Chapter 4 ENEMIES AT THE TABLE.

CHAPTER 4: ENEMIES AT THE TABLE.

"Dinner is ready," Mrs Adams said, calling the attention of everyone, as she and Samantha were done setting the table.

"Alrighty! It was about time," Joey said, all excited. The father-son duo got up and headed to the dining table. They were seated at the living room chatting away just between the two of them.

Justin was seated in the living room as well, but he seemed to be invisible to them, as always. He didn't mind though, that was normal. At least, he wasn't being beaten anymore. He was way too grown for that now.

The twins, Geoffrey and Juliet both exited their rooms and headed to the dining table. Justin was the last to get up and head to the dining table. Immediately he stood up, he saw Joey smacking Samantha's butt and winking at her.

She gave him a look of disapproval, but he smirked instead and took his seat. Justin furrowed his brow, wondering what the hell that was all about, but he said nothing.

Justin took his seat beside the excited Geoffrey who beckoned on him to come sit beside him. He happily obliged.

"After dinner, I'll show you my collections," Geoffrey whispered excitedly.

"Okay buddy," Justin smiled at him. Lifting up his head, he saw that Samantha took her seat right next to Joey. This still made Justin wonder what was going on with those pair. But he kept his cool, and didn't bother about it.

With everyone seated at the table, Mrs Adams cleared her throat and said, "Shall we say grace?"

Everyone bowed their heads, and she recited the usual words that Justin had heard more than he could count, wondering if they actually believed that whom they prayed to heard them at all.

She ended her recitation saying, "Amen."

They all chorused in unison, "Amen."

"Alright then, let's eat," Mrs Adams declared. The twins gladly grabbed their cutleries and began serving themselves some food. They passed round what wasn't close to the person who hadn't served his or herself yet.

For just a moment, while they served themselves portions of the food prepared, Justin noticed the atmosphere seemed to have been depleted of prejudice. His heart found it peaceful.

But that all changed, the moment everyone was done serving themselves, and began munching on their meals. Derogatory looks were thrown from every corner at Justin. Except Geoffrey.

Justin could see that they obviously didn't want him there. 'Was I just being childish to expect more from these folks? How pathetic of me.' He said, somewhat regretting he came there in the first place.

"So, Justin, you're finally done with college I see," Joey asked, with his loud annoying voice, that he loved using to overshadow folks.

"Yeah," Justin replied, not bothering to look at Joey. Joey scoffed, provoked that Justin paid him no attention.

"Heard you even graduated with honors huh?" Joey asked, trying to seem unimpressed.

"It couldn't be any less," Justin replied.

"Mm. That's good. But gotten any job offers yet?" Joey enquired.

"Yeah, I got. But I turned it down. Wasn't what I wanted."

"What was it?" Joey asked, picking his tooth with his tongue.

"It was a lecturing job at my previous school."

Joey laughed out loud mockingly, causing Mr and Mrs Adams to join in, along with Samantha and Juliet. They laughed him to scorn, but he just smiled.

"So you refused becoming a teacher huh? I know you're trying to be like me? Financially free, living life at my own terms. You wanna be like me huh?"

Justin just smirked, saying nothing, looking at Joey.

"Well, you can never be like me," Joey said. "You wanna know why? Hmm?"

Justin gulped down some water, and relaxed his back on his chair and said, "Please, do tell."

"It's because I have and will always be better than you. So you better go beg that they give you back the teacher job you stupidly turned down. How ridiculous of you," Joey snorted, shaking his head.

"Yeah, you'd better," Mrs Adams concurred. Justin said nothing back in response. He simply played around with his fork. He had began losing his appetite.

They all went on eating their meal, chattering, unperturbed as though they had done nothing wrong.

As they were about rounding up from dinner, Joey raised his glass of wine, using a fork, he hit it against the cup, calling everyone's attention.

"There's something very important I'd like to do, at this moment, since we're all here, together, as a family," he said, chuckling. Everyone paid attention to hear what he had to say.

"I know this may come unexpectedly to most of us here. Even I too, am surprised am about to do this, but, what the fuck."

"Language Joey," Mrs Adams warned.

"Yeah yeah. I know the kids are here," Joey said disrespectfully. He reached into his pocket and brought out a ring box, and went on one knee, opening it, facing Samantha.

Justin's eyes widened in utter shock, with his heart racing. 'Nah, this must be some prank. It definitely is,' Justin's thoughts spiralled.

"Samantha, you know I love you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Joey proposed.

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you," Samantha ecstatically agreed hastily, stretching out her fingers, as Joey fixed the ring on it. She couldn't wait for Joey to get up from the floor as she hugged him.

Everyone clapped joyfully, except Justin. He still couldn't fathom what was going on. Shaking his head forcefully, he voiced out his questions.

"What's all this? What's going on Sam?"

"What does it look like? Joey proposed and I agreed," she replied derogatorily.

"But- But I proposed to you, two months ago. So when did you and Joey date and got to this point?" Justin asked.

"Watch your tone boy," Mr Adams warned.

"No dad, it's cool. Let him talk. He feels his now a man to question me," Joey said, stepping forward threateningly towards Justin. Justin didn't bother paying him any attention. He was speaking to Samantha.

"We uh- Joey and I-"

"How could she have accepted you, with such a lousy proposal? I mean, for real Justin?" Joey scoffed.

"Well, just so you know, after she called it off with you, on her birthday, she came running into my arms and gave me the best ride of my life. Well, that wouldn't be the first time, now has it honey?"

Samantha shook her head in agreement, holding Joey tightly.

"That's a lie," Justin refused to believe Joey.

"You want proof? Here, have a look." Joey scrolled through his phone and played Justin a sextape of himself and Samantha, turning down the volume.

Justin closed his eyes tightly, as though pierced through his heart with a sword, having seen what he saw. It was the pain of utmost betrayal, not just from Samantha, but from family.

Opening them, tears ran down his eyes.

"How could you Sam? How could you?!" Justin yelled advancing towards her.

"Don't you dare," Joey snarled, after he punched Justin in the face.

Justin stood straight, seething with rage as he looked at Joey, clenching his fists.