Little Sorrowed Talk
Joey sat on the end of the pier. She remembered the last time she'd been there, sitting like this. It had been that morning after she discovered Dawson and Jen in his bed. Later that day she'd been found in his closet and they'd shared a few moments of uncharted territory. Afterwards, she'd gone home, to find Pacey waiting for her. They took another journey and after he left, she went back to Dawson's. To try and find out what was going on. She really cared for him; or so she thought.
He'd kissed her, and she, for once, hadn't backed away...until after the few minutes had passed. She'd stepped away and almost fallen to the bed. He had backed away until he was half-sitting on the desk edge.
"So . . ." she trailed off.
"So . . ." he echoed. Her teeth tugged at her lower lip as she imagined expressing what she was feeling. It hadn't happened like she'd thought it would. It hadn't gone the way it was supposed to, and it certainly didn't feel the way she'd hoped. As she continued to gaze at him, his eyes seemed to cloud over, masking his emotions from her. After a few moments of silence had been stretched out before them, she broke the silence.
"Dawson . . ." he raised his eyes to meet hers and unclenched his fingers from around the molding on the desk. He was shaken, that was plain to see.
"Yeah Jo?" He nearly choked the words out. She frowned and threw her hands up in desperation.
"Nothing. I think I should leave." She paused when she reached the window, waiting for him to stop her, to call her back, anything . . .
"Goodnight," was all he said and Joey sighed as she climbed through the window.
Dawson had been her obsession for so long that she'd forgotten what it was like to be close to other people. People like Pacey. She'd in no way been in love with Pacey. Not then. Joey wasn't even sure if she had still been in love with Dawson. Or everin love with Dawson.
But when she was with Pacey, she had felt something. Something indescribable. Something . . . magical. It had been brand new and she liked it. She liked Pacey. And the feelings she'd developed for Dawson slowly began to diminish when Pacey took her out that night.
Joey smiled faintly as the memories ceased to flood her mind. She stared out at the sunset, her bare legs swinging against the wood. The night birds were beginning to come out. She could hear them singing. It was still warm. People were lounging on their porches, or mowing lawns, trying to savor the last few rays of sunlight.
Once more, Joey smiled, this time, to herself. She stood up, put on her sandals, and began making her way towards the road, intent on paying a call to the Witter household.
Pacey answered the door on the third knock.
He'd been half lying on the couch, a dark head of hair pressed against his jaw, and a hand resting on his forearm. The television was blasting and the lights were off, the room dark, for the sun had gone down just a bit ago.
The knock was actually what had woken him up. A sharp rap on the outside door. Pacey leaned the girl back gently, and stood up, blinking a few times and running his fingers through his mussed hair. He padded down the hall in woolen socks and as he swung the door open, his toes curled against the slight wind blowing at the opening.
God...her eyes are huge... He shoved the incoherent thought from his mind. Her eyes had always been big, and her hair had always been dark, bent that perfect way. But her legs and arms hadn't always been that dark, and her stance hadn't always been so confident.
"Hi Pacey." He blinked again as she spoke and his fingers gripped the door frame as he answered her.
"Hey Joey." She smiled. She was standing there, hands behind her back, looking past him into the house, but still, he didn't invite her in. "You look good."
"Thanks, Pace. So do you." She paused. "How've you been?" He shrugged.
"Not bad. Parents are gone, if you didn't notice. House is cold, and dark, yet, loving and heart - warming." She smirked and he relaxed his hold on the wall.
"So...can I come in, or do I have to stand out here all night?" She tried to step past him, but he moved in front of her, placing his hands on her arms, and gently, pushing her back onto the porch. Her eyes narrowed and he stepped outside, trying to make it look less conspicuous.
"Sorry, but I'd rather not if you don't mind." She tilted her head to the side a little and looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Finally she shrugged.
"No problem I guess. What've you been up to?" He smiled once and threw up his hands.
"Not a lot. The usual I guess." His breath caught in his throat as a cold hand touched the back of his neck. Pacey's head whipped to the side and the porch light glinted off dark hair. The girl smiled at him, and then turned to Joey with a smile completely free of malice and spite.
Pacey looked back at Joey, his composure shattered completely. His mouth was open; he was gasping for the words. Her eyebrow was still lifted, her eyes bright with mischief, and her smile dangerous. He could read her mind. The usual, eh?
"Hello, Angela. My name is Joey."