You Don't Know Big Earl
I took a break from myself, away from my thoughts, to listen to the rain. Thousands of small Raindrops tap dance on the window, as I stand feet away. Placing my nailpolish on top of the nearest, somewhat posh dresser, I walk over to the large glass that protects me from the darkened watery vision. Looking out, my eyes scan over the small balcony, where the chairs are beaded with water, and the ground lays as mirrors to the sky. The patience of the sun, and quiet falling of the rain, sends a calm over me as I take it all in. The beautiful suite where Jen, Pacey, and myself have taken stay, has become a steady security as the next hour passes more slowly than the last.
Now in my second hour alone, the rain loses it's luster. Suddenly it seems more like a stranger as my patience and comfort gradually slips away. The sun seems to have the same reaction, as it grows weary of it's heavy cousin, and casts light on all and everything beneath it. The rain comes to a stop, and my attention deverts elsewhere.
"Finally." I say quietly. Maybe now we can go out.
"We're back." A familar voice chimes.
"It's about time." I say absently, still looking out at the balcony.
"Joey" Jen says over my shoulder.
"Jen?" I ask turning to face her.
"I got you two shirts..." She says pulling out clothes, from a paper shopping bag. "And...a pair of jeans." She finishes, tossing me the jeans. "I hope they fit. I don't really know your size."
"They're fine." I say sitting on the bed.
"Good."She says joyfully.
I look over at Pacey, who's removing clothes from his bag.
"And what did you get?" I ask.
"A couple of souvineres."
"Mexico's finest." I say raising a brow at one of the printed t-shirts Jen gave me.
"Pacey has one too. He picked 'em out."
"Lovely." I say looking at Pacey, who's grinning as he holds up the matching shirt. "I always said you had good taste."
"I know right? Okay ladies, now that we've--well the lovely Jen Lindley and I--Joey Potter not included of course, has been to the el store-o--"
"Wait, where did you guys go?" I question curiously. They never told me where they were going when they left the hotel earlier.
"We went to this strip mall-o." Jen says.
"Would you guys stop talking like that." I say with a chuckle. "That's not real spanish."
"Okay, Ms. Potter." They say in unison, eyeing one another.
"Were you guys talking behind back or something?" I ask disenchanted. Why do they seem so close all of a sudden?
"Look, Joey you don't have be paranoid or anything, we're just having fun, that's all." Jen says lighthearted, her tone easing my rising annoyance.
"Besides you ran right into that one Potter" Pacey adds with a laugh.
"True." Jen follows.
"I'm was just saying.." I say pulling my hair behind my ear. "Did we really need more clothes though?"
Jen gasps.
"Blasphemy."
"No. But, I thought it would be a good idea to get out and get to know the land ya know."
"Why? It's not like we're staying."
"Still... I wanna have as much fun as possible without being couped up in this here lovely hotel room all day. Now, I don't know about you Potter, but for he short time I'm here, I'm on vacation."
I just nod.
"You girls should start gettin' ready in about an hour or so."
"Why what time is it?" Jen asks.
"Four-thirty." He says looking at his miniscule watch.
"Nice watch." I say opening a bag of salt and vinegar chips. They weren't half bad.
"Everyone's a comedien." He says wryly, adjusting the watch.
"Where are we going? And just how much money do you have?"
"Dancing...and I'm sorry what was that last question?"
"The money. How much of it do you have?"
"Don't worry--"
"I am worried."
"Listen--"
"I mean, how do I know you didn't rob a bank or something?" I ask dryly, as Jen lets out a chuckle.
"That wasn't funny." He says looking from me to Jen.
"Oh, so she can laugh at your jokes but not mine?"
"At least I'm funny."
"Not even. Your jokes--if you can call them that-- land like bricks." I say exasperated.
"And what the hell did you mean by "she can laugh at my jokes but not yours"?
"That's not what I said."
"Oh, could you repeat yourself then."
"I said quote "Oh, so she can laugh at your jokes but not mine."
"That's what I said."
"No, you said "She can laugh at my jokes but not yours." I say folding my arms.
"And?"
"And, that's not what I said...duh."
"That's real funny Potter, but don't change the subject."
"What subject?"
"What did you mean by that?"
"Well, I thought it was implied...you know like your little inside jokes and what not."
"What inside jokes?" He asks, as I find it harder to avoid Jen's agitated glare.
"You know the the little jokes you two have between you. Thanks to the apparent increase of closeness developing between you and ''The lovely Jen Lindley''." I say looking away, immeditely regretting the utterance as soon as it escaped my lips. If I hadn't made a jealous ass of myself before well...
"What?" Pacey asks softly, again looking from me to Jen. Out the corner of my eye, I can see her motion to something then shrug.
"You can't deny the fact that you two have become more...I mean, ever since that night." I say mentally examining my words. The tension in the room comes to a rise, as everyone getss quiet.
"Nothing's going on between us if that's what you think--"Jen says calmly, as Pacey interrupts.
"What night?"
"I know." I say sighing. "I just...I feel... alone, and I don't know why."I say solemnly.
"Well, you're not." She says wrapping her arm around my shoulder, resting her head against mine.
Hesitantly, I accept the peace offering, and yet another wall falls to my feet.
"Thanks." I say whispering.
"Anytime." She say releasing her grasp.
"What night?" He asks again. Jen and I laugh. Now we have an inside joke.
"She may be pertaining to the night where we tried to...well, let's just say there were smelly coats and an anxiety ridden square room involved."
"Oh...I thought you weren't upset?" He asks smiling.
"Don't be so smug. I'm not upset and I wasn't then. I was just...surprised."
"Sure." He says with a nod. "I guess that's why you're still throwing random fits."
Jen gasps.
"Oh no he didn't." She says.
"I believe he did." I say standing up, and backing him into a wall.
"First Jen, now me?"
"You know what? You are funny Witter." I say pressing my hand against his chest. "Got anything else?"I ask sardonically.
"You know, if there wasn't a third party in this room, I would have to take you up on that invitation, if you know what I mean." He says whispering, leaning closer to my face.
"I'm moderately bummed." I say avoiding his eyes and backing away.
"Enough." Jen says geting up. "The sexual tension alone is killing me. Not to mention sending me into a world of awkward voyeuristic depression."She finishes closing her eyes and shaking her head. "Now, Joey...you and I have to get ready."
"For what?" I ask turning to her.
"Dancing. We're 'hitting up' this little club a couple of blocks away."
"I didn't bring a dress."
"I had an idea you didn't so...I got you one at the store-o" She says with a laugh, taking a slinky red dress out of the bag.
"Oh, my..." I say english becoming a second launguage replaced by gibberish.
"You don't like it." She says placing it on the bed.
"No, no, I love it. It's just..." I begin, as I hold the dress up closer to my face.
"Hot." Pacey says giving the dress a closer look. "Where have you been all my life?
"Ha ha. It's beautiful--it must have cost alot." I say looking at her quizically.
"Yeah it must have." Pacey says giving her a death scare.
"Don't worry Pacey, it wasn't all that much."
We both look at her doubfully.
"Seriously. It was on sale."
"Whatever you say." Pacey says more cheerfully, looking at me.
"What?"
"Well...are you gonna try it on?" He asks half smiling, as a I wait for him to twirl an over-sized mustache bewtween his fingers.
"I guess so." I say looking over the dress once more.
"Cool." He says quietly, seemingly unintentional.
"Cool." Jen adds, giving him a knowing glance then walking over to the bathroom.
"Before we get ready to leave, I just wanted to say that this is a really great room Pacey, and that I'm really happy to be here. Regardless of my less than sunny dissposition."
"Thanks." He says lightly elbowing me. "Maybe I'll sleep in the bed tonight afterall right?" He asks less than humoressly. He sounded kind of serious. Did he really want to sleep...with me? Ugh, maybe he just wants to change the sleeping arrangments. Afterall he had to sleep on a rollaway, while me and Jen got the wonderfull beds we were promised once we got to the hotel. I got the bigger bed for some reason.
"You know, I baby you Potter."He says shaking me from my introspection.
"What?"
"Well not only do you have your own bed, but you also staked your claim for the big guy on the block."
Hmm...oh yeah.
"Look Pacey, if you don't like the sleeping arrangments then change them. Technically it's your money, your room."
"No it's fine." He reassures me. "Wait, no it's not. Look, when we first got here I was all "Surprise"! All the exiement that came with us actually making it here, kinda took hold of me."
"So...with exitment comes irrational thinking."
"It's a theory."
"And now that you're...rational, you have a better take on things?"
"Exactly. Now why don't you and Jen take big earl--"
"Big Earl?"
"That's his name--the bed."
"Right." I reply surpressing a laugh.
"Now you and Jen take Big Earl, and I'll take the other bed. I don't think my back can handle the rollaway."
"You are getting old." I say sarcastically.
"Jo..."
"I know, I know." I say surrendering. "Sounds like a plan."
"Good." He says happily, slapping his hands together.
"Alright guys" Jen says walking out of the bathroom. "Whaddya think?"
"Hot or not?" Pacey asks me, stroking his chin.
"Hot." I say slowly, looking over the coral blue satiny dress.
"Thank you." She relpies in a sing-song voice.
"That reminds me, I have to get ready." I say rushing into the bathroom forgetting the key ingredient.
"Here." Jen says tossing me he dress.
"Thanks." I say grabbing it and closing the door.
"So...?"I ask nervously, twirling around in the breezy ensemble, while surpressing any and all humility.
"Hot or not?" Jen asks looking over at Pacey, stroking her chin.
My eyes dart to Pacey, as the usual passiveness I have when it comes to my looks, and what other people think of them, vastly subsides. Not the most esteemed person, I'm fine with being not pretty, but now, the notion that he may see me the same as I see myself seems to bother me.
"Well, I say hot.You look great Joey." Jen says cheerfully looking more at the dress than me. "Wow...I'm awesome."
"Pacey?" I ask hesitantly.
He tilts his head to the side a little as if in thought.
"Not bad." He says clearing his throat. "You look beautiful Joey." He says staring at me with an unually weak veil of intesity.
Which is what I wanted, yet for some reason I feel uncomfortable.
"We should head out." Jen says looking more uncomfortable than me. "Sexual tentsion." She whispers playfully as she walks out the door.
"After you." Pacey says sweetly.
I just nod.
"Thanks." I say walking out.
"You're welcome." He says following close behind. "Si hable welcome comprende"
"Pacey!"
"What? What I say?"
"Probably not what you intended." Jen says with a pat on his shoulder.
"Is this club over eighteen?" I ask.
"Yes, Ms. Potter." He says harmlessly.
"Oh, we're on a roll." I say with a vague smile.
"Which reminds me...Jen?" He asks, as the three of us come to a halt.
"Oh, here." She says handing me an I.D card.
"What the hell?" I ask.
"What?" Pacey questions taking the I.d from me.
"This barely looks anything like me."
"Well she kind of--" Jen tries.
"No." I say.
"Okay, but there are some similarities." Pacey says.
"Like what?" I ask in disbelief.
"The lips, the beautiful eyes."
"What?" I ask off guard.
"Look, fake I.D's aren't supposed to be good, that would like diserve the purpose or something. Not to mention It's getting dark out, so whoever the boucer is, won't be able to see that the big over-sized head on the picture isn't yours. Who knows, they might not even card us."
"Exactly." Jen says.
"Can't we go somewhere else? Anywhere?" I ask.
"That depends. Do they have any tourists places or...? Pacey asks, obviously down beat at the idea of ditching the club idea.
"We would certainly turn some heads." Jen says leaning on the wall.
" Well...I'm sure we can find some good places around here. All we gotta do is find 'em." He says walking ahead.
"Maybe we could find some kids our age, and ask them if they know any good places." Jen says.
"I saw some kids in uniform, on our way up here." I say thinking back to the poverty stricken roads we passed on our way to the beautiful main stay known as La Quinta Inn.
"Hmm...we'll ask them." He replies sarcastically.
"I mean--"
"I know what you mean, but it's muy importante' we find something to do before nightfall. I would like to get some sleep ladies."
Finally, we make our way to the lobby as the rain falls even heavier then before, while making it's third ressurection today.
"Great." I mutter dissapointed.
"Guess we're not going anywhere." He says.
"Looks like it's gonna be a blockbuster night." I say with a sigh.
"Suddenly, I'm feelin' all kinds of sleepy." He says turning back around.
"Ditto." Jen say.
"Oh, Jen...looks like we're going to be sharing a bed." I say catching up to her.
"We are?"
"It's either you or Pacey."
"I see your dilemma."
"So...you're fine with it?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Good."
"Man, I was really hoping to get out today."
"Me too." I say a little surprised. "Me too."
Back in the room, Jen immeditely sat on the bed and removed her shoes. I followed. Pacey had been silent the whole trip to the suite. Again, sadness radiated around him. I wondered if that same sorrow had taken it's toll on his heart. Now, his dissapointment of us not being able to leave seemed far more deeper than our eyes or imagination could believe. Maybe he was depressed. His highs so high, and his lows so low. Like me, before this trip, he's sad...now, so am I. Maybe now it's my turn to do something for him. Yeah...that's what I'll do.
Sorry it took so long for an update, but on the personal tip my family and I are gettin ready to move, so it's taken me a little longer to update this story : anyhow hope ya liked it. Meli :) sorry it's taken so long for me to respond about the campfire, but was there supposed to be a link where you put 'go onto'? Cause if there was it didn't show, so I still don't know how to sign up. Is it too late:(