Nowhere Fast
Chapter 10 - Stuck in a Moment
I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company
I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight
Carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
I will not forsake the colours that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks, they left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears, through your eyes I can see
And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now, my, oh my
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm till you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if, and if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along this stony pass
It's just a moment
This time will pass
U2 – “Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of”
Pacey Witter
RIIIING
“There should be a law against people calling on Sunday mornings,” I grumbled, feeling around for the floor for the phone, refusing to open my eyes. I eventually found part of the chord and pulled it over to my bed. Picking up the receiver, “Hello?”
“Hi,” an annoyingly perky voice answered, “Please tell me I’m talking to Pacey.” Please tell me you have a valid excuse for drinking two cups of cappuccino on a non-work day, I wanted to say. I opened my eyes, knowing full well I wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep anytime soon.
“Your prayers have been answered. Now I just need to know why this has been fulfilled.”
“It’s just that I’ve had the wrong number two other times. First time, I got this guy Trent answered. It was hard to hear anything over the rock music…” Trent lived at the end of the hallway. He was in a cover band, excuse me ‘tribute band’, and was devoting his whole life to the cause. “Anyway, he gave me another phone number and it turned out to be your neighbor Joey…”
Damn it. I was officially speaking to Jack’s sister Andie. Everything Joey said about her based on that one conversation was true.
I glanced over to the other bed and found Jack asleep with headphones over his ears. The same way as when I returned from Abby’s room after negotiating prices for a copy of the audio of Joey throwing out Dawson.
“It’s nice to finally talk to you too, Andie.” I cut her off.
She let out a sigh, and then giggled, “I guess that would mean that Joey told you I called as well.”
“Yeah, she did. He’s sleeping now, want me to wake him up?”
Andie was quiet for a few moments before replying, “That probably would be easier. He left me a brief message on my voicemail last night and I don’t want this game of phone-tag to continue any longer.”
“Okay, I’ll get him for you.” I placed down the receiver and walked over to the CD player. I tugged at the wire to make it was in fact attached to his headphones. Once realizing that, I turned the volume knob as far as it would go.
Jack jumped quickly out of bed. He threw the headphones off his ears and onto the bed, at which time he could finally hear my laughter. “Dammit Pacey, what the hell are you doing?”
“Were you sleeping?” I replied innocently. Jack turned around and glared at me. It was then that I realized that Joey wasn’t the only one who’d had a hard night. Not that I knew any of the details yet, just that it involved both of them. I was still hoping that what Charlie said wasn’t true but that was now in serious doubt. I handed the receiver out, “It’s your sister.”
Jack bitterly replied, “Now why am I not very surprised.” He grabbed it from my hand and said into the receiver, “Do you have any concept of time, Andie?”
Since it was clear that there was no possibility of getting back to sleep, I decided it was a good time to take a shower. I headed into the bathroom with everything I needed. The first thing I noticed was that the other door was wide open. I couldn’t see where she was so I tapped lightly on the door.
Joey bounced out from inside her closet, “Hey Pace.”
“Were you going in the shower or coming out?”
“Going in. Just as soon as I find my pink shirt.” She returned back to her closet, searching through a black clunky trunk. “Were you in a rush? Because you know our rule about people having their belongings in there.”
“We had a rule about that? I thought the only rule involved locking the doors when it was in use, which I distinctly remember wasn’t enforced this time.”
“It’s called the ‘Take a Hike, Witter’ rule. Look it up.” She pulled out the shirt she was looking for, “Now, it’s time for you to abide by it.”
“No can do. I was using this shower as an excuse to leave Jack alone to talk to his sister.”
Joey sighed, “I should have figured there was a reason why you were awake this early on a Sunday. So you got to speak to Andie?”
“She’s everything you told me and more.” I reported, then added, ‘So does this mean that you’ll let me take a shower or do I get to spend time in your room?”
She stomped into the bathroom, shouting, “Fine, you win.” I waited for her to return and was surprised when she was still in there.
I followed in after her, exclaiming, “Which way do I win?” I saw her staring at the other door, frozen in her tracks holding her towel limply under her arm.
“Jo, is something wrong?” I touched her shoulder gently, causing her to jump.
She replied solemnly, “Did you talk to him today?”
“Who? Jack?” Joey nodded. “Not yet, then again, he was awakened by Andie’s call as well.”
“When he is able to get her off the phone, come get me.” She turned around and went back into her room, shutting the door behind her.
I turned from Joey’s door to my door, puzzled. Living here could be a disaster if they didn’t make up. Not that I seriously thought that administration would keep Joey here for the whole semester, but it would still be awkward. I considered the two my closest friends on campus.
I turned the lever of the shower to the hot setting as I let the water run. I took off my T-shirt and threw it next to the towel. I was about to strip out of my boxers as well when I heard a knock on a door. Unable to immediately determine which direction it was coming from (not that I would have really minded if Joey got the free show), I shut off the water.
“Pacey?” Jack called out. Damn, wrong direction. I couldn’t help laughing as I opened the door to find Jack standing there, holding the phone.
“Thought you might like… like to know that Jen’s got an emergency. I wouldn’t mind having the ex…excuse to get Andie off the phone.” Jack was staring down at the phone, deliberately trying not to make eye contact with me, but I could see his face turning slightly red. Which seemed like a confirmation that Jack felt guilty about whatever occurred. Maybe he even found out that she was interested in the wrong roommate.
“Did she define ‘emergency’?” I asked him. “Because ‘emergency’ can mean that something is truly wrong or just that it’s imperative that I show her the attention she believes she deserves from me.”
“I don’t know Jen but I’d be inclined to say it was the latter. She could barely stop laughing.” Great, so it was actually that she was drunk. Jack turned back around, “I’ll tell her you’ll call later.”
“Actually,” I reconsidered, “It might be important after all. Hold on one moment, then you can continue catching up with Andie. You know you can’t escape her wrath.” I picked up everything I scattered around the bathroom as I threw the lock off Joey’s door in the bathroom. I shouted, “It’s time to hike your cute butt in the shower, Potter.” I headed out of the bathroom, shutting the other door in the process.
I picked up the phone, “Look, Lindley, you’d better have a very good reason to bother me when you’re drunk.”
“Who said I was drunk? I just told Jack that I could barely contain my excitement to talk to you. How’d you get ‘drunk’ out of that?” She laughed heartily. No, she wasn’t drunk. I would be surprised if she hadn’t spent the night at Drue’s and gotten laid, but she certainly wasn’t passed out drunk. “My ‘emergency’ is that I was hoping you’d come out to New York this weekend.”
I hadn’t really thought of the city since I’d been here. I mean, sure, I told stories about the place and I certainly missed Jen. I guess I was a little surprised I didn’t feel the least bit homesick. Not that I was that far from home in case I did but I was thankful that I hadn’t yet.
“I suppose I have to do this for you, don’t I?” I pretended to be uninterested in the trip. “I guess if I have to…”
“You know me well because, yes, you have to.” I could feel her smile on the other end. “Why don’t you convince the other two to visit? I’m sure I could find someplace for them to sleep.”
“I should ask them about it.” I covered the receiver, noticing that Jack was still there. “Can I call you about this later? My roommate’s on another call.”
“Sure, no problem.” Jen replied, “Just for the record, Jack sounded like a cute roommate. Bye.” She hung up.
Before handing the phone back to Jack, I reported, “You might want to clear next weekend because someone who thinks you sound cute wants you to visit.”
Jack did a double take, exclaiming “What?” Then he calmed a little, “Never mind, I’ll ask you about it later.” He took the phone from my hand and walked over to his bed as he continued his conversation with Andie.
* * * * *
Jack McPhee
“Okay, Andie, I’m back on.”
Andie started rattling off details of her adventures at Brown University. Does she realize that hearing her joyful voice in the morning after a lousy previous night is enough to make a person nauseous? I tuned her out pretty quickly as I noticed Pacey waiting impatiently for Joey to finish her shower, ready to sprint in as soon as he could hear the latch on the lock turn.
Pacey is trying to kill me. He doesn’t know he’s doing it, but that’s exactly what’s happening. I end up watching him marching back and forth, still wearing only those damn yellow-and-green checked boxers on.
It’s bad enough having dreams about the guy. I just had to catch a view of him in just his boxers. Probably just about to go in the shower. Not that this by itself is a strange occurrence but it’s so much easier not having such a visual. It’s quite a wonderful visual at that.
Someone who thinks you sound cute. I realize that he meant Jen but when your mind is already deep in the gutter, that kind of comment can certainly sound like something else.
Why the hell does he have to be in here like that? Something tells me that I’m not going to mind if Pacey and Joey using up all the hot water today. A cold shower is certainly what I need right now. Actually, any place private would do, I realized as I was growing more aroused with every step that Pacey took.
“Jack!” My sister shouted, “Are you even listening to me?”
I shook my head getting out of my daydream as I replied, “Sorry, I guess I drifted off. Not completely awake.” Pacey twisted around, laughing at the comment.
“You’re right, I suppose my timing isn’t that great. I’ll send you an email later, which you’d better give a full response to or else there’ll be another early wake-up call in your future.”
“Good to know. Talk to you later.”
“You too.” She then whispered, “If there’s anything wrong, don’t hesitate to call. You realize that I was just a little concerned about you, that’s why I called so early.”
“Andie, I called because I was bored.” I forced a smile on my face, then gave up upon remembering she couldn’t actually see me, “Thanks for your concern.”
“No problem, Jackie. Bye.” The next sound was the click of the phone.
I dropped the phone back in place as I tried to fall back to sleep. I knew that was pretty much impossible to begin but Pacey pulled a chair over to my bed.
“Something happened between you and Joey last night, didn’t it?”
I replied flatly, “You could say that.”
“You know specifically what I mean. You didn’t want me to know that Joey was attracted to the wrong roommate.”
I closed my eyes, “Joey told you that?”
“She didn’t have to. I could tell by the hurt in her voice. Sure, some of it is because of Dawson, but other traits just didn’t fit that description.”
I rose from my bed, dealing with him face-to-face, “Yes. It’s true.”
Pacey let out a deep breath, “Fine. That’s what I needed to hear. I’m sure it was difficult, but I really needed to be aware of that. Two roommates in love with the same woman.” He got up from his chair.
“Actually, no. I was never attracted to her.”
“Of course not. You wouldn’t let yourself as long as you knew that I felt the same way. If Joey is attracted to you, it’s much easier for me to step aside and allow this to progress on its own.” He turned towards the door, stung by the words he’d just let escape from his mouth.
“No, you don’t understand! I really mean that I’m not attracted to her. That’s what I told her.”
“Fine, you’re not. Whatever you want to say. I was just stating that I’d step out of the way. Just thought you’d want to know that she was searching for you and really wanted to discuss this.”
“You really don’t know what she did?” I shot up from the bed and stood in front of Pacey, “I would have gladly discussed this last night. Joey left, absolutely afraid of me! Do you really think she’s gotten over it that fast?”
Pacey backed up, looking furious, “Of course Joey would get away from you! If she said to my face that there was no goddamn possibility that she could ever love me, I’d get the hell out of there as well. Maybe not when we first moved in, but if she said that at this moment, given everything she knows…”
“I realize I made a mistake!” I shouted, “My mistake was giving in to her kiss! It was the heat of the moment! If I had just stopped her, everything wouldn’t be as terrible.”
Pacey interrupted, his eyes turning dark and his voice growing louder, “You fucking kissed her?! What, did I interrupt your little makeout session? Well, I’m sorry about that. Why don’t you go in the bathroom? I hear that’s a wonderful place to fuck someone. Unless you two have already tried that.”
Neither one of us heard the door unlock and Joey slink into the room until she whispered, “Please stop, Pacey.”
I twisted around to face her. She was wearing a yellow bathrobe and her slippers, her hair hanging wet and limp over her shoulders. Just like Pacey had said, it was obvious that she had recovered from last night’s news.
Pacey retorted, “So you think that I’m jumping to conclusions?”
Joey closed her eyes, “Yes. I’m going to finish my shower. I want both of you to meet me in the bathroom in thirty minutes. That should be enough time for all three of us to use the bathroom. Please refrain from killing each other until then.” She returned back into the bathroom, but not before chuckling, “Nice boxers, Pace.”
* * * * *
Joey Potter
I could still hear the shower running after I finished getting dressed. I still had no idea what to actually say to them.
In a strange way, Jack was the easier of the two. I was at least aware of what had to be said to him. Whether he’d listen was a different problem.
Pacey was more unclear. I was hoping that speaking to Jack in front of him would be enough. I didn’t want there to be a fight based on Pacey only knowing pieces of the story.
I heard the lock turn, signaling that it was free now. I checked my watch. Exactly thirty minutes had passed.
I entered the bathroom to find Jack, dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans, drying his hair with a towel. Without stopping what he was doing, he asked, “Do we have to involve Pacey in this?”
I countered, “Would you prefer losing two friends over some stupid misunderstanding?”
“Joey, I really don’t want him to be aware of this.”
“Tough. It is impossible not to tell. He was kind of jealous of our friendship to begin with. You’d have to face this eventually.”
Pacey entered the room quietly enough that I doubted Jack heard him enter.
“As if the living situation wasn’t awkward enough.”
“I really don’t think he’d care. It would certainly aid your friendship if there’s no competition to deal with.”
Pacey mumbled sarcastically, “Because it’s so obvious that I’d turn this into a battle.”
Jack spun around quickly, dropping the towel from his hand in the process.
I reaffirmed control of this conversation, “I really wanted to talk to you, Jack. It’s easier, however, if Pacey is present so this doesn’t get misinterpreted. The last thing I want is for you two to be at war because of what you think happened.”
Pacey asked in a monotone, “Did you kiss him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you feel hurt that it was actually a one-sided attraction?”
I admitted, “At first.”
“Then there’s nothing to misconstrue. Trust me, I know the emotion well.” He leaned against the door, pretending that he didn’t care how I didn’t feel about him.”
I retorted, “Would you leave that out of this?” To Jack, I replied, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left. I realized my error too late. I was so wrapped up in how what you said would affect me that I didn’t fully grasp what happened. I bet I was the first to know.”
Jack replied, “That would be correct.”
I raised my hand to my forehead, “I’m such an idiot.”
Pacey interrupted, “First to know? Now I’m really curious.”
Jack snapped, “And last to know. Because it was a mistake. I was wrong.”
I couldn’t help bursting out, “Liar.” Jack glared at me, to which I added, “It was difficult to admit. Since I reacted harshly…”
“You weren’t initially the one I didn’t want to inform. It ended up that way once I realized how you felt about me.”
I glanced over at Pacey before answering, “It wouldn’t matter.”
Pacey was now getting pissed off at us, “When you two decide whether to tell, wake me up. Better yet, I’m going to get breakfast.” He stormed out of the bathroom, back into his room.
I went after him, “Don’t you dare walk away!”
“Jo, there is nothing to stay around for. Obviously, Jack isn’t comfortable enough to enlighten me so why force the issue? All you’re accomplishing is getting yourself frustrated.”
Jack snuck back into the room and went over to his desk. He grabbed his keys, the jingling sound interrupting us. I turned around to face him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He replied simply, “Breakfast.” He headed out of the room.
I chased after him. “I don’t think so. What the hell difference would it make to Pacey? Unless, of course, you think that he’d think that he’s the reason.”
It took Jack a few seconds to understand what I meant. He then exclaimed, “Joey!” and looked away from me.
Neither of us saw Pacey enter the hallway until he said, “I don’t think this is the best idea…”
Jack and I turned around, surprised at his change of voice. Pacey gestured behind him. Abby had apparently been standing there, outside of Charlie’s room, the whole time. She burst out laughing.
“Never, ever would I have thought of that! Nobody had money on the ménage a trois possibility.”
Pacey glared at her, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Pacey, you are blind. You don’t know when someone’s attracted to you when it’s right in front of your face.”
“Joey is not…”
“Not Joey, you imbecile,” Abby interrupted, “Jack. And since everyone knows that…”
I shouted, “How the fuck could you say that?” I turned to Jack, who was too shocked by Abby’s declaration to speak.
Before I could continue, Charlie came out of his room. The shouting in the hallway must have awakened him. “What a way to start a week! Abby, can’t you save the theatrics until later in the day? You’ve really got to stop spreading vicious rumors.”
Abby exclaimed at a near squeal, “Vicious rumors?! You didn’t hear what I did. Jack admitted…”
“Stop it.” He reaffirmed, “Just stop it. Get your butt in here so you resume your doses of medication.” It was at that moment that I realized that Charlie wasn’t on Abby’s side, for a change.
“Fuck you, Charlie. I am not crazy. I hate when you insinuate that.”
Charlie snapped, “And I hate when you deliberately try to hurt people’s reputations with false accusations. So we’re even.”
Abby muttered under her breath as she grudgingly entered Charlie’s room. Charlie turned to us, “I’ll try to do damage control with her. She had no idea what she’s saying.”
Jack asked, barely above a whisper, “Did you know all along?” It was at that moment that Pacey realized that what Abby claimed had some truth. He twisted around to look at Jack, who was refusing to make eye contact with any of us.
Charlie paused before responding, “I didn’t tell Abby anything.” He walked back into his room.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Pacey muttered, “I am so dumb. I shouldn’t have pushed the issue. I’m so sorry for whatever Abby intends to do with all of this information.”
Jack replied, “I guess I was asking for it by not being honest from the beginning.”
Pacey got a wicked grin on his face, “So you think I’m hot?”
I rolled my eyes at him. Jack chuckled, “A little. But your personality completely kills it off.”
Pacey laughed, “Fair enough. Anyone want breakfast?”
I replied, “That sounds like a good idea.”
Pacey returned to the room, Jack following when I stopped him, “See, Pacey didn’t mind at all.”
He replied, “I suppose though I feel I’m going to regret admitting he was cute.”
“Why do you think I’ve never told him that?”
Jack grinned, “You think he’s cute?”
“In an odd way. But his personality completely kills it off.” I then remembered Jack’s original scheme, “Don’t think I’m suggesting you try to play matchmaker.”
Jack wrapped an arm around my shoulder as he led me back in the room, “Of course not.”
Chapter 11 - Recovery Effort
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