Dreaming Chapter Three- The Muse

Thoughts in Italics

Thanks to Wild in the Streets for the beta

"It was Pacey's idea." States Dawson as he squeezes into a seat in the crowded cafeteria and positions his tray next to Joey's. She glares at Pacey, her face set in an I'm so not surprised expression.

"Look kiddies, it's like this," Pacey grins, "Dawson needs inspiration and I am his muse. Not in a sex way though," he adds hurriedly

"You sure about that Pace?" Joey raises an eyebrow inquiringly. "The fact such a thought crossed your mind could have some meaning."

"Potter, sex is always on my mind." A wink in her direction and Joey finds herself shamefully blushing. Was he thinking about sex the day we almost… NO, stop that thought right there. God, he is so nauseating, irritating, frustrating. Her mental list stalls as her body tightens, feeling the physical impact of the emotions he is provoking in her. Forcing her body to loosen up, she watches Dawson's bright face as he laughs at something Pacey is sharing.

"Here's Dawson," Pacey holds up a fry, "and this is his camera," he continues in an explanatory tone, squashing the pea into the fry and both of them into the "elephant scab" mystery meat.

"That's it?" Joey frowns, confused.

"Well yeah, he just waits, as silent and still as he can possibly be, all through the night if necessary, letting the dark eat up the sky, and when he's least expecting it…"

"Pacey!" Joey fumes, embarrassed at having jumped out of her seat when he clapped his hands right in front of her, directly in view of a table of giggling spectators.

Pacey just sits looking full of mirth and delight. Smug. A sulky expression overcomes her features.

Unperturbed by his friends' bickering, Dawson puts his fork down. "Upon consideration, my hypothesis is that a favourable outcome will result from this." A spark of excitement lights within him.

A new challenge for our young Speilburg "Dawson, can't you see this is not a very good idea. You are intruding on people's private lives. I'm not surprised at Pacey's voyeurism, but I thought you might be a little more creative. A film isn't about the real world; it's more about the hidden one. Where emotions steer the stories."

Dawson opens his mouth, ready to argue his case, but Pacey feels the need to defend his brainchild. "Yes, but where do the emotions in films play out Joey? They distort the characters' faces; they make the events what they are. It's an ignition for his imagination; he sees the man on the screen, he watches his mannerisms, notes his style, his expression and his mind reacts and builds a history for the man, gives the man a reason to be out that day, gives a motive for all the things he detects about that man, and from that man a character and a story is born. The tale being not one bit intrusive, because it is not reality." A pause for breath is taken as Joey looks on in wonder. Was that Pacey? the assured passion of his speech, as he leans towards her, and his attractiveness once again hits her with the sheer force of a frying pan… or should that be a rolling pin the memory makes her smile.

He gazes back at her, and she quickly recovers. Smiling at Pacey, better stop that.

"Round one to Pacey." Declares Dawson

"Jeez, didn't realise this thing was so heavy" Pacey complains, as he struggles under the weight of Dawson's film equipment.

"Well you are my divine angel of film-making Pacey,"

"Yeah, laugh all you like Dawson." He grinds out, "you know, my friend, you are extremely lucky to have my help and wisdom, seeing as the ice queen has dropped out of her devotional Dawson duties."

"Her what? Joey's working." Dawson doesn't quite understand Pacey's comment, but lets it pass No doubt his mind is on more fundamentally important things than his adoring sidekick. Damn that girl, why she continues in her Dawson worship when he's clearly as blind as a forty-year-old who's never had a woman, is far beyond my comprehension.

He immediately feels slightly guilty for his silent outburst of best friend anger, "So, do you want me to help set it up? Although I am a bit tired after carrying it out all the way to the front of your house."

"It's ok Pace, I can manage from here." Dawson replies.

" I don't understand why you don't take it someplace else. Not a lot is going to occur in your front yard. The most exciting footage you're likely to capture is a snail menage a trios."

" I'm not making a porn movie," Dawson's expression is already distant, yup, he's in film land again.

"Well, love to stay and watch the action, but I've got much to do before the day is done." Like visit Joey. Not that I'm delusional enough to think all our pointed remarks have something more to them.

"Yeah," he mutters, and Pacey doesn't know whether Dawson heard his last words or not. Never mind, he strides off towards his borrowed police transportation.

"Lets have some service here!" Booms Pacey's voice as he saddles a chair and bangs on the counter in front of him.

"Pacey," Joey hisses, frowning at him, "can't you see I'm busy."

"Well no, but it'd be my guess that you have never got busy." He smirks, and waggles his eyebrows. "But today could be your lucky day."

"Why, is Bessie suddenly going to declare she's rich and stop treating me like a slave." Spoken whilst energetically scrubbing the counter surface.

"No, I am going to invite you to spend time with your beloved."

Joey feels suddenly light-headed, "I know we nearly kissed but I wouldn't go that far Pace," She finally manages to try and snap.

Her interpretation of his words stuns Pacey and his attention remains fixed on her reactions.

She gives up doing any work, she's merely staring at him, her mind working furiously. "Besides, we don't get on anyway, and all you think about is sex, and you annoy me beyond reason and you are a moron."

"But I'm awfully cute," he breaks in slowly.

Don't blush "You are not."

"Am too"

"Are so not"

"Joey," Bessie emerges from the kitchen, and Joey groans knowing she's been caught not doing work again.

"Getting right to it Bessie," she plasters on a smile. "Just kick Mr Delinquent out" her eyes narrow in his direction.

"Only dropped by to tell you home movies will be at eight tonight." Pacey stands up and begins to head for the door, Thank God

"You know, with your Dawson." He shoots before the door swings shut and Joey realises her mistake.