Hi all,

this little surprise update surprised me more than you'll know. I got motivated from you know who you are (thanks again!). Thank you all for your constant support. My life really goes crazy on me right now and I barely have a minute for myself. But I had this evening and I devoted it to you.

Please forgive me for the delay. This chapter is really, really (!) short, but it will get me back into the flow hopefully.

Please review and I promise to try and not make you wait this long again,

Yours, Yana

The Lead

- Chapter Four -

As he continued to watch the icy rain fall, his phone began to hummed and he picked it up to see a massage from an unknown number. He opened it and a smile brightened his face.

unknown: Hey there, hope you got your friend home safely.

Pacey smiled as he saved the number "Miss Josephine Potter".

Pacey: Yeah, she's asleep now. thanks for asking.

Joey: Thought maybe you wanted my number and just hadn't the chance to ask for it ;)

Pacey chuckled, feeling as engaged by her as he had the whole evening. Wondering if she'd thuoght about him as much as he had about her and just wishing this meant he had a chance with her, for more than just a flirt or one night. He was surprised by himself, finding the need and courage for a relationship inside himself.

Pacey: Well yeah, I did. I just…. I didn't know if it was appropriate…

Joey: Appropriate? Well, flirting with your professor isn't appropriate either, but you've done so the whole evening... and to tell you the truth, I enjoyed it a whole lot.

He felt his cheeks burning and his arousal raising, his heart beat faster. Maybe he had a chance. And suddenly he knew, wouldn't he catch his chance now, there was a good chance it would just pass him by. He thought a while about what to respond, sucking in his upper lip and taking a deep breath.

Pacey: You did?

Joey: Yep. Even though it's kind of strange flirting with somebody I changed diapers a few years back…

Pacey blushed and thuogh he didn't exactly know what to answer he just waited for her to say someting.

Joey: Just teasing :)

Joey: Don't get me wrong here, Pacey. I'm not one who's easily impressed. I can't remember the last time I actually flirted with someone….

Pacey: You're kidding me!

Joey:Nope...

Pacey:No?

Joey: Honestly, I haven't been flirting like this for a really, really long time

Pacey:Okay, so now I'm flattered.

...he typed but was pretty sure she fooled with him. A woman like her was surely flirting every night and even more so had to have many and more offers for more than just flirting constantly.

Joey: And you can be.

Pacey: Can I ask you something?

Joey: Sure.

Pacey: Would you like to meet me? Say for breakfast tomorrow morning?

He held his breath, feeling like sixteen again. His heart racing, his blood swooshing in his ears. As suddenly his phone vibrated again it took him a moment to realize that it wasn't a massage but it was her calling him. He took a shivering breath an took up the phone.

'Hi…' His voice was shaking and he was pretty sure she could hear it too.

'I missed your voice.' She said it quite, almost shy and he almost dropped his phone. Her voice in his ear a mere whisper. 'You mind me calling you?' And it sent the most pleasurable shivers down his spine.

'Mind?' He asked, at a loss for words, his voice hoarse. 'No I… don't mind.' He thought about telling her, he missed her too, but quickly decided otherwise. 'Miss me already?' He asked instead, deciding to play the cool kid and as if to prove it to himself he placed his feet onto the sill.

'Silly isn't it?' Her voice was still quite. He imagined her smile into the phone, tucking her hair behind her ear.

'Not at all.' He shook his head with a serious expression on it, even though he knew she couldn't see it. 'So, about that breakfast?'

'I have the day off tomorrow, so yes, I would love to have breakfast with you. Let's say…' There was a little pause. 'well, wow it's morning already. So I would suggest brunch rather than breakfast if it's okay with you?'

'Brunch sounds great.' He said with a nervous smile on his face, he couldn't believe he would get to meet her again so soon and he couldn't deny he wanted to shake Jen awake to tell her and ask her what to wear and if he should bring flowers. If this was a date or really something more basic, like two friends having brunch together, or something more formal like a student and his professor having brunch together. But than again, she called him in the middle of the night, telling him she missed his voice. Could it really be that meaningless?

'You still there?' Her voice was shy and soft and it was like a leaf falling on a silent lake, drawing circles deep inside his very being.

'Yeah Jo, I'm right here.' Oh God, I want to hold her so bad. This deeply felt longing almost drove him crazy.

'Eleven at Renee's?'

His eyes switched to his clock to see it was about four in the morning already.

'Sounds great.' Truth was, he would have put his shoes on in no time meeting her right away in a heartbeat and knowing it would be a sleepless few hours before they'd met almost killed him. He wanted nothing more than to jump into the next cap and get to her as fast as possible, even if he knew that was ridiculous.

There was a long silence and neither of them seemed to want to hang up just yet.

'Jo?' Pacey asked after a good ten minuted silence.

'Yeah?'

'We should get some sleep, don't you think?' He asked her, smiling, sensing that she didn't want to hang up any more than he did. And he let his wounded heart began to hope, that meant she wanted him too. For more than a brunch in the morning, for more than a student-professor realtionship or even a friendship, but for loves sake.

'Maybe, it's just…' She hesitated. '...never mind.'

'Oh, no no no, Joey.' Pacey, who has never been one to let a comment like this just go unmined. 'It's just what?' He bit his tongue, because he almost called her babe and he was pretty sure that would have been out the line.

'Nothing, really Pace. I really should let you sleep.' His name as an almost-endearment from her lips made him breathless for a second. The last person that called him "Pace" with this effect had been Andie and in this very moment he was sure, without any question, that he had fallen head over heels, hopelessly in love for the second time in his life.

'Please tell me, Jo.' He managed to say, forgetting she was his professor, just picturing the woman she was.

'I guess it's just less lonely with you on the phone is all.'

He smiled flirtatious. 'Well, you can sleep with me on the phone if you want to…'

She laughed a soft laugh and it was like music in his ears. 'I could, but that would only lead to neither of us getting any sleep.'

'You're probably right, but…' He wanted to hold her on the line for a little longer but she cut him off.

'No, see you in a few hours. I… looking forward to it.'

'Yeah, me too.'

'Night Pace.' She whispered and he knew she's bit her lip that very moment and it drove his mind nuts and did nothing to ease his arousal.

'Good night Jo.' With this he heard her hang up. Very slowly he lowered his phone. For a while he watched the rain continue to fall. At length he stood, wondering if he had fallen asleep and nothing of this had really happen he scuffled to the bathroom brushed his teeth and went to the toilet before heading to bed. He tucked Jen in again and her eyes fluttered open a little.

'Sorry if I ruined your night, Pacey.' He smiled down at her an kissed her on the forehead.

'Don't worry, honey. Just sleep.'

'Mm…' And her eyes fell shut again.

He picked up the phone to attach it to the recharger as he saw a new massage. As he opened it his whole face lit up.

Joey: Hey Pace. I thought you might want a picture for my contacts. Sweet dreams, see you in five (hours…). Yours, Joey.

He couldn't deny the butterflies going crazy inside him and neither did he want to. He saved her picture and than fell down on his bed and instantly falling in a deep dreamless sleep.

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