After aimlessly driving around for a couple hours, he finally ended up at the bar…his original destination. It had been too early before. He knew that this was about the time that Mike arrived in the morning to begin preparations for the day. He walked through the door and sauntered up to the bar. Pacey sat on a barstool, fully prepared for the questioning that he was about to entail from his co-worker, and close friend.
Sure enough, no sooner had he sat down than Mike walked up to him, "Witter, my man, what brings you in at this time of day?"
"Actually, I just stopped by to pick up my paycheck," Pacey decided to pretend he didn't need to talk.
"You expect me to believe that line of crap? You never stop in just to pick up your check. You've left checks sitting here for a week before."
"Believe it or not, that's why I'm here. No ulterior motives." Why didn't Mike just cut to the chase? He knew his friend was just dying to hear about last night, and know why he wasn't still sleeping.
"Well, now that we've cleared that up, how was last night? I figured you'd still be sleeping, compensating for a restless night in bed."
"That's where you're wrong Mike, I didn't have a restless night, well, not physically anyway."
"What are you trying to tell me? You had a woman in your home – something I know for a fact doesn't happen very often – and you didn't take advantage of that?"
"Not this time Mike, not this girl."
"Wow, one night with this girl and you're completely mesmerized by her. I've never seen you like this before."
"I know, but I can't help how she makes me feel, and I can't describe it either. And actually, just to set the facts straight, I've spent the last three nights with her in my home."
"Three nights? Are you sure you're the same guy I've known all these years? Were you in an accident or something? You never spend three, especially consecutive, nights with the same girl, even if you have slept with her."
"You don't have to remind me. Although I really haven't been with that many women. It's just that Joey," damn. I said her name, "has this amazing power over me."
"Wait a minute, back up a second. The girl you've spent the last three nights with, her name is Joey?"
"Ummm… yeah."
"This wouldn't happen to be the Joey, from Boston, would it?"
"One in the same."
"Why didn't you tell me that from the beginning? That little bit of information completely changes how a person reacts and responds to the situation."
"I know, it's just that I hate to think of the power she now has over me, even after all these years."
"So, I have to ask. How'd you hook up with her?"
"It was completely by chance. I went to an audition, and there she was. She was the one conduction the auditions."
"Whatever happened between her and that guy, Dawson is it, who you thought would be better for her?
"That's the other ironic thing. They got married, but I guess the last few years have been rough, and she left him the day before yesterday."
"Really. That's good, right?"
"Yeah, don't get me wrong, I love the thought that I possibly have a second chance, but yet, I'm not sure that now is the time for that."
"But she's what you want, right?"
"Completely. I've never wanted anything more in my life. It's just that whenever I'm around her, this insecure part of me surfaces. I just hear this little voice in my head say 'she deserves better.' I fear that I'm just someone to pass the time until she can be with Dawson again."
"Yeah, but if that's true, explain one thing to me. Joey just left Dawson, right?"
"Right. Where are you going with this Mike?"
"Just hear me out. You've explained to me more times than I can count about your life in high school. Lets see if I can get this right. You had a thing for Joey, but she wanted Dawson, and he was oblivious. Then you had Andie and Joey & Dawson were finally together. Joey left Dawson, the first time, to be with Jack who ended up being gay. Joey and Dawson get back together. She leaves him, that's twice, because she didn't want to believe the truth about her father. She tries to get Dawson back, but he decides that it's not the right time, and he asks you to watch out for her. Joey comes to you with her problems, not Dawson. You two fall in love, but she can't hurt Dawson, and ends up choosing him over you. She knows that that's not what she wants, and comes back to you, leaving him for a third time. All of that happened in the course of two years. And she left Dawson three times, always unsure of what she wanted. Then, the two of you were together, despite Dawson's hate, for almost a year. Then you broke up with her. She was heartbroken. Then, that fall you were together again. The next year she spent with you, by choice. She gave herself to you. She was talking about forever, with you. Then all of the sudden, you left her, not the other way around. She felt secure with you, not like in her previous relationships with Dawson. Now she's left him again, and who is she finding comfort with, you. Don't you get it? She wants to be with you."
"Okay Mike. You have a point. It's just that I'm scared. I was always told that I was no good, and I worry that one day Joey will think the same."
"Dude, after 10 years, I'm guessing that's not going to happen."
"But what if I'm just someone to keep her mind off of everything that she's going through."
"Pacey, get over it. She wants to be with you. She must have more fears than you right now, and you have a lot going through your head. Go talk to her."
"Okay, I will. But I'm going to blame you if things don't work out."
"Yeah, fine, whatever. But, Pacey, I want to meet this woman."
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