Latitude and Longitude
By AnnaPhylactic
Disclaimer: The Dawson's Creek shebang doesn't belong to me nor do their characters, but Jackson and Beth do, so there.
Author's Note: This story is a sequel to Just a Little Bit of History Repeating. If you haven't read that story, this one may not make much sense, but I hope that the story here stands alone. It relates the events of Jackson Witter and Beth Andersson (Pacey and Joey's children respectively), who are now a couple, when they take a road trip in their last summer before college. The story is the second in what looks like becoming a trilogy, and to this I must thank Silent Angel of Time, who suggested in her review that I write a sequel. It got my brain going and it resulted in this…
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Part One
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"You do realise that map is upside down?"
"You do realise how close I am to shoving this map up your ass?"
"I do just love our little chats!"
"I know, with such sparkling conversation I'm surprised we managed to break up three times in the last year!"
"Well I think we both know the reason we're still together," Jackson said with a grin. "It's my technique - I'm just too good a kisser."
"Mmm… you're not too bad at the other stuff either," Beth murmured saucily.
"Careful woman! Or I might just have to pull this car into a ditch and get over there!"
"Down boy!"
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"Well, if I'm driving can we at least have some decent music?" Beth asked.
"You don't like 'Music from the Star Wars Galaxy'?"
"How can I put this nicely… No, it's crap."
"You'd rather have some dreary student indie band drivel?"
"I'd rather have anything that wasn't once a theme tune to a movie or a TV show."
Jackson rummaged through the CD collection. "Oh dear, I don't think I brought anything like that."
"Just stick a Beatles CD on or something, and if you sing, you're dead."
"Oh? And just how are you gonna kill me huh?"
"Who's drivin' this car, buster?"
"Okay, fair point. Revolver alright?"
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"I'm starving, can we stop for lunch soon?"
"I thought we were looking for that old battle ground thing?"
"My thirst for culture has been overcome by my thirst for KFC."
"Thank God for that."
At the next diner they passed, Jackson pulled off the highway.
"Well this looks like a nice, good for families sort of a place." Jackson said looking round.
"And Hell's Angels it would seem," Beth added, nodding towards the small army of Harley's to one side of the parking lot.
"Food should be good then," Jackson smiled. "Let's go in."
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"You know if you really loved me," Beth began, "You'd pick up this napkin I'm doodling on as we leave and keep it in your wallet."
"And that proves my love how?"
"It's romantic."
"Well, I think it'd be more romantic if you'd pay for my lunch."
Silence. Jackson watched Beth cut her hash brown's deliberately.
"Beth?" He said at last.
"Oh, were you talking to me?" She grinned at him.
"Okay, delightful banter aside. Isn't it time we had a chat about where the hell we're headed this week?"
"You mean we're actually going to make a plan?" Beth asked incredulous.
"Well, much as I've enjoyed the ad hoc, wherever-the-wind-takes us kind of approach the last three weeks, funds are running a little low. We need to try and budget the next couple of weeks, maybe pick up some work, make a little cash."
"God, that sounds hopelessly organised."
"I know, babe, but needs must, we ain't in high school anymore! We're doing this on our own, remember?"
"Of course," she reached for Jackson hand across the table. "And I do have an idea about where we should go next."
"Oh?"
"You're not going to like it," she said carefully.
"Oh?"
Beth didn't say anything at first, collecting her thoughts. Jackson thought he knew what was coming. She had that earnest look in her eyes that always spelt trouble for him of some sort.
"If I remember correctly, you said your mother lives in Oklahoma. We could be there in a couple of days."
"My mother," Jackson sighed. His eyes closed slightly. "Why in the world would we want to go and see her?"
"Because we're passing through, because you haven't seen her in three years. Because you should."
"Why should I?"
"She's your mother, Jackson!"
"In name only, Beth, you know that!" Jackson pulled his hand away from her.
"Don't," she said, reaching out a hand to rub his arm. "I'm not trying to upset you, but I really think we should try and see her. You know her address, let's go find her. Do you really think you won't regret this opportunity later? No, think about it. We're about to start college in the fall, everything's about to change. Moving out of home, growing up. You might not have this chance again."
Eventually he reached out and cupped a hand under her chin.
"Okay, I promise to think about it at least," Jackson said at last. "Does that make you happy?"
She leant over her dinner to kiss him on the lips.
"Very," she said. "But it doesn't solve where we're going tonight."
"Ah, well I think I have an idea about that," Jackson said, his tone brightening.
"You do? You've kept that quiet."
"I wanted it to be a surprise. My dad told me about a great place by the lake. It's about two hours away from here. Not many people know about it so it shouldn't be full. And anyway, my dad uses them all the time when he works out this way so maybe if we do a little name dropping… Maybe we could stay there a day or two."
"And then?"
"And then, we'll see."
"Okay, sounds good," Beth nodded at her boyfriend. "Let's settle up and go, hey?"
"Sure thing."
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Neither of them had noticed the eyes that had been fixed on them from almost the moment they walked in. A man sitting alone on the opposite side of the diner had seen them, and his interest aroused, had been observing them the whole time. He heard a little of the affectionate bickering, saw every look and touch that pronounced them a couple, and seemed scarcely able to keep his eyes off them.
He watched them now as they paid the waitress and the young man had a joke with her. He watched as they left together hand in hand and headed towards their car outside.
He watched all of this, then got up and followed them.
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"Oh, Jackson, it's beautiful!"
Beth was surprised. She jokingly gave neither Jackson nor his father much credit for their taste in anything, but it was laced with truth. Though Jackson did appreciate more than he let on. It seemed that Pacey Witter did the same she thought, as she looked around outside the hotel he had recommended. It looked out over a beautiful and extensive lake, with subtle trees and beautiful scrubland surrounding it. Small cabins that were part of the hotel were scattered around. The setting sun added another movie-like touch. It actually did take her breath away.
"The old man did good, huh?" Jackson asserted.
"He did - you're a pair of dark horses you two!" Beth teased him. "This is almost romantic, Jackson, you'd better be careful!"
"Oooh! I hope so!"
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"You're Pacey Witter's son? You're Jackson! Well hello you!" Verma from behind the desk cried, slightly too loudly, at Jackson and Beth.
"Yes, yes that's right," answered Jackson, trying to back away a little for the sake of his ears.
"My Dad recommended this place as the best in the state - is it possible we could stay here? Do you have any rooms free?"
"Well," Verma said, flicking through her guest book, "as it happens, I have one of the log cabins still free, the last room in the main hotel was just let out - would a cabin suit you two?" She smiled at them with her big teeth.
"Um… I'm sure it would under normal circumstances, only…. How much does two nights in one of your cabins cost? It's just, we don't have much of a budget - but we're willing to work."
Verma looked at them kindly. "Well now, I think you two look like you need a bit of a rest, rather than work. If we're not careful we'll lose our reputation as a relaxing retreat! As it happens your father called and mentioned you might be dropping in. Your tab's been seen to."
Jackson was slightly speechless.
"Wow, really?" Beth enthused. "That's really kind of your father."
"It's just like him though," Jackson said still shaking his head. "Not saying a word about it."
"He did leave you a message, Jackson," Verma told them. "Pacey said to tell you that if your bill should include multiple mini-bar refills and long distance phone calls, he's taking your college fund to Vegas."
Jackson laughed. "That sounds like him too. I promise we'll be the model guests."
"Well good," said Verma, chuckling as well. "Here's the key to your cabin, it's number five, at the end of the path."
The phone rang at that moment and she bustled off to answer it. Jackson and Beth looked at each other in smiling disbelief and went off to find their latest lodgings."
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"I have to say, this is better than the local run-down motel we've been using up till now." Jackson said as he brushed his teeth that evening.
"It's whole worlds of better," Beth answered him from the bedroom. "Dinner was great wasn't it?"
"Sure was, I really can't thank Dad enough for this when we get home. I was beginning to think if I didn't eat a vegetable soon, I'd die."
"If one good thing has come out of this trip, it's that we've been able to wean you off your dependency on fast food."
Jackson came into the bedroom. "Don't worry," he said grinning. "It'll be back strong as ever after a few days of this good home cooking."
They sat down side by side on the bed. Jackson put his arm around Beth.
"So…" he began eventually, "You tired?"
She looked keenly up at him. "Why?"
"Why do you think?"
"Well, I don't know."
"Don't be so obtuse, you know very well!"
"Oh, so much for romance, now you're insulting me!"
"Oh for God's sake, woman!"
Jackson fell back onto the bed.
"I'm not trying to start an argument now."
Suddenly Beth's face appeared above his.
"Neither am I, you freak! Now, in answer to your question… I'm not the least bit tired."
His hands ran down her body as she kissed him, and soon they were expending their energy in much more interesting ways.
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"Can I get you anything else, sir?" The waitress asked him.
"No, no thank you."
"Only, it's gone eleven sir, and we usually like to shut the bar early," she continued.
"So shut the bar, I don't want anything."
Bridget went over to Verma who had been making disapproving clicking noises in the corner.
"He doesn't seem to want to budge," she told her.
"Well leave him be," Verma said. "We'll lock the bar up though. He's an odd sort that one."
"He's quiet enough now, but earlier he was asking questions about the other guests."
"What sort of questions?"
"Just where they were staying, how long for. Never went to talk to them himself though. And he wanted to know the name of those kids that are here, you know - Pacey Witter's son and his girlfriend."
"Did you tell him anything?" Verma asked sharply.
"No!" Bridget answered, indignantly. "I never would. But it's weird don't you think?"
Verma nodded silently. "I hope he moves on soon, but he didn't specify how long he'd be here. Said he didn't know yet. What kind of an answer's that? I might get Deputy Green over here tomorrow, invite him over to dinner."
"Tell him to wear his uniform," Bridget mumbled as she pulled down the shutters on the small hotel bar.
The man in the corner didn't move, but appeared deep in thought, staring out onto the darkness of the lake, surrounded by the flickering lights coming from the log cabins.
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To be continued…
Please Read/Review. I'm hoping that this sequel thing works! Let me know!