Nowhere Fast
Chapter 18 - If It's Happening You'll Know It
Pacey Witter
“Good afternoon, Mr. Witter.”
Wha? I barely opened my eyes as I attempted to raise my head. Yet it seemed heavier than usual. At first, I thought I was still stuck in a dream world. Then I opened them fully and realized the problem. I must have fallen asleep while studying because I found page 124 of my Calculus textbook stuck to my face. Once I freed the paper, I saw a vaguely familiar female holding two cups of coffee.
“What time is it?”
She glanced at the clock at the other end of the lounge. “Two fifteen.”
“Oh, good, still have time before my midterm.”
“I’m sure the rest of the your class will be disappointed you didn’t actually sleep through it.” It was then that I realized it was Marie, Joey’s ally from the sorority party. “Coffee?” She asked, holding one cup under my nose.
“Thanks.” I took the cup from her. Marie then sat in the chair across the table from me and began unloading books from her backpack. “You don’t mind if I study over here, do you? I have a Bio test tonight. Naturally, my roommate thinks now is the perfect to invite some sisters over. I mean, she can do that but I was already settled in at my desk with books around.”
“As long as you’re reading, no problem.” Marie nodded then opened her textbook and began reading. I had to admit that I was surprised she was actually interested in just studying. Well, it’s not as if I would complain at this moment since I knew I shouldn’t be thinking about anything but integration and other Calculus-related information.
It had been four days since I’d walked out on Joey. I’m not sure if it had been planned by her to avoid me. It was the first week for serious work since we’d arrived. Joey plus tests could be enough for her to dive headfirst into work anyway, even if nothing was happening personally. Dawson had mentioned that at the dinner - yeah, he actually said something that was worth knowing that night.
It must have seemed that I should be dodging her. But I knew now it was a mistake to leave. I’m sure she didn’t know what to think.
I didn’t realize that until I asked Jack if she’d mentioned me in their conversation after I left. He was evasive, probably because he didn’t want to break Joey’s trust, but the gist was that she really was conflicted about the kiss. The fact that she wasn’t completely creeped out was definitely better news than I’d truly expected.
Marie had glanced up from the textbook and was staring at me. Once I noticed that, I blinked quickly and tried to return to reading. It must have been clear to her that I was only pretending to read because she coughed loudly and deliberately.
“Yeah?” I asked her.
“It’s either you’re still sleeping or you’ve started thinking about something else. Either way, get back to reality.” She took a sip from her cup, waiting for a response.
“You’re right. Sorry about that. Must have been distracted.”
“It’s about a girl, isn’t it?”
“That obvious?”
“Not Shannon, right?”
I shook my head. “She wouldn’t warrant that type of devotion. But how’d you know that?” The only time I’d talked to her was after getting the shaft from her.
“I was talking to Joey last night. She told me it was never that serious, which is a relief.”
I shouldn’t be prying into Joey’s private affairs but I just couldn’t resist finding out what Marie knew. “How stressed was she?”
Marie giggled as she recalled, “She was searching for a pencil, not even realizing there were two adorning her hair. The girl could really use a little time away from the books. Anyway, so we spent an hour bitching about professors and neighbors. By the way, if I were Joey, I would have strangled that girl Abby already. The one meeting was more than enough for me. She makes my roommate sound wonderful in comparison.”
“Abby lives in a single, I believe.” I said. More importantly, it was nice to see Joey making friends with a female - for a change. Even that weekend with Jen seemed more adversarial than she’d ever care to admit. “But your roommate couldn’t be that bad to even be close to Abby’s league.”
“You’re not the roommate, Pacey. You’re not the one forced out of your room on a regular basis because of those girls. Janice wouldn’t be so annoying if it wasn’t for that obligatory crap. I just keep telling myself that I just have to take this for a little longer because she’ll then move in with another sister. Joey will be a step up.”
“Um, Joey?”
“Yeah, I mean, it makes sense. Joey will have to find a new place. I have a spare room. It’s so obvious.”
“Does she know about this plan of yours?”
“It was her idea. Campus Residences informed her that she’s still far down on the list so she wouldn’t be able to get correct housing until next semester. Even then, it would be a crapshoot whether she got a tolerable roommate. Same with me once Janice moves. Why not jump past those problems and get it over with? I don’t want to be like my sister, who ended up with six roommates in four years. Well, she’s so spoiled that I’m not surprised they’d want to leave but… I’m not that.”
Joey wanted to move out? She couldn’t even stand to be around me anymore so she impulsively decides to move out? I couldn’t believe she was that determined not to deal with this! The Joey Potter I thought I knew wouldn’t try to run away from problems. She might be one who enjoys being in denial, but not to escape outright. That meant that, despite any hope Jack had given, she really didn’t want to face me.
“Well, that solves everyone’s dilemma, doesn’t it?” I snidely declared. Marie peered at me, confused by my reaction. I checked my watch. “I have to get to class. It’s better to start annoying those classmates early.” I gave a quick what-I-hope-passed-for-a-smile. “Thanks for the coffee but you can have it instead.”
“Ooookay Pace. Good luck. It was nice talking to you.” Marie watched me worriedly as I got up from my chair and stuffed books in my backpack. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, in fact, you said exactly what I needed to hear.”
Two hours later, I was walking up the stairs toward my dorm room when I heard Joey’s voice fill the air. Her voice was cutting through the air viciously. It alone could have wounded a person, no matter what she was actually saying. I had thought I was just imagining that, since the idea of her sneaking away from us so suddenly was having that effect.
How did I make it through that midterm, I have no idea. It was either the best I’d ever done or my worst - there was no in-between, just extremes at this point.
When I turned down our corridor, Joey was, in fact, in the hallway. So was Abby and it wasn’t a pretty talk. At that moment, I knew what had to be done. Abby be damned, this was getting settled right here, right now.
“How long were you gonna wait until you told me?”
* * * * *
Joey Potter
As I was locking the door to my room, I spotted Abby waiting in front of Chris’ door. She was twisting her neck back and forth, stretching out muscles
“Perfecting your spying technique?”
Abby turned to face me, somewhat startled. “Huh? I was just allowing Chris to speak to his father. It’s called decency.”
“That doesn’t make sense since I don’t think you know what that word means. You certainly don’t employ that in any other person’s life.”
“I’m sure there are a lot of words you have no idea what they really mean.” Abby countered. “After all, you insist on throwing them around randomly. Then again, you do that with accusations as well.”
“I think I speak for the entire floor when I say that’s just bullshit. There is not one person who trusts you.”
“I believe I can state definitively that’s not true. The person on the other side of this door does.”
“No, he just blindly follows you around. A lost puppy would serve the same purpose and it’d be much less sickening.”
I was shocked by the next voice. “How long were you gonna wait until you told me?” Abby and I both stared at Pacey. He looked like he’d just awoken from a lousy dream. His eyes, clouded by haze, were staring me down. His lips pursed in a firm straight line. His green Hawaiian shirt was wrinkled from hours of tossing around - okay, actually, that was close to normal. Pacey Witter didn’t seem like a person you’d want to get in the way of at the moment.
“Tell you what?”
“That you were planning to move out, effective immediately.”
“When was I planning to do that?”
“Don’t try to act coy just because you don’t want her,” pointing to Abby, “to get any ideas. Right now, I don’t care who knows. This stupid game may have been a bullshit way to force us together. But, you know something? I wouldn’t want anything to do with a person who sneaks important information. Before you say that has already happened, I’d like to point out that was about the past, not the present.”
“Pacey, I think it would be better if we talked about this inside.”
“Just answer me this question. Did you talk to Marie about being her roommate?”
“Yes, I did. Now, let’s go inside so I could tell you why before you get some stupid conclusion about that.”
“You mean I’m not supposed to conclude that you desperately trying to avoid me?”
I unlocked the door and shoved him inside. I moved my stereo from my desk to the door and blasted the radio - making sure there wasn’t a chance in hell that Abby would eavesdrop.
“I’m not avoiding you. It’s not as if I’ve been associating with everyone except you. I was talking to Jack after you left. Then, just yesterday, I ran into Marie. That’s the extent of my social calendar.”
“But you’re moving out at once?”
“I hope not. Unless, by some miracle, the idiots in housing get to my application. That has always been known. Now, do you want to jump to conclusions or find out answers?”
Pacey walked over to my desk and sat down, waiting to hear what I had to say. Why did I even need to explain this to him? “Marie’s roommate is leaving at the end of the semester. Since there are many students who move out between semesters, I can say that I would almost certainly be reassigned for spring term. I take the chance that my roommate will be someone I can’t stand. If Marie and I are both stuck in the same game of chance, why not just become roommates and make it easier. It’s not written in stone that we’ll actually live together. Just someone to fall back on. Just what did you think I was trying to do?”
He was not expecting that answer, gripping onto the back of the chair to keep steady. “You’re right. That’s so logical. Damn it, that’s… you know, I’m sorry about this.”
You don’t know how you move me
Deconstruct me
And consume me
I’m all used up
I’m out of luck
I am starstruck
By something in your eyes
That is keeping my hope alive
If there was a song that seemed to be speaking right now, it was the one playing on the stereo. It’s silly to think that a song can directly influence one’s feelings. It’s not even that this one had that effect, to me anyway. Pacey was listening to the words to the song.
It had been his mistake to assume that the only reason the housing discussion came up was because of a kiss. He was perfectly aware of that.
I could understand his reaction. In fact, what he didn’t know was that I had been thinking about everything since that day. Even if I assume that Jack relayed some of what I said to him, it didn’t tell the whole story.
There was enough disbelief mixing into this, from being doubted by people his whole life. So why wouldn’t he suspect that I would just throw everything we had so far?
I hope that wasn’t what he wanted. I didn’t want to forget any of it. I wanted to treasure that kiss, to experience it again and again.
But I’m sick of myself when I look at you
Something is beautiful and true
In a world that’s ugly and a lie
It’s hard to even want to try
And I’m beginning to think
Baby you don’t know
Matthew Sweet - “Sick of Myself”
He was watching me intently, then glanced toward the door and began laughing loudly. I did a double take as I tried to grasp exactly where this abrupt change in demeanor came from.
“Exactly what’s so funny?”
“It’s just…” He tried to compose himself, then continued, “Did you ever think that we assume that everything is crystal clear? Really, we’re just traveling around in circles. False assumptions abound in this group. What we need is a serious goal.”
“Pacey, what are you talking about?”
“It’s...do you mind if I change the station? That goddamn song is weirding me out.” I shrugged in indifference as he got up and turned the dial to an oldies station. “That’s much better.”
I kidded, “Did that hit a little too close? I mean, everyone else is sick of you so it makes sense that eventually you’d feel the same way.”
“Jo, you have no idea.” I stopped giggling as I realized that was probably true. “Abby thinks we’re having a lovers’ quarrel.”
“What possessed you to say that in front of her?”
“That’s a measure of how much that news affected me. I didn’t care if Abby went down to the radio station and broadcasted everything to the whole campus at that moment. If it’s not true, however, that implies that Abby would think she’s won.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty disgusting.”
Pacey got a wicked grin on his face. “Why don’t we let her believe she did?”
“Why would we want to do that?”
“Think about what information Abby Morgan has. You’re supposed to have suspicions that Jack was involved with the journal being stolen. She thinks that you and I are at each other’s throats and that you hate me so much that you’re leaving.”
“Okay, I got that. What good would letting her win do? She’d just get more confident.”
“She’d be falsely confident. What is the one thing we know that she doesn’t?”
“That we know she did it?”
“Not about the journal.”
“That we don’t hate each other?” Just where the hell was he going with this?
“Something that would actually bother her.”
Other than Abby’s mission not being accomplished, there were no weapons. I threw my hands up in defeat. “I give up.”
“How do you know she stole the journal?”
“Because we were told by…” I smiled upon realizing what he meant. “That would probably hurt her.”
“The beauty of it is that we don’t have to do anything different. Just push the right buttons.”
* * * * *
Jack McPhee
I entered the nearly empty pizzeria. It seemed to be as good of a place to get some studying done as anywhere else. Some people prefer the silence of the library. Personally, I’d rather there be a little noise. In this case, the sound of Muzak.
I sat down at a table with the plate. As I did so, I felt a carving in the table. Joey’s table. I snickered to myself, as I knew that was an official mark for this table. Sort of like graffiti. Someday, I guess I should show Pacey that.
Of course, as soon as I’d started reading notes for my Lit midterm, someone has to interrupt. “Mind if I join you?” I looked up and saw Gary standing there, holding a tray heaping with food.
I motioned for him to sit down. I wasn’t sure if I was actually interested in talking to him or not. That night at the party, everything was different. There was a haze to the air from all the cigarettes and pot in the room. Not that either of us were completely coherent anyway. Seeing him now, it was a very different person.
“Coach ran us down in practice today. Then again, I’m not surprised. If he has to honor his contract, he should have us suffer along with him.”
“I’m sure the football team can’t be that bad.”
Gary shook his head. “Yes, we can be. I don’t like the idea of people from home seeing the fucking team on the news for all the wrong reasons. I’ve gotten calls from many high school friends asking about it.”
“Why were they on the news? A fight broke out?”
“You don’t keep up with your school’s sports teams?” I shook my head. “We lost to a rather lousy team by the score of 80-7. It wasn’t so bad when it was fucking Miami because they’re a championship team. But this sucked.”
“Maybe partying the night before wasn’t the best idea.” I pointed out.
“Possibly but I’m only a backup. Eh, whatever. There are more important things in the world. Any particular reason why I find you here alone?”
“It’s quiet.” I curtly replied as I pretended to be looking over the notes, hoping he’d get the hint.
“Sorry, I just meant that I thought you were alone because of a fight or something.”
“Charlie and I aren’t a couple, if that’s where you’re heading with that.” After all, he knew about nobody else.
“That’s good to know.” He feigned interest, rather poorly I might add.
“You know, it’s considered poor manners to bring farm animals in eating places.” Abby chirped as she stood at our table. “Oh, I’m so sorry about that, Newman. I make that mistake all the time.”
“It’s also considered in bad taste to leave snowladies indoors. It’s just messy.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “That’s rather lame. Would you scurry the hell away so us adults can talk?”
“Look, you’re not going to order me around… Wait, you two are friends, aren’t you? Damn it, I can’t handle that.” He got up and left for another table. Even though his reasoning was wrong, if claiming to be Abby’s friend was enough to get him to leave, why fight it? It’s not that Gary was so annoying, just that Abby would be more fun to handle without Gary’s presence.
Pacey had clued me in on their agenda. Joey was plotting strategy with him as to actual revenge. Meanwhile, it was just pretending that we were at odds and that Charlie was still on her side. Gary would automatically blow that second part.
Abby sat down and looked at me quizzically. “Why would he think we’re friends?”
“I don’t know. Because you wanted to talk to me?”
She said, “I guess he can think whatever he wants right now. That’s your problem, not mine.” She then turned on her sugar-sweet voice. “So I hear that Joey’s planning to move out?”
“Yeah, it’s been a hard couple of weeks. After all, she still doesn’t believe I had nothing to do with the journal. Well, Chris did catch me red-handed so I guess I did have something to do with that.”
“I was wondering how you got that…Chris set you up, right?”
Sure, that sounded really good. Not that Chris would ever think of something that clever. “Of course he did. This whole Pacey situation doesn’t help matters.”
“So there’s a Pacey situation?” A grin began to form on her face, which she kept trying to hide from me.
“Look, it’s not supposed to be common knowledge.” I leaned in closer to whisper. “But Pacey’s not her type.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I had trouble believing it as well. But you don’t go from Dawson to a guy like Pacey without something in between.” I knew that was a lie. Abby knew that was a lie but she wasn’t supposed to know that was a lie.
“That makes sense.” She raised her hand first down to the ground then back up to eye level. “That’s a rather large jump to do.”
“Yeah, but who’s really gonna talk her out of leaving? Me?”
“Well, it was certainly entertaining while it lasted.” It was a laugh riot, I’m sure. “So she’s definitely leaving?”
“It’s just about paperwork right now.”
“Housing tends to deal with room swapping right away.” Abby pointed out. “So do you want me to call the Hulk back?”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” I looked down at the half-eaten food on my tray. “I should get going. This food is lousy enough to ruin anyone’s appetite.” So is Abby when she’s being this smarmy.
“’Kay. I wish you guys the best of luck in your romantic entanglements.”
Yeah, I could think of entangling her with live electrical wires. How romantic. “Night, Abby.”
Chapter 19 - It's All Been Done Before
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