Ch 3
Next day, in the car, on the way to Capeside.
Liz stared out the window, not really saying anything. "Liz? You okay? You haven't said a word for the last two miles." Pacey said. She didn't even notice he'd said anything.
"Lizzy?" Theresa tried touching her cousin's arm.
She looked at Theresa. "What? I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"We want to know if you're okay."
"Yeah." She laughed. "I’m fine, just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Yeah I heard you up at about one." Dawson said. "What were you doing?"
"Writing a letter."
"To who?" Pacey asked.
"Max."
Theresa and Joey exchanged concerned glances. Pacey glared at the road with a fury that could smash diamonds. Dawson asked, "What did it say?"
"Don't look for me and good-bye."
"You think he'd come looking for you?" Pacey asked angrily.
"He could find me in an instant." She whispered. "Any where on earth. There's no place I can go that he can't find me." Her eyes were suspiciously bright. "But never mind it. He won't look for me now."
"Because of the blonde hussy?" Theresa said. "What's wrong with us Liz? Why do the men we love leave us for blondes with IQ's of about 2 and faces like a horse?" Dawson was secretly hurt by her comment.
But Joey sighed. "You never know, some of them leave the blond hussy for the good looking brunette."
"Like Dawson did with you and Jen?" Theresa said.
And like Pacey with Andi. Though she actually is kind of smart. She thought, but did not say. "Yeah."
"So Pacey I want to know about Andi." Liz said. "Tell me all about McPhee."
"Well, she's blond." Pacey said. "I know that won't win her points with any of you, but I think she's very pretty. She's very book-smart, though practical application leaves something to be desired." He said dryly.
"Why did the two of you break up? Theresa asked.
"Yeah you never said." Liz added.
He looked at Joey, panicked. 'How do I field this?' He mouthed.
"She slept with someone else. A blond guy with a horse's face, I think." Joey said, glossing over a few facts.
"She's going in the creek." Liz said with a grin.
"That wouldn't be a very good idea." Pacey said. "She can't swim."
"Even better." Theresa kidded.
Pacey frowned. "She's a good kid Resa." He said firmly. "I don't want to see her hurt by anyone, got it?" He was very protective of Andi. Joey locked eyes with him.
"Lighten up Pace." Liz said. "We'll leave McPhee alone we promise. Hey Dawson Jo, said your Aunt Gwen's selling her house."
"Yeah, she's thinking about it. Why?"
"Just curious. I remember the time you, me and Joey stowed away in your mom's car when she went to see her. My mom grounded me for a month I got her so worried."
Dawson laughed. "I remember that. My dad gave me a lecture about not letting you girls drag me into trouble."
"Us?" Joey said in mock shock. "You were the one who thought the truck would be a good hiding place after we locked Doug and Bessie in the closet together."
"I still say we don't know the whole story of what happened in that closet." Pacey insisted. "When they went in they were best friends. And they haven't been on speaking terms since they got out."
"You think they played seven minutes in heaven?" Joey suggested.
"They were in there for over an hour." Dawson said.
"So they played it more then once."
"What do you say we lock them up together again? Maybe they'll start speaking again." Theresa suggested.
"Um, I don't think that's a good idea." Joey said. "Bessie is my legal guardian. Do you know what she'd do to me if I did that to her?"
"Same with me and Doug." Pacey said. After thinking for a minute he said, "I vote we do it!"
"Bodie'll love that." Joey rolled her eyes.
"Anyone else hungry?" Liz said.
"Not me." Theresa said.
"I am a little." Dawson said.
"Pacey, pull over at the next place you see." Joey said. "You're eating something Theresa. It isn't healthy not to."
"Yavoy captain." Theresa said.
"Ethan there's a phone call for you." Pilar said. "Your cousin Jack."
"Thanks Pilar." Ethan smiled weakly.
"Hello?" Ethan said picking up the phone.
"Hey, Ethan." Jack said. "Sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding. How was it?"
Ethan thought for a second, guiltily, about the night before the wedding. "It was a wedding. How's Andi doing?"
"She's fine. How's Aunt Ivy?"
"Good, good. She's at the club. How's Aunt Andrea doing?"
"The same." Jack said in a subdued voice. "Listen, Ethan I heard a few rumors about Gwen, and I just want you to know, I'm here for you. Our house is always open if you need to get away or whatever."
"What are you talking about? What rumors?"
"Um, you know, if you don't know it's probably just as well. Forget I said anything. But remember, you're always welcome in Capeside."
"No Jack I wanna know. Tell me."
"Um, I shouldn't be the one to tell you. Just talk to your wife, okay?" Jack sounded a bit besieged. "It's probably just rumors any way."
"Right." Ethan said not liking the sound of this at all. "So how's everything in your life?"
"Ok. Most of my friends are out of town on some road trip. But they should be back soon."
Ethan looked up when Gwen came in. "Jack I'll call you later. You never know I might just be showing up on your doorstep one day soon."
"Ok man. See you." Jack shook his head and hung up.
"Bye." Ethan hung the phone up and looked at Gwen.
"Hello darling." she said.
"Hello." He smiled. "I just had the weirdest conversation."
"Oh who with?"
"My cousin, Jack."
"He's the one that just came out right?"
"Uh, yes." Ethan said. "He seemed to think we would be splitting up shortly and offered me a place to stay. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Completely." Gwen said putting her arms around him. "We're together for the rest of our lives." As long as you don't find out I'm sleeping with Chad Harris.
"Good, that's what I thought.' Ethan smiled. Or we will be unless you find out I slept with Theresa.
Liz, Theresa, and Pacey had just arrived at Doug's place and their home for the time being. They troop inside. Doug is sitting at the table, neatly sealing envelopes.
"Hello Doug. The eagles have landed." Pacey said.
"Pacey, Liz, Theresa." Daug actually smiled. With painfully precise motions he pushed his chair back and stood up. "Welcome to your new home. Here are the rules." He handed each girl an envelope. They exchanged a glance and started giggling.
"Tell me he's joking." Liz said.
"He's worse then Luis I swear." Theresa muttered.
"Ladies, you will be sharing this room. Pacey, that means you're on the couch." Doug showed them to a small room.
"It's a good thing we like each other." Theresa muttered. "We'll be seeing a lot of each other."
Liz sighed. "Maybe I'll go stay at Dawson's. Mr. Leery always liked me."
"No, Liz Bit, I didn't mean it like that." Theresa started.
"No, I understand." Liz smiled. "But you're right. I like my privacy. Besides, if anyone's going to go stay at Dawson's it shouldn't be me..."
Theresa turned beet red and Doug noticed. "Rule 36. No boys I don't approve of and no sleeping anywhere unless I say it's okay."
"It was a joke Dougie. Lighten up." Liz said gently. "Don't you ever have fun any more?"
"Only when listening to his diva collection." Pacey said as he set one of Liz's bags down for her.
"Hey, that's enough." Doug said sharply. "I can get the rest of the bags. Why don't you three eat? Dinner's in the kitchen."
"What did you make?" Theresa asked.
"Spaghetti. Now I'll go get the bags."
"Um, Doug, I'm not sure that's a good." Theresa started.
Pacey clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sure Doug, you get the bags, I'll feed the girls."
"Pacey!" Liz hissed once Doug was gone. "There are like fifty bags out there."
"Your point?" He asked.
"Oh you're cruel." Theresa said with a laugh as they all went into the kitchen.
"Break out that list of rules." Pacey grinned. "You'll get a laugh out of them."
"Okay." Liz took out her list. "Oh this is a good one. Number 15. No eating the food Aunt Beth sends over. Stronger men have died trying to eat it."
Theresa giggled. "Rule eighteen, All food from Aunt Pilar must be shared with everyone in the house, with first picks going to me {Doug} because I'm paying the bills."
"Wait I've got one. No boys allowed in the house that haven't past a drug test."
"Lights out by eight Monday through Thursday, no talking after eight-thirty?" Theresa asked. "Is he kidding?"
"Fraid not." Pacey said looking over Liz's shoulder. "Always use a coaster."
"No smoking." Liz said.
"No entertaining male visitors without an approved adult chaperone? That does it, I'm staying with Joey and Bessie. Pacey, you're on your own." Theresa said
"You think Mrs. Ryan would mind if I bunked with her and Jen?" Liz asked. "She always liked me."
"I don't think so." Pacey said. "Better go tell Doug before he gets all the bags in."
"Too late little brother." Doug grunted as he set Theresa's bags down. "I have never seen so much luggage in my life."
Theresa giggled. "You should've seen what I wanted to bring. Dawson and Pacey both nearly had heart failure!"
"Michael needed to sit down when he saw all my luggage." Liz giggled.
Pacey shook his head. "I don't doubt it. What is it with you two and over packing? The only luggage Jo brought for the entire road trip was a duffel bag."
"She wasn't moving in with her cousin and changing addresses." Liz said.
"Oh speaking of Jo weren't we supposed to meet her at the Leery's to meet Jen and Andi?"
"But that's against the rules." Doug spluttered. "You're not to be out past eight, and it's already seven-thirty."
"Don't worry bout it Doug." Pacey said. "I'll get them back safe. You just go on with whatever plans you had for tonight."
Doug sighed. "Fine. Have fun. I won't be home when you get here though. I've got the night shift."
"OK." Liz said, very innocently. "Oh, a few nights this summer we might stay with Joey for some girl- talk, sleepover type things. Is that against the rules?”
"Number 10." Doug shot back as he left to get changed.
"I'm afraid to ask." Liz said.
"Not if you give proper notification." Pacey explained.
"What's proper notification?" Theresa asked, dreading the answer.
"At least 36 hours in advance."
"Well, that's not so bad." Liz said. "I'm going to go freshen up. I'll be out in a sec." She frowned. "How many bathrooms does this place have?"
"One." Pacey said grimly remembering what it was like to share a bathroom with his three sisters.
"Oh my god, that's inhumane!" Theresa cried.
"We'll all die." Liz shuddered.
"From Doug's hair products if nothing else." Theresa said.
"No, Doug has a rule about how much time each person can spend in the bathroom at once." Pacey snorted. "Number 108."
"How many rules are there?" Liz asked, eyes wide.
"112." Theresa answered and then started giggling. "Any guesses on the last rule?"
"Not me." Liz said.
"Pacey?"
"I don't even want to venture a guess." Pacey answered.
"Ahem. Rule number one hundred twelve. Never under any circumstances go to a party thrown by Chris Wolf or Nellie Olsen."
"That's one I think I'll follow." Theresa said. "If what you said about them's true, I don't even want to meet them."
"I wanna meet Chris just to see if he looks as much like Max as you and Jo say."
"No, you don't.' Pacey said sharply. "Just take my word for it Liz-bit, ok?" She frowned. "If you want to have time to freshen up, you might want to go now." Pacey suggested.
"Yeah okay." Liz said putting the rules down and heading for the bathroom.
Once they heard the door shut Theresa turned to Pacey. "So how much does Chris look like Max?"
"They could be twins." Pacey said. "And I don't want to know how that bastard could use it against her."
"This could be bad." Theresa said softly.
"Yeah, it could." He said. "That's why I'm glad you found Dawson. He'll keep you away from people who might try to take advantage of you."
Theresa smiled. "Think if we got Jack to buddy up with Lizzie he'd protect her?"
"I don't doubt he'd try." Pacey said. "Liz, hurry up." He bellowed. "We have to leave in like five minutes."
"Keep your pants on Witter!" Liz said as she came back into the kitchen. "Please keep your pants on." She grinned.
"That's rule forty-seven." Theresa giggled. "Is the bathroom open now?"
"Ah yeah but hurry up. Doug's almost ready to start primping." Liz giggled.
"Oh no. Don't tell me he's on mugger detail tonight?" Pacey rolled his eyes. "Heaven help us all if he is."
"Tell me he's not coming out here in a dress." Theresa said.
Liz giggled helplessly.
"What color is it?" Pacey asked. "Never mind. Run Resa." Pacey said. "He'll have to shave his legs, and you want to get in there before that starts."
Liz fell on the couch in helpless giggles as Theresa ran for the bathroom.
"What's so funny?" Doug deadpanned as he walked into the room holding a frilly pink dress.
"I was just reminding Liz-bit of the time she, Theresa, and Dawson locked you in the closet with Bessie."
"THAT WAS NOT FUNNY!" Doug roared.
"Hey you never told us Doug," Theresa said as she came back in, "what exactly happened in there with you two?"
"None of your business." He growled. "Rule 20, no prying into my personal life."
"Ah you're no fun." Liz pouted.
"Bet Bessie would tell us." Pacey said.
"Don't count on it." Doug said dryly. "And check anything she tells you with me, so you can get the real story."
"Just tell me one thing Doug." Liz said. "Was there any heavy breathing involved?" Theresa and Pacey both looked very interested as they waited for his response.
"OUT!" Doug roared and the three teenagers ran giggling into the night.
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