Chapter 3: Shy

"Joey, something's bothering you."

"Nothing's bothering me, Audrey." Joey replied, trying to concentrate on her studies.

"It's something to do with a boy, isn't it?"

"The only boy in my life right now is Henry David Thorough, whom I can't concentrate on since you keep interrupting me."

"It can't be Dawson, you've done that to death." Audrey said. "And it's definitely not Jack, what's there to ponder over? No, it MUST be Pacey." Audrey said. Joey shut her book.

"Audrey..."

"Joey...it's January. We've lived together since September. You can talk to me." Audrey said.

"Why'd he have to go meet another girl?" Joey complained.

"It's what we do. We're young, we meet new people. As should you." Audrey said.

"I'm too busy with school, it'd just be pointless to date."

"I think you're just missing your old boyfriend. You did the same thing when Jen and Dawson hooked up." Audrey replied.

"Audrey, I have to study."

"Okay, you do that, Potter." Audrey said, going back to listening to her music.

Meanwhile....

"Can I get three orders of shrimp scatallini?" Ranae' asked.

"Three orders huh? Well, Miss Ramirez, I have been boiling shrimp for an hour, so you can wait your turn." Pacey said.

"I do love when they serve shrimp or lobster as the special....makes for madd drama in the kitchen." Ranae' said, sitting down.

"Lucky for me I'm not in your shoes." Pacey said.

"Lucky's right....these things are killing me."

"Don't wear platforms to work." Pacey replied.

"Pacey, if you were 5'2, you wouldn't care how bad your feet hurt, you'd sell your soul to be tall."

"Thank god I'm a tall brooding male." Pacey said with a sly grin.

"Thank god for that." Ranae' said with a laugh.

"So, where to tonight?" Pacey asked.

"Your boat?"

Pacey stopped chopping parsely to look at her.

"You really like my boat don't you?" he asked.

"Don't you like it?"

"Yes, but that's not what I asked you."

"I think it's awesome. I love the water, and I always wanted my own boat."

"Oh, so you're using me for my boat?"

"No, I'm using you for sex." Ranae' said with a giggle. Pacey raised his eyebrows.

"We haven't had sex yet." he said, knowing she was joking. She had a great sense of humor.

"Hmmm, that must be the other Pacey I'm seeing then." Ranae' said with a shrug.

"Oh. Well, tell Pacey I said hello." Pacey replied.

"Okay. I'll do that. I think I'm gonna break up with him though?"

"Oh and why is that?" Pacey asked.

"I like you better." Ranae' replied. Pacey smiled.

"Woman, I could kiss you right now, but I'm not going to because we're in a place of business. But later...."

"My lips are at your mercy." Ranae' smiled, hopping off the stool. She kissed him on the cheek and went back to work.

Later....

"Jen, he could be with that new girl of his, I don't think we should just barge in like that." Dawson said as he and Jen walked hand in hand down the dock.

"Three nights in a row? I doubt that, Pacey Witter is incapable of that, no matter how sweet or how gorgeous she may be." Jen replied.

"If you say so." Dawson said as they approached the boat. They walked onto the boat and noticed the door was cracked open a little bit.

"He's definitely there, he'd never leave without locking his boat." Jen said. Dawson opened the door and they walked inside.

"Hey Pace--whoops." Jen said. Dawson looked to his right to see Pacey and a redhaired girl making out in a chair.

Pacey groaned. "Hey guys, meet Ranae'."

"Hi." she said shyly, ducking her head. "Pacey, um, maybe I should go, your friends are here, and....." she started, easing up off his lap.

"No, stay." Pacey said, grabbing her wrist. "Since you're here, you can meet two of my friends. Jen Lindley this is Ranae' Ramirez. And this is Dawson Leery."

"Hi." she said, still shy as a four year old on the first day of pre- school.

"Well, since we're here, you guys wanna go do something?" Jen asked.

"Sure, Ranae' whaddya say?"

"Um...okay." she said, still not making eye contact with anyone.

"Okay, I need to change my....shirt....so we'll meet you guys outside in a second." Pacey said.

"Okay." Dawson replied. He and Jen went back out to the docks. As soon as the door clicked shut, Pacey turned to Ranae'.

"Hey what's wrong? Why so shy?" Pacey asked.

"Pacey, you know how I get sometimes...I don't wanna do or say something stupid to make them not like me."

"Don't worry about saying or doing something stupid, I don't think you will, but if you do, I'll do something even worse to cover your back." Pacey said with a grin. Ranae' laughed softly, then kissed him.

"I really like you Pacey. I'm glad I started working at the restaraunt." Ranae' said.

"Me too. Come on, let's go." Pacey said, and with that they went to go join Jen and Dawson.