| �Right� not that bad. Look at them. You would think that the ball was a time bomb. No one wants to touch it� They need some confidence. They need to be galvanized�� She looked over at him a moment later. �Oh my God! I can�t believe this. Someone up there must really love me!� She squealed as a thought formed in her head. He cocked an eyebrow and gave her a nonchalant shrug. �Well I�ve heard women thinking I�m pretty fantastic but thanking God for my very presence� that�s a new one.� He remarked. She rolled her eyes. �I need a huge favor Pacey. You can talk to them!� She remarked. He shook his head. �Wait a minute. Just hold on a sec. Think about what you�re saying. You want me to talk to a bunch of impressionable minds! There are so many things wrong with that statement.� He stated. She exhaled deeply. �There is no one who can inspire people to do things that they�re afraid of doing better then you. I mean think about it. You helped us that first night when we had to study for that test and we all fell asleep! We thought we were majorly screwed and you took charge and fixed the situation. And when you were on the True Love with Jen and she was scared out of her mind. You helped her through it. It�s what you do Pacey. You inspire me all the time. Come on this should be easy for you.� She cajoled him pulling on his sleeve. �Please! Please. I�ll owe you� really. I will owe you big time!� �You�ll owe me?� He asked thinking about her statement. She nodded as she brushed some blond tresses from her face. �Big time, owe you. I will owe you like I�ve never owed you before. You name it and I�ll get it. You want it� and I�ll do it. Just help me out!� He nodded after a moment. �Call them in! I�ll talk to them.� He remarked. She smiled. �Thanks!� She replied before going over to the referee and asking him for a time out. A moment later the whistle was blown and her team came running in. Walking over to Pacey she sighed. �You have 45 seconds.� She whispered in his ear. �I�ll only need thirty� You might want to go and get something to drink while I talk to the team. I think your presence might be somewhat unnerving.� He suggested. She nodded. �Right� I�ll be back in a few.� With that she walked away from the group and stood at a safe distance. Folding her arms over her chest she watched him kneel to their level and signal for them to come in closer to him. He began to talk and from the moment he opened his mouth all eyes were on him. She smiled. He seemed right at home and at ease with the situation. This was so easy for him. He should be a counselor or something. He was so good at easing tense situations. He didn�t realize how much of a talent that was. She sighed as she saw him stand up and saw the kids cheer. She had no idea what he said but whatever it was they seemed happier and more confident. She didn�t go back over to him until they were back on the field. �All is right again in the world of little league soccer.� He stated. She looked over at him. �I don�t know what you said to them� but whatever it was� it worked. You�re amazing, Witter.� She remarked nonchalantly as she stared at her team as they played as though they had nothing to lose. He turned to stare at her really taking her words to heart. The way she could talk to him still took his breath away. �Thanks.� He remarked still staring at her. �Go Samantha!� She cheered barely hearing him. He smiled and then too turned and watched the team as they played their hearts out. By the end of the game her team had pulled ahead and won by one goal in the last seventeen seconds. She jumped up and down as she watched them run around the field in excitement. They ran to Pacey and screamed and cheered. She clapped and smiled as they laughed. It was a beautiful sight. Later that evening� Walking back to her house she sighed as she looked over at him. �I can�t believe that you promised them all they could eat ice cream! They are going to be so sick tonight. Their parents are going to kill me.� She remarked shoving her hands in her pockets as she looked over at him. He shrugged. �Nothing ceases a child�s inhibitions like ice cream.� He replied. She smiled. �Thanks again for doing what you did.� �It was nothing� besides did you see their faces? It was great!� He remarked. She laughed at his excitement. �I think that you had more fun then they did.� He sighed. �I don�t know� I�ve never felt so� good inside. They looked at me as though I was some sort of guy that had answers to their fears. They believed in me and what I said. I just� it was� they were�� He struggled for the right words. �They trusted you.� She whispered looking over at him. He nodded. �Yeah� You know to them I wasn�t Pacey Witter the screw up, or the town loser. I was just me� with no black marks against me. I had a clean slate with those kids. They didn�t have any preconceived notions about who I was or my tainted past. It was nice.� She gave him a wide smile. �I�m glad that you enjoyed yourself. And I�m pretty sure that they were really happy that you were there. I know that I was.� �Really?� He asked. She nodded. �Yeah. You really saved my butt back there. It wasn�t about them winning or losing the game. It was about them having faith in their capabilities. I just didn�t know how to do that for them. But you did. I really do owe you for this.� |
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