CHAPTER THREE
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER .....
Joey walked the corridors of high school, feeling both lonely and lost. She hadn't seen or heard from Pacey since that morning, Dawson was always around her but deep down she missed Pacey. She was sure he was deliberately avoiding her, everytime she seemed to catch up to him the next minute he was gone. Since that kiss, she had found herself longing for his touch, longing to be close to him and just desperately needing him around.
Leaning back against her locker she sighed, closing her eyes she could almost feel his lips on hers. That kiss haunted her still and she just wanted to hear his voice, just to know he was okay.
" Joey?" Opening her eyes she glanced over at Jen, smiling slightly she said,
" Hey Jen."
" Just thought you would like to know Pacey's sat on the bleachers in the rain." Joey raised her eyebrows,
" In the rain?"
" Yeah..he always was a strange one." Joey smiled, giving Jen a quick hug to say thanks before she ran down the corridor and headed towards the bleachers.
*************
Pacey Witter, the so called black sheep and waste of everyone's time sat with his eyes shut head crooned towards the sky. Enjoying the simple pleasure of feeling the rain touch his skin, it made him feel more alive than he had felt in a while, contemplating it he realised the only thing that made him feel the most alive was that kiss.
" Pacey?"
Opening his eyes he sighed as Joey stood in front of him," Hi Joey, what can I do for you?"
" We need to talk."
" Do we?" Looking down at his feet.
Joey sat down ignoring the wet bleachers, crossing her arms she looked at Pacey's soaked face." Pacey..about what happened.." Pacey sighed, he could already work out what she was going to say.
Bracing his arms behind him he glanced up through the rain,
" I would have thought you would rather not talk about that, especially seeing as when it comes to confronting Dawson you turn from one of the most opinionated people I know to one of the quietist."
" That is not true Pacey!"
" Oh come on Joey, stop lying to yourself, if you felt even half of what I feel for you..forget it, I get it know...I'm not worthy of Joey Potter's affections, at least I found out before I embarassed myself even further by saying how I really felt." Getting to his feet, pushing past her but stopped as her hand gripped his wrist. Turning around he met the anguished eyes of Joey, her lip trembled as her grip on his wrist got tighter,
" That is not true Pacey..I care about both you and Dawson."
Pacey pulled his wrist free, taking Joey's face in his hands looking deep into her eyes he demanded," Do you feel anything more than friendship for me Joey? I need to know, when I kissed you did you feel what I did? I have never felt anything like what I felt in that kiss with any other girl, I felt more alive than I have ever felt in my whole life. Tell me you didn't feel the same and I'll never bring this up ever again." Joey just looked at him, rain streaming down her face, everytime she went to say anything the words would just not come out.
Pacey sighed letting his hands drop away from the hold he had on Joey's face, looking at her he said sadly," I guess I made an idiot out of myself, I apologise Josephine and I hope you have the heart to forgive me." With that he jogged down the bleachers and wandered away, glancing back before he simply shook his head and turned back around. Joey closed her eyes, feeling wet strands of hair tickle her neck, stirring memories of all the time she spent with Pacey and that kiss. The way his hands had caressed her hair, how he had made her feel so safe and loved in one instance then anyone had done in a lifetime.
" Pacey...I think I'm falling in love..with you." She whispered quietly to herself, at least she knew she had the words all she needed now was the courage to say them.
LATER THAT DAY .....
Bessie leaned against the windowframe watching Joey as she sat on the porch steps, something was definitely plaguing her baby sister's mind.
" A penny for your thoughts?"
Joey turned around and smiled," I don't think a penny would cover them all Bessie."
" That bad huh?"
" Yeah, complex and confused not to mention torn." Bessie smiled, wandering out to sit beside Joey.
" Let me take a wild guess here, it involves a certain blonde haired boy and a certain dark haired boy?" Joey's eyes widened,
" How do you do that?"
Bessie smirked," Do what? Read your mind? Well Joey Hun, it's not hard to do after all I am your older sister and older sister's pride themselves on knowing what their little sister's are thinking. So Joey what's going on?"
Joey crossed her arms and replied as she gazed out across the creek," After Dawson and I split, I stopped spending so much time with him and Pacey filled that void, he was wonderful so supportive and he was exactly what I needed. I don't know how it happened but he and I grew close..recently I've been seeing him in a different way, not just as Pacey but as someone who I thought was attractive, very mind boggling."
Bessie smiled," So you like him? How does he feel about you?"
" He and I kissed while we were around Dawson's house the other night, unfortunately Dawson saw us and at the moment he and Pacey aren't on the best of terms. I just don't know what to do, Dawson has made it very clear that if Pacey and I pursue anything then he isn't my friend anymore, I don't want to lose him but yet.."
" You want Pacey more than you ever thought possible?" Joey nodded sadly running a hand through her hair,
" I think I've fallen for Pacey but he thinks I want Dawson, everytime I go to say he's wrong the words just never come out. I know how ridiculous this sounds, I Joey Potter in love with Pacey Witter, my sworn enemy since I was five, the guy who pulled my hair and pushed me in the mud. Yet now he is the only one who can make me feel alive, how melodramatic is that?" Bessie slid an arm around Joey giving her a comforting cuddle as she explained,
" It's not melodramatic Jo, it's what love does to us. Not just to you but to every human being on this planet, we can't do anything to stop it or change it though sometimes we wish we could. I say follow your heart, let it be your guide for once..shut the brain off for a little while and you'll see, many amazing things can happen." Joey smiled,
" Thanks Bessie."
" What are sister's for? Now shoo before I drive you myself."
Joey smiled, getting to her feet before she ran off.
**************
Lying back on his bed he sighed, rubbing his hair..today had not been a good day then again no day had been good since that night. It was a friday night and here he was lying alone in his room with just thoughts of the past to keep him company. Growling he sat up and looked around his room, pictures scattered everywhere, frowning he reached down and picked up an old picture. It was of three five year olds, two looking at one another while the other simply wiggled his fingers above their heads and stuck his tongue out at the camera. Glancing at the other pictures he sighed, it had always been that way. The two of them would have some special something that only the two of them knew about and he would be there on the outside looking in.
Crouching down he began to gather them up before he stopped, tilting his head at a recent picture of the three of them together. It was different from the others, Dawson had his arm around Joey and was beaming away and well frankly so was he but it was Joey who caught his eye. She was looking directly at him and smiling that small smile she got when she was thinking about something. Sitting on the floor with his back resting against his bed, he just gazed at the photograph. Some small part of him hoped maybe it was a sign, maybe it was a little something he could hold onto but on the other hand maybe it was nothing.
Looking behind him as something hit his window, what the hell was that? If that was damn kids they would find out just how fast a runner Pacey Witter was when it came down to chasing some stupid ass kids. Getting to his feet he walked to the window, confused evident on his face as Joey looked up at him. Opening the window he whispered," Joey?"
Joey smiled weakly," Yeah Pacey, it's me I really need to talk to you."
Pacey sighed, shaking his head," Last time you said you wanted to talk to me, I did most of the talking and I don't fancy making a fool out of myself again Jo."
Joey shook her head," This time it'll be different I promise Pacey.." Pacey sighed,
" Alright then, one last time. You coming up to me or am I coming down to you?" Joey took a minute to think before she grabbed hold of a nearby tree and began to climb, Pacey smirked slightly," Guess that answers my question." Joey walked along the branch leading to Pacey's window carefully, wobbling slightly she attempted a smile to reassure Pacey as he looked at her worriedly.
Stopping she eyed the distance between the window and the tree, taking the jump she cried out as she toppled backwards," Jo!" The next thing she knew strong arms wrapped around her and had pulled her inside, she breathed heavilly as she felt herself pressed up against Pacey and the intoxicating smell of his aftershave tingled her senses. Pacey held Joey tight, his hand instinctively moving to stroke her hair," God Jo, you sure know how to give a guy a heart attack." Pulling away she gazed up at him and smiled at his concern as he held her face, stroking her cheeks softly before he moved away reluctantly. Sitting down on his bed he asked,
" So Miss Potter, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Joey took a seat, reaching out her hand she took Pacey's hand in hers. Pacey looked surprised but what surprised him even more is what Joey did next. One minute she was holding his hand and the next she was kissing him, her lips pleading with his to respond as her tongue slid across his bottom lip. Closing his eyes he wrapped his arms around Joey's small frame until he held her in his arms, kissing back he could feel a desperation in Joey that was only reflected in himself when she wasn't around. " Jo.." He moaned softly but her eyes stopped him, the love he saw in those brown eyes it was then he knew she wanted this. Pulling her close he slid his hands through her hair as his tongue explored her mouth, god she tasted wonderful. Breaking off he looked at her breathless, a small smile lit up her face before she leaned down nuzzling his nose softly. He gasped as she made a trail of butterfly kisses across his face to his ear, whispering,
" I love you Pacey Witter...I was just too afraid to say it before, I want you in my life and I want you to be the one I turn to.." Pacey smiled, his heart was doing a small jig, taking Joey's face in his hands he smirked,
" About time as well Potter, I've been in love with you for a while now, but what about Dawson?"
Joey kissed him lightly," What about him?" Pacey laughed burying his head in her shoulder before he kissed her gently," My my Josephine, I must be a very bad influence on you. You've forgotten the golden boy." Joey smiled nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck, saying softly,
" I wouldn't say bad influence, I would say an enlightening one."
Pacey smiled simply holding Joey in his arms, for once in his life things had turned out good.
THE END
' I feel so alive, for the very first time and I can think I can fly ' - POD Alive Soundtrack off Blue Crush
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER .....
Joey walked the corridors of high school, feeling both lonely and lost. She hadn't seen or heard from Pacey since that morning, Dawson was always around her but deep down she missed Pacey. She was sure he was deliberately avoiding her, everytime she seemed to catch up to him the next minute he was gone. Since that kiss, she had found herself longing for his touch, longing to be close to him and just desperately needing him around.
Leaning back against her locker she sighed, closing her eyes she could almost feel his lips on hers. That kiss haunted her still and she just wanted to hear his voice, just to know he was okay.
" Joey?" Opening her eyes she glanced over at Jen, smiling slightly she said,
" Hey Jen."
" Just thought you would like to know Pacey's sat on the bleachers in the rain." Joey raised her eyebrows,
" In the rain?"
" Yeah..he always was a strange one." Joey smiled, giving Jen a quick hug to say thanks before she ran down the corridor and headed towards the bleachers.
*************
Pacey Witter, the so called black sheep and waste of everyone's time sat with his eyes shut head crooned towards the sky. Enjoying the simple pleasure of feeling the rain touch his skin, it made him feel more alive than he had felt in a while, contemplating it he realised the only thing that made him feel the most alive was that kiss.
" Pacey?"
Opening his eyes he sighed as Joey stood in front of him," Hi Joey, what can I do for you?"
" We need to talk."
" Do we?" Looking down at his feet.
Joey sat down ignoring the wet bleachers, crossing her arms she looked at Pacey's soaked face." Pacey..about what happened.." Pacey sighed, he could already work out what she was going to say.
Bracing his arms behind him he glanced up through the rain,
" I would have thought you would rather not talk about that, especially seeing as when it comes to confronting Dawson you turn from one of the most opinionated people I know to one of the quietist."
" That is not true Pacey!"
" Oh come on Joey, stop lying to yourself, if you felt even half of what I feel for you..forget it, I get it know...I'm not worthy of Joey Potter's affections, at least I found out before I embarassed myself even further by saying how I really felt." Getting to his feet, pushing past her but stopped as her hand gripped his wrist. Turning around he met the anguished eyes of Joey, her lip trembled as her grip on his wrist got tighter,
" That is not true Pacey..I care about both you and Dawson."
Pacey pulled his wrist free, taking Joey's face in his hands looking deep into her eyes he demanded," Do you feel anything more than friendship for me Joey? I need to know, when I kissed you did you feel what I did? I have never felt anything like what I felt in that kiss with any other girl, I felt more alive than I have ever felt in my whole life. Tell me you didn't feel the same and I'll never bring this up ever again." Joey just looked at him, rain streaming down her face, everytime she went to say anything the words would just not come out.
Pacey sighed letting his hands drop away from the hold he had on Joey's face, looking at her he said sadly," I guess I made an idiot out of myself, I apologise Josephine and I hope you have the heart to forgive me." With that he jogged down the bleachers and wandered away, glancing back before he simply shook his head and turned back around. Joey closed her eyes, feeling wet strands of hair tickle her neck, stirring memories of all the time she spent with Pacey and that kiss. The way his hands had caressed her hair, how he had made her feel so safe and loved in one instance then anyone had done in a lifetime.
" Pacey...I think I'm falling in love..with you." She whispered quietly to herself, at least she knew she had the words all she needed now was the courage to say them.
LATER THAT DAY .....
Bessie leaned against the windowframe watching Joey as she sat on the porch steps, something was definitely plaguing her baby sister's mind.
" A penny for your thoughts?"
Joey turned around and smiled," I don't think a penny would cover them all Bessie."
" That bad huh?"
" Yeah, complex and confused not to mention torn." Bessie smiled, wandering out to sit beside Joey.
" Let me take a wild guess here, it involves a certain blonde haired boy and a certain dark haired boy?" Joey's eyes widened,
" How do you do that?"
Bessie smirked," Do what? Read your mind? Well Joey Hun, it's not hard to do after all I am your older sister and older sister's pride themselves on knowing what their little sister's are thinking. So Joey what's going on?"
Joey crossed her arms and replied as she gazed out across the creek," After Dawson and I split, I stopped spending so much time with him and Pacey filled that void, he was wonderful so supportive and he was exactly what I needed. I don't know how it happened but he and I grew close..recently I've been seeing him in a different way, not just as Pacey but as someone who I thought was attractive, very mind boggling."
Bessie smiled," So you like him? How does he feel about you?"
" He and I kissed while we were around Dawson's house the other night, unfortunately Dawson saw us and at the moment he and Pacey aren't on the best of terms. I just don't know what to do, Dawson has made it very clear that if Pacey and I pursue anything then he isn't my friend anymore, I don't want to lose him but yet.."
" You want Pacey more than you ever thought possible?" Joey nodded sadly running a hand through her hair,
" I think I've fallen for Pacey but he thinks I want Dawson, everytime I go to say he's wrong the words just never come out. I know how ridiculous this sounds, I Joey Potter in love with Pacey Witter, my sworn enemy since I was five, the guy who pulled my hair and pushed me in the mud. Yet now he is the only one who can make me feel alive, how melodramatic is that?" Bessie slid an arm around Joey giving her a comforting cuddle as she explained,
" It's not melodramatic Jo, it's what love does to us. Not just to you but to every human being on this planet, we can't do anything to stop it or change it though sometimes we wish we could. I say follow your heart, let it be your guide for once..shut the brain off for a little while and you'll see, many amazing things can happen." Joey smiled,
" Thanks Bessie."
" What are sister's for? Now shoo before I drive you myself."
Joey smiled, getting to her feet before she ran off.
**************
Lying back on his bed he sighed, rubbing his hair..today had not been a good day then again no day had been good since that night. It was a friday night and here he was lying alone in his room with just thoughts of the past to keep him company. Growling he sat up and looked around his room, pictures scattered everywhere, frowning he reached down and picked up an old picture. It was of three five year olds, two looking at one another while the other simply wiggled his fingers above their heads and stuck his tongue out at the camera. Glancing at the other pictures he sighed, it had always been that way. The two of them would have some special something that only the two of them knew about and he would be there on the outside looking in.
Crouching down he began to gather them up before he stopped, tilting his head at a recent picture of the three of them together. It was different from the others, Dawson had his arm around Joey and was beaming away and well frankly so was he but it was Joey who caught his eye. She was looking directly at him and smiling that small smile she got when she was thinking about something. Sitting on the floor with his back resting against his bed, he just gazed at the photograph. Some small part of him hoped maybe it was a sign, maybe it was a little something he could hold onto but on the other hand maybe it was nothing.
Looking behind him as something hit his window, what the hell was that? If that was damn kids they would find out just how fast a runner Pacey Witter was when it came down to chasing some stupid ass kids. Getting to his feet he walked to the window, confused evident on his face as Joey looked up at him. Opening the window he whispered," Joey?"
Joey smiled weakly," Yeah Pacey, it's me I really need to talk to you."
Pacey sighed, shaking his head," Last time you said you wanted to talk to me, I did most of the talking and I don't fancy making a fool out of myself again Jo."
Joey shook her head," This time it'll be different I promise Pacey.." Pacey sighed,
" Alright then, one last time. You coming up to me or am I coming down to you?" Joey took a minute to think before she grabbed hold of a nearby tree and began to climb, Pacey smirked slightly," Guess that answers my question." Joey walked along the branch leading to Pacey's window carefully, wobbling slightly she attempted a smile to reassure Pacey as he looked at her worriedly.
Stopping she eyed the distance between the window and the tree, taking the jump she cried out as she toppled backwards," Jo!" The next thing she knew strong arms wrapped around her and had pulled her inside, she breathed heavilly as she felt herself pressed up against Pacey and the intoxicating smell of his aftershave tingled her senses. Pacey held Joey tight, his hand instinctively moving to stroke her hair," God Jo, you sure know how to give a guy a heart attack." Pulling away she gazed up at him and smiled at his concern as he held her face, stroking her cheeks softly before he moved away reluctantly. Sitting down on his bed he asked,
" So Miss Potter, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Joey took a seat, reaching out her hand she took Pacey's hand in hers. Pacey looked surprised but what surprised him even more is what Joey did next. One minute she was holding his hand and the next she was kissing him, her lips pleading with his to respond as her tongue slid across his bottom lip. Closing his eyes he wrapped his arms around Joey's small frame until he held her in his arms, kissing back he could feel a desperation in Joey that was only reflected in himself when she wasn't around. " Jo.." He moaned softly but her eyes stopped him, the love he saw in those brown eyes it was then he knew she wanted this. Pulling her close he slid his hands through her hair as his tongue explored her mouth, god she tasted wonderful. Breaking off he looked at her breathless, a small smile lit up her face before she leaned down nuzzling his nose softly. He gasped as she made a trail of butterfly kisses across his face to his ear, whispering,
" I love you Pacey Witter...I was just too afraid to say it before, I want you in my life and I want you to be the one I turn to.." Pacey smiled, his heart was doing a small jig, taking Joey's face in his hands he smirked,
" About time as well Potter, I've been in love with you for a while now, but what about Dawson?"
Joey kissed him lightly," What about him?" Pacey laughed burying his head in her shoulder before he kissed her gently," My my Josephine, I must be a very bad influence on you. You've forgotten the golden boy." Joey smiled nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck, saying softly,
" I wouldn't say bad influence, I would say an enlightening one."
Pacey smiled simply holding Joey in his arms, for once in his life things had turned out good.
THE END
' I feel so alive, for the very first time and I can think I can fly ' - POD Alive Soundtrack off Blue Crush