Dear Pop Culture Vlog: Most Anticipated 2012 Movies

Dear Word Count Wednesday

And you thought I never write a post again and just vlog my days away. Well, truth be told, it was tempting but I need to keep at the keyboard, keep the fingers flowing and hope the juices spill into the story world.

Word Count Wednesday is going to be my weekly word count review on all fronts - a ledger of truth and honesty and maybe a tad more serious than the Vlog's. (Because people, I'm layered!).

The Proclaimed: 76,704 (Finished, pitching to agents)
The Proclaimed 2: 18,532 (one third into first draft, dragging my heels)
Tethered: 0 (ideas circling and desperate to get out, scribbled notes)
That Girl: 0 (early ideas, not sure if it's a full story yet)

Have I missed the boat? That's what is haunting my writing dreams at the moment. Because as the tables in the publishing world are tipping in all unknown directions and more and more people are offered alternative ways to publish and reach audience via quick methods, is my old school traditional approach holding me back or helping me get the best version of my book out there? And more so, am I just late to the party, one of the many also rans in a crowded field of excellent writers?

My books are firmly placed in the young adult genre and I know that's where I'm supposed to be, no doubt about it. I have supernatural elements in them, and a main girl who realises her destiny after living a normal life. So, what I'm facing right now is an extremely crowded market with more and more authors of note joining the ranks. I face derision because as I go out into the world hoping people will want to read my stuff, it's a big fat case of 'oh this type of stuff is so last year.'

Also, at the end of the day, at what point do you realise, like an auditioning American Idol contestant, while you're okay at what you do, you're not next level good. You're not fighting hard for the deal that you've told people about, that people now ask about good. You're not published good, just post a few fan fictions stories online and have good feedback from characters you never created.

What's annoying is all these thoughts roll around up top as I try to write Book 2 and my new book, and it's slowing me down but also stifling my writing a bit. The freedom with which I wrote last year was amazing, I wrote the story from my head to the page, no thoughts of people and audience and it spilled forth and in less than two months I had a finished first draft (sure, it needed work). Now, I as try to write the without wings first draft of Book 2, I find myself analysing and self-editing and basically stalling in the process when I know the thoughts are there to be written - ready to go.

So these are my messy, scatter brained thoughts on Word Count Wednesday - I'd love to know if anyone else is writing, how they're going, what challenges they're facing?

Dear Pop Culture Vlog: The Scale and Celebrities I'm Worried About

I'm partially distracted by George Clooney in Ocean's Thirteen on the TV. Sorry but it's George, in a tux: he draws the eye people!

Dear Pop Culture Vlog: Weepy Movies, NYE and Moneyball review

Dear Pop Culture Vlog: The Walking Dead, Glee and more

And here is, as noted in my music wise love ramble, Ron Pope's Fireflies, which is my new favourite song to belt out loudly in the car and sing along to as I pretend to audition for X-Factor. This version below is the one that appears on the album and I encourage you to BUY it! Smaller artists like this guy need our support.

Dear Pop Culture Vlog: Breaking Dawn and Best Christmas Episodes

This Vlogging thing - so much easier.

The Pop Culture Vlog

Too lazy to blog about everything, I'm now vlogging (oh so cool and easy to just ramble and not be concerned with spelling and grammar - as Michael Scott would say that's a win, win, win situation!) the little pop culture points of the week. Also, spoiler alert, I didn't figure out how to put the pictures in the video.

This week: Vampire Diaries, Snow White rival trailers and Hunger Games trailer

Dear Uphill

I knew it was going to be a battle heading into this thing. If writing a book and having it published was easy, then of course everyone would have done it. And I've heard countless authors talk about how hard it is to keep going and to push through the rejections and believe in your writing.

Of course, pride and ego are funny things and they get in the way of clear thinking. They let you believe, that you're the exception. The wild and amazing exception that means you'll get accepted by your first agent on Monday, sell a three book deal on Tuesday and by Wednesday be fending off countless festival invitations. It doesn't happen that way of course, and like every writer before me, I'm in that awful limbo stage. I've written a book, I'm sending it off to agents and I'm waiting for feedback from friends and family. I knew this stage was coming, I was warned - keep your head down, keep writing, don't let the silence and stillness fool you into stopping.

Admittedly, I've been fooled. You see, I was itching to get rolling onto second book and start writing the fantastic scenes I could see in my head and then the doubt fingers struck. Doubting that I was good enough, doubting that it was worth it, doubting that the characters in my head were compelling enough to have their story told. And so, when I'd actually come to sit down and type, the doubt fingers would affect my words. I'd second guess scenes as I wrote them, I'd self-edit as I was writing. My first draft of Proclaimed Bk 1 was free writing, just telling the story, not thinking about motivation, plotting and background etc. It came out at 40k words and then I went back and fixed it and then fixed it again and still now, am fixing certain parts. I need to get back to the free flying 40k words storytelling and not worry about the fixing as I go. I want to get back there because it's fun and that's what writing should be, fun and enjoyable.

Anyway, that's just an update on the book as it stands. I'd promised to be honest and forthright and so here we are.

Dear A World of Change

Below is the letter I wrote to friends and family on September 13 2001. I was 21 and living in Washington DC at the time as a nanny (the family, I'll only reference with initials) the rest speaks for itself.

Usually a comical email of my tales from the US and the way of life here would follow but with recent events that I am sure you all know about detail, no comedy is warranted. On Tuesday to catchphrase many news presenters the unthinkable happened and although not close physically to New York World Trade Center, the Pentagon attack is only 15 minutes from my house. I was at home and reading a book, M rushed into my room and alerted me to a disaster of some kind. My mind went to the kids, E, H and G but nothing as mammoth as what happened. Then like many millions of Americans I had to watch the second plane crash into the WTC and then each building collapse under the duress. Then to hear that the Pentagon had been attacked, my heart quickened knowing that the location was so close, then for a while there was a rumoured fourth plane heading towards Washington DC, either the White House or Camp David (which the flight path of aircraft goes directly over our house) or the Capitol Building. The plane crashed in Penn.

Newscasters constantly refer to this day as a day that will live in infamy, one that we will never forget and although I know every person who I send this email to feels involved, I can say that living in the attacked country only enlarges the event, living in the city even more. I know I often counted myself lucky to live in Australia, because as I used to joke Australia is so far, the nobody could be bothered to come that far to bomb us. Now living in the prime target, capital of the world's biggest super power USA, I can only again count myself blessed to be an Australian, who will always call that country home. But I also count myself lucky to be living in the USA, and eerily enough, I count myself lucky to be here during this time, because this is where America is at its best.

A country that is often mocked by others for their wildly patriotic view of the world, movies that have 'America' saving the world etc we laugh at, but at this time, it's where that patriotic view is needed and called upon. By Thursday morning as I write this, American flags are flying everywhere, Congress has sung God Bless America on the Capital steps, and the radio is already playing the Star Spangled Banner with intercut sound bites from the President throughout. To sound cliched, hope is shining through.

As an Australian it makes me proud to see and hear about the heroics of the fire fighters who rushed into the building before it collapsed risking their lives for others, to hear about passengers on planes who decided that their fate was sealed but would attempt to not destroy others in their own deaths. Being brought up in a country that values such acts of courage and heroic efforts, I am thankful that there are many people in the world who also possess such attributes. And now as the death toll continues to rise, and the rubble is just beginning to be cleared away, I dream of a day when people use words not violence to express their opinions, when innocent men, women and children are not massacred in a bid to 'get the attention' of world leaders and although naive to believe that day will ever come, it's the dream itself that makes it worthwhile to strive towards.

From America, the land of the free and the home of the brave,
Floss

Dear Fan-Girl Crushes: Veronica Mars

VERONICA! I freakin love you. And I could basically end there and that would be it, because I heart V Mars something fierce but I think both Veronica and Keith would be disappointed in my writing skills.

The titular character of the most underrated show, we meet Veronica at the very bottom of the popular poll at her school. Considering she once sat at the top, the bottom is that much more bittersweet. But damn, does it help us love her more because the fall and fallout has hardened Veronica. She's the tougher, more moxie full anti-hero than the pretty mean girl she had the potential to become.

She is complete smarts, having the BEST comebacks and insultments (it's an insult/compliment hybrid - English language you can thank me later). Thanks to her PI ex Sherriff Dad, Veronica has a super curious nature and often finds herself helping classmates solve mysteries on both the small and big scale.

Aside from the smarts and quips, Veronica is a real person. She's covering a very wounded soul, thanks to her alcoholic runaway mother, her best friend murdered and her former friends all turning on her. All this gives her trust issues on a mega-scale and like every burdened anti-hero she buries her insecurities deep and makes those who try and reach her jump through some major hoops. She's not all about the fellas (Duncan, Leo, Logan - the fellas can't resist V Mars) but when she loves, it's epic: spaning years, continents, lives ruined, bloodshed: epic. (shout out to LoVe fans!)

So Ronnie is one complex girl but that's why you have to love her. She's damn layered. She's feisty and fiery, she's smart and sassy and she pushes through her pretty messed up life and tries to make the best in a realistic, I've the seen the dark side way.

Dear Writing The Next Phase

I promised to keep you up to date on the book/writing front and as promised an update. After another big re-draft which involved bringing a character back from the dead and major plot corrections, The Proclaimed is done (for the time being).

Right now, she's out with some people who haven't read her before. In a more frightening development, these people are people who review books every day, who see things in this exact field and whose judgement I've seen and trusted before and who are the key audience that I am writing for. Basically, if they hate it, we're in real trouble!

Despite that thought lingering over my head, I'm getting ready in the next week or so to start the contact the agent and beg for representation phase. Why is that the scariest thing so far - because really, they do hold the power. They are the gatekeepers to the publishers I would like to be published by and how I end up as author will be greatly influenced by their acceptance or rejection.

I did though, have a thought - what if in the cold dark night, if I had rejections from all corners of the globe, would it defeat me? I can happily say no. More than anything, I want to share my characters and my stories. I was watching the twitter feed today reacting to both Hunger Games movie teaser and Melbourne Writers' Festival sessions and I thought, man I wish I could have that. And not for the fame factor, I really want to debate Bennett's behaviour, to discuss Meg as a character and why the whole story is about the big question of good vs evil and what being a foot soilder in that fight means.

So, know this - some way, some how you will be able to read The Proclaimed. It might be in a book format, or something similar but it might on this very site and either way, I'll be more happy to share my creation with you!

PS Also, I've got a tonne of ideas for Book Two in The Proclaimed and almost more than Book One, I'm desperate to get it out and share it.

Dear Living Alone

Living alone is awesome! Sure, it's scary and grown-up and really daunting if you have never done it before, but I'm a recent-ish veteran (does that make sense?!) and so I provide this amazing Top 10 Reasons Why Living Alone is Awesome list. Dedicated to those who are brave enough to take the leap!

1. Pyjama Saturday! - If you want, you can spend ALL DAY in your PJ's. Yes, you read that right - all day. No judgement, no eyebrow's raised in question at the 4pm pantry raid in the PJ's.

2. Dinner Choices - sometimes you just want dips and biscuits, or crackers and cheese for dinner. Sometimes you want to eat a whole pizza and then rock on with a block of chocolate. The beauty of living alone - totally your choice.

3. Decorating - Watching couples almost go Jerry Springer on each other at Bunnings has taught me that living alone means I never EVER have to debate how the shade of grey isn't what 'we' talked about.

4. Cleaning - You might be a super clean neat freak or a relaxed I'll get that later person - either way, you'll get to clean or not, in your own damn time.

5. Guests - Sometimes, you might have guests that stay the night - usually just one night, if you catch my drift. And often you want to revoke their invitation the next morning. Living alone means, you can pretend to be a biyatch and kick them out ASAP! No explaining to a room mate who that young man was, just marching orders. [That's what I hear happens Mum.]

6. Fridge - Along with dinner choices, stocking the fridge as a single person is pretty damn fun. My freezer has chocolate cookie dough ice cream and vodka at the moment! Yep, couples are kinda jealous now, I know.

7. Bathroom - Ah, the dreaded turf war over hot water, space, smell. Imagine drifting in and out whenever you feel like it? Imagine an entire mirror and cupboard free to you, to store as many obscene beauty products as you want. Luxury like this - it can happen!

8. Speaking Voice - What? Well, as a single person living alone, you do often talk to yourself (it's fine, enjoy it.) What it gets you: an excellent speaking voice that is primed for meetings/public speaking. Should you ever be called at the last minute to cook on TV, you're set because of all the narrating as you cook time you've gathered.

9. Wine Nights - The cheeky bottle of wine you usually have to share with housemate/partner and end up wishing you could have just one more glass: that's all yours my friend! ALL YOURS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgirOQ-Ll1M
Thank me later!

10. Dancing - Often influenced by 9, put on iTunes and enjoy dancing/singing your heart out! All the moves you wanted to try? Tear it up! All the high notes you were afraid to hit? Go for it. My lounge room has no judgement on my audition piece for So You Think You Can Dance.

Basically living alone is what you make of it. You can become a Howard Hughes shut-in, feel sorry for yourself, get lots of cats and scare family and friends OR you can rejoice in the freedom, love the space and enjoy you, because afterall, if you can't enjoy your own company, how do you expect other people to?

Dear Gays vs Marriage

I was planning to write a funny list for my friend tonight about the Top Ten Awesome Reasons Living Alone is Fun but sadly I got sidetracked by something more soap boxy (sorry Paula, I’ll get to it!)

Today during a conservative rally for Pro-Marriage (I’m impressed marriage got a rally!), Bob Katter and Barnaby Joyce got up and made some incredibly inflammatory statements. This is nothing new, these two pollies love to get on the rough end of a opinion poll and throw polarizing opinions out there so I ignored it. Later though, but sheer chance I saw the post on the 7pm Project referencing it would be a story that night and like a worm hole, the debate sucked me in.

I was initially interested to see what the regular panellists Charlie Pickering, Carrie Bickmore and Dave Hughes would say, because I feel sometimes they sit on the fence when it comes time to express opinions. But what lured me into commenting was the raising of the two points: marriage is defined by... and God sees marriage this way.

Now firstly, let it be said, I am Sorkin-ite, I am West Wing fanatic and they covered this topic so very well (from my standpoint anyway) in a few episodes. Firstly the religious issue. My issue has always been in this argument. Our church and state are VERY separate entities. My government should NEVER create or deny policy based on religious beliefs, be they Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever faith you believe in. In this modern world we live in, I absolutely respect your right to adhere to whatever your chosen faith dictates. The key word is CHOSEN. In return I ask that you respect my right to believe or not believe in whatever I chose to. My government should be blind to the influence of faith and therefore the policy it creates, upholds or denies should also blind.

Second, is the always repeated point that marriage is defined by a man and a woman. Can we not accept that marriage when it was originally defined was done so in a world so very different to ours, when slavery was acceptable, when segregation was the norm. Marriage is defined by only those in the marriage. How they chose to love each other is again, only between the two.

I absolutely respect the right of people who disagree with my view on marriage being an equal opportunity arrangement to speak out, but it drives me crazy when it is done with intolerance and fear mongering – such as conservative Jim Wallace attempting to link the London Riots to a fatherless generation.  Or with indifference and insensitivity to the opposition’s opinion – such as when people call Christians’ God Nuts or crazy fundamentalists.

This fight is too important to be crass, too important to be intolerant and too important to be prejudiced. Its love and how we love each other and whatever your opinion, it’s one of the most noblest causes and deserves respect from all sides – not some stupid slap fight in the playground.

Dear Pop Culture: The Clean Out

I will build that desk, one day

If the name of this blog doesn't give it away, I'm a pop culture lover! In particular films, TV shows and books - I guess it makes sense, I love storytelling in all forms. The problem being, across the years I've acquired a fair chunk of storytelling and I need to make room. If you can tell from this picture, I store my DVD's alphabetically (sub divided into TV series alphabetically) as well as my books. Thus begins the giant cull of '11. There a three key sections: Don't Touch, Staying for Sure; Hmm Do I Really Need It?; and I Can't Believe I Actually Still Have This. Across the next few weeks, we'll meet contenders for each section and you can let me know if I should toss or keep.

Let's meet our first entrants:

Book: Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason

Somehow I have the sequel and not the original Bridget Jones book, but let's not get sidetracked. I bought this in the US after falling in LOVE with the first film. From that moment on Mark Darcy was Colin Firth and the book was ignited with some extra spice purely because of that. However, the book does have problems, which I'm not addressing here because it's not a review. The biggest problem I have, is that Edge of Reason has been so horribly tainted by the second film. The one that includes the most awful Like a Virgin dance routine in the jail - yep, you blocked that out didn't you. It also overshadows some funny moments in the book, including Bridget getting a bullet sent in the mail and thinking it was a PR stunt and Mark Darcy come apart in front of her in a completely cute way. Do I go back and read key sections I like? Not so much anymore. As I said, all overshadowed by too much Hugh Grant and lesiban hijinks.

Verdict: Barely hanging onto Hmm Do I Need This Status?

DVD: Another Cinderella Story 2

Oh yes people, I have the good stuff. After the cinematic triumph of Cinderella Story with Chad Michael Murray and Hilary Duff (they were robbed at Academy's); how could I not buy the highly anticipated sequel. Starring Selena Gomez before she was pashfriends with Bieber and Andrew Seeley, the singing voice of Zac Efron from High School Musical (did I just break some bubbles there - Zac didn't sing so much in the first film.) It's horrifically bad, it involves a dance scene through a mirror, a cleaning sequence that of course turns into a dance scene and more non-sensical things turning into dance scenes. The chemistry between the leads in non-existent and it's basically pretty bad - in fact the front cover quote '...you'll be pleasantly surprised.' Chicago Tribune is my favourite thing, because even the reviewers admit how bad you're thinking it is.

Verdict: Firmly in the I Can't Believe I Have This (but secretly, it's so bad, it's good - could it stay?)

Dawson's Creek FanFiction: Sailing Home

Title: Sailing Home
Pairing: Pacey and Joey
Rating: R - sex, nudity, drinking - everything the WB doesn't let its characters do
Summary: Post season 5, in which they tried to ignore the awesomeness of Pacey and Joey. 
Disclaimer: The WB owns them, I'm just taking them for a smutty walk
Author Note: Pacey, while minding a boat for a celebrity client, becomes a summer outlet for all the Capesiders, hope to escape the humdrum of their college life. 

Sailing Home

“You’re unbelievable.” The voice cut through the summer heat like ice running through hell. Holding up his hands in mock defense he released the hose that he was using, but carefully placed it in reach.

“What are you doing here?” He replied.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you the same question, and whose boat is this?” She still remained strict but the smirk in her voice was creeping in.

“This boat happens to belong to one very famous and very unnamable booty shaking songstress who would like the $3.6 million she invested in this little number to be used. Hence I was asked to travel back to Boston collect said boat, and travel with said boat to where ever I please, with whom ever I please.”

“Are you serious?” She was losing her edge.

“Well I do have to be in Miami in the next two weeks to take the tourist for a run, but then the boat has to come back for winter docking.” His earnest explanation distracting her from her mission.

“But what are you doing here Miss. Potter?” He asked finally facing her.

“Hunting your ass down, on behalf of my room mate that is.” The steely glaze returned to her eyes.

“Oh that one.”

“Yes that one.”

“Well I would love nothing more than to rehash my summer implosion with you but there’s only one problem.” Joey missed the smirk.

“What’s that?”

“You need to cool down.” And with that he grabbed the hose and soaked Miss. Josephine Potter.

Lying on the huge sun deck in her bikini top and shorts, Joey smiled. This was the life, she had spent far too much time concentrating on things completely out of her control. She had been so busy focusing on what she wasn’t, she’d missed what she was. A nineteen year old girl heading into her second year at college with no real responsibilities. Why was she always placing incredible amounts of drama into her life?

“As ordered one strawberry Margarita,” Pacey placed the oversized glass in specially designed holder. Luxury was a burden.

“Pace, I asked for a beer.”

“Consider it an apology for soaking you,” he smiled, cracking his beer open.

“So honestly what are you doing here Potter, besides castrating me on behalf of Audrey?”

“Well that will come later.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“Well, things didn’t quite go as planned this summer,” She grimaced.

“Last I heard it, Dawson had you flown out to LA to give ‘Joey and Dawson’ a go. I was waiting to see you two presenting an Emmy or something.”

“Not so much. We broke up.” She looked earnestly at Pacey. The silence stood between them, and then Pacey fell to the floor in a hysterical laughing fit.

“What?” She asked. Trying to regain his composure Pacey looked up at her, tears in his eyes.

“You mean, Dawson and Joey Version 5.9 didn’t work,” He began laughing again.

“What? We’re taking a break from each other.” Joey replied. Pacey laughed all the more at this insistence.

“What is so funny Pacey?”

“Nothing, I’m sorry it’s just…I’m mean come on.” He tried desperately to hold it together.

“What? We just need time apart to grow.” This caused another set of convulsions.

“Please Jo, you’re killing me.” Pacey raised his hand, pleading for her to stop.

“Witter what is so damn hysterical about Dawson and I breaking up?”

“Well we are at break up number what? Five or six. And the almost, nearly, pinning desperately for the other moments has to be in the twenties. It’s just so damn funny.”

“I suppose it is a little melodramatic,” She giggled to herself.

“Just a little?” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, and Joey collapsed into laughter as she realized herself the absolute drama of it all. Finally both of them recovered their serenity enough to talk.

“Jo, you kill me you really do.”

“So what happened with you and Audrey?” Joey asked.

“Ah Potter. What always happens, miscommunication followed very quickly by accusations then we traversed into stormy silences, managed to climb back to heady reunions then fell dramatically into cooling off periods.”

“And then what?”

“Well I was in LA with her, and I drove to San Diego to cool off for a couple of days. Her cooling off location was a little more up market, Maui with her parents.”

“So you just assumed it was over?”

“No, I know it is. The Dear Pacey letter I received from her when I got back to LA pretty much cemented it.”

“Oh,” Joey withheld the verbal barrage she had saved. It was obvious from his voice that Pacey truly had cared about Audrey and was remorseful that it ended badly.

“But honestly, it wasn’t destined to be long term. You can’t base a relationship on sex alone.” He sighed, more to himself than Joey.

“You can’t have one without it either,” Joey muttered.

“What?!” Pacey choked on his drink.

“Tell anyone what I am about to tell you Witter, and you’ll suffer unspeakable torture in a variety of forms and methods.”

“Taking it to the grave.”

“Well, it’s just that the relationship with Dawson and I, we spent some much time idolizing our own infatuation. This whole soul mates issue, destined to be together. I do believe that Dawson and I will always be linked inextricably but in the everyday practicality of it, it just doesn’t work. He is anal retentive and pensive and confining, I like my freedom. And in all honesty, he’s not that great in bed.”

“Excuse me?”

“You might as well know we slept together in LA but it was so awkward and juvenile. I felt like I was 15 years old back in his bedroom, with him fumbling for my bra strap and pawing at my chest. Not exactly igniting my deeper passions.”

“But I thought he slept with Jen?”

“Obviously not enough. I know that a relationship shouldn’t be based on sex alone, I fully understand that but at nineteen I am wanting to live my life here a little. I want fun and recklessness, I want to get drunk and go crazy. I do not want to settle down in Leery land of long walks and Sunday picnics,” Pacey chucked to himself.

“What, um, made you come to this realization?”

“You.”

“Me?” He was truly shocked.

“Yes, something you said to me this year. At the time I took it literally for that moment, but the more I thought about, the more I realized it applied to my entire life.”

“And what was it that I actually said?” 

“You told me to find the other Joey, the one who plays strip poker and drinks, the one who sails away on yacht for the summer. And I realized whenever I was the other Joey I was happy, my life made sense. So Dawson and I sat down had another verbal roundabout and here I am.”

“So for the next three weeks you want me to entertain other Joey?” Pacey asked slyly.

“You betcha ass, so we have the boat to sail away on, I see the beginning of drinks, and there must be a deck of cards on this boat somewhere!” She smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief and Pacey immediately fell all over again.

“So I have beer, margarita mix, tequila and nuts. Anything else?” Jack lugged the last case on the deck.

“Add ear plugs because this one snores loud enough to wake the dead,” Pacey smiled pointing to Joey.

“Hey Joey, what are you doing back?” Jack ran over and scooped Joey into his arms.

“Long story, similar ending.” She smiled.

“Oh.” Jack stuttered unsure of how to react.

“I’m fine. Hey how was Costa Rica?” She enthused.

“Long story, nutshell version, never quite made it.” He shrugged obviously not that disappointed.

“So Jen went alone?” Joey quizzed.

“No Jen did not go alone, she amazingly spent most of her summer in the Hamptons with her parents.” Jen replied placing the bag of groceries in Pacey’s arms and hugging Joey.

“What?” Joey laughed.

“Long story. But as one can imagine my summer trip was more therapy than recreation.”

“But that’s okay because my friends we are about to depart onto the high seas of leisure and relaxation. With me as your guide into the world of aquatic wonder and magic.”

“God you talk a lot of crap Pacey,” Jen shrugged and marched back to the dock to bring aboard more supplies.

“Tell me about it. Now this time Pace I am going to have a change of clothes. So I am just going to run back to the dorm and grab some stuff. Won’t be long.” She smiled and darted off. He watched her run, her excitement clearly visible and he smiled to himself. She was finally getting to the point of realizing what made her happy and achieving it.

“Dude, what’s going on?” Jack nudged him conspiratorially.

“Nothing.” 

“Right.” Sarcasm rolling off his tongue. 

The maps strewn out before him, Pacey scratched his head with finality. He now had a course and was plotting his movements, readying to relay to Harbor Master when another voice interrupted his work.

“Got room for another stowaway?”

“Dawson? What the hell are you doing here?” Pacey asked in complete surprise.

“Well it’s good to see you too Pacey,” Dawson smiled and dropped his bag on the deck.

“Sorry man, it’s just I thought you were preparing to become Miramax’s next darling child.” 

“Hardly, running errands and occasionally commenting on the dailies was about the extent of it. But it’s finally gone to post production and I got three weeks off before film school starts.”

“Seems everyone has free time on their hands these days,” Pacey muttered to himself.

“Sorry?”

“Nothing. So how’d you know I was here?”

“Jen mentioned that you lucked into the jackpot of jobs for the summer. So I thought I’d come and offer my services as deck hand? Got any room?” Dawson asked pleadingly.

“I don’t know Dawson your history regarding boating hasn’t been that distinguished,” Pacey smiled uncomfortably, knowing there was no way he could flat out refuse Dawson. 

“Hey Dawson, you coming on the high seas?” Jack smiled as he wandered onto the deck.

“Just awaiting the final clearance from Captain Witter here?” Dawson placed the decision back to Pacey.

“Sure um make yourself at home. Jen’s around somewhere, and we set sail in about half an hour.” Pacey gestured around the deck and watched as Jack lead Dawson off in search of place to sleep. With no recovery time whatsoever Joey bounded up the stairs and threw her bag to Pacey.

“To my state room bell boy.” She joked, and for a moment all thought of triangles evaporated from his mind and he marveled at how beautiful she was. He had forgotten, not forgotten really, just become accustomed to it. But here in the streaming sunlight, her hair hanging loosely around her neck, her eyes sparking with excitement he began to appreciate it all over again.

“Hello Pacey? When are we leaving?” She clicked her fingers in front of his eyes.

“Um, in about half an hour. Jo, there’s something you should know…” But it was too late, just as Pacey had begun to approach the subject of the additional guest, Dawson and Jack rounded the corner. Silence befell the deck.

“Hey Dawson,” Joey was the first to recover.

“Hey Joey,” He replied, just as quickly.

“Back early from LA?” She breezed lightly.

“Finished the film early,” Dawson responded. Silence hit again.

“Well I gotta go check out with the Harbor Master and then we can get this journey underway.” Pacey rapidly interjected.

“I’ll come with you.” Joey jumped, a little too eagerly.

“What is he doing here?” Joey asked, tersely.

“Okay calm down Potter. Just breathe.” He grabbed her by the shoulders more as protection than restraint.

“I think Jen mentioned to him that I was setting sail. No, she didn’t invite him, he pretty much did that himself. No, I don’t think he knew you were here, so it’s not a deliberate attempt to sabotage your holiday. And no, you can’t spend the next three weeks in your dorm.”

“But…” She tried to finish but could only manage a sullen defeated glare.

“And Potter if you give me that look for the next three weeks I will throw you overboard and not look back. I want to see other Joey. That’s why you came, other Joey will have to meet Dawson eventually and it seems that this cruise will be her chance.”

“It’s just that whenever I am around him, Pace I am suddenly filled with unresolved issues of angst and melodramatics.” She smiled slowly.

“Well I will make it my personal mission to not let that occur onboard.” He guided her from the office where they had just planned their route with the correct marine authorities. 

“So what are we supposed to do just sit around as though nothing happened?” Jo continued.

“No, Miss. Potter. There will be no talk of past recriminations or errors in judgement. Positive people on board only.”

“Since when were you the optimistic dreamer?”

“Right about the time your bottom lip started sticking out?”

“Bite me Witter.”

“Tell me where to start Potter.” He smiled. They wandered casually back to the boat and found Jen, Jack and Dawson sitting on the sun deck next to the spa.

“So Captain my Captain are we ready to depart?” Jen asked, saluting Pacey in mock. 

“All plans have been filed and we are affirmed departure.” He saluted back. He headed to the bridge, where he began initializing the computer guidance systems and steering programs. When Pacey was asked through a friend of a friend that he knew in LA if he could sail a boat, he'd had no hesitation in saying yes. But standing behind the controls of this multi million dollar vessel, the hesitation slowly was creeping in. Yes, he had spent the past week solidly reading every manual the ship had, and learning backwards and forwards the interior workings of everything onboard. He was actually well qualified to be in charge, but the Witter self esteem kicked in, and for some reason, he felt fear. 

“You can do it.” The voice cut in. 

“Sorry?”

“I trust you Pace.” Joey smiled and slid a reassuring arm over his shoulder. Just briefly but long enough for his skin to tingle. She wandered away as quickly as she has entered, only three words needed to be said. Although the fear hadn’t disappeared, it had by no small means dissipated. He turned the key after what seemed an eternity spent staring at it, and the engine shuddered to life. The gentle hum filled the room, and he felt more in control, and as he went through every check list mentally and noticed that everything had been completed, he actually began to smile. Her statement kept ringing in the back of his mind, that she after all this time away trusted him completely, with her life. 

Straight and Narrow

“There’s really only one way to solve this situation.”

“What?” A desperate request.

“Get absolutely drunk out of our minds.” Jen smiled with sheer satisfaction.

“How is that going to solve anything?”

“Oh many ways Pacey. Firstly, the incredible tension that has taken residence on this boat for the past three or so hours will slowly evaporate. Secondly, everyone when they are drunk is reduced to telling their deepest darkest secrets and usually it’s about something they are feeling about someone they shouldn’t. And last but not least, that’s what we came here to do, party like we soap operatic teens never have. Joey’s right, we are far too melodramatic, we need to just cut loose, and not think repercussions.”

“There is a small problem with your ingenious plan? If we are to be so inebriated who will steer the boat?”

“No Pace that’s were the genius begins to reveal itself, because as we are all getting intoxicated, you can simply sit back and sip your beer while claiming safety. Have enough for some Dutch courage but not enough so we’d rear end an iceberg or something.”

“I can always drop anchor off shore.” He mumbled. 

“Exactly, that’s the spirit. So shall I cut the lemon into wedges?”

“Why not?” Sighed Pacey. He glanced out onto the deck where Joey was reading a book intensely ignoring Dawson who was attempting to add color to his pale skin. 

“Man is it cold out there?” Jack entered the bridge area, where Pacey and Jen had been talking.

“Not really.” Jen was momentarily confused.

“Sometimes I worry about you.” Jack laughed.

“Oh. Still not talking to each other?”

“No there was a small request to pass the sunscreen which was broken half an hour later to comment on the beautiful scenery otherwise it’s politely hostile.”

“But aren’t they supposed to be friends?” Jen asked.

“Nice theory, not so in practice.” Pacey lamented.

“So what’s happening in here?” Jack changed subject not without noting Pacey’s sour grimace. He had seen the way Pacey’s eyes had lit up the moment Joey had arrived, and he knew immediately the attraction for both of them had re-ignited.

“Tonight we are getting fall down spring break drunk.” Jen enthused.

“I am so glad we appointed you Cruise Director.”

“Was there another choice?” Jen and Jack headed back onto the deck.

“Pacey you coming?” Jen gestured already knowing the answer.

“Nah, I’ve got some charting to do, then I thought I might start I dinner.” 

“Oh, I forgot your cooking. This doesn’t really get any better does it?” Jen asked to no one in particular as she wandered off to try and reconnect Joey and Dawson to at least speaking terms before dinner. She could at least try.

“So what are we actually having?” Joey sat perched on the bench top as Pacey idly sliced some onions and threw them into the sauce with careful ease.

“In honor of our aquatic journey seafood linguini. Easy on the garlic.” Pacey reached over to the bottle of wine and refilled Joey’s glass before splashing some into the simmering sauce.

“Why didn’t you become the culinary king before we went away?” Joey smiled.

“Well then I would have been stuck in the kitchen all day, and you would have been required to catch the fish. Which therefore would have meant we wouldn’t have been eating regularly.”

“Excuse me, on many occasion I caught some very nice fish.”

“Jo we had to throw them back because they were too small remember?”

“I still caught them.” She bit back.

“Whatever helps you sleep.” He smiled, remembering how this dance was, the ease of it all. The sarcasm a precursor to the underlying attraction, and the fear he felt now all too familiar, the fear of rejection. Had too much time expired for her to recall those feelings? Could she ever feel that way about him again after the way he’d turned against her? Everyday he punished himself for their ending. Every word, incrimination and gesture of anger directed towards her made him want to be physically sick. How, after all that time apart could she possibly ever want to hold him the way she had?

“Okay. Okay, I have a great game we can play!” Jen, more than adequately on her way to be drunk boldly suggested. Dinner had been quietly successful, Jen and Jack both over compensating for the lack of conversation by talking excessively. Yet as the night was wearing on, the ice was beginning to melt. The fact that Joey was very positively drunk, and Dawson, Jack and Jen not far behind her meant nothing. The group had honestly been yearning for some reckless fun, wild abandon. Pacey sat back smiled he wasn’t drunk but enjoying the superiority of his soberness. However, what was making him smile wasn’t his ability to construct sentences. Joey had as the night worn on, begun to rest her hand on his knee. Casually and with no words spoken but the shivers he was receiving from her touch made him smile more than he had thought possible for this entire journey.

“Everyone, pipe down the Cruise Director would like to address us all.” Jack announced, and handed the imaginary microphone to Jen.

“Right ladies and gentlemen assemble yourselves and Tequila shots because we are going to play a little game. Anyone head of Never Have I Ever?” Jen winked.

“Nooo way!” Jack and Dawson chorused.

“I want to play!” Joey chimed in over the top, her drunken glee making Pacey laugh.

“How?” She asked.

“For the unsure, it’s very simple. We go around the table and say one thing starting like this. If it’s my turn; Never Have I Ever had sex. Now because that’s not true for myself and OTHERS here I must take a shot. Questions can be anything but much better when regarding the sexual variety.” Jen instructed with sweeping arm gestures. 

“So I will start because you are too chicken. Never Have I Ever had sex.” Jen smiled. Pacey, Dawson, Jack, Joey and Jen all shot.

“Boring Jen we all know we had sex.” Joey over pronounced. 

“My turn, Never Have I Ever had sex in a public place.” Joey questioned not bringing the glass to her lips. Everyone stared then at the same time Pacey and Jen both lifted their glasses.

“Woah not together. My was in New York days but Pacey?” Jen laughed.

“Tamara, the Ruins. Audrey, a park somewhere in Colorado, there were others to but I can’t remember.” Pacey blushed.

“Okay, fine then my turn Never Have I Ever had a sexual interaction with someone of the same sex, sorry Jack.” Pacey smiled. Jack obligatorily drunk, but when Jen raised her glass, a cry arose from the group.

“Once again New York heady days. I have lived a little.”

“Okay so that means me. Never Have I Ever 69’ed, male or female?” At that Jack drank at his own suggestion. Pacey and Jen guilty drank.

“Well look at these two go at it.” Joey giggled.

“Okay, Never Have I Ever slept with every girl in this room.” Dawson’s pride seeped through, obviously bitter about not drinking except for the give in sex question. He grandly slugged his drink back.

“Damn you Lindley, why could you not put out?” Pacey mumbled sarcastically. Joey was devilishly giggling to herself. 

“What’s so funny Potter?” Pacey whispered in her ear as the group disassembled to plunder another Tequila bottle. 

“I bet she wishes she did.” Joey laughed.

“What?”

“I bet she wishes she fucked you instead of Dawson.” Joey dramatically whispered the giggling never leaving her voice.

“Jo, you can’t say things like that here!”

“Opps!” She covered her mouth with her hand. 

“Okay, okay. New game-” Jen shouted.

“But we barely started that one.” Joey eagerly replied. Ignoring her Jen went on.

“Truth or Dare!” 

“YEAH!” Joey jumped up and Jack cheered.

“Well seeing as it was my turn anyway I will go first. Jack truth or dare?” Jen tittered.

“Truth baby!” He shouted, then had another Tequila shot.

“Oh okay out of Pacey or Dawson, who would you rather sleep with?” Jen laughed, Joey clapped. Dawson and Pacey blushed.

“Jen you are bitch. But I will answer as answer I must. Sorry Dawson, but the brunettes do it for me.” Dawson grumped Pacey shaded a deep red.

“Ah but it is my turn, Dawson truth or dare my friend?” Jack insisted. 

“Dare.” He jumped.

“I want you to suck on Jen’s nipple for thirty seconds.” Jack laughed uproariously as Jen’s face fell. Yet the alcohol consumption had been more than enough for Jen to grab her breast and offer it to Dawson. He woozily arose from his chair and knelt down beside her. He pressed his lips to her breast and began licking.

“30, 29, 28 …” Jack counted as Joey again laughed, Pacey laughing too both knowing why. While Dawson sucked away on Jen’s breast and Jack circled them counting, Joey slide her hand over Pacey’s groin area. He looked at her with surprise. She winked back but said nothing. Immediately he felt himself swell against his khaki cargo shorts, and thanked God they were all sitting down at table cover his lower torso.

“3, 2, 1 …” Jack finished and Dawson slowly drew away. 

“Okay my turn.” Dawson drunkenly sat back down. 

“Jen truth or dare?” Dawson laughed and drank some more Tequila.

“Why always me? Okay fine DARE!” She cheered.

“I wanted you to kiss Joey for 15 seconds. Tongue included.” Dawson cheered. 

“Yes!” Jack and Pacey both cheered. Joey looked a little shocked but her Dutch courage was more than present.

“What are you cheering about you’re gay?” Jen looked at Jack.

“Hey I was a fake heterosexual guy once, and beside who says a gay man can’t enjoy a bit of lesbian action?” He laughed. Joey moved into Pacey’s seat and hesitantly stared at Jen.

“Let’s just do it and get it over with, Pacey line us up a double Tequila each! Ready go.” Jen leaned in and kissed Joey, reluctantly at first and then as Jack’s counting faded away, her tongue gently massage Joey’s and equally back. She stroked her face and was happy for the refreshing change of no stubble. Joey relaxed every so slightly, the alcohol definitely numbing her sense, but holding Pacey’s hand under the table, he reassuring stroked her palm, making her feel safe. Even through the haze of drunkeness she knew she wanted him. Tequila was only making her horny.

“1! Nice effort.” Jack and Dawson high fived. At the same time both Joey and Jen drank their shooters.

“Okay, fine fine, my turn. Pacey truth or dare?” Jen drew the sentence out.

“Popular choice of the night, dare.” He smiled, somewhat seductively.

“Tequila body shot off Joey. Salt on her upper inner thigh, Tequila in her cleavage, lemon in her mouth!” Jen triumphantly directed. Jack cheered again, enjoying the ongoing sexual liberation of the Capesiders. Dawson said nothing, he wanted to protest and wrestle Pacey to the ground, jealousy of old rearing its head. But something inside him said no, somewhere deep within. As Joey gleefully lay down on the table and hitched her summer skirt higher than high Pacey leaned over.

“You sure you’re okay with this Jo?” He whispered in her ear.

“Just suck my thigh would you Witter?” She smiled back not without noticing his straining erection. Pacey licked his lips and dove in, languidly licking the salt off her inner thigh, forcing himself not to stay there when he felt her shiver under his touch. He moved to the shot glass lying atop her small cleavage. He drank quickly wanting to move to the final stage. Pressing his lips against hers with the searing Tequila forgotten he sucked the lemon wedge but also her lips, desperately wanting her to know what he was feeling. Slowly he drew away, and the sound of Jen and Jack cheering came back to him. Joey gradually sat up and back in her seat, smiling from ear to ear.

“Well after that I am so hot, who wants a spa DARE to all of you for skinny dipping?” Jen laughed and threw her top off to reveal her white lacy bra, and then dropped her skirt to expose a matching set of panties and skipped off to the spa. Everyone stared quietly at each other then Dawson and Jack both followed laughing together. Pacey beginning picking up the glasses and moving them to the kitchen as away to distract himself from what he wanted to be doing. 

“Don’t you want a spa Pace?” Joey sighed suggestively.

“Little crowded for my liking.” Pacey cleared his throat.

“But aren’t you hot?” Joey stood from the table, her finger between her teeth. Pacey stood in the kitchen his hands making fists and unclenching them again, desperate to remain in some control.

“You could say that I am.” He whispered.

“Me too.” Joey happily stated, and whipped off her own shirt. Pacey breathed heavily. 

“Jo you are really drunk right now and believe you me, I would love to help you with that temperature problem you are having but I don’t want to take advantage of you. I want us being together to mean something more…” Joey removed her skirt as Pacey trailed off.

“Pacey firstly, I haven’t had a good lay in really, really long time. Secondly, I am not so drunk that I won’t remember or regret doing this, I wanted you the second I stepped on that dock, not when the wine you kept pouring for me over dinner effected me. But to prove my willingness to you Mr. Witter I offer this, if I can walk in a straight line to you, you must do whatever I say?”

“Sounds fair enough to me.” Pacey was already grinning from ear to ear.

“Okay here goes.” Joey placed one foot in front of the other and wobbled. Focusing like never before in her life she straightened up. The next foot came around and the wobbling continued. Pacey watched on desperately, the seconds excruciatingly ticking by, his skin itching for her to touch him, his erection desperate to be inside her. Joey looked at Pacey and sighed, he seemed so far away, determinedly she put her head down and focused on the floor easing another foot around, swaying like a kite in gale force winds. Pacey marched across before she fell over and grabbed her.

“Straight enough for me.” He hoarsely whispered.

They slammed up against the wall with a desperate force, Pacey’s tongue probing her mouth with a new intensity. His thigh was riding between her legs and Joey breathed heavily, the passion almost overwhelming her. How she had forgotten it could be this good was beyond her. She looked deeply into Pacey’s eyes searching through the lust and male instincts and found love. She knew to him this wasn’t just a quick screw, it was more, and that turned her on even more. His hand searched her body, covering all the areas he hadn’t been allowed to touch for so long. Yet he teased her, running his fingers from upper thigh to upper thigh but never higher, through the middle of her cleavage but never left or right. Around her navel but never lower, she was dying for his touch to stray. The entire time she ran her fingers through his hair and around his face, but as way to show him she wanted, needed more she slipped her hand to his behind and squeezed. At this point Pacey burst out laughing.

“What?” Joey breathed heavily.

“I just forgot how demanding you are when you’re horny.” He smiled.

“Yeah and I forgot how much you like to tease me.”

“Should we be doing this?” He asked hoping against hope. A silent pause time holding still.

“Absolutely.” Both murmured before pouncing on each other. This time Pacey refused to tease her, two years had been more than enough. He slid his hands under her bra and caressed her breast with gentle desire. She moaned slightly as he tweaked her nipple between his fingers, his tongue playing delicately with hers, a back and forward battle for domination. His other arm circled her waist and hoisted her against the wall, and she willing wrapped her legs around him and felt his erection against her. He leaned back and looked at her, smiling to himself he carried her to the bench in the bathroom and placed her on the cool tile. She whimpered aloud but didn’t complain, it offered cool respite against the searing heat between her legs. He slowly ran his hands along the outside of her legs towards her panty line, where he linked his fingers with the material and gently slipped them off. Something was truly erotic about him being fully clothed and Joey almost entirely naked, and he smiled, removing his shirt, his skin needing to be against hers. She breathed heavily with the new sensation of his flesh and grabbed the nape of his neck to bring him into another searing kiss. He bit her bottom lip and then traced a pattern across her neck with his tongue. At the same moment his hand had gently traced down her stomach, across her navel and into her region, where she was already wet with anticipation. Joey opened her legs wider to accommodate his probing fingers, already the waves beginning to roll. He spread her apart and began circling her clit with a gentle massage. He felt her twitch beneath him and knew he was home.

“Tell me Jo.” He whispered in her ear, then traced her lobe with his tongue.

“Oh…right there…Pa…ce” She could barely construct the sentence. His fingers rolling in motion with her hips that had risen off the bench pushing into the sensation. He pressured his touch and increased the rhythm, Joey gasped.

“Oh my God.” She whispered hoarsely. He felt her coming, her wetness, her throbbing. Her fingers running violently through his hair. His finger tip caressed her clit faster and faster, lightly but enough to have Joey bucking his every movement.

“Keep going Pace, keep going.” She pleaded with him, his continued cock throbbing with his own anticipation the mere sight of Joey in this way enough to satisfy him.

“Oh Pacey, I’m coming, I’m coming.” And at that exact moment he moved his mouth to where his finger had been and began following their pattern with his tongue. He sucked her gently and she cried with excitement, his hands steadying her hips which were involutarily thrusting upward. His fingers flurrying across her clit giving her the external orgasm she always loved, his tongue signing his name across her lower lips.

“Oh God!!” Joey shouted emphatically as she shuddered above Pacey, her legs twitching, her hips vibrating, her entire body shaking as she arrived at the pericipce and fell with a thunderous arrival. Pacey smiled Joey had never been that vocal with him before, and this was only Act One. Her hair damp from her sweat, hung in her eyes but she still gazed at him with a desire than caused him to shudder. She slowly sat up and wrapped her legs around Pacey drawing him into her embrace. Her body raked with heavy breathing, the silence broken by her continued search for air.

“I forgot how good you were at this.” She whispered into his ear, her hand gently stroking his behind.

“It’s um…something you pick up.” He cleared his throat, her hands roaming distracting him. 

“Pace I want you to know right now that I love you.” She looked deep into his eyes, wanting him to understand that she really meant it.

“Sure Jo, you love everyone when your drunk.” He attempted to laugh it off, so fearful that’s all it was to her.

“Pacey. Look at me, this is not about my alcoholic efforts tonight. I want you, not just because of what just happened. I want you for what’s inside. I love you.” 

“Really?” He was barely audible, his eyes not daring to look at her.

“Really.” She made him look at her. 

“Really.” She repeated. He kissed her, with a tenderness that replaced the passion and urgency from earlier. A tenderness that meant he knew she would be there tomorrow.

“Now please don’t let my next action cancel that statement or my utter satisfaction from what just happened.” She smiled.

“You feeling sick?” He looked at her pale demeanour.

“Oh yeah.” She smiled then dashed to the toilet bowl where she threw up. Pacey laughed gently to himself then turned around placed a hand on her back and gently rubbed as she hung her head low. He searched the floor for her underwear, found them and gently eased her legs into them. He found his shirt and wrapped her up in it. Joey thew up just one more time and then tilted her head back.

“Oh Pacey I am mess.” She whimpered.

“Yes Miss. Potter you are but I still love you.” He poured a glass of water from the tap and rested it against her head.

“Really Pacey? Even like this?” She looked at him through heavy eyes and sipped gently before rinsing her mouth out.

“Even like this Potter.” He smiled.

“Are you done?” He asked gently.

“Yes.”

“You want a shower?” He offered.

“Oh yes please.” She wanted nothing more. He hoisted her into his arms and carried her gently through the boat to the master bedroom and bathroom.

Questions & Comments

After he helped her shower and gently lowered her into his bed, Pacey watched her sleep. God he had fallen in love with her watching her sleep and now the memories came flooding back. How special he felt to be loved by her, to know her touch and have her smile in reaction to him. He had forgotten the inner warmth that came with loving Joey Potter, not forgotten just pushed aside. Their time apart was necessary, they both needed to grow. He had known that, as did she but how hard it had been to walk away. After he destroyed her publicly with his sheer stupidity and then reaffirmed with his talk to her afterwards. How Joey Potter could even look at him with an ounce of desire baffled him. Even after their second parting where they held each other for the final night both knowing that it was the end, both crying silent tears he still felt ultimately responsible and ultimately guilty. Pulling the cover over her, he stepped out of the room. Standing in the hallway for a moment he caught his breath, unbelievably this wasn’t a dream and more than Joey being here, and wanting him. Dawson Leery hadn’t even entered into the equation, except to provide the answer. There was no triangle, and in some way Pacey believed Dawson knew that, he had been given a chance to make Joey happy, no third party or geographic interruptions could be blamed on this parting. It had been her decision to sever the ties with the boy across the creek. Running his hands through his hair with emotional exhaustion Pacey chuckled to himself. So much for a slow solo cruise to recollect his thoughts. He wandered through kitchen, glasses haphazardly lying in the sink. On the deck a cool breeze was blowing but the weather was calm and Pacey let out sigh. Startled he heard a yelp from the spa, and realized that Jen, Dawson and Jack were still raging on. He had lost track off time but obviously Joey and he had been conspicuously absent because when he walked into sight, all three oohed and aahed and Jack gave a long wolf whistle. 

“Where have you been Mr. Witter?” Jen asked giggling.

“No where.” Pacey smiled, his eyes glancing at Dawson who said nothing. 

“Sure. You were getting into the Potter panties!” Jack shouted drunkenly. At this Pacey frowned.

“Sorry dude. But you did, didn’t you?” Jack lowered his voice.

“Hey Pacey I think it’s great, congratulations I say.” Dawson saluted, and then proceeded to step out of the spa and shake Pacey’s hand vigorously. Pacey shielded his eyes.

“Okay thanks Mr. Leery, but little Dawson didn’t need to be seen.” Pacey laughed, somewhat relieved but also somewhat disgusted. Poor Joey he thought viciously to himself. All three in the spa laughed uproariously and group hugged splashing water wildly. Pacey walked away shaking his head, the reckless fun was obviously continuing on for some time and there was only one place he wanted to be.