I, H.Fenton, agree that Some Day Out can only be posted on the DC Fan Fic Forum under the topic of Guys/Girls day out for the week of August 30.

Some Day Out
by Charlie

"Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to a fun-day-out-camping-if-Dawson-can-get-the-tent-up-day we go!!!", chorused Pacey in his best dwarf voice. "C’mon, Dopey," said Dawson as he strode ahead of his friend. "Let’s get to the woods before it starts getting really hot."

The boys put their heads down and started to pull away from Capeside. They were both cutting school for the day which was very Pacey like, but very, very unDawson-like. But it was a beautiful early summer’s day. Dawson had decided that his life was too orderly and comfortable. To be a good writer and director, he explained to his best friend, he needed to experience risks and hardships and pain. Pacey, who had experienced plenty of this in his 15 years, was just happy to take off for the day when Dawson phoned him about the trip. "I mean I’m happy to swap lives with you any time you want to Dawson," he said. "And I mean that from the bottom of my heart."

"Uh, thanks buddy," said Dawson. "But living with Deputy Doug and your three scary sisters, let alone your fun-loving dad, may overload my angst quota and leave me with writer’s block for the rest of my days."

Pacey laughed wryly. "Ah, so that’s what I’ve got." But he agreed to meet up with Dawson at the crack of dawn the next day.

And so the two friends trudged on getting further and further from Capeside. They had been hiking along the road for about an hour, when a truck pulled up beside them.

"Well, if it isn’t Hansel and Gretel," said a mocking voice from the truck.

"Oh no, please, tell me it’s not.." Pacey turned round and saw that his worst nightmare had come true. In the Witter family truck smirking out of the window, was the face of his older brother Doug, and in the passenger seat beside him was Doug’s best friend, Matt.

"Guys, guys," said Doug. "Matt and I were just enjoying our day off with a cool beer in the back yard, when we were interrupted by an interesting call from the principal."

Dawson groaned and Pacey stared angrily at his brother. "Relax boys. I haven’t given you away. At least not yet," Doug grinned. "I thought Matt and I here could join in your fun day out and then this evening, we can explain to dad together, why you weren’t at school, huh Pace?"

"My life is over," Pacey whispered to Dawson. Then to Doug: "Listen Dougie, you’ve caught us fair and square, but why don’t we just go back home now? Dawson and me’ll turn ourselves in quietly. You win. Then you and your pretty lady can just head on into the woods and have a nice romantic time without us."

Doug’s smile had faded. "Just watch your mouth, smartass," he snapped. "Get into the truck, before I get out and throw you in." The boys did as they were ordered and the truck started up again. Dawson and Pacey sat in silence in the back and stared at the beers and food stacked neatly on the floor.

"Uh, where are we going, big brother?" he asked, ignoring Dawson’s warning look. "Aren’t officers of law supposed to help innocent children, not kidnap them?"

"Keep your mouth closed, Pacey," warned Matt, as he swigged out of a beer bottle.

"I’m just trying to point out to my not-so-bright sibling, that taking people where they don’t want to go is an offence. I can’t imagine the scandal. Daddy’s little lap dog in jail."

The car screeched to a halt and Doug leapt out the driver’s seat, opened the back door and yanked his brother out of the truck. "OK, you asked for it loser. You walk from here. He shoved Pacey onto the ground and got back into the truck.

"Hey man, you can’t do that," Dawson shouted angrily from the back. Stop the truck".

"Relax," said Matt. "It’s a time-honoured tradition. Pacey always gets to walk a couple of miles when we go out in the car. Then he hasn’t got so much energy to make smart remarks."

The men laughed and Dawson slumped back in his seat. Thank goodness I’m an only child he thought, and for the first time he really began to appreciate Pacey’s many complaints about his home life. Two miles down the road the truck stopped again. They were nearly at the woods. Matt and Doug settled down with a cold beer and switched on the radio. Dawson got himself a cold drink and sipped it while looking anxiously out the back window.

Before long Pacey’s figure came into sight and soon he was back at the truck looking extremely sweaty and pissed off. Dawson threw him a drink.

"Ha, ha, very funny, Doug." Pacey snapped. "I sincerely hope that when I’m 24, I’ll have better things to do than pull unfunny stunts like this on my day off work."

"I doubt you’ll actually be in work, squirt," Doug replied. "Er sorry, but I don’t think you’ve learned your first lesson of the day. Respect for your much, much betters." He fired the truck up again and drove off. But this time he stopped only a few hundred yards up the road. Pacey soon caught up with the vehicle and hopped in the back without a word. Dawson gave him a sympathetic grin. "I hope you’re getting a load of stuff for your writing, buddy," said Pacey. "Although I seem to be having all the bad experiences at the moment."

"Hmmm," said Dawson.

The truck which had been rumbling along a little track in the woods ground to a halt and Matt and Doug jumped out. They hauled their beers and gear onto the ground and told the boys to hop out. Dawson and Pacey stood nervously by their rucksacks. The woods were quiet and the two older youths were regarding them,with faint menace. "OK, guys, the learning experience starts here. Bring the gear and follow us," said Doug. He swung over a gate and started along an overgrown path. Matt followed him and Dawson and Pacey shrugged at each other and then hauled up the bags and followed on.

"Getting enough excitement?" asked Pacey wryly. "I think I’d’ve preferred double maths, myself."

"Gee Pace. I mean is your brother sane? They’re not really going to hurt us are they?"

"Well, obviously he is a psychopath, but he’s only occasionally violent…and always to his nearest and dearest. Don’t worry Dawson, you’re safe. He’s done this before. I know exactly what he’ll do. He’ll take us in the wood somewhere. Leave us and we have to find our way back before they finish their beer and head on home without us."

"You mean he’s done this before?"

"Oh, two or three times. I’ve always found my way back, cause he’s so lazy he can only be bothered to walk about half a mile, before he wants his beer. Very sad really."

"Doesn’t your dad get mad with him?"

Pacey laughed. "You’re kidding right?? Dad thought it was a great idea. A real joke. I think he hoped they’d lose me permanently."

"What will he do when he knows you wagged school?"

"Usual. Yell, lecture. Ban me from the house. What will your’s say?"

"Well, I think he’ll understand that it was something that I really needed to do. You know. I..uh… think he’ll say it was a neat idea, but that I shouldn’t do it again."

"Oh Dawson, Dawson. Where will we ever find some angst in your life," said Pacey sadly.

"Well, I’m going off that idea," said Dawson, honestly. "But I have a great plan to get back at those two bullies. Listen."

The boys conferred quietly together until they got to a clearing in the wood by a stream. "OK guys, this’ll do," said Doug. "Throw the stuff down and come with us. We’ve got a fun game for you both."

Pacey and Dawson exchanged glances and Dawson gave a slight nod.

"Listen," he said to Doug. "I’m fed up of all this, I don’t want to be lumped with this loser all the time. He’s got me into this. It was his idea to cut class and now I’m in a heap of trouble. My dad will be absolutely furious and I’ll be grounded for a month. I may as well enjoy my day off now."

"Hmmm", said Doug, thoughtfully. "Maybe I should let you off as well, little bro. I mean dad is going to put your sorry butt through the grinder anyway this evening so why should I exert myself? Yep, Dawson, you’re one smart kid. Hey, loser! Go and sit under that tree there. Don’t move and above all don’t speak and you may just get back home in one piece."

A couple of hours later and the shadows had grown longer. Pacey had with a supreme effort held his tongue and answered Doug civilly at all times so it had been relatively peaceful. He could see Dawson’s plan was working and the older boys were slumped on a comfortable grassy knoll, their mouths open and faintly snoring. He got up cautiously. "Way to go Dawson," he said quietly. "What now?"

"Let’s give them a taste of their own little game", said his friend grimly. "Give me a hand with these bags."

"Quickly they loaded themselves up with the bags and Pacey, holding his breath, carefully picked up the keys that were poking out of a rucksack pocket near Doug’s head. Then they were away, not daring to talk until they were nearly at the truck.

When they were in the truck and Pacey had started it up, they both whooped with laughter and gave each other the high fives. "Way to go," said Pacey. "Now let’s get home."

"Hey man, are you really gonna leave them there, " said Dawson anxiously. "I mean they won’t get home until tomorrow morning."

"Exactly, my man."

"But Doug will seriouly damage your health when he gets his hands on you."

"Sometimes Dawson, the consequences are worth the actions," said Pacey with a grin. "Really, I’ve got nothing to lose. My dad’s gonna be mad as hell, Dougie’s gonna beat me to a pulp, but they do that anyway. So I may as well do something really bad that actually deserves the abuse for once."

"That sucks man. I just don’t think I could live like that."

"Dawson, I don’t have a choice. You can’t choose the parents you’re born to, or the siblings. Pity. I’d’ve definitely chosen the Leery household, anyway, my folks sure wouldn’t have chosen me!"

"Hey. Maybe you could have chosen to be Miss Jacobs son."

"Ooooh, too weird man. Can’t get my mind round that one."

The truck swung onto the main road back to Capeside, just as the sun started going down.

"C’mon ET. Let’s go home," said Pacey, with a grin.


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