Beyond the Triangle
Part 17 - The Less Obvious Case
Jack and Ryan approach. Pacey kiddingly wraps his arm around Jack's shoulder.
Pacey: It’s about time.
Jack: Since when are you on time?
Pacey: Since I actually want to spend time with my friends.
Jack brushes Pacey's arm off of him and glares at him.
Jack: As opposed to before?
Ryan moves toward Jen as they both watch them.
Pacey: (sheepishly) I guess I’m trying to move away from certain people.
Jack: That would mean that since Joey isn’t by your side, that you suddenly notice other people.
Pacey: (indignantly) I’m not that bad.
Jack rolls his eyes.
Jack: I’ve never seen a couple more self-involved than you two. (pointing to Jen and Ryan) At least these two can stay apart for more than two seconds when they’re in the same place.
Pacey: You’ll be satisfied to know that is no longer a concern.
Jen: (whispers to Ryan) Any reason why he’s pissed off?
Ryan: Sorry, I don't have my psychic ball handy.
Jen playfully shoves Ryan away and raises her voice.
Jen: There’s this film Before Night Falls that I’ve been hearing good things about...
Jack: (snaps at her) Not today, Jen. Not today.
Pacey looks in Jack's direction and has trouble reading his expression. Jen gives Jack a pleading look, which he completely ignores.
Pacey: I’m more interested in mindless fun then the Serious Artiste right now.
Ryan: I second Pacey’s motion.
Pacey raises his eyebrows, shocked that someone’s agreeing with him. He mockingly bows down.
Pacey: Thank you, Farrelli.
Jen: Ugh, I can’t believe you’ve already come up with a nickname.
Pacey: I must. After all, there’s you Lindley, my sweet Jo, the D-Man...
Jen: What about Jackers? Not special enough for one?
Pacey: Well, he’s (pauses, then holds his hands like a photo shot) just Jack.
Jack: (astonished) You watch Will & Grace?
Jen: That’s a surprise. (teasing) Is there something about you that we don’t know.
Pacey flattens down his coat in an exaggerated fashion.
Pacey: I think not. I’m the straightest guy I know.
Jen: (laughs) Oh, and here I thought you were trying to play for Jack’s team. What a disappointment.
Ryan notices Jack’s uneasiness about the sudden conversation turn.
Ryan: Oh pul-lease Jenner. He probably just read somewhere that Grace is coming out as a lesbian and is hoping for female-female action.
Pacey laughs uncomfortably.
Jen: Oh, yeah, you’re right.
Pacey: Yeah, you’ve got me figured out. On that wavelength, I have a suggestion. How about Sweet November?
Jen: There's no lesbian action there, Pace. Sorry.
Pacey: I know that but Charlise Theron is fetching enough for me. Besides, it’s got Keanu Reeves (wagging his finger in Jen's direction) and a romantic comedy on top of that. Have I got your interest yet?
Jen: (throws her hands up in the air) Fine.
Ryan: Sounds fine. Jack?
Jack sighs, then nods in agreement.
* * * * *
Scene: In movie theater about an hour into the movie.
Jen: (to self) Could we have picked a more boring movie? Damn, even the lure of Keanu isn't enough.
Jen begins to nod off. She is jolted up by Pacey's head landing on her shoulder.
Jen: (shoves Pacey off) Find another leaning post, Witter. (to self) I guess the chick is even less interesting than he is.
Pacey: (in his sleep) What?
Jen: This was your suggestion. You could at least stay awake.
Pacey lazily nods in agreement then falls right back to sleep.
Jen: (mutters) Just stay off me.
A couple of minutes later, Jen feels someone on her other shoulder.
Jen: Ryan, wake up.
Ryan: (whispers) I am awake. I was just checking if you were. I could hear the heavy breathing of someone sleeping.
Jen: You heard Pacey.
Ryan raises his head and turns toward her.
Ryan: Since we're both still alive, I have a better way to enjoy this movie.
Jen: What are you.. (she stops speaking and glances slyly towards him) Is there a way to enjoy this?
Ryan: (grins) I can think of one method.
Jen faces him and leans closer.
Jen: (coyly) I have no idea what you're talking about. Un-less you mean (she gives him a peck on the cheek and backs away) this?
Ryan: That's certainly step one to my plan.
Ryan pulls her toward him and kisses her. Jen softly laughs. Ryan wraps his arm around her as they pretend to resume watching the film, interrupting every few minutes with an extra kiss or a barely audible whisper.
About ten minutes later, Pacey's head lands on Jen's shoulder again, crushing Ryan's arm in the process.
Ryan: Hey, what was that?
Jen: (slightly irritated) Pace, I don't want to do this again. (pushes Pacey off, landing perfectly on Jack's shoulder) Would you say that was a solid push?
Ryan marvels over at how cute Pacey and Jack look together and tries not to react.
Ryan: You have perfect accuracy, Jenner.
Jen grins as she leans over to Ryan's seat and leans her head against him.
Jen: This should solve that problem. Now, about this little problem we're having. (she jerks on the collar of his shirt and they resume kissing)
Meanwhile, Jack wakes up feeling something on his shoulder. At first thinking it's a dream, he is startled to hear heavy breathing. He wakes up to find Pacey is in fact asleep on his shoulder.
Jack: Look Witter you're not sleeping on me.
As he's about to push him off, he notices Jen and Ryan's makeout session on the other side of Pacey.
Jack: Dammit, I can't interrupt them. (sighs then looks at Pacey) Oh well, this is as close as we're gonna get in actuality. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
Jack leans his head closer to Pacey's. Jack is able to stay completely awake as he savors this rare opportunity.
* * * * *
Scene: Jen and Jack are entering McPhee house. Jen glares at Jack coldly.
Jack: What’s your problem?
Jen: Mine, nothing. Yours? I wish I knew. What the hell was with the bitchy attitude?
Jack: I’m sorry. I was just a little cranky. I had fallen asleep and was having a dream when Ryan showed up.
Jack heads over to the answering machine, where he sees the light blinking.
Jen: Oh. Remind me the next time we go to the movies that you can choose whatever you want. Apparently, my taste is beginning to suck.
Jack: I’d guess, judging by what I saw, you weren’t too upset about the lousy movie. (he reverts his attention to the message)
Jen: Oh, you caught that? I thought you were asleep. Anyway, before that, I was actually forming this utterly brilliant plan regarding..
Jack picks up the phone and begins dialing.
Jen: What are you doing?
Jack: That was Patrick. He was calling about meeting tomorrow.
Jen: Patrick? I thought he, um, (trying to figure out a tactful way to phrase it) blew you off.
Jack: It was actually a "let’s be friends" speech. Which is actually what’s happening.
Jen relishes the opportunity and props herself by the phone. Jack rolls his eyes, then punches in the number.
Jack: Hi, is Patrick there?... It's Jack.. doing well, thanks.. you have to drag the old crows along.. I guess I could deal with them.
Jen: Yes!
Jack: (covering the receiver) Cut it out, Jen. (taking hand off the receiver) Yeah, Jen Lindley's sitting six inches away from me, ready to pounce in case I say something wrong (laughs) You know, it's funny, those two finally stopped dancing around the subject, yet she's still getting on my nerves about my part of that weekend.
Jack holds his arm out, knowing full well that Jen is going to slap him for that remark. He is surprised when she doesn't oblige and retracts his arm.
Jack: I'll see you then.
Jack hangs up the phone, then heads into the kitchen. Jen takes a deep sigh, then darts right after him. She is standing across from him at the table while he is sitting down eating an apple.
Jen: You're trying to build the suspense.
Jack: Am I succeeding?
Jen: (grins) Not really. (she slaps him in the arm, catching him off-guard) So what did he say?
Jack: It's not what you think. In light of the original mission of trying to get me more comfortable around gays, he suggested I attend a meeting of the Gay/Lesbian Teen Coalition.
Jen: (racking her brain) Why does that sound familiar?
Jack: (taking another bite from the apple) It's the same organization Cheryl was determined to get to speak for the sole purpose of fixing me up. And please refrain from pointing out the irony of that.
Jen: I will try but you're making it so difficult.
Jen lets out a squeaking sound in attempting not to laugh.
Jack: Try harder. Because this isn't a date. Patrick made that perfectly clear. He invited Marty and the other ladies from the poker game to attend as well.
Jen: So basically, if you decide to bail, you have to answer to Marty. (rubbing her hands together) Which also means that I don't have to tag along. For a change.
Jack: I hope you can detect that I'm breathing a sigh of relief at that news.
Jen tilts her head. Jack slouches his shoulders and holds his arm out. Jen punches his arm, feeling much better.
* * * * *
Scene: Pacey and Ryan in Pacey’s car. Pacey is clearly distracted.
Ryan: Something wrong?
Pacey: This whole weekend has been strange.
Ryan: You thought you’d still be dating Joey?
Pacey: Among other things. How am I supposed to get there?
Ryan: You turn left at the market, then a right at the abandoned warehouse. (pauses to notice Pacey intently focusing on the road) So, there's nothing else to get off your chest?
Pacey: Well, since I’ve got this opportunity, I was wondering something. What ever happened to Cheryl’s idea to get the Coalition to the Coffee Cup?
Ryan: Didn’t happen. (raises his eyebrows) Why would you want to know about that?
Pacey: (defensively) It was just a question.
Ryan: They’re still meeting in Province Town, if you’re interested.
Pacey: Why would I be interested?
Ryan: Why would you ask me that question in the first place?
Pacey squirms uncomfortably.
Pacey: I was just inquiring to make conversation.
Ryan: (not at all convinced, but certain he won't get an answer) Or are you trying to throw another dig at your brother Doug?
Pacey: (breathing a sigh of relief) Exactly. Same wavelength again.
Ryan: (chuckles) Something like that. (looks out the window) Where are we heading? This is certainly not the way to Cheryl’s.
Pacey: Oh, man, must’ve made a right when I should've done a left. (spots a very familiar house) I can not believe this. (he slams his hand against the steering wheel)
Ryan notices what had gotten Pacey’s attention: the sign to the Potter Bed & Breakfast.
Pacey: You know they are in there, analyzing every minute detail from the last nine months. She's trying to figure out exactly what was the moment that changed our relationship.
Ryan: She's probably convinced that Dawson is the cause of any problems, whether that is true or not.
Pacey: Well, it isn't true. I thought we needed time to grow.
Ryan: Which I believe based on recent events. I see the fights are technically about Joey being friends with Dawson, but it's actually more related to growing up and moving on.
Pacey: Growing up? Yeah, I guess that's one way to phrase it. Much simpler than the self-realization hooey Joey used when she dumped Dawson, that's for certain.
Ryan: (skeptically) Self-realization?
Pacey: I swear, that is the exact word she used.
Ryan: That sounds much more mature than she probably was at the time. She should stop taking advice from psychology books.
Pacey is taken aback by the remark, then begins laughing. Ryan is completely confused.
Pacey: Wait until you see this explode under Dawson's care. He could easily turn Cheryl into a full-blown encyclopedia in a couple of months.
Ryan: Great, so I have to deal with a brainiac on top of a control freak. (gazes at the roof of the car) I don't think I could take her being any more annoying.
Pacey: Then be glad you never really knew Andie. (Ryan looks back down, obviously not registering what he's talking about) That would be Jack's sister. I keep forgetting that you weren't a part of our dysfunctional group until very recently.
Ryan: So now I'm a part of this clique? No wonder you wanted to include me. I can certainly say I'm dysfunctional enough.
Pacey: (realizes his error) Look, that is not what I meant. It's just that, when I saw what was happening at the cafe, I started to associate you as if you were a close friend. I had to come to your defense. Someone had to do it. Let's just say that Dawson's involvement would have been restricted to creating a movie-of-the-week around it.
Ryan: I wish I knew what exactly you did so I could show more gratitude.
Pacey: I gathered from Jen about the other drama that unfolded. I'm not searching for praise. I'm just hoping there will be some semblence of peace. I can say that la famiglia Witter isn't the best, but it's gotten better over the years. There are moments that they are absolutely irritating but they are beginning to cancel out.
Ryan: Maybe someday, but I've decided to stop counting on it. It can drive you crazy asking "What if?"'s.
Pacey: "What if?"'s. You mean like, what if I told Dawson the truth about me and Joey?
Ryan: Exactly. Or, what I'm willing to bet the question Joey's asking Dawson right now: What if I did such-and-such differently? (swooningly) Would he still want me?
Pacey stops the car. Ryan turns to realize he's in front of Cheryl's house.
Pacey: Shut up, Farrelli. You know the answer to that.
Ryan: That it doesn't matter. I know. But it can really aggrevate you. Trust me on that one. (gets out of the car, holding the door in his hand) I've got one for you to ponder, what if I had realized I should be attending gay counseling clubs sooner?
Ryan shuts the door before giving Pacey a chance to reply. Pacey glares at him, then goes on his way.
Part 18 - Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night