Natasha’s P. O. V:
I was still wondering how to make Jude see that Stephanie was just with him for his money but I would need to do it subtly, I didn’t want him to be hurt irrevocably. But I knew that if he went ahead with his relationship with Stephanie he would be beyond recall. I didn’t know how to do and my brow was furrowed in frustration when Joanna came back.
“Whoa! You are going to get wrinkles from that!”
I smiled and said, “ha ha you are funny”
“Nope I am stating a fact, what happened?”
“um nothing”
“Natasha?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up and tell me what the hell is bothering you”
“Jude’s ex is back and she says that she will make sure that he won’t marry me”
“What? That’s preposterous! But what have you got to worry about? That boy is in love with you!”
“Yeah, yeah you are right”
“Hey do you want me to kick her ass for you?”
I busted out laughing, “No Jo! Gosh you are just looking for excuses to beat people up!”
“Hey nobody and I mean nobody hurts my best friend. Besides you would do the same for me”
I smiled and agreed if someone was to hurt her I’d go break their face and ask questions later. After all that’s what best friends were for, weren’t they? I glanced at my watch and realized it was time for me to meet the boys and the bitch.
“Hey Nats, we haven’t been hanging around much lately, lets do this again?”
“Yeah” I got up and hugged Joanna and we walked out together. She had a date tonight and had to go prepare for it. My phone rang and I checked to see it was Wade.
“Hey”
“Tasha meet us at the A&F store”
“ok”
I started walking towards the store when something hit my head. It was light and I almost dismissed it as nothing when I turned to see a crumpled piece of paper.
I picked up and looked around and didn’t see anyone I knew. I opened the paper and my hear rate quickened as I read the note.
“Enjoy while you can bitch”
I walked with shaking legs and as soon as I saw Wade I ran and hugged him breathing heavily.
“Hey, hey what’s wrong?”
I looked up and my eyes were shining with unshed tears, I showed him the note and the sms.
“who the hell is this?” he asked angrily.
“Damned if I know!”
“Are you alright?” asked Sean, he had just read the note. I took a deep breath and nodded.
“You do realize you are being stalked right?”
“Y-yes”
“Who is being stalked?” asked Jude coming up behind us. Sean quickly brought him up to date on the situation and Jude’s face went red in anger. He pulled me to his side and put an arm around me.
“That’s it” he whispered fiercely “I am not letting you out of my sight” and he put his arm around my waist. My lips stretched of their own volition into a huge smile.
“Ahem” we turned to see Stephanie clearing her throat.
“Yeah?” asked Sean, really angry. I had seen Sean annoyed but right now the look he had on his face, well let’s just say he was shooting flames from his eyes. Stephanie looked taken aback too and backed off immediately.
“N-nothing, don’t you think we should move on?”
“Are you ok?” Jude asked stroking my back.
“Yeah, just a little shocked, I can’t for the life of me think who the hell would do this”
“We will find out soon” promised Jude and just like that the fear I had in me a few minutes ago dissipated.
“So where do you want to go first?” asked Sean looking at me but before I could reply Stephanie spoke up, “I want to check out some shoes”
We all followed her into a show store where predictably she was looking at shoes that even put a hooker to shame. While she kept on asking Jude for his opinion. He seemed a bit distracted and kept glancing at me while helping Stephanie decide.
Sean and Wade tried to get me attention by trying to get me to shop for shoes but I was just not in the mood. Besides I had a lot of shoes I didn’t need any, I just bought a pair last night for crying out loud!
Stephanie picked out 4 pairs in the end and she didn’t even need shopping therapy. “Er do you need all of these?” asked Wade. She glared at him and then quickly smiled and said, “Oh yes. The ones that I have had are out of vogue now; my shopping trip has been long overdue”
I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to hide my annoyance. Wade mirrored my actions and said, “C’mon Tasha, I am sure I can find something to cheer you up”
I sighed and said, “I don’t know Wade, I just can’t imagine who the hell is stalking me!”
“Babe” said Sean linking his arm with mine and making me smile, “the whole point of this trip was to cheer you up. We might as well go home if you aren’t happy!”
Jude didn’t say anything but stared intently at me, he sighed when Stephanie called out to him.
“Jude! Would you please pay for me, my wage check will be deposited by tomorrow and I’ll pay you back”
“Don’t be silly Steph” said Jude frowning. You see he was just the kind of guy who paid at the date and paid for his girl. He had been brought up by his parents that way. Stephanie smirked at me as if to say one for me and zero for you. Ok I was pissed right now.
“So” I exclaimed suddenly, “I wanted to buy shampoo and some body lotion, let’s head that way?”
Wade took my hand and Sean walked by my side while Jude followed. We walked into the body shop and Sean and I spent a lot of time oohing and aahing over different products while Wade stood at the side staring at us amusedly. I picked up my favorite Strawberry body butter, Banana shampoo and conditioner, I picked up body mist. I was ecstatic previously these things were a luxury but now I could afford to but it.
Sean went berserk too as he picked up the olive shampoo and conditioner and mango body butter and then he went to look at a range of fragrances for men.
I paid little or no attention to Jude and Stephanie. Stephanie decided she needed a few things from here as well and started filling up her basket. The damn freeloader! How I hated her for taking advantage of Jude’s generosity.
I smiled as I came across beeswax styling wax for men, I picked it up for Wade. He was forever complaining about the damage hair gels did to his hair. I picked up a gift set of fragrances for Sean. Not that these guys couldn’t afford it but they had been so kind to me, I just wanted to show my appreciation in return.
I looked around and decided I was done shopping here, my mood was already better because of all the uplifting fragrances in here. I realized I hadn’t taken anything for Jude and decided for a long time what to take for him. He already had everything. Then I looked at the lip balms and smiled.
He had been complaining a while back about all the lip balms smelling to chicky for his taste. I picked up four cocoa butter jars so that he would have a supply for awhile. I proceeded to get my shopping billed. As I was about to pay Jude spoke up, “Stop!” “What’s wrong?”
“I am paying for that”
I smiled at him and shot a triumphant look at Stephanie who glowered at me and said, “No thanks Jude, I’ve got this.”
“But we’re engaged!”
“Huh?”
He came closer to me and whispered, “You are my responsibility”
“I appreciate that Jude I really do but you pay me for my job and I don’t want to get used to you doing things for me. Please respect my independence and let me pay”
I turned away and paid for my shopping. While Sean paid for his and Jude paid for Stephanie’s- big surprise. As we walked out I gave Wade, Sean and Jude their gifts. Sean was really excited and pulled me into a tight hug, Wade thanked me and kissed me on my cheek exclaiming, “How the hell didn’t I see this! My hair is saved!” he yelled dramatically. I giggled at him.