Shake and Nod
by: Moon Bunny
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all goes to Kevin Williamson and others.
"Oh my god." Pacey jumped up from his seat behind the counter at the video rental and quickly ran to the small, trembling, dirty girl who was standing just a few feet inside the store. He reached out to her, but she winced as if he hit her, and he hadn't even touched her.
"Joey..." Pacey looked into her face. "It's me, Pacey."
Joey looked at him, her eyes pleading with his to take away all the hurt. Her arms were wrapped around herself in a protective gesture. She didn't utter one word.
"Joey, I'm not going to hurt you." Pacey told her softly. "I need you to trust me though."
Joey's clothes were ripped and torn and she was scratched up. Her hair was wet, as was the rest of her. He saw red thinking someone did this to her.
She nodded, only slightly, but it was enough for him to notice. "Okay." He reached out, slowly, and picked her up. He carried her to the back of the store where he grabbed his keys. He quickly dialed Millie's number, demanded that she come over right away, and carried Joey out to his car. Pacey unlocked the door and gently set her inside it. He locked her into the seat with the belt and just as he turned around he ran straight into Millie.
"This had better be important Pacey." Millie said, glaring at him. She got a quick glimpse of Joey in the car, though Pacey tried to stop her. "I'll stay here, you just take care of her." Millie looked like she was in shock.
"Thanks Mill." Pacey said, then ran to the other side of the car. He hopped in and drove away.
"I could take you to my house Joey." Pacey told her, studying her for a reaction. She nodded, just slightly, so he turned the car into his driveway.
He carried her inside the house, locked the door, and then took her up to his room. He came back several minutes later with some of his mom's clothes and several towels and blankets.
"Here. Go take a shower and change. I promise I'll be right here when you get back." Joey hesitated, then took the clothing and towels with shaking hands. She allowed him to lead her to the bathroom, then he turned and went back to his room.
40 minutes that felt like an eternity to Pacey passed, and finally Joey came back into his room. She looked cleaner, but she was still cut up. He sat up and went to her, leading her to sit on the bed. He grabbed a blanket out of the closet and draped it around her.
"Joey?" Pacey sat on the bed across from her. Her eyes followed him wherever he went. She looked so scared, and yet so trusting of him he wanted to cry. "Can you tell me who did this to you? Did..." He felt like throwing up. "Did someone... hurt you Joey? Did someone rape you?"
Joey didn't answer. Her eyes closed as she drew the blanket farther around her. Finally she shook her head.
"No one raped you?"
Shake.
"Did someone hurt you?"
Nod.
"But they didn't rape you?"
Shake.
"Did they have sex with you?"
Shake.
"Are you still a virgin?"
Nod.
"Thank god." Pacey let out a huge breath of relief, one he didn't know he'd been holding. Joey deserved to remain innocent... So to speak.
Joey was studying him now. She looked like a caged animal, but she wasn't going anywhere.
"Did someone physically hurt you Jo?"
Nod.
"They beat you up?"
Nod.
"Did they throw you in the lake when they were done?"
Nod.
"Was the person male?"
No answer.
"Do you know who did this to you?"
No answer.
"Uh... Have you talked to Dawson about this?"
Shake.
"Did you try to go to Dawson?"
Shake.
"Did you come looking for me?"
Nod.
"Woah..." Pacey whistled. "I'd ask you why if you could talk." And new thought struck him. "Can you talk?"
No answer.
"Okay... Don't push yourself alright?"
Nod.
"Did they emotionally hurt you too?"
Joey's eyes went downwards as she nodded.
"Oh Jo..." Pacey reached out and held her in his arms. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there..." He kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek there. "I promise you, I won't let anything like this ever happen to you again."
His shirt was wet. Joey was crying. Joey never cried. Pacey felt tears welling up in his own eyes. "I'm always going to be here for you Joey." He said softly, the tears rewetting her hair. "Always."
Joey's first sounds were of sobs.
Pacey shifted in his sleep. He opened his eyes and was looking straight out at his stand. But then where was-? She had curled down in her sleep, resting her forehead against his chest. He could feel her breath, and her heart. She was clinging to him, but what surprised him more was that he was clinging back to her, holding her as close to himself as he could get her.
This wasn't his Joey. He had a bad feeling that the Joey they all loved was gone, and he didn't know if she was ever going to come back. But no matter what, he was going to be there for her. He couldn't help but feel guilty, even though he didn't even know where she was that night. He was going to kill whoever it was that did this to her. Literally. And if he wound up in jail for the rest of his life then so be it. Nobody hurt Joey like this and got away with it.
Joey woke up with a start. She looked up at Pacey, her eyes wide and studying.
"Morning Joey." Pacey tried to smile at her.
Joey didn't answer. She moved so her head was resting on his shoulder and closed her eyes again. Within minutes she'd fallen back asleep.
"Maybe this is Joey. Only she would go back to sleep on a person exactly where they can't get up without waking her up." Pacey told the room. He wished it to be true. The old Joey would have woken up, stared at him, and screamed. Then she would have traded insults with him.
"And who are you honey?" Pacey asked the girl asleep in his arms. "Who are you?"
"Pacey." Joey was crying. Pacey's eyes opened immediately. He looked down at Joey, but she was asleep. "Pacey!" Pacey immediately started to try and wake her up.
"Joey, honey, wake up! It's a nightmare! You're not there!" Pacey tried to soothe her.
"No... Let me go!" Joey sobbed while she tried to wriggle away from Pacey. "Somebody! Help me!" She was hysterical. "Please! Let go! Pacey! No! Stop! No! I don't want to! No!"
"Joey!" Pacey shook her awake. Her frightened eyes met his, and she quickly buried her face in his shoulder as she sobbed.
"They raped you didn't they Jo?" Pacey asked softly into her hair. She didn't answer, her sobs reaching heart wrenching.
"We need to get you to a doctor Jo. You've got to get checked."
Finally, Joey spoke. Really spoke. "No." She said between sobs. "No doctors. No hospitals. No police report. No!"
"Joey... You've got to make sure you're not pregnant. Or worse, have aids."
"I don't."
"How do you know?"
"2 reasons."
"Which are...?"
"I'm on the pill-"
"What?!"
"To regulate my period."
"Oh."
"And he used a condom."
"It might have failed Jo. He might have put it on wrong." Secretly he was thinking: 'What kind of creep plans to rape someone and goes as far to be prepared as to bring a condom?!'
"No Pacey!" Joey pulled away from him and winced in pain. "No."
"Jo..." Pacey half sat up on the bed. Her eyes locked with his in an endless moment. "Okay. Okay. No doctor."
Joey half smiled, then looked down at the bed spread cover. "I haven't been here in-" She broke off and ran to the bathroom. Pacey followed her in a flash, stopping abruptly at the bathroom door slamming in his face.
"Joey? Joey what's-" He broke off as he heard her gagging and throwing up, and then coughing. The next sound was water running in the sink, and then the sound of someone spitting out. Joey was using mouthwash clearly labeled Pacey on it. She smiled slightly as she saw others with his sisters' and brother's names.
Joey slowly opened the bathroom door, looking up at Pacey.
"Maybe the clinic isn't such a bad idea." Pacey suggested softly.
Joey didn't meet his eyes.
"Hi. My girlfriend and I have an appointment with Dr. Heme?" Pacey said to the woman behind the counter. Joey looked small and scared, and Pacey had his arm wrapped protectively around her. She cowered inside him.
"Name?" The woman asked, looking confused at Joey.
"Pacey Witter; Joey Potter."
"Right." The woman checked something in the computer. "Wait right there. She'll be out in a minute."
"Thanks." Pacey led Joey over to the seats and they sat down.
"Joey, we're 150 miles from Capeside. No one will know us." Pacey assured her. She was practically sitting on his lap, and kept looking around at everyone.
"Jo... Do you know who did this to you?" Pacey asked softly.
Joey didn't answer, just kept her eyes downcast.
"Damn it, you do don't you Joey?" Pacey grabbed her shoulder and turned her so she'd have to look at her. "Why aren't you at the police?"
"Pacey!" Joey moaned, trying to get out of his grasp.
Brief, very, very, brief, confusion passed over Pacey's face before he quickly removed his hand and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry Jo..." Pacey sounded as if he would cry. He looked it too. Joey was inside part of his jacket as she hugged him with everything she had.
"Are you Pacey and Joey?" A kind looking woman in her mid 40's asked, looking at her clipboard and then them.
"Yeah. That's us." Pacey stood up.
"Okay. This way please." The woman led them to a back room. "What can I do for you?"
"My girlfriend and I recently had sex, and we're not sure if the condom worked. I've had another partner before, and I'm not sure if I got anything. So we'd both like to be tested for aids, and those other std's, and she'd like a pregnancy test." Pacey sounded as if he'd rehearsed this.
"Okay. That's what it says we're here to do for you. Pacey, if you walk out that door and take a left, there will be a man with brown hair and blue eyes waiting for you."
"Thanks." Pacey pushed Joey's hair back away from her face and locked eyes with her. "It'll be fine." He assured her softly. She bit her lip and hugged him with all her strength. Then he was gone and Joey felt lost... And scared.
"He's not really telling the truth is he?" Dr. Heme asked, going over to a counter and shuffling through it. Joey looked startled. "About you two having sex. It's okay. I'm trained to notice things like this." The woman handed Joey a pregnancy test. "If you were raped, you might need to talk about it. Do you know who did it to you?"
Joey looked down. She nodded slightly.
"Who?"
Joey looked up and locked eyes with the Dr. "What would the shock value of the audience be if I said my best friend?"
"Probably very high." Dr. Heme seemed taken aback.
"Well too bad. It wasn't." Joey looked down. "It was my science teacher."
"We have to go back in 3 weeks." Pacey said, consulting the card. He looked at her closely, turning so he could see her in the truck. "Jo? What's wrong? Other than the obvious."
"Pacey..." Joey hesitated. "I told her who raped me."
Pacey's face remained emotionless. "Well," He paused and swallowed. "She's the doctor. You're supposed to tell her."
"Pacey..." Joey grabbed his hand and looked earnestly into his eyes, begging him to understand. "Please listen to me."
"Jo... I'm not mad." Pacey assured her, staring into her eyes. "I-I'm not going to abandon you. I-I wouldn't do that."
"Pacey..." Joey paused again, looking down. "It was someone we both know."
"Someone our age?"
Joey shook her head.
"A-a parent?"
Shake.
"A teacher?"
No answer.
Pacey swore. "Looks like we both lost our virginity to a faculty member." He bit out angrily. He slammed his hand onto the wheel. Joey looked up, scared. She looked ready to cry.
"No... Oh Jo... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare you... It's okay. I'm not mad at you. It's not your fault." Pacey slid over and pulled her to him. "It's okay..."
Joey hugged him back, her head leaning against his chest. She breathed hard, trying not to cry.
Joey and Pacey were living in an abandoned house near Bessie and Bodie. They'd moved in only a week after the rape, and they'd only been in it for 2 weeks. It had running hot water, electricity, and 5 rooms. They didn't know how... Or why the house had these things, but it did, and it was perfect. They had no clue that Bessie and Bodie were paying the bills on it, and that's why they'd suggested the place to the two teens. This way the adults knew where they were and how to get to them. They'd cleaned it up the best they could, and it looked pretty good. They'd bought some furniture with money they had, and it was already a nice cozy place where they both felt safe.
Joey came home, as they had both began to call it, from a long day at the Icehouse. She was dealing with the rape with a ton of support and help from Pacey, and was trying to move on with her life. It was a hard and grueling process, and sometimes she woke up screaming. Pacey had taken to sleeping in her room, though he had his own right next door.
Joey dropped her backpack on the floor of the kitchen, and grabbed a bottle of water from inside the fridge. On the door of the fridge was a note.
Joey,
Hey. Calm down. I swear to God I didn't abandon you. I have to work a little bit later than I planned... I came back and wrote this on my lunch break. I'll bring home dinner. (Do I sound like we're married or what?) = ) Anyway, I'll see you around 7. Bye!
Love,
Pacey
Joey smiled, running her finger over his signature. Damn but she did care for that boy.
Meanwhile, Pacey was having to deal with Dawson and Jen. "What do you mean you guys are living together?!" Dawson exclaimed jealously. He was over Joey; just thought of her as a friend, but he still got jealous when someone threatened into what was 'his'.
"Calm down D. It's strictly platonic." Pacey lied.
"Are you sure Pacey?" Jen arched an eyebrow, a small smile on her face.
"Very sure." Pacey assured her with a slight smile.
"Well where is it?" Dawson demanded.
Jen put her hand on her boyfriend's arm. "Can we see her?" She asked Pacey more politely.
"Joey's not really feeling so hot-" Pacey began.
"So you're keeping her away from someone who can take care of her?" Dawson burst out.
Pacey and Jen stared at him, not saying a word. He noticed their looks.
"I meant Bessie and Bodie!" He told them, exasperated. They relaxed.
"D, it's cool okay? Just lay off." Pacey glanced at his watch and sighed. Still 3 hours before he could go home, and back to Joey. Damn but this did suck.
Jen and Dawson stayed with Pacey watching movies until it was finally closing time.
"And that's the end lady and gent. I'm going home, after I buy dinner." Pacey jumped up and tossed Dawson the keys. "Lock it up!" He called, grinning as he ran out the door.
"Follow him." Dawson instructed, locking the door. He and Jen followed Pacey.
"Honey, I'm home!" Pacey called out, unlocking the door. He turned the knob to get in, but could only open it about an inch.
"Joey?" Pacey rattled the door knob. "Joey! It's Pacey!" No answer. "Joey? Joey answer me!" Still no answer. "Joey!" Pacey panicked, dropping the bag. He shouldered the door, trying to break the lock. It wouldn't. "Damn!" He shouted angrily, kicking the door.
"Pacey!" Joey threw open the door, looking like she'd just fallen out of bed. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Thank god." Pacey pulled her into his arms and tried to stop breathing so hard. Joey could feel his heart racing. "I thought something had happened to you."
"Why?" Joey pulled back and looked up at him.
"The door was chained up, and I couldn't get in! Why else?" Pacey was still trying to calm down.
"I'm sorry." Joey shot him an impish grin. "I got scared and bolted it."
"It's okay. Better safe than sorry. But why didn't you answer?" His hand was gently pushing her hair over her ear.
"I was asleep." She told him sheepishly.
He laughed slightly, hugged her again, and picked up their dinner.
"Aw honey... You cooked." Joey teased, opening up the door wide for him to enter. He laughed and walked in.
"Pacey?" Joey stopped, still in the door way. "Did you hear that?"
Pacey dropped off the bags in the kitchen, where the door was right next to, and came out next to her. "Hear what?"
There was the sound of a twig snapping. "That." Joey trembled, backing away from the door.
Pacey grabbed Joey and pushed her inside, locking the door and bolting it with every lock they had on the door. There were a lot of them.
"Our door looks like the one in Conspiracy Theory." Joey tried to crack.
Pacey looked out the peep hole, trying to see who created the sound. "Are the other doors and windows locked and bolted?" He asked Joey.
"Yeah. I did it all earlier."
"Okay. It might have just been an animal." Pacey moved from the door and held out her chair for her. "Sit." He told her. She smiled and sat down. He pushed her in.
"I love chicken." Joey exclaimed happily.
"I know." Pacey grinned at her and began opening various boxes.
Outside Dawson and Jen exchanged looks, and slowly crept away now that they knew where they lived.
Joey came out of her room, fully dressed for bed, which for her, was a spheghetti strapped shirt and shorts. Pacey's bed attire was sweats and no shirt.
Pacey was standing right there, ready to go into her room. Joey stopped, looking up at him. Their eyes met, and Joey reached up...
Pacey's lips touched hers. Just touched. Then he picked her up and carried her to her bed. He set her down gently, and she looked up at him. Not afraid in the slightest. He climbed into the bed himself and pulled her into his arms. She smiled at him and went to sleep. Pacey slept with a smile on his face.
"Joey!" Dawson exclaimed, surprised and joyful.
Pacey's head snapped up from doing some sort of paperwork at the desk to see his best friend sweeping his roommate/best friend/confidante/love/hope up in a huge hug.
Joey smiled slightly, embarassed, when Dawson set her down.
"Hey Dawson." Joey said softly. She looked up to see Pacey behind the counter. A grin flashed across her face as she went over to him and lightly kissed his cheek.
"Guess what Bessie and Bodie did." She said quietly.
Dawson was standing behind Joey, looking amazed. Pacey glanced over Joey's shoulder at him, then quickly back to Joey. "Tell me."
"They gave us their tv and vcr." Joey grinned as he leapt over the counter and spun her around in a hug. "So get some movies. We'll chill."
"You have the night off?"
"Yup. Amazing isn't it?" Joey grinned again. "How about you?"
"I'll be off at 5 today. Roy's in after that." He grinned. "How are you?" He asked so quietly Joey could barely hear him.
She gently kissed him on the lips for a few seconds. "I'm okay." She whispered, hugging him. He hugged her with his eyes shut tight, then pulled away.
"Get out of here Dawson. Take Joey out, show her a good time. Have lunch. I'll watch the store." Pacey instructed, going back behind the counter. Joey's face showed brief confusion, then she smiled sweetly at Pacey. She turned to Dawson.
"How about it?" She asked him. He nodded, took off his uniform vest, and tossed it to Pacey, who caught it.
Joey smiled again, then leaned over the counter like she was going to talk to Pacey quietly. He leaned forward to hear her.
Joey grinned and again lightly kissed Pacey. She winked at him and then walked out with Dawson.
Pacey stood up to go put away a piece of paper, but he promptly stumbled and fell on his butt. "That girl has no idea what she does to me." Pacey groaned, dizzy.
Dawson and Joey went out and ate lunch, talking about everything. Except the rape. Joey didn't mention it, and Dawson had no idea it had happened.
Dawson took Joey out on a walk along the beach, and at the pier he tried to kiss her. Joey stopped him.
"You don't really want to do that Dawson, and I don't really want you to." Joey said softly. "You're not going to lose me to Pacey. I swear. I've just been a little... preoccupied."
"With what?" Dawson exclaimed. "Why won't you tell me?"
"I was just a little sick. I still am. It might take a while to heal. But you know what? I will heal and it will be because of Pacey." Joey shook her head, smiling slightly. "I don't expect you to understand. Don't bother trying. But you won't lose me."
"Do you love him Jo?"
"Pacey?" Joey smiled, then laughed. "Yeah. Yeah I do."
"Does he know that you do?"
"I don't know." Joey paused. "I don't think so."
"I think he loves you."
"That would be nice." Joey smiled again. "Ready to go back?"
"Sure." Dawson held out his arm to her and she took it.
"Miss Potter... You are not pregnant, nor have you contracted any other std. Aids came out negative, but you have to be tested again in 6 months." Pacey squeezed Joey's hand.
"Mr. Witter, you are not pregnant." The doctor teased, a twinkle in her eye. Pacey and Joey laughed. "Nor do you have an std. You also tested negative for hiv. But again you have to come back in 6 months."
"Thank you Dr. Heme." Pacey shook her hand, as did Joey.
"Pacey, can I talk to her alone for a minute?" Joey asked Pacey, who looked briefly confused but nodded and left.
"What can I do for you Joey?" Dr. Heme asked her.
"I-I was just..." Joey looked down. "I think I'm doing it wrong."
"Doing what wrong honey?" Dr. Heme tried to look into her face.
"Getting past my rape. I-I mean, it's like it never happened. I'm afraid I've pretended that it didn't and later on when I try to have sex for real, then it'll all come back."
"Joey, it could be different for you. Because you know who your rapist is, you might just fear that one person. If you're able to get past this, then that's a good thing. You should feel lucky. But to pretend it didn't happen isn't healthy."
"I know it happened. It's just that I-I don't think about it."
"Well as long as you know it happened, and you accept it, then I think you're going to be just fine." Dr. Heme hugged her. "Good for you. You recovered so quickly."
"I think I'm far from recovered. I still have nightmares." Joey looked towards the door, smiling. "But I have Pacey."
"Joey..." Dr. Heme hesitated, then went over to a drawer. She came back and handed Joey a box of condoms. Joey stared at it in reflexive horror. "Just in case." Dr. Heme told her. Joey took the box and put it in her bag with trembling fingers.
"Th-thank you." Joey stuttered.
"Better to be safe than sorry." Dr. Heme reminded.
"Right." Joey smiled weakly.
"And Joey?" Dr. Heme called as Joey had her hand on the door. Joey turned around. "If you have any questions, call me. Collect, call the 800 number, however. But don't hesitate."
Joey smiled, a genuine smile. "Thank you." Joey said, then left.
"Are you okay?" Pacey jumped up and held her by her arms.
"I'm fine Pacey." Joey smiled and laughed slightly. "Let's go. I'm starving."
Joey went into the living room and clicked on the tv. She couldn't sleep. She settled in to watch a talk show and curled up on the couch.
A few minutes later Pacey wandered in. "You okay?" He asked her, sitting down.
"I'm fine." Joey laughed and pulled him down with her. "Just shut up, watch the show, and lay with me."
"Yes ma'am!" Pacey saluted her, laying on his side with his back against the back of the couch. Joey was on her side pressed up against his front. His arm was draped over her stomach, his other arm under Joey's neck.
Joey's hand played with Pacey's, gently intertwining their fingers and pressing on each one. It was an unconsious gesture.
They both fell asleep finally. This time peacefully.
Joey kissed him with everything she had. He moaned and drew her closer, praying to god that he'd be able to stop himself soon.
Joey smiled as his mouth trailed along to her neck. She got as close to him as possible. And then... He tickled her.
Joey shrieked and burst out laughing. "Pacey!" She exclaimed, pulling away from him. "What was that for?"
Pacey was grinning. His hands were folded over each other on her stomach, where he rested his head. "Just adding a bit of laughter to an otherwise serious and potentially romantic situation."
"Potentially romantic?" Joey repeated. He was laying sideways, a 'T' to her. She was laughing. "I think now is the time that I feel insulted."
"Uh uh." Pacey reached up and kissed her quickly. "I say potentially because I have to go to work." He glanced at his watch. "As do you."
"And lemme guess. We don't go in and we get fired right?" Joey sighed and rolled out of bed.
"You got it." Pacey snapped his fingers at her, ending up with his finger pointed at her. She grinned and shook her head. She kissed him lightly and pushed him out the door.
"Go so I can change." She ordered.
"Hey..." Pacey protested, then grinned and walked into his own room.
Joey smiled, shutting the door and leaning against it. She and Pacey never said they were dating, or that they were boyfriend and girlfriend, but they never said they were just friends either. There was something between them, but they didn't bother to define it. It didn't matter. They hadn't had sex, but they had kissed. A lot.
It wasn't just some sex bound relationship either. Not like, friends by day, lovers by night. It was deeper than that. Joey was in love with him, and unbeknownest to her, he was in love with her.
They did things together. Basically they dated... But they didn't call it that. They talked. They loved to talk to each other. They understood each other.
And Joey wanted to be with him. She wanted to love him and have him love her. She wanted to define their relationship. But every time she tried, Pacey surprised her by doing something, and she'd have to rethink things.
Joey finished brushing out her hair and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Just as she was exiting, Pacey was coming in.
"We need to talk." They said at the same time. They laughed nervously and Joey left the bathroom while he went in.
"Tonight." Joey said through the door.
"Okay." Pacey said back.
"I want a definition." Joey began as soon as they were both seated on the couch. The day had gone by quickly, both unsure of how they wanted to answer questions.
"Of our relationship." Pacey agreed.
"Right."
"Do you have one?"
"Do you?"
"No."
"Me either."
"Should we have one?"
"Probably."
"Well?"
"It's up to me to decide?" Pacey asked indignantly.
"No. It's up to you to ask me." Joey crossed her arms.
"Oh. I can do that." Pacey shrugged. "Joey, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"Are we defined yet?"
"Yes."
"Cool. Wanna help me make dinner?"
"Pacey!"
"What?!"
"There's more to us." Joey's eyes pleaded with his.
Pacey smiled and half laughed. "Yeah. There is." He reached around his neck and unclasped his chain.
"I've been wearing this since I can remember. My grandma, the only person in my family who ever thought I could do anything, gave it to me." He put it around her neck. "I want you to have it."
"Oh Pacey." Joey fingered the chain, throwing her arms around him. "I love you." She whispered into his shirt collar.
Pacey blanched. "Did-did you just say what I really, really hope you did?" Pacey asked, pulling away from her.
Joey was smiling, tears in her eyes. "Yeah." She laughed. "I did."
"I love you Joey. Since I can remember."
"And you still tried to get me with Dawson?"
"It would have made you happy."
"Oh Pacey." Joey threw her arms around him again. "I love you!"
Pacey smiled, holding her close.
"Pacey?" Dawson studied him. "If I didn't know better I would say that there is a definite bounce in your normally heavy footed step."
Pacey grinned and slapped Dawson on the back. "I am definitely happier than I've ever been D." Pacey assured him.
"Oh god." Dawson looked horrified. "You and Joey slept-"
"No!" Pacey interrupted, indignant. "Just because I'm happy you automatically assume that I've had sex? Well I assure you, I haven't 'had' Joey. And I won't. I'm staying clean until I get married."
"And Joey?"
"Joey feels the same way. We already discussed it." A devilish grin flashed across Pacey's face. "Of course, making out doesn't mean sex."
"You and Joey are like, serious?"
"Serious doesn't begin to cover it D!" Pacey laughed. "I love that girl!"
"You...?" Dawson shook his head to clear it. "Just don't hurt her." Was all he could say.
"I would never." Pacey shook his head, suddenly very serious. "I couldn't. Not on purpose."
Joey kissed Bessie's cheek. "Bye Bess." She giggled, handing her sister her apron. "I'm goin' home."
"Jo!" Bessie grabbed her hand to stop her. Joey looked surprised. "How serious are you and the Witter boy?"
"Pacey, Bess. His name is Pacey."
"Answer?"
"Very." Joey flushed happily and pulled out the chain. "Look it! His grandmother gave it to him and he's been wearing it since he can remember!"
"Not anymore." Bessie commented. Joey's face fell. "Jo, I'm happy for you and all, but..." She paused. "You're so young to..."
"Pacey and I don't plan on having sex Bess." Joey finished for her softly. "We've agreed not to until we get married... It doesn't matter to who. We're not going to do it."
"That's great Jo."
"Yeah." Joey smiled and nodded. "And..."
"And?"
"He told me he loved me." Joey giggled. "And I told him I loved him!"
"Well that was obvious." Bessie rolled her eyes, smiling. "But I'm happy for you Jo."
"Oh, and Bess?" Joey turned around.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for paying our bills. We'll pay you back when we can." Joey giggled and ran out.
A slow smile crept onto Bessie's face. Bodie came over and put his arms around her. "What's with her?" He asked as they watched Joey's retreating figure.
They observed as Pacey ran to meet Joey, swinging her around in a hug. "She's in love." Bessie told him, smiling. Bodie smiled as well.
"Joey!" Someone called. Joey turned around to see Jen and Dawson running towards her. She smiled, pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, and waited for them to catch up.
"Hey guys." Joey smiled at them.
"Hey! Long time no see!" Jen hugged her and stepped back so Dawson could do the same.
"Yeah... Sorry..." Joey shot them a sheepish grin. "Busy I guess."
"How's Pacey?" Jen asked, walking with Joey on one side. Dawson was on Joey's other.
"He's good." Joey stopped and turned to them. "Ask. You know you want to."
"Are you two really serious?" Jen blurted out.
"Very serious."
"Like, how serious?" Jen looked almost worried.
"Dawson..." Joey trailed off. "Do you remember about a month ago? I was sick?"
"Yeah." Dawson watched her wearily.
"I wasn't really 'sick'." Joey bit her lip. She looked up and saw Pacey walking towards them, looking worried at her face.
Joey reached out her hand to Pacey. He took it and looked down at her, still confused and worried.
"I was raped." Joey finally admitted.
"Oh Joey..." Jen reached out and hugged her.
"And-and you didn't-didn't tell us? W-why?" Dawson hugged his best friend with all of his might.
"I couldn't." Joey looked away. "I don't know how else to explain it. I went looking for Pacey."
"Why?" Dawson asked, like it was breaking his heart.
"I didn't want to ruin your movie script." Joey's hand clenched Pacey's. "And-and I knew that Pacey would understand."
"I would have understood!" Dawson protested.
"Dawson..." Jen said warningly. Dawson shut up.
"Are you okay?" Jen asked Joey. "I mean, did you get anything?"
"No. Pacey took me to be tested. I came out negative for everything." Joey bit her lip again.
"Do you know who did it?" Jen was quiet.
Joey closed her eyes in pain. "Yeah." She said softly. "He didn't know that I knew."
"Who was it?" Dawson exclaimed.
"He's dead." Joey said flatly. "I read about it the other morning. It doesn't matter."
"So tell us!" Dawson begged.
"He died in a car crash." Joey went on, like she didn't hear him. "He went flying over the railing... into the lake."
"Joey?" Jen looked closely at her.
"It was our science teacher." Joey whispered.
Pacey looked pissed. Furious. Livid. He went over to a bench and kicked it. The wood splintered in half.
"Pacey, please!" Joey begged, tears streaming down her face.
Pacey turned to her, seeing what he'd made her do. There were tears in his own eyes as he drew her to him, hugging her. "I'm so sorry Jo. I'm so sorry."
There was a group hug of the four of them.
Dawson and Jen had moved in with Pacey and Joey. It was nice, to have them all together.
At first Jen and Joey shared a room, but neither Joey nor Pacey liked that arrangement at all. Finally Dawson and Jen agreed to share a room, putting two beds in there. Pacey and Joey slept soundly after that.
It was hard, getting used to living with two more people, but they did it, and they were glad.
Joey and Jen were out shopping. Jen was insisting they needed more milk while Joey argued that no one drank the milk.
"Alright. How about a little one then?" Jen suggested.
Joey relented, shrugging. "D'we need chips?" She asked, holding up a bag.
"Yeah, but Dawson hates the ridges." Jen remarked. Joey shrugged, put back the bag, and grabbed another one.
"Uh... Meat?" Jen held up a container.
"Yeah. Turkey and roast beef." Joey told her off handedly. Jen tossed it in the cart.
"Juice?" Joey held up a jug.
"Yeah... Orange and Apple." Jen held up bread. "D'we need?"
"Um... I think so. White." Joey grabbed a bag of apples.
"Oh yeah! Do we need any more melon?"
"Yeah. Get a container." Joey pointed. Jen grabbed it and put it in the cart.
"Cookies." Jen snapped her fingers, remembering.
"What kind?" Joey looked warily at the assorted bags.
"Get those, and those, and Ooo! These!" Jen grabbed a bag while Joey laughed and grabbed the other two.
"Anything else?"
"Eggs." Jen remembered. "And pancake mix."
"Okay..." Joey gave Jen the cart to get the pancake mix while she went to go get eggs. The two girls met up. "I think we can go."
"Definitely." Jen nodded. They paid for the groceries and went home without incident.
It was when they got home that the incidents started.
Ring.
Joey turned to Jen, a look of confusion on her face. "What the hell...?" She asked, pausing from putting away the eggs.
Jen shot Joey a sheepish look and pulled a cell phone out of her bag. "Jen." Joey laughed and continued putting away the groceries.
"Hello Jennifer."
"Hello Screamwannabe." Jen said into the phone. "Goodbye Screamwannabe." She clicked off the phone, then turned it back on so calls could be gotten.
"What was that?" Joey asked, slightly amused.
"Remember in Scream how the person went: Hello Sidney?" She did her best to remake the voice. Joey nodded. "Well, he went 'Hello Jennifer'." Just like in the movie."
"Oh." Joey shut the fridge door and moved to the pantry where she put away the rest of the food.
The phone rang again.
Jen and Joey exchanged a look, then Joey grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Hello Josephine."
"Who is this?" Joey whispered.
"Your science teacher."
Joey's face contorted to one of fear. "Go to hell you bastard." She said harshly, then hung up the phone.
"Joey? What did he say?"
"Hello Josephine. This is your science teacher."
"Oh Joey..." Jen hugged her, then turned on the phone. She dialed a number and waited. "Pacey! Yeah... It's Jen."
"Hey Jen! Is everything o-" Pacey broke off as he heard Joey's sobs in the background. "What happened?" He exclaimed, sitting up straight and listening hard.
There was a shifting sound, and then a crying voice: "Pacey?"
"Yeah, yeah it's me baby. What happened?"
"He-he said that he was my science teacher."
"Who? Jo, calm down. Tell me who."
"I-I don't know. Jen and I got these strange calls."
"Okay. I'll be there in... 10 minutes alright?"
"Okay." Joey whispered. "Please hurry."
"I will. Love you darlin'." He hung up the phone and threw off his vest. "Mark! You gotta cover for me! My girlfriend's in trouble."
"No prob. Pacey! Take the rest of the night off." Mark assured.
"Thanks man. I owe ya big." He ran out of the place.