It Happened One Night
by Spookmuldy
I, Erin Ashby, swear that this fanfic can only be seen on Lisa's DC
Fanfic Page under the topic of road trips for the week of August 16-22,1998
Author's Note: Yeah, I know this one of the suggestions Earthy made for
the topic of road trips and I know a bunch of people will probably do the
exact same thing but the I was gonna write a story like this ANYWAY so ha and
ha. Oh, and at the beginning of each section it says what the time of day it
is, obviously it is not implying that this all happened on the same day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere in Massachusetts
9:14 A.M.
"Are we there yet?" Pacey asked in his most annoying voice.
"Pacey, I swear you say that one more time you're going to be finding
cheetos in places you never imagined."Joey hissed.
"Oooh, was that a c'mon?" he asked with a sly smile.
"Guys, can you possibly be civil to eachother? We've been on the road
an entire forty minutes."
"As appealing as the idea of gallavanting off to L.A. at a moment's
notice is, I never agreed to being stuck back here with the human incarnation of
testosterone himself." Joey complained. Pacey rolled his eyes.
Jen smirked at the exchange and continued to stare out the window,
having first called window seat after Dawson called shot gun in Bodie's brand
new Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Bodie, the adult chaperone, who had decided to organize a road trip to
California while Bessie stayed at her mothers to bond with Alex just
stared at the road singing along to an old Beastie Boys album.
"Hey Jo, I'll strike a truce, "Pacey said, "I will never say that again
if you will take that sardonic tough-chick scowl off your face. Because
someday when you're thirty five and staring at the mirror you'll have lines right
there and hate yourself. Let me spare you the insecurity."
"It's nice to know you care." she said wryly.
"See! There you go again! Look at this way, Jo. We start our trade
mark bantaring now we're gonna kill each other by the time we get to Vegas.
Let's quit now, while we're ahead. " He stuck out his hand, "Truce?"
Joey reguarded it, a little confused by Pacey's sudden concern with
their relationship.
She shrugged and shook his hand.
"Truce." she said with a sigh.
********************************************
Somewhere in Ohio
1:23 P.M.
"C'mon Bodie, we're hungry. I saw a billboard for Denny's back there,
it should be the next exit." Joey whined.
Dawson made a face, "Denny's? Blech, I'd rather eat cardboard."
Pacey handed him an auto bingo card, "Bon appetite."
"Do they serve grand slams all day?" Dawson asked.
*******************************************
At Denny's
Somewhere in Ohio
2:00 P.M.
Pacey watched as Joey took spoonfuls of her chocolate milk shake. She
was killing him and she didn't even know it. She would dip her spoon in and
slooowly lick the chocolate and whipped cream off. He knew she wasn't
doing it on purpose, but he might as well have been watching the blue channel
for all she was doing to him. He swallowed and attempted to focus on the
rest of his cheese burger. It wasn't working.
"So, we ready to jam?" Bodie asked.
Joey nodded, "Sure, I'll just ask for a cup for this and finish it in
the car...hope they have plastic spoons."
"Oh God..."Pacey whispered.
Dawson glanced at him , concerned, "Hey man, what's wrong?"
"Nothing that a swan dive into the arctic sea and nude pictures of Janet
Reno won't cure." he mumbled.
******************************************
Somewhere in Kentucky
4:14 P.M.
"Hey Pacey," Dawson asked after a lull in conversation, "who would you
rather have, Betty or Veronica."
Pacey rolled his eyes, "No contest, my man. Betty every time."
"Why? You have a thing for blondes?" Dawson asked, thinking back to Miss
Jacobs. Jen looked on with interest and Joey watched in fascination.
Pacey shook his head, "Not really but I always thought Betty was waaay
more likable than Veronica, sheesh what a bitch, rich city chick...she's
always dumping Arch than wanting him back, what's the deal with that?
Meanwhile Betty's always there for Archie, although he never realizes it."
Dawson considered this, "Archie and Betty...yeah they work."
Pacey shook his head again, "No, no...Archie doesn't deserve her. I
always thought Betty should've gotten together with Jughead."
Dawson did a double take, "Jughead??" he laughed, "What are you kidding
me?"
"No, really, "Pacey said, "Jughead may have acted like a loser but
underneath I believe he always had a secret crush on Betty. That's why he never
went with any other girl. I mean who wouldn't fall for her? She's the girl you
grow up with, sweeter than sweet yet tough. She's a dream girl."
"Yeah, but Jughead?" Dawson asked.
Joey spoke up, "You know I think he has a point, Dawson. Archie was way
too indescisive he belonged with that fickle Veronica. Jughead deserves a
chance for true love, right?"
Dawson shrugged, "I guess."
Jen rolled her eyes, "I think you guys are way too analytical."
Joey considered the analogy, mulling it over. Dawson was most definatly
Archie, that was a given. And though the hair color was a bit wrong
Jen could be no one but Veronica while she was Betty. But who was Jughead?
Pacey, he was the only one left. She frowned at the concept. Shrugging
off the notion, she fell asleep to the comforting motion of the tires on the
road.
***********************************************
Somewhere in Missouri
at about 1 AM
Jen sighed as she leafed through one of her young girl-buy
make-up-now-and-wear-skimpy-tank-tops-lose-weight-in-ten-days-using-only-a-nectarine
magazines, she stopped on one particular page and smiled fondly.
Meanwhile Bodie was mindlessly driving, singing along to some softly playing
oldies, Pacey and Dawson were asleep having played a very intense game of 6
Degrees of Kevin Bacon and Joey was gazing out the window deep in thought. Jen
chuckled, bringing Joey out of her reverie. Joey gazed down at the magazine Jen
was looking at. It was a picture of the guy who played Zack on Saved by
the Bell. Jen was practically drooling on it.
Joey raised an eyebrow, "Deep in meditation are we?" she asked.
Jen's head snapped, "What?..oh. Yeah, you caught me. I always kind of
had a thing for Mark Paul Gossler...well, not really him but the character."
she shrugged, "I mean I know he's sort of a Ferris Beullar rip off, but he's
cute!"
"I guess." Joey said uncertainly.
"So what about you, Jo?" Jen asked, "Any celebrity crushes I should know
about?"
Joey started to give her the usual annoyed look and then her face broke
into an embarassed smile, "Well...there is one..."
"Do tell!" Jen said excitedly.
Joey sighed, "It's kind of obscure but..."
"Who??"Jen insisted.
"You know the lead singer from Matchbox 20? Rob Thomas?"
Jen screwed up her face, "Him??"
Joey nodded, "Oh yeah...that part at the end of Real World? He's wearing
this black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black jeans....yikes..."
Pacey sighed in his sleep and caught Jens attention, all of a sudden her
eyes lit up, "Hey Joey..."
"Huh?" she asked.
"Look at Pacey. See anything familiar?"
Joey frowned, "What are you talking about?"
"Joey, close your eyes." Jen said.
"What??"
"Just do it."
Joey made a face and closed her eyes, "Okaaay."
"Picture Pacey's face."
"Do I have to?" She asked chuckling.
"Just do it." Jen insisted.
"Okay, now what?"
"Picture the hair a little longer, put him in a black button down with
rolled up sleeves, black jeans, now give him a semi-angry brooding glare..."
Joey gasped, "Oh my God...Pacey!"
"Interesting, no?" Jen asked.
"Yeah...spooky. Hey, Jen. On that note, picture Dawson."
"Okay."
"Now put him in a button down and a letter jacket and stoned washed
jeans...high top reeboks and a mischeivous fun loving grin...shorter
hair..."
"Zack! Good God."
Joey nodded, "No kidding. That's altogether..."
"Spooky." They said in unison.
Pacey had been drifting in and out of sleep. When he heard Joey's voice
he woke instantly but still pretended to be off in dream land. At the
comparison of himself versus Joey's crush he kept his face straight, but
in his head he was beaming.
**********************************************
Somewhere in Kansas
10AM
As Bodie pulled over to the cheap motel and they all checked in, Pacey
thought about the comparison of himself with Rob Thomas. As he sleepily changed
into a t-shirt and boxers and crawled onto one of the twin beds in the room
he was sharing with Dawson he thought about it. As he fell back to sleep he
thought about it. And then he dreamed about it. Now, it was morning, they had
eaten a lovely diner breakfast and were back on the road. The radio was
blaring, Dawson was nitpicking the career of Mel Gibson, Jen who was now riding
shot gun was reading an article on skin care and Joey was pretending to be
paying attention to Dawson.
Suddenly an oppurtunistic song came on the radio, both Joey and Pacey's
heads looked up to Dawson's confusion.
Pacey, deciding to seize the moment, sang along, right to Joey,
"She said I don't know if I've ever been good enough.
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in,
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved,
By a hand that's touched me,
And I feel like something's gonna give,
And I'm a little bit angry..."
Pacey continued to sing the song along with Matchbox 20, wearing the
brooding angstish glare of the lead singer, Joey's blush went deeper and deeper
and she wondered it was pure coincidence or if he somehow knew. Meanwhile
Dawson shrugged and read a review of Saving Private Ryan. And Pacey finished
the song.
"Like that?" Pacey asked hopefully.
"Uh...uh, yeah. Sure. Nice." Joey mumbled, looking away and for once at
a loss for words.
"Thought you would." Pacey said. "So...what's that book I saw you
reading before?"
The question thankfully broke the tension and launched a full discussion
on John Steinbeck which Joey curiously enough enjoyed. She found to her
suprise that Pacey had been paying some attention in class even before Miss
Jacobs, though he hadn't shown it academically he actually seemed to know what
he was talking about. She was seeing the same side of him she'd seen that day
with the snails. The thought made her smile.
**************************************************
8PM
A specific place in Las Vegas....The Strip
They were finishing dinner in a restraunt/bar called The Wiley Toucan.
There was even a dance floor though it wasn't quite over run at the moment, a
few couples danced to some overplayed pop songs. Pacey had been staring
pointedly at Joey all day and she was trying to ignore it but inside she was
wondering what the heck was wrong with him, denying to herself the truth she knew
down inside.
Finally he cracked.
"Hey, Jo. Wanna dance?" he asked.
Jen, Dawson and Bodie looked at him in shock.
"What?" he asked, "I'm in the mood to dance okay? Anything wrong with
that?"
They shrugged and looked at Joey expectantly.
"No pressure, "she mumbled, "Ah, what the heck. Fine."
They stood and walked off to the dance floor.
Dawson shook his head and frowned, "What the heck is going on with
them..."he muttered, and looked at Jen, " Have you noticed? They've been real
buddy buddy all week."
Jen shrugged, "The road does strange things to a person." she said
mysteriously.
"I guess." he said.
Back on the dance floor Pacey and Joey were attempting to dance to a
Natalie Imbruglia song, never an easy task. As soon as it was over a slower
song came on. Joey blushed and Pacey rejoiced inside. He put his arms around her
waist, she put her arms around his neck and they swayed, cheek to cheek.
"I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While your'e far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe,
And I don't wanna miss a thing..."
Pacey closed his eyes, reveling in the moment as Joey danced in a daze,
wondering what was happening. As the song ended Pacey leaned back and
they gazed at eachother, lost in each other's eyes.
"Meet me at three am...at the motel pool." Pacey whispered. Then he let
go of her, walked to the bar, asked for a glass of ice water, went to the bath
room and poured it over his head. Joey went back to the table, a dazed look
on her face, sat down, took a deep breath and finished off the large iced tea
she'd ordered, hoping the redness of her cheeks had disapeared.
************************************************
The Copa Bonanza Motel Pool
3AM
Joey, who had taken it upon herself to sneak out of bed, dress up in a
white sundress she'd brought for the trip, sweep her hair up in a sweeping
...hair thing, apply the only make-up she knew how to flawlessly apply:
lipstick, was almost trembling with apprehension and she didn't know why. This was
Pacey. This was Pacey Witter. This was ridiculous. She almost turned back and
then thought about how hurt Pacey would be. And the urge to see him was too
strong anyway, which was quite enough to scare her out of her wits.
The moment she stepped out onto the astro turfed patio she heard music
began to play. But not just any music.
"She says it's cold outside and she hands me my raincoat
She's always worried about things like that
She says it's gonna end and it might as well be my fault
And she only sleeps when it's raining
And she screams and her voice is straining
She says baby
It's 3 am I must be lonely..."
Joey walked to the lawn chair baring a boom box, next to which there was
another lawn chair with an envelope. But no Pacey. Next to the
envelope there was a note, it said:
Read the letter and wait for me.
Joey picked up the envelope which she now saw had her name on it and
opened it.
"Dear Joey,
I have alot to say...."
What followed was the most passionate yet realistically awkward
declaration of love Joey had ever seen in all her viewings of Hollywood romances and
prime time television. It was so honest and heartfelt, Joey felt her heart
would burst. It took her the next three songs that played on the boom box for
her to read it. And soon she was crying, having never known how strongly
Pacey felt for her.
Finally "Real World" began to play.
Joey heard a foot step and from behind a shed on the other side of the
pool Pacey appeared. Joey looked up and gasped, and then grinned from ear to
ear through her tears, feeling her blood began to heat up and her heart
began to race.
He was wearing...what else? A black button down shirt and black jeans.
Good God...she thought to herself...Jen was right.
Joey stood, still holding the letter as Real World blared.
"I wonder what it's like to be the rainmaker
I wonder what it's like to know that I made the rain
I'd store it in boxes with little yellow tags on everyone
And you can come and see them when I'm... done, when I'm done"
"Pacey..."Joey whispered, walking up to him as he stood shyly, "I didn't
know...I..I never knew."
He stared at the ground, "Now you know."he said softly, "I love you, Joey.
I've loved you for a long time."
She reached up and smoothed back a lock of his hair, "You're not so bad
yourself." she said. Finally she gave up and threw her arms around his
neck, engaging him in a fierce hug. Pacey hugged back and swayed together to
the song. They didn't, however, notice how close they were to the edge of
the pool. Until a fateful sway swayed them right into the moodily lit water.
Joey shreiked and then laughed, she dove under, reveling the feeling of
swimming in her clothes and came up to find Pacey who was smiling at her
in her soaking wet white sundress.
He laughed, "I think that ruined the moment."
"No, "Joey said shaking her head, slightly oggling Pacey and the way his
black button down stuck to his rather nicely shaped chest, "it perfected it."
They came towards each other in the water and kissed, then lost their
balance and fell in the water towards the deep end where they enjoyed the taste
of chlorine flavored kisses in their own personal blue lagoon.
The came up finally, for air, "California here we come." Joey whispered.
"Please don't change, please don't break
The only thing that seems to work at all is you
Please don't change, at all from me
To you, and you to me"
*****************************THE END************************
Write to Spookmuldy
Back to the Road Trips Page
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
Get your own Free Home Page