CHAPTER 7

A/N: For the more mature readers- The Spring Seasonal Passion fic exchange is now being posted. Check my homepage or email me for the link.

Pacey surveyed the deck quickly before going down the narrow steps to the yacht's kitchen. There he saw Joey absentmindedly grabbing several bottles of soda to take to the deck.

As soon as she got up and twirled herself around, Pacey pinned her against the refrigerator door.

"Joey Potter, if I didn't know better, you are trying to avoid me," he accused her softly. He could smell the faint scent of vanilla that she always wore; so innocent and sweet.

"Pacey Witter, I have no clue what you are talking about," she stated, wrinkling her nose at him like a bunny.

It was true. She was avoiding him. Part of her was still upset at his crudeness to Tristin and part of it was her annoyance that he invited Rory along. For someone that's new and a year younger than the Capeside transplants, Joey felt some jealousy for the doe eyed beauty.

"Hmm, have you ever been told you that you're a bad liar?" Pacey replied. His lips hovered over hers. He could feel her shallow breaths against his face.

"I am not lying!" she stated, trying to get away.

"Are you upset that I brought Rory along?' he asked. He was quite pleased that his new friend actually fit in the crowd. With the exception of her shyness, she went along with the jokes and stories Jack and Audrey imparted.

"No," she said forcefully. "If you must know, I am upset with you."

"Upset?" he smiled, letting unpinning her against the cold surface. "Now what did I do this time?"

"You accosted Tristin!" she exclaimed, trying to act angry only to be defeated by his impish smile.

"I did not!" he swore.

"Did, too! The night we were at Hell's Kitchen," she said. She tried to put some space between them. However, the small confines of the boat made the effort impossible.

Pacey huffed and planted his fists at his sides in annoyance. "I thought he was Charlie."

"You could've asked!" Joey accused.

"Where's the fun in that?" he asked. He loved it when Joey was upset. He downright missed it.

"You're incorrigible!" Joey replied, exasperated. "And you need to be less judgmental. Charlie Todd, despite his smarminess, is decent."

As Joey tried to make a dignified exit, Pacey stopped her in her tracks and kissed her.

oooo0----0oooo-----

Rory stared at her watch for the millionth time. It was only past nine but she knew she was running late with her schedule. At this point, she should've finished with her research, called her mother, made the decision to have dinner with her dad…

"Is it okay to sit right next to you or are you going to sic your guard dog at me?" Tristin teased as he stood in front of her, arms folded in front of his chest.

Rory just patted the seat next to her in invite.

"I see the cogs in your head moving," Tristin gently broke into her mental listing.

She smiled at him before shifting her gaze to her feet. "Just thinking."

"'Bout what?" he asked. "Oh, let me guess. Homework? Picturing me naked?"

"Dinner with dad," she admitted. However, his last inquiry made her wonder how he actually looked unclothed.

"Swing and a miss," he said.

"With his new wife and my step sister," Rory added.

"I take it you're not comfortable with the situation?" he prodded.

"It's nothing like that," Rory admitted. "I just don't want dad to think that things between us will magically change now that I live closer to him than mom."

"How does your mom feel about it?" he asked.

"I think she thinks I'll trade her in for Sherry but honestly, I can't stand Sherry," Rory bluntly admitted. "And this whole pretending that she wants to be my friend and we'd become an instant family by having weekend dinners is downright nauseating."

"Didn't you have a similar arrangement when you lived in Hartford?" he inquired.

"Exactly my point," Rory sighed. "At least my grandparents were paying my way at Chilton."

"Why does family make things complex?" Tristin muttered. Both chuckled as they shared the private joke.

"I know you two love birds aren't planning on isolating yourselves over there," Audrey called out from the other end of the boat.

Blushing in the dark, Rory responded, "We're not-"

"Love birds, in any way, shape or form," Tristin finished the statement for her.

"Well then get your butts over here," Audrey ordered them. "We're planning on doing a karaoke hop here in a moment and you guys are coming."

"I can't," Rory begged off. "I've got a ton of things to do and…"

"Rory, you're so going to regret it if you're so concerned about school right now. This is your first weekend off and I guarantee you, this is the least stressful evening you'll ever get," Audrey informed her.

Rory thought for a moment and knew that the karaoke crawl would more than likely lead to a late night and thus postponing the inevitable.

"Rain check?" she cringed. She hated being forced to join a group outing, especially one led by someone who is apparently a party person and a supposed mentor.

"Rory," Audrey whined. "Just this once. Please?"

"Next time. I promise," Rory stood her ground.

"And you?" Audrey pointed to Tristin.

"I was hoping to take Rory home," he blushed under the inquisition.

"Ah! When did freshmen become so responsible?" Audrey threw her hands up in the air in frustration.

"Only this time. Until I can get my car from dad's," Rory promised. Wait. She didn't ask Tristin to be her knight in shining armor… Or did she?

"I thought you were from Stars Hollow?" Jen asked.

"Is he cute? Is he single? Can we check his place out?" Audrey asked in rapid succession as she closed the gap between the couple and the seated pack.

"Yes, no and I have to ask," Rory replied, chuckling. If there was one thing she had accepted about Audrey's personality is that she is a whirlwind that couldn't be stopped.

"Fab," Audrey replied. "Hey, so are you guys in or out?"

"About what?" Tristin was hesitant to ask. He knew Audrey's questions were always loaded.

"Flag football tomorrow, ninny," Audrey clarified.

"I don't play any sports. At all," Rory admitted, rubbing her hands up and down her sweater covered arms.

'That's fine. We didn't say we were the NFL," Audrey said. She wasn't taking no for an answer. "It will be fun. I promise. And if you get grass stains on your outfit, Joey will wash it out for you."

Rory laughed at the sudden volunteered duties of the currently absent Joey.

And Pacey, for that matter.

"I'll think about it," Rory replied.

Jen and Jack waved goodbye to the two. Audrey ordered them to say goodbye to Pacey before taking off.

"Hey, Pacey…" Rory descended from the steps.

What she witnessed was a couple lip-locked and oblivious. Rory was taken aback; frozen in her spot. She forgot that Tristin followed her causing him to bump against her, almost a little more intimately than she wanted him to be. The sudden collision caused Rory to jump despite Tristin's arms around her making sure she didn't fall.

There was something in the way he held her…

"You okay?' Tristin asked. His hands lingered on her shoulders.

Joey and Pacey broke their kiss rather abruptly at the sound of Tristin's voice.

"Oh hi. Just came to get some drinks," Joey said as she reached for the sodas.

"And, uh, I was helping her out," Pacey replied. He tried wrestling some of the bottles from Joey's grasp.

Rory shot Pacey a puzzled look. "I just came down to say I'm taking off."

"So soon?" Pacey exclaimed. "It's just…" he looked at his watch, "a little past nine!"

"But I have a ton of things to do and I still have to call my dad…" Rory said.

"Are you leaving because I was mean to Tristin?" Pacey asked out loudly. Both girls blushed while Tristin furrowed his brow.

"I don't know what you mean," Rory replied.

Pacey turned to Tristin and apologized. "Look, man, I don't know what spell you have over these women but I do apologize for whatever wrong they're accusing me of doing to you."

"Pacey!" both Rory and Joey cried out in frustration.

"I'm not leaving because of Tristin," Rory clarified. "I've got things to do."

"And I'm taking her home if that's okay with you," Tristin volunteered.

"I thought you were staying over?" Pacey mumbled.

"I wasn't expecting to, no," Rory blushed. She felt like she had to explain herself to the group involved.

"I mean, so that you don't have to take the bus so early..." he started explaining.

"It would've been nice if you would've clued me in," Rory chuckled nervously.

"You can stay in my place," Joey volunteered.

"No, that's fine," Rory declined the offer. "But thank you. I am not sure that I'll be playing."

"You have to," Joey said. "It would be fun."

"I don't have an athletic bone in my body," Rory replied. "Other than fencing. I did some fencing in school and I got beat by Paris."

"Trust me, Audrey is the least person I've ever seen, despite her attempts at yoga," Joey found herself trying to convince the girl to join in the weekend gatherings despite her current state of resentment. "She joins in for the outfits."

"I'll make sure to pick her up tomorrow if it means that much to you," Tristin said.

"Then take her home," Pacey all of a sudden changed her mind.

Rory stared at Tristin who was now trying to shove her up the stairwell.

"See you tomorrow at nine!" Joey yelled back.

Rory groaned. She hated it when she was backed to a corner.

The rest of the good-byes had been said before they disembarked from the yacht. Rory can't help but punch Tristin on the arm in retribution.

"What was that for?" Tristin yelped.

"For selling me out," she said in frustration. "Did it ever occur to you that for once I might want to sleep in during the weekend?"

"Since I'm forced to attend, I might as well make purgatory more tolerable by having you there," Tristin said, grinning.

"I've graduated from purgatory. It was called Chilton!" she whined. "Besides, I still have to study…"

"I'll help you."

"I still have to put away the stuff I haven't unpacked," she added.

"I could help you dispose of the boxes."

"I still have to attend my dad's dinner."

"I'll be your date," he offered. "Come on, Mary. Let's play football."

Rory scrunched her nose in displeasure.

"I'll buy you a cup of coffee," he bribed.

"Five," she bargained.

"Fine, five large coffee cups. One for each day you work," he stated. He felt good about his negotiating skill.

"I was referring to five, tomorrow. And the venti kind. Not large, not grande. Venti," Rory clarified. "Getting me up before noon will be your crucifix."

Tristin opened his mouth in protest, only to stop himself from arguing with her. "You've got yourself a deal," Tristin agreed, putting his arms around her. "Now, you let's get you into my car and tucked into bed. I don't want to find out that Pacey raced me to Harvard to make sure I took you back to the dorms."

"I don't think we have to worry about that tonight," she replied. "Take me home, cowboy."