Lifting her head she came to stare into his eyes. �Yeah� you should head out now anyway. I need to get this dinner started so that it�s ready.� Taking a stand she led him to the door holding his hand the entire way. Stopping at the threshold he leaned in and kissed her lips sensuously.

�I�ll see you tomorrow.� She said smiling.

�Okay. Get some rest� and don�t burn the house down.� He stated.

She gave him a sarcastic smile as she hit him in the back of the head on the way out.

He left a bounce in his step as he walked. He had just rounded a corner when he ran into Andie. �Hey!� He remarked.

She jumped slightly in excitement and joy. �There you are! I have been looking everywhere for you!�

�This is starting to become a habit with you.� He interjected.

She rolled her eyes as she took a deep breath. �So you said that you liked coaching with me right? I mean you had fun?�

He nodded. �Yeah� it was great.�

�That�s good because I have a proposition for you. How would you like to coach with me tomorrow and for at least the next week or so?� She rushed out.

He furrowed his brow. �What?�

She saw the hesitation and incomprehension in his eyes. �I mean you said that you really enjoyed working with the kids and they really liked having you around so as I see it, we have a win, win situation!� She rambled.

Reaching out he took her arm to get her attention. �Wait a minute. Just slow down.�

�What? I really don�t see anything wrong with this. You like the kids; the kids like you. You like soccer� they like to win where is the problem?� She asked.

He sighed as he cocked his head to one side to stare at her. �Why do I have the feeling that there is more to this then you�re telling me?�

She stared back at him with brown wide-eyed innocence until the facade fell and she had to relent. �Fine! You busted me. The truth is that one of the soccer moms thought that it would be a good idea if you stuck around for the next few games while Jack was out of commission. She said something about stability or whatever and thinks that if you�re around then somehow that will inspire the kids to do their best.� She mumbled.

He nodded as the whole picture came into view. Placing his hands in his pockets he sighed. �I see. So really someone is trying to force my presence on you and these unsuspecting adolescents. Well, thanks but no thanks! I�ll pass.� He began to walk by when she turned and fell into step with him.

�No! You can�t do that. You can�t pass. I mean what am I going to say to those parents tomorrow when they ask why you aren�t there?�

�You�ll think of something Andie.� He quipped.

She had to pick up the pace as he sped up his walk. �I can�t! Those parents want you there and those kids need you there. Can you really turn your backs on them and their little soccer loving hearts?� She tried the guilt trip.

He shook his head as they stopped at the crosswalk. �You�re not going to do that to me. It�s not going to work.� He stated pushing the button hoping the light would change.

She stood there her brain working overtime trying to think of a substantial reason why he should do this. �Come on Pacey. What else do you have to do? I mean you don�t have a job really and your boat is long gone so�� She trailed off as she realized that she hit a sore spot as he gave her a sharp glance. �Okay� I�m sorry about the boat. I didn�t mean to bring up the True Love. All I�m saying is that you have the time and the stamina and the patience and� and the ability to do this. Why are you turning your back on a great opportunity to do something that makes you happy?� She asked. She didn�t get an answer as the light changed and he began to cross the street. She jogged to keep up with him. �This would mean a lot to those kids� and� and� it would mean a lot to me.� She said and almost tripped over herself as he stopped suddenly and turned to look at her.

�What did you say?� He asked looking into her brown eyes intensely.

She stood there for a moment as realization dawned on her. She sighed deeply and looked down at the ground as they stood in the middle of the empty street. The cold air whistled in the night as the pale moon barely lit the sky. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her tan trench coat she shifted her feet back and forth. �I said that� that it would mean a lot to me if you did this for me.�

�So what does that mean?� He asked purposely.

�It means� it means�� She looked up at him and gave him a crooked smile. �It means that I need your help. I am asking you for your help because� because I can�t do this on my own and� I need you.� She remarked softly. It was an odd thing to say those words after telling him constantly that she didn�t need him. All he really wanted was for her to ask him for help. All he wanted was a real request and admission that she needed him.

He stood there for a moment staring at her. �Okay.�

She let a grin slowly spread across her face as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. �So I�ll see you tomorrow on the soccer field at ten for practice?� She asked.

�I will be there.� He stated honestly. The silent understanding between them. From now on when she needed help then she would have to ask. It was that simple and that hard.
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