| Gretchen sensing her brother�s tone quickly cut in. �Yeah, not to mention that you�re taking a few classes this semester right? That�s what Dawson�s told me, anyway.� Andie nodded brushing back the blond tresses behind her ears. �Yeah. I have this Medieval Literature paper that I have to start and I don�t even have a suitable topic. There�s also this Humanities project that�s due and because I was suppose to be in Italy, I wasn�t assigned a partner and now because I didn�t go everyone is paired up. Which leaves me flying solo.� She rambled off in one big rush of air leaving all to stare. �Wow! That is something.� Gretchen remarked. �That�s not the half of it. I mean if that were all, it wouldn�t be a problem. But then there�s this History class, and AP Calculus that I�m behind in. It�s just a lot to catch up on.� She remarked. �And yet you still manage to put in time with our favorite leading man, over here.� Pacey cut in sarcastically. Dawson too seemed to catch some of the underlying bitterness in his tone but wasn�t quick enough to say anything as Gretchen again brushed over his statement with one of her own. �That�s crazy. How do you juggle it all?� Andie shook her head. �You deal�� She whispered looking over at Dawson who looked back at her letting her know that he remembered her words from a few days before. �And it helps when you have things that relax you. Things that keep you grounded and centered.� She stated with a smile just for him. Pacey looked away not liking the way it was making him feel and Gretchen too found that it was suddenly hard to breathe. She turned back to Dawson. �I suppose we have you to thank for keeping this Harvard bound girl firmly planted on the ground.� She stated. He shrugged. �Who knew?� He asked with a grin of his own. �The only thing I thought I was good for was asking people to stay.� He remarked creating a general silence as minds wandered back to the previous spring and the boat of True Love. �It�s getting late. I probably should get home.� Andie stated breaking the silence. �Yeah, me too. Hey, Gretchen since you and Pacey are going the same way, I�ll walk with Andie okay?� He said looking over at her with a genuine smile. She hesitated a moment before deciding that it was for the best. �Sure. You�re okay with that right Pace?� She asked looking at her brother. He nodded. �Sure, whatever.� He replied, rolling his eyes. Andie shook her head. �Good-night you guys. And thanks Pacey for keeping me company.� She smiled at him and he returned it with sincere warmth. �Anytime.� A moment later both pairs of people were off in their own direction. �That�s a pretty rotten way to end a date.� Pacey stated walking beside his sister. She looked over at him with raised eyebrows. �What are you talking about? Dawson and I were not on a date Pacey.� �Call me an idiot here but when you see two people taking a stroll down the docks under the pale moon light, it does tend to give the impression of a romantic outing.� He suggested shoving his hands in his pockets to keep warm. �Well, then I suppose you and Andie were having a very intimate time alone yourselves?� She shot back. �Okay that�s different.� �How is that different?� �I ran into Andie on the docks by coincidence. I didn�t have plans with her. We just both happened to be in the same place at the same time unlike you and Dawson who made arrangements to do something together.� He stated. She rolled her eyes. �Well, trust me, lil� brother, Dawson and I were just hanging out. We were not on a date. Not that it is any of your business but Dawson doesn�t consider anything romantic between the two of us. And I have that on a reliable source.� She replied with a smile. He nodded as if thinking it over. �Why doesn�t he?� He asked after a moment. �I mean you�re my sister so trust me when I say that this is an extremely hard thing for me to express, but Gretchen you are a beautiful woman. Any guy at my adolescent age would die to say that they know you let alone date you, so why wouldn�t Dawson have some residual romantic feelings for you?� She sighed deeply and shook her head. �Because maybe he truly let go of whatever pubescent crush that he once had. Or perhaps he�s still caught up on a brunette that we all know. Or maybe just maybe he�s into blondes.� She remarked softly. Pacey swallowed hard. �And how do you feel about that?� He asked. She looked over at him with a half-smile. �Me? I�m dealing with it. The better question here is, how does it make you feel?� Instead of answering he remained silent as he thought that over the rest of the way home. They arrived at her house about fifteen minutes later. �So how was your date tonight?� She asked. He cocked an eyebrow at her. �My what? What gave you the idea that I was on a date with Gretchen?� �Your dad.� She answered. |
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