Half Asleep
Chapter 2 - The Day After
Audrey woke up, taken by surprise by the severity of her hangover. She looked around the unfamiliar room, groaning upon realizing she couldn’t even remember flirting with any guy, much less having sex with one.
She vaguely recognized a flier from the band she sometimes performed in. She exclaimed, “I slept with a groupie?” Then she was brought back to reality. “Wait, I don’t have groupies.” She carefully got out of bed, beginning to recognize the architecture. It was sort of similar to Pacey’s bedroom at his apartment, except about ten times neater and covered in band posters.
“Emma!” Audrey cried out proudly. She now recalled some details. Pre-finals party. Tray of jello shots. Keg of beer. Crashing on Pacey’s bed at first before realizing it would appear she wanted him back.
Ordinarily she didn’t mind throwing herself at a guy but not him. Anyone else would be okay, but she didn’t need him. Therefore, she chose the next safest spot.
Audrey exited Emma’s bedroom to see the disaster that was the living room. It looked the way she felt. Emma was face down on the couch, limbs dangling off the cushion. A couple of stragglers were scattered on the floor by the television, surrounded by cups which once contained beer.
She considered shouting as a means to wake her, then recognized that if the roles were reversed, she’d be pissed off. Instead, she set up the coffeemaker, as much for herself as for Emma. From experience staying here as Pacey’s then-girlfriend, Audrey knew that would be all it took to start Emma’s day.
Five minutes later, she heard yawning coming from the couch. Emma lifted her head and peered through strands of hair hanging in her face. Upon seeing Audrey, she murmured, “Did I have a good time last night?”
“I have no idea. But the fact your clothes are all on and cops didn’t break up the party says it wasn’t a disaster.”
Emma couldn’t help but smile as she staggered into the kitchen. “At least I know what you feel like after a performance.”
* * * * *
Pacey woke up to the smell of coffee. Emma and Audrey’s voices carried into the room. He tried to get out of bed but was trapped by Jack’s arm.
He couldn’t understand what happened last night to lead to this predicament. Although he remembered every word, every action, every…ahem…kiss, it hardly seemed as if he was the one doing that. Had someone else invaded his brain?
He could never remember having feelings like that for Jack. Sure, Jack was a wonderful guy, a great friend, and a tolerable roommate. From the moment they’d first met, through Andie, Pacey could say he’d felt kinship toward him. When his antagonizing of an English teacher led to Jack’s coming out, Pacey had felt guilty for playing such a significant role in someone’s life. But there was not one time he could recall being physically attracted to the guy, as he must have felt last night.
None of it made any sense. Pacey slid Jack’s arm off of him and slowly rose from bed. He looked in the mirror. No, it was still the same Pacey Witter - same tousled hair, same goatee he secretly despised, same person.
Pacey left the bedroom, prepared for the onslaught of questions to follow.
“Morning, love,” Emma hoarsely greeted. Audrey twirled around, then turned back, desperately wanting him gone.
He gauged the appearance of the ladies. “Good morning. I see you two enjoyed yourselves last night.”
“Last night, maybe. Now? Not so much.” Emma opened the bottle of aspirin then dispensed four pills, handing two to Audrey. Two glasses of water sat on the counter. Both were soon downed.
Audrey inquired, “How much of the party did you catch?”
“Very little. In and out rather quickly.”
Emma added, “The guy was as passed out as the drunks, minus the actual alcohol.” Some of the night before was coming back to her, as she exclaimed, “And so was Jack, for that matter.” Audrey covered her ears at the sudden change in volume.
Pacey replied matter-of-factly, “That’s where you stuck him.”
“So how was his date with David?” Audrey asked. Emma shot her a dirty look, knowing that wasn’t the interesting part of the story.
“He didn’t say much on the subject.” In fact, there had been no indication that Jack had even been on a date before coming home.
“Damn,” Emma and Audrey said at the same time.
Audrey added, “I really thought it could work. David’s much better than Eric. Which I think I’d say even if I wasn’t subjected to a night of what Eric considers charm.”
“Maybe it did work out,” Pacey weakly offered. He doubted it, given the events after the date. “Do you need a ride back to the dorms?”
Reluctantly, Audrey replied, “That would be helpful. Thanks.” Much as she didn’t want to head to class or run into her giddily happy roommate, she would prefer being there than here any day. Even if she got a ride from Pacey, at least she could make believe she was asleep so there were no questions.
* * * * *
Jack woke up late that morning. The apartment was eerily silent. Usually, he could hear Emma trying to be quiet but she must have left. He groggily got out of bed, looking around. He spotted a suit jacket on the chair. Pacey’s jacket.
Memories of the previous night flooded back. It seemed too weird to be real. But Jack never had dreams so vivid. If it weren’t for the fact that Pacey had been thinking it was Joey, Jack could actually dismiss it as part of his imagination.
He exited the bedroom, prepared to inspect the remains of the apartment. To his amazement, it was clean, close to spotless even. Emma must have sobered up quickly as she was scrubbing a stain off the kitchen counter. Jack asked, “Long morning?”
“Quite,” she affirmed. “How bad was I last night?”
“Almost Audrey-level. Minus broken glass.”
“Damn. Did you get a good night’s sleep?”
“Pretty good,” Jack said cautiously. He wanted to check if Pacey was home before saying any details.
“So what arrangement did you and Pacey have with the bed?”
“We’re two responsible adults…”
Emma interjected, “Which means either you portioned off the bed or flipped a coin. Judging by your non-cranky state, I’d surmise the first case. Lucky bastard.”
“Me or him?”
“Hmm, good question. I’ll say you because it’s about time you shared that bed with someone. And by ‘someone’, I’m referring to a handsome guy, not Jen crashing there after a Real World marathon.”
“But you said a handsome guy. So that excludes Pacey.”
Emma chuckled, “That’s true. Still, it must have been nice.” At Jack’s silence, she added, “He drove Audrey home so you could tell the truth.”
He was a bit relieved to hear that. “Did he say anything before he left?”
“Not really. He was rather evasive. Any interesting stories behind closed doors?”
Jack shrugged. “He hogs the sheets.”
“I meant more along the lines of ‘Does Pacey say sweet nothings in his sleep’ or…” She laughed at the idea entering her head. “Even better, did he mistake you as his true love?”
“What?” Jack exclaimed. “Of course not.” But as he thought back, both of those things actually happened. He admitted, “Maybe.”
“Eureka!” she shrieked. Jack gave her a strange look. Emma explained, “See, I was certain I heard Pacey once talking about Joey in his sleep. Wouldn’t be surprised if Audrey found out, hence dumping him. Not that he being a jerk about his job and she heading on a downward spiral weren’t valid reasons. He’s so fucking screwed if he thinks he has a chance with her.”
“Joey…is a handful.”
“She’s crazy about Eddie, which means Pacey’s got an obstacle ahead of him.”
“Yeah, but Pacey being an ex-boyfriend pushes him ahead as a threat. After all, Dawson seems to do that every couple of months.” It was strange musing over their personal lives, knowing these guys the way he did.
“Oh, yeah, she did date him rather seriously. I would be happy to have one guy fawn over me. She’s got, what, three?”
“At least,” Jack agreed.
“She hasn’t gotten you yet,” Emma said dramatically. “I would be so devastated.”
“Well…”
Emma slumped her shoulders, exaggerating her disappointment. She stalked back to her bedroom, shouting out, “I really hate that girl.”
* * * * *
“You really didn’t have to walk me to my room,” Audrey protested as Pacey led her up the stairs.
“Door-to-door service, milady.”
“Chivalry will get you nowhere,” she grumbled. The more she had to deal with Pacey’s pleasantries, the more she wanted to fish through her purse for the small liquor bottle she remembered stashing there. Instead, she grabbed her room key, intent on ridding of him as soon as possible.
Just as Audrey was about to unlock the door, Joey rushed out of the room, backpack slung over shoulder. She was talking over her shoulder, “I have to get to work. Just because you‘re not there doesn‘t mean I should suffer.” Joey wasn’t looking where she was going and collided into Pacey. “Would you watch where you’re going…” Upon seeing it was Pacey, she barely managed to stammer out a hello.
Pacey grinned at Joey’s flustered manner. “Have a long night?”
“You could say that,” she replied uncomfortably.
Audrey chimed in, “You missed such an amazing party, or so I’m told.” She glanced in her room. “Though I get the feeling it was just as lively here.”
“Nice to see you too, Audrey.” Pacey was startled out of a moment with Joey as Eddie exited the dorm room. While he was aware of Eddie playing a larger role in her life, realizing that Joey had spent the night with him was hardly the way to start the day.
Joey turned to Eddie, muttering, “Can you wait downstairs? Audrey needs a moment to squeal outside your presence.”
Eddie glanced at Audrey, who was bouncing from one foot to the other, waiting to say something on the subject. “I’ll do that.” He gave Joey a peck on the cheek then walked away.
As soon as Eddie turned the corner, Audrey shrieked, “Way to go, bunny!”
Joey replied sardonically, “Thank you for your insight.”
Pacey wanted nothing more than to disappear from the scene. He risked the possibility of running into Eddie, but it was ten times better than listening to Audrey beg for details. “At least you sobered Audrey up. I was worried about the girl.”
“That’s good,” Joey answered. “This girl needs the protection of a strong man. Or a reasonable facsimile.”
“So, I’ll see you at some point soon,” Pacey said awkwardly, then nodded and walked away.
* * * * *
Late that night, Jack was studying in the kitchen table, more as a distraction than actual study needs. Pacey and Emma had gone to bed long ago, which Jack had intended to do as well but sleep wasn’t happening.
Jen had been over earlier, prying for details regarding David, when Pacey finally returned. Pleasantries were exchanged, both knowing it wasn’t the right time to discuss anything, then Pacey went to his bedroom.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Jack jolted up upon hearing Pacey’s voice. He was standing in the living room, not sure where to go.
“I suppose not.” He watched Pacey enter the kitchen and prop himself up on the counter. Jack looked down at his notes, not wanting to think anything more of this moment than there was.
Pacey was aware that the subject had to come up eventually and it was useless to completely ignore it. “Last night was…surprising.”
“Definitely.” Jack was willing to agree with whatever he said, as long as it meant their friendship was saved. It was futile to think Pacey would do anything other than apologize. He didn’t mind it being just a nice memory for him and a one-time slip-up for Pacey.
“I…I don’t know what to say. I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”
“Forget about it.”
“If I could, I would. It was wrong but, damn, it was good.” He had gone the whole day convinced this was an out-of-body experience. So why was it that as soon as he faces the guy, he says that? Both had agreed it was a one-time thing. That was all there was to say.
“Pace…”
Not letting Jack answer, he continued, “Which I shouldn’t think because of Joey. But she’s with Eddie, who she’s crazy about, apparently more seriously than anyone realized.”
Jack stood up and approached Pacey at the counter. “This doesn’t make sense. Are you seriously talking about…wait, do you even know?” He shook his head furiously. “You’re not serious.”
“All I’m sure of is that I enjoyed last night. I don’t know what that means and I don’t want to think about it because thinking leads to analyzing and everything good gets ruined once it’s analyzed to death.”
“Do you think it was a lapse in judgment?” Even while questioning Pacey, Jack kept coming closer, now standing right in front of him.
Pacey stared into Jack’s eyes, wanting to figure this out as well. “I…I don’t know.” He wanted to say that Jack had been correct about it being a mistake. But those words wouldn’t form as he was transported back to last night. Their mouths connecting. Bodies tangled together on the bed as both explored each other. Falling asleep blissfully with Jack’s arms still around him while feeling his breath on the back of his neck.
Even though he wanted to keep thinking it was nothing more than a dream, there was a part of him that wanted to test if it was real. He grazed Jack’s arm, the mere touch electrifying, as if he’d broken some barrier.
Jack glanced down at his arm, confused. “So you prefer teasing me instead?”
Pacey jumped off the counter, feeling just how close Jack had been. Not much distance between them, his hand now gripping Jack’s arm. “Are you bothered by my teasing?” he hissed.
Jack gulped before answering, “No, not at all. It’s rather hard to figure out…” He stopped as he felt Pacey’s hand traveling up his arm. “You’re not making it any easier.”
“Do you regret any of it?” He let his other hand rest on the hem of Jack’s shirt.
“Looks like you don’t,” Jack sputtered as his mind wandered over the possibility that Pacey Witter was ready for an encore.
“That didn’t answer the question. Even though I could see in your eyes what you refuse to tell me.”
“What would that be?” Jack stared down at the floor, even though he could guess the answer.
“That you find me irresistible.” He rested his forehead against Jack’s, forcing him to look up. “Yet you don’t know why. Neither do I. I can’t explain it.”
Jack tilted his head down, softly pressing his lips against Pacey’s before replying, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Pacey smirked, then hungrily kissed him back.
A loud thud from the apartment upstairs startled both of them. Although they tried to ignore it, the sound persisted.
They could hear Emma shout from her bedroom, “What the hell is wrong with you people?” Jack broke away from Pacey, returning back to the table. Pacey shook his head, trying to get back to reality.
Emma stormed out of the bedroom, snapping, “That fucking wanker! How dare he move his fucking furniture around at three in the morning.” She spotted the kitchen light on, surprised to see both her roommates awake. “You’re both awake yet you’re just standing around? Some security system I have.” She picked up the phone, preparing to lay it into their upstairs resident.
Pacey coughed loudly. “Well, Em’s got this under control. I have to be at work early tomorrow.” Emma rolled her eyes and Jack kept his focus on the book as Pacey headed back to his bedroom.
Chapter 3 - Better Off
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