Chapter Twenty-Eight Joeys P.O.V.
"Jen, help!" I call from somewhere inside my closet.
"What's the problem Jo?" she asks sticking her head into my room.
"I don't have anything to wear to this party."
"I'm having the same problem, I've gone through my closet three times and my room looks ten times worse than this." She says indicating the current state of my room.
There are cloths strewn everywhere, drawers are open with even more clothes spilling out onto the floor. I look around and wonder exactly when I got so many clothes, granted some of the mess is Pacey's but the majority of the mess is mine.
"What do you think of this?" I ask pulling out a blue tank top and black pants.
"Hmm I don't know, it doesn't seem quite right. She wades further into the room and digs through a pile on the far side of the bed.
"Jo, why don't you wear these? She asks pulling out the low cut black leather pants that her and Jack convinced me to buy. I love them but don't really have the right top to go with them so I've never had the chance to wear them.
I smile at Jen "You know I don't have the right to top to complete that outfit, and as much as Pacey would love for me to go out in my new bra, I don't think I'd be all that comfortable."
"Pfft, you put these on and I'll be right back. Oh and dig out you're new healed boots to go with them." She says hurrying from the room.
"Ok, now I know saw my boots not too long ago, where were they?" I say out loud to no one in particular.
"Jo, you are so going to love me when I'm done with you." Jen says when she comes back into my room with one of her tops, a studded belt, her make-up kit, and curling iron.
"Jen what do you have in mind?" I ask suspiciously.
"Let's just say that you and I are going to look fabulous!" she says grinning at me in the mirror. "Here try these." She hands me the top, and the belt. The top is white, short and has no sleeves; the American Flag is emblazoned on the front, in crystals. I pull it over my head and study my reflection in the mirror.
"Jen I don't know." I say.
"Trust me, now sit!" She instructs pushing me onto the bed. I'm not convinced but as I watch her transform my image in the mirror I cant help but smile at what I see. She's pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail on top of my head and has teased the end causing it to spike out a little, she had added a few curls into the mix, and highlighted some sections with hair mascara. Currently she is working on my make-up creating a dramatic almost punk look.
"So?" She asks nervously when she is finished.
I stand up and look at myself turning to get the affect from all angles; I look at her and smile widely.
"Jen, I love it! I cant believe how great this looks. So now what are we going to do about you?"
"Well first off, I'm going to borrow this, she says pulling out one of Pacey's white dress shirts, and then you are going to come with me.
"Sure, Jen borrow Pacey's clothes I'm sure he won't mind." I tease my best friend as we head down the hall towards her room. "Oh My God!" I exclaim as I enter her room and see that the mess is in-fact far worse than the one in mine.
"I told you." She laughs as I climb onto her bed pushing the clothes onto the floor making room for me to sit.
"So, what else are you planning on wearing?"
"This," she says holding up a red skin tight mini skirt, "and this." Reaching for a red silk tie out of her closet.
"Wow, aren't we just so retro tonight." I observe.
"I thought so." We both collapse into giggles as we make faces at each other. She gives her hair one final scrunch and touches up her lipstick before dropping it into her purse. "Well, I believe that we are ready, what do you say we go shock the pants off you're fiancé?"
"Okay. Jen thanks for the help and you look great."
"You're welcome, and I know." She smiles at me and I'm glad to have a good friend like her in my life. As we head down the stairs, we can hear Jack and Pacey in the kitchen.
"Pace, it's your turn to go hurry those two up. I'd like to get there before the party is over."
"Jeez, Jack calm down. We still have lot's of time, give them five more minutes." Pacey says, laughing at Jack. Since Jack and Tobey broke up just after New Years Jack has been out every chance he gets, checking out the hotties.
"Yeah Jack, calm down. Jeez!" Jen mocks as we enter the kitchen.
"Finally, we've been waiting forever." Jack complains.
"Well Jackers, you look mighty fine for having had to wait forever." I say.
"Joey? Is that really you?" he asks.
"Well Duh! Of course it's her, who else were you expecting?" Jen says, hitting him lightly.
"You like? I ask turning around so they get the full effect of the outfit and hair." Jen helped me out a little.
"Wow!" Jack says staring at me.
"Pace, you're awful quite over there, what do you think?" I ask, winking at him as he stares at me with his mouth open.
"Jo?" he stammers.
"Yeah baby?" I ask in my bedroom voice, and I see him shudder shaking himself from his obvious daydream. "What do you think?"
"I think I have the hottest, sexiest fiancee on the face of the planet. Why have I never seen those pants before?"
"Um, I was saving them for a special occasion?" I laugh at him softly, as I hop up onto the counter. He comes around the island to stand in front of me. Putting his hands on my hips he leans in and gently nibbles on my neck, I immediately tilt my head to one side as he steps between my thighs.
"Potter, I am so going to enjoy peeling these off you later." He growls low in my ear, as his hands slip from my hips on to my ass.
"Promise?" I ask, the thought of him taking me hard and fast already getting me wet. I don't know how I'm going to last all night at the party.
"If you two are finished mauling each other, I'd like to go and meet Matt and Linds." Jack whines from the door.
"Fine." I sigh deeply, immediately missing the closeness as Pacey steps back and pulls me off the counter.
"Jack you can drive." Jen says tossing her keys at him as we all head out the back door.
"Good, now at least I know we'll get there in one piece." I say being a smart ass.
"Funny!" we all say at the same time as we climb into Jen's truck.
The drive over to Pacey's dorm is short and we are all laughing as Jack pulls into Pacey's stall.
"Ok, we're here let's get this party started." Jen says climbing out and retrieving her keys from Jack after he sets the alarm.
"Hey guys, we we're beginning to wander if you were coming." Matt says as we walk into the dorm.
"Sorry we're late, Jen and I had fashion emergencies." I explain as I hug Lindsay hello.
"Well, you guys look great. So I'd say the emergency is over." She says laughing.
"Thanks, you look pretty good yourself." I say to her as I take in her out fit. She's wearing a black/brown sleeveless top with scoop neck and tan suede pants that sit low on her hips.
"Okay, you guys look great, we look great. Can we please just go to the party now?" Jack says.
"Someones in a hurry." Lindsay says quietly to Jen and I as we head out into the night.
"Someones worried all the cute boys will be taken if we get there too late." Jen says loud enough for Jack to hear, and we all laugh as she teases him.
"Jen, if you weren't my best friend and I didn't love you so much Id have to kill you."
"I know." She says back, a smile on her face. It feels good to be going out with everyone tonight, its been a long time since we've all gone to a party together. We catch up with each others lives as we walk across campus to the frat houses. Soon loud music and laughter can be heard coming from one of the houses. We are greeted at the door by a very drunk frat boy, who tells us where the keg is and invites us in to have a good time.
"So sexy what will it be?" a cute guys asks from behind a make shift bar.
"Um, I'll just have a vodka cooler." I say figuring that something in a bottle is safer that something in a cup. These parties are famous for drinks being spiked and things getting out of hand.
"Here you go doll." He says handing me my drink. As the others get drinks and as we look for a place to hang out I feel the beat of the music and lean up talk into Pacey's ear, as the opening beats of Closer by Nine Inch Nails reverberate through the house.
"Dance with me?" I ask my eyes twinkling at the thought of torturing him as we dance.
"I thought you'd never ask." He says pulling my drink from my hand, and giving it to Jen and Jack to watch over along with his own beer.
I pull him into the crowd that has formed and wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls me against him as we move to the music, our bodies in perfect sync with each other. He grinds his hips against mine as the hypnotic beat continues to pound, and I feel his arousal against my stomach. He stares into my eyes and I can see an animal hunger with in the pools of blue. I run my hands down his back and grab his ass as I slide a leg against his muscled thigh. He growls in my ear as he takes my lobe between his teeth and sucks on it. His hot mouth slides down my neck as he guides my hips with his hands.
"Oh Pacey!" I moan as his teeth graze against my hot skin, I close my eyes and enjoy the sensations washing upon me in waves. Burying my head in his shoulder I hang onto him for fear that I can't stand on my own. Looking up slowly my eyes clouded with desire it see him smile wolfishly at me and I know what he is thinking instantly, the song is coming to and end and I look over to where our friends are sitting watching us and laughing. Slowly I pull away from Pacey as some bad Brittany Spears song starts to play.
"Come on, I need to sit." I say gripping his arm tightly as we walk back to everyone else.
"That was quite some show you two were putting on." Matt says, raising an eyebrow at Pacey.
"Can you really blame me?" he asks his friend as I settle into his lap making sure to press against him not so innocently. "Potter!" he threatens quietly.
"What?" I ask playing innocent.
"Don't you two ever stop?" Lindsay asks from her place on the arm of the sofa.
"Never." Pacey says wickedly as he again starts to nibble on my neck.
"Jack, Jen I don't know how you put up with this everyday. I feel nauseous and we've only been here half an hour."
"You get used to it, and you learn to knock!" Jen says.
"Trust her, knocking is a good thing. Although sometimes they manage to catch you off guard. I walked in on them in the kitchen one day and I got more than and eyeful, another couple of minutes and they would have christened the table. Thank god Grams was out." Jack says shuddering at the memory.
"Jackers, how do you know we already haven't?" I ask grinning at my friend.
"Oh God! I eat off that table! Too much information!" Jack says before getting up and heading for another beer.
"You two like torturing the poor guy don't you?" Lindsay asks as she steals the spot Jack vacated.
"Everyone has to have a hobby." Pacey says wrapping his arms around me.
"Seriously, I'm so happy for both of you guys. I cant wait until June."
"Me either, I've waited so long for this." I say smiling over my shoulder at Pacey as I lean it to give him a kiss.
"Um, Jo I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I just saw Dawson and he's pretty wasted." Jack says as he returns with his drink.
"He's here?" I ask unsure of how to react.
"Apparently, just keep an eye out."
"Thanks Jack."
"Baby, if you want to leave we can." Pacey whispers in my ear.
"No Pace, we're staying. I'm not going to let Dawson and his greasy forehead ruin our first night out with all of our friends in three months. He's going to have to deal with us sooner or later." I say firmly.
"Okay, I was just checking. You know how I feel about this."
"I do, but he hasn't contacted me since Christmas so I don't think it will be a big deal, besides there are alot of people here, he wouldn't dare try anything."
"I hope you're right. I need another drink, you want?" He asks lifting me from his lap.
"Uh sure." I say as I look around the room, checking for any sign of Dawson.
"I'll be right back." He says leaning down to kiss me quickly. "Love you."
After a couple of minutes he's not back and I look to see that there are quite a few people waiting for drinks so I relax back against the sofa.
"Shit!" I hear someone swear drunkenly from behind us as they drop their drink. I turn around to look and I am met with the cold grey of Dawson's eyes. I just stare at him as I take in the changes in his appearance. His hair is even longer than it was at Christmas, it looks like it hasn't been washed in weeks, in-fact Dawson looks like he hasn't washed in weeks. He has stubble growing in patches on his face; giving him the appearance of being moldy. His clothes are rumpled and stained. His eyes are bloodshot and his breath reeks of alcohol. As he focuses on me I can see the recognition dawn in his eyes and he leers at me. "Well if it isn't my soul mate!" he looks around at the rest of the group.
"Dawson." I say coolly, not trusting what he might do in his current state.
"So Joey, nice outfit." I can feel his eyes traveling over my body and I have to resist the urge to slap him. "Does Pacey know you go out in public looking like that?"
"As a matter of fact he does, and what's more he likes it." I spit out angrily at him.
"I always knew he would turn you into trailer trash."
"Dawson, that's enough." Pacey says from beside me. I look up and smile at him thankful that he has returned.
"What is about him that's so special?" Dawson asks ignoring Pacey's presence.
"Dawson, I'm not getting into this with you again. Do I need to remind you that you are no longer welcome in my life?"
"What if I don't care about that? What if I want to be in your life regardless of what you think?"
"You're drunk." I say.
"You're his whore." He says, raising his voice.
"Dawson, I think it's time you left." I say feeling Pacey tense up beside me.
"I don't think so Jo. You see you are mine and I plan on proving it."
"Whatever, fine you can stay but if you do we are leaving. Come on guys this party suddenly got really boring." I say standing up and looking to my friends to follow my lead. Until now they had all been sitting quietly watching things unfold. "Good night Dawson." I say dismissing him and walking away.
"Jo do you think that was a good idea?" Jen asks.
"Probably not, but I didn't want to start a fight inside the house."
"You think he'll follow us?" Matt asks quietly.
"I'm sure he will, you see things aren't going according to his script so he's in there desperately trying to rewrite it."
"Well I think he's creepy." Lindsay says moving closer to Matt.
Just as I predicted Dawson comes rushing out of the house. "Joey wait! I love you. Please give me a chance." He calls pathetically into the night.
"Ignore him." I say taking Pacey's hand leading everyone away from the party. "Guys, I'm sorry this ruined our night out."
"Don't worry about it Jo. What matters is that you're okay." Jack says.
"I'm fine, Jack don't worry about me. I can handle Dawson Leery."
"Pace, don't you want to kick his ass for saying that about Joey?" Matt asks after a couple of minutes.
"Yeah, but I promised Joey that I would stay out of this unless she can't handle it.
"JOEY!" I hear Dawson scream from behind us.
"Damn it!" I swear under my breath. "You guys go ahead. We'll catch up with you." I turn around to face Dawson as he runs up the street towards us.
"Joey please let me handle this." Pacey says looking at me with concern in his eyes.
"No Pace, this is more my problem than yours."
"Jo, you are going to be my wife. If he hurts you he hurts me. Please let me talk to Doug."
"Pace." I say letting him know now is not the time to talk about this.
"Fine." He crosses his arms over his chest and stares at Dawson as he approaches us.
"Listen up Dawson because I'm only going to say this once and then I'm leaving. You are not welcome in my life, in our life." I indicate between Pacey and myself "If you insist on continuing to make a fool of yourself this way I am going to have to contact the police. I do not love you. We are not soul mates." As I say soul mates I make finger quotes in the air. "You are in serious need of therapy. You need to learn let go of what is not yours, what has never been yours, and what will never be yours, and get on with your life. I make my own decisions, I always have and I choose to be with Pacey, he is what makes me happy. I want for you to be happy, and live your life but I am not a part of that life. Your parents are really quite concerned about you I think you should talk to them let them help you get better because you are obviously unstable. Please don't make me take this any further and get the police involved. Good night and good-bye Dawson Leery." With that I turn my back and walk away leaving Dawson and Pacey staring at one another.
"But I love you Joey." He says meekly.
I spin around, anger blazing in my eyes. "No you don't Dawson, you're just too scared to grow up and let go of the past, now please leave me alone." He stares at me in shock as if he's finally hearing the words coming from my mouth.
"Pacey? You coming?" And again I turn and begin to walk off. Pacey rushes to catch up to me and as we cross the street and as we turn the corner I look back to see Dawson collapse onto his knees and begin to wail into the night. We walk in silence back to the dorm where we find the others waiting for us.
"How'd it go?" Jen asks.
"I think we, well Jo finally got through to him, right before she made him cry." Pacey says, I can tell he's trying to keep the mood light.
"What did you say to him?" she asks.
"Nothing I haven't said before."
"He really cried?"
"I'm afraid so, I didn't do it on purpose I was just so angry at him." I say a sob catching in my throat.
"Jo, baby everything will be okay, just wait and see." Pacey says reassuring me, as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I cry softly into his shoulder for a couple of minutes, I hate being the bad guy but really Dawson left me no choice. Wiping my eyes I look up into to warm depths of Pacey's concerned gaze and ask him to take me home. We return to the house in silence and get ready for bed. Once again I am emotionally drained from confronting Dawson and just want to sleep in Pacey's arms. I crawl into bad and snuggle into his side, resting my head on his chest.
"I'm sorry, this evening didn't end the way I had planned."
He chuckles softly and I can tell he is smiling as he strokes my hair. "I know, babe, it didn't end the way I wanted it to either." He places a soft kiss on the top of my head.
"Just out of curiosity how did you want tonight to end?"
"Hm, well lets just say it involved you, me and a-lot of moaning."
"I was hoping for the wall to be in there somewhere too."
"Ha, Ha, Ha!" He laughs at my comment. "I love you Jo."
"I love you too Pace."
"Good night love."
"Night." We soon fall asleep in each others arms.
I am awoken early the next morning by the shrill ringing of my phone. I groggily open my eyes looking for where the annoying sound could be coming from. As I take in the disastrous sight before me I give up looking and listen as the machine picks it up.
"Hi you've reached Joey. I'm not able to take your call right now so please leave a message at the beep."
*Beep*
"Joey, please are you there?" Gail Leery's relieved voice can be heard coming over the speaker. "Uh okay I guess not. Well, anyway honey this is Gail, I just wanted to thank you for whatever it was that you said to Dawson yesterday. He showed up here at the house early this morning asking us to forgive him and to get him the help he needs. We're taking him in to see a psychiatrist later; he's going to try to work through his problems. He asked me to tell both you and Pacey congratulations and he hopes that you both are happy, and that he'll stay out of your lives. Anyway thanks, I'll be in touch again when I know more."
*Beep*
As I lay back into Pacey's arms I look up and see him smiling down at me. "See honey, I told you things would be okay." He says as he brings my lips up to his in a sweet kiss.