CHAPTER 4
HOSPITAL
Pacey and his mother were sitting in the ER waiting room.
Doug approached them and started to update them.
"Okay, I spoke to the doctor. He said that it wasn't a heart attack, it was just a symptomatic arrhythmia, probably caused by strong stress - Saying this last word, Doug glared at Pacey, implying his responsibility for what had happened - They will keep it here for the night, but he should be able to go home tomorrow."
"Oh, thank God! - their mother exclaimed, relieved - Can we see him?"
"Yes, but he advised me to keep him calm since it's not completely stable yet. So, Pacey, maybe since talking with you already indisposed him, you'd better wait outside for now", Doug remarked in a very unpleasant way.
Pacey sneered at him, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Don't worry, I'll go cause heart attacks somewhere else - he added with sarcasm - I'm gonna take a walk."
Then, he stood up and left the room. Once outside the hospital, he took a deep breath of fresh air and then decided to make a call.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Dawson."
"Hey, Pace, we were waiting for you! Everything okay?"
"Sorry I didn't call you before, but it's been a crazy night."
"What happened?", Dawson asked more worried.
"My father got hospitalized. I'm getting out of the clinic now."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I hope nothing serious."
"No, it was just a momentary condition, they're probably gonna dismiss him tomorrow."
"Okay, good to hear it resolved quickly."
"Yeah...Listen, I don't think I'm gonna make it tonight, I'm a little tired, I think I'm gonna head home."
"Sure, don't worry about it. We'll meet another time. The important thing is that your father feels better now."
"Yeah..."
"Good night, Pace."
"Good night, Dawson."
HARBOR - EVENING
Joey was driving her car, returning home from Dawson's house when, passing by the harbor, she noted a familiar face sitting alone on a bench near the sea.
She decided to park her car and go closer.
Pacey was staring at the dark water, dejected.
"Hey", she tried to catch his attention.
Pacey immediately turned around, surprised to see her.
"Hey."
Joey stopped next to the bench.
"May I?", she politely asked.
Pacey smiled.
"Sure."
Joey sat next to him.
"So, what are you doing here alone at night?", she continued.
"Staring at the only thing that helps me to calm down. But tonight I'm asking way too much to the magical relieving power of water."
Joey looked at him preoccupied.
"Are you still worried about your father? Dawson told me he went to the hospital tonight."
"Or better, I made him go to the hospital tonight if we wanna be more precise..."
"What do you mean?", she asked, confused.
"Apparently I made him so mad that his heart couldn't take it..."
"Oh, come on, Pace, even if there was a time when you could metaphorically take my breath away, I'm pretty sure you still don't have the superpower to close some arteries and block someone's blood flow."
Pacey smiled at her.
"So I could take your breath away, Potter?", he repeated with a hint of satisfaction.
"Long long time ago, Top Gun", she said with a playful smirk.
Pacey chuckled.
"I made you smile, mission accomplished", she concluded, complacent.
Then, seeing that he was not talking, she pressed him:
"So, are you gonna tell me or not?"
"What?"
"What you did that made your father so mad."
Pacey's face turned gloomy again.
"Jo, I screwed up really bad this time, I don't know if you're ready to listen to this."
"Try me."
"Okay...- Pacey exhaled, trying to find the courage to continue - Last week my boss shared with me reserved information to make me close a huge deal and earn a lot of money. I don't know what I was thinking, I was so stupid, I knew that wasn't right, but he made it look like it didn't matter where he got that information and if we didn't use it, we would have lost everything, so... I made that deal."
Joey kept on listening, getting more worried as he was speaking.
"At first, everything was fine, we made so much money that I couldn't believe it, but then these men from this government agency came to me and told me we were accused of insider trading...Jo, I could really go to prison for a long time."
Joey stared at him, petrified.
"In prison? - she barely managed to repeat - But it was your boss who shared the private info and ordered you to close the deal...that's gotta count for something."
"But I'm the one who sold those stocks and made the money...We'll both be accountable for this."
"I'm sorry, Pace...if there's anything I can do..."
"I don't think so...but thanks - Pacey glanced at her and smiled - Anyway, this is just a part of the problem because all the earnings made through that deal got seized too and I had invested in it all my money and all Dawson's money."
"You mean the money Dawson is supposed to use for the movie?"
"Yeah...Everything's gone", Pacey concluded, demoralized.
"Have you told him yet?"
Pacey paused for a moment, struggling to answer.
"No. Not yet", he finally admitted, feeling ashamed of himself.
"Pace..."
"I tried, believe me, but on the phone it was too difficult. This is really gonna destroy our friendship. I hoped to manage tonight, but then you know everything that happened..."
"You have to tell him, Pacey, you have to tell him as soon as possible. He's making a lot of orders and expenses that he will not be able to cover and the more you wait the worse is gonna get."
"I know...I will talk to him first thing tomorrow morning...if they don't arrest me before..."
Pacey smirked, trying for a moment to release the tension. Then, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while holding his head in his hands and sighed.
"I'm so messed up, Jo, I don't think I've ever been so low in my life. And I'm the master of bottom places."
Joey softly put her hand on his back to console him.
"You'll get up again, just like you always do - she said with confidence - I've always believed in you, Pace, and I'm not gonna stop now."
Pacey, amazed, turned to her. They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds.
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, Joey, quickly removed her hand from his back.
"It's really late - she stated frantically - I need to go."
"Yeah. I think I have a place to visit too."
Joey got up and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"See you, Pace."
"Good night, Joey."
Then, she disappeared in the night.