Description: Takes place a few years after Pacey and Joey's break up.
Author's note: If you review, I will update.
Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters, just the original storyline.
Heart aches Revisited
Chapter #2
(Joey's pov)
" Hey Bess, I'm home. Sorry I am late. Sort of ran into Jack and we got a late lunch.", I call once I walk inside. Dropping my suite case, I collapse onto the sofa. Oh man does it feel good to be home. Something tells me that her first question is going to be where is Charlie this year? Decided to hold off on telling Bess that the two of us are no longer together. How was I supposed to know it was his intention to propose to me though? I am a junior in college, marriage is the last thing on my mind. Did I even see myself spending the rest of my life with Charlie? To be honest, I don't know. There was a time when I thought Pacey and I would someday marry and have a few kids. Obviously that didn't turn out to be the case seeing as how he tore my heart out in front of everyone at our senior prom. There is a night I would love to forget.
" Joey, hey! Where is Charlie? I was hoping that he would come again this year. Alexander loves him and they had so much fun together out in the snow.", gushes Bess much to my displeasure. Yeah, I saw that coming. Great, this is where I get to tell Bessie that he's not here because we broke up. When she hears the reason behind our parting ways, obviously I am going to be to blame. What was I supposed to do though? Charlie had a diamond engagement ring tucked away in his suite case. I am not an idiot, I know how to put one and one together. He was hoping to propose to me, probably at the Leery's Christmas party. Sorry but that is not something that I was ready to deal with.
" Actually, Bess. There is something that I need to tell you...", I start in a hesitant voice. This is the part I have been dreading. I know for a fact once I tell Bess that Charlie and I are no longer seeing one another she is going to want to know why. I could take the easy way out and just lie to her. But Jen and Jack already know the truth and whose to say they won't slip up and open their mouths? Might as well just get it over with and tell her the truth right here and now. Sure Bess will be upset but with hopes she will at least agree that I am too young to be engaged. Hell, I only just turned twenty, I still can't even legally drink.
" For heavens sake Joey, don't tell me that the two of you broke up. What happened? I thought you were so in love and happy?", asks Bess with an arched eyebrow. Sighing to myself, I steal a few cookies from a tray she just took from the oven. What happened? Charlie went insane and bought me a diamond ring, that is what happened. In a few years, maybe there is a chance that I would have said yes. But now? The both of us are still attending Worthington for the next year or so. What was the rush with wanting to be engaged? Why couldn't he have waited until after we had both graduated? Would that have been so difficult?
Taking a bite from one of the cookies I stole, I bite down on my lower lip," We were Bess, don't get me wrong. But when I was packing his suite case to come, I found an engagement ring. I panicked and said I thought we needed to take a break. Charlie got all bent out of shape and broke up with me."
Nearly choking on her glass of wine, Bess sets her drink down," Charlie was going to propose? Did you not see yourself marrying him Jo?"
" I don't know...we're both still in college, the thought hadn't even entered my mind. Could we not talk about this anymore Bess, please? I'm upset enough and would rather just go up to my room and nap before dinner time.", I confess while rubbing at my eyes tiredly. The drive from Boston was hell. Not to mention I have been up for the last thirty six hours straight. Final exams were yesterday and I spent all of thursday night cramming. I have not slept a wink since thursday morning and I am beyond exhausted. Right now a nap is sounding pretty damn amazing. What I wouldn't give to be able to curl up under my covers and not have to wake up until tomorrow around noon. While I know this won't be the case the thought is still a pleasant one.
" Well, it's probably a good thing Charlie couldn't make it. You are staying in Alexander's room Jo, I rented yours out through new years.", reveals Bessie much to my disliking. Is she kidding me? I have to room with a toddler? Well isn't that just fantastic. Guess I can kiss sleep goodbye. What the hell was Bessie thinking? I told her that I would be home for Christmas. Why the heck would she rent my room out? This is just perfect, Alexander better be sleeping with herand Bodie. His bed is so tiny, how am I even supposed to fit in it? She had better have a damn good reason for renting my bed room out and not telling me until I got here. This week is totally going to suck now, I will probably get zero sleep.
" What?! Please tell me that you are kidding Bess. Who could you have possibly rented it out to?", I complain with a groan. Why would she rent my room out? Bess knew that I was coming home for Christmas break. Is she really going to tell me that all the other rooms are occupied and mine was the only one left? This is ridiculous. Well this break just got shot to hell. I could stay at the Leery's but do I really want Dawson's mom asking me about Charlie? When she finds out we're no longer together somethings tells me she's going to want to know why Dawson and I never worked things out.
" It's actually funny that you asked, I sort of rented your room to Pacey.", informs Bessie with a nervous laugh. She has got to be kidding me right now. Of all the people, Bess gave my room to him? Why?! What the hell was she thinking? Why does Pacey even need to stay at the B&B anyway? He could have just as easily gone to Doug's. This is great. He had better not be going through any of my things. I swear I will murder him if he is. It is bad enough that Jack wants me to play nice with Pacey at the Christmas party. Now I have to see him on a daily basis at my house? Isn't that just fantastic news for me.
Regarding Bessie with a look of agitation, I fold my arms across my chest in protest," Please tell me that you are not serious."
Walking up behind me, Pacey steals a few cookies from my plate," Nice to see you too Potter. I was unpacking and found a photo album filled with old photos of us. Guess you forgot to burn those. Sorry to hear about you and Charlie, did he really propose? How come you said no?"
" Thanks for the update, I will toss them in the fireplace tonight. Obviously Jen has a big mouth. Why is it any of your business why I said no anyway Witter?", I snap with a growing scowl taking over my features. Since when is my love life any of his business? You don't see me asking Pacey about Emily or whoever he might be dating now. Why? Because I don't care. I'm not about to explain my reasoning to Pacey, why should I? He is the last person that I want to see right now. All I wanted to do was shower, take a nap, eat dinner and sit on the docks for a bit. Am I going to be able to relax now? Probably not.
" Come on Joe, I was only making polite conversation.", enlightens Pacey with a frustrated sigh. If this is your idea of polite conversation then count me out. No offense Witter but I am not in the mood to pal around with you. There is a reason that we haven't spoken for the better part of three years. You broke my heart, this shattered me to pieces. Here I thought the two of us were happy together and in a matter of minutes you managed to show me otherwise. Our breakup was devastating to me. All I wanted was for us to be together and you just threw me aside because you were scared. How is that fair to me?
" Please don't Pace, I am not in the mood.", I mutter in a dismissive tone before making my way upstairs to my room. To my displeasure Pacey follows after me. Doing my best to ignore him, I rummage through my closet for a pair of pajamas. Frowning when I come across an old t-shirt of Pacey's, I toss it aside. Noticing this, Pacey picks it up immediately. Great now he is going to wonder why I even still have the shirt in the first place. Truth be told it is one of my favorites, but I am not about to let Pacey know this. Why should he know that I still wear something that he gave me?
" Is this my old hockey Jersey Joey? I didn't know that you even had this. ...Look the last thing I want to do is fight, could we please try to get along?", questions Pacey in a sincere manner. Fighting is the last thing that I want to do either. I am tired and hungry. Guess getting along with Witter is my only hope of having a nice winter break. Besides if it will keep Jen and Jack off my case it is worth a shot. Those two can be so annoying. Every time we get together they are always trying to get Pacey and I to talk about our differences. They just never give up. Something tells me that they are never going to either. I hate having friends who care about me sometimes. …