clear the video mess dude"Nathan asked "I've found that Melvin guy and security footage shows Natalie left the room a minute after he pulled her in,she went into her room and didn't come out till the next morning,I intend to force him to admit it wasn't Natalie"Judah said "if my family is involved he won't admit to anything,I need you to let me take it from here but I would need Natalie on this" Nathan said "Dude don't try making a move on her,you've hurt her enough while you were f*****g that b***h Ariana"Judah said "I know,I was angry and stupid.i want her back though,I know I was a d**k for not fighting continuously after she broke up with me but I'm not letting her go,I love her man"Nathan replied and that earned him a punch from Judah "if you hurt her this time we would have a fight and it would be bloody" Judah said "it's nice we are cool again,I miss you guys, how about a group hug and a sleep over" I said trying to piss them off "what the f**k man"Nathan said "I'm not into that s**t"Andre said "I'm out of here, guys" Judah said as they all left. Thankfully that went well.