More Lies, More Cameras and Much More Action

Chapter 6

MADDY

'So, how are you?' Joe asked as we sat down at our table. He hadn't asked any personal questions so far and we hadn't even really spoken since we'd agreed to come here for dinner just minutes before.

'I never know how to answer that.' I smiled.

'It's been a long time.' He nodded.

'Too long.' I agreed.

'Are you still living in California?'

'Yeah, are you still living in London?' I asked.

'Yes. Just after I got back from Vidcon I moved in with Caspar and we've been there since however, our lease is over next month and I'm not sure if we're going to renew it or not.' He said. My heart couldn't help but drop when he told me he moved in with Caspar when he got back to England as we were meant to be moving in together into that amazing flat he'd found us.

'How come?' I questioned, forcing myself to smile no matter how much it hurt.

I couldn't help but notice the way Joe shuffled in his chair and looked down when I answered the question, almost as if he didn't want to answer it. Along with the hesitation that came before he did speak, I was sure that wasn't the right question to ask.

'We're both just so busy, we only really sleep in the flat so it just seems a bit of a waste to pay so much in rent. What about you, where are you living?' He changed the subject quickly.

'Back at my parents house, I've been there since I've got back. Gabby and I moved back in and slowly, we fixed things between us. I have a great relationship with my parents now.' I smiled, feeling so good that I could say that and honestly mean it.

'I'm so glad to hear that! How's Gabby?' He smiled back.

'Really, really good. She's working in a school with young children, helping groups of children that struggle and need a bit of extra help.'

'That's amazing!' He said, us both still smiling. I loved that we were getting along and Joe was being as much as a gentleman as he's always been but there was no denying the elephant in the room which was what happened between us.

'I don't know what to say now.' Joe laughed in the same awkward way as he did earlier.

'Lets run through the plans for tomorrow.' I suggested, staying well away from heavier topics.

'Sorry to interrupt but are you ready to order?' A young waitress said.

'Yeah, I think so.' Joe said, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded.

'I'll have a burger and a bottle of beer please.' Joe ordered.

'Do you want chips, onion rings and coleslaw with that?'

'Yes please.'

'Alrighty.' She said, tapping it onto her electronic order pad.

'And for the lady?'

'I'll go for the lobster, I think.'

'And to drink?'

'Just a dry white wine.' I smiled. The waitress tapped my order in, read our order back to us then thanked us and walked off again.

'Dry white wine, eh?' Joe asked, smiling. He knows I used to hate white wine.

'I've grown to like it.' I shrugged with a smile. I heard my phone beep in my handbag so pulled it out, incase it was a family emergency.

Gabby: how's it going? Have you seen him yet? Xxx

I replied saying we're having dinner and it's going great before shoving my phone back in my bag and looking up to see Joe staring right at me. I awkwardly laughed and looked down at the papers I had brought with me.

'So, what time are you going to be up tomorrow?' I asked, trying to break the tension that had suddenly appeared.

'It depends how much I drink tonight, I guess.' He laughed.

'I'll give you my number and you just call me when you're up?' I suggested, ripping the corner off one of my bits of paper.

'Don't write it down, just put it in my phone. This isn't the 1940's!' Joe laughed.

'Sorry.. I've worsened at technology recently, I haven't really had a phone.'

'How come?'

'I got rid of my old phone after Vidcon then I didn't get a new one for a few months. I don't use social media or anything anymore and only a few people have my number.'

'I noticed you don't use your Twitter anymore and I stopped trying to call you a few months after I got back.' Joe said, sadly and I swear the room temperature dropped by about 20oC with the awkwardness.