Joey Potter couldn't believe she had let her best friend talk her into going to the party tonight. She knew Abby Morgan had only invited the four of them for
entertainment. Something would happen to embarrass them, Abby would make sure of that., but Dawson had seemed so eager, she couldn't refuse his pleading eyes.
"Joey, Pacey's here!" Bessie's voice cut into Joey's thoughts.
Her sister came into her room. "Don't be out too late. Have a good time tonight, Jo."
Joey rolled her eyes as she pushed past her sister and out the door.
"C'mon, Joey, we still gotta pick up Jen and Dawson," Pacey greeted her as she climbed into the truck. "Ready for some fun and games?"
"Games? Pacey, this isn't a thirdgrader's birthday party we're going to. It promises to be a boring evening, with highlights of Abby humiliating us into the dust and Dawson making lame
attempts at getting Jen back. All I can hope for is that we won't have to go through another pathetic game of Truth or Dare."
"Well, pessimistic much? And don't pretend you didn't like that little dare from last time, Josephine. If you're lucky, maybe we'll play a game like Spin the Bottle and you can kiss the
love of your life, a.k.a. Dawson, again. Or perhaps you would prefer to lock lips with the love god himself, better known among you mortals as Pacey Witter?"
"Shut up, Pacey, and try to drive like a sane person, stretch as that is for you. And if you knew anything, you would know that the love god was Aphrodite, a beautiful female god, and you don't quite qualify in any of those areas."
****************************
"Oh, goody! The Fearless Four are here, everyone! The party can start now!" Abby's voice greeted the group as they walked down the stairs to her basement.
"Yeah, Dawson. This'll be so much fun," Joey muttered.
"C'mon, Joey. Who knows what the night has in store. Could be the time of your life," Jen said cheerfully.
"Like I was saying before we picked Dawson and jen up, your wildest dreams may come true, Josephine," Pacey added. Joey glared at him, telling him to keep his mouth shut.
"Okay, let the games begin. I'll pick the first name for Seven Minutes in Heaven," Abby's voice brought the group out of their own conversation.
"Well, now, Grant, looks like we get to go first," Abby flashed the football player Joey had beaten up a smile and led the way to a walk-in-closet.
"Seven Minutes in Heaven? Great, kissing games. What a juvenile way to spend an evening. Come on, guys, let's get out of here."
"Why, Jo? We just got here. C'mon, it might be fun. You can't honestly say there isn't a guy here you're just aching to
spend seven minutes in a dark closet with," Pacey said, grinning at the uncomfortable look on Joey's face. "You aren't scared of playing a kissing game, are you, Josephine?"
"Of course she isn't scared, Pacey. Look, Jo, we don't have anything better to do. It might even be interesting," Dawson said, begging her to stay with his eyes.
Before Joey could reply, someone announced that time was up and pulled open the closet door. Abby and Grant were still in a tight lip lock but broke apart as soon as the light hit them.
Abby cleared her throat. "Well, which girl's gonna pick the next name?"
All the girls looked at each other. Then Jen said, "I'll go."
She pulled out a name as the others breathed sighs of relief.
"Uh, Cliff. I pulled out your name."
Cliff stepped forward with a smile and the two walked towards the closet as Dawson's whole body tensed up.
"Ooh, Leery, that's gotta hurt," Abby sneered.
"Abby, get a life, or at least go ruin someone else's. This stupid game of yours is the most pathetic attempt at getting kissed I can possibly imagine."
"Ouch, Joey, that might be painful if it came from someone with some social standing," Abby said, walking away.
Time was announced and the door was opened, Jen and Cliff, still in a tight embrace, were revealed. Pacey clapped a hand on Dawson's should to keep him from charging the couple.
"Uh-hum. Time's up, guys." The couple pulled apart slowly, turning red at Abby's voice. "I think Miss Josephine Potter should go next," she continued with a fake smile.
"Go on, Jo." Dawson pushed her forward, smiling at her attempt to hide her nervousness.
Joey pulled out a piece of paper, looked at the name on it and buried her head in her hands. "Oh, God. Why me? Anyone would be better than him."
Abby leaned over her shoulder and read the name aloud. "Pacey Witter. Ooh, even Joey doesn't deserve that!"
Pacey stepped forward, grinning at the crowd and pulled Joey with him to the closet. "She just can't believe her luck. It's okay, ladies, I know
you're all disappointed. Don't worry, you can all have a chance with the Pace-man a little later," he said, closing the door.
"Pacey, just stay over there. There's no way in hell I'm kissing you."
"C'mon, Jo. It won't be a picnic for either of us but those are the rules of the game. Besides, it might make Dawson jealous if he sees us playing tonsil hockey. And I thought you weren't scared."
"I'm not scared. All right, one kiss. Just to go a long with this pathetic game."
Pacey slowly leaned towards her, thinking how beautiful she was. Instinctively, her eyes closed as their lips met.
"Wow," Joey thought as sparks flew.
'This is amazing!' Pacey started to pull back regretfully when Joey's arms snaked around his neck and ulled his head back to hers. Pacey immediately responded and wrapped his arms
around her waist. Joey raised herself on tiptoe to intensify the already earth-shattering kiss. Her hands carressed the back of his head, her fingers running through his hair as she opened her lips at his tongue's silent request.
The door opened suddenly. The entire room gasped and giggled as Dawson pushed towards his two best friends who were still caught up in the game.
"Hey, guys. Time's up! You can stop now. Jo! Pace! Snap out of it," Dawson yelled.
The pair finally pulled apart. Pacey looked daggers at his friend, angry with him for stopping them.
****************************
The four friends were on their way out the door. Pacey and Joey had been playing their own private version of the game on Abby's couch for the
past hour or so, as Dawson glared angrily at them. Joey turned at the door, her hand still holding onto Pacey's.
"Hey, Abby. Thanks for starting that game. Believe me, we'll play it often from now on. Oh, and Jen was right. I had the time of my life." Joey laughed before walking out the door.
Jen and Pacey smiled at the frustrated look on Abby's face. The group decided to ignore Dawson's silence as he silently curse Abby for starting that game.