Somewhere Else
Chapter 4 - Catch-Up Time
Jen and Joey were sitting in the study lounge in the library, mulling over their textbooks, when Jen stopped reading and looked around.
Joey took her eyes off her book. “Something wrong?”
“No, That’s what wrong. For the first time I can remember, everything seems to be right. Despite problems in the past, my mom is happy that I’m engaged. I didn’t even have to lie about the guy being Drue! I’ll be graduating in May and am cautiously optimistic I’ll be able to get a job at the place where I’m interning. No more school, ever.”
“Congratulations,” Joey muttered. “Better beware of senioritis. It can sneak up on you very quickly.”
Jen stuck out her tongue at Joey. “It’s just that my mind keeps racing toward everything except schoolwork. I need to get out of here, find the nearest club, order a couple Coronas, sit back and enjoy.”
“So go do that,” Joey replied, hopeful Jen would get the hint.
“You know I can’t. This is due tomorrow,” Jen whined. “I have to try to be mature. I don’t want to be an adult.”
“Me either. But we have to do this growing up thing.”
“Oh well. I heard that Pacey’s planning to settle back here after graduation. What hell he’ll cause,” Jen mused.
Joey offered a slight smile. “That would amount to cruelty. I’ve never had to deal with you and Drue and him for more than three days in a row.”
“You’ll love it. The three of us will turn you into an irresponsible slacker in no time.” Jen grinned.
“Wonderful,” Joey replied sarcastically. “I get to learn so much more.”
“More than four years of college could ever give you,” Jen assured. “I don’t know how I haven’t gotten through to you yet.”
“Heaven forbid you try to be a little sensible. Aren’t you supposed to be married soon?”
“That’s not until July or August. So I can still be a little reckless.”
“You haven’t settled on a date yet?”
“We had, until the minister we had in mind informed us that he’ll be on vacation the day we initially planned. So it’s either the beginning of July or the end of August, if we want our parents to pay for it.”
Joey laughed, “I can see the day that Drue’s mother meeting your parents to be the weirdest day ever.”
“No, see, that’s already been topped. My mom and I were going shopping when we ran into Pacey’s brother Doug while he was on duty. But she didn’t know he was on duty since he was an undercover officer at the time. I keep trying to pull her away, realizing he’s watching the building across the street. Whatever he was looking for showed up so he ran away quickly.” Jen laughed, then covered her mouth as she noticed the dirty looks she received from other students in the lounge. “It was very difficult to explain to her what happened.”
“I suppose it would be,” Joey conceded. “Jen, how fast can you write that paper?”
“There are only two pages required. Why?”
“Write it quickly. It’s not like it’s the final exam; it’s not worth that much of your grade. I tend to do work in advance so what’s one day off?”
Jen giggled, “See, we’re already having an effect on you.” She slammed her books closed and stuffed them in her backpack in five seconds flat. “You ready?”
Joey laughed, “I shouldn’t have said the magic word. Where did you have in mind?”
“Traditionally, I’d say let’s see where we end up. This time, however, I had a particular place in mind.” She stretched out, “I feel like some karaoke.”
“Let’s just stick to a regular bar. I don’t feel like singing.” Joey packed her belongings as she followed Jen out of the lounge and onto the street.
Jen begged, “Oh come on, Joey. This night wouldn’t be complete without a little singing. How about ‘You’re the One That I Want’?”
“Jen, you’re lucky I’m agreeing to the bar idea…”
She was drowned out by Jen’s enthusiasm. “Oh, wait. There’s this song that was playing in the office today. Let me think…I searched for the lyrics to this…” Jen dug in her jacket pocket, revealing a sheet she’d scribbled on. “Here we go…
Fairly well I know you're leavin',
For the new love that you found
The pretty girl that you've been dating
Oh I've got a feeling she's gonna put you down
Joey interrupted, “That’s a rather strange song for you.”
“I know. Who’d believe that a country song would interest me? Now you know that love will make you do crazy things!” Jen continued as they crossed the street, receiving strange looks from other people in the process.
Cause she don't love you like I love you
Cause if she did she wouldn't break your heart
She don't love you like I love you
She's tryin' to tear us apart
“She Don’t Love You Like I Love You” - Dolly Parton
Joey covered over Jen’s mouth as there was just one dirty look too many for her to handle. Jen couldn’t help but giggle at how embarrassed Joey was by her. To think, she hadn’t even gotten a Margarita in her yet.
When Joey let go several blocks later, Jen asked innocently, “Does my singing bother you? Or is it this particular song?”
“Your singing,” Joey insisted.
“Are you sure?” Jen replied teasingly. “Or is it ‘Lisette don’t love Pacey like I looooove Paaa-cey’?”
Joey hadn’t thought of the lyrics connecting to her situation. Then again, she should have realized there would be a purpose behind Jen singing a country song. Rather than admit that the song may now have pertained to her, she reprimanded, “You’re just trying to make sure I desert you tonight. No drunken karaoke for you, young lady.”
* * * * *
“Do you think I’m insane?” Pacey asked Jack as soon as he entered the room.
Jack looked up from his textbook, startled by his presence. “I’ve been your roommate for three and a half years. I think I’m qualified to say yes.”
Pacey let his backpack fall to the floor and plopped down on his bed. “I wonder why I can’t get Joey out of my mind. She’s fucking driving me crazy!”
“In a good way?”
“In both positive and negative ways,” Pacey affirmed. “Why does she have this power over me? I want my life back! It was just starting to get back to normal.”
“Being with Lisette is considered the normal activity?”
“She’s a real person and she’s attainable. I’m supposed to see Lisette right now but I had to cancel because of this. I can’t even be around her right now. I’d rather study!”
“Aren’t you moving back to the city after graduation? So, wouldn’t Joey become attainable then?”
Pacey covered his ears, refusing to deal with that revelation. “Would you stop that? Please? That is not supposed to enter the picture. It’s bad enough there’s the outfit she wore at the dinner burned in my head. I don’t need that as well.”
“Joey dumped you for one reason only: distance. That’s soon gone.”
“What makes you so sure that’s the only reason?”
“It is,” Jack emphatically stated.
“If that was so, why not try to get me back when she realized she couldn’t stand it?”
“It’s called the Dawson Leery syndrome. Think about it - he was dating her until he moved to California. Joey realized she needed to be apart from him so she could figure out what she wanted. Eventually, the conclusion was…well, you know. It’s just taking her a little time to figure out what’s best.”
“Damn truth has to get in the way. To think, I was the fool who gave her that advice regarding Dawson. It just had to bite me in the ass.”
The phone rang, interrupting them. Jack motioned to Pacey to get the phone. Pacey replied, “Remember? I’m ditching her tonight.”
“Fine, then you can tell Lisette yourself.”
Sighing, Pacey reached over to the phone, answering, “Witter and McPhee, sex machines. Ready to serve you.”
The caller replied, “What makes you so sure you’re working properly?”
Pacey smirked, “There haven’t been any complaints so far. How’s the newest Broadway star?” Jack perked up upon realizing it was Charlie.
“Dazed and confused. I’m guessing he’s not home.”
“Oh no, he’s here. I’d rather annoy you first.”
Charlie complained, “Pacey, I’m too tired to play games with you…”
“Come on. I thrive on moments like this. Jack just doesn’t work on the same level. I need this to survive, man.”
“If you don’t shut up right now, I’ll tell you what happened the last time I stayed at the dorm. In fact, if I remember correctly, it was on your bed…”
“You win,” Pacey said quickly, then tossed the phone onto Jack’s desk. “For you. Just give me time to get out of here. I feel this sudden urge to do laundry and you know that doesn’t happen very often.” He began gathering dirty clothes.
Jack laughed at Pacey’s actions. “You’re getting good at silencing him. Thirty-six seconds.”
“I’ve figured out I’m best off when threatening either to tell details of our sex life or what Joey does when she’s alone in her bedroom. Of course, there could be a flaw if Pacey gets in a fight with Lisette. But I’ll deal with that when it happens.”
“You don’t really know that, right? About Joey?”
Pacey had one hand on the knob when he stopped upon hearing her name. Charlie replied solemnly, “I hope I never find out Potter’s secret.” Jack laughed then got up from the chair and settled on his bed, indicating to Pacey that Charlie made a remark about being Joey’s roommate. Pacey left the room. “On a less disgusting note, I’ll be onstage next Friday.”
“I’ve been waiting to hear about that.” Valentine’s Day, he thought, couldn’t have worked out better.
“I may have two tickets in my hand right this minute. Is one of them yours?”
“I’d think you’d know the answer,” Jack teased.
“You’re right. Jen and Drue have been begging ever since they found out. Jen really wants to see that guy play Divine’s role. I think the tickets are theirs.”
“Of course, naturally.”
“Either that or you’ll have to go on a date with Joey.”
“That’s not fu…wait, that’s good news, I think.”
“It could be interpreted as such,” Charlie agreed. “You could crash here afterwards.”
Jack snickered, “And then you turn it back into bad news.”
“It’s a package deal.”
“It’ll have to do.” Jack was silently relieved that they did now have plans. Michael had wanted to drive to Philadelphia that weekend but Jack didn’t want to agree to anything that would ruin the whole weekend. He hoped that Charlie would be available at some point. This more than made up for that problem. Though there really shouldn’t have been any doubt with whom Jack would spend Valentine’s Day with.
This set-up started in the first place because Jack had freaked out after one really drunk night midway through junior year landed him with someone else. He’d been surprised by how calm Charlie had been when Jack eventually blurted it out. The day after that, they’d come to this understanding, which basically allowed for flings. Both of them had taken advantage at some point since.
Normally, it was rather simple to work within the boundaries; there was never a serious challenge until this. Jack had to admit that he didn’t mind having Michael around, to some extent. It was Michael’s persistence that had kept him in the picture. He was desperate to not be the “other” guy, even going so far as to surprise Jack in New York the week during break he stayed at Jen’s - knowing full well Jack couldn’t visit Charlie with him around. That had challenged even Jack’s patience; then again, Charlie hadn’t made an effort to confront it either.
“You okay?” Charlie asked, bringing Jack back to reality.
“Fine,” Jack replied doubtfully.
* * * * *
Pacey dragged his laundry bag and backpack downstairs to the basement. He was thankful that he’d finally reached the laundry room when he saw Frank loading the last machine.
Pacey checked the times on the washers. Only a five minute wait. He dropped the two bags and sat down to wait.
“Hey there, Pacey.” Frank greeted. “All alone tonight?” He had overheard a phone conversation that Pacey was supposed to meet Lisette that night, thereby starting the events that Abby believed needed to occur.
“I have work to catch up on.” He pointed to the backpack. “International Marketing class.”
“Sounds remarkably dull,” Frank murmured. “Why study here? Are you afraid of the laundry thieves?”
Pacey shook his head. “Jack’s on the phone with his boyfriend.”
“So the rumors were true about him,” he muttered. Frank then said in a louder voice, “Is that the guy who dresses like he works on Wall Street?”
“No…well, that guy isn’t who I’m talking about. It’s…complicated.”
“Of course it is.” Frank shut the door on the washing machine, entered change in the slot and started it. “I’m going back up to keep my guest from missing me. Enjoy.” He walked out of the room.
Pacey started reading. When the five minutes were up, he unloaded the done machine on top of the neighboring one then filled it up with his clothes. He turned around ready to leave when he found a straightened-out sheet of paper on the floor. He picked up and read:
She don’t love you like I love you. ~ J
Pacey read it over and over. He was certain it wasn’t there before. Moreover, it appeared to be Joey’s handwriting.
“That’s impossible,” Pacey said to himself. “She’s not out here. This is just your overactive imagination working against you.” He walked around the laundry room pondering a realistic explanation.
When he came up with the only viable answer, Pacey raced up the stairs and knocked on room 134.
Frank opened the door, hands on his hips. “What’s your problem?”
“I thought you might have dropped this.” Normally, Pacey wouldn’t give a damn about Frank’s stuff. But he absolutely needed an answer to this mystery so he could get the idea of Joey out of his head.
Frank scanned the sheet. “This isn’t mine. Maybe it’s someone else’s dirty laundry.” Pacey groaned at the lousy joke. “People empty pockets when doing their wash. You could try asking any of the other guys in this building. Hey, maybe it’s your roommate, finally declaring his undying love for you. There are many explanations for cheesy letters like that.” He slammed the door shut.
Pacey walked slowly back downstairs. He was certain that it hadn’t been there when he arrived. Maybe it was a sign from above. He looked up at the ceiling, waiting for a signal that he was right. When none come, he shook his head of such silliness, assuming that he was just jumping to conclusions.
Chapter 5 - Not Quite the Sweetest Thing
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