 |
     
"An hour to go," Jack announced on his way back from the Leery kitchen, two glasses of sparkling cider in his hands. He placed one next to Audrey and then sat back down on the couch beside her. "We have enough time for one more," Dawson smiled, putting Sea Creature From the Deep into the VCR. "Pacey is going to be so glad he missed this," Jen groaned good-naturedly. They'd all allowed themselves to be talked into a movie night, featuring Dawson Leery productions. It was either that or Speilburg. "Gotta love home movies," Audrey grinned. "This one is utterly humiliating," Jen told her. "This was back in the days before Dawson was capable of finding decent talent." Dawson grinned at her, "You made a beautiful heroine." Audrey shushed them. "Save the mushiness for later. I'm trying to watch a movie here." "Yeah, yeah," Jen waved her hand and settled into Dawson's lap, kissing his cheek. "I think I have to be a fan of any movie where Joey gets killed," Audrey said with a smile. "Where is Joey?" Dawson asked. Audrey shrugged. "Off doing Joey things." Jack chuckled, "Joey things?" "Whatever Joey does." "Jo?" Dawson called back to the kitchen. "I'm getting something to drink!" "What a very Joey thing to do," Jack teased Audrey. "That's your sixth glass," Jen commented as Joey returned to the living room. "I'm very thirsty." "Apparently. Sit down," Jen suggested, "Watch yourself get decapitated." "Oh, that's an image I can never tire of," she said dryly before she sat down. "Pacey made a half decent sea monster." "Not surprising," Joey said with a touch of bitterness. "Okay, which one of you said that?" Pacey demanded, finally appearing behind them as he shrugged out of his coat. Audrey pointed at Joey. "And he-llo? Watching a movie here." He winced, seeing himself on screen. "You still have this, D?" "At least, I'm only in it for the first ten minutes,” Joey sighed thankfully. A wail echoed from upstairs, "Hey, Dawson is it okay if I...?" He gestured behind him, wanting to go visit with Lily. "Are you people not getting the movie thing?" Audrey said in exasperation. "Yeah, go ahead," Dawson nodded. "Mom would probably like the break." "It's really not that good, Audrey." Pacey smirked, before turning on his heel and ascending the stairs two at a time. "But it'll give me plenty of ammunition for later, sweetheart,” She called up after him. Pacey winced as he heard her parting comment. He shook his head with a smile, Audrey was definitely a welcome addition to their circle. He found Gale already on her way down the hall. "Let me, Mrs. Leery," He smiled at her. She smiled back, "Be my guest. I'm going to go lay back down." She sighed tiredly, "I love her to death, but the four AM feedings are slowing driving me insane." "It's no problem. I'll come get you if she needs anything." She turned away with a grateful smile and he disappeared into the baby's room. "Are you sure you should be trusted with children that small?" Joey asked lightly over Lily’s wails. He smiled to himself, but didn't take his eyes away from Lily as he lifted her into his arms. "I'm not sure I should be trusted with any children what-so-ever, but Gale and Dawson seemed to think differently." "What are they thinking?" "Well, Gale is obviously too sleep deprived to think straight," he cradled the baby to his chest and headed for the rocking chair. "And Dawson is too distracted with the lovely Miss Lindley to pay me much attention." "That's just sad. She shouldn’t have to suffer." He smiled down at the baby, brushing his hand over the soft hairs on her head. "It all works to my advantage though. I get the two most beautiful women in the house to myself." She smiled. "It's good for Lily to learn at a young age that Witter means trouble." He tilted his head and looked into Joey's face, "Not a lesson you learned too well, was it?" "Obviously," she said softly. He traced the curve of Lily's cheek with his finger, "Do you wanna hold her?" "I wouldn't mind." The corner of his mouth tilted into a smile as he stood and carried the baby to her. She held out her arms and he deposited the sleepy Lily into them, but didn't move away. Joey sighed quietly and gazed down at the sleeping baby. "She's so small." He nodded, "Yeah. Hard to believe she's Dawson's sister." A corner of her mouth turned up slightly. "She really is beautiful." "She's not the only one." He replied softly. She bit her lip and moved to the crib, to set Lily down. He let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I wonder what was bothering her." "It was probably nothing." She lay Lily on her back and rubbed lightly at her stomach. "A little lonely, maybe?” "It's a possibility." "We should head back downstairs." He stepped beside her and placed a soft kiss on Lily's head. "It's almost midnight." "I know..." "Would you rather not?" He turned curious eye to her, unable to decipher her tone of voice. She shrugged and shook her head. "Everyone's probably waiting for us." He rolled his eyes, "I'm sure Audrey's just bouncing in her seat to taunt our film debuts." She smiled. "Wouldn't want to miss out on that." "Nope," he held the door open for her, his lips curved into a smile. "Should be fun," she offered as she moved past him. "Nothing I'm not used to," He followed behind her, closing the door quietly so as not to wake the baby. "At least she's not your roommate. I'm never going to live it down." "Your whole floor will hear about it within the week, right?" She shook her head with a small smile. "I'm sure her evil clutches spread even farther." "Thank you for reminding me once again why I decided to skip the whole college thing." He grinned. "And I'm sure the local clown college feels its loss." She smiled and headed down the stairs. "Ouch. Low blow there, Potter." He mocked a wounded look. She glanced back at him purposely. "You wish." He chuckled, "You haven't the faintest idea what I wish." "Thank God for small miracles." "You're so blasé, Jo." She shrugged. "You're a pervert." "So, automatically, you assume I wish for sex, or something equally vulgar?" "Do you really want me to answer that?" "It's disappointing you think so little of me. Sex is great, but it's not everything." "I thought you already got it into your head that I don't think so little of you." "Call me insecure, but I'm not exactly 100% sure of that." "I guess you'll never know then." She passed her friends. "You guys want anything from the kitchen?" "You can bring the champagne in." Dawson said, "It's in the door of the fridge." Pacey sat down on the couch, on the other side of Audrey. "Fine." Joey sighed and walked into the kitchen heading for the refrigerator. "How was the baby?" Jen asked, "You guys were up there a while." "She was fine, just a little lonely for some company," Pacey replied a soft smile on his face. Joey returned, handing the bottle of champagne to Dawson. "Here you go." "Thanks. Soon as it hits midnight, we can break this open." She muffled a small yawn. "How much longer?" "About five minutes," Jack told her. "That's not too bad." "It's really sad that we're about to ring in 2002 and we're just sitting here. We're nineteen, not thirty." Pacey complained. "You can always leave," Joey reminded him. "I don't know what you're complaining about. I'm at least going to get a New Year's kiss out of this get-together." Audrey interjected, having given up on trying to concentrate on the movie. Joey rolled her eyes. "I'm sure." "Possibly two." Joey smiled. "Maybe three." Jen put on a fierce look, "No one's kissing Dawson tonight but me." "Damn and he's the only straight guy worth kissing here," Joey complained with a smile. Pacey playfully cleared his throat. "That's okay, Jo. I might be able to pretend I'm straight for a few minutes. You and Audrey can share,” Jack chimed in. "That's a good idea." "Perfect idea," Audrey agreed with a grin. "I heard gay men are great kissers." "I've kissed him before and he is." Joey winked at Jack. He shrugged as if to say it was a gift. "Excuse me," Pacey smirked, and pointed at his mouth, "I have two very nice, and very available lips as well." "Just too bad they won't stay shut," the brunette chimed. He arched a lecherous eyebrow, at Joey. "I do my best work with my mouth open." "Pervert." "Was that perverted? Jack? Audrey? Did you guys think that was perverted? I didn't think that was perverted." She shot him a disparaging glance. "Bite me." "All in due time, Jo." He winked at her. "It's almost twelve guys," Dawson interjected before Joey could reply. "Let's try not to shed any blood before then." "I suppose," Audrey began, "To keep the peace, I just might have to kiss Pacey at midnight." She shot him a level look, "Just to keep the peace." "I get Jack to myself then." "Oh," Audrey pouted, "but I wanted a chance at kissing the gay man. I just might be able to convert him." Joey wrapped an arm around Jack. "If I couldn't do it. I doubt you can." "Don't forget me," Jen added. "I actually got pretty close with a little help from Mr. Jack Daniels." "See," Audrey waved her hand, "I should get a turn too." Joey stuck her tongue out at her. "You already claimed, Pacey. Tough." "Um," Jack waved a hand, "Anyone care what I think about this whole 'who gets to kiss the gay man' debate?" "No," Everyone in the room replied in unison. "I'll just have to kiss them both," Audrey grinned. "Fine with me." Jack waved his hand, "Whatever. I know better than to try arguing with you two." Joey smiled. "You catch on quick." "I'm not so sure I like this arrangement, Jack gets two kisses and he doesn't even like women." Pacey frowned. "Life is tough." Joey said with fake sympathy. Dawson rolled his eyes, "You two are pathetic." "Huh?" "I agree," Audrey nodded. "What?" Joey eyed her friends with confusion. "You know," Jen nodded her agreement, "I think so too." "Do you guys care to clarify?" Pacey crossed his arms over his chest. "You're obviously too nervous to kiss each other." Dawson explained. "Understandable, considering all the drama after your last kiss. Or should I say kisses?" Joey shot them both a look. "When did you guys start residing on Planet Delusional?" Jen smirked, "About the same time you moved to Planet Denial." "From what I heard of the story, you guys have nothing to worry about. It was the past, forget about it. There's no reason not to ring in the New Year together." Audrey smiled, "A kiss is just a kiss." "Maybe I just don't want to kiss Pacey." "Maybe I don't want to kiss her," he added. "Yeah, sure." "Riiight." "Uh huh." “You all are insane," Joey crossed her arms over her chest. "I full-heartedly agree," Pacey nodded. "Um, guys," Jack pointed to the clock, where the seconds were winding down. "The New Year is just about here." Joey tilted her head thoughtfully. "Should we watch the ball drop?" "And miss out on all the kissing?" Audrey scoffed, "I think not." "How would the ball drop interfere with your kissing?" "Be quiet, you two," Jen shushed them. "10...9...8..." "I'm resisting the urge to yell just to be obnoxious," Joey murmured under her breath. "7...6...5..." The others took up the chant, situating themselves to be kissed. Jack stood up and pulled Joey to her feet standing in front of her. Audrey grinned at Pacey and shifted to her knees beside him on the couch. "4...3...2..." "One," Joey said with a grin before pressing her lips lightly against Jack's. Dawson and Jen began a long embrace on the lounge chair, and Audrey gave Pacey a quick peck on the lips. "Happy New Year, Pace." "Happy New Year to you too, Aud." He smiled. Audrey's eyes flashed and she climbed to her feet. "Now I'm going to go kiss my gay guy." "Oh God help me," Jack sighed, releasing Joey. Pacey laughed and glanced over at Dawson and Jen, who were still ringing in the New Year. "I think I'll just go grab a few more classes for that champagne." Joey glanced between Jack and Audrey, and Dawson and Jen. "I'll help," she said quickly. He nodded and went to the back of the house. "I don't think I really need the help," he said, pulling down six tall wine glasses from the top shelf. "I just didn't want to stay out there," she commented peeking inside the fridge. "Jack's kiss didn't float your boat?" "It was fine." "Uh huh." She rolled her eyes and closed the refrigerator door. "What?" “I didn't say anything." He closed the cupboard and turned to face her. “You said it like you don't believe me." He shrugged a shoulder, his eyes glittering in amusement. "I don't." "Why would I lie?" "Beats me." "Well, I'm not lying. I have no reason to. It was a great kiss." "Sure. Short too." "Well, what were you expecting?" "I'm just commenting." He held his hands in a gesture of innocence. She narrowed her eyes. "You're so annoying." "I believe those were the first words you ever said to me." He looked thoughtful as he took a few steps closer to her. "Second grade, Mrs. Weaver's class. I think I'd just made farting noises with my arm pit to impress the other boys." "Sounds exactly like something you would do." He nodded, a wide smile on his face, "Yup. Funny thing is, I was doing the same thing just the other day at the restaurant." "How juvenile." He smirked, "You're angry at me." "Irritated by you." "Now, what exactly did I do this time?" She folded her arms across her chest. "Don't act dumb." He cracked his neck tiredly, "Joey, I'm really getting tired of this song and dance. I'm trying really hard to be what you want, but it's getting damn frustrating." “You're the one being annoying and it's my fault?" She raised an eyebrow. "I should have trusted my gut instinct and not have come here." "Maybe you shouldn't have then," she snapped. "Damn, Joey." He sighed, "What do you want from me? Tell me what you want to hear and I'll say it. What to do, and I'll do it. Just quit treating me like I'm the crap stuck to the bottom of your shoe." "We could get along fine if you wouldn't ruin it with one of your stupid remarks." "You don't exactly leave me any other options, now do you?" "Explain to me again how this is my fault." "I wouldn't say stupid things if you weren't so damn snotty." “So now I'm snotty?!" she asked incredulously. He ran a hand through his hair, "What else would you call that I'm-much-too-good-for-you attitude?" She shook her head in disbelief. "You're such an ass." "Great," He smiled without any humor, "Thanks. That's exactly what I wanted to hear from you." She placed a hand on her hip. "You purposely go out of your way to goad and annoy me, call me a liar to my face, tell me I'm snotty and yet, I'm the bad guy? Well, fuck you, Pacey. Have a nice life." She stormed out of the room. He grit his teeth and followed her back into the living room. "Excuse me," he took Joey's arm. "I just need to borrow Joey for a second." She turned her head and glared daggers at him. "No. You don't." "You'd rather we have this conversation where the rest of them can hear?" He muttered. "What conversation? I thought I made it quite clear that I don't want to talk to you anymore." "Fine, then I can talk and you can all listen." Joey glanced at her four friends whose faces were filled with interest and anticipation. She released an exasperated breath and headed back to the kitchen. He shut the double doors behind him, knowing his friends were dying to eavesdrop. He doubted shutting the doors would stop them, but at least it would allow them the illusion of privacy. "I refuse to go on like this, Potter. And I have a strong feeling you feel the same way. So lets just settle this once and for all, okay?" "And what do you suggest?" "You wanna know why I've been having mood swings from nice, adorable Pacey to asshole Pacey?" She raised an eyebrow and leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Do tell." "Because you are single-handedly driving me insane, woman!" He nearly exploded. "God, first, you're going on and on and on about wanting to have sex. Then, you're saying the whole thing is a horrible idea. You act like touching me might give you the plague, and then you're climbing into my bed. You get jealous over the fact Audrey kissed me, and then when I try to rectify the action, you push me away like kissing me is going to bring the apocalypse down on us. After I leave, you come and give me what might have been an apology, I can't really be sure. Then, we come here and have what some might have called a touching conversation upstairs, yet the minute we're back down here, you're at my throat again. On top of your mood swings, I have to deal with my own complex feelings. Nothing between us is cut and dry, so I'm sorry if I've been an obnoxious asshole, but you haven't exactly been a picnic either!" She straightened and poked a finger at his chest accusingly. "I tell you one little thing in confidence, because I thought you were my friend and you use it as an excuse to manipulate my feelings! All of this never would have happened if I hadn't been stupid enough to trust you and confide in you!" He narrowed his eyes, "I made a simple offer. It was black and white. Yes or no. You're the one who made this into something more. So, exactly who's feelings were manipulated here?!" "Who the hell told you to make such an offer anyway?" He rolled his eyes, "We've been over that a few hundred times now, Potter. I didn't like the idea of you having sex with a random guy. And that's hardly the issue." "Not only was it totally uncalled for, it was insulting." "Now it was insulting?!" "Not that I shouldn't even be surprised. Dawson would have acted the same way had I told him, because you know, God forbid little Joey Potter makes that kind of decision. I mean, she's really stupid enough to just sleep with any guy that comes along because she's just that desperate. Well, let me tell you something Pacey, it's my body. Not yours. Not Dawson's and I can sleep with whoever I choose to whether you like the damn idea or not!" "Maybe I don't care anymore. Maybe I never did. God knows I'd have been better off not caring period." His lips curled into a sneer. "Well, it's a little too late for that now, isn't it?" She bit off angrily. "Way too late." "Are we done here?" "What do you think?" He crossed his arms over his chest. She met his eyes evenly. "I think we are." “In other words, you still think I'm an ass and nothing I said changed your mind in the slightest." "You mean, how you told me it was my fault?" "And how I also agreed that I was being an asshole. But I told you my reasons. You haven't shared yours." "It is all your fault. You and that stupid offer." "That's not an explanation, Jo." He leaned back against the island in the middle of the kitchen. "It is all your fault because ever since you've made that stupid offer, I haven't been able to get it out of my head," she muttered in frustration. “And that's a bad thing...because you regained sanity and remembered sex without emotion is morally wrong?" He searched her eyes, "You don't want to be used? What?" "It put ideas in my head." She lowered her gaze and shook her head. "I am not having this conversation." She headed for the door. "If you open that door you're going to come face to face with four very nosy friends." He warned her, stepping in front of the back door so she couldn't use it as an escape route. "We're finally getting somewhere, we might as well keep going. Exactly what kind of ideas got into your head?" "It's not important." He advanced on her, exuding pure masculinity, "Oh, I think it is." She backed up a bit. "Well, it's not." "It's given me some ideas too," he continued his slow stalking of her. Her stomach gave an unexpected jump and she swallowed, taking a few steps back while she eyed him wearily. "What kind of ideas?" He licked his lips, giving the impression of a hunter moving in on his prey. "Let's just say that list I gave you, doesn't even scratch the surface." Her stomach gave another jump, her pulse speeding up significantly. She edged back a bit, more nibbling on her lower lip. She glanced toward the closed doors. His eyes darkened to a stormy blue and with one more step, he had her backed into the counter. He braced his hands on either side of her, so close she could feel the heat of his body surround her. "Why don't you tell me what ideas you've had and I'll see if we match up?" "Ideas?" Her face flushed and she searched for an escape. His sexy half smile emerged, "Distracted so easily? How about I tell you one of mine, just to get the creative juices flowing?" "I...uh," she fumbled for words, her eyes wide. He leaned forward, as close as he could be without actually touching her. "To start with," he whispered in her ear, his warm breath cascading over the sensitive skin, "I'm going to kiss you. Long and slow," he drew the words out, his voice coating them like warm honey. She gasped quietly, unable to stop the images that immediately came to mind and heat suffused her body. "I'm slowly going to strip every stitch of clothing from your body." he continued, his voice a husky aphrodisiac all on it's own. "And then I'm going to massage heated oil over your skin, cherry flavored, and spend hours licking it off." If it were possible, her eyes grew even wider and she gulped, actually gulped. It seemed that her brain, at least the sensible, reasonable part of it, ceased to exist and even breathing, proved to be too difficult. "Can't you just feel my hands on you? Brushing, caressing...thrusting. I'm going to touch you in places no one ever has before." She shut her eyes for a moment and inhaled a shaky breath, nodding slowly, her body reacting to his words. "I'm going to fill you up so deeply..." his voice caught, "You wont know where I end and you begin." He brushed his lips against her ear, "And then...I'm going to really make love to you." "Oh." A rush of desire flooded through her and she gripped the counter behind her tightly, her tongue darting out to wet her dry lips. "I'm going to make you scream my name, Joey," he stared intently into her eyes. "Over and over again until you're weak and trembling." He heard her whimper, "And do you know why?" She swallowed and shook her head. "Because I love you. Because I'm so madly in love with you." A soft cry of surprise escaped her lips and she curved her hand behind his neck capturing his lips with hers in a kiss. He sighed against her mouth, as everything he'd held back was poured into that kiss. He parted her lips with his, daring to see if she tasted as sweet as he remembered. 
Please send feedback to RinJJ61178@hotmail.com and blahbaby17@aol.com
|
Copyright 2001. Any complaints about the page, e-mail me.