"The One" – Part 43
Summary and additional notes in part 1.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I'm really glad many of you liked Joe! He's one of my favorites OCs.
Anyway, on to the next chapter! This part should be interesting…
This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!
-oOo-
Fiona watched Adam from the bed as he unpacked a few things from his bag. He was able to fit all his stuff for the weekend into a duffel bag, whereas she brought two midsize pieces of carry-on luggage.
"So, you and Joe…" she started.
"Me and Joe what?" he asked without looking up. He was looking for his toiletries.
"You guys never…"
He furrowed his brows and abruptly turned to her. "Are you seriously asking me that?" he said incredulously.
She shrugged innocently. "I was curious. He does have a history of hooking up with his roommates," she pointed out.
Adam frowned at her. "Yeah, but after I moved out! I know it's been seven years, but I'm as straight as the day you met me!"
Fiona laughed. After a moment she asked, "You're not upset, are you?"
Adam didn't answer and returned his attention to finding his toiletries.
Fiona sighed and sat up. "I'm pansexual, so you know I wouldn't mind."
Adam bristled. "I'm sure you wouldn't."
"What's bugging you?" she demanded. She didn't like his sudden change in demeanor.
He let out a breath before turning to face her. "I just thought you knew me better," he admitted. He had known plenty of bisexual and gay trans men but he wasn't one of them. It bothered him that she apparently didn't know this about him.
"I do know you," she insisted. "But I don't really make assumptions when it comes to who's been with who." It was all the same to her, and she had known plenty of straight-identified people who hooked up with someone of the same gender.
"I thought I picked up a vibe, like he liked you or something. That's all," Fiona explained.
Adam scoffed. "Joe likes everyone! Well, if you're male," he chuckled. "That's why we got along so well as roommates! He's like the gay version of me, and vice versa." Both of them had their share of strangers joining them for breakfast when they lived together.
She laughed at his wording. "So you're saying he's a manwhore?"
"I'm taking the fifth on answering that one! Wouldn't want to incriminate myself," Adam joked.
They both laughed.
-oOo-
"So, what do you have lined up for us tonight?" Adam asked as he entered the kitchen.
Joe was sitting at the kitchen table, engrossed in his laptop. He looked up and smirked at Adam. "I managed to keep it under wraps this long, but since you're here… We're doing a potluck. Naomi organized it."
Adam smiled broadly. "That's awesome! I can't wait to see everyone!"
Joe nodded. "Yep, it's the usual suspects."
"Robin, Jake, Chris, Naomi, and Thomas, right?" Adam asked him.
Joe shook his head. "Thomas has been bumped from the group."
Adam frowned. "Why?"
"He and Naomi broke up," Joe told him.
"When did this happen?" Adam said alarmed.
"Recently," Joe sighed. "He was banging her best friend."
"WHAT?" Adam yelled.
Fiona joined them in the kitchen with a confused expression. "Did I miss something?"
"Oh, I was just bringing Adam up to speed on the latest drama," Joe said dryly.
Adam shook his head. "They just moved in together. What a bastard!"
Fiona looked between the two, still out of the loop. She took a seat at the table next to Adam.
"How is she dealing with the break up?" he asked Joe.
His friend shrugged. "The same way she deals with everything. Holding it all in. But she's spent some nights over here and we talked about it for hours. She realizes she's better off without him, but it's difficult to come to terms with the lies, betrayal, and disappointment."
Adam nodded. "Right."
"She's gone 'no contact' on both of them," Joe informed him. "He's officially persona non grata, so don't bring him up tonight unless she does."
"Gotcha," Adam stated with understanding. Fiona gently rubbed his arm, and he turned to her with a small smile. He didn't mean to leave her out of the conversation. Her soothing gesture was fully appreciated. "A friend of ours is going through a rough time," he explained.
"I figured as much," she told him.
They settled into a contemplative silence.
-oOo-
Guests began to arrive about thirty minutes later. First to show up were Robin and Jake. They immediately pitched in and helped with final preparations. The couple had been dating for just under a year. Both were tall and worked in Human Resources. Robin had coffee colored hair and a sunny disposition. Jake had jet black hair and was more reserved.
Next to arrive was Chris. Everyone assumed he was coming with Naomi since they lived in the same building, but he told them he hadn't spoken to her today. Chris was of average height and had somewhat long auburn hair that he wore in shag cut. He was a mellow guy who brought two vegan dishes to the party.
Ten minutes later, Naomi knocked on the door. She wasn't the guest of honor, but it sure felt that way! She was of average height and had short blonde hair, which she wore in a choppy bob cut. They hadn't been sure what to expect, but after giving Joe a hug she walked into the apartment with a huge smile.
"Hi everyone!" she said brightly. "Adam!" she called out when she spotted her friend. He walked over to her and she pulled him into a long hug.
"It's good to see you, too!" he chuckled as they pulled away. "A month is such a long time!"
Naomi swatted his arm. "Don't make fun of me!" she laughed. She was rarely sentimental, but she truly missed her friend. The two of them had worked together in the IT department for three years, so she had been used to seeing him every day.
"But you make it so easy!" he teased.
They all laughed.
Adam glanced at Fiona, and motioned for her to join him. Before he could say anything, Naomi beat him to it.
"You must be Fiona," she stated with a friendly smile. She recognized her from FaceRange, but it was clear from the way Adam looked at her that he was in love. "She's lovely, Adam," Naomi told him.
He blushed a little. "Thanks."
Fiona giggled and turned towards Naomi. "Nice to meet you." The two women shook hands.
"Well, now that introductions are out of the way, let's eat!" Joe declared and motioned towards the table. He took the box Naomi was holding and placed it on the table with the rest of the food. They surveyed the grub.
Jake unwrapped his dish. Everyone smiled as they look at grilled meat on skewers. "I brought Satay. It's an Indonesian dish my grandmother taught me to make. The meat is chicken and there's a peanut sauce to dip it in."
"Wow, I feel like I'm on Top Chef!" Adam remarked. "It looks really good, man."
Jake smiled. "Thanks. I hope you all enjoy it."
Robin took the aluminum wrap off of her dish. "There's no family connection to my dish! I love macaroni and cheese, so I baked some."
They all chuckled.
"I love it, too!" Joe excitedly agreed. He then removed a lid from a pot on the table. "I made arroz con pollo. I stole the recipe from Adam, actually. If I made what my mom usually made for me and my sisters growing up, I would have bought seven TV dinners!"
"That sounds rather appetizing," Adam teased him. Joe frowned at him. "But I'm glad you went with the rice!" The potluck was a surprise so he hadn't made a dish of his own.
Chris laughed. "You guys are a riot!" He moved to unveil his two dishes. "I went for simplicity. I made oven roasted green beans, seasoned with a hint of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. The other dish I made is a pot of mushroom barley soup."
"That's my favorite soup!" Naomi raved.
"I know!" he smiled at her.
"Let's dig in!" Joe suggested.
"Hey! I brought something too!" Naomi reminded him. She glanced around the room. "As you guys might know, I've been on a baking spree the last few days. They're nothing special, but I made some vanilla cupcakes with white chocolate frosting."
Adam looked at Fiona with a huge smile. They had an incredible assortment of food in front of them. She laughed at the expression on his face.
"This all sounds amazing!" Joe said, giving voice to the shared sentiment of everyone in the room.
Adam nodded. "Yeah, let's get to it!"
.
tbc
A/N: Okay, I'm jealous of their feast! Haha ;-) Btw, Naomi was also mentioned earlier in this fic – way back in Chapter 11! And, hmm… I'm curious what you guys think about Fiona and Adam's convo in the opening scene!
Reviews seriously rock! :D
The next chapter is definitely bringing the drama!
Off topic: I am updating "Long Weekend" tomorrow!