Popcorn
Part 6 of ?
by Kate Andrews

Rated: R for language, explicit dialogue and sexual situations
Summary: (p/j) After the events of the season finale, Joey ends up talking to Pacey.
As they become closer, all sorts of unexpected events ensue in the following summer.
  • So far: (1) Joey watches a movie at Pacey's house. The discussion turns personal. (2) Friendly physical contact drifts into more dubious territory. (3) Afterwards, Joey ponders the night's events. (4) Pacey makes Joey an offer (5) Another night of movie watching yields even more interesting discussion, a little wrestling, and a road trip.
  • Special note: Throughout this story, you'll find an occasional link to another page or a picture. It's just my attempt to keep things interesting. There are none in this part, but keep your eyes peeled, later on.

    Part Six.

    Joey took her sandals off and propped her feet on the dashboard. Dark Ma ssachusetts countryside whizzed by her open window. At least she assumed it was Massachusetts countryside. With the sky as cloudy as it was, she could barely make out the road in front of them, let alone the fields on either side. She glanced at Pacey. They'd been driving for over an hour, and most of that had been silent.

    She placed her feet gently on the windshield, enjoying the coolness against the soles of her feet.

    "Please put footprints on the glass. I do _so_ want my father to know I stole the truck."

    "Relax, I'll windex it when we get back. Besides, didn't you say no one was home?"

    He shifted in his seat. "Dad and Doug are off playing paintball commando, and Mom is," he searched for a moment, "at some spa in Hartford. No one will be back till Monday."

    "And they trusted you with the house? An entire weekend?"

    He shrugged. "They do this all the time."

    "What, leave you alone?"

    "Yeah, it's kind of cool."

    She didn't think so. She also didn't think he'd mentioned this fact to her when he'd invited her over tonight. They'd tried to figure out somewhere interesting in Capeside to visit, but after ten minutes of bickering, they decided to just drive aimlessly.

    "Do you think we're lost yet?"

    "Hopefully."

    She grinned at him. This was kind of nice. She'd needed to get out of his room after that last exchange. A week ago she probably would have left altogether, but where would she go? Dawson the asshole had skipped town for a month without telling her. Home was where the screaming runt kept her up all night. School was out. Renovations had shut down the Icehouse for two days.

    Pacey made her uncomfortable, but judging by earlier tonight she pissed him off too. That was always fun. These last few days with Pacey had had a perverse edge to them, but she kind of liked that too. She had absolutely no clue what was going on between them. This bizzare sexual tension was. . . it was probably all in her mind anyway. She wrapped up those thoughts and tucked them neatly in a dusty back corner of her mind.

    "So, when do you have to be home tonight? Bessie gonna call the cops on you?"

    "Nah, she's used to me disappearing. I sleep over Dawson's without asking often enough. She probably thinks I'm there."

    "So we could drive to Boston if we wanted."

    "If we wanted."

    He looked at her hopefully.

    "Which we don't. We don't want to go to Boston, Pacey."

    "You're no fun."

    "Am too."

    "Prove it."

    "How?"

    "Think up something interesting for us to do."

    She rolled her eyes. "Knock over a convenience store? I don't know. Where are we right now?"

    They sped by a sign. "There's another beach town next exit."

    "Let's camp on the beach. Just find a place to drive on and we can sleep in the back of the truck."

    "What the hell. Let's do it."

    After they exited, they stopped for food. The only place open after midnight was a Wendy's. The Wendy's looked like every other, she thought. Then again, that's the point of fast food. After they pooled their money they had eight crumpled dollar bills, another three dollars in change and a coupon for a free slurpee.

    "This," he said holding the 7-11 certificate up, "we save for breakfast." He removed five of the dollars. "This, we also save for breakfast." He pulled a Visa out of a zippered pocket. "This, we save for later."

    "Pacey . . ." she checked the name on the card. "Doug Witter?"

    He held up a battered ID card. "Hi, I'm Doug, nice to meet you."

    She peered at the picture. The card was old and almost expired. It still said under 21 across the front, but the birthdate put Doug firmly in the realm of legal drinkers. More than that, the young Doug looked remarkably like Pacey.

    "That's creepy. He looks nothing like you now."

    A tired looking girl behind the counter just stared at them. There was no line, and she didn't seem to mind the fact that they were taking their time ordering. "Can I see?"

    Pacey handed her the ID.

    "That your brother's? I'd sell you liquor."

    "Thanks."

    They ordered their Chili and Chicken Nuggets and Caesar Side salad and tore into them without comment. After she was suitably bloated, Joey leaned back, unbuttoned her pants and asked, "Now what?"

    "I dunno. Find a beach?"

    "You mean we're not going to try to buy beer?"

    "You little lush."

    "We don't have to." She shrugged. Maybe he was right. Maybe drinking wasn't such a good idea. But she had this urge to do stupid stuff. "We could just test your ID for future reference."

    "Future reference, huh?" He smiled and shook his head. "You're a crazy girl."

    "You don't know the half of it."