way out of your league

Firm Stand 2

Nora POV

I've been out of the country for a while for runway shows and modelling gigs but I still kept in touch with my friends.I feel a lot happier with the direction my life and career is going.Yes I've been asked out on dates by colleagues, friends,a few acquaintances,my parents even tried to introduce me to a few guys who seemed interested in me but I just wasn't ready to go into dating yet.I am even relieved to mend things with Andre,we talk once in a long while which I am grateful for.I just finished my last runway show and was ready to fly back home when Cathy call just to know when I'll be back,we were all going out to celebrate her and Joy's new ride by the weekend so she said and I was excited about it.

Getting back to New York,I met up with some of my colleagues for dinner just to catch up.I was surprised by how much their snobbish attitude was pissing me off."So Nora,did you notice the other girls trying to compete with us at Paris fashion week,it was hilarious to watch them try"Rita said laughing while I just smiled "Rita how come you were only booked for Paris fashion week,i expected to see more of you"Cassie asked Rita "I actually turned down some bookings so I could give my best" Rita replied "That's a weird reason cause as professionals we are always ready to give our best no matter the amount of events we have, you need to keep up girl to stay relevant in the industry"Taylor said to Rita "Cassie I heard you did poorly on your last photo shoot,I saw the magazine and I noticed your face wasn't giving much, Nora's looks stood out more on that shoot"Rita said "Well I think it's the angle it was shot from"Cassie replied defensively while I kept eating getting tired of the whole conversation "As professionals,we always have to give the right expression regardless of the angle Cassie,I'm just saying"Taylor replied "It's stressful doing our job and I'm just happy to hang out with you girls after a long while"I replied trying to make everyone relax a bit."So what's new with you all"Rita asked excited "I'm going on a trip next weekend just to relax a bit and pamper myself, Taylor aren't you going for that corrective surgery for your nose" Cassie asked "Ummm,I think so" Taylor replied "Oh you really need to cause,I think the nose job you got is kind of botched and it's becoming noticable" Cassie added and I can sense how irritated Taylor got "Girls I've got a man,he is so sweet and caring plus he is good in bed"Rita said happily "I feel right now we should be focused on our careers,just like Nora said she was doing"Cassie replied Rita "Well my man is taking care of me and keeping me relaxed for my next photoshoot but how come you are going on a trip alone Cassie, it's just sad,Nora I know your last break up was bad but as friends I will try introducing you all to some cute guys soon cause you know all work and no play does damages you know"Rita replied.By the time I left for the night I was irritated and exhausted.

Come weekend I was excited to meet up with the girls just to celebrate,we met at a bar and I was happy to see Cathy and Joy's new ride which was brand new and the latest model at that,talk about sleek rides.We all squealed,screamed and jumped happily congratulating Joy and Cathy,I noticed the guys gave us space to do our own thing but they were close by.As Joy explained to us how her discussion with Hansel's mom went,I noticed Andre walking towards us "so I just want to say congrats Joy and Cathy on your new ride which looks sleek by the way" he said when he got to where we were.After hugging Joy and Cathy, he turned to me saying "I never knew you were back,how was your job and trip" "fine, everything went smoothly" I replied smiling while he hugged and pecked me "You look good by the way" he said making me laugh,that was until I saw a female peck him saying "Dre I was waiting over there but I got bored so I just wanted to join you and maybe you could introduce me to the girls".I was shocked and speechless at the same time but Andre didn't seem to notice this so he went on with an introduction "These are my close friends,Natalie is my little sister, Joy and Cathy are my childhood friends and Nora is also a close friend, girls this is Rita"Andre said "OMG! Nora! so happy to meet you here, this is the new guy I was telling you about"Rita said happily as our eyes met,I didn't know what to say so I settled for "Congrats, I'm happy for you" as I said this,I felt Cathy hold my hand giving me support but my vision was getting blurry.I had really lost him,I thought I was prepared for the worst but it's still hurts like hell.

"A pleasure to meet you" I heard the girls say while I was still looking at the floor just to avoid looking at the both of them."So are you guys like dating" I heard Natalie ask Andre "Not really but we are close"Andre said "We are taking things slow but we are working towards that"Rita chipped in pecking Andre who smiled genuinely."Did I tell you Nora is my good friend Dre,we are also very close colleagues"Rita said happily "Oh! I never knew that"Andre said frowning "how did you guys meet" Joy asked,I don't think I was ready to hear all that so I just excused myself, while I head to the restroom.Natalie met me there a while later but I was already crying "It's ok Nora,we knew this might happen" she said "I can't believe he would do this to me,it's hurts,it hurts so much,I hate him, I really do hate him"I screamed crying. Hugging me Natalie said "It's time to move on Nora" as I cried,Cathy and Joy walked in hugging me "It's ok Nora,just don't cling to him,it's time to move on but this time we would all be with you"Cathy said "Take time to heal,if you need to hang out with friends call us, if you need to talk call,you need a slumber party call, a slutty night out call,we are all here for you and you can move past this"Joy said fixing my makeup.

As we walked to the bar again,I saw Rita all over him,that could have been me I thought,how could I be so stupid to mess things up,now I lost him."No crying Nora,at least not here and not now" Joy said "How do I deal with seeing them together"I asked."We need a plan"Natalie said "Rule one,we need to establish what your relationship was and is with them" Joy said and continued "Rule Two,no more contact with Andre,I repeat no more contact with him,don't call or text him, don't pick his call or answer his texts.Just Ignore him"."Let's not keep piling one rule after another, it's time to effect rule one"Cathy said "How"I asked. "Just follow our lead,the goal is to establish you are his ex so when the other rules are being effected it won't seem strange".After that discussion we walked towards the guys "Are you ok Nora"Nathan asked "Yeah I'm ok"I replied then Rita said "So it would be cool to hangout with all the girls since we all have mutual friends,like I'm friends with Nora,who is friends with you all" Smiling Cathy said "I think you've messed up the order of our relationship Rita,not all of us are just friends" "I get that,I know some of you guys are dating,I just don't know which one"she replied "This is my boy friend"Cathy said sitting on Judah's legs "This sexy dude over here is mine"joy answered "Nathan and Natalie has a thing"Cathy added "Don't even start Catherine" Natalie said "What thing" Judah asked Natalie "Nothing Jude, chill" Natalie said "That leaves Andre and Nora"Joy said "About that,Nora and I used to have a thing" Andre told Rita uncomfortably but I won't reduce what we had to just a thing so I said "Rita, Andre is my ex" this made her surprised but she quickly got over it and then said "I get it now,I hope we all get along" "Sure" we all said.

After that conversation,Rita kept kissing Andre at every opportunity which was hurting me so I decided to call it a night.I ended up spending the night with Natalie so I don't end up alone in my apartment.I got calls from Andre that night but Natalie made sure I didn't pick.i kept wondering if ignoring his call was the right decision but Natalie stuck to that.Andre ended up sending me a text saying he wanted us to talk,just to clear the air which Natalie ignored.As I left her apartment I got another text from Andre who wanted us to talk,I know I was suppose to ignore it but I ended up replying, telling him to call me in an hour time.I hope I made the right decision.