All those years ago- Joseph Quinn

Scrabble

"So Joseph what do you do?" Caleb asked. Adrianna internally cringed knowing Caleb's point of view on anyone who works in any form of the performing arts industry, was not a good one.

"I'm an actor. Not anything major yet but some shows." Joe answers warily. He was always quite insecure about stating his job title, knowing how everyone can be about it.

"Clearly must be doing pretty well to be able to live here" Caleb chuckled. Adrianna sighed in relief that he avoided making an inappropriate comment.

"You're familiar with the area then?" Joe asked. Caleb nodded sipping his wine before starting to talk.

"Yeah we have a couple uh- clients- that live in these parts. A good area for sure, high security." He nodded. Joe agreed and decided the polite thing to do was ask Caleb what he did.

"So what do you do Caleb?" Joe asked.

"Law firm, I'm on the directors board" he simply stated.

"Pretty impressive! Must be exhausting?"

"Now and then there's a scandal to cover, but honestly it's a piece of piss. I don't do very much at all, but by god am I paid a lot" he chuckled. Adrianna cringed- she hated discussing finances, despite always being well off she just found it so tone deaf to brag about your income. She was relieved that the conversation remained positive and friendly, not at all how she pictured the night going.

"So Joseph, Adrianna said you both share the same birthday?"

"Yeah exact date, time and hospital, it's why we're friends. Our mums were next to each other on the ward after birth and the rest is history" he smiled wide. Joe loved to remind himself of simpler times, before feelings and growing up happened.

"How come I've not seen you before?"

"We haven't actually spoken in 6 years. Adrianna moved to Paris and I guess we lost touch" he weakly smiled.

"She's always been terrible at keeping people updated" Caleb said bluntly. "Isn't that right babe?" He nudged her. Joe cringed at the term babe, he remembered how Adrianna hated it before too, guess some things change.

"Yeah" she mumbled softly. She wasn't sure what to add to the conversation, she simply sat and ate her dinner.

"Watch yourself on the pasta, don't want to fatten yourself up" Caleb teased her. Her face fell and she slowly put her fork down and she was about to say something when Caleb's phone started to ring. His eyes scanned the phone, debating answering it for a moment before sighing and excusing himself from the table to take the call.

Joe watched Adrianna sit there awkwardly sipping her wine, she was sure Joe disapproved of the comment Caleb had made and was waiting for him to say something that would cause an argument. Joe couldn't help but want to say something to her, comfort her and remind her that he had no right to say that.

"There's nothing wrong with your weight. Frankly I think you could eat all the pasta and the world and still look good" he blurted out softly so that it wasn't overheard by Caleb in the other room. Adrianna's lips curled into a smile and she lightly chuckled.

"Thank you"

"The truth shouldn't be praised Adrianna." He spoke softly, Adrianna simply smiled his way going to say something more before Caleb reappeared causing the pair to snap their eyes from each other's and over to Caleb.

"Sorry I've got to go guys, work shit." She mumbled. "Adrianna you can just walk yourself home once you're done dinner right?" He smiled handing her the keys. "Don't wait up, I might end up being at the office all night, massive case." Adrianna simply nodded uncomfortable with his abrupt departure. Joe stood to shake his hand and bid him goodbye.