A/N This extra long chapter is for PaceyW'sGirl. Thanks for all the reviews, and everyone else let me know what you think!
It was the late afternoon and Pacey kissed Amy and Joey on their cheeks before heading off to his last interview. This was the one he wanted most. He was applying at an Italian restaurant a couple subway stops away. "I'll be back soon," he promised.
"So," Joey said as he shut the door behind him. "You want to play dress up?" She asked. Amy grew excited as Joey searched through her closet for old hat, dresses, sweaters and shoes.
Amy began to dig through it all. "We can pretend we're going to a party!" She insisted.
"Okay," Joey agreed. "And when you're all finished we can take a picture for Jack."
"Yay!" Amy yelled and immediately started trying things on. She made Joey turn around because she wanted it to be a surprise. Finally, Amy announced, "Okay, all finished!" Joey put down the book she had been reading to get a good look.
"You look adorable," Joey said, and she did. "Can I make a few finishing touches?" Joey asked for permission. Amy nodded eagerly and Joey took her into the bathroom and pulled out her makeup case. Joey put some blush on Amy's cheeks, and the brightest red lipstick on her lips. It look cute in the silliest way possible. "You like it?" She asked.
"Yes!"
"Should I take the picture now?"
"Yes!" Joey got her digital camera from the drawer and took the picture. She took one on her phone, too. Joey waited to clean her up, because both of them wanted to show Pacey. When he got back home, he took a picture of the too of them. "Thank you, Joey!" She said.
"I'm glad you had fun," Joey replied. "But why don't we get you out of those heels before you twist an ankle!" She insisted helping her get them off.
Jack was getting ready too, yet he wasn't finding it quite as fun. He was trying to find a shirt to wear but he felt like nothing looked good. Finally he settled for a red polo shirt and jeans. He was finishing putting on his sneakers when Rob knocked on the door. He got up to open it. "Come on in," he said. "I've just got to go grab my cell phone." Rob waited in the living room, admiring the cute pictures of Jack and Amy. "All set," Jack announced.
"Great," Rob said and smiled at him. "The bus leaves at 4:30."
"Okay," Jack said, and they headed down towards the bus stop.
"So have you ever been to a Yankee game before,"
"Nope," Jack replied.
"Baseball game?" Rob asked hopefully.
"Well, I don't know if I should be admitting this…" Jack answered, "but I went to a few Red Sox games when I went to college in Boston."
"That's all right," Rob said laughing. "As long as you're not a fan."
Jack held up his right hand. "I promise," he said and laughed.
The bus arrived and they found their seats right along the third base line. "So who are they playing today?" Jack asked.
"The cubs," Rob answered. "But they're just warming up right now. I like to come see batting practice."
Jack nodded. "I'm going to go get something to drink. You want anything?" He offered.
"A soda would be great," Rob said. "Thanks,"
"Sure," Jack replied.
"So you play any sports?" Jack asked him handing him a drink.
"Used to play baseball in high school. Now it's just whatever the kids want to play on the playground." Jack laughed. "What about you?"
"Football," Jack said. "I kind of stumbled upon it by accident," he laughed. Jack felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He had a new picture message; joey had sent him the picture of Amy. Jack smiled.
Rob saw it over his shoulder. "That's cute," Rob said.
"Yeah," Jack said still looking at the picture, "she's staying over at my friends house tonight.
"So how'd you get to be a father?" Rob asked curiously without being pushy. "I mean you are…?"
"Gay? Yeah." Jack verified. Back in college he would have found this conversation awkward but he had grown a lot since then. Besides, he was still preoccupied by Rob's first question.
"Actually, I adopted her," Jack said.
From the look on his face, Rob could tell this wasn't on the approved list of first date discussions. "So," he said, not so subtly changing the topic, "have any siblings?" Rob asked.
"Yep," Jack said. "I have a younger sister, Andie. She's really great. I had an older brother, Tim, but he died when I was young."
"Boy," Rob said in a friendly tone. "You do have a depressing past." He was trying to make light of it.
"You'll learn to accept it," Jack said smiling. "What about you, any siblings."
"Three," Rob said. "I'm the oldest."
"Wow," Jack said.
The game began and the Yankees took the lead. Rob explained some of the rules that Jack didn't know, and even rolled off at few of the batters' averages. It was clear he was a major baseball fan. He seemed like one of those people who go to the batting cages once or twice every month, just for the heck of it. Jack had always had a thing for athletic guys.
Pacey cooked Amy grilled cheese for dinner. "Do you like it?" He asked her.
"Your bread's funny," She said honestly.
Pacey pretended to be insulted.
"Pacey," Joey said. "It's just the rye bread. Don't take it personally." She laughed. "She's used to Jack's white bread."
"Who wants white bread when you could have freshly baked rye bread from the bakery?" Pacey asked astonished.
"You know, Pace," Joey said, "You've become a food snob."
"First, you insult my food," Pacey said looking at Amy. "Then you insult me," he said looking at Joey. "I'm through," he declared and threw down a dishtowel for effect. Amy giggled. "Thank you, thank you," Pacey said, and took a bow. "How about some pasta instead?" Pacey offered.
"Okay," Amy agreed.
"Pacey, no fancy cheese toppings or vodka sauce," Joey warned. "Stick with butter," she suggested.
"Your corrupting her taste pallete," he insisted.
Joey made a face at him. "Wait a couple of years until she's more open minded, and then you can make her try fine delicacies," Joey joked.
"Okay, okay," Pacey said taking the box of pasta out of the pantry.
"We should go get something to eat," Rob said looking at his watch and then the scoreboard. He tried to time it so they wouldn't miss the Yankees up at bat.
"Okay," Jack said, and they went to go wait in line for food. They finished up their dinner and continued watching the game.
Rob put his empty container of french fries underneath the seat. He placed his arm on the arm rest, his hand accidentally brushing against Jack's. "Sorry," Rob said quickly.
"It's okay," Jack said confidently and placed his hand over Rob's. Rob smiled. Jack inhaled deeply enjoying the weather. It was still light out, but it was cooling down. Jack could always appreciate a nice summer night.
Pacey, Joey, and Amy all sat down on the couch to watch a movie before putting Amy to bed. Amy fell asleep on the floor half way through though. Joey went to get Amy's sleeping bag and a pillow. Pacey lifted her carefully and placed her onto the sleeping bag, which Joey had unrolled on the couch. "Goodnight," he whispered.
"Goodnight," Joey whispered and the two of them went to their room.
Amy woke up a few hours later, scared and unaware of where she was. She got up to look around. In the dark nothing looked familiar. The door to Joey and Pacey's room was open a crack and she tiptoed in. Amy saw Pacey lying there asleep snoring and she didn't know what to do. She started to cry. Pacey woke up and saw her sitting on the floor beside their bed. "Amy," He said nicely, scooping her up off of the floor and onto the bed. "What's wrong?" Now Joey was up, too.
"I'm scared," She told them.
"It's okay," Joey said and held her hand comfortingly. "Everything's going to be okay."
"I miss Jack."
Joey smiled. "Jack will be here in the morning and the sooner you fall asleep, the sooner you will get to see him,"
"It's scary in the living room," she told them.
"Well, then you're just going to have to stay here won't you," he said and rolled her in between him and Joey. Joey looked at him and smiled.
"That was a great game," Jack said on the bus ride home.
"See," Rob said, "I knew I could get you to appreciate baseball." He smiled. "I got worried there when the cub's tied it up in the top of the 8th, but they pulled it off."
"With a home run, no less," Jack added. Conversation had quickly become natural to them. They were both similar in that they were shy at first, but after a little while they could grow so talkative you couldn't shut them up.
They got off the bus and began walking in the direction of their apartments again. When it was time for Jack to make a different turn, towards his street they said goodbye. "Thanks for inviting me," Jack said. "It was a lot of fun."
"I had a nice time, too," Rob replied. "We should do it again." Rob leaned in slowly and Jack came the rest of the way, giving him a goodnight kiss.
"Bye," he said.
"Bye," Rob replied.