| Easy Love By Tiffany Chapter: 14 The Same Things that Bring us together... Could be the Things that Tear us Apart... A few weeks later� Pacey felt as if he had just been hit in the stomach. He wasn�t going to graduate. He heard the guidance counselor as he spoke to him and told him of his options but none of them really registered. All he heard was that he was going to have to repeat the twelfth grade. He wasn�t going to walk across the stage with the rest of his peers and accept his diploma. And as he left the office and the school he walked around in a daze finally ending up in the only place that he found comfort in. He sat on the docks and leaned back into the bench feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He didn�t even hear the footsteps or feel as someone took a seat next to him. Without warning he felt the hand on his shoulder and looked up into a pair of light brown eyes filled with concern. �I�m sorry.� When he raised his eyebrows in question she bowed her head. �I heard Mr. Leery talking with Dawson about it.� He broke into a half-grin. �Yeah well what did I expect? I blew off my exams for a soccer game. I guess I get what I get huh?� He asked ruefully. She shook her head. �Why are you acting as if it�s over?� �Because it is, Andie. I screwed up. The messed up thing is that I worked my butt off this year to make up for my slack in my junior year. I was sure that I could rectify my momentary academic lapse by doing what I needed and I just failed.� �You didn�t fail. You had a slip-up. It happens and it�s not like you can�t fix this.� �How am I going to fix this Andie? I�m going to fail my senior year. I�m not going to graduate with you guys and we both know that if I don�t do it this year then I�m never going to. Let�s face it, you guys are the reason why I go to school. The classes are just an unnecessary duty. But if you all walk this year and I don�t� then it�s as good as done for me.� �If you feel that you have to walk with us then you will.� �How?� �Did you even listen to that counselor? He said that you still have an opportunity to pass Pacey. You have to ace your finals and make sure that all your work is in on time but you can do it.� �Ace my finals? Andie that�s like asking Dawson to give up film!� �He did! And if he can do that and I can cheat on the PSAT�s then you can ace your finals! You just have to ask yourself how bad you want it!� He sighed looking down at the cement below him. Running his fingers through his hair roughly he shook his head. �I want this� God I want to do this.� He muttered. Reaching out she placed her hands over his. �Then you�ll have it� and I�ll help you. No matter what it takes.� She promised him softly. �No matter what it takes.� He echoed staring down at her hand holding his. It was soft but firm, just like her. The Leery Household� Two weeks before Christmas� �Wait a minute� just hold it right there. Wait! Don�t tilt, you�re tilting! Just try and hold�� Gail was cut off as she watched her husband and son topple over with the tree. She cringed as she heard the unmistakable thud as they hit the floor. �Ouch!� She remarked almost feeling their pain. Mitch groaned as he propped himself up on his hands. Craning his neck he peered over the pine needles of the tree trying to catch a glimpse of his son. �You all right there Dawson?� He asked. �Just trying to remove the greenery from my unmentionable areas.� He muttered. Running his hands through his hair he exhaled deeply. �You know it�s ironic how this family is a glutton for punishment. Every year we tell one another that we are never going to buy another real tree for Christmas because we refuse to go through this arduous ordeal and every year we end up right back in the exact same position!� �That�s because your mother reminds us that Christmas just wouldn�t be Christmas without the fresh smell of Pine in the air.� �You know I hear they sell that stuff in a can now. One spray and it�s pine for seven days.� �Dawson it�s not the same thing. And come on it�s not that bad.� �This from the woman who merely directs where to put the tree, and never deals with the actual physical act of moving it.� He remarked. She sighed throwing her hands on her hips. �Oh come on. You�re being babies.� �No because even Lily has enough sense to be asleep right now instead of dealing with this!� Dawson chimed with a smile. Just then the phone rang. �Saved by the bell.� Gail commented. Picking up she smiled when she heard the voice on the other end. Handing Dawson the receiver she smiled. �It�s Andie.� �Break time!� Dawson said exiting into the dining room. �Hey there.� He whispered. �Hey yourself.� �Where are you? I thought you were coming over to decorate tonight.� He stated beginning to walk around the space absently. She sighed. �I want to. I really do but I need to help Pacey study for his Chemistry Final. I want to make sure that he has this down for Friday. If he doesn�t make the grade then he doesn�t walk.� Dawson nodded understanding but feeling disappointed anyway. �I wish that you were here.� �Me too. But I�ll be there Friday night after school and then we can go out and go caroling in the streets!� She squealed excitedly. He laughed softly. �Yeah you know I was thinking about that� and maybe we could limit that caroling to the confines of my house� preferably my bedroom.� He whispered. She bit her lower lip as her cheeks turned red. �Dawson�� �Andie�� He mocked as he perched his body onto the arm of a chair. �Are you trying to get fresh with me?� She asked coyly. �What would you say if I were?� He challenged. He waited for an answer but the conversation was cut short by the sound of the doorbell on her end. �That�s Pacey. I have to go.� She replied. Running his fingers through his hair he sighed. �Okay. I�ll see you at school.� �All right. Love you.� �Love you too.� And then the line went dead and soon he was back to Christmas tree duty. McPhee Household� She greeted him at the door and led him straight to her bedroom. He felt the apprehension rise in his chest as she opened the door to her room. He furrowed his brow when he noticed that some of her awards were missing and in their place were photographs. He couldn�t help himself from staring openly and she noticed. �I used to keep the awards as a reminder of what I wanted and who I was. I don�t need them anymore. Awards and medals don�t define me� I do.� She remarked quietly before breaking out in a grin. �Besides it was getting a bit crowded and overwhelming even for me.� He nodded. �I wouldn�t know.� She sighed. �No feeling sorry for yourself. We are here to work and get you graduated.� She stated firmly taking a seat at her desk. �Okay first we start with Chemistry. I have a set schedule that has us on a time span of four hours, with fifteen minute breaks every hour to stretch our limbs and for obvious restroom breaks and the occasional drink.� She began strictly businesslike. He smiled. �Are we talking hard liquor or simply the good stuff?� He joked. �Not amused Witter. Now sit down and let�s get to work.� She stated and watched as he did what he was told. She smiled secretly as she watched him pull out his book and notepad. It felt almost like old times� almost. A little over four hours later� �And therefore a covalent bond is a shared bond unlike the ionic bond that continues to remain selfish and anti-social.� He remarked finally getting it. When he looked up though he was met with a sleep induced Andie. Her blond tresses were sprawled out onto her pillow as now they had moved from the desk to her bed. He smiled as he placed his pencil behind his ear and stared at her for just a moment. One arm was placed behind her head while the other was clasped securely around the Chemistry textbook. A florescent green highlighter was stationed behind one ear while a dulled pencil sat precariously in the mess of her hair. One leg was curled comfortably beneath the other tilting her entire body to an angle. Looking over at the clock he noted that it was after midnight. He was about to wake her and let her know that he was leaving but thought better of it. Packing his stuff away he turned back to her and with the ease that only experience could have taught he removed the pencil and highlighter from her and then tucked her in. Perching himself at the edge of her bed and letting his hands rest on opposite sides of her body he sighed. Reaching out with one hand he brushed a few strands of hair from her forehead, leaned in and brushed his lips against her flesh. �Good-night Andie.� He whispered before making a quiet exit. He stopped short when he saw Jack standing in the doorway. Coming out into the hallway he closed the door behind him. �Hey man.� He greeted. �She�s asleep?� He asked. When Pacey nodded he sighed. �Good. So how�s the studying going?� He asked as they began the walk downstairs. �I don�t want to count my proverbial chickens before they hatch but you know, I think I might be able to do this.� �What were you guys working on tonight?� �The wonderful world of chemistry. I think I could tell you every bond and what it does and how many electrons it takes to make an adequate electric pulse in my sleep.� He replied with a heavy sigh. �She�s thorough. When she sets her mind to something, she doesn�t rest until she accomplishes it. And she is determined to see you graduate.� He nodded. �Yeah. I don�t know what I did to deserve her help or even have her presence in my life but I�m so grateful for it. She just keeps giving me reasons to believe in myself. I don�t know where it comes from. I don�t know where she finds it but I�m glad that it�s there. I need it� I need her.� He whispered confessing more then he intended. There was a moment of silence as Jack stared at him and he laughed nervously. �Look at the time. I�m so tired I�m probably blabbering about nonsense. I better get home.� �Yeah� You know the kids miss you. They keep asking me when you�re coming back.� �I miss them too. I wish I wasn�t swamped like I am.� �You�re going to be at their game next week right? It�s the deciding game of whether or not they go to Nationals. They�d really like it if you were there.� �I will be there. I have it marked on my calendar and am actively anticipating the date.� �Good. I�ll see you then.� He walked him to the door and opened it for him. As Pacey walked through Jack called out to him. �Hey Pacey� have a little more faith in yourself. Andie doesn�t waste her time with people who aren�t worth it. And she thinks you�re worth it� she always has.� He smiled. �Yeah� I know.� He whispered before walking out into the night. |
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