| Easy Love by Tiffany Chapter Ten:Words of Wisdom Friday Morning� Dawson sighed as he heard his alarm clock go off signaling that it was time to get up and face the world� and mid-terms. Rolling over he shut it off and ran his fingers through his hair slowly lifting himself out of bed and trudged toward the bathroom. Jen on the other hand was less cooperative as she pushed her clock off the dresser hoping against hope that it would break instead. She groaned as she heard it continue to beep much to her dismay. �Shut up!� She moaned as she threw a pillow over her face trying to shut out the constant beeping. �Rise and shine sleepy head.� Andie sang as Jack blinked against the bright sunshine. He jumped slightly when he saw the tall glass of orange juice staring him in the face. �Here drink this, eat this, and then take these.� She said presenting him with two pieces of freshly buttered toast and his medication. He pouted. �Where�s the jam?� He asked to her retreating form. �You have ten minutes to eat and hop in the shower. I�m timing you!� She threw out over her shoulder. Joey ran around the kitchen her hair still wet from her late shower. She heard someone in the dining room shout about cold water but she had no time to stop. �Joey have you seen Alexander�s teething ring?� Bessie asked. �No I haven�t.� �Well can you help me find it? He�s really being touchy and his gums hurt something terrible.� �I can�t right now Bessie. I have twenty minutes to get to school and I wanted to get some last minute studying in before my Spanish mid-term!� She replied exasperated by everything at the moment. She didn�t even slow down as she slammed out of the B&B and set off towards the school. Pacey trudged along the sidewalk as he raced to school. Looking down at his watch he realized that there was no way he was going to make it in time for his first mid-term on foot. Not that it mattered. He wasn�t going to pass it anyway. He was just about to turn around and forget the whole thing when he heard someone honking the horn from behind him. Turning he shook his head as a familiar Saab came to an abrupt halt beside him. �Get in!� Jack threw out from the passenger seat. Pacey smiled as he hopped into the back seat and was thrown into the soft folds of leather as Andie slammed onto the gas pedal and peeled off toward school. Jen barely registered Joey as she sped past her toward her classroom muttering something about a conjugating verb or something. She moaned inwardly as she sipped from the hot coffee that her Grandmother had given her on the way out the door. As they pulled into the school parking lot each got out and went their separate ways as if about to face their own battle. Handing Andie her backpack from the back seat he waved and was off Jack falling into step beside him. As they entered the school Jack ruffled his little sister�s hair and then both parted down two different halls Pacey following Andie. Jack ran right into Jen who was just about to enter her English class. Throwing his arm around her he stole a sip of her coffee as they entered the door closing behind them. Andie stopped at her Calculus classroom and turned to Pacey who smiled apprehensively. �Hey.� She called out to him. He turned to look at her. �Do your best.� She said and then was gone before he could reply. He stood there for a moment thinking about her words before turning the corner and heading for his class� the same class as Dawson. Both guys reached the door at the same time. There was a tense moment before he reached out and held the door open for both of them and they entered together. Six hours later� The end of the day held an almost Euphoric release for all six students as they emerged from the school less weighed down. Jack found Jen by her locker stuffing her books inside glad that she wouldn�t have to look at them for the next five days. She had to admit that she loved Thanksgiving. It was always so peaceful not to mention academically restful. She turned to Jack who had thrown himself against a neighboring locker. �You look� like hell.� �You don�t exactly resemble Eartha Kit yourself!� He shot back resting his head against the cool metal. �I tell you I�m so glad that this day is over.� �Not quite yet Super boy. We still have a very important soccer game to get to.� He nodded as excitement came back into his eyes. �I can�t tell you how often the thought of this game kept me from passing out every time I was handed one more scantron.� He replied as she closed her locker and they began making their way toward the car. �You ready to go?� He asked. �Where�s Andie?� �She is going straight over to the field after this with Pacey. They�re going over some last minute plays with the kids. Besides we need to pick up the banners and flags from Dawson�s don�t we?� He asked opening the door for her. �Yeah. And I also have a surprise when we get to the field.� She said. �A surprise? Like what?� �You�ll see.� She remarked coyly as they sped off. Joey watched him as he exited the school from atop the stairway. She wanted to go after him. She didn�t know why they were having such problems but it bothered her. It seemed like nothing she said or did was right. And no matter what the topic of conversation was they weren�t seeing eye to eye on it. Sighing she stuffed her hands in her pockets and watched him cross the street his hair hid beneath a beenie hat. She smiled as she recognized it as the one she had bought for him about two weeks ago. At least he wasn�t so angry with her that he would rather catch pneumonia. About to resign herself to another afternoon alone she began making her way down the steps when she heard her name being called. Turning she swallowed hard and took in a deep breath. �Joey! Hey Joey!� Andie called out to her as she came running out of the school her blond hair flying precariously in the autumn wind. She exhaled deeply as she caught up with her. �Andie� hey.� She remarked trying not to sound distant. The truth was she wasn�t sure how to act around her anymore. She wanted to be the bigger woman and act as if nothing was different between them but they both knew that wasn�t the case. She was dating Dawson and even though she didn�t want to be jealous of her� a small part of her was. They had never really spoken about it� and it just left this gap between them that only grew wider with each passing day. �Hey! Are you heading over to the soccer field because I was hoping that we could walk together.� She offered. Joey tucked a strand piece of her hair behind her ear and looked down at the ground shuffling her feet. �Actually� I don�t think that I�m going to make it to the game today. I have to get over to the B&B to help out Bessie. Alexander is teething and he�s been cranky and moody lately. I think she could use a break from him. So I thought I would take him off of her hands for a little while.� She stated. �Why don�t you bring him to the game? I think he might like it. There�s going to be a lot of excitement and energy. Maybe it�ll keep him occupied and distracted.� She offered. Joey shrugged. �I don�t know. I don�t think that�s the best place for him right now. He might not be comfortable.� Andie tilted her head to one side staring at the brunette. �He won�t be comfortable? Or you won�t be comfortable?� She asked. �I don�t know what you�re talking about Andie.� Joey remarked defensively. Andie sighed. �Look I don�t want to intrude or stick my nose where it doesn�t belong but I see what�s happening here and I just want to help. I know that we�re not exactly friends� we�ve never really been that close. I mean even when you were dating my brother and you were my campaign manager when I was running for sophomore president our relationship was extremely strained and distant. And we didn�t exactly bond after the last summer when you and Pacey left and I really think that�s a shame because I honestly believe that we had the potential to be close. And with me dating Dawson I know that we have a conversation that is long overdo. But that�s not really what I want to talk about now. I guess what I�m saying is that even though we ran in the same circle we hardly ever crossed paths but what I tell you now is strictly from one potential friend to the other.� She exhaled a short breath before speaking. �Pacey wants you to be at the game today. I don�t know what kind of problems the two of you are having and whatever they may be they can�t be enough for you not to be there to support him. Trust me when I tell you that the worst thing that you can do is not be there for someone that you care about because you�re too hung up on pride and who�s right and wrong. I speak from experience okay, I know. If the issue is that important and that big of a deal it will be there at the end of the day� but this chance and this opportunity won�t. Just think about it okay?� She finished softly looking at the brunette hoping that she had gotten through to her. With one final smile she waved and headed off for the field. The Soccer Field� She found her way to the field and jogged up to her team where Pacey was already waiting surrounded by a mob of pre-teens. She smiled as she stopped beside them and was greeted with nervous smiles. �Hey! How are you guys doing?� She asked. �Great!� Most of them cheered back with enthusiastic greetings. She could tell that they had just went through one of Pacey�s pep talks. She looked up at him and saw that he could use one himself. �What do you say that you do a ten minute warm-up before the game?� She suggested and saw them race off to one side of the field. Once alone she turned to him. �Hey you!� She remarked. He exhaled deeply. �Tell me something. What was I thinking getting myself into this? Was I crazy? Did I have a momentary lapse of better judgment or something?� He asked with a quirky laugh. She sighed. �Listen to me. Do you honestly believe that I would be standing here beside you if I didn�t think that you were capable of doing this job? Do you think that I would let you anywhere near those kids if I didn�t honestly have faith that you were good for them?� He shook his head. �All right then. So just trust me on this. You are good with kids Pacey. I have seen you with them remember?� She asked. �The Capeside Carnival doesn�t count. Those kids only had to endure my presence for about twenty minutes.� He remarked referring to last year. She shook her head. �I�m not talking about them. I�m talking about Alexander. You are fantastic with him. I�ve seen it. There is no one that holds his or her own better with them then you. Just have a little faith in yourself.� She stated. He sighed looking down at the whistle that was draped around his neck. �You really believe in me?� �I always have.� She smiled. �Yeah�� He remarked quietly. �I wish others had that much faith in me.� He stated looking around for a certain brunette but hadn�t spotted her. �She�ll be here. I can feel it.� �You sure that�s not just your overcompensating optimism?� She rolled her eyes. �Don�t push me Witter.� She retorted. �I guess we better do this.� He stated. She nodded and watched him take a deep breath before blowing into his whistle and calling his team in for the game of a lifetime. Midway through the game brought in depressed faces. They were three goals behind and although far from beaten their spirits weren�t exactly at an all time high. They shuffled over to their coach and sighed. �Don�t worry about it. We�re only half way through this game. There is still time to turn this thing around.� He encouraged. �What�s the point? They�re better then us. We might as well just give up now.� �Now that�s exactly what I don�t want to hear. You guys can do this. You are great out there!� Andie tried but was met with frowns of discouragement. She looked to Pacey who seemed to really not know what to say. That�s when they heard it. Turning they almost fell over themselves watching as a squad of high school cheerleaders marched out onto the field with their pom-poms led by Jen Lindely. Following her into a series of cheers that excited the crowd and lifted the spirits of Pacey�s team beyond belief. �Do you hear that? They are cheering for you! You guys may not be in the lead but that hasn�t stopped the cheers from your very own cheerleading squad now has it? Now are you just going to throw in the towel or are you going to give it your all for those out there who really believe in you?� Pacey asked looking at each young face. They cheered back as a response and soon they were back out there trying with everything they had. The end game result was Pacey�s team seven the other team six. They had won by a last minute goal kicked in right through the opponent goalie�s leg merely seconds before the game was called to an end. Cheers and applauding erupted from the stands as Dawson and Jack threw their banners and small miniature flags in the air. Jen and her squad continued to cheer as the team itself ran up and down the field filled with excitement. Pacey threw his playbook in the air and reached out and grabbed Andie out of sheer instinct. Picking her up he swung her around as she laughed with joy. One arm securely around his neck the other trying desperately to hold down her hat so that it didn�t fly away. Joey stood by the corner of a bleacher cheering as loud as she could for her boyfriend and his victory truly and sincerely proud of him. The good feeling was short lasting as she witnessed his close scene with Andie. She watched him twirl her around before letting her come to rest back on the ground and knocking his forehead into her own intimately as though it was the most natural thing in the world. She looked for Dawson to see if he had been witnessed to the close contact but he was too busy with Jack as they made their way onto the field. She looked back and noticed that Pacey and Andie had been torn apart by over excited kids who were eager to run to their coaches. She watched as Andie was eventually thrown into the arms of Dawson and sighed. Pacey picked up Serena,, the only girl on the team who had scored the winning goal and threw her up in the air. �Good job!� He shouted to everyone with a laugh as he looked up in time to see the hug and kiss that Dawson and Andie shared. Looking around for Joey he shook off the disappointment when he couldn�t find her and focused back on his kids. He turned when someone tapped him on his shoulder and smiled at Jack. �Hey!� �Good job Pacey! You did a great job!� He remarked with a huge grin. �Thanks man. I really enjoyed it.� He replied with a deep sigh. �So you�re heading over to the Leery Fish House for the after-party right?� He asked. Pacey hesitated. �I don�t know�� He began when Dawson came up with his arm draped around Andie. �His team just won! He has to be there.� He remarked softly catching Pacey�s eye and giving him the silent message that it was all right. He smiled. �� Yeah. I�ll be there.� He stated looking from one blond to the other. His eyes lingering on her for a moment longer then intended. She smiled noticing his lingering stare and then suddenly turned to Dawson. �And how nice was that cheerleading touch?� Dawson smiled. �I know.� �Where is Jen anyway?� Jack asked. �Yeah we need to thank her for that. She really came through for us during half-time.� Pacey remarked looking around. �She�s probably fighting off hormonal pre-teenage boys at this moment.� Dawson remarked with a smirk. Across the field� She watched them and smiled. It was odd being on the outside and looking in. It was never meant to be this way. She had never thought her and Dawson would be estranged. She never thought that she could be replaced. �Spying on the winning team?� She whirled around at the voice and raised her eyebrows at Jen who was standing behind her. �What?� �You know� I�m sure no one is going to throw stones at you if you venture over there. I�m sure a certain heterosexual brunette would be glad to see that you showed up.� She shrugged. �Maybe� he doesn�t look like he�s missing me.� She muttered. �But you know that he is. And you know that he would be more then overjoyed to see that you showed up. Underneath that cocky vivacious facade, is a disappointed young man looking for you. Because he may have won but the feeling can�t compare with sharing that joy with you. Don�t be so stubborn that you forget that.� She remarked. �We�re all going to the Leery Fish House after this to celebrate. I�m sure that there�s an invitation with your name on it� if you decide to come.� With that she left her and went to stand with the rest of the group. |
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