Mr. Wonderful

 Part 2

by Jade

Disclaimer: The characters of Pacey, Joey, Dawson and co. belong to Kevin Williamson, Tristar-Columbia Television, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Network. Titanic is written, directed and produced by James Cameron and presented by Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. Music from the film is produced by James Horner.

Author's note: If you're reading this, I can take comfort in knowing that you're not totally disappointed with my work. I hope you enjoy the second installment.

"Hey you."

"Hey yourself."

They both paused in their step, not knowing what to do.

"Oh my God," Josephine Potter finally broke the awkwardness between them and stepped forward to embrace him.

Pacey Witter hugged her back. "Joey, it's so good to see you."

They hadn't seen each other in nearly 5 years before that day. Pacey had been on his way for a job interview and was in a hurry when he saw a flash of red walk briskly past him in the opposite direction. He had no idea why he was compelled to look back but he did.

She turned and he saw the recognition dawn in her eyes.

He took several steps toward her. She had moved forward.

It felt like a dream. Pacey hadn't been certain it was real until he had smelled her perfume and saw that familiar smile...

"Pacey!"

He was shaken out of his reverie when a colleague walked into his office and startled him.

"Mr. Shutt wants to see you in his office."

"I'll be there in-"

"Now."

Pushing back his chair, he mentally tried to rewind the events of the past week, wondering if he had unknowingly done something to incur his employer's wrath. He could remember nothing.

He straightened his tie and got ready to face the music.

"Jo?"

"I'm in here."

Pacey kicked off his shoes and threw his jacket and briefcase aside. He walked into Joey's room and fell onto her bed, which sunk beneath his weight.

Joey didn't look away from her computer. "How was your day?" she asked.

Pacey watched the reflection of the flickering lights from the screen onto her glasses. "I'm still not sure what happened today."

"There! All ready for Friday's edition." She tapped on a few keys and turned the machine off. "What do you mean?" she questioned, removing her glasses and turning her utmost attention to her roommate, "What happened?"

Pacey concentrated on a non-existent spot on the ceiling. He didn't look at her as he broke the news, "I was offered a promotion."

"That's fantastic!" Joey exclaimed. Noticing Pacey's less than enthusiastic reaction, she added, "There's more."

He shifted his gaze to her face. "The job's in Chicago." Then he turned back to the ceiling.

Joey didn't know what else to say. Her lips formed a silent "Oh". With less energy now, she got onto the bed beside him and stared at the spot with which Pacey had suddenly become so fascinated.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I have one week to decide."

Joey reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. "What's bothering you exactly?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"We're not talking about me now, are we? Pacey, look at me."

He locked eyes with her. She waited for him to say something.

"I've been waiting for this moment for five years. And the pay's gorgeous."

She smiled.

He sighed. "On the other hand, I've got it good here as well. I love New York. I've got you," he squeezed her hand, "and Ra - Damn it!" He scrambled off the bed and made for the cordless phone in the living room. "Rach, I was supposed to meet her," he glanced at his watch, "half-an-hour ago. Just great!"

Joey tuned out the murmur of Pacey's frantic, one-sided conversation in the background and squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind was in a turmoil. She knew just how much a promotion meant to him but a part of her wanted him to stay, for purely selfish reasons.

"Come on Joey. Admit it, you loved 'Titanic'."

"No I didn't."

"Yes, you did. You even cried."

"No, I didn't! What makes you think you're right?"

"Because it's a chick flick. You're a chick and I'm never wrong about chicks, especially you."

"You know, Pacey, you haven't changed one bit. Still as arrogant as ever."

He grinned and she stuck out a tongue at him.

Even as she said those words, she realized they weren't true. Pacey seemed different. He seemed to take life more seriously and he appeared to be more at peace with himself. One thing hadn't changed though. He still had the ability to make her laugh one moment and mad as hell the next.

They were sitting on a bench in Central Park, munching on hot dogs and arguing about likes and dislikes.

It had been their first meeting since that fateful day when they bumped into each other outside the subway. Pacey had gone to her office, where she said she worked for a magazine and found her running errands for the editorial staff. She remembered how shocked she had been upon seeing him; she never actually expected him to keep his promise to look for her. She had been so afraid that things between them would have changed too much, to the extent that they wouldn't have much to say to each other. Boy, was she wrong.

"That's it! I'm switching jobs. I didn't spend four years at Brown for this crap. They never take me seriously!"

They were having dinner at Salvatore's, an Italian bistro, where Joey often spent her lunch hour.

"You ought to. Your talent's wasted at that dump. You'd have no problem finding better work anyway," Pacey encouraged.

She gulped down a mouthful of champagne and said, "You should take your own advice." She took a bite of her lasagna, chewed and swallowed before continuing, "Your Economics degree from NYU has got to be worth more than whatever it is you do now. You're underpaid and overworked."

Pacey took a sip of water. "I don't have much of a choice and I can't afford to be choosy. I've got rent to pay."

"And I don't?"

"Jo, you know what I mean."

"No, I don't," she answered. "Sometimes I wonder if you've ever got past the Capeside screw-up syndrome. You don't even want to try."

"Joey," he warned, "I don't want to fight with you about this, especially not when we're trying to have a nice meal together."

"Well, I'm not changing the subject. It's time you came clean. What are you so afraid of?"

"Nothing."

Joey threw her napkin on the table, clearly frustrated. "You never want to tell me what's wrong!" She lowered her voice slightly as she noticed a couple of people turning their heads in her direction. "Talk to me, Pace."

Pacey leaned forward and whispered harshly, "Why can't you just drop it?" He put his fork nosily down. "There's been nothing, but change, my entire life. I've wanted to move on since I was ten years old. I never belonged anywhere. College was the best decision I made; the one bit of stability I counted on. I'd like that to continue and if it means sticking with the same ol' stinkin' job, then so be it!"

She was taken aback by his outburst. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to apologize when he took her hand from across the table and said, "I'm sorry. I was over-reacting."

"No, I'm the one that should apologize."

"Joey," he sighed. "I haven't turned into a wimp. I've been bitter for far too long and I just want some things to be different from the way they were in high school. I need to come to terms with reality. My reality. Nothing else has changed...I'm still me. The same annoying Pacey you've always known." 

His smile was infectious. She couldn't help returning it.

"Now, shall we order dessert?" he asked.

She returned to the present when Pacey interrupted her thoughts.

"I've got to go. Don't wait up for me." He kissed her good-bye on the cheek and disappeared like a gust of wind.

"It appears I don't have a life," she mumbled to herself.

Both of them had changed. As they both took the opportunity they never got as teenagers to get to know each other properly, Pacey began to open up more and more to her. They would talk when something bothered him but she knew she wasn't exactly forthcoming when the same happened to her. She didn't dare confide in him too much because she was afraid he would guess exactly how she felt. She only just found out about it herself and the feeling was entirely new to her. She wasn't going to jeopardize their friendship all because of some silly crush. Look at what happened with her and Dawson.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Joey jumped when Pacey touched her shoulder. She tingled all over.

"You've been spacing out a lot lately. Anything I should know about?" he asked, concerned. .

"I'm just tired," she hastily explained.

He started to massage her shoulders. "You really are tensed. Maybe you should cut down on your overtime at the office."

Before she could utter another word, her ten-year old nephew shouted from the living room. "Pacey! Are we playing hockey or what?"

"Hold your horses! I'll be right there," he yelled back. "Trust your sister to get us to baby-sit on her holiday. It's a miracle she trusts me with her kid."

Joey caught sight of Alexander when he peeped in to take a look at the adults.

"Aunt Jo, you guys have plenty of time to talk. I want to play hockey."

"All right. Don't I get a kiss and a hug before you go?" She opened her arms to receive his growing frame and a kiss on the cheek. Holding him back slightly, she looked into a pair of her own eyes. "Be careful."

"You guys are such a nag," he complained. "You're supposed to be cooler than my parents."

Joey laughed. She smacked him lightly on his behind. "Okay, go!" It took all of her effort to resist telling them to be home early. .

When they were gone, she decided to watch a video. Rummaging through her drawers, she found the classic tale of 'Titanic' Pacey had given to her as a joke for Christmas two years ago, the same year they decided to share an apartment and became roommates. She slid it into the video recorder and forwarded it to the part where the ship began to sink. She needed a really good cry. Crying for whatever reason was a great stress-reliever. Sometimes Pacey would entertain her with his rendition of "Come Josephine, in my Flying Machine" when she was feeling depressed.

Pacey turned off the television set. She had to have been watching Titanic again as he noted the faded tear streaks marked on her pale cheeks. She must have been really tired to fall asleep in the living room and not been able to drag herself back to her bed.

It was half past one. Not too late to give Dawson a ring in L.A., he thought. After covering Joey with a blanket, he made the call in the privacy of his room.

The telephone rang twice before someone picked up. "Hello?"

"Ally, it's Pacey. May I speak to Dawson please or is he not home?"

"Oh hi, Pacey. One moment, he's out on the deck."

He heard shuffling and then a familiar voice rang out, "Pace?"

"Hey pal." Pacey could hear the grin in his friend's voice. "I hope I haven't interrupted anything."

"Nah. Ally and I were having a quiet night in. This is the first time in ages we haven't had to attend a party of some kind."

"Comes with being a top-rate director." Pacey's words were tinged with pride at Dawson's achievements. "You Hollywood type."

"Hey, don't even go that way!" They laughed. Dawson's tone turned serious. "Actually I was going to call you myself."

"Joey. She said you told her at work."

"I thought the weekend would be a better time to break the news to her. There was no easy way to do it."

"What was her reaction?"

Dawson pondered for a moment. "To tell you the truth, she didn't sound all that upset. It's silly to think that she still can't get past that phase of our lives. In fact, she calmly congratulated me and promised to be at the wedding."

"She drank herself silly that night, Dawson."

"Pacey," he reasoned, "This time, I really don't think it has anything to do with me. First of all, those years ago, it was Joey who initiated the break-up and we both made the decision to remain as friends. Even though, our friendship did suffer as a result, I believe I still know her enough to tell if she's upset by this wedding or not. Okay, the wedding could be upsetting in some way, but I'm sure when it all comes right down to it, it isn't because of Ally and me." There was a pause as Dawson's attention was momentarily diverted by something that his fiancée was saying. "Think about it, Pace. I have to go."

Pacey bade him farewell and hung up, deep in thought.

To be continued…

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