Chapter Three.
The restaurant was bustling but the girls had plenty to discuss while they waited for their order, mainly Joey's budding romance with her English professor, which Jen still hadn't heard anything about. Audrey was delighted that she was able to impart the entire saga to a fresh audience, Joey warned Jen to sit comfortably before Audrey started.
" Oh my God. Professor Wilder is so gorgeous and little Joey here has been spending loads of time with him over this dead woman, right? Anyway, they go out for this celebration dinner or whatever because they've finished the little project thing and Joey ends up kissing him. Only, she gets really freaked out and runs away but she stayed at his 'til really late last night and she's going there again tonight!" babbled Audrey, Jen listened intently, looking up at Joey in amazement.
" Go Joey! I always wanted to sleep with a college professor," smiled Jen.
" I'm not sleeping with him. We're just friends, it's not like we're in a relationship or anything,"
" Yeah, friends who swap body fluids!" laughed Audrey. Joey smiled and shook her head; nothing could dampen her mood. She was out with her friends, about to enjoy a really good meal cooked by another friend and then she was off to talk the night away with a man who made her stomach tingle. Even the thought of him caused butterflies to swarm and a blush to rise to her cheeks.
" Ignore her, Jo. If you're happy then it shouldn't matter what anyone else says," smiled Jen, taking a bite out of a bread stick that were sitting in the centre of the table. Audrey was pre-occupied, having told the Wilder tale she could now return to her main entertainment, Pacey-watching. Joey had been teasing her mercilessly for weeks about her little crush but she couldn't ignore the fact that Pacey was majorly hot.
" Thank you Jen. I am happy; he's wonderful. I mean, he's so mature and we talk about everything and we're on the same wavelength. We totally click, you know what I mean?" babbled Joey, sipping her water. Jen laughed and nodded, she hadn't seen her friend like this in a long time. She failed to recall if even Dawson had caused these outbursts of emotions and animated conversation about men.
" So Joey, what's the plan of attack? I mean, we can't have you freaking out again. I don't think I could take it," beamed Audrey from across the table. Having satisfied her wandering eye with a few glimpses of Pacey in the kitchen, she turned full attention to Joey.
" I don't have a plan of attack. I'm just dropping by, I'm not expecting anything,"
" Well, I am and if you don't deliver Joey Potter then I'm going to have to just… Well, I don't know what but I won't be happy," shouted Audrey. Other diners raised their heads at the noise and looked over to the girls' table, Joey hid her head in embarrassment but Audrey just stared right back until they turned away.
" I think this is going to be an interesting meal," laughed Jen as their food was brought over.
The three friends sat on the bench at the bus stop around the corner from Professor Wilder's house. Joey was checking her watch every two minutes but something was keeping her from leaving. They all sat in silence, watching the traffic drive by and the people walking about. Joey checked her watch again; ten minutes past eight. Well, she had said "about eight". Audrey stood up in front of Joey and looked down at her friend.
" I'm sorry, Joey but I'm going home. Are you gonna go knock on that gorgeous man's door or are you coming back to the dorm?" said Audrey, Jen stood up to join her. Joey looked up at them both and stood up purposefully.
" I'm going to Wilder's," she announced, grabbing her bag before kissing both Jen and Audrey and walking around the corner that had been scaring her all evening. Audrey and Jen debated whether to follow her or not but decided that it would be far too mean and started the long walk to Grams' house.