Disclaimer: I don't own Dawson's Creek. I shouldn't have to tell ya.
The skies were even darker than before, thunder and lightning flashed through the sky repeatedly. The rain had just began falling. It seemed to fall one drop at a time, the roads were barely wet. The time had passed slowly, but eventually reached 4:00. Everyone was told that they were going to have to stay inside their cabins, no doubt it was going to storm. So everyone was locked safely in their cabins...well not everyone. Pacey had yet to return from his apparent drinking binge, but no one seemed to notice.
The inside of guys' cabin was as noisy as always. But because no one could go out or do anything, it seemed to make the guys even rowdier. They were hitting each with water balloons and other foreign objects in jest. The boys that were creating the most noise were Jimmy, Adam, and Jason who were cackling as they chased one another around the small space. Chris was laying contently on Pacey's bunk listening to music through Pacey's earphones tuning the others out. Jimmy slowed down once he saw the sight.
"Hey man, take those off. Those are Pace's."
"So?"
"So All you monkeys need to leave. All of you who aren't me, Pacey, or Adam, needs to step. Goodbye."
"Who are you calling monkey, you gorilla looking'--" Jason says squeezing the water out of his shirt
"Beat it." Jimmy says, his tone more sharp.
"Fine. Chris come on man."
"Whatever." Chris says lazily as always.
Just as Chris and Jason make their way out, Jimmy stops Chris putting his hand on his chest signaling him to stop.
"What now?"
"The earphones?" He says holding out his hand.
"I don't see Pacey any where around here."
"Neither do I. But that doesn't mean you can steal his stuff. That's illegal you know."
Chris surrenders handing him the earphones sighing. The two finally leave.
"Where is Pacey?" Jimmy asks suddenly feeling a little worried.
"He'll be back in don't worry. Anyone could tell that a storms coming, he'll be back. Hey, he's probably messing around in one of the girls' cabin right? He says elbowing Jimmy laughing.
"Right." Jimmy says looking out the window not feeling any better.
Pacey was sitting on the docs drinking a beer. He wasn't really thinking of anything particular, his mind was continuously changing from one thought or idea to the next. He had been sitting there for hours now, just thinking of everything that made him happy. From vintage Saturday Night Live episodes he used to watch over and over again on tape when he was younger, to Saturday after noon's he would spend hanging out with Dawson. Joey and Dawson had movie night, which was Friday night, and he had Saturday. A lot of the time Joey would even come along following them around Capeside as they got into mischief--not much though. Dawson wouldn't let things get too far neither would Joey. But they kind of balanced each other out that way. Alas, Joey ended up coming up anyway. He spent three hours avoiding thinking of her. Thinking of her wasn't a bad thing, it just sucked to be reminded of something (and-or) someone, he wanted badly. But how could he get over Andie so fast he wondered. Maybe that's what it is. He began to think out loud.
"Maybe I'm just rebound. Maybe I just need someone to reach out to again, and that someone to reach out to me." He says out loud but mostly whispering.
He slipped back into thought. If I could just kiss her, then maybe I'd know. Maybe I could tell the difference. He thought pensively, starting to smile to himself. He looks up clearing his thoughts again. When he looks up he notices a boathouse right across the lake. Nice.
"Where is Pacey? Joey asks standing in front of the Jimmy, worry taking over.
"I don't know. I swear, I haven't seen him since before lunch."
"He didn't come by and give you guys some of his candy?"
"Candy?"
"Never mind. I think I know where he is."
Pacey used a nearby boat that was tied to the doc, to get across the lake to the boathouse. He got out of the boat, walked up the steps and entered apprehensively. Once he was inside, he looked around to see if anyone was there, but there was no one in sight. The boathouse looked as if it had been abandoned. The radio wires were twisted and chewed off of. The place reeked of a sort of lake water smell, kind of fishy. Pacey saw potential.
Joey walked onto the doc looking around to see if there was a tall brunette guy walking around. No such luck. But there was one rowing back to the doc in a boat. Joey looked on with her hands on her hips, and pulling the hood of her raincoat over her head, since it began to rain even harder. Pacey got out of the boat and tied it back to the leg of the doc. He walked back on dry land and was about to make a run for it, until he looked up and saw Joey standing there staring.
"Hey you." He says smiling.
"And where have you been?"
"Worshiping Satan for the first and last time--you?"
"Oh nothing, just walking around curious as to why you just walked off with out any consent. What if we needed your help with the kids--
"Look Joey, this place isn't my life alright. And it's not that big of a deal anyway I mean what was supposed to happen to me exactly."
"A grizzly bear could have mauled you terribly."
"There's bears out here?"
"Have you been drinking."
"Whatever would make you say that?"
"Well for starters, you hurried off with that beer earlier, plus you smell, and your speech is all slurry."
"Well I'm not drunk yet Potter. I'm just a little tipsy."
"Just don't do that again...run off without telling me."
"Never again. Hey guess what I found."
"The holy spirit?"
"Nope. I found this boathouse."
"So??"
"So? I plan on fixing it up a bit you know. How's about we make it our place."
"Our place?" She asks looking at him strangely.
"Yeah just you and me to...hang out."
"A creepy boathouse doesn't exactly sound like a hang out kind of place Pace. All that'll be missing is a red head with a thing for purple clothing and an oversized talking cartoon dog."
"I'm drawing a blank here."
"Scooby Doo--never mind."
"Yeah so what do ya say J? You, me, having something of considerable fun to do for the rest of the summer. And we can do it together."
"Why do you want my help? You're just gonna do it anyways."
"True, but I'll need that woman's touch for the décor. You do have that don't you Potter?"
"I'm laughing on the inside. And I'm sure you have that in you more than I do, so you won't be needing my help."
"Do you really not get what I'm talking about here Jo?"
"You want to waste time fixing up some spooky boathouse with my assistance?"
"No, I want you."
Joey's eyebrows raise in surprise. Her eyes wonder around nervously before she can reply.
"I want you...around." He chuckles nervously." Friends remember."
"Friends?"
"If that's what you want?"
"What do you want Pacey?"
"I--don't know."
"Because we can keep tap dancing around the issue--or we can talk about this."
"Now???" He says gesturing toward the sky, his hands filling with water.
"Yes, now. Pacey there's been some unspoken tension between the two of us, and I don't quite know what it is. Do you?"
"Yeah I do." He says staring at the ground.
"Because It's just going to keep getting bigger until we address it." She says coming closer and closer to him.
"And how exactly do we go about that Jo?"
"I have no idea." She says stopping in her tracks. She was trying to look into his eyes hoping for answers that weren't really there.
"Maybe if..." He says coming closer finally inches from her face.
"If what?" She asks whispering, the cold shifting from her body into heat.
"If..." He replies shivering, wrapping his arms around her waste inside of her raincoat.
They both stare at each other for a second before his hand strokes the side of her face gently. His hand slips behind her neck as he pulls her into him and kisses her softly. She smiles, so he kisses her again the kiss much deeper than before. It lasts until she pulls away breathily.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Back to our cabins."
"Right because that's exactly what I want to do right now." He says lightly.
"I'd love to finish this, but not now. It's only going to get worse out here, we'll talk about this tomorrow."
"Tomorrow. Alright."
"Ok?"
"No problem." He says beginning to shiver again." Just talk?" He asks mischievousness in his voice.
"Let's go." She says tugging his arm playfully.
"Whatever you say miss Potter."
Most of the kids along with the counselors were inside of the main cabin. Most of the kids were sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor, and some were sleeping on the couch. The counselors were sitting by the fireplace with blankets wrapped around each other talking. Jen was laying on Jack's lap while he read a magazine article to her. Jimmy, Jason, and Adam were playing cards on the carpet, for lack of anything better to do. Andie was asleep, Abby and Chris were getting along pretty well-- considering. Lena was also asleep, while Buffy was talking to Cameron about more "interesting" activities for the girls.
Joey and Pacey walked into the main cabin quietly. They were still holding hands. Joey quickly let go once she saw Everyone who was awake looked up. Cameron is the first to speak up.
"Where have you two been?" She asks smirking.
"Nowhere." They answer in unison.
"Hey yo Pacey!" Jimmy calls.
"Shh." Cameron warns.
"Sorry. Pacey, what's up man where have you been?"
"Just went to go take a breather that's all."
"In the middle of a storm?" He asks skeptically.
"Could you by yourself some business."
"Sorry. So what's this about candy I hear? You been holdin' out on us man?"
Joey walks over by the fireplace and sits down next to Jen and Jack. Jack rolls his eyes.
"Jack I--"
"No Joey, It's fine I get it."
"No, you don't. Look I apologize if I hurt you in anyway, I never set out to do that to you at all." She says falling out of whisper. A little hurt in her voice.
Jack sees its genuine. His expression softens.
"I forgive you."
"I didn't say I was sorry." She says smiling.
"Oh, you better be." Jack says slightly breaking into laughter. Knowing he can't stay mad at anyone for long.
"I am. "She says sincerely.
"I believe you Joey." Jen says cutting in giggling.
"Shut up big mouth." She says slapping Jen on the arm.
"Oww." She says still laughing and rubbing her arm.
Joey laughs and looks over to where Pacey is. He notices her staring out of the corner of his eye. He looks at her thoughtfully and grins. She returns the smile and turns back to Jen and Jack who are cracking up at the mag article. Pacey returns his focus back to the card game.
The skies were even darker than before, thunder and lightning flashed through the sky repeatedly. The rain had just began falling. It seemed to fall one drop at a time, the roads were barely wet. The time had passed slowly, but eventually reached 4:00. Everyone was told that they were going to have to stay inside their cabins, no doubt it was going to storm. So everyone was locked safely in their cabins...well not everyone. Pacey had yet to return from his apparent drinking binge, but no one seemed to notice.
The inside of guys' cabin was as noisy as always. But because no one could go out or do anything, it seemed to make the guys even rowdier. They were hitting each with water balloons and other foreign objects in jest. The boys that were creating the most noise were Jimmy, Adam, and Jason who were cackling as they chased one another around the small space. Chris was laying contently on Pacey's bunk listening to music through Pacey's earphones tuning the others out. Jimmy slowed down once he saw the sight.
"Hey man, take those off. Those are Pace's."
"So?"
"So All you monkeys need to leave. All of you who aren't me, Pacey, or Adam, needs to step. Goodbye."
"Who are you calling monkey, you gorilla looking'--" Jason says squeezing the water out of his shirt
"Beat it." Jimmy says, his tone more sharp.
"Fine. Chris come on man."
"Whatever." Chris says lazily as always.
Just as Chris and Jason make their way out, Jimmy stops Chris putting his hand on his chest signaling him to stop.
"What now?"
"The earphones?" He says holding out his hand.
"I don't see Pacey any where around here."
"Neither do I. But that doesn't mean you can steal his stuff. That's illegal you know."
Chris surrenders handing him the earphones sighing. The two finally leave.
"Where is Pacey?" Jimmy asks suddenly feeling a little worried.
"He'll be back in don't worry. Anyone could tell that a storms coming, he'll be back. Hey, he's probably messing around in one of the girls' cabin right? He says elbowing Jimmy laughing.
"Right." Jimmy says looking out the window not feeling any better.
Pacey was sitting on the docs drinking a beer. He wasn't really thinking of anything particular, his mind was continuously changing from one thought or idea to the next. He had been sitting there for hours now, just thinking of everything that made him happy. From vintage Saturday Night Live episodes he used to watch over and over again on tape when he was younger, to Saturday after noon's he would spend hanging out with Dawson. Joey and Dawson had movie night, which was Friday night, and he had Saturday. A lot of the time Joey would even come along following them around Capeside as they got into mischief--not much though. Dawson wouldn't let things get too far neither would Joey. But they kind of balanced each other out that way. Alas, Joey ended up coming up anyway. He spent three hours avoiding thinking of her. Thinking of her wasn't a bad thing, it just sucked to be reminded of something (and-or) someone, he wanted badly. But how could he get over Andie so fast he wondered. Maybe that's what it is. He began to think out loud.
"Maybe I'm just rebound. Maybe I just need someone to reach out to again, and that someone to reach out to me." He says out loud but mostly whispering.
He slipped back into thought. If I could just kiss her, then maybe I'd know. Maybe I could tell the difference. He thought pensively, starting to smile to himself. He looks up clearing his thoughts again. When he looks up he notices a boathouse right across the lake. Nice.
"Where is Pacey? Joey asks standing in front of the Jimmy, worry taking over.
"I don't know. I swear, I haven't seen him since before lunch."
"He didn't come by and give you guys some of his candy?"
"Candy?"
"Never mind. I think I know where he is."
Pacey used a nearby boat that was tied to the doc, to get across the lake to the boathouse. He got out of the boat, walked up the steps and entered apprehensively. Once he was inside, he looked around to see if anyone was there, but there was no one in sight. The boathouse looked as if it had been abandoned. The radio wires were twisted and chewed off of. The place reeked of a sort of lake water smell, kind of fishy. Pacey saw potential.
Joey walked onto the doc looking around to see if there was a tall brunette guy walking around. No such luck. But there was one rowing back to the doc in a boat. Joey looked on with her hands on her hips, and pulling the hood of her raincoat over her head, since it began to rain even harder. Pacey got out of the boat and tied it back to the leg of the doc. He walked back on dry land and was about to make a run for it, until he looked up and saw Joey standing there staring.
"Hey you." He says smiling.
"And where have you been?"
"Worshiping Satan for the first and last time--you?"
"Oh nothing, just walking around curious as to why you just walked off with out any consent. What if we needed your help with the kids--
"Look Joey, this place isn't my life alright. And it's not that big of a deal anyway I mean what was supposed to happen to me exactly."
"A grizzly bear could have mauled you terribly."
"There's bears out here?"
"Have you been drinking."
"Whatever would make you say that?"
"Well for starters, you hurried off with that beer earlier, plus you smell, and your speech is all slurry."
"Well I'm not drunk yet Potter. I'm just a little tipsy."
"Just don't do that again...run off without telling me."
"Never again. Hey guess what I found."
"The holy spirit?"
"Nope. I found this boathouse."
"So??"
"So? I plan on fixing it up a bit you know. How's about we make it our place."
"Our place?" She asks looking at him strangely.
"Yeah just you and me to...hang out."
"A creepy boathouse doesn't exactly sound like a hang out kind of place Pace. All that'll be missing is a red head with a thing for purple clothing and an oversized talking cartoon dog."
"I'm drawing a blank here."
"Scooby Doo--never mind."
"Yeah so what do ya say J? You, me, having something of considerable fun to do for the rest of the summer. And we can do it together."
"Why do you want my help? You're just gonna do it anyways."
"True, but I'll need that woman's touch for the décor. You do have that don't you Potter?"
"I'm laughing on the inside. And I'm sure you have that in you more than I do, so you won't be needing my help."
"Do you really not get what I'm talking about here Jo?"
"You want to waste time fixing up some spooky boathouse with my assistance?"
"No, I want you."
Joey's eyebrows raise in surprise. Her eyes wonder around nervously before she can reply.
"I want you...around." He chuckles nervously." Friends remember."
"Friends?"
"If that's what you want?"
"What do you want Pacey?"
"I--don't know."
"Because we can keep tap dancing around the issue--or we can talk about this."
"Now???" He says gesturing toward the sky, his hands filling with water.
"Yes, now. Pacey there's been some unspoken tension between the two of us, and I don't quite know what it is. Do you?"
"Yeah I do." He says staring at the ground.
"Because It's just going to keep getting bigger until we address it." She says coming closer and closer to him.
"And how exactly do we go about that Jo?"
"I have no idea." She says stopping in her tracks. She was trying to look into his eyes hoping for answers that weren't really there.
"Maybe if..." He says coming closer finally inches from her face.
"If what?" She asks whispering, the cold shifting from her body into heat.
"If..." He replies shivering, wrapping his arms around her waste inside of her raincoat.
They both stare at each other for a second before his hand strokes the side of her face gently. His hand slips behind her neck as he pulls her into him and kisses her softly. She smiles, so he kisses her again the kiss much deeper than before. It lasts until she pulls away breathily.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Back to our cabins."
"Right because that's exactly what I want to do right now." He says lightly.
"I'd love to finish this, but not now. It's only going to get worse out here, we'll talk about this tomorrow."
"Tomorrow. Alright."
"Ok?"
"No problem." He says beginning to shiver again." Just talk?" He asks mischievousness in his voice.
"Let's go." She says tugging his arm playfully.
"Whatever you say miss Potter."
Most of the kids along with the counselors were inside of the main cabin. Most of the kids were sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor, and some were sleeping on the couch. The counselors were sitting by the fireplace with blankets wrapped around each other talking. Jen was laying on Jack's lap while he read a magazine article to her. Jimmy, Jason, and Adam were playing cards on the carpet, for lack of anything better to do. Andie was asleep, Abby and Chris were getting along pretty well-- considering. Lena was also asleep, while Buffy was talking to Cameron about more "interesting" activities for the girls.
Joey and Pacey walked into the main cabin quietly. They were still holding hands. Joey quickly let go once she saw Everyone who was awake looked up. Cameron is the first to speak up.
"Where have you two been?" She asks smirking.
"Nowhere." They answer in unison.
"Hey yo Pacey!" Jimmy calls.
"Shh." Cameron warns.
"Sorry. Pacey, what's up man where have you been?"
"Just went to go take a breather that's all."
"In the middle of a storm?" He asks skeptically.
"Could you by yourself some business."
"Sorry. So what's this about candy I hear? You been holdin' out on us man?"
Joey walks over by the fireplace and sits down next to Jen and Jack. Jack rolls his eyes.
"Jack I--"
"No Joey, It's fine I get it."
"No, you don't. Look I apologize if I hurt you in anyway, I never set out to do that to you at all." She says falling out of whisper. A little hurt in her voice.
Jack sees its genuine. His expression softens.
"I forgive you."
"I didn't say I was sorry." She says smiling.
"Oh, you better be." Jack says slightly breaking into laughter. Knowing he can't stay mad at anyone for long.
"I am. "She says sincerely.
"I believe you Joey." Jen says cutting in giggling.
"Shut up big mouth." She says slapping Jen on the arm.
"Oww." She says still laughing and rubbing her arm.
Joey laughs and looks over to where Pacey is. He notices her staring out of the corner of his eye. He looks at her thoughtfully and grins. She returns the smile and turns back to Jen and Jack who are cracking up at the mag article. Pacey returns his focus back to the card game.