Ok, heres the second try! Thanks for the rev! I hope someone out there will help me with my bad english cries for a beta but well, the ones who are ok with it, enjoy the second chapter

The public school

He stopped infront of the Witters house and had a look on his watch. Mr Witter had to be at home until an hour. Dawson shivered slightly when he thougt an the event five days ago. Sometimes he could not emagine the Sheriff to be a father...

He knocked on the door and he heard Mr Witter shouting through the house. He wanted his wife to open the door.

"Dawson! Thats surprising! Pacey is not here..."

"No, Mrs Witter, I am not looking for him. Im coming for Mr Witter."

It was clear that she had not expected this but she let him in and showed him to the living room, where the Sheriff was sitting in his armchair and watched TV.

"Theres someone for you."

"Yeah, he shall come in," he waved his wife to shut her up, not knowing, the visitor was in the room.

The TV showed a documentation of social grievances. Mr Witter did not turn to look who it was.

"Mr Witter, I..."

When tha man heard this voice he turned surprised.

"Um? Oh, its you. What do you want?"

"I dont want to bother you but..."

The man still stared at Dawson who asked himself now, if it had been good to come here.

"I just... I wanted to know where Pacey had been two years ago. It must have been around this time."

The Sheriff looked at him carefully. Something in his eyes searched through Dawson and the youth shivered again. He wondered if the Sheriff thought, Pacey was in trouble again.

"He was in summercamp. Do you remember? Three weeks..."

That was what Pacey had said then.

"What? Pace in a camp? Definitely not," he said and went on to the TV taking a sip of beer. Just in the moment when Dawson started to think the man had forgotten about him, the Sheriff nodded.

"I remember now. We sent him to a public school... just wanted to look how he could stand the test. Absurd..." his voice was filled with contempt.

"A public school?" it bursted from Dawson.

"Yes. One of this where they test if you are gifted. I should have known it was waste," he again took a gulp of his beer.

Mrs Witter entered the room in the same moment.

"Yes, thats right. We did it on the recommendation of his teacher, what was her name?" she searched for the name.

She did not find it but Dawson knew.

Tamara Jones.

"It was obvious he would fail. At the first time we thought he would realy make it. But after the second week we knew it was stupid to think so. We did not pin our hopes on it, so it was ok. It s Pacey..."

Sometimes it hit Dawson when the Witters spoke so bad about their son. Pacey was not clever or intelligent but he had not deserved this. He was no coward. One moment he thought how he would feel if he would experience so much... disbelive.

And again there were the Questions. He could not imagine Steve would go to a public school. This boy did not look like a gifted one. Dawson had a picture of sports coat and tie in his mind.

"But why did this teacher think, Pacey should go there?" he asked Mrs Witter who seemed more comfortable with his visit.

She sighted.

"Well... his grades had been so bad and she thought he was bored. We did not want to send him there but she tried on and on. So we did it with no result."

"Aha."

"But why do you want to know that, Dawson?"

Dawson left the housewith many thoughts. So deep lost in them, that he did not even recognize that he crossed someones way.

"Now? Found some answers?" a voice asked him.

To his own surprise it made Dawson not jump. But anyway he was a little stunned to see Steve just right after he came out of the Witters house. Steve gave him a smile he could not interpret.

That guy was wet to the bones and did not even wear a jacket.

"Is it not a little cold for a T-Shirt?" Dawson asked.

Steve shrugged.

"Not to me."

When Dawson saw the muscles, he could imagine that. He turned and walked on. He had to think over the things he had heard.

Dawson followed his nose, not realy knowing where he was going. The echo of his foots followed him... the echo of Steves foots. He followed him.

"What do you want? Tell me what is going on here?" Dawson asked without stopping.

"Maybe. But I d rather want to know where Pacey is."

Dawson said nothing.

"He was not at yours, not at Joeys, not at his brothers, not at home. I had not expected that anyway. But he has to be somewhere and perhaps you are the only one who knows."

"Negative report. I dont know," Dawson said al little helpless. "I dont know anything, ok? You said it yourself."

Steve had to sneeze.

"Well that would mean he is undiscoverable. But I dont think, we have tried all possibilities to find him."

Dawson stopped.

"We?" he asked. "Not two hours ago you have blamed me for something I yet do not know, and now you are speaking of "we"?"

Steve shrugged.

"Perhaps I was wrong."

It was no good excuse.

"Wrong? You dont know me at all. You dont know Pacey and anyway you think you can give a judgment about us?"

Steve stared now at him with intensity. He came one or two steps closer and his black eyes fixed Dawsons clear blue.

"I could ask you the same. Maybe, I knew Pacey only three weeks but in these three weeks I learned more of him, I passed more with him than you can imagine."

"What are you talking about? What happened in tis public school?"

"Oh, you have found out about that. Well what else have they told you?"

"Thats none of your business."

"I just want to know what the Witters know. I want to know what kind of story Pacey gave them. If you tell me, I can give you some information, too."

Dawson thought about that.

"Theres not much to tell. They said his teacher sent him there to make an IQ-test."

"How did he stand it?" it was obvious Steve knew more than everyone Dawson had talked to until now.

He knew all the truth.

"Miserable. They did not even let him finish the four weeks there."

Someone laughed an the voice was heard far through the upcoming night. And it was not Dawsons or Steves.

"Thats a surprise! Whose idea was it to send Pacey to an IQ-test?" a figure came out of the shadow.

They were at the habour.

"Drue," Dawson sighted.

It was the last that Dawson needet now. Steve looked questioning at Dawson. So Steve did not know about everyone and everything in Capeside. That reaasured Dawson a little.

"Ridiculous. Pacey Witter at a public school! I mean, it is a funny picture!"

"Better shut up!" Steve threatened, his fists now clenching.

It was the first time Dawson saw this guy like this.

"Why? Will you beat the shit out of me?" Drue just was not able to let it be.

He towered over Steve and was a head taller. But Steve had the better Body.

"I would like that if you dont stop talking about Pacey like this."

Drue turned to Dawson.

"Well, Pacey is not the brain, is he? To tell the truth he nearly fails every test. He never would graduade if Joey was not there..."

Drue was not able to say more. Steve had cought his collar and pressed his face to a wall. The rain droped in their faces and the waves broke at the piers.

"I just want you to know, you little crab, that Pacey Witter had had the highest IQ of us. You dont know anything about him. You are nothing, only someone who tries to be someone. You crab cannot speak like this about a friend of mine." Steve shouted at Drue who was realy in trouble now.

"IQ?" he said with a raspy voice and looked to Dawson who was stunned himself.

"The highest IQ? I dont understand. Who was tested?"

"I can tell you there had been some clever guys, Dawson, if you think that Pacey was only the cutest of some dumb clicks. My own is 165 and is only a little better than the average. You all know nothing, do you?"

Contempt and anger was in his voice.

"It seems so," Dawson said and tried to understand everything he had heard.

He looked down at Drue who still tried to loosen Steves grip on him.

"Dont you want to let him go, Steve?"

Steve was stunned when he realized, what he was doing and let Drue fall to the ground. Drue sank to the wooden pier, rubbing his throat.

"Witter smart? What are you talking about?" he managed to get out.

"Shall I go on?" Steve grunted giving Drue a poisoned glare. "I think, thats none of your business."

Drue shook his head.

"It is... absurd."

Dawson reacted fast and was able to keep Steve from nailing Drue to the wall again. Then he gave Drue his hand to help him stand up.

"You better should go," Dawson said not realy polite.

"Do you realy think I would miss that? No chance. Im coming with you." Drue shouted through the loud rain and Dawson knew it would not be easy to get rid of him.

Steve watched nervous the waves. His dark eyes searching something to hold on. Suddenly he seemed not so strong like just a minute before. Something semmed to frighten him. Nervous his hands wandered along his Shirt and searched for something that was not there. Then he awoke and shook his head.

"My jacked... I d better keep it before we go on searching," he said with a dry mouth and went away.

Dawson still looked after him. Doubtless something had happened but he was not able to tell what it was. It was difficult to follow Steve but jogging he arrived. When Dawson recognized, Drue was also following, he sighted.

"Go away," he told him but Drue just grinned.

"When have you to be at home, Dawson?" Steve asked. "I dont want to get you into difficulties."

"No Problem. My parents are not at home and as long as we will be back at six oclockin the evening tomorrow, it will be alright."

"No, I dont want to take this long. I want to find him today."

They found a car. No good one but who would have thought something other: black. Steve opened it and took a packet out not bigger than one of his hands. Then his dark jacket of leather.

"Ok, where could he be?" Steve asked.

Dawson thought one moment.

"He is not at the habour, we just have been there... but maybe..."

Was it possible? Its been nearly an eternity and Dawson himself had forgotten about that place.

Four eyes looked at him.

"Theres a little wood where Pacey and me played when we had been childs. Theres a tree house."

Dawson could not imagine, Pacey to be there but on the other hand if Pacey was in a bad mood he could have also been in Kanada or thomwhere else. Perhaps he would be lucky for the first time today?

So he went on. It was not far away but when they arrived Dawson wished it would have been a longer way... so much to think about, so many thoughts. He had decided to forget everything that he found out today and to concentrade on the present. He was concerned about Pacey. He always was... Jesus, why was Pacey always so cranky? And why did he always give in to the wildest ideas? When he was mad it was possible he "borrowed" his fathers car and drove to canada.

But when Dawson saw the bright light through the trees he knew he had been right.

The light of the fire found its way through the wood and showed them where to go. The sun had gone down and it was dark. But the rain went on falling.

The three arrived at the glade.

Pacey was sitting there under the rotting tree house, that covered the fire from the rain. He did not even look up when they came closer, sat only on this trunk staring into the fire, a beer in the right hand. The six-pack was emptied to the half.

Dawson stood at the opposite site of the fire and looked at Pacey. Something had changed with him. The boy he had known seemed to have changed. Pacey had hit rock bottom, his shoulders hanging, his eyes a little red and underlined.

His staring was so stoic Dawson did not dare to disturb him. But he knew someone hat to say something. Or not? Would Pacey mind if they would leave without saying a word? No. He could not do that. It was obvious something was wrong here. Something bothered Pacey and it must be bad. Realy bad.

Steve was the one who broke the silence and went around the fire to Paceys side.

"Its been a long time," he said.

Pacey did not move.

"You should not have come..." Pacey voice was barley hearable and filled with bitterness.

Steve saw to Dawson. A silent threat. If he stayed he would get to know everything. If he did not want that, this was his chance to leave. Dawson swallowed and remembered, Drue was still with them. And he seemed surprised by Paceys look and Dawson himself thought, Pacey had looked better in his life. He asked himself if Pacey had looked worse somewhen. His trousers were dirty of mud and it did not semm like Pacey would stand up and go home in the next hours.

"I see that," Steve said sarcastic. "You are politeness in person, Pace."

Mysteriously this comment was enought to get through to Pacey. He moved slightly looking up to Steve an excuse on his lips.

"I know... You have graduaded?" he asked intead.

Steve took off his jacked to dry his wet T-Shirt on the fire. A musculous torso appeared and Dawson swallowed hard just like Drue did.

"Yeah, sports medicine. I have finished."

Steve did not say more about it. Dawson was totaly tacken back by this and could not comment that. Drue could.

"Sports medicine? You mean, you are a doctor? How old are you, damn it!" he took a closer look at Steve and shook his head.

Steve did not answer but hang his shirt to a branch so it could dry. Drue hat to sit down and let himself fall next to Steves black jacket. He looked at Dawson taken by surprise but he shruged.

"You are looking terrible, Pace," Steve said.

"You dont want to discuss it now, do you?" Pacey snapped angryly back and glanced at Steve.

"Why not? Somewhen you have to tell someone, Pace, and I have come for that. So we have said two years ago."

"You have said so. I never agreed and I never wanted it."

Steve sniffed.

"Yes... and you thrust it aside very good."

Pacey started staring into the fire again and took a sip of his beer.

"So it is. I m going along with it."

"And you loose one friend after another, hanging on allone in the wood, drinking beer? How long Pacey? How long will this go on? And how much can you stand it?" Steve looked over to Dawson, who did not understand a word. "I see, things between you and Dawson are not going so well. Remember how you spoke of him in the public school and now? How long will it be before it will start with Joey? Damn it. You are looking like you want to suicide."

Dawson frowned at the discussion. He watched Pacey who had not give him one look until he had come here. But what he saw proved Steves words true.

Pacey looked so tired, so damn allone. Suddenly Dawson was not sure anymore if his firend was physically all right.

"Only today..." Paceys blue eyes looked up and fixed Dawson.

He had such a hard hold of it, Dawson could not look away. Pacey was not happy about their appearance. Not happy at all. But why did he not talk to him? Why did he always think, he had to solve things by hisself?

"You dont want to discuss it before them?" Pacey spit out and nodded to Dawson and Drue.

Steve seemed to stop breathing if he tried to decide what would be the best thing. He glanced at Dawson. Dawson would have stayed if Drue would not have been here with them. He cursed the accident that hat bound Drue to them. At this moment he was so scared for his firend, he did not want to leave at all. Something was terribly wrong here. Two years ago happened more than he knew. It had to do something with this test. Had Pacey manipulated it?

Dawson made the decision for Steve.

"No. Whatever you two have to discuss, you can do it under four eyes," he said and grabbed Drues arm.

To his surprise he came to his feet without any resistance and left without a word at his side.

That was easier than I thought, Dawson considered.

"Strange guy," Drue commented when they were far enouth.

Dawson did not say anything. He was not in the mood to talk to Drue.

"And what shit he was talking... I dont believe it. You are allone at home tonight?"

Dawson gave Drue a striking stare. Drues hands came up.

"Ok, I will not go on your nerves any longer."

They arrived at the end of the wood and some hundret meters before them the lights of Capeside were glimmering.

"Come with me for a beer?" Drew asked and showed to the habour.

"No," Dawson replied and walked on.

Allone.

He breathed a sight of relief whenDrue did not follow him. At home he gave Gretchen a call. He just wanted to reassure her but she was concered also. She would come over to see Dawson when she finished work.

Then he called Joey´but she was not at home.

I hope she is not searching for Pacey, he thought and again all this things he had found out today came again in his mind. Dawson had not told Gretchen anything of it. He wanted to know more about it before he would upset someone else. Perhaps there was less than he had thought and now the first shock ebbed away.

Pacey.

He had looked so bad this evening. Not even at his birthday he had been like this.

But he had not talked to him about what had happened two years before. Two whole years! Pacey never had said anything, he had even lied about the public school. At the moment their relationship was not the best but when it hat been better, closer, why had Pacey not told him, there was something wrong?

He sighted again and tried to give Joey a call. She did not answer.

The more surprised he was when the doorbell rang just in the moment that he hang up the phone. He had not awaited guests. But outside the door there were Jen and Jack both wrapped up in their jackets and wet from the rain.When he said nothing they looked expectant at him. Dawson shook his head and forced himself to an unsure smile.

"What... whart are you both doing here? Have I forgotten something?" he asked.