Chapter Three – Sinking

As the weeks rolled by, David made a conscious effort to spend more time with Joey and tried to make it home in time for dinner most nights of the week. With the nights becoming darker much earlier, Joey hated being in the house alone giving him an extra incentive to get back to her. Everything was going well and Joey was feeling so much more comfortable in their relationship than she had before. She understood that David couldn't always be there but it didn't matter anymore because their time together out-valued their time apart. Everyone had commented on how much happier she appeared and for the first time in weeks, Joey felt as though things could only get better.

Joey woke late on Wednesday mornings so David had already left for work by the time she got out of bed; she often invited Audrey and Jen over for a 'girlie' day as not one of them had class on a Wednesday. Joey wandered downstairs in her pyjama bottoms and another of David's t-shirts that she had managed to commandeer; she flicked the switch on the kettle and sat down at the breakfast bar. She glanced down at the shopping list David had obviously been writing that morning, she scanned through the list of times frowning at his choice of snack food when she stopped and frowned. Her initial embarrassment over David thinking about her menstrual cycle died quickly as she realised she hadn't actually had anything resembling a cycle for the last two months. She jumped down from the high stool and grabbed the telephone, dialling Audrey's number from memory.

"Audrey? Yes, I know what time it is but I need you to come over right now," said Joey, her pulse racing and her heart feeling as if it would burst out of her chest at any moment. "Tell Pacey I'm really sorry. I'll see you soon,"

Joey replaced the receiver and looked around the kitchen; she didn't know what to do with herself. She was in a state of shock and couldn't even begin to think about what the next step entailed, she decided to get dressed before Audrey arrived on the doorstep and raced up the staircase.

Audrey had forced Pacey into getting dressed and driving her to the Wilder house, as Joey had sounded so distraught on the telephone. She stood pressing the doorbell and waiting for Joey to answer the door, she was worried about her, she'd never heard Joey so out of control before. The front door swung open and Audrey came face to face with Joey, she was still in David's t-shirt but had managed to find a pair of jeans to replace her pyjamas, her skin was pale and she was silent as Audrey walked past her. She followed Joey into the kitchen where she poured out two mugs of coffee; Audrey sat at the table and waited. Joey handed her a mug of coffee and sat opposite her at the table, still completely silent.

"Joey! You make me get out of bed to come over here to what? Witness this new reticence? What gives? Speak to me," said Audrey, sipping at her hot coffee.

"God, Audrey. I really don't know what I'm going to do, I didn't even realise until now," mumbled Joey into her coffee; she still hadn't processed what was happening.

"Realised what? You are really starting to freak me out, Jo. What are you talking about?"

"I'm late, Audrey. I'm late and I didn't even realise," started Joey. "I've just been so busy with my assignments and all these fights with David, I just didn't realise until now. I mean, what am I supposed to do now?"

"Joey, are you trying to tell me that you're pregnant?" asked Audrey, her voice giving away how shocked she was. Joey looked up at her and nodded silently, sipping quietly at her coffee. Audrey sat there in complete disbelief; it was the only time Joey could remember her having nothing to say about the situation.

"What am I going to do?" asked Joey, Audrey snapped out of her catatonia and held Joey's hand across the table.

"Are you sure? How many days late are you?"

"Two months,"

"Shit! Okay, let's not panic. I'm going to go out and buy you a test right now and when I get back we're going to find out for real, okay?"

"Yeah, I mean, I guess that's okay," sighed Joey.

"At least you'll know for sure that way," said Audrey as she stood up, she left her coffee and walked out of the back door. Joey couldn't even get up to see her out; she was stunned. She felt as though her life belonged to someone else, there was no way Joey Potter could be pregnant. Not now, not in her final year and certainly not now all her problems with David had just been mended.

She sat at the table nursing her mug of coffee until it went cold and she poured it down the sink. She picked up the telephone over and over again but could think of nobody to call, she didn't want to talk to Bessie until she was certain and she certainly didn't want to talk to David while he was at work. While she waited for Audrey, she washed the breakfast dishes and scrubbed the table and sideboards down, she had to keep busy or she knew she would go mad. After what felt like an eternity, Audrey walked into the kitchen through the back door with a chemist's paper bag clutched in her hand.

"I am so glad I didn't bump into Pacey because he would have gone berserk seeing me buy this!" she laughed, her cheeks rosy from the chill in the air. Joey attempted a laugh but nothing came out, she just managed a smile but even that was unconvincing. "Come on you; let's get you sorted out,"

"I can't do it, Audrey. I really don't want to know," stammered Joey, sitting down again as if the act would deter Audrey from making her go to the bathroom.

"Joey, you are one of the strongest people I have ever met. You can totally do this, you just need to find the courage to take the test," smiled Audrey, rubbing Joey's back. Her words reminded Joey of Gretchen, it was exactly what she had said when Joey had her last pregnancy scare only she was a few weeks late then rather than a few months and she didn't need a test to tell her what she already knew. Her major problems were mainly telling David and then telling Bessie, the thought of her sister made her cringe. She hadn't even explained the entire 'David' situation to Bessie so the news that she was now carrying this man's child might be a little hard for her to take.

"Okay, can you make me another cup of coffee while I go do this?" asked Joey. Audrey nodded and handed Joey the paper bag, she couldn't help but carry it to the bathroom as if it contained toxic waste. Her entire life was held in that cardboard box sitting in the paper bag; Joey sat on the edge of the bath and started to cry. She was torn, more than anything she didn't want to know what the test had to say but more than anything, she needed to know. Another five minutes and her life would be changed forever, whichever way the test came out.

Audrey sat at the dinner table downstairs, cradling her second cup of coffee and waiting patiently for Joey to come down and deliver the news. She heard the footsteps on the staircase and attempted to ready herself; she stood from the chair and waited for Joey to walk in but she knew the result before Joey even opened her mouth. Her skin was as pale as it had been when she opened the front door only her eyes were red raw from crying and she could barely muster the spirit to say anything, Audrey rushed over and threw her arms around her best friend.

"I can't believe it," sobbed Joey. "We were so careful,"

"I know, bunny, I know," soothed Audrey, stroking Joey's hair and wondering if she should call David now or wait until he had returned from work to give Joey time for the news to sink in.