CHAPTER 11
CAPESIDE MARINA – TWO WEEKS LATER
Pacey was washing a boat at the Capeside Marina, the place once owned by Rob Logan and where Joey used to work for a while. The marks on his face were now gone and he was sweating under the hot sun.
While he was scraping the boat bow, a familiar voice caught his attention.
"A dropped mop and a bucket in the middle of the dock. If this place still belonged to Rob he would have already scolded you for breaking the safety regulations."
Pacey turned around and saw Joey, standing in the middle of the dock. She had just picked up the dropped mop.
"Thanks for picking it up", he distractedly said before concentrating back on the boat.
Joey took a few more steps in his direction.
"I ran into Doug this morning. He told me that you'd been released from prison two weeks ago and that I would find you here. I wonder how much longer you would have waited to tell me."
Pacey snorted without looking at her.
"You haven't been such a discreet confidant lately, Potter. My desire to open up to you kinda vanished, you know."
Saying so, Pacey stood up and got back on the dock, passing right before Joey. He picked up the mop and the bucket and headed for the warehouse.
Joey sighed and then followed him inside. Pacey emptied the bucket and started to wash some tools. She resumed talking.
"I know you're mad at me for breaking the promise and telling Dawson. I'm sorry about that, but I still think it was the right thing to do. He deserved to know everything that was at stake. And you deserved a second chance."
Pacey shook his head.
"Or maybe not."
"Come on, Pacey. Aren't you happy to be out? Are you the only person in the world who'd rather stay in prison?"
Pacey turned off the tap and looked at her.
"Of course, I'm happy to be out! You have no idea how relieved I am of not having to spend a second more in there. The ten days I spent in prison have been awful. I've been beaten up two times, once badly, and it probably would end up even worse if I stayed longer."
"And then what is your problem?"
"My problem is that I just wanted to be able to fix the mess that I've caused. This way, I won't be able to do it."
"Maybe you still can. You know, I've been helping Dawson a lot these days with his film. Of course, we had to go through a lot of budget cutting, but we're trying to make it work with the help of our friends in the production and low-level actors. Maybe you can give a hand too."
"Jo, the man hates me, okay? I have disappointed him way too many times and he surely doesn't want me to be anywhere near his production to cause more trouble. Plus, I have this work now and I guess it would be incompatible with the scheduling anyway."
"First, he doesn't hate you. He may still bear some unresolved grudge against you, but I can assure you he didn't hesitate for a moment to send all the rented equipment back to bail you out. Do you think someone who hates you would behave like this?"
Pacey sighed, feeling even more uncomfortable. Joey continued speaking.
"Second, there are many ways to help a friend besides being part of the production of his movie...you just need to use your creativity to find a way – Joey paused and glanced at him to see if she was getting through - Pacey, you're smart, witty, charming and you can be very persuasive if you want..."
"And look where all these things brought me..."
"They brought you to be a successful salesman or a skilled chef starting from zero in just a few months. And when things didn't work out, you always had the courage and the flexibility to reinvent yourself and start over. You just need to set a goal and commit to it and then you can achieve whatever you want, despite what your father says. Look at True Love. You bought a piece of trash, destroyed by a hurricane, and you were able to turn it into a seaworthy boat that you managed to sail all over the East Coast at only 17. You're better than you think. You're one of the best persons I know. I have no doubt about that."
Pacey smiled.
"How can you do it?", he asked.
"Do what?"
"This. You have this incredible gift of making me feel better no matter what. It's like, somehow, you manage to turn everything around, believing that I'm not the hopeless case everybody thinks, and making it impossible for me to stay mad at you for long."
"I'm just doing what I think it's right...it's not my fault if 99% of the time I'm actually right and I'll have to look at people with a big fat told-you-so smile", Joey laughed.
Pacey chuckled too. Then he became serious again.
"I've missed you, Potter. And no matter how hard I try to deny it, I still miss you."
Joey gazed at him, pausing for a moment. Then, she smiled.
"I've missed you too."
Pacey smiled back and walked closer to her.
"You know – he resumed talking - when I was in prison what was worrying me the most wasn't what could happen to me in there. My greatest fear was the thought that, over time, you would forget about me, realizing that you no longer needed me in your life. Then, one day, you would stop visiting me, leaving me with no chance to see or talk to you again. That would have been a worse cage than prison itself."
"That couldn't happen, Pace. There's no way that I could forget about you. No matter how life could tear us apart, there will always be a piece of my heart that belongs to you. A piece that will pound hard every time we're close to each other and will pound even harder when we're not. That's what forced me to get you out and that's what made me be here today."
Pacey came even closer and stared deeply into her eyes.
"I think you should know me enough to realize that you can't just say something like that and not expect me to do this..."
Then, he moved a lock of hair from her face and kissed her.
"And I think you should know me enough to realize that you can't just do something like that and not expect me to do this..."
She kissed him again passionately. For a moment, they completely forgot about everything around them, enjoying the absolute bliss of a kiss that felt like coming home again. When they stopped, they remained speechless for a moment, simply losing themselves in each other's eyes.
Pacey was the first to resume talking, fearing that a sudden sense of uncertainty and embarrassment could kick in and ruin their moment.
"You know, technically I'm still working here...Maybe we could continue this conversation later tonight, let's say...at dinner?"
Joey tucked her hair behind her ear and pretended to think about it.
"Yeah, maybe...after all I don't want you to get fired for another violation in the code of conduct because then I'll have to try to boost your self-esteem all over again."
Pacey smirked briefly at her and then returned serious.
"Trust me, you couldn't boost it more for today."
Joey made a genuine smile.
"Later, Pace", she said before turning around to leave.
"Potter."
Joey stopped and looked at him again.
"Aren't you forgetting to tell me something?"
Joey held her breath for a moment, feeling more tense and confused.
"How big exactly is this piece of your heart that still beats for me? Can we quantify it better? Are we talking about a tiny slice, a quarter, a half, the 80%...?"
"Don't push it, Pace – she laughed – Don't push it...See you!"
Then, she walked away. Pacey watched her go as far as his vision would allow, feeling an unusual sense of peace.
DAWSON'S HOUSE
Dawson was filming a scene in his bedroom with two young actors interpreting Sam and Wade.
"Look, if you want to go out with her, go out with her – Sam said - I'm not stopping you. Just go. But you can't have it both ways, Wade."
"What is your problem?"
"Oh, nothing. Except ever since little Miss Harvard Square showed up in town, you've done everything to make me feel like I don't exist."
"Sammy...you know how much you mean to me. You're my best friend. Nothing could change that."
"We'll see, Wade."
"And cut! - Dawson interrupted the scene – Good job, everyone. We're done for the day. See you tomorrow."
The actors started to pick up their things and left.
"Good night, Dawson", the young actress said before leaving.
"Good night."
Joey, who was sitting next to the camera, got up and began helping pack some headphones and microphones in a box. Dawson started to remove the camera from the tripod.
"I think we're right on schedule, Dawson. Tomorrow we've got two more scenes in the house and then we can move to the school."
"Yeah, even if having just one camera is exhausting, we need to replay everything at least twice..."
"I know, but it never stopped you from filming 'Creature from the sea dept'. We just need to be more organized, that's all."
Dawson finished putting the camera away.
"Yeah...about that...thanks for being here, Joey. I don't know how I would do without you."
Joey smiled.
"It's okay. I enjoy being a producer like the old times."
Dawson smiled back. Then, they started to get down on the ground floor.
"Hey, do you wanna grab a bite or something? I think we're done here", Dawson asked while they were almost at the door.
"Actually...I completely forgot about this, but...there's still one thing I'd like you to do."
Dawson frowned, confused.
"Sure. What?"
Joey opened the front door and got to the porch. Dawson followed her outside.
"This", she stated in a timid voice, a little scared by his possible reaction.
Dawson turned around to see Pacey sitting on a chair on the porch.
"Hey", Pacey greeted them.
Dawson sighed.
"Wow, what an ambush! - Dawson exclaimed, not happy about it – I should've expected it sooner or later."
Joey felt the urge to justify herself.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I really think you two should talk. Just do it for me as a thank you for helping out, okay?"
Dawson stayed silent, feeling trapped.
"Otherwise – Joey resumed in a more sarcastic tone – I'll have to lock you up in here until you two start talking to each other again."
Joey opened the porch door, ready to get out.
"Good night", she said with a smile. Then, she walked away.
Dawson exhaled again.
"She would definitely be able to do it, trust me", Pacey broke the silence from the other corner of the porch.
"You know, it's funny for you to use the words 'trust me' with me...", Dawson replied with a harsh tone without even looking at him.
"Ouch, that was a real jab. But it's okay, I deserve it."
Dawson turned around and finally looked at him.
"So...why are you here?"
"Look, Dawson, I know you expected me to tell you all the truth, but I'm sorry, I couldn't do it. I was sure you would have never accepted the money if you knew it and I just wanted to fix this thing for good. I had to choose what was more important for you at the moment and between realizing your dream, avoiding prison, and having you regain a friendship with someone who can only screw up everything, I chose your film."
"You should have told me anyway. You know how much honesty is important to me. Plus, it wasn't your choice to make. Also because I would have chosen something completely different."
Pacey lowered his eyes with a pensive expression.
"Yeah...Thank you for that. But really, you shouldn't have done it."
Dawson walked closer and sat in front of him.
"I'm making a movie about friendship, Pace. A passionate, idealistic, and romanticized ode to the importance of friendship during our teenage years, inspired by my life. How could I have continued filming it leaving my former best friend in prison?"
"Well, then lucky for me that your passion originated from some goodhearted Spielberg film and not from some cruel Tarantino's."
Dawson hinted a smile.
"Anyway – Pacey continued, returning serious - if you want me to be completely honest with you, there is something else you should know. We've already been through this tragically once, so I'd better make it right from the beginning this time..."
Dawson looked at him more confused and preoccupied.
"What?"
"Joey and I kissed the other day. We're still not sure where this is going, we're gonna take it slow for now, but we wanna give it another try."
Dawson took a deep breath, clearly conflicted about what he had just heard.
"Okay... - he finally said – thanks for telling me this time. You know, I'd be lying if I told you that this doesn't touch me or that I'm entirely okay with it, but...we already got through this and nothing changed so...if she really loves you, there isn't much I can do. She's perfectly able to make her own choices, and if she's happy with you, so be it."
Pacey exhaled deeply and then smiled.
"Uh...that was hard", he admitted.
"I hope we're done with confessions for a while."
"Yeah, me too...it's way too stressful. There is just one last reason why I came here, though. But this should be a good one."
Pacey took an envelope out of his pocket.
"I thought a lot about what I could do to help you with the production of your film now that my idea of financing it with what remained of my past as a broker has miserably failed. Then, I realized that maybe the answer should have come from some of your future supporters, aka the Capeside community who will certainly benefit from being the birthplace of a famous director. So, I asked many of our local businesses if someone was interested in financing an inspired filmmaker in his project in exchange for a mention in the credits and most of them have agreed to contribute. What they gave is in this envelope."
Pacey passed the envelope to Dawson, who looked in it pleasantly surprised.
"I have kind of a déjà vu about this, are you sure they're not gonna ask for their money back in a few days? - Dawson asked funnily- You know, the guy who rented me the equipment hates me for all the times I had to send everything back."
Pacey chuckled.
"Don't worry, if someone comes to claim their money, you could always say that, if they have problems, they can talk to a thug you know who has been in prison. I'm sure they would change their mind pretty soon."
Dawson laughed. Then, he turned serious again.
"Thanks for this."
Pacey cracked a smile.
"You're welcome."
"So – Pacey spoke again while getting up – I think I can let you go finish your stuff. I gotta go too since I have to get up early tomorrow for my new job."
"Where are you working now?"
"At the Capeside Marina. Job sucks, pay sucks even more, but I had to get back on track as soon as possible, so I think I'm lucky I have found it. Plus, the worst thing that can happen is to spill out some gas or stain a boat seat, so at least I can't do much damage."
"It's good to see that you're already recovering from what you got through and that you keep yourself busy."
"Yeah, even if this is just temporary. I think I wanna get back to catering and maybe one day open my own restaurant."
"I hope you succeed."
"We'll see...Good night, Dawson."
Pacey headed to the door.
"Good night, Pace."
Before opening the door, Pacey stopped and turned around.
"Can I ask you one last question, Dawson?"
"Sure."
"Do you think it's possible for us to be friends again?"
Dawson thought about it for a moment.
"Nothing is impossible."
Pacey nodded, genuinely smiling.
Then, he opened the door and walked away.
THE END