To say that Jude was "nervous" was an understatement... He'd been looking over his shoulder so much that he was sure that anyone who'd been
watching he and Kaili's "date night" (Kaili's title for the evening, not his) would definitely think that he had Tourette's. The "shoulder check"
started when he picked Kaili up. Sure, it'd been easy. Her parents had been pretty cool, making small talk as he waited for Kaili and wishing them a
"good time with their friends" when they left. That part had made Jude a bit uncomfortable...and guilty. He hated the half truth that he was sure that
Kaili'd told her parents. He already knew how she'd put it together. They were going as friends and they'd be meeting other friends from AJW in town.
None of that was true. First of all, they didn't have any friends at AJW. It was kind of just them when they were outside of the Shore. And secondly,
they weren't "just friends". They were dating...well, technically this was their first date. But, they were together...and that night, it actually
felt a little more like it...no matter how much of a lie they had to tell to make it feel that way.
But despite how easy it'd been to get Kaili out of the house and on the back of his bike, Jude couldn't help feeling...uneasy about that night. Even
in the darkened movie theater of the action film they'd seen together, his eyes shifted from the screen to the shadows surrounding their seats every
few minutes.
Now they were in the pizzeria, Jude sitting as low as he could in their booth as Kaili talked excitedly about the movie. Jude gave a few unconvincing
replies as he propped his menu up in front of him, staring intensely at the pastas that he could barely pronounce even though they'd settled on a
sausage pizza and breadsticks.
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man...
She was so excited! She had been on Cloud 9 ever since he'd agreed to this and she woke up this morning knowing that today was the day! She
was going on her first date and as much as it pained her not to tell her mom the truth about it, she really wanted to go and despite how cool
her dad had been about Jude, dating him would surely be off the table. So she lied, asking her parents if she could meet people from AJW for a movie
and food. Her mother was desperate for her to make friends and her dad only needed to hear that Jude would be there for her to get a yes. She almost
couldn't believe how easy it had been, but here she was.
The movie had been surprisingly good! She took Jude's word for it when he said all the other Star Wars films had been pretty good. She'd heard people
talk about this one so she figured why not. She honestly didn't even care about the movie; she just wanted to spend time with him away from the
suffocation of the Shore. There were no rules for them here and they usually only got this kind of freedom when they were in school. Not today. And
she was taking full advantage of those freedoms. She was pretty sure her hand hadn't left his since getting off his bike and she was stealing kisses
whenever he would allow them, which honestly wasn't as often as she would have liked. He was still nervous. She could tell in the way he looked over
his shoulder every two minutes. EVen now as she went on about a movie she wasn't really into, he looked toward the door, the same flash of worry in
his eyes that was there whenever he looked away from her...Enough.
"Jude, relax please. We're not home right now. We're out where no one knows us. Anonymous. Enjoy it with me-," she smiled, her hand reaching
for his above the table. They'd come here so he wouldn't be nervous, but it seemed not much was changing. Maybe she'd pushed for too much with this
date. Maybe he just wasn't into it. Maybe he just wasn't into her...of course he was. Why else would he be suffering through this...ugh.
"You wanna just cut it short? We can go back." She didn't mind giving him the out. He hadn't been relaxed for any of this and that had been the point.
She'd failed. It was a great date to her, but Jude...Jude probably thought differently.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
After the fiftieth look over his shoulder, he heard a loud sigh...from the girl sitting beside him. The girlfriend that was talking about the Star
Wars movie that he'd barely watched because he'd been so concerned about someone from the Shore seeing them on a date...who was sitting beside him.
Smiling even though she should've been shooting poisonous darts from her eyes...straight at him. He didn't mean to be distant. He just...that night
was really important for the both of them. Kaili had wanted a night to be a normal couple and he'd promised it to her. Yet, he couldn't get his mind
off of what the one place that the'd come to the "other side of the island" just to avoid.
"I'm relaxed. See?" He gave her a strained smile as he re-positioned the menu that he'd propped up in front of him for an extra boost of incognito,
even though he'd requested that they be placed in a booth that was hidden from the front door. He'd been so busy with that that he'd nearly missed
Kaili's words. Home. She'd called the South Shore his home. If he hadn't been so on edge, he might have warmed at the word. Because it was
true, the Shore had become his home. Even though he'd yet to be fully accepted, especially by two of the nameless people that had Jude so on edge,
he'd begun to feel less like an outsider in the one place that he'd barely known anything about months ago. He was learning the language quickly and
the history and culture even quicker. But that wasn't the only thing that made the Shore feel like home...
"I'm having fun. Really." His eyes softened as he looked at Kaili, hesitantly putting the menu down on the table. He WAS having fun...well, as much
fun as someone could have who could be faced with their imminent death if the "right people" ran into him, snuggled up in a booth with their kid
sister. It'd been a good date...as far as dates went...he assumed. Considering this was his first REAL date. Holding hands with a girl at Surfside
Valley ONE TIME...when you were six was NOT a real date. This was, though. They'd seen what he was sure was a good movie (he'd watch it again on DVD)
and now they were going to eat pizza. Good date...no, great date.
"No way. We're not leaving. Not a chance, babe." Leaving? Not happening. Sure, he was a little...guarded, but for good reason. He wanted the evening
to be amazing for her. No stress from responsibilities, titles...or overbearing brothers. He just wanted it to be...perfect. He'd known how much she
wanted normalcy and if it meant him nearly having a heart attack every time he heard the door to the restaurant open, so be it.
"I'll loosen up. Okay?" Slumping lower in the seat, he let his shoulders droop as his head lulled against her shoulder. Looking up at her, he smirked
the crooked grin he gave her when he wanted her to laugh.
"This loose enough for you?"
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man...
Kaili shot him a look filled with skepticism as he told her that he was relaxed. They both knew that wasn't true. She could look at him and tell that
every bit of him was aching to give the door its millionth glance, just to be sure they weren't followed. They weren't followed! No one on the Shore
left it unless they really had to. No one cared enough about what she was doing over here to follow them...well Keahi had been livid when he heard
about her "outing". Kaili knew he knew she was lying and she'd avoided his questions like the plague when he'd asked about it. So who's going to
this thing? And you're doing what again? And Jude is your "escort"? He'd used literal air quotes around that word when he said it. He knew what
it was, but he didn't out her and he didn't stop her from going. Maybe he was coming around?
Maybe Hell was freezing over. Keahi had probably told her father what he thought, but Alemana was a wildcard lately. Maybe he'd still let her come.
She didn't know and it didn't matter. The point was they were free here and Jude still couldn't be comfortable in his own skin with her.
He tried again to tell her he was having fun and she believed him a little more before. He put the menu down and gave her his full attention for the
first time that night. And they weren't leaving. Kaili's smile grew as he promised to loosen up, slumping in his seat so that his head laid on her
shoulder. She liked him like this. Playful Jude. Fun Jude. The Jude he was when it was just the two of them and they could laugh...especially when he
made that face! He was such a goofball.
Kaili laughed as her fingers found his chin and tilted his face up so that their lips could meet. She let her kiss linger for just a bit, knowing it
would probably be a while before he allowed another. She pulled away to speak her voice as playful as he was being.
"It's a start."
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
Her kiss was welcomed. Not that the others that she'd been sneaking the entire evening hadn't been, but this one? Jude lifted his own head to receive.
Of course he had to fight the desire to kiss her with his eyes open, but he let himself enjoy it. Drop his guard. Be in the moment with her. And
surprisingly, it wasn't hard. The kiss lingered a little too long and was a little too public, but it was just right. He smiled up at her as their
kiss ended, a laugh following her words. It was a start, huh? He hoped a good start. He hated to be so reserved with her, but he was afraid to not be.
Miles away from the Shore and Jude was still concerned about breaking rules. But he would always care...because that meant staying in her father's
good graces..."good graces" that he was in danger of being out of if they were caught together...and alone. This one time, he would let go and
just...enjoy their time, like Kaili was always begging him to.
"Good. So..." He started as he sat higher in the booth, sliding his arm around her waist (which he thought was a nice touch in his efforts to relax
and live in said moment). "...I think you should keep talking about Star Wars. It was actually entertaining to hear you sound like a complete nerd."
He laughed again, hers melding into the mix as he looked down at her.
And then their laughter stopped...but someone else's laughter coming from behind them didn't. It was close...and it was definitely familiar.
"No! Don't stop. Keep going, Judy. The barrel of fucking laughs was just getting started..."
Nui
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man...
This was a nightmare. A bad omen. Kaili thought about stabbing herself with her fork to wake up so that she could prove that this was just a
bad dream. She was asleep and she would wake and find that her date with Jude was today and it would be perfect and it would not be ruined completely
by Nui Kinalu. Was he FUCKING KIDDING?! What was he doing here? How did he know she was here? The Gods were cruel, cruel beings and she found herself
silently asking what she'd done to deserve this. Was it her secret relationship with a boy she "shouldn't" be with? Was it because she'd lied to her
parents? All of that seemed minor to her. The Gods had to have something bigger to deal with...obviously not.
Jude's hand left it's resting place at her hip as he took his arm from around her waist quicker than she thought possible. She couldn't pretend that
he was overreacting this time. They were busted and Nui was definitely going to tell her brother and her father as soon as he got the chance.
She was going to be in so much trouble...unless...
"Nui-," her voice held only a minor annoyance, much friendlier than his usual greeting, but it was all she could muster. If she had to listen to him
call Jude "Judy" for the remainder of this conversation she was going to scream. She attempted a smile completely opposite the masked rage behind the
eyes that stared back at her before speaking again, "What are you doing here?"
Nui had known her his whole life. He was practically the brother she'd never wanted. Surely, he could be persuaded to pretend he hadn't seen them
there. To at least share a secret with her that would bond them until they both died (yuck!). She didn't know, she'd never tried it, but she
would turn on the charm the same way she did with Keahi and hope for the best.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
Well, well, well. This was adorable. So fucking saccharin-y sweet that Nui was sure he had raging diabetes. Kaili and her lesbian lover, hugged up in
a booth on the wrong side of the island. And as he watched their newest fit of giggles, Nui couldn't help but wonder that when Kaili told Mommy and
Daddy Akame that she was going out to hang with "friends", if they knew she meant this? Of course they didn't. And these days, Nui wondered if they
even fucking cared. The way Alemana treated this outsider that had shown up out of nowhere and set his eyes on Kaili was damned disturbing. And
without any explanation, Nui and the others were just expected to let this mixed- blooded mutt parade around with the daughter of an Akame elder like
it was right as goddamned rain. Bullshit. Nui wasn't that much of a loyal dog that he'd forget who he was...and nor was Keahi. But his
brother had been forced into an earlier patrol that night by Alemana...probably just to keep him busy so that Kaili could rump with her best
girlfriend, Judy. And was it any wonder that Alemana conveniently forgot about Nui? Guess Alemana's mistake was Keahi's blessing as he would've broken
ever bone in that outsider's body had he seen how close he was sitting to his sister. Not worry, though! Nui was very much up for the job of taking
Keahi's place.
Which was why he'd been combing The Boardwalk for nearly an hour before spotting the happy couple going into that quaint little pizzeria for a little
snuggle time. Good thing Kaili had been honest about ONE thing that night. Good for Nui...bad for her. Actually, it was fucking "ace" for her! Nui,
looking out for her even though she was dead set on "slumming". And for what? Nui had been sitting in front of her for years and this was what she
chose? Right... Keahi's little sister was cute and she was beyond bangable, but the truth was she was bag of rocks stupid if she thought anything
would go anywhere with an outsider. Alemana was tolerating "Judy" for some reason, but once he found out that Kaili'd been lying and dating the little
shit? Yeah, it'd be over before she got to tell her girlfriend "goodbye".
If that was what he was seeing. Nui couldn't be sure. But he knew if he was reporting anything back to Keahi, he had to be sure. Completely sure.
Which he wasn't. He'd been watching them for a second, sneaking into the pizzeria when he was sure he wouldn't run into them as they walked back out.
He'd seen the laughing and the flirting...and barely puked from the cuteness of it all before he'd invited himself to their booth. And oh dear.
Neither of them seemed to happy to see him there. Good.
"What am I do-" Nui's voice haulted as he feigned disappointment as he watched Kaili attempt to smile at him...and failing, her teeth gritting as she
spoke. His forced smile widened as he caught her eyes, a smugness falling on his lips as held her stone gaze.
"I can't be here Kaili? I just wanted a slice and look! I ran into you two..." His eyes shifted to Jude's face, his smile melting as he stared.
Well she was obviously going to have to try harder than this. The smile she attempted was more of a grimace and her tone became more and more agitated
with each word. He was just so aggravating! Was he stalking her? Had Keahi sent him looking for her? What was it? How could he possibly know she was
here and why wasn't he on patrol? She just hated everything right now and trying to get over that enough to play nice was proving to be a challenge.
But it was a challenge she was going to face head on and conquer. She could not let Nui leave here and tell anyone what he had seen. She just had to
keep her eye on the prize! She could do this! She hoped...
"I didn't mean it like that, Nui-," she responded to his feigned disappointment in her question and tried again to sound friendly, her voice lighter
than it had been. Good. She could keep this going. "I just meant it's weird seeing you here. Away from the Shore." Slice her ass. Nui was
here for her and he wasn't fooling anyone with that weak lie. Nui Kinalu, in Haole Hell, for a slice of pizza? Sure. And she wasn't on a date. Get
real. She shrugged off his lie though, her mouth poised to say something nice but his attention returned to Jude. Ughhhhh! Couldn't he be civil
just once?! It was Jude. JUDE. No "y". His goading was bullshit and it was never funny. But she was going to power through.
"Nui come on. Play nice-," Kaili allowed her smile to reach her eyes and it probably almost looked genuine. She could totally do this. It got easier
and easier the more words she said. She just needed more words. "Soooo did you come with somebody?" He couldn't have brought Keahi, he was on patrol
for sure. At the very least he would have Parliament and there was no way they would let him miss that for the likes of a possible secret date his
sister was on. But a girl. Maybe he'd brought some girl here and she could...listen to the two of them shit talk Jude all night. Ugh. That actually
would have been worse. She hated she asked that question, but it was out now.
Whatever. Anything to keep the topic of conversation off why she and Jude were here alone.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
Of all the thoughts that Jude could've had at that moment, "Did it have to be Nui?" was top five. But really, did it have to be Nui?! At that moment,
Keahi would've been a better option because at least he might not have beaten the life out of Jude if Kaili asked him not to. But Nui? Nui would
murder him BECAUSE Kaili asked him not to. Either way, Jude was definitely dying that night. Especially if Nui had seen the kiss he and Kaili had
shared moments before he'd appeared. Had he seen it? And if he had, was he going to tell Keahi...or worse, Kaili's parents? Jesus. There were
so many thoughts swarming through Jude's head that he didn't know how to react to Nui's arrival. So he just stared...stupidly, his shock of seeing him
there taking all of his words and dumping the "out" pile in his brain. Thankfully, Kaili jumped into action, her anger barely masked as she greeted
Nui, asking him what he was doing there.
She knew. Of course she knew. He'd been sent, sicked on Kaili and Jude by...who else? Keahi. Or maybe he just took it upon his
creeper self to follow them when he found about their "undate". That was the thing about the Shore. It was intimate, it was full of history...but it
was completely low on privacy. Everyone knew everyone else's business. Of course it hadn't taken long for Nui to find out that Akame's sister was
going out with the "Outsider" (Jude's oh-so loving nickname). And it didn't take long for him to find them...which made Jude think he knew where
they'd be all along. An island this big and Nui Kinalu still managed to crash their date.
"...right Judy?" Ugh. Jude's other nickname. How he loved hearing it. The shock left his face, only to be replaced by a grimace that probably
gave Nui the satisfaction he was looking for. But he was just getting started, wasn't he? No, this was no where near over...especially since Kaili was
engaging him in an actual conversation?! What the heck was she doing? It would've probably been less painful to just let him beat Jude to a pulp and
then allow him to go spread the news to the rest of Keahi's friends so they could join in on on Jude's death. At least when he left, that would give
Jude a chance to go into hiding...although something told him they'd still find him...
Soooo, did you come with somebody? And so what if he- ooooh. Kaili was baiting him. Jude looked at her carefully out of the corner of his
eye, hers still scrutinizing Nui, waiting for his answer. Gauging her response. And Jude knew better as he turned back towards Nui. As long as he
could, he was going to stay quiet and let Kaili run the show.
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man...
She had to think fast. It was a little hard to do with the sound of her heart beating in her ears. She was actually looking at real trouble if her
parents found out about this date. Not only had she lied this time, but she'd been lying for almost 7 months. Her father would be livid and
her mother would be so disappointed. She couldn't do that to them...which she probably should have thought about before starting an almost year long
secret relationship, but...she never thought they'd have to find out! She liked Jude and she liked the time they spent together and this was just the
way things...they just happened. Her dad seemed to like Jude and Kaili always figured once the time was right they could pretend they'd just started
dating and no one would be the wiser...Now, in a strange twist of fate, Nui was "the wiser". She hated this!
Kaili was willing to do just about anything to keep this little run in between the three of them, but the more she thought about it the more apparent
it became that she would have to do the ONE THING she didn't think she could. Come clean to her parents. Nui was going to tell them. And as she sat
waiting for his response to a stupid question, she knew she would have to tell them first...That or allow him to hold this over her head forever.
Ugh, Jude was going to hate hearing this. Dammit! He'd told her they shouldn't have done this! Kaili should have been content with their
hands off study sessions and trips around the Shore. She'd fucked up BIG TIME...She had to find a way to fix this! She needed to think fast, but she
was barely able to remind herself to breathe as Nui stared down the truth of her situation with Jude. They were together and it was obvious.
Ugh.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
Play nice? When had Nui ever been nice? If there was one thing he knew about himself, he knew he'd been born an asshole. A sexy asshole, but yes...an
asshole. And considering he'd just found Kaili on what looked like a date with the same dirt blood that Nui and Keahi had told her not to waste her
time with? Oh, him being an asshole was the least of her concerns. He just didn't understand what the hell she saw in this haole mutt. What was so
fucking great about him that she'd do the one thing that would've gotten her in trouble so deep that nothing she said would talk her out of it? This
was against the rules. Rules that Kaili knew and hated, but followed. You don't date off the Shore. You don't date without permission. You don't
fucking date...period. But no, Kaili wanted to break rules. Hell, if she was so bent on breaking rules, she could've asked Nui years ago. He
would've gladly helped her break a few...repeatedly. But no, she had to have Judy. Well. Nui really hoped that he was worth it...
"Am I here with someone?" Nui repeated, biting his lip as his eyes bore into Kaili's. "Nope. I should be...but I kind of think she likes wasting her
time with little bitches that don't know their place..." As he finished, he stared straight at Jude, the flirty smile he'd adopted with Kaili fading
as his glare went to Jude's face.
"Move over." He ordered Jude, not waiting for him to follow orders before he shoved against him, pushing he and Kaili further into their seat in the
booth. Nui leaned forward on the table, looking past Jude and smiled at Kaili again.
"Let's skip the foreplay." He said, grinning. "Do mommy and daddy know you're fucking the Mutt?" He nodded to Jude, just in case anyone at the table
was confused about who "the Mutt" was.
She walked into that one. Jude would have to forgive her for the response she got to her stupid, stupid question. She sighed, feeling her patience
wain with his words. Not that she had never heard him say just what he had. He hated Jude. That wasn't a secret. He thought he was unworthy, ignorant,
and a complete waste of Kaili's time. None of that mattered though because she didn't think that. Contrary to what he thought, she knew better than he
did what she wanted and Kaili had chosen Jude. Not Nui. NEVER NUI. Especially as he ordered Jude to move over and squished himself into the booth.
Kaili's sigh was audible. Her plan be dammed, if only for a moment. She had to make this work. She needed Nui on her side tonight. She needed him to
keep his damn mouth shut about this! She was going to try again. She plastered her most convincing smile to her face as he looked past Jude and at
her. She rested her chin on the back of her hand as he opened his mouth and...Let's skip the foreplay. Damn. He could see right through her.
So maybe charm wasn't the answer to this dilemma. But what else did she have?! Nui had to be persuaded and she couldn't let him leave here to go back
to her father and rat her ou--Do mommy and daddy know you're--OH MY GOD! Kaili's hands covered her mouth as if she had said what Nui had, her
cheeks burning as they reddened.
"Hold the fuck on-" her body turned to face him completely, her back straightening as she tried to gather herself and say things that made
sense...because Nui wasn't making any! "Not that it's any of your business, but I'm not-," her words paused. She was louder than she meant to be. She
began again at a harsh whisper. "I am not sleeping with Jude, Nui. We're eating. What's the big damn deal?!" She could feel her blood boil, her words
bubbling over and her previous plan forgotten as she leaned over Jude and closer to Nui.
"This bullshit has to stop. Jude and I are friends and you need to get over it. Jealousy is weakness." He wasn't going to like that at all. Implying
that he was in any way weak? That may have been a mistake, but fuck it. He knew how she got when he pissed her off. He'd asked for this.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
Oh. That...struck a nerve. Nui's eyes narrowed in pleasure as Kaili cursed, her body turning completely in the booth to face him while "Judy" stared
straight ahead, his face unreadable. Of course, Nui got it. Jude was letting the balls in the relationship fight his battle for him...which further
convinced Nui of the vagina that had to be between the half-haole's legs. Twat. If Jude was half the man Nui was, he would've punched any
fucker in the mouth that talked like that in front of his girl. But Nui guessed Jude was still trying to sell the lie that he and Kaili weren't
dating...or he was just a pussy. Nui guessed the later. And for the one hundredth time that day, Nui wondered what the hell Kaili saw in Jude. Why she
would defy her brother, the future leader of the Akame tribe...why she would lie to her father, the current leader of the Akames...and why
the FUCK she was pass on Nui, resident sex god...for Jude.
"Kaili, watch you mouth!" Nui feigned surprise as she spat angrily at him, telling him it wasn't his business if she WAS sleeping with the
vag-...Jude. Of course it was his business. The fuck did she get that from that it wasn't? It was every Akame male's business when one of their women
hooked up with an outsider. Outsiders dirtied the pool. Outsiders always fucked and left...Nui only did that some times. Huge
difference. Either way, as Keahi's sister and Alemana's daughter, Kaili's business would always be Nui's business.
"The big deal?" Nui repeated her question. "The big deal is that you and Judy were supposed to be meeting friends. I don't see any friends here..."
Shrugging, Nui looked at the side of Jude's face.
"Do you see any friends, Judy?" Kaili spoke over his question to Jude, turning Nui's attention back to her. Blah, blah, blah. More seething. More-
"Excuse me?" Weak? Did she just...call him "weak"? His fake laugh was the opposite of his darkened expression as he leaned closer to her over
Jude.
"Take it back, kaikamahine. Take it back...and I'll forget you said it."
That's right. Weak. Jealousy was weakness and if Nui wasn't careful it was going to be the end of him. He needed to get it through his thick head that
even if Kaili did admit to dating Jude, IT WAS NONE OF NUI'S BUSINESS! Nui was Akame, but he was not family. He had no control over her life and she
did not care about his opinion! She would never see him as more than her brother's best friend and lately, she was starting to wonder why Keahi even
considered him that. They were nothing alike. Sure, Keahi had his tough guy moments. He could be a dick when he wanted, but he was good. Keahi was
humble and even though he was fully within his right he never powertripped like this! Her brother was a good man and he cared about her and
she knew he would never allow the words Nui had just said to her to even come out of his mouth had he been here.
Excuse me? She wished she could excuse him. She wished he would excuse himself and get the hell out of her face and away from her near
perfect date before his arrival. Kaili's faced remained unchanged, her expression unamused and defiant. She was challenging him. It wasn't something
she probably should have been doing, but forget him! No. No, FUCK him! Fuck Nui for coming here and ruining this for her. Fuck Nui for being a
complete dick to her right now. And fuck Nui for making her want to tear up in front of him. She wouldn't give him the fucking satisfaction.
Kaili held his gaze as he leaned in closer and instructed her to take it back. Ha. Ha! Not even if she was actually afraid of him.
"I don't want you to forget. You heard what I said. Weakness." Kaili gave Nui a look of clear disgust and contempt as she continued to stare.
Waiting. Watching Nui decide whether or not he had the balls to sack up and slap her like she could tell he wanted to. He didn't if he knew what was
good for him. What was the point in all this? What was end game for him right now? Because if it was getting her to change her mind about Jude and
start talking to him, he was pretty much guaranteeing that would NEVER happen.
"So what now, Kinalu? Make me take it back."
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
This was not good. Jude swallowed hard as Nui shoved his stocky frame into him, pushing he and Kaili further into the small booth that was
already tight on space. Before, the booth had been intimate. The perfect size for just Jude and Kaili's "Date Night". Now? It was just an
uncomfortable, air tight powder keg that was on the brink of explosion. And Jude wasn't being dramatic. Plain and simple, Nui had tracked them down,
found them and started THIS delightful back and forth for one reason and one reason only: he wanted to start shit. No matter what reasons Nui
had to track them down, the only real reason he was doing it was his own. He hated Jude...and he wanted Kaili. Jude may have questioned it earlier in
he and Kaili's friendship and afterwards, secret relationship, but he was certain of it now. In his own twisted and creepy way, Nui liked Kaili...and
Jude was the only thing seemingly keeping him having her. Which was ridiculous because Jude could name about...fifty reasons why Nui would never have
Kaili...the top five having something to do with the way he talked to her.
...fucked the Mutt... Jude's audible sigh was drowned out by the anger in Kaili's voice as he willed himself to not react. Because that was
what Nui wanted. A reaction. Not from Kaili, but from Jude. A reaction that would give Nui just cause to start something a little more physical on the
wrong side of the island. A reaction that would put Jude on the same level as Nui...which would've been easy as even though Jude's face was stoic, his
fist clinched underneath the table. Because it wasn't just Jude that Nui was insulting. It was Kaili...and her virtue. There'd never been
anything...like that...between he and Kaili. Jude was fine with the way they were and so was Kaili. They held hands, the kissed. But anything other
than that, Jude wouldn't have tried with Kaili. Not yet. He respected her in a way that Nui would NEVER understand. But of course Nui had to pervert
it. Pervert them. God, he was a douche.
Jealousy is weakness. Jude's face turned at her words. Not because he knew the weight of them and not because he cared what Nui felt. He
looked at her because he knew that she was angry enough to say what she said and not care about the repercussions.
"Kaili...no." He said quietly, Nui's words drowning him out. He threatened Kaili, told her to take back words that everyone at that table knew she
would never retract. She'd said them and she meant them.
"Stop." Jude muttered, his voice a little louder, Kaili speaking over him this time, daring Nui into action. Nui pushed in closer to Kaili, knocking
Jude's arm out of the way. Jude hadn't even noticed he'd put his arm between them. He only heard the thudding in his chest, blood
coursing...adrenaline filling him for what would come next. Violence? A fight that would get them all thrown out of the pizzeria? Nui's temper seeking
revenge? He and Kaili's relationship revealed and over because of Nui's jealousy?
No.
"STOP." Jude's voice rang out over the two and their insults. The coursing blood was gone. His heart slowed. Something settled over the booth.
Something firm. Something that signaled the end of this pissing match that Jude couldn't control.
But he had.
"Stop. The both of you." Jude's voice lowered as Nui drew back, his anger still set in the grinding of his teeth.
Man has a choice and it's a choice that makes him a man...
She hadn't heard Jude at all. In all honesty, part of her forgot he was there. Nui had finally accomplished what he'd been trying to do for years now
and he was officially the only boy Kaili could see in that moment. She was sure this wasn't what he'd had in mind when he'd thought about
creating this moment for her. The only reason it was true now was because she was absolutely livid with him. All she wanted was for him to
give her a reason. Any reason. Any excuse for her to have Keahi beat the shit out of him for laying a hand on his sister. Because there was no doubt
in her mind he would. Nui didn't get it. He'd been around for too long and had confused himself for family. He'd forgotten his place, not only with
Kaili but with his status in the tribe. He thought he was Beta and he was fucking wrong. He would never be a proper second because he would
never be a proper leader.
Kaili knew it. She had known it for some time, but never said anything. Not until now. He would never be a proper second because he was weak.
She told him so and now she was daring him to prove it. Daring him to make her take back words she meant with every fiber of her being. She had
challenged him and now she was waiting to see what he would...STOP. Kaili's features softened immediately at the authority in Jude's voice,
his presence coming back into focus. She leaned away, her face taking a look of soft confusion as she waited for more. Stop. The both of you.
What was that?
Kaili couldn't explain it, but she felt his words. He wasn't asking them to stop, he was ordering them to and it was...strange from him. Jude
never did this. He held his tongue everytime these little back and forths with Nui got started. Not because he was afraid...well not completely, but
mostly because he was trying to keep the peace. That's what Jude was. The peacekeeper. It was the reason he followed all of the stupid rules set for
him on the Shore, it was the reason he let Nui and Keahi get away with so much. He wasn't like them. He wasn't Akame and she meant that in the best
way possible. He didn't let his temper get the better of him...like now.
Kaili stayed quiet as she waited for Jude to say more. He was trying to do what she hadn't and deescalate the situation. And it seemed like he was
going to be a lot more successful than she had been...so far anyway.
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
A hush spread over the table as Nui and Kaili's surprised gaze fell on Jude. Well. Look who found a new pair of supersized, outsider
balls.... And who did this little prick think he was? The authority in Jude's voice was hard to miss as it paused their argument. Did he think a
new set and a "big boy" voice made him man enough...no, better than Nui? Big enough to silence an argument over things that he had NO say so in?
THIS...was why outsiders didn't get to date (or whatever it was that Jude and Kaili were pretending to do) South Shore girls. The dipped their
pinpricks for dicks into a little bit of power and started feeling themselves. And dumb ass South Shore girls like Kaili definitely gave them power.
Made them feel all high and mighty. Of course Kaili fell silent. Jude had found a way into their culture, their community and wrapped her around his
pinky finger so tightly that she'd do anything he asked or demanded of her in a heartbeat. Nui scoffed in the still that remained over the table and
wondered...just how far Jude's demands over Kaili had gone...
...fucking the Mutt... Ha. That was the ONLY thing that could explain his control over Kaili. Because she was stupid with Jude. Stupider than
Nui had ever seen her over one of those unlucky sons of a bitch that she happened to like on the Shore. Nui wouldn't have been surprised if Jude was
sticking his fingers in no-no places. Places that would've gotten his fingers AND they hands the were connected to cut the fuck off if Keahi ever
found out. Shit, if Alemana every found out. Yeah, Alemana played it cool while Jude trumped around the island the way his rat of an uncle did. But
when Alemana found out that all that high and mighty had made his "perfect" Kaili lepo as the black sand on Kai Pulehu...he'd be less than
pleased to let the outsider continue his trespassing.
That explained Kaili's silence and her obedience to Jude's words...so, what explained his? Nui noticed that he hadn't said a word since Jude had
demanded that they stop talking in that voice that he'd probably learned from stalking the shit out of Keahi. The voice that spoke power. The voice of
a leader.
Who the FUCK did he think he was?
"We're not on the right side of the island for this." Jude said quietly, his head turning to meet Kaili and Nui's eyes. "And both of you know it."
Nui snorted, shaking his head at Jude's words...that were true, whether he wanted to admit it or not. They were on haole soil. And haole soil meant
haole police if they started enough trouble. Haole police that didn't give a damn who their tribe was or who their leader was. The police department
on Shore soil didn't intimidate anyone. They never had. They were as pointless as their presence was considering that the Shore had the pueo and the
tribal leaders. But here? Police were law.
"So, what do you suggest we do...?" Nui hesitated, an insult of Jude's name stopping before it reached his lips.
The silence lingered for a while and Kaili waited. She watched. She started with Jude, her eyes unable to tear away from the stoic and unreadable
expression his face held. She'd never seen Jude like this. Those eyes, that voice...there was something familiar in it and the more she thought about
it the more it reminded her of...her brother? It was crazy! Keahi and Jude were nothing alike and she most definitely didn't think of Jude as
her brother so where was that connection coming from? What was behind the power in his voice?
She stared until he spoke again and she realized her thoughts had wandered from the situation at hand. That situation being Nui. We're not on the
right side of the island for this. He was right. Keahi would blame her for this and he would never forgive her if she got Nui arrested. Worse
yet, her father would never forget if she called him for bail money. This was stupid and Kaili knew it before Jude had to point it out to them. Nui
knew it too.
Nui scoffed a little, rolling his eyes as if Jude wasn't speaking complete truth. Kaili looked to her lap then, a little bit of shame filling her as
she thought about what had just happened here...what it could have lead to. She didn't want to fight Nui. She just wanted him to go home and keep his
mouth shut. She wanted him to keep she and Jude's secret and pretend he hadn't seen them here alone together. Was that really so much to ask?
Apparently it was as Nui spoke again asking what Jude suggested they do. Telling the two of them that this was far from over. Ugh! Kaili heaved an
audible sigh as she turned back to Nui to start again. Jude could apparently tell she was going to and she felt a squeeze at her knee beneath the
table. Her eyes met his instead, the calm in them quelling fresh rage in her. Don't. She heard him without him even saying it. And he was
right again.
Kaili licked her lips and swallowed her pride, her mouth opening again, "Nui...I'm sorry-," the apology left a sour taste in her mouth. She hated
apologizing to him because she knew she was right in everything she'd said. He was jealous. He did need to get over her and Jude. But that wasn't the
point.
"I was out of line and this got out of hand."
I'll let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans;
be your teenage dream tonight.
![[*]](images/davis/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
