Chapter Two – Dinner Date

Joey turned the oven temperature down slightly as the cheese topping of her lasagne began to melt. Dawson had just called to tell her he was leaving Grams' house so she knew that he would be arriving soon, she hadn't heard from Audrey or Pacey but Audrey always made a conscious effort to be late. It was almost six o'clock and the sinking feeling in her stomach was convincing her to give up on David making it home for dinner. A knock at the door announced Dawson's arrival at the house; she smoothed back her hair and walked through the living room to open the door. Dawson stood awkwardly in the porch light holding a bottle of wine at his side, Joey ushered him in and away from the cold with smiles and greetings.

"How are you?" he asked, hanging his coat on the rack before following Joey through to the kitchen.

"I'm good," she smiled, putting the wine bottle down on the ready laid table. "Did Jen say if she was coming?"

"Yeah, she said she's sorry but she's working tonight but Jack's definitely coming over,"

"Okay, I wish he'd called, dinner's going to be ready soon," said Joey, removing Jen's place from the table. "At least you can arrive on time,"

"Seriously Jo, are you okay? You seem a little upset,"

"No, I'm just a little tired or something," smiled Joey. "What about you?"

"I'm good; I've just started another script so that's keeping me busy. Grams keeps complaining that she never sees me!" he said. Joey laughed and checked the over again. Another knock at the door forced Joey to excuse herself so she could let Audrey, Pacey and Jack in; she was glad they had all arrived together. Everybody walked through to the kitchen to join Dawson, Pacey had baked a lemon meringue pie "from scratch" which Joey placed on the sideboard before pulling her famous lasagne from the oven

"Where's David?" asked Jack, pulling out a chair and sitting down. Joey didn't answer but dropped the lasagne into the centre of the table; Audrey put a finger up to her lips to tell Jack to keep quiet. Everybody sat down while Dawson opened the wine and poured a glass out for everybody, pausing at the empty place at the table.

"Don't bother, he'll be late tonight," said Joey, trying hard not to betray her cool exterior but inside wishing that just tonight, he could have tried to make it home. Dawson put to bottle down while Joey spooned out lasagne onto everyone's plate and sat down.

"This looks amazing, Jo. You always made better lasagne than me," laughed Pacey, digging into his dinner.

"Thanks Pace. It's my Mom's recipe, handed down from Potter to Potter,"

"We haven't been together like this in ages, it's good," said Jack, Audrey mmm'd in agreement through a mouthful of pasta.

Everyone was silent as they ate the lasagne, making appreciative noises every so often but after the plates were clear the five friends came alive. They talked and ate and drank, Joey fetched two bottles of wine from the fridge and everyone got happily merry. Joey was pleased at how well everything had turned out until she heard the key in the front door, a quick glance at the kitchen clock told her it was almost half past seven and she felt her hackles rise at the thought of being annoyed at him in front of her friends.

"Hey everybody, good to see you all," smiled David as he walked in. He dropped the house keys next to the kettle and kissed the top of Joey's head, everybody murmured some form of welcome while Joey remained icily silent.

"Well, you've missed Joey's amazing lasagne but we haven't started on my delicious pie yet," said Pacey, desperate to ensure David didn't feel excluded by the silence and that Joey didn't get too upset at the dinner table.

"I think I'll pass on the pie but I would love a glass of wine," said David, picking up the empty wine glass from the untouched place that had been set for him. Dawson grabbed the open bottle and handed it to him, Joey was hyper-aware of how quiet the room had become and couldn't help but feel angry at David.

"You said you'd try and make it," she said softly.

"I did try but I got held back by some quick meeting about the budget," he explained, sitting down at the table amongst everyone else.

"Fine, I just think it's a little rude to show up halfway through dinner and expect to join in," she sighed.

"I didn't realise I was being rude. I mean, God forbid I should be able to have a glass of wine after a long day at work," he snapped.

"That's not what I… forget it," whispered Joey. Audrey looked across at her nervously but Joey was too busy chewing on her lower lip and fighting back tears to notice. She looked across at Pacey and shrugged her shoulders.

"Look, we should really get going. Why don't you keep the pie, it's a gift. We'll see you tomorrow," said Pacey, draining his wine glass and standing along with Audrey.

"Yeah, I've got an early class," said Jack and stood up. After a few discreet looks, everyone was on their feet. David was apologising profusely as he walked everyone to the front door while Joey started cleaning up the kitchen.

David walked back into the kitchen as Joey slammed another plate into the sink. She looked back over her shoulder and shook her head in total disbelief at what a disaster dinner had turned out to be. David began clearing the dinner plates from the table and placed them next to the sink, Joey pushed them into the water without looking up at him. He put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around, Joey exploded.

"What do you want from me? I ask you to come home on time for one night and you can't even manage it and when you do come home, it's so awkward that all my friends feel they have to leave. Without dessert. This is so ridiculous, why did I even bother to move in? I saw you more when we lived apart!"

"Joey, I'm sorry I was late but my job is really important to me and I've got so much extra responsibility now that I can't always be home on time,"

"That's just it," screamed Joey, tears of anger and hurt streaming down her face. "Work's so damn important to you that you forget about me. I hate this, David, I hate waiting for you!"

"You are important to me. I got this job to help us get sorted out; the extra money really helps around the house now that you're here too. I love you so much but I have to work," he reasoned. Joey collapsed into a chair in tears; David sat beside her and stroked her knee.

"I just miss you so much. It feels like after everything we've been through to get here, to this point, we should at least see each other but I feel totally cut off from you and it hurts," sniffed Joey. "I love you so much but it just hurts," David could do nothing but put his arms around her and hold her tight; there was nothing he could say. Work was meaningless in comparison to Joey but surely she could see that he needed his job, they would have to discuss it when she had calmed down. In the meantime, he could sit in the kitchen holding her and hoping she forgave him for the dinner escapade.

"I'm sorry, Jo. I love you," he whispered into her hair.

"I know, sniffed Joey. "But it takes two people to make this work and right now, I feel like I'm the only one here,"

"I can't apologise enough but you must understand my situation,"

"I do but I guess I'm the kind of person who would deliberately make time, especially if it was for you," said Joey. "And I don't want to make you feel guilty for going to work but I just need you to know how I'm feeling,"

"Well, now I know so dry your eyes and let's have some of Pacey's pie. The smell's been driving me mad!" he grinned, wiping her damp cheeks with his warm hands. Joey laughed softly and leaned forward, pressing her lips hard against his. David decided he could wait for Pacey's pie; he took Joey in his arms and carried her up the staircase.