Somewhere Else
Chapter 17 - New Settings
It was a rather blustery January day. Three weeks into the new year and here was, not surprisingly, when Jen Lindley’s nerves were completely frayed. After several delays and false starts, Jen was finally getting married tomorrow. Jen, in turn, was putting maid of honor Joey Potter on edge.
Joey couldn’t imagine how she would handle getting married. She was sure, someday, she would be up to the challenge. She’d hope it was with Pacey, but that was not a decision she was eager to make at this particular moment regarding anyone. It had taken Jen and Drue so long to finally get over the necessary hurdles, battling until “I now pronounce you man and wife.”
This was why Joey was stuck traveling to Jack’s apartment; Jen desperately wanted to know about the night before the big day. Joey was now at his door, knowing he was in the midst of planning for his first ever teaching assignment. Spring semester started in days and he would be acting as substitute for the professor he was doing research for. Since he was now the only person in their group attending college, it was understandably difficult to plan anything.
After the first knocks went unanswered, Joey responded by pounding on the door. She wished she didn’t have to do this, given she would have hated if anyone annoyed her like this during her college days. Jack opened the door, letting out a grunt. “What do you want?”
“If you answer one question, I swear I will leave peacefully.”
Jack placed his hands on his hips, not at all wanting to have this conversation. “Proceed.”
“What has Pacey planned for Drue for tonight, if there are even any plans to speak of?”
“You must leave after the reply. Otherwise, I won’t leave my apartment tonight and then Pacey will annoy you as much as Jen has so far.”
“Promise.” She held her hand up, as if being sworn in.
“One of Pacey’s coworkers has this gentleman’s lounge. Most of what’s happening at the bachelor party will be dictated by that.”
Joey asked suspiciously, “Is that as sleazy as it sounds?”
“Likely. Pacey and Drue would have a better idea about that.”
Joey imagined the amusing image of Jack at a bachelor party with a group Drue classified as seedy. “You would probably prefer not going.”
Jack nodded. “That would be true but ever since someone gave Drue the idea to put me in the ceremony,” glaring at Joey, “I’m kinda stuck attending.”
Joey bit her lip to keep back the real reason she talked Drue into that. It was meant to keep Jack around, regardless of the results of the next day. She lied, “Anything to keep you away from Jen and myself drowning our sorrows at a karaoke bar.”
“While I still don’t believe that’s really what you two are doing, it would have been more fun, I’m certain.”
“When someone would suggest the theme from Friends, you’d have thought differently.”
Jack deadpanned, “Jo, nobody needs to hear the theme from Friends anymore.” He gently pushed her into the hallway. “Now, you’d better get going.”
* * * * *
“Sit in bed at 10 and work began at 8,” the lady on the stage warbled. “Burned your breakfast, so far, things are going gre-e-e-e-eat.”
Joey groaned as the warning came true so early in the night. There was no joke when Jen suggested the karaoke bar. It was the only way they could safely incorporate the relatives now in town while, at the same time, actually let Jen have fun.
She took a sip of her margarita as she watched in wonder how foolish some people get when presented with a stage. The lady currently there was in her mid-thirties, believe she was Jen’s aunt’s stepdaughter, and was already three shots too early in the evening.
Jen was laughing at a story being told by her cousin Brooke, one of the few relatives who could be tolerated sober. They would turn to back to the stage as someone else would try to croon some song, this time Jen‘s childhood friend slurring ‘I‘m a Slave For You’.
Joey was surprised when Jen suddenly asked her a question. Joey asked her to repeat herself, to which Jen replied, “Can you imagine those fools at the bachelor pad having this much fun?”
“There are certain, um, entertaining features in their evening.”
Brooke interjected, “Yeah of the real and silicone variety.”
Jen laughed knowingly. “My first mission will be to find out if somebody was stupid enough to bring a video camera.”
Brooke replied, “Because you think Drue will fuck up?”
Joey threw in, “She wants to know which guy will do the dumbest thing. My money is on Drue’s married boss gyrating with a stripper.”
Jen added, “At least if that was true, it could work to his advantage.” To Joey, she pointed out, “You should have asked Jack to tape the event when you visited earlier.”
“I think not. That would hinder the other surprise, which will be for the benefit of one and the dismay of everyone else.”
“True. That would entail my addition to the guest list being just as bored.”
Joey stared at Jen. There was no way they could be talking about the same thing. “What did you do?”
“I might ask you the same thing.”
Jen stuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, wondering what the big deal was. “I included my favorite co-worker to the invited list.” Joey sighed loudly, knowing precisely Jen’s intention and wishing Jen had left that list alone. At Joey’s reaction, Jen snapped, “Come on. It’s not like Jack would enjoy anything other than the fraternity-like atmosphere.”
Joey muttered, “Certainly now he won’t.”
* * * * *
Jack sat at the bar, absently drinking from the beer bottle. Cheesy music blared in the background as a scantily clad lady entertained and the men cheered her on. Someone sat down next to him, asking, “Not enjoying all the lovely ladies?”
Jack mumbled, looking down at the counter, “I’m here purely for Drue’s benefit.”
“Ah, so you’re the one.” The guy snickered, leading to a puzzled look from Jack. “Jen requested I attend this party basically as a fix-up.”
Jack scoffed, “Jen did?” He knew the rest of the story. Last year, Joey was the one subjected to Jen’s meddling. Now, it was his turn. “You know, it would have been appreciated if Jen would tell me when I’m on a blind date.”
“Yeah, but that would deviate from the fun she’d have at your expense.” He held out his hand, “Clark Nevin.”
Jack grinned as he accepted the handshake. “Jack McPhee. You work with Jen, right?”
“Yeah. It’s nice to finally see the guys she’s always talking about. Jen has good taste in friends.”
“On behalf of those friends, thanks.”
“I hadn’t expected her childhood friend Pacey to be such a hottie.” Jack snickered, to which Clark retracted, “Probably wasn’t the best thing to say considering…”
Jack interrupted, “Don’t apologize. He’s not exactly bad to look at.”
“True, but then again, neither are you.” Clark let out a slight smile. “The difference is I’d have a chance.”
* * * * *
Pacey leaned on the edge of a table, drinking his beer. Drue draped his arm over Pacey’s shoulder as he sat next to him. “I’m surprised at you, Pace. I’d have thought you’d forgotten how to throw a good party.”
“I’m not an old man just yet.”
“Yeah, well, you were never the expert in that venue. That’s why I had to do a couple corrections.” Drue worked at a company that planned parties, so it had been difficult for him to keep his hands off the plans.
Pacey nodded absently, tilting the bottle to his mouth. This was one time he was absolutely certain Drue was all talk. Until, that was, he made the mistake of looking in the direction of the bar counter. Pacey asked, “Who the hell is that?”
“Jen’s co-worker Clark. See, knew you couldn’t think of everything!” He slapped Pacey on the back, then went back to focus on the entertainment.
Pacey muttered under his breath, “Fucking smartass is about to ruin the whole thing.” He pulled out his cell phone and hit a number on speed-dial.
“Hello?”
“Jo, tell Lindley I don’t appreciate her little guest.”
Joey replied innocently, “I have no idea what you mean.”
Pacey dryly laughed at the falseness of her reaction. “Considering you were helping me, you should be careful how you use that clever mouth.”
“You’re absolutely right. I promised none of us ladies would check up on your activities. You could at least provide the same kind act.” Joey giggled then hung up on him.
* * * * *
Two hours later, Pacey approached the counter, where Jack was alone, having gotten a temporary reprieve from Clark. “How has the matchmaker done?”
“Clark’s nice but…it’s a little weird. I can’t outright trash this idea because I’ve heard nice things from Jen before she arranged this.”
“Am I ever relieved to hear that!” Now Pacey was assured of this plan working after all.
“How so?”
“See, um, I left a box at the apartment…”
“Drue’s gift?”
“Well, it will certainly be a pleasure for Drue,” Pacey quipped. “Since I can see this isn’t really working out for you…”
Jack replied a little too eagerly, “I’d be happy to pick it up.” Any way to dodge Clark without being chastised for it was a positive plan.
Pacey pulled his set of keys from his pocket and dropped it on the counter. “Thanks, man.”
* * * * *
The party at the karaoke bar was winding down, the music now reduced to schmaltzy ballads. “Some people wait a lifetime, for a moment like this. Some people search for-e-e-vahhh, for that one special kissss,” the person onstage sang. “Ohhhhh, I can’t believe it’s happening to me-e-e.”
Jen snickered, “To think, I considered making that our song.” She shook her head, “Thankfully, Drue talked me out of it before that lady trashed it. So, no Kelly Clarkson for us.”
“It’s not your type of music,” Joey reminded her.
“I know that. I merely thought you were supposed to have a sappy love song at such an occasion.” Jen leaned back in her chair, soaking everything in. “I can’t believe I’ll be married this time tomorrow. We will actually have to be adult.”
“It is pretty strange how everything has turned out,” Joey agreed.
“Yeah, imagine, the girl who her parents constantly referred to as a bad girl actually dispensing advice to the real bad girls.” Jen worked at a youth center, counseling troubled youth.
“Or the girl from the wrong side of the creek becoming hopefully-soon-to-be-published writer J.L. Potter.” Joey had been promoted at the publishing firm, from clerical duties to actually doing some proofreading. Seeing the ins and outs of the business aided in getting a deal for her first book. As opposed to Dawson’s insistence to make movies about the people around him, Joey was sticking with children’s stories.
“That the guy who drove me nuts for many years would be the guy I’m marrying.”
“That my clownish neighbor in the dorms would bring me to New York one weekend to meet his friends and, years later, I’d be the maid of honor of those friends’ wedding.”
Jen reminded her, “And that you’re dating said clown.” She giggled, “I never thought Pacey would have a girlfriend that could live up to yours truly.”
Joey took a gulp of her drink before informing her, “No, I’ll tell you the funniest story. A tabloid can honestly say that I slept with a director and lived with the other screenwriter.”
“The better story there would read that, right after breaking up with that director, you kissed the other screenwriter’s former boyfriend, then dated second guy’s roommate.”
Joey buried her head under her arms, exclaiming through giggles, “I’ll be the whooore.” She slammed her hand on the table. “It’s about damn time!” Jen couldn’t help but laugh along at her outburst.
* * * * *
Jack unlocked the door to Pacey and Joey’s apartment, then switched on the light as he entered. He scanned the room but couldn’t see any box. He took a few steps inside. A bag caught his attention by the television, but no box.
He walked closer, stopping when he spotted a lump on the couch. Cautiously, he approached, seeing a green flannel blanket pulled over the person’s head with a sock-clad foot sticking out at the other end.
“Hello?” Jack pulled the top back a bit and was shocked to see Charlie there, sleeping. He muttered under his breath, “You weren’t supposed to be in town until tomorrow.”
Charlie stirred in his sleep, turning toward him. Jack had prepared for a brief visit. Charlie would be at the wedding, where they would engage in pleasant conversation, in the company of many other wedding guests. Then, Charlie would hop on a flight back the following afternoon. But, this…this wasn’t a safe meeting place.
It certainly wasn’t safe to be here, watching Charlie sleep; Jack had spent many mornings in the past doing just that. Jack walked quickly toward the kitchen, finally noticing the box in question. The flaps were open, allowing Jack to sneak a peek inside. It was empty, except for one creased sheet of paper.
Jack unfolded it and, upon reading it, yelped, “He set me up!”
Charlie shot up from his sleep, exclaiming, “What?” When he saw Jack, he asked, “Something wrong?”
Jack took a quick glance up then reverted his eyes to the paper, recognizing this situation for what it was. “Did you tell Pacey to rig it so I’d have to show up here?”
“Don’t you think I’ve learned by now not to plan elaborate surprises?” Charlie tried to laugh it off but neither found the observation amusing. He moved toward the kitchen. “The production schedule got rearranged because Dawson is now about five days behind. Not to mention the guy is a raving lunatic around the loft, which was all the reason I needed to change to an earlier flight. I thought I‘d be able to get some sleep while that bachelor party was happening.”
“No dice.” Jack handed him the note.
Charlie read aloud, “I knew you wouldn’t want to stay at the party so we offer you the alternate, most likely more desirable option. Pacey and Joey.” He carefully refolded the sheet and handed it back to Jack. “It wasn’t the dumbest idea Joey ever had. After all, why would you want to stay at that party?”
“Because I was in the middle of a date when I got tricked into this,” Jack snapped as he wadded up the paper.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Charlie laughed, then glanced in Jack’s direction. “You’re serious?”
Jack crossed his arms over his chest as he stepped back toward the kitchen counter. “Perhaps I am. Why should it matter?”
“Why are you making everything this difficult? We talk on the phone all the time, proving that we can be friends…”
“Please shut up.” Jack shook his head as he headed for the front door. “Maybe you can go through with that illusion but I can’t any longer so cut it out.”
“What illusion are you talking about?” Jack didn’t answer, instead letting the slam of the door be the reply.
Charlie rushed to get his shoes and coat on, then followed into the hallway. By then, Jack was nowhere to be seen. Charlie pressed the down button on the elevator, seconds feeling like minutes as it eventually creaked up the floors.
* * * * *
Pacey dragged Drue back into his and Jen’s apartment late that night. He had tried to be quiet but he wasn’t very familiar with their apartment and misjudged where the couch was located. Joey was asleep there and woke up to the nudging of the furniture.
She flipped on the lamp, then inspected the two disheveled guys. At the bright light, Drue headed in the direction of the bathroom to throw up. Joey shook her head. “Wasn’t there a warning about how drunk to get tonight?”
Pacey insisted, “He’ll recover in time.”
“And you?”
“I’m not that bad. I just look terrible because of a bottle of beer poured on my head. You know, like the celebratory Gatorade after a big win.”
Joey took a whiff of Pacey, agreeing that was the cause. “But Drue’s the one getting married, not you. Unless you met a stripper and traveled to Vegas for a quickie wedding that I’m unaware of.”
“Who do you think dumped it on me?” Pacey shrugged. “Maybe it’s better not to ask such questions.”
Joey agreed, then asked, “What do you think of marriage? Between us, I should add.”
Pacey teased, “Haven’t I asked you once in the past?” He sat down next to Joey on the couch, playing with her ponytail.
She had to laugh as she recalled the previous proposal. “You mean I’m supposed to remind you that you asked while we were having sex? That’s like saying ‘I love you’ for the first time while getting a blowjob. You’d say anything just for the other person to continue satisfying you.”
“Maybe so, but what if I asked you genuinely?” This time, there was no joke.
Joey had meant for the conversation to be rather lighthearted. She briefly considered the possibility, but since she had just woken up and had had enough to drink already tonight, she hoped he wasn’t trying to propose for real. “Is this your way of keeping up with our friends?”
“No!” Pacey replied immediately. But after allowing a few extra seconds to let the question sink in, he added, “I don’t think so.”
“Wait a month. Once the wedding is a distant memory, you’ll think differently.” Despite Pacey’s protests, she was pretty certain he was drunk enough to spew nonsense. She took the blanket covering her and let Pacey get under as well.
“Is this your way of avoiding the question?”
“Of course not. I can picture myself spending the rest of my life with you. Just…making sure we’re not stealing the Valentines’ thunder.” She snuggled up against Pacey, making sure the liquid was dried into the fabric before allowing herself to get comfortable.
Pacey leaned into her, grumbling as he fell asleep, “Jennifer Valentine. That sounds so wrong.”
Chapter 18 - If You're Not the One
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