MORNING – HOSPITAL ROOM
Pacey was still sitting on the bed when the door opened and Dawson stepped in.
"Hi", Dawson said first.
"Hi", Pacey replied quite demoralized.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"Good…"
Then, they started speaking simultaneously:
"Look Pacey-/Listen Dawson-
They both stopped, hinting at a smile.
"You first", Dawson finally said.
"All right…I don't have very clear memories about yesterday, so I don't remember everything I said to you, but I wanted to be sure that there was also this…thanks for what you did, Dawson, and with that, I don't mean only being able to help me get to the hospital in time, but also to try to distract me from the pain and encourage me to hold on. I'm glad that, among all the people that could have been there in that moment, you were there."
"Well, I can't say I was equally glad to be there and have to handle that situation, but…you're welcome. I just did what you would have done for me."
"Mhm…I'm not so sure."
"I am. 100%."
"Well, maybe I would've tried calling for help, but I doubt that in the end, I would've got the same positive outcome."
"Instead, I think that when it comes to what really matters, you can be very good at helping others and reach your goals."
"Wow, I must be still under the effect of anesthesia if I heard a compliment from the person that until 24 hours ago didn't miss the chance to glare at me and considered me a good-for-nothing..."
"Pace, about that...If in this last period I told you a lot of terrible stuff, it didn't mean that I thought all of them...sometimes it was just my anger talking."
"It's ok, I deserved it...even if some of them were really awful."
"I know...- Dawson darkened for a bit – Now I think you may want to rest, so..."
"Ok. Thanks for visiting, Dawson."
Dawson nodded, then he took a couple of steps towards the door, but before opening it, he stopped and turned around again.
"I know that I'm gonna regret this – he started explaining, very torn – but...you don't have to do it because of me, ok?"
Pacey looked at him baffled. "What?"
Dawson stared at him, very serious, without saying anything else.
Pacey sighed. "You have spoken with Joey...right."
"Joey didn't tell me anything – Dawson cut him off - There was no need. I know how I would feel if I was in your place now. Plus, seeing her getting out of this room crying didn't leave many different interpretations."
"Yeah..."
"What I'm trying to say, what I want to make clear to you is that...I don't want you to feel in debt or be conditioned by what happened yesterday. I didn't do what I did to have something in return."
"I know that, Dawson. But, you know, yesterday, after a long time, something happened, something that I no longer hoped it could happen again. While we were talking on the radio, it was like time went back to the beginning of this year, when we were still best friends and there weren't these problems, there weren't secrets or lies and, more important, I still haven't let you down. That was the right way and, now that I've remembered how good it was and how much I miss it, I can't afford to ruin it all over again."
"You won't. I, too, have realized a couple of things from what happened yesterday. I understood that you can't be angry forever with someone you care about because, no matter how strong the reasons that pushed you to despise him may seem at the moment, they will always be insignificant compared to what life can put you through that could take him away from you and, at that point, you can only feel stupid for wasting all that time hating each other. Plus, I understood that I can no longer live in dreamland, but you get to a point where you have to face reality and take a step back. Believe me, Pacey, if I saw even a small chance between me and Joey, I'd take it right away, but she's so into you, and with each day passing, I feel more and more guilty for trying to get in your way. I don't want to be the person that will make you two unhappy."
"You don't have to think that, Dawson..."
"But unfortunately that's the truth and we both know it. So, I want you to take your time to make up your mind about what to do and, whatever you and Joey decide, it'll have to depend only on what you two really want and not on what's best for me, ok?"
Pacey stared at him, struggling with what to answer.
"Pacey, did you understand?", Dawson insisted.
"Yeah, I get it."
"Good."
"Thanks, Dawson. This means a lot to me."
Dawson nodded and smiled.
"Who would have said that all of this would come out of a simple biology assignment", Pacey concluded, smiling back.
"About that...we still have to finish it."
"If you're planning to come back to that wood, don't count on me. I'm done with nature hikes."
"No, no, don't worry, I don't wanna come back to a place with wild animals anytime soon –
Dawson agreed, laughing – And that's why I was thinking of another way to do our homework."
"What's that?"
"A documentary on pit vipers and their defense system with a key testimony from a survivor to their bite."
"Are you kidding me? You really wanna exploit my drama for a documentary like Real TV show using me as the victim?"
Dawson smiled. "I was thinking of something with a more scientific approach but that could work too."
Pacey shook his head, laughing. "Have I ever told you that in Hollywood they're gonna fight for you as a director?"
"Mhm...I guess so, but it's always good to hear it again."
"Yeah, but if you'll ever get nominated for an Academy Award, remember that I want an invitation to the Oscar ceremony."
Dawson laughed.
"...And also a special mention in your acceptance speech in case you won."
"We'll see, Pacey, we'll see..."
THE END