A/N: First of all, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou to everyone who took the time to review me. I already have received more reviews than I thought I would and I don't even think I'm halfway done. (Haven't story mapped or outlined…Sorry Holly.)
Second on all I have to thank Holly. I don't know if I am getting better or you are just getting tired of it, but I did notice fewer corrections on this chapter.
Third and finally, I want to again extend my gratitude while also begging for your patience. I never thought that I would get this chapter done this quickly (though it really wasn't too fast), and I know that the next one will take me quite a while due to bloody classes and the fact that me and the infamous Holly I always thank are going to start a little WW/Buffy crossover. Don't worry. I like this story and plan on continuing it. It just might be as much as a couple weeks before you see another chapter again. Sorry. Really really sorry.
Have a good day!!
Kimmie
Chapter Eight
"Wrong."
"What do you mean 'wrong'?" Dawn stammered into the phone. "I-I was telling you my opinion."
"Yes. And though you are entitled to believe whatever you want, I am merely informing you that what you choose to believe is incorrect."
"Donna, my opinion isn't incorrect or wrong."
"Well, incorrect is the same as wrong and yes. It is both."
"I don't need to make friends. I have you and I have the people in my lab."
Donna sighed as she reclined back in her chair. She had a
feeling that Josh's evening meeting with Representative Daniels would go late
and decided that in her free time there was nothing better to do then to guilt
a friend. "Those people in your lab were assigned to you. Those aren't friends;
they're mandatory classmates who want you to provide them with answers. And as
for me—you deserve better than me as your one and only friend."
"They seem friendly," Dawn pouted as she flopped on the sofa. "When are you coming home and are you bringing dinner?"
"I don't know and sure. But I am still planning you a little party. It's been—" She glanced over at her calendar. "—almost two weeks since you moved in. It's Wednesday. I can plan a little thing for Friday night."
"A little thing?"
"Yeah." Donna paused as she began to mentally consider the guest list. "I'll ask Sam and Josh. I don't think you've heard me talk about anybody more than the two of them."
"True."
"Then I have to introduce you to CJ. And Toby, of course. But Toby might have the twins this weekend. If he does or if he doesn't, I can ask his ex-wife Andy if she would like to come. Huck and Molly are just adorable. The way that Huck dribbles when he's hungry."
"I really hope that Huck and Molly are babies and not a really strange couple of friends you have."
"Yes." Donna giggled. "Oh…and maybe there is a chance that Margaret is available. Along with Bonnie and Ginger and Carol. Ohhh…and I can call Sam's office and see about Cathy. You know it's been forever since I've seen Cathy. You would like all of them."
"Small?"
"And there is a slight chance that Zoey could come. She is here right now and she went to Georgetown. She could maybe give you a few pointers on what to do as a new student there."
"Zoey. As in Zoey Bartlet? The daughter of President Bartlet?"
"Well her mother was a doctor and you want to be a doctor. Maybe she would come too."
"The First Lady?!"
Donna was laughing hysterically now. "I'm joking! I've met Zoey Bartlet a handful of times. She's sweet, but I doubt that she would come to my party. And I would never ask something so trivial of the First Lady of the United States."
"Ask what?" Josh said, appearing from nowhere and apparently done with his meeting.
"I'm throwing a party for my roommate on Friday. She doesn't know anyone and has had a little trouble adjusting to Georgetown. She's shy and she doesn't want to do anything. I was teasing her by saying I was inviting Zoey and the First Lady."
"You know…" Josh was grinning. "I could get Zoey there if you want."
"He's joking, right?" Dawn asked pleadingly.
"I don't know." The blonde woman turned her attention to her boss. "Are you serious?"
"It most certainly could be arranged. Especially since her parents have became even more paranoid than they used to be. I think that they would trust your apartment."
"NO!" Dawn shrieked. "I thought small."
"I'll leave that up to you," Donna said with a smirk as she looked at Josh. "But whether or not she comes, you are."
"I am?"
"Was I not clear? Yes."
"What if I have plans?"
She rolled her eyes as he pouted. "Then bring Amy too."
Playtime was over; Josh's eyes darkened. This past week had been intermingled with several attempts on his former's part to bring havoc to his job. "Not funny. I'll be there."
"Ask him if he's bringing tequila," Dawn joked.
"Not funny!"
"I'll leave you two to quarrel." Josh was giving a cheeky grin as he went and grabbed his coat. He was really intrigued to know what set off Donna's blush. He picked up his backpack and headed down the corridor. "Night."
"Night." Donna started gathering her belongings. She then slapped herself on the forehead. "I forgot Charlie!"
"Charlie?"
"Yes! We can't have a party with him. Oh my God does he have some of the best dance skills that I have ever seen. And he's such a sweetheart. Of all things…" She mentally admonished herself. "Well, we can't forget Charlie."
"No. You said small and I swear I lost track after the first dozen. No party."
"Eleven. Then Zoey if she comes, which I doubt. So ha!"
"No."
"You know that the majority of these people won't be there. They never all show up. And even if they do… well it's not that many."
"No, Donna."
"Yes, Dawnie. Besides, I know where you live."
"I might take a trip home to see how my sister is doing in NYC."
"You wouldn't."
"Try and stop me."
"Fine."
*~*~*
" I can't believe I agreed to this," Dawn said as she looked over the room one final time before following Donna to the door.
"Get over it. I swear, you and Josh whine like no other." As she made the statement she opened the front door and smiled warmly to their first arriving guest.
"Thanks." Josh was standing there with a deep frown across his face.
"Well it's true!" Donna professed as she opened the door wider.
"Glad to know that you've been saying good things about me."
"Well, I don't have any cats so I think we'll get along," Dawn offered.
"Donna! I can't believe you told her that."
"Josh…you have no idea what all I have told her."
Josh's face grew pink, but he came inside and removed his coat. After tossing it to Donna who then tossed it on the sofa, he turned his attention to the brunette woman. "Josh," he said offering her his hand.
"Dawn." She followed his actions. "And don't worry. Donna has said good things about you too."
"Dawn!" It was now turn for Donna's features to flush.
Luckily the timing worked out to everyone's advantage and there was another knock at the door. "I'll get it," Donna said. "Dawn. Could you maybe check on the wine while Josh puts up his coat?"
"Talk about being hospitable," he grumbled as he went toward the sofa.
"You know where Donna's room is right?" Dawn asked from the kitchen.
"Oh God," the blonde woman groaned as she made it to the door. She decided that everything would be best to ignore that conversation. She opened the door and was delighted to see the face that greeted her on the other side. "Well hello there Mr. Sexy-Man!"
"It's nice to see you, Gorgeous," Sam said leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. "Sorry I had to come straight from the office. I didn't get a chance to dress down." He was now gesturing to his pinstripe suit.
"It's very becoming on you."
Josh had only been hearing one side of comments from the door so when he came out of the back room, he wore quite a perplexed expression. "I really hope that you are conversing with the pizza man and not with Toby or Leo."
"Do you think that she calls just any man sexy?" Sam said with a grin as he entered the room.
"Depends on how much she has to drink," Josh tossed out flippantly.
The comment was enough to make both women go pale for a moment. Donna quickly regained her footing. "Sam, I want you to meet my roommate, Dawn."
"Hi," they said shyly to one another.
Dawn stepped forward obligingly. "Would you two like a
drink?"
"Sure," Sam retorted. "Anything you bring will be fine."
"I'll go get it," Donna offered. "You three socialize and wait for CJ and Charlie. Toby was in the 'maybe' column."
"I actually heard that you might have another confirmed guest." Josh was now smirking.
"Nope. Margaret is working late and Bonnie and Ginger sadly had plans." She gave Dawn a look that said 'I told ya so' as she walked in the kitchen.
"Cathy apologized but she had a date tonight." He looked to Dawn. "She said that she looks forward to meeting you after all that Donna said about you."
A knock at the door then occurred. Dawn walked over to the door and opened it to a tall red-headed woman. "Hi."
"You must be Dawn. I'm CJ." They shook hands as she was allowed inside.
"It's a party now," Josh cracked as he walked over and took the woman's coat.
"It's a pleasure to get to meet you," Dawn said with a blush. "I've heard so much about you guys that it's nice to finally be able to meet you in person."
"Charlie was in the parking lot," CJ told Donna as she entered with the drinks. "He said that he was going to change and then head on up. Apparently the President was eager to give him the rest of the night off upon hearing the news that Charlie had plans."
"Oh," was Dawn's only response as she stood there feeling out of place.
"Sorry," Sam offered as he noticed her awkwardness. "I guess we take advantage of our jobs and don't always realize how important they sound."
"I can understand that."
"Yeah, trust me." Josh was already snickering at his comment. "Congressional Representative just sounds big in name. Hell, they handed it out to a dead man before passing it along to Sam."
"Thanks."
"H-He was dead?"
"Wilde died during the campaign and I told his widow I would run in his place if he happened to win. I learned to watch what I say after that."
"Oh." Dawn thought that it was adorable the way he poised himself. She also saw a bit of what Donna was attracted to in Josh's cocky demeanor. The hair was another issue.
Seconds later Charlie arrived and introductions were made and soon after they were all being seated at the table for dinner.
"I wasn't sure what to make so Dawn and I made hamburgers and you can all dress them how you want."
"Are they…?"
"I burnt yours, Josh. I swear I dropped it on the ground and it shattered."
"Excellent."
They all spent the majority of dinner chatting and getting to know one another. After that, it was decided that they would all venture out to get a drink at a local club. Quickly everyone was loosening up and getting more comfortable with Dawn's company.
After a few stories of how she never focused on politics in her family, everyone was cracking up. "Well would you consider yourself a liberal or a conservative?" Josh would be the one to ask.
The two roommates had briefly discussed how serious the man took the issue. "Well, I guess I'm pretty conservative."
"You are?" Sam was interested in a spirited debate.
"Yes. I think that where I grew up strongly emphasized the role of small government while punishing all those who murdered innocent babies like liberals do."
"Whoa," several voices sounded.
Dawn then cracked a grin. "Just kidding. Donna scripted me. I would say that I come from a very liberal family."
As they chuckled in laughter, she added, "Hell, one of my best friends is a gay Jewish witch."
"Me too," Josh said before quickly realizing what he said. "Well…no. I'm just Jewish."
"Well she does want to come see the White House, so if you ever want to talk to a fellow Jew…ummm…just let me know."
"You are too cute," Sam said walking over to her. "Would you care to dance?"
"I guess he enjoys a good baby killer," CJ commented as the pair went toward the dance floor.
"Anyone else want to dance?" Charlie inquired.
"Sorry man." Josh walked over and placed a hand on his back. "I invited Zoey, but she had promised her parents that she would spend Friday night in."
"Could that have possibly been the reason why they were so eager to let him go?"
"Very possible," Donna agreed and she grabbed the young man's arm. "But you said dance and I have my dancin' shoes on, so let's go."
"Decisive little thing." CJ was looking on at the other pair
as they went to join the first. She took another sip of her grasshopper. "What
do ya say, my friend? Wanna dance?"
"No." Josh was unable keep his gaze off a certain blonde woman as she went around the floor, seemingly overjoyed with her partner. "I think I want another beer."
*~*~*
"You win," Dawn said as she came over to a sitting Donna. Since their first dance, the brunette couple had refused to sit down. "I am glad that you gave me the chance to meet all your friends."
"Good…and what was that first part again?"
Dawn gave her a curious look until she realized what she was
implying. With an eye roll she reiterated, "You win. You were right. Donna
knows best. That good enough?"
"Put it in writing and we have a deal." She looked over at her watch as she rubbed her temple. "I think that I'm going to head out. CJ and Josh took off about ten minutes ago and I think I'm about ready to go hit the sack."
"It's only eleven thirty on a Friday night!"
"So? You can probably get a ride home with Sam or Charlie. Charlie's over there at the bar hitting on that girl that neither CJ nor I were certain was a girl. I still say it has to be a woman, but she thinks it's a man. Either way, nice legs."
Dawn pouted. "You should stay! Sam wanted to dance with you. He said that he was about to go swoop you off your feet."
"Tell him to swoop me later. Right now I want to go be swept right into my bed and go to sleep."
"Your loss."
"Just have one of them give you a ride home and call me if they can't."
Dawn nodded. "See ya later."
Donna wasn't concerned, but she knew that she normally didn't tire out this easily any night, especially a Friday. She had to blame the stress at work for the circumstance. Though she was leaving early, she was certain that Dawn was in good hands. Charlie and Sam were good men and she knew that both would be protective and responsible. In fact, she decided that only good could result from Dawn getting to know the two men better.
She hoped.
