Controlled Chaos
Part 3 - Resurrecting Demons
* * * * *
Scene: First day of classes. Jen, Jack and Cheryl walk into a very large lecture hall. Their eyes grow wide as they see so many people in the room. Jen leads them to a couple of empty chairs in a row in the back.
Cheryl: It's pretty cool we were at least able to get one class together.
Jen: Do you realize there are more people in this room then there were in all of Capeside High?
Jack: There has to be a thousand people here. No wonder we were able to all get into this Calculus class. Still, this will probably never happen again, all three of us in a class together.
Cheryl: True. I don't see you having the same schedule as us med school wannabes under most circumstances. But it's at least reassuring that there's one class we can all bitch about.
Jen: There's that freshman English class we're all required to take. Still, I see your point, Cheryl. Pre-med & psych have similar tracks but there's not much of a chance that Jack would volunteer to trudge through chemistry for us.
Jack: (nods) I'd guess the odds are approaching zero. Besides, we're all in different sections of that English class so the experiences would probably vary.
Jen: Yeah, I'd get the ruggedly handsome Midwesterner and you'll be stuck with Mr. Peterson's brother.
Jack: Rearrange those two and I'd be more than happy with the arrangement.
Cheryl and Jen burst out laughing.
Cheryl: (squinting) I think I see a professor down there. (barely hears him speaking over all the chatter) Yeah, I believe that would be him.
* * * * *
Scene: In the middle of a Freshman English class. It is a very small room, about twenty-five students.
Professor Chaney: (mid-speech) All freshmen are required to submit three essays to fulfill the writing requirement. In this par-ti-cular section, I will be placing you in groups of two. The purpose of these groups will be to provide feedback for your partner's work. Critique is very important for improving your writing. Since I suspect that most of don't know anybody, I have randomly determined the pairings. (pulls out a sheet of paper) Jackson and Monroe. Russell and Foley. McCormack and Hayes. Valentine and Farrell...
As the professor rattles off the rest of the names, Ryan looks around the room.
Ryan: (mutters) I guess Valentine's not the person I think it is. Just a coincidence.
Just then, Drue pops into the room.
Drue: Sorry I'm late. On my schedule, I was assigned to section 85 when it was actually section 86. (planting a smile on his face) I'm sorry to start this semester off on such a poor note.
Ryan: (mutters) What the hell did I do to deserve this?
Prof. Chaney: Don't worry about it. Just the first day so I'll give you a break.
As Drue heads for an empty desk, he spots Ryan. Drue shakes his head then sits down.
That doesn't mean that I'll allow it to pass next time. If you miss four classes, you will automatically fail the course. If you're more than five minutes late, it will be considered an absence. That is a strict rule I intend to enforce. Now, continuing on with this curriculum..
After class, Drue waits for Ryan to leave the classroom, then follows him in step.
Drue: This is quite a surprise. I'm surprised you made it out of the entrance exams.
Ryan: What a shame. Couldn't even get out of my first class without your presence.
Drue: I can't say it's reassuring that I'm relying on you for this stupid requirement.
Ryan: (muttering) We finally agree on something. Never thought that would happen.
Drue: (smirks) Actually, that's not true. We both enjoy the presence of a blonde on our side.
Ryan: And we're back to that again. You realize you don't have a chance and, despite what you may think, I'm not the only obstacle.
Drue: Meaning?
Ryan: You'd have to figure out a way to brainwash Jen. I'm just not sure you have that type of ability.
Drue: Backup plan. Your friend's a blonde, right?
Ryan tries to figure out who Drue's talking about, then realizes and stops dead in his tracks.
Ryan: Are you serious? I know I've questioned her dubious taste but.. you and Cher? (laughing) You are kidding, right?
Drue: Of course I have a certain prerequisite that involves personality. So she'd fail on that count.
Ryan: What a coincidence. You probably would too. Seriously, try finding a girl who has absolutely no clue who you are. You'll be much more successful that way.
* * * * *
Scene: Thursday night in the guys' room. Jack bursts in, startling Ryan, who was watching TV.
Jack: Come onnn. We're supposed to be meeting the girls at that party.
Ryan: I've got other plans.
Jack: (raises an eyebrow) You're kidding me. (waits for a response and doesn't get one) You're not kidding. You're really not attending?
Ryan: That's correct.
Jack: It might do you some good to mingle in, maybe it'll lead you to a major.
Ryan: One silly orientation-style get-together is not gonna change my life. Is that why you're going?
Jack: No, actually, I was supporting the others.
Ryan: I'd rather study B.U. in a different way. Don't you know that Thursday nights are known as party nights here?
Jack: You hate those type of parties.
Ryan: Thanks for the information. Need I remind you this is a new setting. It isn't essential to spend all your free time with the people you already know.
Jack: Fine. I'd love for you to give that explanation to them later on when they hunt you down.
* * * * *
Scene: At party with Jen and Cheryl, both holding Coke cans.
Jen: Have any ideas of a solid community service venture?
Cheryl: Why, you didn't end up back on probation again, did you.
Jen: No, it's just that my psych professor mentioned it as part of an assignment and I thought it sounded pretty interesting.
Cheryl: You could work at a child-care facility.
Jen: Nah, that's more Jack's thing than mine. When will he just admit that's where his future lies?
Cheryl: I think he's spooked out by the poor pay and the lack of appreciation. (takes a sip from the can) So Jack would be more than willing to volunteer with you.
Jen: I know but I've been more intrigued by working with adults somehow.
Drue: (sneaks up from behind) You could always work AA meetings or drug counseling. You have an abundance of knowledge on those subjects.
Jen sniffs loudly, holds her nose, causing Cheryl to giggle. She moves her hand, then turns around to face the intruder.
Jen: I had such high hopes of avoiding you. Did you have to ruin them in the first week?
Drue: Sorry to disappoint you but that would be absolutely impossible. I was actually unaware that you'd both make your presence here at this stuffy party. I know of this great frat party by my dorm..
Jen: Small cruel world, I suppose.
Jack: (surprises her by wrapping his arm around her) Very small and very cruel world.
Drue: I knew you couldn't be without your third girlfriend for long.
Cheryl: (turns to Jack) I thought you went to the dorm to pick up Ryan.
Jack: He decided not to come. Had other plans.
Jen: What the hell?
Drue: I'll translate. It means that he'd rather hook up with a hotter blonde at the frat party I mentioned.
Jen: Shut up, sewer boy. (to Jack) That's not what he meant, right.
Jack: I doubt it.
Jen: (mimicing) You doubt it?! Jack, are you hiding something from me?
Jack: Calm down.
Jen: I have reason to be suspicious. We keep missing each other. We haven't spent more than five minutes alone since we've gotten here. He's hiding something, I'm sure of it.
Drue is unable to hold back a smile.
Cheryl: (sneaking a glance at Drue) You're loving this too much.
Drue: It's what I live off of. Creating drama.
Cheryl pulls Drue away from the bickering duo.
Cheryl: I know your type. You're plotting already.
Drue: Let's just say that I intend to take full advantage of the opportunity I was presented in English.
Cheryl is puzzled by this.
Drue: I get to work with the boyfriend on the requirements for that class. That means I have been given a chance to have some fun here.
Cheryl: You and Ryan together? Intriguing pairing.
Drue: Speaking of plotting, I bet I'm not the only one doing that. You've been known to develop a scheme or two.
Cheryl: That's a distinct possibility. One which you'll just have to wait and see what develops.
* * * * *
Scene: Saturday night in the girls' dorm room. The Outsiders is playing in the background as they eat pizza.
Jen: I like this idea for a sleepover.
Andie: Well, I figured if I was coming over here to retrieve the CD Jack swiped from me, why not have an all-girls' retreat.
Cheryl: I have to admit, it's a little strange.
Andie: Why, because both of you prefer spending time with the opposite sex? I'm sorry, this is much more fun. (takes a bite out of her slice)
Phone rings.
Jen: Those guys can't do anything without us. They bugged me the last time. Cheryl, it's your turn.
Cheryl: (answers phone) You've reached the Love Shack, currently under renovations. (Jen and Andie try to suppress giggles)
Joey: Cheryl, is that you? It's Joey.
Cheryl: Oh, hi Joey.
Jen and Andie stop laughing and listen in.
Cheryl: No, not alone. You must have known that all three Capeside ladies were available.
Joey: Three? Andie's there too?
Cheryl: (pressing the speakerphone button) Yeah, Andie's making a cameo.
Jen, Andie: Hey Joey!
Joey: (brightly) Lovely timing!
Jen: How's Worthington?
Joey: Uptight people at every corner trying to convince you that you don't belong. Loads of classwork. Many unfamiliar faces I'm struggling to remember the names of. Wandering the halls seeing nothing even vaguely resembling Capeside.
Andie: In other words, just like me.
Everyone laughs.
Jen: You can't be that lonely. After all, you've got Pacey to make it all better.
Joey: Actually, I don't.
Jen, Andie, Cheryl: What?!
Jen: I thought he came to Worthington. You were gushing about it..
Joey: He stayed for two days. Then he abruptly left without saying goodbye.
Andie: That's a shame.
Joey: He left me a note stating that he wasn't worthy of being with me and he couldn't stay because of the hurt he's caused in the past. Do you have any clue what that means?
Jen glances at Andie and Cheryl knowingly. All three nod in agreement.
Jen: I have no idea how his mind works, Jo.
Joey: I kind of figured that but I thought I'd put it out on the table. It seems to hark back to the person he was before the prom. Avoiding anything to do with the gang. Anyway, sorry to bug you.
Andie: You're not annoying us. In fact, you could still come by and join us for the sleepover. Sorry we didn't invite you but it was such a last-second plan...
Joey: Actually, I'm pretty tired. Have fun. Hear from you soon.
Jen, Andie, Cheryl: Bye. (Cheryl disconnects the call)
Andie: I'm amazed she still doesn't know the truth.
* * * * *
Scene: In the guys' dorm.
Jack: So you're telling me that Jen has no reason to be jealous?
Ryan: Absolute zero. I stayed at the party for awhile, met a few people and left. That is all.
Jack: It's all in her head?!
Ryan: I know it seems like I'm here because you guys are but that's really not true. I would have chosen B.U. even if nobody else attended. I thought it would be a solid idea to learn a little about this new community.
Jack: I understand that.
Ryan: Do you? Aren't you the same person who is unwilling to visit a party tonight even though you're fully aware of the girls' sleepover? Weren't you the same person trying to agree with Jen on a college?
Jack: That's a different issue.
Ryan: How do you figure?
Jack: I wasn't the one coming home two in the morning stinking drunk trying to forget something.
Ryan: People don't necessarily drink to forget. Sometimes, excessive drinking leads one to forget but that's not normally the goal.
Jack: It's just that, given your track record, your actions could be deemed suspicious.
Ryan: (snidely) I'm still heading out unless you insist on enforcing curfew, mother. (grabs a sweatshirt to wear over his t-shirt) Besides, I'm not the one who needs to forget. Certain people need to accept the truth and get on with their lives. (walks over to the door)
Jack: Implying?
Ryan: You could be meeting some new people at the party but instead it's a mix between not wanting to abandon Jen and still being stuck on Pacey. (Jack tries to protest) And don't give me this "I'm over him" attempt at denying it. You claim you are but you're not.
Jack: You'd better stop those phone calls to Psychic Friends because they're not working.
Ryan: I never professed to be a mindreader. I do however have five functional senses. In particular, I can hear you saying his name in your sleep and it sounds quite pleasurable.
Jack: (sputters out) You deserve to die for that.
Ryan: (grins) Probably but you won't have time. I'll see you later. (sneaks out, avoiding the pillow thrown at the now-closed door)
Jack: What is it about people talking in their sleep in this group?
There is a knock at the door a couple of minutes later. Jack spots Ryan's keys on his desk and grins wickedly. He snatches them and heads for the door.
Jack: See, I knew you'd be crawling back after your.. (opens the door and is surprised to see Patrick standing there)
Patrick: Sorry, Jack. I thought I'd try to convince you to some after-hours activities. But obviously I caught you at a bad time..
Jack: (apologizing profusely) Oh don't worry about that. My roommate is just a world-class jerk trying to get a rise out of me.
Patrick: Well, if that was the goal, then mission accomplished quite effectively. Actually, I ran into Ryan and he thought it'd be easier if I headed in here to get his keys.
Jack: (snickers) Coward.
Patrick: And mentioned why.
Jack: (slinks away and slumps down on his bed) Okay, maybe not a complete coward. You probably think this whole situation is pathetic.
Patrick: (grabs a chair and sits down) Why would I? It's not as if you continuously pursued a straight. Okay, that's what it sort of started as, but you know that's not true.
Jack: No, instead it's more like a lamp switch. First he's straight, then he's not, then he's straight again.
Patrick: Not that this is going to help any but I'd be pretty certain Pacey is not straight.
Jack: Why, he sets off your gaydar?
Patrick: That whole gaydar thing doesn't exist in the same way that you wish it does. You can't have a guy walk into a room and suddenly you're able to detect he's gay or straight.
Jack: (grins) Unless he gestures wildly effeminate of course.
Patrick: Of course. No, I meant there is probably a part of him that is gay. A small part probably, maybe five percent, but it does exist or else he wouldn't have had any type of romantic relationship with you. Just like there was a part of me that was attracted to girls in high school.
Jack: I guess I understand what you mean. After all, there was Kate and Joey.
Patrick: You mean the same Joey who .. (Jack nods) What a creepy group you guys had in high school! Was there anyone who didn't hook up? Nevermind, don't answer that before I have these gross Jen and Dawson images stuck in my head. Anyway, you sure you don't want to head to the party?
Jack: Nah, that's all right.
Patrick: (gets up) Okay then I'll see you around. Just understand that I do realize the problem with you two had more to do with a lack of closure than anything else. (opens the door) I just have one question.
Jack: What's that?
Patrick: Did Jen and Dawson ever date?
Jack nods.
Patrick: Dammit, I knew I shouldn't have asked that question. (exits room)
Part 4 - Way Too Much Information
Index