Nowhere Fast
Chapter 13 - When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts
Joey Potter
“You cannot seriously tell me that you’d drive that car around the city when you return for winter break!” Jen exclaimed as she took a sip of her cappuccino. The four of us were sitting in a café after having traveled by foot, bus and subway around the city all day.
“Do you have any suggestions of where I’d keep it? It certainly helps to have a car on campus because public transportation is hell out there. But, well, you can figure how expensive it is to park that car this weekend.” Pacey pointed out.
Jen nodded then chuckled, pointing out three officers ordering at the counter.
Pacey sighed, “Why today?”
“Did you really think you could get away this weekend without meeting any of them? You can’t escape the law.” Jen deadpanned.
Pacey ducked slightly behind Jen, hoping the cops hadn’t seen him.
No such luck for him. One of the officers approached the table, shaking his head. “I was having such a fine day. Then you had to appear.”
“You could imagine you didn’t.” Pacey retorted.
Jen demanded, “Don’t you have better things to do? Such as keeping these streets safe?”
“I just finished my shift,” the officer replied coldly, “I don’t have to deal with patrol work anymore today. I should have figured that if you’re around, Miss Lindley isn’t that far behind. Sneak into any bars while you’ve been here?”
Pacey was about to point out he’d been clean, when he remembered he’d used the fake id at the club last night. “Nothing significant.”
One of the other officers approached the table, asking the cop talking to us, “Is there a problem? We’re heading to our families.”
He turned to them, “No. I can take care of this. Have a nice evening, Sorenson.” Officer Sorenson and the third cop exited the café. “So, school is going well?”
Pacey replied in a bored tone, “Yes, just fine. It’s not as if I’m dropping out anytime soon.”
The officer stared at the ground and murmured, “So you don’t want them to know anything?”
“That’s right. Thanks Doug.”
Doug nodded then said to us, “Have a nice day.” He left our table and returned to the register to talk to the waitress.
I whispered to Jack, “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“He’s Pacey’s brother. You can’t see the resemblance?”
Jen nudged Pacey, “I admit it was funny at first but you should talk to him. He’s probably heading home so I suggest you follow him.”
“Wait, this weekend is supposed to be about having fun…”
“No, technically, it’s about showing your friends this city. I don’t need you to accomplish that.”
“You thrive on having power, Lindley,” Pacey huffed. He threw a glance at Doug, then returned his focus to our table, “Meet ya at six?”
“At our Central Park spot?”
“Sounds good.” He glanced at Jack and I, waiting for either of us to object. When he received no such outcry, he walked over to the register.
“Are you sure that was a good idea, Jen?” I asked.
Jen picked at the food in her plate, “I don’t know but I figure the subject would come up again if I didn’t push him at that moment.”
* * * * *
Pacey Witter
I returned to the Lindley apartment that night. Jen had left the door unlocked so I snuck in quietly. I stumbled in the dark, remembering to try not to wake Jack on the couch, and headed to my guest room.
I changed into a t-shirt and boxers, then laid down on the bed. I dragged my suitcase over to the bed and grabbed my CD player and headphones.
What is this music? It certainly wasn’t the remix CD I’d borrowed from Jen last night.
Here’s another speech you wish I’d swallow
Another cue for you to fold your ears
Another train of thought too hard to follow
Chugging along to the song that belongs to
The shifting of gears
Someone had borrowed my CD player tonight. Female voice, bitter words. Must be Joey’s. Actually, the song had a good beat. In fact, it seemed that Miss Potter actually had a little interest in dance music.
Please forgive me for my distance
The pain is evident in my existence
Please forgive for my distance
The shame is manifest in my resistance
To your love, to your love, to your love
I would have warned you, but really, what’s the point?
Caution could but rarely ever helps
Don’t be down when my demeanor tends to disappoint
It’s hard enough even trying to be civil to myself
I must have been humming along because I looked up to see Joey singing to the song. I turned down the volume so I could hear her as well.
Please forgive me for my distance
The pain is evident in my existence
Please forgive for my distance
The shame is manifest in my resistance
To your love, to your love, to your love
Fiona Apple – “To Your Love”
Joey doesn’t exactly have the voice of Celine Dion, but then again neither does the artist singing the song. When the song finished, I applauded her. She shyly glanced up at me. I took my headphones off my head and placed it around my neck.
“Sorry about that. That’s the CD I was listening to it earlier.”
I held up the CD player, “I could tell.”
She nervously pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, obviously you can tell. I’m surprised you were enjoying my… what did you call it? Estrogen music?”
“I think that was one of the kinder phrases I’ve used.” I admitted.
“So you admit defeat that this music is better than the noise you play?”
I chuckled, “And who was the one racing to the dance floor just last night?”
“Damn it! I can’t win this argument!”
“Nor can you lose. Were you sneaking in here to get it back?”
Joey gave me a half-smile, then sat on the bed. “Actually, I heard you come in.”
“You were waiting up for me? How motherly.” I then realized that Joey’s mother was gone. “Sorry, bad choice of words.” Joey waved off the comment. “Or did I wake you?”
“I wasn’t sleeping. You think too highly of yourself if you really think I’d wait up for you.” That was her way of saying that was exactly what she was doing. It was much easier once I’d picked up on the difference between when she was joking around and when she was angry. It’s actually very hard to make a distinction. “I thought I’d rub it in your face that we had a much better time once you left.”
“Really?” I replied skeptically.
“Oh yes. Jen told us every embarrassing story she could think of about you.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Including the time I impersonated a cop for a girl?”
“You did what?” Joey shrieked.
I laughed as I pointed out, “I knew you were lying! So what really happened?”
She shrugged, “I listened to Jen and Jack talk. You wouldn’t have known they’d only met a day ago. That Fiona Apple CD was the only way I was able to contribute to any of their conversations. We came back here and watched My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
“Isn’t that with Julia Roberts? I thought Jen had a policy about her. She boycotts movies starring Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan.”
“Yeah, I realized that by the snide remarks. I think she sat through the whole film for the ending. I didn’t get it but they seemed to really enjoy it. Anyway, it was a very long day.” She lay down on her stomach, rested her elbows on the bed and gazed up at me, propping her chin on her hands, “I’d rather hear about your evening.”
“There isn’t much to say. I went back to Doug’s, caught up on the past three months and returned here.”
“Yeah, that’s why you’re sneaking in at one in the morning.”
“You have to navigate through the city very carefully at this time of night.”
She sighed impatiently, “I’m too tired to play games. I could fall asleep right here. How the hell I was able to stay awake this long?”
“We actually got along.”
Joey dropped her head onto the bed, replying in a singsong voice, “I’m falling aaaa-ssssleep now.”
“Doug got an offer to work as an undercover cop and is planning to take it. My dad doesn’t approve of this decision so they got into a huge fight.” Joey raised her head from the bed and sat up. “He’s not exactly the golden child anymore.”
“That’s a surprise.”
“I know. We’ve never gotten along but maybe because of this, Dougie was actually in the mood to talk. He’s supposed to be the pesky wannabe cop I’ve despised my whole life. Not the person who confides in me about his frustrations with the family.”
“You make it sound as if it was a terrible discovery.”
“It’s not that. In my family, everyone has a role. Kerry is the Mom-clone, Gretchen is the crowd-pleaser, Doug does whatever Dad says and I’m the disappointment. I’ve accepted that role in the family.”
Joey rolled her eyes, “The disappointment? I can’t believe you really see yourself that way.”
She removed the headphones from my neck, her hand lingering on my neck a moment longer than necessary. Great, here is she attempting to be friendly and yet the only thing I can think of is that my mouth is less than twelve inches away from hers. Joey gazed up at me, her blue eyes searching mine, trying to read them.
She rescinded, “Okay, maybe I can see what you mean. Not that I think you’re inadequate but the way that you envision yourself. You put up this front that you really don’t care what anyone has to say, but it’s been proven that there are times you think differently.” Thankfully, her reading wasn’t 100% accurate or else I would have had a lot more explaining to do.
“You hear the negativity enough times and a part of you begins to believe it. Doug was probably the second worst offender of that ‘motivation’. I’m supposed to just forget that?”
“No, Pacey, why don’t you just keep that with you for the rest of your life,” Joey replied sarcastically. I was completely thrown off by her attitude. “That way, you have a valid excuse never to speak to him. Better yet, hold a grudge against every other person who’s ever doubted you.”
I turned away from her gaze. “What did you see when Doug appeared?”
“A guy who had seen an opportunity to repair his relationship with his brother and decided to go for it. Another guy who thought he was crazy for trying but realizing that he’s still family and might as well see his sales pitch.” I glanced up at her, causing her to smirk, “With a helluva lot of pushing from the girl who could see that better than you. That would be Jen, not me, because I’m not that observant yet.” She gave me a kiss on the forehead without even thinking and got up. “I’ll let you get to sleep.”
* * * * *
Jack McPhee
“How could you say that? There is nothing wrong with The Mighty Ducks movies!” Pacey protested as we unloaded the car in the parking lot of the dorm that Sunday night.
“You can honestly watch them?” Joey scoffed. “ Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, those are classics. Not some stupid Disney flick which advertised a pro hockey team.”
“Says the person who’s a fan of Mannequin. Sorry, but an admirer of a movie about a guy talking to a stiff for an hour and a half shouldn’t bash. You also watch Weekend at Bernie’s, which means you have an unhealthy infatuation with corpses.”
“I’m not a fan of stiffs. Just of Andrew McCarthy. He’s in both those movies.” Joey grinned. “Though even I couldn’t tolerate Bernie’s 2. That literally stunk. Imagine how long Bernie had been dead when the sequel was made.” She swung a bag over her shoulder and walked down the path before Pacey could reply.
There had been a shift in Pacey and Joey’s friendship over the weekend. Not that either would actually admit that was happening. Joey certainly wouldn’t confess that she’d been waiting up for Pacey. Even though Jen and I both heard her pacing around the kitchen the previous night waiting for him. Jen was practically giddy when we left because she was convinced that the two had hooked up during the night. Because this involved Joey, I seriously doubted that had actually happened yet.
The three of us entered the dorm building. As soon as we reached our hallway, I got this uneasy feeling. I couldn’t quite figure out the reason immediately. Just that a balance had been destroyed.
Joey had unlocked her door, then turned to us and murmured, “Thanks for the trip.”
Pacey nodded absentmindedly as he fished for the keys.
“So the threesome has finally returned.” I spun around and found myself facing Chris Wolfe from room 140. The guy had never acknowledged any of us before. That was probably because his only mission was to fuck any dumb blonde that passed his path.
“Did you want something?” I asked him. Pacey had unlocked the door and entered the room.
“No, just waiting for the entertainment to begin.”
“What are you…”
We were interrupted by a yell then by a door slamming. Joey stomped past us and banged on room 137. “Get your ass out here right now.”
Chris pointed out, “Hmm, I wonder why she’d be hollering for Marco or Charlie. Marco hasn’t been around in a week and there’s no way Charlie could please her as much as you and your roommate can. Because that is certainly a girl who’s sexually frustrated.”
Pacey poked his head out of the room, “Did she actually yell at someone that wasn’t me? Remarkable.”
Charlie opened the door, looking puzzled. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Where the fuck is Abby’s room?”
“428. What did she do this time? I just returned from my visit to a friend’s college so I’m not up-to-the-minute on her activities.”
Joey snarled, “You already have an excuse lined up. How convenient.”
“Well, it’s pretty obvious she did something you hate.”
She yanked Charlie by the collar and threw him against the wall on our side of the hall. “Don’t you fuck with me! I know she was in my room this weekend and I don’t believe for a second that you’re completely innocent.” I glanced over at Chris, who was completely enjoying the show.
“She was in your room?” Charlie replied in disbelief, “You could have just had a burglar. After all, you’re the only girl on this floor, not exactly a safe arrangement…”
“A burglar who only stole my journal then left a note saying, ‘Pay Day’? There’s only one person that’d do that. Or two people if I discover you’re fucking lying. For some odd reason, I think it’d be easier to kill your sorry ass than Abby’s.”
He rested a hand on her shoulder, “Joey, calm down. Your journal?”
“Yes, my journal and how do you expect me to be calm with the prospect of everyone around here reading my innermost thoughts. I’m sure you wouldn’t be if I stormed into your open room and pulled out some random crap for everyone to read.” She pushed him back against the wall.
“I didn’t say it wasn’t a big deal. Believe me, I understand exactly what you’re talking about. If Abby really stole it…” Joey tried to protest but Charlie gestured for her to keep quiet. “ If she stole it, I will help you out.”
“I don’t believe you but I doubt I’ll get any more information from you. I’m off to room 428.” She stormed off toward the stairwell. Charlie watched her turn the hallway then shook his head as he retreated back into his room.
Pacey raced out to follow her, “You’ll need my help.”
Chris was grinning like a guy that just got laid. “That’s my little girl.” He then returned to his room.
Maybe it was because of my conversation with Charlie before the trip. Or Jen insisting that I should try to be friends with him. I just had doubts that he’d actually be involved in something as sickening as breaking into a person’s room searching for personal information to blackmail someone with.
And why the fuck would Chris claim that Joey was the powerful one here? She’s not even little – Joey would punch him just for insinuating that. Unless…
Abby had somehow changed allegiances over the weekend. She was a blonde. A blonde desperate to get laid, but probably not willing to do it unless she could get some favor out of the guy. A favor such as convincing an RA to get something out of a hallmate’s room. Charlie had enough respect that he’d never agree but Chris didn’t. She may have been mad at him for his recent comments in which he made her appear crazy. Probably will have him take the blame.
Regardless of whether Chris or Charlie were involved, it was pretty clear that Joey wouldn’t be safe.
Regardless of what was written in the journal, I knew that Pacey and I wouldn’t be in a much better position.
Chapter 14 - Right Through You
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