"Dawson Leery, personal homework carrier, has arrived."
Pacey was not impressed. Dawson checked the TV: Jerry Maguire was playing.
"...apparently just in time for a private screening in his home theater."
"Dawson, when my suspension is over tomorrow, I'll go back home. But until then I'm willing to risk you getting sick of me for invading your personal domain because hiding out here and alienating you beats the hell out of torture and death in the hands of my father at home."
Dawson wondered how Pacey could think of himself as dumb and still come up with speeches like that on a regular basis. Out loud, however, he just said:
"Well, I'm happy to help. I'm just saying I will be happy when my room returns to its original owner. And odor." he added, inhaling a little stronger than usual."So, Jerry Maguire again?"
"Yeah, I'm running it on a continuous loop. It speaks to my current situation as a renegade moral crusader."
Dawson took a look at the scene. Tom Cruise was begging people to join him, with little success.
"So... what's new in the land of higher education?" Pacey asked.
"Well... pretty much the same old plus the old sexual identity crisis."
"How is Jack?"
"He seems OK." Dawson shrugged. "He's kinda keeping a low profile."
"And... uh.. Jen?"
"She seems fine." Jen was doing her best to look like a supportive girlfriend, but Dawson wasn't entirely sure how that was working beneath everything.
"Uh... Joey?" Finally the question. Dawson wasn't sure what was happening between Pacey and Joey, but he was pretty sure Joey had been more at his place in the last week than she had been the whole previous month, so something had to be.
"...last I heard, she ran off to Bali with a Brazilian soap star named Diego."
Pacey seemed to not be enjoying the joke as much as him.
"I hear she's really happy, though. And tan. Would you just call her and ask her yourself, you idiot? I can't believe you both know you like each other and you're still talking like you hate each other!" He was getting sick of their banter. None of them would give it up, which was a sign of something, just not the sign he wanted.
"Dawson, it's not that easy, OK?" Pacey replied annoyed. "Joey's avoiding to discuss the issue I've just caused last week, the fact that all her work has gone to waste and is choosing the I'm cool attitude, which I can't help but find insincere because I know who much academic results are to her. Also, if there's anything that this scandal is reminding me of, it's the fact that she's way out of my league and that whatever she feels about me will probably go away the second she wakes up from whatever love potion I inadvertently gave her. So right now we're at an impass."
"No, last week you were at an impass. Now words were said, things were done, and you're just avoiding them like they never happened. She likes you and you care about her, Pacey. Just be a man and go get your girl. Swallow your pride and whatever it is that makes you think she's under a... love potion.. and just go for it."
"I don't want to do that, Dawson! If I let myself be with her, and experience what that is like, I will never go back! And the day she decides to leave is the day when I am left empty and meaningless and no other woman could ever filll that void again!"
Well, that was a tad melodramatic, Dawson felt. Maybe staying so much inside the house was not such a good idea.
"Look at my man, Jerry, over here. He went for the moon and he lost everything. He had to beg, grovel to get it all back."
"Yes, Pacey, he may have lost it, but he did get it back. Because in the end, his woman loved him. And when it comes down to it, that's all that matters."
/
With Pacey failing to man up, Dawson approached Joey as she was standing by her locker between classes. She was looking at her open locker uncertainly while her hands kept on going through her hair.
"I know that look" he said.
She turned to him and said with what seemed like frustration:
"Yeah, OK, well you can still look but you can't ask, OK?"
He decided to go for a change of subject.
"I met Jen and Jack earlier, in front of the school, sucking face. I guess if they wanted to stop the jokes, that would be a good way to go."
Joey smiled but said nothing.
"Jen said they want to go to a club tonight and asked me to tag along. I found myself saying yes. Do you want to come?"
"I can't"
"OK."
There was nothing more he could do.
"I'm sorry, um... thank you for asking, it's just that I thought I'd go help out Pacey with his studies. He missed a week and with this whole suspension thing going, he's going to need all the help he can get to avoid summer school."
"Ohh. Sounds like fun"
"We haven't been focusing too much on fun recently." Joey rolled her eyes.
"Well maybe you should. He can also tag along. He may be mr. Studious lately, but Pacey was never the all work and no play type and everyone needs a break."
Joey looked skeptical.
"Or, you could... I can't believe I'm saying this... just plan something for the two of you alone... just not studying. Maybe even something... romantic"
"Dawson Leery... are you giving your ex advice on how to romance your best friend?"
"There are easier things in the world." He sighed.
The bell rang.
"Anyway..."
He left Joey standing confused in the hallway.
/
Pacey's first day sucked, if not for anything else than for his F in Literature. Mr Peterson represented everything he hated about the school system and the main reason why he would never feel like he could ever make anything of himself academically.
The teacher's speech about how he would grade subjectively from then on and how everyone who is not to his taste should accept failing in his class, proved him once and for all that he was just not made for academic excellency. He was not the type to sit and listen to anything like that without pushing back.
So when he sat down next to Dawson in the cafeteria and saw Joey coming over, he felt like the world was setting him up for failure, academically and romantically at the same time. Like it was all a big joke: showing him how it would be to be good in school and have a great girl, while at the same time, showing him how easy it was to lose everything.
Joey sat next to them and handed him a piece of paper.
"What's this?" he asked confused.
"A menu."
"I realize that." he said, still confused.
"If there's anything in there you don't like, let me know. Although after knowing you for so many gazillions of years, I think I should know by now what you like. That's what I'll be cooking tonight."
"For who?"
"For you. And me. We're going to have dinner tonight. At my house on the dock."
He was so flabbergasted, he didn't know what to say. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dawson's amused look.
All he could think of saying was:
"...you're something else."
She smiled and said:
"Seven PM. Don't be late."
/
...But fates would not have it. His father was furious when he got home. He had managed to avoid him so far, but tonight, his father was having none of it.
After half an hour of bashing, he finally decided he had had enough and wanted to leave.
"Where are you going, boy?"
"I am going to a place where there's people that actually enjoy my company."
"No you are not. You are going to your room."
"What?"
"I've been told that the reason my son spit in the face of his teacher was because he was not taught to properly deal with authority in his home. Well, I'm here to change that today. You will do what you're told and go to your room."
/
"Hello?" her voice answered the phone, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
"Dinner for two?"
"Yes."
"I'm afraid my father has finally decided to exercise his parental rights and grounded me. So I can't come..."
A long pause on the other end of the line.
"...and you can't believe how sorry I am, Potter, cause I was dying for one of your burnt..." he checked the menu in his hand "...lasagnas... but I have to take a rain-check."
"Um... hey... that's completely understandable..." she mumbled. "...and I'll have you know my lasagna is nowhere near burnt."
"...ah, you decided to go for the raw taste tonight. I am even sorrier I get to miss it."
There was no sign on the other end that she had found that even remotely funny.
"I'm sorry I ruined your evening."
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'll find something to do."
"OK... right... I guess I'll see you at school, then."
"Yeah, OK... yeah... I'll see you."
/
The surprising ending of the night for Joey was finding herself alone with Dawson and Jen in a seedy bar, drinking stiff drinks. Apparently, Jack and Andie's father had been called into town by Mr Milo. When Joey had called Dawson about going out, he was initially bummed by Andie standing him up but in the end they called Jen and decided to go anyway.
At first, Dawson and Joey ordered Cokes, while Jen had ordered a "usual" that she had said was a "stiff drink". They were watching as a way-too-talented-for-this-joint singer was doing her best, accompanied by a cute piano player that Joey recognized was going to school with them.
"OK, can we just stop and comment on the irony of the three of us sitting here?" Dawson said after the first sip of Coke.
"Oh you mean the proverbial... proverbial triangle?" Jen giggled.
"I mean, here I am, stood up by my girlfriend and sandwiched between two women who both dumped me. I am pathetic!"
"Hey, look at me, I spent all night cooking dinner for a guy who didn't show up, OK?" Joey protested.
"My boyfriend may be gay." Jen laughed. It was the first time they heard her comment in any way that showed doubt about her relationship.
After a short pause, Dawson decided that laughter was the best reply to what was being said. When Jen stopped laughing she called the bartender, for three usuals.
/
Pacey was not the type to sit at home and mind his place. As soon as he realized his father had gotten drunk as usual, he jumped through the window and left.
He passed by Joey's place first, but she was obviously not home, although he thought he could detect a feint smell of cooked meals. After sitting around a little, he decided that he needed to do something to fix his academic situation before it got worse. And since Mr Peterson was not going to let him pass his class, he needed to make sure he wasn't going to be teaching it anymore.
He got to the school library 20 minutes before closing, which frustrated him to no end but it also made his search more effective.
/
She ended up dancing with Dawson. He felt so comfortable, it was a hard habit to shake.
"So, are you having a good time?" He asked.
"Actually yeah" she said, not hiding the surprise.
"Good"
"Thanks"
"Yeah... me too... I'm sorry your plans didn't work out but I'm glad you're here. Pacey is missing out."
She sighed.
"So what is happening with you two? What is it that is stopping you?"
"I don't know, Dawson. I've known Pacey for as long as I've known you... but I don't know him like I know you. I can't read his eyes the way I can read yours."
He threw her a strange look and asked:
"So what are my eyes saying right now?"
For a second, she felt a sense of fright overcoming her. Was he really going back there?
"...I think what your eyes are saying is... how comfortable it is for us to be here like this together... as friends..."
He smiled and said:
"You're good."
When Dawson walked her home that night, she wondered yet again, what were the magical ways of human chemistry that made two people such good friends and such bad partners in life, while other people could be drawn together so much with so little to push them except themselves.
She didn't know why life worked as it did. She was slightly tipsy when she got home and not very much in a philosophical mood. But she had realized for a while that Pacey was someone that had made a place for himself in her heart, and as much as he kept on messing it up and bumbling it about, he was there to stay.
/
After spending his entire night reading, Pacey waited for the school principal, early next morning.
"Pacey!" she seemed surprised to see him there. "Judging by your tardiness record, I didn't think you rose before 10."
"Rising requires sleeping, and I didn't do much of that last night." He handed her a small file. "This is for you."
"What is it?"
"It's a document I prepared. I checked out the state laws on professional ethics for teachers and mr Peterson is in violation of every one of them."
"What is your point here?"
"All educators should maintain professional relationships with their students in a manner which is free of vindictiveness, recrimination and harassment."
The principal rolled her eyes.
"Want me to keep reading?" he asked.
"What are you suggesting? That I call mr Peterson to my office and give him Saturday detention?"
"You don't have to do anything. This folder contains over 20 other testimonies from students that I gathered last night. There's a school board meeting on Thursday and I sent a copy of that report to every single member of the board. I want this man publicly reprimanded for his behaviour."
"Pacey, I hope you know what you're doing."
"I'm sorry I had to go around you, principal Marky. But I was just trying to do the best I could within my given set of circumstances."
/
The fact that Peterson did not show up for his class was a first good sign.
The fact that Jack finally saw what he was trying to do and thanked him for standing up to him was the second.
By the time he saw his teacher sitting alone in an empty classroom, he was gutsy enough to go talk to him.
"So why isn't the class in session?" he asked boldly.
"Oh, you didn't get the latest update? Your favorite teacher is leaving this god-forsaken institution."
"I don't get it. You haven't even gone before the board yet."
He wanted to see that board meeting. He wanted to fight and win. He didn't want to win by forfeit.
"Please" mr Peterson chuckled. "Did you think I would appear before some collection of idiot parents and have them tell me what I've done wrong for the past 30 years?"
The teacher seemed a little sad at that point, but he recovered quickly.
"I'd rather eat dirt. I was planning to retire in six months, but your action gave me every reason in the world to make an early exit."
Pacey felt a little guilty.
"Mr Peterson, this may be a little late in coming but I am sorry."
"That stunt was one of the most admirable moments of your life." Was there a little admiration in there? "Don't ruin it with an apology."
"You are unbelievable, man. What is it inside of you that makes you so damn mean?"
Mr Peterson took a moment to calm himself down.
"Mr Witter, as awful a man you find me to be, you came here to learn from me."
"I have learned, sir. I have learned that respect is not commanded through fear, it's earned through compassion."
Mr Peterson smiled and gathered his things. He stopped on his way out.
"Then tell me this: should I respect you? You're responsible for ending my career. Where's the compassion in that?"
/
When he got out of classes that day, Pacey felt like he had finally done something he was proud of. More than any A he had ever taken, more than anything else. He had stood up for something and something had been achieved.
He saw Joey outside and went straight to her. She saw him almost immediately and also started walking towards him. It all felt like slow motion, he saw her hair in the wind, her jacket shaking on her shoulders and finally realized that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and that the chances of ever meeting someone to come close to her were so slim, they weren't even worth considering. And he decided that, even if she were to crush him, he needed to at least try.
"I've been looking for you, Pacey." she smiled.
"Well, that's good, cause I've been looking for you too."
"I heard what you did."
He took in her smile.
"Do you approve?"
"I admire you, Pacey." He had never seen her eyes shine like that. "I cannot believe what you did. I would never have the courage to do anything like that."
He blushed and tried to say something to brush it off. He wasn't used to this level of praise.
"No, don't do that. Don't tell me I'm wrong because I'm not. And I am telling you now, Pacey: you may not be the best student in this school, you may not be the best student in any class, but that's OK. Cause the Pacey we have seen these past few days is a Pacey that fights for what he truly wants. And if you haven't been fighting for your grades, it's probably because you don't truly believe that that's where your future lies. And that's OK, Pacey. But don't ever think that there's not something great for you out there. Some of us have to study hard, go to college and work for this. Your future will come to you because you are the type of person who goes and gets it. You are great, Pacey, one of the greatest people I have ever met..."
She was going to go on forever and ever, he could tell, cause once Joey Potter started off on something, she couldn't stop talking. So what he did, was stop her by kissing her, in the middle of the school yard, in plain broad daylight, with the whole of Capeside teenage population there to see.
/
Later that evening, while they were watching a movie back at Joey's place, Dawson called. Andie had told him that Jack had come out as gay during their father's visit. He was apparently visiting Jen to let her know just around that time.