It's A Small World After All

"Did you know that it's Emily's birthday tomorrow?" Joey asked as she sat down in the empty seat beside Bryan, placing her lunch in front of her. It was now mid-November.

"We've got to celebrate then!" Pacey cried. "What would a drama girl like Em want to do though."

Bryan said immediately, "Strip club."

"No way!" Joey told them. "Why don't we just take her out to that club she keeps mentioning?"

"Dancing at a dorm party is one thing but at a club?" Bryan said skeptically.

"You don't have to dance," Joey reminded him.

Pacey spoke up, "Okay the club it is. Joey you take care of Emily. Just make sure she is available and let's keep our destination a secret."

**

"Where are we going tonight?" Emily asked as she and Joey sat in their room studying.

"No where special," Joey told her for the third time. "You'll enjoy it."

"How can I get dressed for it then if I have no idea where I'll be going?"

"I'm sure whatever you choose will be fine."

"Joey, don't be like that. Tell me where we are going," Emily whined.

Joey just laughed at her.

**

"Aren't any of you going to tell me what we're up to tonight?" Emily interrogated her friends as she climbed in to the back of Bryan's car. She had been very careful picking her clothing for the evening after watching to see what Joey was wearing. Emily had actually changed her clothes six times in the process of getting ready.

Joey smiled at Pacey and crawled in to the backseat beside Emily. Pacey couldn't help but steal a glance at Joey's long legs. She was wearing a short black skirt and a small gray sweater. He'd never seen her wear her hair pulled up either.

Pacey got in to the passenger seat and cranked up the volume on the stereo, alternative music spilled out of the speakers. Bryan started the car and they were on their way. Their first stop was a little diner; they got a table and ordered some dinner. Then at the end they ordered a cupcake with a candle for Emily and somehow managed to get everyone in the small diner to sing "Happy Birthday" to her.

After they had paid their bill they got back in to the car and blindfolded Emily on the way to the club. They pulled up and got in the line outside the door. They didn't take off her blindfold until they werenext in line.

"Where are we?" Emily asked quickly as she pulled the bandana off her face. "You guys! It's The G-Spot. Oh this rocks. Thanks a lot."

"Don't let me do anything silly tonight," Joey whispered to Pacey as they stood in line. She raised her pinky. Pacey shook it with his own.

**

Joey stepped around a couple making out feverishly at the bar and caught the bartender's eye. "Can I help you sweetie?" he asked.

She cringed at the word 'sweetie' but gave her order anyway, "A rum and Coke, and three rocky mountain bear fuckers please."

The bartender made the drinks and handed them to her on a little tray, "Six tickets."

Joey handed over the pink tickets and headed back towards the table to her friends. "Here we go," she said as she slid in to the semicircular booth beside Emily. "Bryan I don't know how you can drink Rum and Coke. It's disgusting."

"It's a man's drink," he replied.

Emily snorted with laughter, "My grandmother drinks it."

"I'd like to know where Joey heard of rocky mountain bear fuckers?"

Pacey asked as he looked at her intently.

"Some vacationer taught me how to make them a few years ago when I worked at the Ice House," she explained to him.

"Whatever, will it hurt going down?" Emily wondered.

"Just try it and see."

Emily took a sip, "It's like Kool-Aid!"

They finished their drinks at the table and watched the people in the club for a while. It was crowded with students like them.

"Okay," Bryan told them as he clapped his hands. "It's time to get busy." He hopped off the seat and strutted towards the dance floor.

**

Joey blinked as the beads of light from the disco ball spun around on everyone's faces. "This is pretty trippy huh?" she yelled to the guy she was dancing with.

"Yea, it's cool," he said as he rested his hands on her hips and moved quickly with the music. Joey turned her back to him and began grinding, Emily had taught her in the privacy of their dorm room. After a few more minutes of the song the DJ came on to the microphone announcing the next song.

Pacey glanced across the room and noticed Joey dancing. It was unusual. He was still getting used to how much she had changed, everyday she amazed him some how.

"I'm going to sit this one out. Thanks though," Joey said as she smiled at her temporary dance partner. He nodded and she walked towards the booth. She grabbed a ticket and went to the bar for a third drink, then back to the table.

"Emily is certainly in her glory here," Bryan remarked as he sat down beside Joey and glanced at Emily on the floor. She was dancing very closely with two guys, sandwiched in between them.

Joey laughed, "She lives for this shit."

"Hey guys. Enjoying yourselves?" Pacey asked as he took the spot beside Joey.

"Definitely," was Joey's reply.

"Can I get a dance from you later, Jo?" Pacey asked her. "I see you've learned how to grind."

"I'll see if I can fit you in on my dance card Pacey." She smiled at him, "I'll come find you, okay?"

"Alright," Pacey gulped his beer.

"I'm going to go see if I can steal one of Em's partners," Joey told them as she slid slowly over Pacey's lap and hopped out of the booth.

"I think it must be the alcohol in her because I have never seen Joey this bold before," Pacey told Bryan.

Bryan eyed him curiously, "That a complaint?"

"Hell no. It's a compliment!"

"Have you got something brewing for her man?" Bryan asked knowingly.

Pacey looked at his drink, "Ask me after I've had a few more of these and I'm feeling truthful."

**

Pacey had been sitting in the booth for ten minutes drinking another beer, watching Emily and Joey dance with different guys. Joey was acting truly unlike herself, maybe she had changed more than he thought while he'd been gone. Or maybe it was the alcohol that had made her lose her inhibitions.

"Pacey," Joey sang as she wiggled her finger at him. "It's time." She walked up to him, took his drink and set it on the table.

"For what?" he asked, knowing fully what she meant.

She put her hand around his wrist and attempted to pull him off the seat, "Our dance silly."

"Okay, okay. You're a slave driver. Let's go," he slipped his arm around her waist and they walked to the dance floor. As they started to dance Pacey couldn't help but watch her, she moved easily and emphatically.

Joey put her arms around Pacey's neck and smirked at him. "What?" he asked.

"Do you want to see me grind now?" she whispered in his ear.

Pacey shivered slightly as he felt her lips brush ever so gently across his ear lobe. Joey didn't bother to wait for a response. She turned around slowly, still swaying her hips to the music she moved her hands behind her until they rested on Pacey's neck; his were on her hips. Then she began; moving her hips side to side in time with Pacey's as they went lower and lower. Pacey couldn't help but notice how deliberate her movements were. He could barely comprehend that it was Joey Potter from down the creek dancing so closely with him.

When they had finished Joey turned around to face Pacey again but continued to dance. "So that's how you grind," Pacey remarked. He had been silent up until then.

"Yup," she replied simply.

"I'm impressed."

"Thanks for the dance Pace," Joey said as the music died down and she went to find Emily.

"Oh man," he sighed. "I need a drink!"

**

"So?" Bryan asked, he had caught up to Pacey at the bar.

"So?" Pacey asked, misunderstanding.

Bryan leaned against the counter, "Well I'm assuming you've had a few more beers. You can answer my question truthfully."

Pacey stared at him blankly.

"Have you got something brewing for Joey?" Bryan asked for the second time that night.