A/N Poor Molesley, I'm afraid he doesn't really get much of a break in my story either. This will probably be the last update for awhile as I have caught up to all my finished chapters except for ones that come much later. I write as a situation strikes me and not in order.
I've come to understand that I am a bit of a review w**re, so anything you leave me is greatly appreciated. :)
John was as good as his word and insisted on walking Anna back to the library. Anna told him that her group, Gwen, Joseph Molesley and Jane Moorsum were going to be working at Gwen's flat, so he walked her there instead. Since Anna had stayed so long at the tea shop, she arrived about 15 minutes later than the others. When they arrived, Anna and John found Joseph sitting on the stoop. When he saw them he jumped to his feet and immediately approached Anna.
"Hello, Joseph." Anna smiled, "What are you doing out here?"
"The others are all inside, but I said I would wait for you. In case something was wrong." He stammered a little as he spoke and shuffled his feet.
"That's very kind of you… Joseph was it?" John asked, "but as you can see, Anna is just fine. Beauty and I have taken good care of her."
"You must be Bates. I've heard a lot about you from Anna." Molesley attempted to stand up a bit straighter but made no attempt to shake John's hand.
"John, this is Joseph Molesley, a friend of mine from school. He's a brilliant mathematician. Much smarter than I am." Anna motioned toward her friend. "Joseph, this is John Bates, my boss I suppose. I'm sure you've heard of him or seen him on tv."
"Can't say I have much time to waste on television. Not with my studies and all." Joseph smiled tightly at John, who couldn't decide if this Molesley fellow was being rude or just socially awkward.
"Well," John said looking only at Anna, "I best be getting on, I shouldn't keep you from studying... like I did last night." He looked directly at Molesley when he said the last part.
"Won't you come in and meet the others, John?" Anna asked, placing her hand on his forearm, "Please, just for a moment? Gwen will never forgive me if she finds out you were right outside and I didn't introduce the two of you."
"It would be my pleasure, Anna" John smiled broadly. He made sure to place his hand over Anna's. "You won't mind staying here with Beauty for a minute, will you Molesley?" John asked. He was handing Joseph the dog's lead before the younger man quite knew what was happening. John placed his hand in the middle of Anna's back and guided her up the stairs.
"Seems like a nice enough chap." John said as he and Anna continued up the steps.
"He is" Anna's tone was matter of fact. She opened Gwen's door without knocking and said, "Hello-o, sorry I'm late."
"It's about time you got here. We've already ordered the pizza and you'll just have to take what you get." Gwen came striding around the corner and stopped immediately upon seeing John standing in the hallway. She was wearing pajama bottoms and a very old, very ripped sweatshirt. Her red-gold hair was put up on her head in a loose bun. "Oh my god, Anna. Why didn't you warn me?" Gwen shouted at her friend.
"What's all the ruckus?" Jane asked, entering the hallway to join the others. She looked toward the man Anna had entered with, expecting it to be Joseph. "You're John Bates." she exclaimed, "Wow, I love your show. I never miss it."
John flashed his best smile at both women, "Thank you. Thank you very much…." he cocked his head to one side in a questioning manner.
"Jane," Anna supplied, "Jane Moorsum. And this is Gwen...Dawson."
"Ladies," John extended his hand to them one at a time, "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Joseph is a lucky man to be surrounded by such beauty. It's a wonder he gets anything done at all."
"It's a wonder he gets anything done with Anna around all right." Gwen laughed, "He couldn't care less if Jane and I were here or not. Although the way I look right now, who could blame him."
"You're lovely, Gwen and I've been looking forward to meeting you." John took her hand again and leaned in to lightly kiss her cheek. "I hope you liked your autograph?"
Gwen giggled and said, "Oh yes, Mr. Bates. It's lovely, but don't worry, I haven't told anyone that you live here."
"Please Gwen, call me John."
"Okay...John." She said and giggled again.
John shot Anna a look as if to say, She seems to have no trouble calling me John! but Anna ignored him. She was too busy laughing at Gwen.
Jane rolled her eyes "Thank god for you, Anna. Between Gwen and Joseph, it's a wonder we get anything done at all. Where is Joseph anyway?"
"I'm afraid I left him outside with my dog so I could come in and meet the two of you." John responded. "I suppose I should be going. I hear you have a big presentation tomorrow and I don't want to keep you. I'll just wish you luck." He turned and gave Anna his undivided attention, "Goodbye, Anna. I hope to see you soon."
"I'll just see you out" Anna said as she walked John to the door. "Thank you for being so kind to my friends. It really means a lot to me."
"I wanted to meet them. Anna, I hope we're friends and if we are then I'd like to know about your life and your work. Give me a call tomorrow after your presentation and let me know how it went."
Anna opened the door and John walked, almost skipped down the stairs. He took Beauty's lead from Joseph and smiled at the man, "Thanks mate. I owe you one."
Joseph followed Anna back into Gwen's flat where they immediately heard Gwen and Jane talking about John.
"You have to admit he is totally gorgeous." Gwen was saying.
"I suppose so. He certainly is a gentleman. I did find him quite charming." Jane replied.
"Oh I'm so glad you both liked him." Anna said as she and the other girls went back into the other room to get to work.
Joseph hung back in order to close the door. "I don't know" he mumbled under his breath, "He didn't seem all that special to me."