Sabby56

Chapter Three: Fondue for Two

"So running into you like that, twice, was strange."

"Yeah." He agreed, stuffing his hands into his pockets to keep from fidgeting. "You move all the way across the country, and you end up running into the most unlikely person."

"Weird."

"So weird." Joe cleared his throat nervously, "so um-"

"Can I get you kids started off with something to drink?" The waitress asked, approaching the table. Joe sighed in relief, he didnt handle awkwardness very well.

"Water is fine."

"I'll have lemonade."

"One water, one lemonade coming right up." The waitress scribbled down in her note pad. "I'm Judy by the way, and I'll be taking care of you tonight."

Lifting his menu to his face, Joe looked over the options, but really, he didn't have an appetite. His gut twisted and turned into little knots, sitting across from her, he doubted he'd be able to keep anything down.

"Nervous?"

The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. She knows me all too well. "You can tell?"

The blonde sitting across from him, nodded. "You tend to tap your foot when you're nervous." Laughing he looked down, sure enough his foot tapped relentlessly against the dark green rug.

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine. I'm kind of nervous too."

"That's the thing," placing the menu flat against the table, he looked her square in the eye, "it never used to be like this."

"I know." Running her hand through her hair, she figured she mind as well tell him what was on her mind. "I think it's because I have so much to say."

"Then say it."

"Where do I start?" She asked no one in particular. Joe knew where he wanted to start. Right were they left off, as friends, hopefully, maybe, eventually more. "I'm sorry."

Leaning back in his seat, he crossed his arms. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

"For breaking our promise, before I went off to school we promised to stay in touch, and you kept up your end of the deal, while I… well you know, I was a lousy friend. And when I'd come home to visit, I was always too busy and-"

"Quinn it's okay."

"No, it's not."

Joe wasn't going to lie. It hurt a lot when she never called back, or replied to his emails, but she was human. He understood that she was growing and changing into a woman. He didn't blame her for wanting to move on with her life. "People change Q. I can't be mad at you for doing something that was bound to happen." He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.

"Don't say that." Reaching across the table, she reached for his hand. "Joe, I've always thought of you as a great friend, and you deserved, deserve a great friend in return."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I-I would like to start over," she stuttered softly. Quinn could feel her nerves skyrocketing. It was never easy putting yourself out there but as a smile lit Joe's face, she was happy she had.

Tightening his hand in her grip, he said, "I'd like that."Relief washed over her in waves. She couldnt remember a time she'd ever been so happy to be someone's friend before.

"Thank you."

"You kids ready to order?" Judy returned, sitting the water in front of Joe and the lemonade in front of Quinn.

Caught in the moment, Quinn unintentionally neglected the menu. Sensing her hold up, Joe offered an explanation. "Can we have a few more minutes please?"

"Alright sweetie." Judy smiled, "I'll be back in a moment."

Quinn watched as she sashayed away, "she totally likes you."

"What?" Releasing her hand, Joe looked back to where Judy stopped in front of another table, a family of five he presumed, and laughed. "She does not."

Quinn nodded, "are you kidding me? Did you see the way she smiled at you?"

"She was just being friendly."

"I bet." Quinn smirked.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say somebody sounds jealous," a brow lifted, "you jealous Quinn?"

Her mouth gaped open for sometime, before she was finally able to sputter, "Me? Jealous? What would even make you - no ... No why - why would I be jealous, that's insane." She eyed her menu, "hey look, they have fondue." She could feel heat creep onto her face, as he laughed softly.

"Fondue, huh?"

"Fondue," she confirmed.

He drummed his fingers lightly on the table. "Hey," he smiled, ironically. She seemed to know where he was going with this.

"Fondue for two!" Quinn laughed hysterically, as memories of Britney S. Pierce came to the forefront of her mind. No matter how hard he try, Joe couldn't seem to smother the thought of one of his most memorable friends from glee either, which paralleled his laughter even further.

"You kids decide on what you want?" Their laughter stifled some, as Judy reappeared.

"Um...," Joe looked across the table, a silent question on his tongue, when Quinn nodded. "We'll take the fondue please."

to be continued