A/N: I finally have a plan for how the rest of this story is going to play out ... Only took me 29 chapters! Haha. Hope you enjoy this one.
A streak of light poured into the living slowly rousing Pacey. He was so warm and comfortable that he tried to fight off wakefulness. His eyes remained closed until he heard something fall to the floor and a voice say, "crap." Pacey opened his eyes to
find himself on Joey's couch; he must have fallen asleep while she was starting the fire. Joey was fast asleep in the chair across from him. He sat up steadily improving his view of her. Pacey welcomed the opportunity to stare at her; a liberty he
had not yet taken while she was awake. Her beauty was unmistakable. She is a freaking goddess, Pacey thought to himself even as he realized that she was snoring quietly. "Sorry if I woke you," he heard someone say. His eyes reluctantly moved
from Joey's face to find Bessie standing in the hallway. The smirk on her face told him that she had been there long enough to catch him mesmerized by her little sister. "I was trying to be quiet," Bessie explained. "I was doing pretty well until
I dropped one of Alexander's toys."
Relieved that Bessie had seemingly decided to ignore his gawking, Pacey rose to a sitting position. "That's OK, Bessie. I slept really well actually."
"Good," she said. "Sleeping Beauty seems to be waking up," Bessie added knowingly. Pacey thought her comment would make him uncomfortable, but instead he merely nodded in agreement. She is beautiful. Bessie shook her head in amusement.
"Mmm … "Joey murmured.
"Rise and shine," Pacey said brightly.
"Are you always this cheerful in the morning?" she asked accusingly.
"No, but I slept really well. I think someone even tucked me in last night," he suggested sweetly.
"I mean letting you freeze to death in our living roomwould not be good publicity for the B&B," Joey quipped.
"Valid point, Potter." He uncovered himself from the blanket she had placed on him the night before. "It would also not be good PR to let me starve. Starting a new business is tricky," Pacey said expectantly.
Joey rewarded his silliness with her patented eye roll. "Pacey, would you like to stay for breakfast?" she asked in mock formality.
"Why, Josephine, I would love to," he responded suddenly channeling Grams' voice.
"Well, you better get up and start making it," she called over her shoulder as she walked to the front door having heard a knock. Joey opened the door, "Dawson? What are you doing here?" she asked. Joey was surprised to seem him standing in front of her.
"I came to apologize, Joey. I'm ... " Dawson began, but Joey interrupted him before he could complete his thought.
"It's about time," she said impatiently. "Pacey, someone is here to see you," she called opening the door wider.
"Huh?" Paced asked confused as he walked toward the door.
"Pacey, uh ... What are you doing here?" Dawson wondered.
"Oh hey, D. What's up, man?" Pacey asked ignoring his question.
Dawson peeked around Pacey to see Joey in the background. Wanting to save face, and maintain the possibility of keeping his status in her life, Dawson fumbled to find the words for an unplanned apology. "Look, Pacey, I just wanted to make sure you're
OK. I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"
Pacey sensed the tone and was not oblivious to Dawson's not-so-subtle dig. He decided to ignore it pretending the apology was genuine. "I'm OK, man. The Potter women took good care of me. Though they have me on light work duty around here for a little
while, which is quite the departure from my normal activities," he explained.
"Oh, right," Dawson said tentatively still trying to absorb all of the information Pacey just shared. Finding a solution, Dawson moved passed Pacey to enter the kitchen where Joey was putting down plates for breakfast. "I could help out more around here,
Joey," Dawson suggested. Joey raised her eyes, confused by his statement. "It is my fault he's hurt, so it makes sense that I should pick up his slack."
Now that Dawson had let himself in, Pacey closed the front door. His eyes met Joey's, "Don't worry about it, Dawson," Pacey dismissed.
"Yeah, we weren't really planning to work that much today anyway. With the guys still out and everything," Joey explained trying to salvage her day with Pacey.
"Hi, Dawson," Bessie said reentering the kitchen. "I thought I heard another voice in here."
"Hi, Bessie. Sorry, if I bothered you. I just wanted to come over to apologize for my behavior yesterday, and to offer my services to the Potter B&B," Dawson proclaimed with a large grin.
"That's nice, Dawson," Bessie commented. She shrugged when she noticed her sister's frustrated expression, "We can use all the help we can get."
"Yeah, um ... If you want to help, you certainly don't have to, but if you want to you may come over after school on Monday," Joey offered. Then looking at Pacey she added, "Pacey and I usually get started on helping the guys with whatever they need right
after school at about 4:00pm."
"Sounds like a plan. I will definitely be here ready to work on Monday at 4:00pm," Dawson exclaimed.
"We're happy to have the help, Dawson," Bessie stated. "I'm sure Pacey wouldn't mind showing you what needs done." She walked toward Pacey placing a loving arm around his shoulder. "You don't mind showing Dawson the ropes, right Pacey?"
Surprised by how openly Bessie was making Pacey's status in their family clear, he smiled at her before putting his arm around her shoulder as well. "It would be my pleasure, Bessie."
"Great, now that is settled, let's eat!" Bessie suggested.
Dawson surveyed the scene around him. He couldn't help feeling he had entered the Twilight Zone. Pacey moved around the Potter's home as if he had always belonged there. Dawson never imagined he could feel like an outsider in Joey's house, but on this
particular morning he felt like an intruder; that he had interrupted a routine. He pulled out a chair to take a seat at the table, when he saw Pacey playfully snatch a pancake from Joey's plate to place it on his own. Dawson expected her to retaliate
by stabbing Pacey with her fork. Instead she shook her head in fake disbelief pouring syrup on Pacey's stolen pancake as she called him a "pig." Dawson was sure he had heard her call him that before, but this time it had none of the bite he was accustomed
to. This interaction was different; not even he could ignore the fact that his old friends were engaged in some sort of screwball mating ritual. Deciding his stomach wouldn't be able to tolerate much more of this, Dawson remained standing. "Thanks
for the invitation, Bessie. I forgot that my mom is expecting me actually. We, um ... Have some Black Friday shopping to do."
"You sure, Dawson?" Bessie asked. Dawson nodded in response.
"See you later, Dawson," Joey said barely looking up from her plate.
"Yeah, have a good one, D," Pacey added with his mouth full of Joey's pancake.
Dawson let himself out of the house. As he closed the door behind him he thought, That's not how that was supposed to go.
After finishing breakfast, Joey began clearing the table. Pacey met her in the kitchen as he placed his dirty plate in the sink. "Are we really not going to work today?" he asked.
"Nope, doctor's orders. Well, Grams' orders, but still," Joey clarified.
"What should we do with our new-found free time?" Pacey questioned.
"We could get an early start on our paper," Joey suggested.
"You know, I'm pretty sure Grams also said something about mental rest. Isn't that right, Bessie?" Pacey asked.
Bessie laughed before agreeing, "It's true, Joey. She did."
"See, no homework for Pacey," he said with a shit-eating grin. "How 'bout that date?" he proposed.
"I meant next Friday, Pace."
"I know you did," Pacey shrugged. "But why wait?"
"That's easy … how about because you haven't showered since who knows when." Joey teased taking a whiff of him. "You smell like football and turkey," she observed crinkling her nose in disgust.
"You're not smelling like roses either, missy," Pacey replied with a grossed out look of his own. "I will of course go home before properly picking you up for our date."
"Sorry, Pacey, but no driving, remember?" Bessie chimed in. "Besides I think Doug picked your truck up earlier. He said something about your dad needing it today," she added.
"Oh," Pacey said doubting his father needed the vehicle for anything but his mean-spirited agenda. "That's OK. Joey can drive us," he suggested recovering from the momentary setback.
"Me? No," Joey protested.
"Yes, now is as good of time as any," Pacey said.
"You do have to learn sometime, Joey," Bessie agreed.
"Are you guys seriously ganging up on me?" She asked glancing at Pacey and Bessie. "Fine, let's go, Witter," she said grabbing Pacey by the collar.
"Wait, right now? Don't you wanna brush your teeth first, Jo?" Pacey poked at her. Joey ignored him as she grabbed the keys to the blue truck, and continued pulling him outside.
"OK, teach me oh wise one," Joey said sarcastically.
"Go ahead and push the clutch in, then start the engine," Pacey instructed. Hearing the sound of the engine turn over, Pacey continued. "Now, you want to slowly take your foot off the clutch. When you feel it pushing against you, almost like it's going
to pop out, give it some gas and release the clutch the rest of the way." Joey started to do as he suggested. Her face dropped when the truck stalled. "It's OK, Jo. That happens. Let's start again." Joey restarted the truck. "Now what do you want
to do differently this time?"
"Not stall?" Joey said.
"Yes, that's the general idea, smart ass."
"Fine," she conceded as her lips pursed into a look of concentration. "I guess give it more gas?"
"Exactly, Potter!" Pacey smiled at her in encouragement. "Let's go again." This time Joey gave too much gas. The truck lurched forward, but did not stall. "Whoa, there, tiger. Push the clutch in," Pacey began. It was too late; Joey stepped on the brake
causing the engine to stall again.
"Oops," she said. Her eyes were wide and innocent; her bottom lip tucked between her teeth as a soft shade of pink grew across her cheeks. Pacey smiled finding her completely adorable. At least there's one thing she can't do.
"What happened that time?" he queried.
"Forgot to push in the clutch before braking?"
"That's it. See, you're learning."
"Must be your Socratic questioning," Joey suggested.
"Hey, don't question my teaching style," Pacey demanded.
Joey's pout deepened, "Pacey, there's just so many pedals down here. I mean really, I only have two feet."
"We've only been at this for five minutes, Jo. Don't tell me you're ready to give up already?"
"No, I just ..."
"OK then, again." He waited for her to start the process again. "Nice and easy. There you go. Feel the pull, and give it some gas. Bingo! We're moving, Potter!"
Joey smiled broadly. "I'm doing it!"
Her excitement was infectious. "Yes, you are!" Pacey felt his heart swell with pride, and something else he was afraid to identify. "Now, you think you're ready for second gear?" She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Go a little faster. When you hear
the sound of the engine change slightly, like it's working a little too hard, push the clutch in. Hold it as you move the gear shifter down, then release the clutch, faster this time, and give it gas." Joey followed Pacey's directions, and easily
moved into second gear.
"I think I'm ready for third now, but which direction is it?" Joey asked. Pacey looked at her confused by her lack of knowledge. "What? I've never made it passed second." He laughed at her exclamation.
"It's up. To the right of first," he explained and off she went.
"How is it that you managed to teach me in 30 minutes what no one else has managed to do despite hours of agony?" Joey asked him after stopping the truck on the street in front of Doug's apartment.
"Just that good, I guess," he suggested jokingly. "You're obviously lots smarter than me." Responding to her look of disapproval, he amended, "Fine, we're both smart." Pacey chuckled at her revised look of acceptance. "I was saying that I think we learn
the same way. We need input from all our senses, so I told you how it would feel, sound, and look. That's all."
Joey blushed as she wondered, How does he make everything sound so sexy? She wanted to leave her seat to straddle Pacey right there, but forced herself to rein in her fantasy. Instead she again grabbed his collar, this time pulling him toward
her. "Thank you, Pacey," she whispered as she closed her eyes and kissed him. She felt a surge of energy pulse through her as she deepened the kiss. A low growl escaped Pacey causing her breathing to quicken. His right hand moved to her face as he
continued kissing her. Joey placed her hand over his feeling the warmth of his skin. "Pick you up at 5:00?" Joey said when they finally pulled apart.
"That sounds great, Jo," he responded with his eyes still closed savoring the memory of their most recent kiss.
"All right, see you later, Toots." Pacey opened his eyes to see Joey beaming at him playfully. He reluctantly moved away from her.
He exited the truck before turning back to her, "You sure you can get this thing home by yourself?"
"Of course! I had a pretty decent teacher." Pacey reddened under her compliment. "And if not, I know a deputy who will help me out," she said easily.
"Godspeed, Jo," Pacey offered as he closed the truck door. He watched her pull away from the curb, and cringed when he heard her grind the gears.