"We're all in the Gutter, but some of us look up at the stars"
18 yr old Pacey Witter was being dropped off by his friends, after their Friday night football game. He walks tall and proud towards his huge white mansion…extremely happy with his performance as quarterback, which led him to being the hero of tonight's football game.
But as soon as he enters his house, his whole demeanor changes. If only these walls could talk, the secrets within this house makes the atmosphere unbearable. He feels his world crashing as he walks in with his head down, closing the front door as quietly as he can. Not really wanting to make any contact with his father or stepmother, Elaine, who is a beautiful woman in her early 30s.
He walks into the living room and shrugs off his letterman jacket, finally looking up and noticing that both his father and stepmother are rising off the couch. He looks at the desperation in the faces and the wonders what is going on, but finally his eyes follow theirs to the corner of the room where they have pack three of his duffle bags. He then looks back up at them and sees, Mr. Claypool, a big muscular man, almost bouncer like, walking in from the kitchen.
He quickly turns and tries to run towards the front door, but Mr. Claypool tackles him down and ties his hands together behind his back. He then pulls Pacey up off the floor and makes him walk towards the front door, all without ever saying a word.
His father looks at Elaine, questioning his decision to do this, but knowing it was exactly what Pacey needed and grabs the bags to meet them outside.
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The car ride to Mount Horizon High school was mostly silent, but unable to bear the tension, Pacey's father finally spoke up.
"Do you think I want to do this?" He asks. "You think I rather not keep you at home with me an Elaine? What kind of choice is this, huh? What kind of choice," with a weighted sigh he continues speaking "Look Pacey, Mount Horizon is a great school" He says finally looking back at Pacey in the rear view. "It's got a great reputation, give it half a chance and you might even enjoy it."
"Yea right" Pacey says. "You got rid of mom, now you're getting rid of me." His voice full of bitterness as he shakes his head in disagreement. "Yea right, tell me all about it dad."
"Why do you say things like that?! You know that's not true. I want you home, I, I"
Pacey looks up at the rear view mirror and see's Elaine staring at him through her sunglasses. "What are you staring at skank" he says casually, is if it's not an insult.
"Aright, that's enough!" Mr. Witter proclaims. "Cut it out."
"I gotta pee" Pacey says in an excuse to just get out of the car and get away from her. He can't bare it any longer.
They pull over at an old gas station, and Mr. Claypool, Mr. Witter and Pacey get out of the car and walk towards the bathroom as Elaine waits in the car.
"Why do you have to be so mean to Elaine?"
"Poor stepmom, are her feelings hurt?" Pacey asks, full of sarcasm.
They finally reach the bathroom door and stop right in front of it. "Yes deeply, Elaine is my wife and you could show her a little respect" he says softly to Pacey, who in turn, just looks the other way. "My god, I don't get it Pacey, I just don't. She could be a real friend if you just gave her a chance." Pacey just turns around and tries to go into the bathroom when he notices that Mr. Claypool steps forward to go inside with him.
Pacey looks at him with an attitude "Hey, do you mind?"
"Do you have to go or not?" Mr. Claypool asks.
"It's a restroom" Mr. Witter says, his hand motioning towards the door. "Let the boy have some privacy."
"Not a good idea Mr. Witter" he says and looks back at Pacey, "Yes or no? I'm not standing here all day."
"I'm sure it'll be fine Mr. Claypool, just let him go by himself." Mr. Witter says and takes a few steps away from them, along with a big sigh, not wanting to make this harder than it already is. Pacey smirks at Mr. Claypool and brings his tied hands up in front of his chest so that he can cut the zip tie he placed on him earlier. Mr. Claypool pulls out a small knife and cuts the tie and Pacey walks into the bathroom.
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Inside the bathroom Pacey's breathing starts to become rapid, and his heart starts beating rapidly in his chest. He pounds his fist into the wall hating that she had so much power over him. He walks over to the corner of the bathroom and slides to the floor, trying not to cry as he feels the emotions making his body tremble. He see's a roll of toilet paper and throws it across the room and after a few moments he gets up walks over to the sink and splashes some water on his face.
When he looks up he notices a window above the toilet and decides to jump out to his escape.
Needless to say, that didn't work as Mr. Claypool quickly caught him and grabs him by the arm and pulls him back to the car.
Mr. Witter stands against his car holding Elaine when he sees Mr. Claypool drag Pacey towards them by his arm. He just looks down and shakes his head, he doesn't know what got into Pacey and what made him start using drugs. Pacey reluctantly gets back in the car and they continue their drive towards Horizon High School for troubled teens.
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They finally arrive at the school and they all get out of the car waiting for Peter, the School Director, to walk over to them.
Mr. Claypool is the first to speak up. "He'll have his bags searched and put into his dorm, he's also scheduled for a pre admission physical, so you wont be seeing him for a while."
Peter finally walks out of the main lodge and over to them. "Mr. Witter, I'm Peter Scarborrow." They shake hands. "Welcome to Mount Horizon." He looks over to Pacey.
"Pacey, I'm Peter, how are you doing?" He asks, but Pacey's staring off to the distance and doesn't bother to answer.
His father, steals a glance and Pacey and turns back to Peter. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Scarborrow." Mr. Witter says "Oh Peter's fine, we're pretty informal around here. And you are?" He asks, looking over at the young woman standing with them.
"Oh I'm sorry, this is my wife Elaine." He says as Elaine sticks her hand out to shake Peter's.
Pacey finally speaks up, "His Scottish trophy." He says, with some bitterness in his voice .
"Pacey I know this seems hard right," His father starts
"Stay away from me okay" Pacey replies, his voice starting to break.
"Pacey just listen to me! Look I know your really confused now, but believe me, this is going to be for the best" His dad tells him.
"Go to hell dad!" Pacey replies and Peter finally jumps in. "Well this looks like a good time for everyone to go to their corners, take a breather." But Pacey doesn't stop there. "I hate you for this…Just get out of her and take that skank with you."
He says and walks away from them, not being able to bare it any longer.
Mr. Claypool follows Pacey into the lodge leaving Peter outside with his parents.
Mr Witter breaks the ice. "I don't know what to think anymore…I really don't."
"He'll be fine here." Elaine says, trying to comfort him. "He'll be okay." She reassures.
"Look, I know this is a small comfort, but Pacey's reaction is pretty typical to most kids brought here to Horizon. Eventually they all come around." Peter says.
"This just happened to fast. Six to eight months ago, I just I don't get it. Drugs, truancy, he about got kicked off the football team and football was Pacey's life. He was becoming one of the best wide receivers in the state. He's already being scouted by some of the best schools in the country." Mr Witter explains.
"Does Pacey's change in behavior coincide with your divorce?" Peter asks.
"No, noo, he's got a good relationship with his mother. Even when she remarried and moved out of state."
"Any trauma's any changes in your lives recently?" Peter asks.
Elaine finally takes off her sunglasses at an attempt to appear sweet and innocent. "Me, I guess. We got married last year, guess that makes me a pretty major change in Pacey's life."
"No, everything's fine, you two get along fine" Mr Witter says in her defense. "It's the drugs right?" He asks Peter. "It has to be the drugs." He answers himself.
Peter just stays silent and looks down at the ground.
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Meanwhile out on the river, the cliffhangers, (the name of the group of kids Pacey will be placed with) are out canoeing and working their way towards land to start the hike back home. But they're having fun while they can, splashing each other with their paddles.
"Okay you guys, lets get these canoes out of the water." Hannah, their teacher, says as they start landing on the shore. "Does it hurt a lot?" Dawson asks Jeff. Jeff is their other teacher. "Nah, just a bee sting." He tells Dawson. "But it's a good wilderness lesson for all of you." He speaks up loud enough so they all can hear him. "You never swat at bees, if you don't move, They leave you alone. "
"Except for killer bees, if you don't move they each you alive!" Dawson throws in. "Seriously, I've seen it in the movies." Dawson says, earning an eye roll from Joey.
"So what did you think Dawson? First river trip, pretty exciting huh?" Jeff asks.
"Ahh it's alright, it's alright, except it's my second time. " He replies
"Please the closest you've ever been to a river is when the sewer backs up in your creek." Joey teases.
"One of my stepfathers use to take us all river rafting in California every summer." Andie chimes in. "I think it was the snake." She finishes.
"You call him snake?" Jack asks.
"The river Jackers, the Snake river. " Joey says with sarcasm.
"It's Jack, the name's Jack."
"Yeah whatever." Joey replies not really caring that he hates it when she calls him Jackers.
"Okay guys; let's move we're already two hours behind." Hannah says.
The girls start to put their shirts or jackets on over the bikini tops, but Joey decides to leave hers off. "Joey, you know the dress code." Hannah says. "I'm hot." She replies quickly and forcefully. "You could say that again." Dawson says as he walks past them with a chuckle. "Shirt please." Hannah begs her. "Why can't I just be comfortable?" "She should be" Jack chimes in. "We should put this to a vote." He says. "Jack, you wouldn't be confusing this with a democracy would you? Now Joey. Unless of course you prefer to be comfortable with a week on shuns…." Joey doesn't say anything but reluctantly put's her jacket on. "Thank you." Hannah says, but Joey just starts walking away, not even throwing a glance her way.
They are all now working their way through the forest back to the school. All tired from carrying their hiking backpacks.
"God I've never been soooo tired in my life." Andie complains. "How much further?"
"It's not too far, another four miles or so. Hang in there, you're doing great." Hannah encourages her as she walks up next. "Hey did you ever think you could come this far with a full backpack on your back? Look at what you accomplished in the last ten days. You should be really proud of yourself."
"I am, but all I can think about is taking an endless shower and yes even real toilet paper." Andie says
"You know I was kind of getting use to using those oak leaves. Now it wouldn't have been my first choice but uh, they have that kind of unique feel didn't you think?" Jack says.
"I don't know what you have Jackers but I bet it hard to pronounce." Joey says.
"Why do you always have to be so mean to him?" Andie asks.
"Ummm she wasn't being mean to me she was just…"
"Hey I didn't ask you to stick up for me so just butt out."
Joey tells Jack.
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Meanwhile back at Horizon Peter has Pacey sitting alone in a room that somewhat resembles a prison interrogation room. He's sitting at the table taking his shoes off when Peter walks in and puts on some latex gloves to search his bags. "Anything you want to say to your dad or stepmom before they leave?" He asks as Pacey puts his shoes on the table for Peter to inspect. "I know your scared Pacey, that's normal. New place, new situation." Pacey doesn't say anything but still has an angry look on his face. Peter notices his discomfort. "Did you use today?" Pacey looks down at the table "Come on, yes or no. Did you use today? Your old man just thinks its pot, but you and I both know that you don't get almost kicked off the football team for smoking a little bud." He reaches into Pacey's shoe and finds a tiny zip lock bag filled with some white powder. "Glass?" he asks and he looks up at Pacey and holds the bag between his fingers. "What else do you do." He says, not really as a question to Pacey but more to himself. He pulls out the sole of the shoe and finds another bag hidden underneath. "Acid too."
"So what now?" Pacey finally speaks up. "You gonna nark me?"
"No! I'm gonna help you Pacey. If you let me." Peter says and puts both bags away in a bag that he brought to put away confiscated items.
"How'd you know about the acid?" Pacey wonders.
"Lets just say drugs and I aren't exactly strangers." He takes Pacey's bag and now puts it on the floor so that that he can take a seat across from Pacey. "The rules are pretty simple, there's no drugs, there's no sex, there's no inappropriate touching and there's no violence." He says counting the rules on his fingers. "The key to Horizon is that it's safe place. It's a sanctuary. It's a place were you can go to take a break from all that crap that's going on outside in the world and learn to feel what you really feel." Peter takes off his latex gloves. "Anything that you say to me or tell me or one of the other consoler's stays between us unless you give me permission to say to others. The only exception is if I suspect violence towards others or self destructive behavior and then I'm bound by law to notify outside authorities. Any questions?"
Pacey just shakes his head once and shrugs his shoulders. "I'm going to assign you to our cliffhangers group. They're out on a quest right now but they should be back by the time you're processed in." Peter places his elbows on his knees and leans forward. "Your consoler's name is Hannah Barnes"
"Chick huh?" Pacey leans forward as well as if this little piece of knowledge has suddenly peaked his interest.
"You okay with women?"
"Do I look gay?"
"I don't know. What does gay look like? We've got an all boys group if you prefer."
Pacey puts his hand up to motion that that won't be necessary. "Nah its cool, Hannah whatever."
"Alright get undressed, I've got to search the rest of your clothes, then the doctor is going to come in and search your body, give you the rest of the physical, then I'll take you to your dorm and show you around." He gets up and starts to walk toward the door. "Alright?" He says, looking back at Pacey but he remains silent. "Pacey, if you ever want to talk, for any reason, any time, I'm always available man." He only receives a blank stare from Pacey, so he frowns and exits the room. As soon as he leaves Pacey puts his head in his hands and starts having flashbacks of the secret he is hiding.
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Back in the woods Joey is leaning over a huge fallen tree picking small mushrooms off the ground while the rest of the group a few feet away. She grabs about 3 that she wants Jack to check out for her while the rest of the group are attending to Jeff who apparently had tripped and sprained his ankle. Joey walks back over to her group just as Hannah finishes wrapping his ankle.
"Alright Jeff, we're going to have to get you up. Can you stand on your other leg?"
"I think so."
Dawson and Jack walk over to him to each grab one of his arms to help him up. "Okay nice and slow guys." Hannah instructs them. "Okay 1, 2, and 3" Jack starts counting and as soon as they get him up he yelps in pain. "Easy Easy." Andie tells them. "Okay put him down." Hannah says. "We're gonna have to carry him." She concludes. "Carry him!? For four miles." Andie proclaims.
"For once queenie's right. Just leave him here, we'll head back and have the staff come get him." Joey says.
"Is that what you would want Joey? If you had a broken leg?" Joey just rolls her eyes.
"Hey! We can go get a canoe and then we'll carry him in it." Jack suggests.
"For four miles? I don't think so Jackers." Joey counteracts.
"You know you're adolescent name calling is getting really old real fast."
"Hey!" Dawson snaps it fingers. "We could make one of those hammock things. You know we could get a sleeping bag and stick a couple of the sticks through it."
"What are you talking about?" Andie asks.
"A sling" Hannah answers and she has them put their backpacks together to create a makeshift sling.
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Back at Horizon Peter is finally giving Pacey a tour of the grounds. "Things here are real simple. We share all the work, chopping firewood, kitchen duties, keeping common areas clean. Everyone, staff included. We never ask you to do anything we wouldn't do ourselves. You're expected to keep your dorm clean along with your roommates, do your own laundry, keep up with your school work and participate in groups."
"And if I don't?" Pacey says as he stops walking cause Peter to stop as well and they turn towards each other so that they're now face to face.
"Don't worry; the guys won't be shy in telling you about it."
"I don't belong here."
"Pacey you're here because your life spun out of control. All we want to do is help you take control of it again, that's it."
A few yards away some kids are tossing a football, one of the kids' yells "heads up" as the ball come right towards them. Pacey doesn't even move and he catches the ball with one hand. Pacey's momentarily reliving his glory football moments that he doesn't hear what Peter says to him.
"What did you say?" He asks in a low husky voice.
"I said that you must have had a good reason for wanting to give up football."
"I didn't give it up they wanted to throw me off."
"No Pacey, you made a choice." He says and starts them walking again as Pacey tosses the ball back. "You chose to use rather than focus on playing ball. Almost getting throw off the team was just a consequence of that choice." They have finally reached the dorms and are going up the stairs into cabin. "Why do you think you made that choice?"
"Why did you?"
Peter looks down then looks back up at him. "Fair question. At the time I'd have to say work pressure. Problems with my wife, problems with my father." Pacey gives him a somewhat apologetic look. "Bottom line is I made a stupid choice. Thought I was taking the easy way out and I wasn't. What about you Pacey?"
"I just like getting high" He says with a smirk on his face.
They walk inside the cabin, which is set up like a summer camp. Each student has a twin bed to their own. "We have you set up on bunk number five. Right here in the middle"
"I like what you've done with the place." Pacey says
Peter scoffs
"What no bars on the windows?"
"Horizon's a school Pacey, it's not a jail, no fences, no gate, there's no where to run."
Pacey sits down on his bed.
"Just so that you understand, you're 25 miles from the closets town, to get there, especially at night, you got to make your way through a forest you've never seen before in the dark. Fighting off carnivores the size of mini vans, so if you're even thinking about it don't bother, tell me, I'll call you a cab." He sighs and squats down so that he's at eyelevel with Pacey who is still sitting on his bed. "Just keep in mind, your dad chose Horizon over juvy hall or that lock down school up the road. Those are your other alternatives if you chose not to make it work here. It's up to you." He says and walks out of the dorm.
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Back in the forest the group is now carrying Jeff and the sling that the made and they're walking towards an old bridge that they see going from the side that they are on to the land directly across, which is parted by the river below. "I'm serious, she' got a juvenile way of showing it, but I think she really has a thing for me." Jack tells Dawson, earning a scoff from him.
"Joey?! Come on get serious man. She's just messing with you. She messes with everybody."
"No it's just an act you just got to get past the smoke screen."
"Seriously Jack, the only thing that girl has behind her smoke screen… is more smoke."
Further up Joey is walking with Andie and Hannah. "This sucks! How much further do we have to go?" Joey asks.
"Not to much further, we're almost there."
"Wherever there is." Andie says "I don't think I can make it that far."
"Awww then maybe mommie should send a limo for you princess."
"Shut up Joey."
"You shut up."
"Hey!" Hannah intervenes. "You two got a problem with each other we'll work it out in group….Okay guys listen up." She speaks up. "We're gonna take a ten min break here then it's a nice crawl to the finish." Some of the kids start sitting down. "You're all doing great. I'm really proud of you." She says and pulls the map from her back pocket.
"But it's right across the bridge?" Jack points out. "You can practically see the campus through those trees there. I say we keep going."
"Yea lets just do it, get it over with." Joey motions with her hands as she speaks.
"Let's rest." Hannah replies. "We still got to go another half mile upstream so we can cross the river."
"You're kidding right! It's right across the bridge!?" Joey says.
"This bridge is condemned Joey. It's not safe. They just haven't torn it out yet. No, we stick to the trail. Help yourselves out guys, take a rest." Hannah says and walks away from them to go check on Jeff.
"This really sucks, if it's sooo dangerous why don't they tear it down." Joey says.
"Hannah doesn't want us to use it because she wants us to get the full outdoor quest experience. There's nothing wrong with it. I bet it's perfectly safe." Jack says.
"I'm not going to be the one that finds out"
"You a wuss?" Jack asks.
Joey scuffs "Right and your not?"
Jack stands up and points to himself. "Me?! You're kidding right?" He walks over to the bridge
"Jack don't be a complete moron." Andie says standing up as he walks past.
"Please, he's not smart enough to be a complete moron." Joey says.
"Jack get off the bridge." Andie pleads.
"See?" He says standing on the first wooden plank "completely safe. Come on." He continues walking towards the middle. "Jack" Hannah calls out to him "What are you doing? Get back here."
"Why?" He yells back. "It's safe."
Dawson just rolls his eyes at him. "I told you, you were just scamming us. Come on Hannah, let 'scross here."
"Stop fooling around and get back here, now." She tries to order him.
"Come on Jack, don't be stupid, get off it." Dawson tells him.
"You know you're all just a big bunch of wusses."
"Jack" Hannah says a little more firm this time. "Do as I tell you, now."
He stops and leans on the rail. "Come guys let….ahhhhhhhh" He yells as the rail gives out and sends him falling down into the river below.
"Jack!" Andie yells after him.
"Dawson get down to the river by the bend! Keep him spotted" Hannah yells "The rest of you stay back"
Dawson takes off running and another cliffhanger, Kathryn, runs after him. Jack was lucky enough to grab hold of a huge rock that the current pushed him on top and he waits there trying to hang on as Hannah Dawson and Kathryn reach him and pull him out of the water.
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They are finally back it back to Horizon, all dirty, cold and exhausted. Joey and Andie are walking next to each other when they both see Pacey walking with Mr. Claypool.
"That looks interesting. Wonder who he is." Joey says.
"I'll let you know." Andie replies
"Yea right .In the next life maybe" Joey tells her.
"We'll see, it's always class over crass honey." Andie says. And they both sit down on top of one of the picnic tables outside.
"Boy this sure is something to right home about." Andie says as she looks up at the clouds.
"Yea, if you have a home to write home to." Joey says and hops off the table and walks away leaving Andie alone who just sighs at Joey's response.
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The cliffhangers go inside to get dinner from the cafeteria when Joey and Andie both notice that Pacey has already gotten his food tray and has walked over to an empty table to sit down. Mr. Claypool is at a table with staff keeping a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't try to sneak out. Joey and Andie are both trying to hurry through the line skipping other students so they beat everyone else and sit down next to Pacey. Andie is the first to get her tray; she turns around facing the tables and pauses for a moment to throw on her best fake smile. But just as she was waiting Joey comes up from behind her and purposely knocks her elbow into Andie, causing her to drop her food tray.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there..." Joey says and continues to walk over to Pacey's table and takes a seat next to him. "Mind if I sit here?" she asks, he doesn't really look at her and just shrugs his shoulders letting her know that he doesn't really care either way. "Guess you're new here huh?"
"What do you think?" he replies, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hey chill! How am I supposed to know, I've been out busting my hump in the woods for the past 10 days on another one of their stupid quests. For all I know you could have came in last week." she says giving him back the same attitude he gave her.
His face finally softens "This morning."
"They assign you a group yet?"
"Cliffhangers, cute huh?"
"Cool that's my group." She says giving him a smile. "Hannah's not soo bad, I mean, she's a lot cooler than some of the others...So what did they bust you for?" Pacey just looks her in the eyes and quickly looks back down at his plate of food. "Did they uh,...find your stash?" She whispers. Pacey looks at her with a small amount of shock in his eyes. "What I'm not gonna nark you." She reassures him. "We all try."
"Yea they got it. So does anyone around here got any thing to smoke?"
"Nah, they catch you smoking anything and they kick your butt right out of here."
"What's so bad about that?" Joey just gives him a stiff laugh.
"I umm, I found some shrooms in the woods. This guy Jack knows how to try em. You up for it?"
"Yea sure if I'm around. Later huh?" He says and quickly gets up and leaves with Mr. Claypool hot on his tail.
Pacey walks outside the cafeteria and starts to slow down as he senses that he's being following.
"How long are you gonna be on my tail?" He asks, not even bothering to turn around.
"As long as it takes." Mr. Claypool replies and Pacey finally turns around.
"I got one nerve left dude, and you're really working it."
"I hear ya, it's just until you settle in. Look, we've all been where you're at, all of us. Try to chill, take the pressure off yourself. It's easy here, just let it happen, they're good, they can help you."
"Yea."
"Yea." Mr. Claypool tries to reassures him
"You know how you took me down at my house? You use to play some ball? Or something?" Mr. Claypool shrugs smoothly but he doesn't come off as being cocky. "A little. Some college ball"
"College. I'm impressed. Well defensive end? What?"
"Nickleback"
"Nah, I use to kill you guys." Pacey says smiling.
"Not when you're using."
"In my sleep I could. Straight, high, it didn't matter."
"Yea?"
"Yea!" You guys couldn't touch me."
"Is that a fact." Mr. Claypool says, more as a statement then a question.
"Serious."
"Come on." Mr. Claypool says and he starts to back up and get down in a football ready position.
"Are you kidding me?" Pacey says, not believing that Mr. Claypool is challenging him. Mr. Claypool stands back upright "Hey, if you wanna talk the talk."
"I wouldn't want to embarrass you."
"Let's go." Mr. Claypool says again.
"Alright" Pacey finally gives in and the both get down in football positions a few feet apart and facing each other. "Go" Mr. Claypool says and Pacey charges right at him only to be knocked down effortlessly. He extends a hand down to Pacey to help him get up, but he doesn't accept it.
"Not bad," Pacey says huffing "I couldn't get my footing. Wanna make it the best 2 out of 3?"
"I've got all day" he replies. "Ready?" He asks Pacey as they both get down in football position again. "Go" Mr. Claypool says again but this time Pacey sikes him out and he gets around him. But instead of stopping he keeps running and takes off into the woods with Mr. Claypool Yelling behind him. "Pacey wait! Stop! Wait, there's nowhere to run too!"
But Pacey doesn't hear anything, he's zoned out only wanting to focus on getting away. He's running and running but he finds that his emotions are slowing him down. He eventually comes to a slow stop and sits down on the ground and runs his hands through his hair. He gets back up and continues working his way through the woods but only walking this time. He no longer hears Mr. Claypool behind him so he doesn't feel the need to run anymore. He eventually makes it out of the woods and onto a road in town only to be caught by Peter, who was on his motorcycle looking for him. Pacey tries to get away but Peter quicky gets off his bike and runs over to him.
"Let me talk." Peter says.
Pacey starts to get teary eyed and his voice starts breaking. "I don't wanna talk."
"Listen to me" Peter says softly, trying to earn trust from him. "I'm not leaving without you and you can't stay out here, so talk to me."
"Talk about what!?" He says crying now. "There's nothing to talk about! I'm not going anywhere with anyone. I, I just want to be left alone." He says calmer now since he was yelling before.
"I know, but that's not going to happen. So come on, give me a chance, maybe I can help you."
"I, uh I" Pacey stutters.
"Talk to me."
"I can't go home, don't send me home." He starts crying again.
"What happened at home Pacey?"
"Nothing just leave me alone. "
"If you tell me what it is maybe I can show you a way out."
"Go away. It's too late"
"No! It's never too late. Let it out, it'll stop the pain, come on. You want the pain to stop."
"You don't know. Nobody knows. If my dad finds out."
"If your dad finds out what."
"You gotta believe me it wasn't my fault."
Peter walks over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I believe you, I do! You're safe with me Pacey."
"I don't wanna go home."
"I'm not gonna send you home, your safe with me." Peter says and Pacey finally agrees to go back with him to Horizon.