Pacey had received quite a surprise when he arrived home at his brothers. His older sister Gretchen, who he hadn't seen since two years earlier when she left for college, was back. She'd waltzed back in to Capeside while he was gone and quite easily claimed his spot on Dougies couch.
So he found himself back on his boat facing the prospect of living there indefinitely until she left, or his parent's house freed up.
Well this was just what I needed, he thought bitterly thrashing his now empty soda can onto the dock beside him.
"Whoa, aggressive much?" Came a sarcastic voice from behind him. Knowing who it was he turned to face her.
"Well forgive me dear sister but my aggression denotes my less than happy state of mind".
"And you're unhappy because?" She questioned demandingly folding her arms.
"Hmm, now let me see", he said stepping down of his boat to front her. "Could it be due to my now homeless disposition since you stole the three seater I called home, or, the fact that two days from now my three month run of freedom ends and it's back to school".
"Or", she took control of the situation, "could it be the fact that you're back in the place where your ex-best friend and the girl who chose him over you thus breaking your little heart reside".
He forced a smile through his frustration,
"I see Dougie filled you in on what went down last spring".
"The basics, yeah".
"And oh how I bet you both relished the opportunity to share in yet another of baby bro's failures". He turned to climb back aboard but she gently took hold of his arm and turned him to face her.
"Look Pace that's not what this is about, I'm just trying to let you know that I'm here for you". The strong tone of concern in her voice made his stern face fall.
"I guess that's my cue to apologise?" He said defeatistly shaking off her hold.
"No, no apologies necessary, instead how about you do your big sis a favour".
"Why am I not liking the sound of this already?"
"Cause you're not listening, anyway, I was thinking that you and I should have a go at this whole 'quality time' thing that everyone's always talking about".
"Uh uh, no way", he said successfully climbing back aboard the boat this time. "In our family quality time usually entails re-enacting scenes from Jerry Springer minus the transvestites, although who knows what Dougie will decide upon to express his sexual identity".
Gretchen laughed a little before climbing on to the boat.
"Quit clowning around Pacey I mean it, you and I are gonna live a little, hit the town".
"And why would we do that?"
"Because as you so rightly pointed out this is your last night of non-student status for a while, and I could sure as hell use an escape from Doug and his incessant cleaning".
He didn't look convinced so she cocked her head to the side and with widened eyes stared at him pleadingly.
"Okay okay, ya got me", he sighed sluggishly throwing his arms in the air.
"Great well, what are we waiting for?" She exclaimed enthusiastically tugging at his shirtsleeve.
"For the ground to open and swallow me whole", Pacey mused.
"Look, will you promise me one thing?" Gretchen sighed.
"What now?"
"Drop this, 'woe is me' attitude just for one night, forget about them, or at least pretend to. And I promise to try and make this evening bearable for the both of us".
"Yeah, okay".
Gretchen stepped down on to the dock and began walking towards the town with Pacey right behind her.
"So where to?" He asked beginning to feel a little more at ease.
"I was thinking we could head on down to the dive in", she answered taking his arm.
"Sounds like a plan".
"Come on Jo we're supposed to meet them in", Dawson paused to look at his watch, "five minutes".
"Alright already, I'm coming", Joey called racing down her porch steps to where he stood waiting.
"What took you so long?" He questioned as they walked over to his fathers car.
"Beauty takes a long time to perfect". She smiled cheekily as he pulled open the passenger side door for her.
"Yeah right Jo, like you'll ever be that kind of girl".
She was a little taken aback by what he said as she wasn't sure what he meant.
"What kind of girl? The beautiful kind? Is that what you're saying Dawson?" Her voice revealed her angered paranoia.
"What? No", he replied hastily grabbing her hand. "I mean the kind of girl who has to, or would want, to spend half an hour painting her face before she steps outside. You see you don't need to do that Joey cause there is no way to improve on your natural beauty". He felt like a total cheese ball.
She sensed his sincerity and began to blush.
"Shut up", she said giving his shoulder a light push. Lowering her eyes she muttered, "Sorry Dawson it's just, you know me, always jumping on the defence. I can be such an idiot".
"Yeah I know". He placed his free hand under her chin and brought her gaze up to meet his. An awkward smile spread across her face.
"Come here you beautiful idiot", he said, pulling her into a warm embrace their lips met in a kiss.
"Oops, I think we just lost our five minutes", Joey said a moment later with her mouth still pressed against his.
He stepped back laughing and walked round to the driver's side of the vehicle. Joey now climbed in, as did he.
"So we're meeting Jen and the McPhee's", she said as he started the engine up and the car rolled out of her driveway, "where to then?"
"Jen and I were thinking the dive in".
"Oh really, I hear they're playing some movie called Jaws tonight", she said smilingly.
"Never heard of it".
They both laughed looked at each other and nodded in agreement at what the other one was mentally suggesting.
"Sheriff Brody, that's a twenty footer! Quiet, I think it's come back for its noon feeding".
"Gotta get at shot at this orca's head".
"Smile you son of a bitch!"
They laughed hysterically as they continue their drive.
"We're gonna need a bigger boat".
So he found himself back on his boat facing the prospect of living there indefinitely until she left, or his parent's house freed up.
Well this was just what I needed, he thought bitterly thrashing his now empty soda can onto the dock beside him.
"Whoa, aggressive much?" Came a sarcastic voice from behind him. Knowing who it was he turned to face her.
"Well forgive me dear sister but my aggression denotes my less than happy state of mind".
"And you're unhappy because?" She questioned demandingly folding her arms.
"Hmm, now let me see", he said stepping down of his boat to front her. "Could it be due to my now homeless disposition since you stole the three seater I called home, or, the fact that two days from now my three month run of freedom ends and it's back to school".
"Or", she took control of the situation, "could it be the fact that you're back in the place where your ex-best friend and the girl who chose him over you thus breaking your little heart reside".
He forced a smile through his frustration,
"I see Dougie filled you in on what went down last spring".
"The basics, yeah".
"And oh how I bet you both relished the opportunity to share in yet another of baby bro's failures". He turned to climb back aboard but she gently took hold of his arm and turned him to face her.
"Look Pace that's not what this is about, I'm just trying to let you know that I'm here for you". The strong tone of concern in her voice made his stern face fall.
"I guess that's my cue to apologise?" He said defeatistly shaking off her hold.
"No, no apologies necessary, instead how about you do your big sis a favour".
"Why am I not liking the sound of this already?"
"Cause you're not listening, anyway, I was thinking that you and I should have a go at this whole 'quality time' thing that everyone's always talking about".
"Uh uh, no way", he said successfully climbing back aboard the boat this time. "In our family quality time usually entails re-enacting scenes from Jerry Springer minus the transvestites, although who knows what Dougie will decide upon to express his sexual identity".
Gretchen laughed a little before climbing on to the boat.
"Quit clowning around Pacey I mean it, you and I are gonna live a little, hit the town".
"And why would we do that?"
"Because as you so rightly pointed out this is your last night of non-student status for a while, and I could sure as hell use an escape from Doug and his incessant cleaning".
He didn't look convinced so she cocked her head to the side and with widened eyes stared at him pleadingly.
"Okay okay, ya got me", he sighed sluggishly throwing his arms in the air.
"Great well, what are we waiting for?" She exclaimed enthusiastically tugging at his shirtsleeve.
"For the ground to open and swallow me whole", Pacey mused.
"Look, will you promise me one thing?" Gretchen sighed.
"What now?"
"Drop this, 'woe is me' attitude just for one night, forget about them, or at least pretend to. And I promise to try and make this evening bearable for the both of us".
"Yeah, okay".
Gretchen stepped down on to the dock and began walking towards the town with Pacey right behind her.
"So where to?" He asked beginning to feel a little more at ease.
"I was thinking we could head on down to the dive in", she answered taking his arm.
"Sounds like a plan".
"Come on Jo we're supposed to meet them in", Dawson paused to look at his watch, "five minutes".
"Alright already, I'm coming", Joey called racing down her porch steps to where he stood waiting.
"What took you so long?" He questioned as they walked over to his fathers car.
"Beauty takes a long time to perfect". She smiled cheekily as he pulled open the passenger side door for her.
"Yeah right Jo, like you'll ever be that kind of girl".
She was a little taken aback by what he said as she wasn't sure what he meant.
"What kind of girl? The beautiful kind? Is that what you're saying Dawson?" Her voice revealed her angered paranoia.
"What? No", he replied hastily grabbing her hand. "I mean the kind of girl who has to, or would want, to spend half an hour painting her face before she steps outside. You see you don't need to do that Joey cause there is no way to improve on your natural beauty". He felt like a total cheese ball.
She sensed his sincerity and began to blush.
"Shut up", she said giving his shoulder a light push. Lowering her eyes she muttered, "Sorry Dawson it's just, you know me, always jumping on the defence. I can be such an idiot".
"Yeah I know". He placed his free hand under her chin and brought her gaze up to meet his. An awkward smile spread across her face.
"Come here you beautiful idiot", he said, pulling her into a warm embrace their lips met in a kiss.
"Oops, I think we just lost our five minutes", Joey said a moment later with her mouth still pressed against his.
He stepped back laughing and walked round to the driver's side of the vehicle. Joey now climbed in, as did he.
"So we're meeting Jen and the McPhee's", she said as he started the engine up and the car rolled out of her driveway, "where to then?"
"Jen and I were thinking the dive in".
"Oh really, I hear they're playing some movie called Jaws tonight", she said smilingly.
"Never heard of it".
They both laughed looked at each other and nodded in agreement at what the other one was mentally suggesting.
"Sheriff Brody, that's a twenty footer! Quiet, I think it's come back for its noon feeding".
"Gotta get at shot at this orca's head".
"Smile you son of a bitch!"
They laughed hysterically as they continue their drive.
"We're gonna need a bigger boat".