The Unseen Obstacle CH.4

I Disclaim

The couple broke apart just as abruptly as they came together, each tried to slow their breath and try to find reason in what just happened, but reason seemed far too elusive to found.

"What was that?"

"Joey calm down."

"Calm down." The brunette took two large steps back and stared at him in stunned awe. "What the hell just happened?"

"Once again Josephine, calm down." Doug made a motion with his hand to settled her down, but to her it looked like he was directing traffic, which only went to intensify her alarm. Finally fed up and stepped closer and pulled her to him, and whispered into her ear. "Stop and breath."

Feeling entirely too comfortable in his arms she hastily steps out them, pushing him back. "Don't just tell what the hell that was?"

"I don't know what it was, so I can't tell you."

"Who did that, did I do that or did you?"

"Joey…"

"No stop saying my name." Pushing her hair behind her ear, she stared at him with wide eyes." That was a... that was a ki..." She lowered her voice and stepped closer as if someone living could hear them in the empty cemetery." That was a kiss, and not to make the situation more awkward, as if that could happen , it was a good one and I think mutual , I mean not only does it discount every gay joke Pacey has ever made, but it also just brings this whole embarrassing love life of mine full circle." Taking a deep breath, she silently wishes that the world would actually just open up and swallow her whole." So could you please just explain it to me, because I really just need something to hold in my head other then Joey Potter making another stupid move toward the male species?"

"Joey… I … you didn't make a stupid move, I think what's happened is that we spent a lot of time together this past month, more so then we ever have before, we've begun treating each other like equals and friends, and I think because we done this it's removed a barrier , I mean obviously we're no longer looking at each the same way, and that and the recent heartaches have cause a closeness that on top of previous aforementioned factors caused that…. What you said it was."

Joey just stared at him; it was a full minute before she began shaking her head." I can't believe that I found someone even more analytical then Dawson Leery, this is just so much worse then offering myself to him and being turned down."

"You offered yourself to Dawson, like what offered, like sex offered." Doug asked looking interested and yet seriously uncomfortable.

"Well yeah… wait, NO I'm not talking to you about this."

"Hey don't jump down my back you opened the door."

" No I didn't you did, I was being vague and secretive about my problems and trying to work them out on my own, and you ….you and your big sensitive cop routine comes along and try to help and just don't do that cause it comes off in a very strange fashion."

"What strange fashion?"

"Well the was framed in a way that made you seem slightly jealous and angry, and that on top of the ki... ki… the thing that just happened just makes you look like a creepy old guy hitting on young girls, I mean geez what r u like thirty?"

"I'm twenty four, and I'd like to point out that you and your crush was also involved in that kiss back there."

"What crush?"

Doug nodded and gave a small smirk, like he knew she was lying." Please I'm not blind, I've seen the way you and Jen Lindely, and even Pacey's ex look at me when we rerun into each other in town, the giggling, the shy glances."

Joey mouth dropped open and began laughing so hard she had to hold stomach to keep it from bursting." I'm not stupid I know what those looks were about."

"Obviously not." She said fighting back the laughter. "I don't have a crush on you, neither does Jen or Andie."

"Yeah okay." He gave a placating little nod. " Don't be embarrassed I understand the attraction, I'm older but not too old, good looking but not conceited , you've probably heard some interesting and riveting stories about me from your sister , all together I make the perfect crush."

"You also make the perfect closet homosexual." Glad of the expression that took hold of his 'good looking' features she continued. " I mean you are all of those things, good looking and older, and they have been some interesting stories told about you, not to mention you're neat to the point of compulsion, and then there is your

taste in music and home décor, that clearly says 'GAY'."" Or at least it did till the kiss, but then again that doesn't really meat anything , after all I dated a gay guy for weeks before I knew so .." A thought occurred to her, and she titled her head as she weighted in. "So actually your crush theory could work, I have a history of being attracted to gay guys."

"I AM NOT GAY."

"Okay."

Doug stared at her through angry slits, he could tell she didn't really buy his declaration, and that annoyed him to no end. But not just that, that she was telling the truth , that all those time he thought those girl were giggling about him being Pacey's cute big brother that was out of their reach was a lye, they thought he was out of reach but for entirely different reasons. Damnit Pacey, it was all his fault, years of jokes and innuendos, had done this, hell half the town probably thought he was gay too, which explained he was the only officer on the force that the none of the townsfolk tried to fix him up with. "I'm not kidding Josephine, I'm not gay, and in no way shape or form AM I A HOMOSEXUAL."

"OKAY." He took a step toward her, and the look in his eyes made her take two steps back. "I get it Doug not gay."

"Yes, Doug NOT gay."

"But if you were or ..."

Doug took a deep breath trying to find some coherent thought through all the other voices in his head. So far the loudest was screaming 'Joey thinks you're Gay', and he sooo wanted to shut that voice up. He grabbed around the waist and brought into directly into his chest before lifting her chin up so she looked into his blue eyes. "I'm not." And that was the last thing he said before he settle his lips on her.