Chapter Twelve: Kiss and Tell

In less then a month, everything had changed for Joy. She was happy again. She and Blake had made Friday night dates a regular thing, and after the second date they had added in Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Joy's uncle still felt it necessary to punish her for coming home so late on the weekends but she didn't even care anymore. Blake was worth it.

Two days before Christmas, Blake and Colin had planned to take the girls out for an especially fancy dinner to celebrate the holidays. They had been out of school for a week and during that time Blake and Joy had seen each other daily, so by time their special date arrived, they were as close as Dawn and Colin.

Dawn breezed through the front door of Joy's house. Joy's aunt and uncle had gone to a Christmas party that night and so Joy invited Dawn over so they could get ready for their double date together.

"I've got a secret," She exclaimed in a sing-song voice.

"Hello to you too," Joy greeted her sarcastically.

"Oh yea, hello to you too," Dawn smiled. "But didn't you hear me? Aren't you curious? I've got something majorly exciting to tell you!" Dawn exclaimed again with a bubbly squeak.

"Okay, what's so exciting?" Joy led Dawn up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Well, actually, now that I think about it, you probably won't be as excited as I was." Dawn seemed suddenly downhearted. "Oh well, never mind."

"Dawn, don't do that!" Joy exclaimed. "You can't get me all excited like that and then just dismiss it!"

"I'm sorry, but it's just that I forgot you don't know my sister so you probably wouldn't be interested," Dawn spoke a little less enthusiastically than before. "I was just so excited when I found out that I wanted to tell someone, but I didn't have anyone to tell other than Colin, but you know guys...anyway, so I thought I could tell you but then I realized that you really wouldn't care either..."

"Dawn, just tell me." Joy demanded.

"Okay, so my sister, Buffy," Dawn began, "used to have this really serious boyfriend in college, even though she was only in college for a couple semesters, but anyway, there was this guy," Dawn was already rambling. "His name was Riley and they were the sickest lovey-dovey couple I had ever seen! They were so in love! It was cute, when they weren't being all gross. They were together for like a long time and then he had to leave, suddenly, I'm not really certain on all the details but he had to leave. She didn't want him to though." She took a deep breath and then continued, "And I so knew that she had never gotten over him, even though she claimed that she did, and she was always moping and everything..."

"Dawn, as much as I love getting the director's cut of your sister's love life," Joy smiled as politely as she could muster. "Are you going to make your point anytime soon?"

Dawn giggled, "Right, sorry! So, yea, Riley just showed up a last month and he and Buffy were like being all talky and stuff..." another deep breath followed by a high-pitched squeal. "And last night he called her and asked her to go out with him on Christmas Eve!"

Joy had to smile for her friend's excitement. "That's great Dawn. I bet Buffy is really happy."

"Oh, she is!" Dawn agreed. "They were up all night on the phone just talking and reminiscing. You have to meet him, he's the sweetest guy!"

Joy of course wasn't really that interested in Dawn's sister's boyfriend, but she smiled at her friend's enthusiasm just the same. By the time they were ready for their dates, Dawn had gotten Joy's promise to come to the house and meet the 'sweet' Riley.

The dinner was dull but glamorous. Of course it was exciting to be eating at such a fancy restaurant with a very attractive and considerate guy, but Joy wasn't very interested in finery. She was more entertained by just having a good time. And she was definitely having a good time with Blake.

After dinner Colin offered to drive Dawn home giving Blake and Joy some alone time to talk. They left their cars parked at the restaurant as they walked the sidewalks, hand in hand.

"This is fun," Joy decided. "It's been fun, I mean."

Blake nodded in agreement and squeezed her hand. "Yea, I'm glad you gave me a chance."

"Yea, me too," Joy smiled and returned the hand squeeze.

"So, I've been thinking," Blake led her over to a bench resting against the side wall of a building and they sat down. "About us," He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"What about us?"

"I was thinking about our relationship, and I've decided that I want you to be my girlfriend." He turned to look at her. "But, only if you want to be, of course."

Joy hesitated. "Blake, you know that I really do like you," She didn't move away from him but she also didn't look at him. "I mean, these last few weeks have been incredibly fun, but..."

"What's the matter?" Blake was immediately concerned. They had been dating for over a month and as far as he was aware, each of their dates was superb and he couldn't ask for anything better in a relationship. So what was her hesitation for?

"Nothing's the matter, but, I'm just not so sure about us." Joy sighed. Why is this so hard for me? I like him! I like him a lot, so why do I have to consider being his girlfriend. It should be an easy answer! Joy stood up. "I'm sorry Blake. I just need some more time. Please don't be mad. I promise that I do like you, it's "

"Right, okay," Blake shook his head and stayed seated. "I'm sorry I asked. I didn't think it would be so difficult for you. I guess I was wrong."

"It's not that," Joy didn't want to lose him. I should just say 'yes'. There's no reason I shouldn't. I want to be his girlfriend. I really do...damn you Henri! She knew why she was having a difficult time agreeing to have a relationship with Blake. She couldn't get Henri off of her mind. Their breakup wasn't exactly ideal. "Will you call me tomorrow?" He didn't respond but she hoped he would anyway. "Goodnight, Blake." Joy sadly turned away from him and walked alone back to the parking lot to retrieve her car.

Blake didn't call Joy the next day though. He didn't call her for a few days actually and Joy didn't bother to call him either. She wanted to though. She wanted to call him and tell him how she really felt. Joy was having doubts about pursuing a relationship with Blake Francis. The idea of starting another serious relationship frightened her as she thought about the conclusion of her last relationship, with Henri. Dawn, however, was insistent on pursuing the idea for Joy. She seemed so sure that Joy and Blake were 'made for each other' and Joy was never in the mood to discuss her reasons with Dawn, so she mostly tried to avoid the topic and just nod whenever Dawn would bring it up.

Finally, though, after many afternoon shopping trips with Dawn during Christmas break, Dawn could be ignored no longer and she eventually confronted Joy.

"Joy, I need to talk to you about something." Dawn and Joy had just finished a shopping trip indulging in shoes and were taking a refreshment break for coffee.

"Go ahead," Joy ordered her cappuccino and waited while Dawn ordered a latte.

"It's about Blake," Dawn wasn't sure how to bring up the subject, when it would surely sound audacious any way she said it. "I wanted to know...do you like him?"

Joy sighed, "I do. I like him a lot, Dawn, he's awesome. And he's sweet. And he's very cute!"

Dawn nodded, "That's for sure. But, you don't seem to be very interested anymore. I mean for this past month you two were almost as inseparable as Colin and me, but it's been almost a week since you've seen him last! That's the longest you two have been apart since you started dating. You know what I mean?"

Joy nodded, "Yea, well, it's not a big deal."

"He doesn't think you like him." Dawn told her. "He said so. He really wants you to be his girlfriend, you know. He's afraid you have lost all interest."

"I do like him, Dawn, it's just..." Joy faltered for the right word. "It's complicated."

"How so?" Dawn wasn't going to let this subject drop that easily.

"You wouldn't understand," Joy really wasn't ready to confide in Dawn about her past. "I guess my last boyfriend wasn't that great of an experience."

"Oh," Dawn sighed deeply. She was obviously curious but wasn't going to just come out and ask, so she waited, impatiently for Joy to offer more information.

"Henri and I were very serious." Joy realized that she couldn't have good friends if she didn't talk to them, and Dawn was one of those good friends that she wanted to make and to keep, so she relented to telling her one of her dark secrets. "We were in love, I think, I mean I'm not sure I know what love is exactly, but we had serious feelings for each other." She smiled to herself as she remembered all the fun they had together during their short year together. "He was an exchange student from France, so you can imagine his charm!"

Dawn nodded with a grin. "He sounds perfect, Joy," her face grew suddenly serious. "So, what happened?"

Tears came to Joy's eyes without warning and she tried to wipe them away without Dawn noticing. "Henri died."

"Joy, I'm so sorry," Dawn instantly apologized, regretting her prying.

"Don't be, it's not like it's your fault," Joy tried to shrug off the solemn air that had invaded their merriness.

"Let's change the subject," Dawn suggested, slowly sipping her drink. "Tell me about your family," She tried a new subject. Poor Dawn, she never was very good at the serious matters.

"My family?" Joy rolled her eyes, not wanting to discuss the other heavy matter in her life, but she knew that it would have to come out sooner or later. "There's not much to say. My parents are both dead. I live with my aunt and uncle now."

"God Joy, I'm such a moron!" Dawn shook her head in distress. "I'll understand if you never want to speak to me again! I shouldn't have asked! Buffy always says I am way too curious." As soon as she mentioned her sister, Dawn realized the connection. Giles had said that the new slayer had been through the tragic loss of her parents, just like Joy! If that was just a coincidence, then Dawn was baffled. This new discovery made her very excited and so she quickly changed the subject again. This time she brought up her strange sister. "Joy, I know this might sound a little strange, but I think you should really meet my sister and her friends. I think they could help you!"

"Help me?" Joy laughed, "Why do you think I need help, Dawn? My boyfriend died, and then my parents died, but I've dealt and I'm fine now. I don't need help. Trust me."

"That's not the kind of help I mean, Joy." Dawn had no clue how to convince Joy to talk with her sister. It was a weird request, obviously. "I think you'd find my sister and her friends very interesting. And I think that they could explain a lot to you."

Joy rolled her eyes, "Explain a lot to me? What's that supposed to mean? Look, Dawn, I appreciate how much you want to 'help' me, but I think our friendship would be better if you weren't always trying to 'help' me." And with that, Joy finished her coffee and stood. "I'll talk to you later. I've got to go now. You were going to meet Colin, so you don't need a ride, right?"

She tried to smile as she waved to Dawn and hurried off towards her car. However, that was hardly the ending of Joy's thoughts. As soon as she was alone and driving towards home, Joy was able to ponder Dawn's strange persistence concerning the matter of her sister. In fact, the thought didn't leave Joy's mind for the entirety of the weekend. Dawn's discussion about Blake didn't leave Joy either. That night she called him.

"Hey Blake, it's me, Joy." She spoke softly when he answered the phone.

"Hey." He was quiet and she knew that he wasn't exactly excited to talk to her.

"I wanted to apologize," This was harder for Joy to call him then she had expected it to be.

"I'm listening."

"I was rude the other night. I had a lot on my mind. You wouldn't understand everything that my last boyfriend put me through. I was having trouble making the distinction between the two of you. I'm sorry. I have no right to make you pay for my problems. Will you forgive me?" She said everything in one breath and the waited for him to respond.

"Joy, you know that I like you and I want you to be my girlfriend, but I also want you to be able to trust me. If you need to talk about anything, then I'm willing to listen."

Something about the way Blake was speaking, sort of hurried and too casual, made Joy believe he was only offering out of politeness and not out of sincerity. She hadn't expected more though. As nice as he was, he was still just a high school jock who wanted to go out with her. "Thanks," Joy sighed. "I'm fine now though. I talked to Dawn. Anyway, I wanted to answer your question."

"Really?" Blake sounded hopeful.

"Yes," Joy smiled into the phone. "My answer is yes."

"Really?" He asked again, even more hopeful.

"Yes, really!"

"So then, you're my girlfriend?"

"I guess so," Joy laughed quietly.

"Cool," Blake sounded pleased and Joy was glad she had agreed. So, it was official. They were boyfriend and girlfriend. Joy hoped this relationship would be more successful than the last. She couldn't handle another catastrophic breakup in less than a year.