Chapter Nine - Pacey's P.O.V.

I'm walking around grinning like an idiot. I'm sure everyone else walking around campus with me thinks that I have lost it. I think this is possibly the best I have felt in months, probably since that night at the Prom, on that boat, what an awful night that was; knowing that I didn't mean any of the things I was screaming at her, knowing I was breaking her heart, but unable to stop them.

I just left Joey's, she still loves me. After everything I put her through, that has to be some kind of miracle. She's willing to give me a second chance; she wants to take thing slow; she wants us to really get to know each other again. I can't blame her one bit, in fact I agree with her.

I'm going to call her as soon as I get back to the dorm, to see if she wants to do something tomorrow, a picnic maybe. We can relax, talk, and catch up on everything we've missed. Taking her number out of my pocket I head over to one of the pay phones in the lounge. I drop in a quarter and dial.

*Ring, Ring, Ring*

"Grams house of sin, if you want it we've got it!"

"Jen, you really shouldn't answer the phone that way, I could have been someones mother for all you know." I tell her laughing.

"Never happen Witter, besides we have call display so I figured it was you. Who else would be calling from B.U.?"

"Lindley you're really too much sometimes."

"I know. So what can I do for you Pacey?" she asks "Okay stupid question I know, I'll go find Jo for you." She continues before I could answer her.

"Thanks Jen."

"Hey Joey, there's a boy on the phone for you." She calls teasingly "Hold on she's coming."

I heard her say thanks to Jen before she picks up the phone. "Hey, that was quick. I mean I know I told you to call me but you only left here what fifteen minutes ago." She says by way of a greeting.

"I missed you." I tell her in my best lovesick tone of voice.

"Really?"

"Yeah really, I can't wait to see you again, you're the one who practically threw me out of there, I didn't want to leave."

"I know, I'm sorry. But I was seriously tempted to forget my manners, and drag you up to my room and take advantage of you."

"Hey, you wouldn't have heard any complaints from me." I say grinning.

"And that's exactly why one of us had to leave Pace, and since this is my house that meant you were the one that had to go."

"So what you're saying is that you don't trust yourself to alone with me. If that's the case then I guess that a picnic would be out of the question?"

"Well I could always bring Jack or Jen along to act as a chaperone. Oh or even better yet how about I bring Grams she really should get out of the house more. Don't you think she'd enjoy a picnic in the park?"

I know she's pulling my leg, trying to get a raise out of me. She was doing a pretty good job "Potter." I say threateningly, letting her know she had gone far enough.

"Okay, so no Grams but what about..."

"Jo, I'm trying to ask YOU out here not the whole damned neighborhood."

"Well in that case, I would love to go on a picnic with you. When?"

"How's tomorrow?"

"Jen and I are supposed to be going for lunch with Grams, this whole female bonding thing before classes start on Monday."

"Oh. Okay, some other time then." I tell her sadly. I had really wanted to spend time with her again.

"No Pace, it's not okay!" she says angrily "I really want to see you, what if we had our picnic in the evening? We could eat, talk, and watch the stars. Could we do that instead?"

Smiling at the idea I tell her I think I like the idea of an evening picnic even better. I was thinking about holding her, being wrapped up in a blanket with her. "I'll pick you up at 6:00, you won't have to do anything, just be ready. I'll do everything else."

"Okay Pace, I can't wait. I have to go, Jacks making faces at me. He's going through Toby withdrawal, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Remember 6:00, and Jo." I wait for her reply.

"What Pace?"

"I love you Jo."

"Love you too Pace." She says before she hangs up.

I hang up the phone and smile. "Now where am I going to find everything I'll need for a picnic?" I say to no one in particular.

"Hi, Pacey." I hear Lindsay say from behind me "Need some help?"

"Yea, actually I do." I begin "Do you know where I can get stuff for a picnic? All of my stuffs in storage until my brother can sort what I need and bring it to me."

"Well you've come to the right person, my friends and I are big holiday picnic people, so I have everything you'll need, including the name of the best deli in town." She smiles at me as we talk "So you got a hot date or something?"

"You could say that."

"Matt told me you guys ran into you ex earlier when you went to the bookstore. He said she seemed pretty pissed with you."

"She was, but her roommates, Jack and Jen, mutual friends of ours from back in Capeside, they told me to talk to her. I went over there earlier and we talked. We're trying to make things right. Were going to start over, take it slow and get to know each other again. Neither us have been able to ignore our feelings for each other, so..." I trail off.

"Wow, you guys are so lucky, you're getting a second chance. I'm guessing you're taking her on this picnic tomorrow, hence the need for my picnic basket?"

"Yea, I can't wait. We're going to sit in the park and gaze up at the stars."

"Sounds romantic."

"Hopefully I have big plans for us, for our future. She's the love of my life."

"Pacey, what's new man?" Matt asks coming up behind Lindsay wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her cheek.

"Ask your girlfriend man, she can fill you in. Linds I'll swing by your room in the morning for that stuff. Now I'm off to bed. Good night kiddies. Behave." I say chuckling as I walk towards the stairs.

I did it I thought to me self. I've been given a second chance at love and I'm not going to do anything to screw that up. Maybe I'm not the loser everyone always said I was, maybe there is hope for me yet. I crawl into bed and know that I'll dream of her all night long; of her soft kisses, her sweet taste, and those amazing sounds she makes when she's in my arms. I smile at the darkness and sigh. I am finally happy again.

"Pacey, where are you taking me?" she asks "And why am I blindfolded?"

"It's a surprise, and if you could see where we are going it would ruin the surprise, duh!" I say leading her along the path. That morning I had stopped by Lindsay's, gone to the deli and placed an order to be picked up later. Then I spent the rest of the day looking for the perfect spot for our picnic.

"Jo, have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"Umm. Only when you picked me up, when we got in the car, and again just now." She says blushing slightly at the compliment. I've seen her blush like this for years and every time I am amazed at how she doesn't realize her own beauty.

"So how much farther Pace?"

"Patience Josephine, Patience."

"I know you think this is really romantic, and I sure it is, but you've been dragging me around blindfolded forever." She complains.

"Okay, we're here, now sit here." I say turning her so she will see the view, I guide her onto the blanket I had set up earlier, and gently pull her to the ground. I reach over to remove her blindfold and reveal my surprise.

"Oh Pace, this is," she's struggling for the right word "Beautiful. How did you do all this?"

"I had some help from a couple of new friends, and I spent most of the afternoon looking for the perfect spot."

"Well it is perfect."

"Yeah? I figured if I couldn't have this picnic on a boat, then the park over looking the bay with the light from the marina reflecting off the water would come in a close second. Now shall we eat? Lindsay assures me I have gotten the best fried chicken known to man in this basket."

"That sounds good. I'm starving, Jen was grilling me all through lunch, so I didn't get to eat a whole lot."

"What was she grilling you about?"

"You, and our relationship."

"We have a relationship?" I ask teasingly.

"If our first date goes well we might." She says deadpanned before turning and smiling at me. At first I was a little shocked at her comment, and then I realize she was teasing me.

"Potter." I growl at her.

"Pfft! You know I love you Pace."

"And I love you too Potter." I say softly. Leaning in for a quick kiss. As soon as our lips touch I am lost. She has always had this effect on me, and probably always will. There is this electricity between us that I have never felt with anyone else. She moans against my mouth, wrapping her arms around my neck pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. I catch her lower lip between my teeth and nibble gently on it, licking where my teeth have just been. I feel her open her mouth under mine and I push my tongue into her warmth. God this woman can kiss I think as we sink further into each other. I moan her name as she runs her fingers through my hair, angling her head for better access to my mouth. I lean into her and push her back onto the blanket, covering her with my weight. She pulls away feeling my weight on her and the ground beneath her back, she stares up at me, her eyes heavy with desire and she's breathing heavily. Finally she finds her voice she says "Wow! That was, we, umm, God I've missed you Pace."

"I know and I've missed you too Jo." I say staring down at her, stroking her cheek with my thumb. We just stare at each other for what seems like hours, until we hear her stomach growl and laugh.

"I guess I should feed you huh?"

"Might be a good idea, in my weakened condition theres no telling what I might do." She says flirtatiously.

"Josephine," I warn her "don't go starting something you have no intention of finishing."

"And how do you know I'm thinking of starting anything?" she asks innocently.

"It's in your eyes, I can see everything you're thinking." I tell her and I could, when I look into her soft brown eyes I can see her soul.

"What if I told you I was considering finishing it?"

"I thought we were going to take things slow, not jump back into anything?" I ask shock apparent in my voice.

"I might be persuaded otherwise!" she coos at me.

"What? You're teasing me right? This is a test?" I ask shocked at her boldness.

"Maybe, Maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see." She says taking a bite of her fired chicken and winking at me. On man, she's got me in knots, and she knows it. She's become bolder over the summer and I really like this new side of her. Well if she wants to play, we'll play. Smiling, I wonder just how far she's willing to go?