CHAPTER 9
PRISON CAFETERIA
Pacey was standing in line with a tray in his hands, waiting for his turn to get some boiled vegetables. While food was served to him, a young inmate behind him pushed the person in front of him, making his water bottle fall over.
By instinct, the other inmate turned around and glared at him.
"What you're looking at?!", was the quick and aggressive response of the young man.
Not looking for trouble, the older man ignored him and took a step forward in the line. Pacey briefly glanced at them, then walked ahead and took an apple, knowing that minding your own business is the first rule to follow in prison.
The young man continued provoking the other. He pushed him harder, making him stumble, and started laughing.
"Hey!", the other inmate yelled at him.
"What? Do you have a problem with me, fag?!"
The man shook his head and turned around again. At that point, the bully got closer to him and squeezed his butt, laughing again.
"Back off!", the man finally yelled, angry.
"Oh come on, don't say that you don't like it."
"Fuck you, asshole", the older inmate said under his breath.
The young inmate looked at him in a very menacing way.
"What did you say to me? Try to say it again."
The older man stared at him, not sure he had the guts to repeat it.
Pacey sighed and then felt the urge to intervene.
"He said fuck you, asshole. Are you deaf or your brain is too small to make you understand three basic English words?"
The young man stepped out of the line and approached Pacey, furious.
"Who the fuck are you! You'd better stay out of this!"
Pacey showed him his best carefree smile.
"You know, I just can't stand little bullies who think have the right to do whatever they want at the expense of others, when they're just extremely frustrated people who can feel important only degrading others to their level, not having a single exploitable quality or talent of their own."
The bully stared at him baffled for a moment and then noticed a guard walking not far from them.
"You're dead, man", he whispered to Pacey.
Pacey pretended to ignore him and turn around, but instead, he quickly threw his tray at him and hit him. The other man immediately punched him back, beating him in the face. In no time, other inmates joined them and a big fight broke out until the correctional officers ran there to stop it.
PRISON
Pacey was sitting on the bed in his cell, reading a book, when a correctional officer started opening the door.
"Witter, you've got a visitor."
Pacey put down the book and reached the door, surprised.
Then, he followed the guard to the visitor's room. As he entered the room, he glanced at the tables and his enthusiasm quickly died down.
At one table, his father was waiting for him.
Pacey walked there and sat, barely looking at him.
"Hi Pacey", the father said, perceiving his discomfort.
Pacey slowly raised his eyes at him.
"Hi, Dad."
"What's that?", the father asked, noticing his black eye.
"I got into a fight...", Pacey answered evasively.
"Of course you did."
Pacey glared at him.
"Excuse me?"
The father shook his head.
"You just can't stay out of trouble."
"You know nothing about this! But of course, you assumed it's my fault."
Pacey's father sighed.
"Look, I didn't come here to argue with you, okay?"
"Then maybe you should have stayed home."
Pacey turned around, ready to stand up and leave.
"I'm sorry I hit you the other night", the father said in one breath.
Pacey stopped and sat again.
"You really pissed me off and I lost my temper - his father continued - but I shouldn't have hit you."
Pacey looked away, not sure of how to react.
"How's your heart?", he finally asked.
"Better now. It takes so much more to bring me down. Even if the doctor wants me to retire."
"Then maybe you should."
"Maybe I will. You know, voices about your misconduct are already starting to spread and it's not exactly the way I wanted to end my career."
Pacey sighed.
"Sorry about that."
The father nodded.
"Pacey, the reason I came here is because I want to do something for you. I know you made some mistakes, but you're still my son. And if something bad happened to you here I couldn't forgive myself."
Pacey looked at him confused. His dad resumed talking.
"I know the warden here, we went to the academy together. I'm gonna ask him to move you to the branch where corrupted policemen are. It's way safer than other branches with violent criminals and murderers."
Pacey frown.
"Is that what you wanted to do to help me?"
The father stared at him, disoriented.
"Yeah..."
Pacey chuckled, feeling stupid.
"Of course...", he said to himself.
"What? - The father continued - What did you think...Oh...You thought I came here to bail you out, don't you?"
Pacey stayed in silence.
"My God, Pace, you didn't learn anything from me. Always looking for the easiest way, uh? I'll tell you what, life doesn't work that way and I hoped you already knew it. You've got to be punished for your crime, even if you don't like it. I'm not gonna come to your rescue with my money."
"I never asked you that."
"But you hoped I would do it anyway, don't you? I'm sorry, but no. I think some time in prison will help you reflect on what you did and, hopefully, also help you think about a good plan for what to do with your life when you get out, considering the disastrous outcome you achieved so far."
Pacey gazed at him, speechless.
"You know what, Dad? Don't bother speaking to the warden, I can take care of myself. And, if you really wanna help me, just don't come here again."
Saying so, Pacey stood up and walked to the door. His father remained seated, thinking.
PRISON
Once again Pacey was in his cell, this time lying on his bed with his eyes closed and an arm on his forehead, quite demoralized.
A guard approached the bars.
"Witter, there's a visitor for you."
"I don't wanna see anybody", Pacey said in a weary voice, keeping his eyes closed.
"It's a lady..."
Pacey opened his eyes. A slight smile appeared on his face.
In the visitors' room, Joey was waiting anxiously at one table, trying not to think of how much that place reminded her of her father.
When Pacey stepped in and reached her, she instinctively stood up and hugged him. Caught by surprise, Pacey barely placed a hand on her back.
"No touching!", an officer yelled at them, abruptly interrupting their moment.
Joey immediately backed off.
"Sorry", she said to the guard, tucking her hair behind her ears, in complete embarrassment.
Pacey smiled, finding the situation both sweet and funny.
Then, they both sat.
"Hey Potter", he greeted her first.
"Hey...- Joey raised her eyes at him, noticing only at that moment his black eye - What happened to your face?"
"You know, prison life...You should see the other one."
Pacey chuckled, Joey remained serious.
"I'm fine, Jo. You don't have to worry about me."
"Okay...", Joey tried to convince herself.
"So... - he continued - What's up with you? Shouldn't you be in class?"
"College's over, Pace. I just have a couple of tests left. These days I'm mostly helping Dawson with the production."
"Okay, good. And how is it going?"
"It's going well. Right now we're finishing the initial planning, we're gonna start shooting next week."
"I'm glad that, despite all that happened, in the end, everything worked out and you're able to start."
"Yeah, about that...I know about the check you gave Dawson. It was very generous."
"And...rash."
Joey looked at him confused.
"What do you mean?"
Pacey shook his head.
"Never mind..."
"Anyway, I really appreciated how you tried to make up with him, and, even if he may not admit it to you, he really appreciated that too. I hope you two can be friends again."
"We'll see about that. Right now, the important thing is that he can finish his movie."
"Yeah, one thing at a time...And how about you, Pace? I know it's hard in here, I have seen it with my Dad. Are you sure you're okay?"
Pacey shrugged.
"Yeah", he replied nonchalantly.
"You know, you don't have to wear a mask with me. If you need to talk to me, you can do it, okay?
"What do you want me to say? I'm stuck here and, after the trial, I will probably be for at least a year."
Joey's eyes turned sadder.
"I'm sorry...if there's something else I could do, you just need to tell me."
"Well, unless you have 20 grand to spare to bail me out, I don't think there's much to do about it", he cut it short with sarcasm.
"What are you talking about?", she asked, more confused.
Pacey sighed.
"The day after I gave Dawson that check, the agent who was investigating me told me that I could settle everything by paying a fine instead of going to prison. Isn't it ironic?"
Joey looked at him, baffled.
"Have you told Dawson?"
"Of course not! He would've never taken that money if he had known that it was my free card out of jail."
"Don't you think that maybe he deserves to know everything that's at stake before making his decision?"
"Don't you think that maybe I deserve to decide what's the best use for my money?"
"Pacey, one year of your life is worth more than a movie."
"Well, it depends on what year...three months on True Love with you, definitely, one year now where I have nothing left not so much."
Joey stared at him impressed that, among all the examples he could choose, he chose one with her. Pacey noticed it and, rapidly, resumed talking to avoid her thinking about it too much and, at the same time, to push the memory of his summer on the boat away from his memory too.
"Anyway, it's not up to you to decide, so please don't say anything to Dawson, okay? Promise me."
"I can't promise you that."
"Joey, I'm serious! - Pacey insisted, angrier - You can't fix everything. And it's not your job to fix everything. Promise me."
Joey looked away, struggling hard on what to answer.
"You know, Pace, sometimes I just don't get you at all. I mean, I understand that you want to help Dawson first, but...not at this cost. Anyway, it's your call so...yeah, I promise I won't tell him, okay? I've gotta go now."
Joey quickly stood up and walked away to prevent him from seeing her get emotional.
Pacey watched her go away, sighing deeply in both frustration and sadness.