Pulling into a parking space around the corner of the restaurant Paul got out of the car and casually walked towards it grateful that he was only a few minutes late. As he turned the corner he spotted Stephanie and Stuart in some form of heated discussion and he didn't like it. Walking closer to them he smiled softly as Stephanie turned to face him, "hey."

Stephanie nodded her head politely at Paul, "hi. I'm glad you could make it."

Stepping closer to her he went to hug her but she put her hand out for him to shake it instead and he couldn't help but feel hurt by the action but tried not to show it as he shook her hand, "sorry I'm a bit late, my last client ran late."

Walking out of the restaurant again Stacey noticed Paul go to hug Stephanie and she also noticed the hurt on his face as she snubbed him, she'd seen them hug before so if she hadn't seen what she had seen tonight she would have wondered what was wrong but she knew exactly what was wrong. Taking a deep breath she hoped he didn't think she was crazy, "you must be Paul right?"

Turning to face the sound of the voice Paul looked at her quizzically, "you kn . . ."

Grabbing Paul quickly in a hug she cut him off and whispered in his ear, "just trust me and go with it, I'll explain later."

Not sure what he was trusting her over or why she wanted him to go along with it he decided to just do as she asked, "yes I'm Paul. You must be Stephanie's friend, Suzy, Sam, Sheila, something like that right?"

Laughing at the fact that he didn't know her name and the twinkle in his eye she shrugged her shoulders, "you were close, it's Stacey."

"Stacey and Suzy are so close don't you know?"

Stephanie felt a pang of jealousy as she watched two of her closest friends bonding and bouncing off each other, she wanted it to be her.

Curious about how Stacey knew Paul Stuart decided to ask, "so how did you know about Paul then Stacey?"

Without thinking Stephanie started to answer, "well one day he . . ."

Realising what was about to be said Stacey jumped in cutting her off, "one day I was eating lunch with Stephanie and I was complaining how bored I was about being single and I asked her if she had any single male friends and she said that Paul might be single so I asked her to find out for me. Enough about us though, let's go and take a seat as our table is ready."

Paul offered his elbow to Stacey as the two of them walked inside so they could take their seats at the table.

Following Stacey and Paul into the restaurant she was feeling guilty, she wanted to be the one on Paul's arm.

Everybody took a seat around the table and began to look at their menus.

After ordering their meals the four of them sat in silence with everyone being afraid of speaking in front of Stuart.

The silence was annoying her so Stacey decided to speak up, "so tell me a little about yourself Paul, Stephanie hasn't told me anything."

Leaning back in his chair a little he looked at her, "there is not a whole lot to tell. I live in apartment with a room-mate who thinks he is my Mother, I work at a gym as a personal trainer and that's pretty much everything."

Raising her eyebrow Stacey was intrigued, "your room-mate thinks he is your Mother? Why?"

Shrugging his shoulders he didn't know, "he was a woman in a past life?"

Both Stephanie and Stacey laughed at that comment, "you love him really."

"Eh, maybe."

Stuart didn't like that Stephanie laughed at Paul's comment and kicked her sharply under the table to reprimand her.

Stacey noticed Stephanie jumping and the glare Stuart threw her way and she hated it, "I'm just going to use the bathroom a moment before our food arrives. Care to join me Steph?"

Nodding her head she pushed her chair back and went to get up but Stuart grabbed her arm preventing her from leaving, "you don't need to use the bathroom just yet do you?"

Gulping she shook her head and sat back down, "no, no I don't."

Stacey saw the flicker of anger on Paul's face and she knew in that moment that this date would go nowhere because he clearly had feelings for Stephanie, she thought it before and had hoped that she was wrong but she knew now that she was right. Grabbing her bag she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up before the meal began.

Dinner was a little tense with Paul being angry at Stuart and Stephanie being too afraid to do or say anything incase Stuart got more angry at her so when the meal was over they were nearly all relieved.

Stephanie was aware that Stacey had walked to the restaurant and now it was late she really didn't want her walking home alone, "let us drop you home Stace, I don't want you walking home alone."

Stacey would rather go to the Dentist than be in a confined space with Stuart even if it was just for a few blocks so she turned to Paul hopefully, "I was kind of hoping that Paul might drop me home?"

Smiling softly he nodded his head, he wanted to find out what her problems earlier were so he would be happy to, "it would be my pleasure. Let me get our cheque and then we can be on our way."

Flagging down the waiter he informed them of their wish to leave and the waiter brought over the cheques for the table and placed them down in the middle.

Stuart grabbed all of the cheques and handed them to Stephanie, "you'll pay for this won't you? It was your idea."

Paul frowned immediately hating the idea and despite seeing Stephanie nod he shook his head, "no it's okay thanks, I'll handle it."

Quickly looking at the bills Stephanie handed Paul his and Stacey's before she took out her credit card to pay for hers and Stuart's.

Once the bills were paid they all made their way out of the restaurant pausing briefly just outside of the entrance.

After being snubbed by Stephanie earlier Paul resisted the urge he had to go for another hug and instead stuck his hands in his pocket and lied his way through his little speech, "I had a nice evening, we should do it again sometime."

Stephanie could see on his face that he didn't mean a word of it as she knew him and she knew when he was lying but it wasn't the time or the place to bring it up, "yeah. I'll see you on Monday Stacey."

Stacey smiled softly and hugged her friend, "yes you will. Bye both." Turning to Paul she looped her arm through his and led him off down the street as she owed him an explanation and she wanted out of there before it broke down into a fist fight between the men.