Chapter 14

Joey and Pacey made their way through the crowd of people. Pacey looked at Joey. She had a distant look on her face, like she was just going through the motions. Pacey grabbed her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. Joey smiled back. They made there way towards the table. Mr. Kubleck was the first to speak.

"Joey, it's so good to see you," Mr. Kubleck said, extending his hand.

"Hi Mr. Kubleck," Joey said, shaking his hand. Pacey took off Joey's coat and laid it neatly across the back of her chair. He pulled out her seat.

"Thanks," Joey said, taking a seat.

Pacey took a seat beside her and took a hold of her hand. Even though she wouldn't admit it, he could tell that she was nervous.

"You must be the boyfriend," Mr. Kubleck said to Pacey.

"Yes. Pacey Witter. Nice to meet you," Pacey told him.

"Nice to meet you Pacey," Mr. Kubleck said.

There was an awkward silence as neither Joey nor Pacey said anything. Finally, after a few moments,Mr. Kubleckbroke the silence.

"Well, you're certainly being quite tonight, Miss Potter," Mr. Kubleck said, directing his attention to Joey. Joey looked at him.

"Soaking it all in, I guess," Joey said as she nervously glanced around the busy room of people.

"So Joey, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself," Mr. Kubleck urged.

"Well, there's not much to tell, I mean, I'm just your average teenage girl," Joey told him, fretfully. She tucked her hair behind her ears.

"I beg to differ. I reviewed your application and I hardly think so. I seem to remember something about the joy of art," Mr. Kubleck told her.

"Yeah. I have a creative mind I guess," Joey said.

"So Pacey, what about you? What colleges have you applied to?" Mr. Kubleck asked, facing Pacey.

"Yale, Princeton, and Brown," Pacey lied.

"Wow. We could use a smart man like you Pacey. Why haven't you applied?" Mr. Kubleck asked him.

"Yeah, why haven't you Pace?" Joey asked, casting an evil glare in Pacey's direction. She sat up interested in his response.

"It's not really for me I guess. My parents insist that I go to one of those schools. And once they've made up there minds there's no debate," Pacey told Mr. Kubleck.

"Well, that certainly is our loss," Mr. Kubleck told him.

"Pacey, can I talk to you for a second?" Joey asked grabbing his hand. Pacey looked up at her and saw the cross look on Joey's face.

"Uh, sure," Pacey told her.

"Outside," she told him. She looked towards Mr. Kubleck. "Excuse us." With that, she pulled Pacey outside.

"Pacey, I can't believe you just did that," Joey said, angry.

"Did what?" Pacey asked.

"You lied," Joey told him.

"Hold on," Pacey said, trying to explain.

"You looked Mr. Kubleck straight in the eye and flat out lied," Joey told him, getting more and more angry.

"Joey, can I have a chance to explain, please, just for second?" Pacey asked. Joey crossed her arms and looked coldly at him.

"Pacey, why are you trying so hard to impress these people?" Joey asked him.

"Are you done yet?" Pacey asked, rudely.

Joey looked at Pacey with a cold stare. "I don't even know you right now." With that, Joey walked away, filled with anger and hostility.

"Joey, I am sorry, just let me explain," Pacey said as he chased after her.

Mr. Kubleck walked up to Pacey. "Pacey, Pacey, excuse me. I would like you to meet with the dean."

"Really?" Pacey asked.

"Yeah really, come on," Mr. Kubleck said, leading the way.

Joey sat in the dining hall in front of the fireplace, her head hanging low in her hands. She knew that she was never going to fit in. She had nothing interesting to say to these people and the more she tried the more she failed at it. As much as the thought pained her, she knew that she didn't belong at Worthington, no matter how much she wanted it.

Mr. Kubleck walked up to Joey. "Hi Joey."

"Oh, hi Mr. Kubleck…um, I think I should apologize," Joey said, wiping the tears from her face.

"Really, what for?" Mr. Kubleck asked her.

Joey took a deep breath. "I blew it tonight. You see, it's just this is a whole new world for me and I don't know how to act or what to say…I know that I don't fit in here…" Joey said.

"You didn't blow it Joey. Your academic record stands on its own. You are a very bright young lady and I'm not here to grade you on your social skills," Mr. Kubleck told her.

Joey smiled. "And let me tell you something about that boyfriend of yours…he really cares about you. He just talked the dean's ear off about you…how you've changed him, how he couldn't imagine his life without you in it. It's a rare gift to have someone who gushes over you like Pacey does," Mr. Kubleck told her.

With that, Mr. Kulbleck left the room. Moments later Pacey walked in.

"There you are," Pacey said as he walked over to her.

"Hey," Joey said, standing up.

"Apology accepted," Pacey said, as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Joey looked up at Pacey. "I didn't apologize, Pace."

"Well, no, but you were going to," Pacey replied.

"I was?" Joey said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you were going to apologize for how stubborn you acted earlier," Pacey told her.

"And what about you? You're the one who lied," Joey stated.

"I have nothing to prove to these people Jo," Pacey looked down at Joey. "Besides, did it ever occur to you that maybe I was doing that all for you?"

"And how exactly is all of this to my benefit?" Joey asked.

Pacey starred into Joey's eyes and cupped her face in his hands. "Well, maybe I just wanted these people to see you through my eyes for one night. To see this girl, this young women who has more class and intelligence and beauty and grace then anyone else that is walking the face of the earth. And maybe things like this just come tumbling out of my mouth because I happen to be head over heels in love with you. And the scary thing is, I think there true," Pacey told her, as he kissed her on top of the forehead.

"Sorry Pace, I just want to impress these people so bad to fit in," Joey whispered.

"That doesn't matter," Pacey told her.

"Yes it does! I've never wanted anything so bad in my entire life and now that I have it, I don't belong," Joey said.

"Jo, this world, it is opening its doors to you. And when you step through, you are going to be such an amazing part of all this. And wherever you chose to go, you're doing them a favor. Not the other way around." Pacey told her, sweetly.

Joey looked up at Pacey. "Your Mom should get a medal."

"My Mom? Really? Why's that?" Pacey asked.

"Because she raised the perfect boy. And maybe things like that just tumble out of my mouth because I happen to be head over heels in love with you. The scary thing is, I think it's true," Joey said, as she kissed him passionately.

"How about we go someplace where we both fit in," Pacey said, as he wrapped his arm around the small of Joey's back.

Joey nodded, as she rested her head on Pacey's shoulder. "That sounds like a great idea."

With that, the two of them walked out of the party. Despite the chaos of the whole evening, Joey had passed with flying colors. She felt as if she was on top of the world, and she had Pacey to thank for it all.