Little Bit¹, Jude Bellingham

XVII. Off

Seventeen. Off

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Once the movie was over, the applause had started up again. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, Jude and Gio claiming their roles as "Punisher's biggest fans." They mingled with the cast and crew for a while before leaving the place and heading to a restaurant for their own little after party. It was only Nevaeh, Jude, Sokena, and Gio — just how they wanted it. Besides, Nevaeh and Sokena had a whole-cast dinner to attend to the next night. Why not spend their time with their boyfriends while they could?

     "You did amazing," Jude complimented for what felt like the thirtieth time that night. He kept telling Nevaeh and Sokena about how jawdropping and real their performance felt.

     "Yeah, I can't believe Kiki didn't die, I thought she would," Gio laughed, taking a bite out of his meal. His girlfriend lightly pushed him with a smile.

     "I don't know, I thought Nevaeh was," Jude told the group.

     "Is it because I'm black?" Nevaeh looked over at her boyfriend, a 'be careful' look on her face.

     He chuckled saying, "I'm black, too, Vaeh."

     "Your white side is showing."

     "Anyway," Sokena sighed. "I thought the movie was good. It was a little nerve-wrecking to see me on the screen, though. I wonder if I look that hot all the time."

     Gio gave her a knowing look saying, "Trust me, you do."

     "Get a room," Nevaeh made a fake gagging noise, pointing her finger at her mouth. Jude smiled at his girlfriend's antics from across the table.

     "Wait 'till you find out what Jude says about you," Gio rolled his eyes, looking over at his best friend. Jude could feel his face getting hot as he gave Gio a pleading face as if to silently say, "Don't tell her."

     "What do you say, Jude?" Nevaeh sat up, putting her arm on the table and resting her chin on her palm. He looked embarrassed and kept quiet, hoping that she'd let it go. He clearly didn't know his girlfriend, because she wasn't going to.

     "Nothing," he cleared his throat, looking around as if anyone was going to help him.

"Gio, what does he say?"

"He says a lot. I remember this one time we were talking and he's just scrolling through his phone and out loud he goes, 'Wow, Nevaeh is so hot.' And then he realized he had said it and that I heard him, so he looks up and goes. 'You did not hear that.' Then he looks at his phone again and starts giggling like a little schoolgirl," Gio recalled, laughing at his friend. "I love you, mate, but you are so down bad."

"No shame about it," Jude shrugged, trying to play it off smoothly. He tried to ignore the fact that Nevaeh was uncontrollably smiling and staring at him.

"Neve says worse," Sokena added, looking at the couple.

Nevaeh sank back, her smile completely fading as she felt her face heat up with embarrassment. Jude suddenly looked intrigued and asked, "Like what?"