Somewhere Else
Chapter 16 - Graduation
Joey sat in the waiting area of the airport, studying from the notebook in her lap. She had two finals the next day and she needed every minute, even if this had to interfere. A coffee cup was held under her nose, which she promptly snatched then continued studying.
Charlie muttered bitterly, “How appreciative,” then moved a bag from the seat next to her and sat down with his cup.
“Consider yourself lucky I came to the airport in the first place,” Joey replied sardonically as she pulled out a highlighter and underlined a passage.
“Don’t you want to treasure the moment when you’re absolutely certain I’m not returning to the apartment?”
Joey looked up this time, letting a slight smile escape. “You’ve finally figured out my reason. Congratulations.”
“You’re so transparent.”
She tried to continue cramming, but kept getting distracted. After ten fruitless minutes, she glanced in Charlie’s direction, finding him reading from a folder. “You complain about me studying? You’re doing the same thing!”
“When an actor does it, it’s called rehearsing.”
“What role are you playing, anyway?” All Joey knew regarding the performing aspect of Out of Tune was that he’d been cast.
“Lenny, the bassist.”
“The one who hardly says a word?” Eventually, she did sit down to read the whole script; Joey had to admit there was definite improvement.
“Hence why they were okay with an unknown in the role. Call me Silent Bob, if you will.”
“You keeping your mouth shut? This role is really a stretch for you.” Joey offered an innocent grin.
“Ha ha,” Charlie replied, not amused. “The hardest part of this experience won’t the role; it’s living in that loft Dawson and his friends share.”
Joey chuckled, figuring that this movie would be Dawson and Charlie’s last collaboration. She wasn’t sure which one would survive the inevitable wreckage.
Her thoughts were interrupted by an announcement over the speaker about the current gates.
“That’s my flight.” He picked up the two bags on the floor, slinging one over each shoulder.
Joey stood up, uneasy about what to do. Here was a moment she’d been anticipating for too long. She was supposed to be happy to see him leave. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, as she said hesitantly, “I hope all goes well in California.”
Charlie tilted his head, wondering about the way Joey was acting. “I’m not contagious, am I?”
“Huh?” She couldn’t figure out where the question had come from.
Charlie dropped the bags on the nearby seat. “Must you always be like this?” He shook his head. “Fine, whatever. I’ll bite the bullet. I’m glad we were roommates. I’d like to think we’ve eventually, um, sometimes…”
“Occasionally,” Joey piped up.
“Occasionally,” Charlie amended. “Occasionally get along. Part of your game is saying you can’t stand me, whether it’s true or not. It has been the case since the beginning so why change now.”
“Usually, it is true,” Joey weakly protested, though she understood his point. “But I threaten to kill you at least once a week. Have I ever come close?”
“There was the time you threw me against the wall in the hallway of the dorm and tried to strangle me with my shirt collar. Otherwise, no.”
“I did not!” Joey insisted. “When did this supposedly…” She stopped as she remembered the incident. Joey had just discovered her journal was missing. She wasn’t able to immediately find Abby so she went after him, at the time believing he was involved. Joey conceded, “Okay, I did do that. I can’t believe you remember.”
“Somebody had the nerve to ask me if you were as rough in the bedroom. Kinda hard to get rid of that particular image.”
“That is so silly!” Joey exclaimed, amazed at the stupidity of college boys. “Though that would explain the way the guys in the hallway looked at me afterwards.”
“It might not have helped that I supported that rumor.”
She could find that story amusing now, but it did raise a question in her mind. Joey asked softly, “Does the stuff I say bother you?”
Charlie shrugged it off. “Not really. Though I’d have thought you’d have grown up a little since then.”
Joey was annoyed he had the nerve to say that. She screeched, “You’re one to talk!” Charlie laughed at her reaction, to which she cried out, “What?”
He motioned for her to come closer, which she obliged apprehensively. Charlie rested a hand on her shoulder as he informed her, “Lighten up,” then brought Joey toward him and gave a brief hug. When he broke away, he picked up the two bags he’d dropped. “I’ll see ya soon.”
“I wasn’t sure if I’d give you this but you earned it.” Joey pulled an envelope out of her pocket and held it out for him. “Now, don’t open this until you land in L.A.”
“Why, because you profess your undying love for me?” Charlie teased as he accepted the envelope and stuffed it in his bag. “I knew it!”
“Actually, it’s not from me.” Joey pushed him toward the line forming for his flight before giving him a chance to react to that. “Good luck,” she replied sincerely.
* * * * *
“Are you intending to wait until after finals tomorrow to pack up everything?” Jack asked when he entered to the room, carrying a cardboard box.
Pacey was cramming a semester’s worth of material into this last full day. He wasn’t even particularly concerned about this particular final since he was practically guaranteed to pass this class. It just didn’t seem right to actually (gasp!) pack ahead of time. Since Jack had his last final today, there was nothing keeping him at the dorm.
Both Pacey and Jack had decided to celebrate in the city with Joey, Jen and Drue before returning to the campus for the graduation ceremony that weekend. After all, why would anyone choose to stay in a cramped dorm room a second longer than necessary?
“Would I want to break tradition now? I think not.”
Jack was staying at Jen’s for those couple days, then drive back to Providence after the ceremony. It was pretty clear that wasn’t the way Jack had intended to spend the bulk of summer but there was little point to stay in the city, not when he’d be back in the fall attending grad school. So he opted to let Andie win and hang around his sister instead.
“I guess.”
“Come on, Jack. Savor the end of dorm life. It’s your last chance.” Pacey placed a pencil in the textbook to serve as a bookmark, then closed it.
Jack complained, “Explain why this would be worth treasuring. Granted, I’m thankful for the friends I’ve made but that continues past the dorm experience. You’re finished with school for good so you have that benefit. I don’t; only the location will change.”
“It’s all about the little things. You won’t be woken up at three in the morning at least once a week because someone burned popcorn in the microwave and set off the fire alarm. No more mandatory hall meetings to discuss topics meant to unify the residents but instead exhibits the reasons there are such barriers.”
“Those aren’t things worth cherishing.”
Just then, they heard the familiar sound of a guitar. Jack looked out in the hallway to see Trent, the musician who lived in the room at the far end, wearing headphones as he tried to learn a new song. Since it was the last night in the dorms, the RAs weren’t as stringent about some of the rules.
Where you are seems to be
As far as an eternity
Outstretched arms open hearts
And if it never ends then when do we start?
When Jack returned, Pacey smirked knowingly. Jack relented in a sarcastic tone, “I will grieve for that delusional wannabe rock god. I will miss his off key strumming and his tone-deaf singing. Satisfied?”
Pacey prodded, “And?”
“Maybe, possibly, miss claiming that Jen and I like his music when it’s actually because he looks so hot onstage.”
“There you go.”
I'll never leave you behind
Or treat you unkind
I know you understand
And with a tear in my eye
Give me the sweetest goodbye
That I ever did receive
Pacey laughed. “That song doesn’t suck. He’s been here as long as we have and he waits until now to get a little talent?”
“The band realized they’re better off doing covers of obscure songs so the audience will think they’re deep songwriters.” Jack said offhandedly, but was paying more attention to the words to the song. He leaned against the wall, trying not to show he was listening.
Pacey observed him, accepting that Jack was waiting for an answer. He could recognize the role both Jack and Charlie had in trying to get Joey to come around to him again. Pacey hoped, in time, there could be a way to repay that favor. If there was anything worth salvaging, which Pacey suspected there was.
Trent stopped in the middle of the song, working on the arrangement. That was when Jack asked, “What about seeing Joey as soon as possible? You wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”
“She’s working until evening tomorrow. No incentive there. Go back to your packing and stop bugging me.” Pacey shooed him away.
Jack let out a huff before beginning to load the box. He asked, “Must you insist on giving me such a hard time?”
“Need I remind you that it works both ways?”
“But whenever I do it, you’re intent on getting revenge.”
“Says the person who once led me to think my brother was dating his sister. Believe me, you deserve it.”
Jack mimicked Pacey‘s matter-of-fact tone, “Says the person who, junior year, convinced someone in the dorm that I was peeping on him. Believe me, you deserve it.”
“Last summer, I had to pretend to be you for a job interview!”
“I had to date you!”
Pacey flashed a grin. “And you claim there have been no good times at the dorm.”
* * * * *
Pushing forward and arching back
Bring me closer to heart attack
Say goodbye and just fly away
When you come back
I have some things to say
Charlie searched through the contents of one of the bags he’d brought on the plane when he saw the envelope Joey had given him. Written on the outside stated, in Joey’s handwriting, “You’d better not open this until you land in L.A.”
He opened the envelope and unfolded the small sheet of paper.
I have to apologize for the way our last meeting ended. I’m sorry. There, got those meaningless words out of the way.
The truth is I’m very proud. We have always had this understanding that neither of us could stand in the way of the other’s dreams. Never has that been put as severely to the test as right now. If you’re reading this in Los Angeles, I couldn’t be happier because I’d know you’re in the right place. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, just that I understand what needed to occur.
I should have listened closer. All I heard was that you would be gone. So, when I replayed our last conversation in my head, I was rather surprised to realize you had considered wanting me back, if circumstances were different.
I realized something when we broke up. There’s a piece of me now missing. No longer did I have that person one could confide in about anything. Not to immediately dismiss any of my other friends, but there were some things that only you could understand. I could actually survive without the physical aspects of our past relationship but the emotional part is a different matter.
It would be pointless to say garbage such as “write me everyday”. We couldn’t hold to that stuff before and I’m not even sure what we are right now. I would like to hear from you, even if it’s only a silly message on occasion so I know everything‘s okay. That’s what friends would do, I’m told, though I wouldn‘t mind changing that definition to something more beneficial.
Love always,
Jack
If he remembered the Rutgers schedule correctly, Jack should still be in the dorm. Charlie picked up the phone and punched in the familiar phone number, crossing his fingers.
“End of civilization. Women and children first.”
Charlie rolled his eyes, both for the lame greeting and for the wrong voice. “Hello Pacey. Is Jack around?”
“Charlie? This is a surprise. You weren’t able to survive without hearing my voice on a regular basis?”
“Yeah, Pace, that’s why I’m calling,” Charlie replied drolly. “I can’t handle life without some of your lame commentary.”
“That’s what I thought,” Pacey said triumphantly.
“Is he around?”
“Packing up his car. Should be back shortly.” Pacey grinned. “Which means you can’t get rid of me as easily as usual.”
“Thanks for the advance warning.” Charlie leaned back in the chair. Music from another room came to his attention. He began humming along as if it was elevator music. It had been playing all day, hardly making it easy to get any work done.
How does it feel to know you never have to be alone
When you get home
There must be someplace here that only you and I could go
So I can show you how I
Dream away everyday
Try so hard to disregard
The rhythm of the rain that drops
And coincides with the beating of my heart
“Sweetest Goodbye” - Maroon5
The door swung open and Dawson entered, none too happy. “We have to get going if we’re going to make that networking party fashionably late…” He turned around and yelled out toward the hallway, “Marcissa, would you stop playing that damn CD?” Dawson spun back to the room, exclaiming, “Everyone in this house is fucking mad!”
Charlie glanced in his direction, muttering, “Can’t deny that.”
That’s when Dawson realized Charlie was on the phone. “I’m serious! We have to convince these people this project will be worth the investment.”
“Fine, hold on.” He talked into the phone, “I have to go. Can you tell him… tell him that there’s a barking dog on the loose. It needs me to retrieve it from the pound.”
Pacey wrote it down, though confused as to why. “Is this supposed to make sense?”
“It will to Jack. Thanks, Pace.” Charlie hung up before Pacey could probe further.
Not five minutes later, Jack returned to the room. Pacey handed him the note, shaking his head. “I swear this is the real message. Maybe there were hallucinogens involved.”
Jack read it, puzzled as to the meaning as well. “A dog? What the hell? He doesn’t even like…wait. Leaving a silly message. Everything’s okay.” He beamed as he realized he’d finally gotten an answer to the letter.
* * * * *
The next evening, Joey was laid out on the couch in the apartment, anxiously awaiting Pacey’s arrival. It had felt weird to live here alone. Not that she could complain about the silence while studying for final exams.
Drue had called earlier, looking for a way to spend the next couple days without succumbing to the urge of surprising Jen at her apartment, like usual. Since Jen had finals, she firmly informed him she didn’t want to see him. Joey told him he only had to wait a few more days; it wasn’t like Jack was living with Jen permanently.
Immediately after hanging up, Joey called Jen to inform her of his withdrawal symptoms. Jen laughed, then promised she would do something to rectify that tonight. At least now Joey could take comfort in the fact there would be no visit from either of the engaged tonight.
There was a knock at the door. Joey eagerly went to answer. As she hoped, Pacey was there, with the first of what turned out to be several boxes and bags by his side. She greeted him by wrapping her arms around his neck and giving a searing kiss.
Pacey replied, “I could get used to such a greeting every day.”
“Yeah, but then you’d realize I do the same to the paper boy, the guy who lives down the hall, and the super.”
“So can I be considered the delivery guy?”
“No, wouldn’t want there to be any confusion between you and the pizza guy. How about…I’ve got it. You’re my accountant. You get to fix the books and put that degree to good use.”
“As fine a title description as any.” He pointed to the boxes and bags. “Care to help me out?”
Joey nodded, “Yeah, just drag them into the living area.”
Pacey brought the first bag in. When he looked up, he found himself staring into the end of a can of whipped cream.
“Not that I don’t love your adventurous side, but we really need to move all this into the apartment.”
“What makes you think this is sexually motivated?”
“Huh? I don’t get it.”
Joey raised her voice an octave as she ranted, “I thought this apartment was co-ed based on floor, not by room. I mean, Pacey? That’s such a girl’s name.” She offered a grin as she twirled the can around and prepared to fire.
Pacey laughed, as he thought back to the day they met. He’d agreed with Drue’s dumb idea to surprise his new neighbor with whipped cream. Little did he know there would be a female on the other side. He continued, “That's amusing. With a name like Joey and yet I'm the one with the gender crisis around here? Then again, they must have known that you would think that's the best arrangement in the world.”
Joey grinned at him remembering her words from that day. “They got that right.”
Chapter 17 - New Settings
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