Chapter Eleven: A Boyfriend and a Bestfriend

Sunnydale High. What a nightmare. For over a month, Joy learned the meaning of 'friendless', or well mostly friendless. She ate lunch with Dawn and Dawn's boyfriend every day, so really she may as well have been alone. It sucked being a third wheel. During classes and through the halls she was doing very well with ignoring the curious glances she received from the other students who seemed determined to make the 'new girl' feel as out of place as humanly possible. It was a miserable life and she hated every minute of it. She was going to a miserable school during the day only to flee it in the afternoon to return to an even more miserable home. Her only freedom from her dismal and dreadful house arrest, so to speak (except without actually being restricted to the house), was when Joy ditched the 'family' dinners, which were nothing more than canned soup or microwave pasta, and drove from one end of the very short town to the other in her beloved car. It took a total of about thirty minutes. And then she drove the length again, twice. She really didn't enjoy being home. Her Aunt and Uncle were insufferable, and she'd rather be out about a town by herself where she knew absolutely no one, then stuck at home with two people who she knew way too well. One good thing was her grades had unusually risen from her usual failing grades she had received at her old school. She blamed her lack of a life.

Dawn was nice enough during school, but in the afternoons, she was more or less absorbed with her boyfriend. Sure, once in a while there were rare Saturdays where Colin was busy with football and so Dawn had the day free and then would invite Joy to join her for lunch or a day of shopping. These were the days that Joy lived for. She had no life outside of school and home, except for Dawn. Dawn was her outlet. But still, Joy couldn't help feeling lonely and in serious want of some more attention.

This craving forced Joy into an unthinkable dilemma of finding herself a boyfriend. Which she did. Rather easily actually, considering Blake had more or less continued his random notes in her locker, though he never again bothered her during lunch. He seemed to have learned his lesson there.

December first was a Friday. Without thinking, Joy had agreed to join Dawn and Colin that night at dinner and a movie. It would inevitably be another third-wheel situation, which she was not at all looking forward to. She was so desperate not to be miserable that night that she acted against her better judgment and called Blake when she got home from school.

"Joy?" His voice revealed shock when he answered the phone.

"Okay, so let's just get something straight here," Joy sighed and started rambling. "You obviously like me and I obviously don't like you, but I've been a little bit lonely at school and you've been very persistent, which I have to give you some props for, so…"

"Joy, what are you talking about?"

"Don't interrupt!" Joy demanded. "I might change my mind." He was silent. "I'm going out with Dawn and Colin tonight and I am just so sick of going on 'dates' with them that I'm calling you. So do you want to come or not?"

"On a date? With you?" Blake was obviously surprised that she would be asking him. He didn't even seem offended about her admitting that she didn't like him. "Are you sure?"

"You've got ten seconds and then I'm hanging up the phone." Joy was becoming very irritated, mostly with herself though for actually calling Blake. He was a jerk. Right? Well, even if he wasn't, Jock so wasn't her type.

"Okay." He answered finally.

"Really?" She was almost hoping he'd back down so she wouldn't have to go through with it.

"Yea really. Where should I meet you?" Joy told him the plans and he promised to be there and then they hung up, leaving Joy completely stunned. I can't believe I just made myself a date…with him! What was I thinking? God, can I really be that desperate? He better not try and kiss me.

At six o'clock, Joy parked her car at the café where they were meeting and hurried to the front door nervously. As much as she told herself that she was stupid for inviting Blake, she was actually starting to feel anxious about going out with him. He wasn't that bad looking after all, and she could very possibly get used to his preppy attire.

"Hey Joy!" Dawn was waiting at the front door with Colin.

Joy hurried over to them. After a quick glance around she decided that Blake hadn't shown up yet. "Hey guys," Joy hoped that the couple wouldn't mind her bringing a date. Of course they wouldn't. That was just her hoping that they would so that she could send Blake home when he arrived. "Umm…I kind of invited someone."

"You did? Like a date? Who?" Dawn asked quickly.

"Well…" She was about to tell them when he arrived.

"Hey everyone!" Blake, true to character, was wearing jeans and his letterman's jacket. Joy mentally compared her black fishnet stockings and denim mini skirt with his outfit and rolled her eyes. What was I thinking? We'd never work together! We're way too different! He's such a jock! "Sorry I'm late."

"Blake?" Colin grinned. "Wow, I didn't really think…I mean, you and Joy? Wow!" The guys shook hands. She rolled her eyes again. I should have known they were friends. They both play football together. I'm sure there's been plenty of locker room talk about the 'new girl'! Whatever. I just want to get this night over with.

Surprisingly, the night was not as dreadful as Joy had imagined it would be. In fact, by the end of the night she found that she had completely misjudged Blake! Throughout the 'date' he was the most perfect gentleman! It was kind of strange actually. He even held open the doors for her! The double date was a strange success! Joy and Blake got along better than either of them had expected and Joy almost thought she could like him, a lot. Even with the exceptionally good time she was having, Joy couldn't get Henri off her mind, and because of that, it was hard for her to completely let loose and enjoy herself. Henri had rudely put a strong damper on any of her possibly future relationships. Then again, what boyfriend-turned-vampire wouldn't have that impact on his ex-girlfriend?

After a delicious dinner and a relatively boring movie, the couples returned to their cars and prepared to say goodnight. Colin walked Dawn to the passenger side of Joy's covered-convertible (Joy was going to give Dawn a ride home) and they whispered and giggled for a while before kissing their goodbyes. Blake and Joy watched them for a minute and then turned away laughing at their sickening cuteness.

"Well, tonight was fun," Joy stated simply. She couldn't think of anything better to say at the end of their first date.

"What? No kiss goodnight?" Blake asked leaning closer to Joy.

"Blake, it's only the first date!" Joy protested only half-seriously.

"So, then, when do I get a kiss?" He asked playfully. "On the second date?"

"That depends," Joy retorted with equal playfulness.

"On what?"

"Is there going to be a second date?" She smiled and he grinned and then nodded.

"I think there's a very good chance," Blake gave her a hug and then opened the car door for her and waited for her to climb in.

"Goodnight Blake!" Joy blew him a kiss as he closed the door.

Dawn finished saying goodnight to her boyfriend and then climbed in after Joy. "Tonight was good!" Dawn decided, turning on the radio.

"Yes it was," Joy agreed. "Thanks for inviting me."

"No problem," Dawn sighed and turned down the music. "Joy, I really do want to be your friend you know. And I am sorry if I ever seem preoccupied with Colin."

Joy nodded, "I know Dawn, I completely understand. He's your boyfriend." She was surprised at what she was saying. "Maybe we'll be making this double date thing more…frequent."

"Good," Dawn smiled. A few minutes later they had arrived at Dawn's house and the girls hugged goodbye before parting. Joy turned up her favorite CD and hummed for the rest of the drive to her own house.

Joy walked up to the front door with a smile, but as she flipped through her key chain for the house key the front door swung open and her smile disappeared. Her uncle stood tall in the doorway and from the mostly empty vodka bottle in his hand and the swagger in his stance, Joy knew that he had been drinking hard again. It was never good when he had been drinking because it always put him in a horrible and violent mood. Joy knew she didn't have to take the abuse that was sometimes afflicted on her by her enraged uncle, she knew that she was strong enough to defend herself, but she also knew that this was the only family that she had and without them she would inevitably be sent to live in a foster home. And to Joy, a foster home would be worse than any pain she ever endured at the hand of her uncle.

"Uncle Dale," Joy hesitated, not at all in the mood for what she knew was to come. "I...I didn't mean to stay out so late..." But any amount of her pleading wouldn't be enough with Dale being this intoxicated. Without waiting for any of her excuses, he took hold of her arm and dragged her inside the foyer.

"Wha...what're ya...doin..." His words slurred together as he threw her body hard against the wall.

"Uncle Dale, please," Joy moaned as she felt the impact of her back slam into the wall. "I'm sorry, I had a date," she tried to explain but he wasn't in the mood for listening and in seconds his hand had slapped hard across her face.

"Dates...are not...a-allowed..." His voice raised and then quieted at inconstant intervals as he smacked her again. Joy decided that talking was pointless, so she quieted and just took the beatings as usual.

This wasn't the first time that she had been beat by her uncle. In fact, ever since she had moved in with her aunt and uncle, this process of abuse was becoming quite habitual. Anytime that he had drunken too much he took out all of his frustrations on her. And he had plenty of frustrations living a far-less-than-mediocre life, which had recently been tainted with the arrival of his more-than-perfect sister-in-law's daughter to his household. Eventually, her uncle would grow so tired that he stopped the beatings and would settle down on his armchair where he would quickly fall asleep, leaving Joy to retreat miserably to her room and take care of her fresh cuts and bruises. This night was no different. As soon as Dale tired of the abuse, he retired to the living room and Joy stumbled up the stairs to her bedroom.

Ouch...She stopped in the bathroom on her way to her room to check her new wounds in the mirror. Her left eye had the faint hint of a forming bruise and she knew it would be even worse in the morning. Her lip was cut and she wondered if it was because it had hit something or because she had bitten it, which sometimes happened when her head was jerked around too suddenly. And along with a few minor bruises in the shape on her arm, Joy also had a few slight scratches and cuts wherever the clothing didn't cover her skin. Just another fun night at home! Joy sighed and retreated to her bedroom, falling into bed with exhaustion.

"Joy!" Blake was waiting at her locker early Monday morning.

"Hey Blake," Joy was tired after her long weekend but she was unexpectedly excited to see Blake.

"Are you happy to see me?" Blake leaned against the lockers while she retrieved her books for first period.

Joy laughed softly, "You wish!" Then she reconsidered her choice of harshness and nodded, "Maybe a little."

He grinned and gently brushed his fingers against her bare arm. "I thought so." His touch made her flinch a little but she forced a smile on her face.

"Don't push your luck."

"Alright, I'll be good," He moved away from her slightly, "And I'll be even better on our second date. I promise!"

"Are we going to have a second date?" Joy asked as she closed her locker and walked beside Blake towards their first period class.

Blake suddenly seemed nervous, "Only if you want to?"

"I don't know," Joy thought about dragging it out with Blake but his pleading eyes made her change her mind. He held the classroom door open for her and she entered, "Alright."

"You really want to?" Blake was ecstatic. "Okay, when? How about this weekend? No, how about tomorrow? Or tonight even?"

"Blake, slow down," Joy took her seat and he sat in his desk behind her. "I was actually thinking that it would be fun for us to go out in the afternoon, like after school..."

"Huh?" Blake frowned, "I thought we could go out to dinner and a movie again, like before."

"Is that really important?" Joy self-consciously adjusted her hair to cover more of her face, afraid that Blake would notice the bruising on her eye. "I just thought it would be fun if we did something earlier."

But Blake quickly canceled that thought, "I have football after school."

"Oh, right," Joy sighed. "Well, I guess that we can go out at night, if you really want to."

"Not if that's going to be your attitude," Blake smugly looked away from her.

Joy smiled, "I'm sorry, Blake, it's just been a long weekend."

Blake nodded, "Sure, so are we still going to go out?"

"Sure, when?" Joy opened her books and tried to act as though a date with Blake were nothing important.

Dawn joined their conversation at that moment with an announcement. "Colin and I are going out Friday night after the basketball game if you guys wanted to come?"

"Another double date?" Blake didn't sound so sure but Joy quickly agreed.

"Another double date would be fun," Joy decided and Blake couldn't argue since he had finally gotten her to agree to a second date.