| Jeff, who�d been stationary the entire time, came over to stand between the sparring couple. �Mera�� she began, warningly. But the fire in Mera�s eyes was evident. She was not backing down. �You did not even trust me enough to take what I said at face value. That says a lot.� �It wasn�t like that!� Vartan pleaded. �Mera, I really like you. I want to date you. But not behind your father�s back.� �He is not my father!� She shrieked. �I don�t have a father, I have no idea if I ever did. Pacey obviously doesn�t trust me either.� �I trust you, Mera.� She spun around. Pacey was standing behind their group, his truck parked behind him. He had genuine concern on his face. �Mera. Let�s go home.� �No! Forget it, Pacey. I am not going anywhere with you. I came here to go on a date. A first date. And I will.� �Mera � c�mon, maybe this isn�t the time.� Jeff walked over, slinging her arms around Mera�s shoulder. But the rage would have none of it. Mera wriggled out of her embrace. �Shut up, Jeff. This has nothing to do with you.� Jeff backed away, but Vartan remained close. �Mera,� he tried again. �I�m so sorry. I never meant to upset you. I want this date, god, I do. But not without Pacey�s okay.� �Mera � come on. You aren�t thinking straight. We�ll g home and talk about this. Maybe I can be persuaded�� Pacey said, moving closer. �It�s too late, Pacey. It�s too damn late for that. You�ve ruined it. You,� she pointed at Vartan, �have ruined it. I don�t even care anymore. I�m crazy, leave me alone.� �Mera McPhee!� Pacey said, his voice raised to match hers in its rage and volume. �Get over here. I�m not putting up with this crap. You need my help.� Mera stopped, laughed, then glanced at Pacey, eyes wet with tears. �Gosh, Pacey � you sound like a psycho. And the last thing I need right now is another crazy person in my life.� Pacey stopped walking, his heart stopped beating. For a split second, he was transported to the past � twenty-one years ago. The blonde was Andie � in her second story bedroom. He was the pursuer � the boyfriend who refused to let go. Andie had been confused on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She had dumped him, believing he was the expendable part of her life. But he had not given up. A talking to by Dawson had led him to Andie�s house, a single red rose. When she�d refused to acknowledge him, he had climbed the trellis outside of her bedroom window. When she realized this � and once he�d professed his undying utter urgency to talk with her � she�d proclaimed him psycho. She had said the exact words her daughter was screaming, 21 years later. Andie. No. The blonde girl �losing it� now wasn�t his Andie. It was her daughter. And this time, he couldn�t let her. �Mera,� he softened his voice. �Please, honey.� She began to cry. �Pacey � what�s wrong with me? Am I going crazy? Am I losing my mind?� �Mera, please. Come with me. We can talk, we�ll figure this out. I want to help you.� She looked from Pacey to Vartan. Her mouth puckered, and she suddenly began to waver. �I feel � I don�t feel so�� Vartan watched as she suddenly grew limp, her body collapsing before his eyes. He raced forward, arms outstretched, and Mera�s body fell into them. Her eyes fluttered slightly before closing, her body limp on him. When Pacey ran over, Vartan eagerly offered her up. He watched as the man cradled her, holding her close as he walked back to his truck. As he watched, Vartan couldn�t help but think that Mera had been wrong in at least one thing she had said that morning. She may not have shared his genes, but Pacey was still every bit her father. * * * Light fluttered in and out � a butterfly�s custard yellow wings. The darkness that had seemed to forever bind her was lifting. A vision came into focus, pale colours, soft walls, a concerned face. �Pacey?� Pacey lifted his head. He hadn�t been sleeping � how could he at a time like this? � but he had still had his head bowed. He wasn�t� praying to a specific god or any divinity. He had simply been hoping, wishing for the young girl that lay in the bed before him. |
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