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| Chapter 3 I open my eyes because a strange noise broke me from my light sleep. I peek out from under one of my eye lids and notice the surroundings. For a moment I forgot where I was. That was until I heard snoring. It wasn�t just any snore, but a snore that a low wheezing with a small snort. I laughed to myself and I have my first genuine smile on my face. I cock my head to the side and I look up at his face. It was slightly leaning on my head and his eyes fluttered open from the movement and he yawned. Oh, God, morning breath. He looked cute until he did that. He looked down at me and smiled and then rested his head on my shoulder, trying to wake himself up. �Morning, Pace.� He stays where he is, but his eyes drift up to mine and he mumbles against my skin, �Morning, Jo.� I try to get up, but his arms are holding me like a vice. So I sit back down and I decide to tease him. �Do you know that you snore?� That gets him. �I don�t snore.� He looks at me unbelievingly. �Ya do too, Pace.� I smile at him, �How do you think I woke up?� �You felt a tingle in your lower regions?� He looks at me with a straight face and I smack him. �Hey, watch it!� He says as pushes me out of his arms. �Funny.� I just look at him and he starts to laugh. But then I heard the last thing I wanted to hear from him. He cut loose one. �Oh, God, Pace. There�s a time and place for you to do things like that. In the bathroom. Phew.� It�s my turn to start laughing as his face reddens with embarrassment. �Well, it�s not my fault you that bring out the prudent side of me.� That makes me laugh even harder. �Besides, it�s a natural, biological function. I�m sure you do it too.� I look up at him and I�m trying to contain myself. �Not like that I don�t.� �Yeah, but you still do it.� He gets up and goes over to me, holding me up so that I don�t double over again. I really need to stop laughing, because I�m really starting to hurt. �So, Potter, how do you feel about breakfast?� �Do you think I could get a shower first and change my clothes.� I ask him. �Please do. You�re starting to smell.� I smack him once again, �I wouldn�t be talking Witter.� He feigns hurt and puts his hand to his chest. �Your harsh words wound me.� I just stare at him, then turn towards my bag to get out some fresh clothes. �Well, if we both smell so bad why don�t we conserve some water and take a shower together.� He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, �I�ll wash your back and you�ll do mine.� My eyes widen as he suggests this. Same old Pacey. �In, your dreams, Witter.� He looks up at me and mumbles, �You have no idea.� It�s my turn to look shocked. He smiles and I know that he�s joking. I let out the breath I didn�t know I was holding. �Come on, Jo. Let�s get the stench off you.� He leads me into the bathroom. �Towels are in the cabinet and the shower�s over there.� �Thanks Pace.� He turns to leave and I close the door behind him. I turn to the mirror and I look at myself. God, I look horrible. I move to take off my shirt, but when I lift my arm up it hurts. I then carefully remove it and all I can do is stare at myself in the mirror. I see the bruises, the cuts, and the scars left from his harsh beatings. I actually almost forgot about my problems this morning. That was until now. I have to look at myself and see all the horrible things that he did to me. I take off the rest of my clothing and I step under the warm spray. It scalds my cuts and heals my soul. I stick my head directly under, trying to sooth away the pain that I have had to endure. With the wash cloth I grabbed I pour some body wash onto it. It smells fruity. Then I look down and it�s something a bath store. It must have been Andie�s. I chuckle to myself at the thought of it not being hers and Pacey buying for himself. I place the bottle back on the shelf and I begin to rub the cloth all over my body, careful not to abrade any cuts. When I finished, I put it on the rack and grabbed some shampoo. This wasn�t floral scented. I couldn�t make out what it smelled like, but then I remembered something. It smelled like Pacey. I smelled in on him last night when he brought me into his arms. This smell was comforting. Bringing pleasant memories from it�s wafting scent. I lather then rinse. I turn off the water and ring out my hair. I step out of the tub and I grab my towel. I bring it up to my face and pat it dry and wrap it around my body. I take in a deep breath and I feel refreshed. Renewed. I haven�t felt this way in a long time. |