Chapter Four - Joey's P.O.V.
"So," I say looking around my now nearly empty room, "it looks like I have everything I am going to need with me for the next four years. If I've forgotten anything I'll have to live without it for a while, huh?" I say to Jen who was sitting in the middle of my bed.
"Looks like, now let's grab these last two boxes before Jack starts whining about losing daylight." Jen says laughing.
Just as Jen finishes talking Jack rushes into the room. "Is that the last of the boxes?" he asks motioning to the boxes we're holding.
"Yep!" Jen and I reply in unison, we smile at each other and start laughing, it's something we're doing more often now that the three of us are inseparable. We've bonded over the summer, so much so that we had decided to rent a house together, rather than live in cramped dorm rooms with roommates we were sure to hate. So earlier in the summer we spent a week in Boston looking at houses for rent and found a beautiful six bedroom Victorian that was convenient for everyone. So each of us had our own room, as did Grams, one room was going to be a study of sorts, and the other would remain as a guest bedroom.
"I think I'll go find Bodie and ask him to give me a hand with the bed and the dresser, and then ladies we are gonna hit the road before we lose too much daylight." Jack sings as he walks out of the room, Jen and I look at each other, laughing at his last comment, he was so predictable.
After a few minutes the bumping and thumping stopped, and I began to wonder what Jack and Bodie were doing. Jen Im going to go see what the hold up is, Ill be right back. I walked into my room and froze.
"Umm." was all Jack managed to mumble, as he stood there holding the picture of myself and Pacey taken last Christmas, I had forgotten that I had tucked it under the bed last night so that the glass wouldn't get broken while I finished packing. "Jack it's all right, I knew it was there. I found it last night when I was packing up my dresser drawers. I put it under there so it wouldn't get broken and I must have forgotten to put it in the box with the others. Here Ill run it out to the truck, you guys just grab the bed." I take the picture from him, turning and walking away before either of them could notice the sad longing I knew was in my eyes.
"Jo, is everything okay?" Jen asks coming out of the kitchen.
"No Jen, it's not." I say and hold the picture out to her.
"Oh sweetie!" she says sympathetically.
"You'd think I'd be able to start moving on, but I can't. I have all of these questions and no answers. I miss him so much, and you guys have been great putting up with my moods but," I sigh dramatically.
"We know Joey. You love him. Even after everything he's put you through these last three months." Jen finishes for me. She and Jack have heard all of this before, innumerable times and they understand how much his absence has affected me.
"Ladies, Let's rock and roll!" Jack yells to us. "Next stop Lindley/Potter/McPhee Residence."
"Hey Bessie, were heading out now. We'll see you and Bodie at the Manor." I call to my sister as she finishes packing the cooler in the kitchen.
"Okay Jo, drive safe, we're right behind you." She yells back.
Hours later after unloading the truck and making some order out of my room I fall onto my bed exhausted, I turn and look at the picture on my bedside table and ask "Why Pace? Why'd you really leave me?"
"Jo? Can I come in?"
"Sure Jen, what's up?"
"He'll find you when he's ready, be patient." She smiles. "Who knows he may show up when you least expect him, but he'll be there."
"I know."
"So onto why I came in here. Pyjama Party in the living room, Grams has everything ready."
"Okay, sounds good let's go. Pull me up?" I say giving her my puppy dog eyes.
"Lazy!" she exclaims.
"What can I say I learned from the best!"
"Remind me to kick his ass for having the pleasure of dragging your sorry ass around for the past three months the next time I see him, and for a couple of other things as well." Jen says, pulling me up from the bed.
"Deal." I say laughing. "Can you believe we all start College in a week?" I ask.
"I was trying to forget, but I guess this is all part of growing up. The next step, after this is marriage, babies, and a lifetime of work. No more summers off to do nothing. Let's enjoy these last few days of freedom before it all ends, and we're forced to grow up." She says walking out the door.