"Hey, you
guys ready?" Jack asked as he slid through Dawson’s bedroom window
carrying a brown paper bag. Pacey followed him. They met smiles from the others
as they entered the room. Dawson, Jen,
Andie, and Joey were waiting, all dressed from head to toe entirely in black.
Pacey slipped off his beanie and tossed it to the side as he stretched out
across the bed.
"Did you get it?" Dawson asked as he crossed the
room towards them.
"Yeah." Jack grinned.
"Come here and let me put some stuff on your
face," Jen said. She just finished applying some black mascara along
Andie's cheekbones. Andie had tied her long blonde hair up in pigtails, and she
twirled one around her finger absentmindedly. She always twirled her hair. It
was a habit she had assimilated once it had grown out past her shoulders. She
rose out of her seat and slumped down on the bed next to Joey and Pacey.
"You wouldn't believe how hard it was to come up with
enough stuff to fill this thing," Jack said as he sat down for Jen. He
held up the bag, and Joey crinkled her nose in disgust.
"We had to go to three back yards," Pacey
chuckled.
"You'd think between the six of us, one of us would
have a dog." Joey scoffed.
“What ever happened to my dog anyway?” Pacey asked
thoughtfully. She shook her head.
"Jack!” Jen squealed, covering her nose. “That shit
stinks! Put it away!"
"Where do you want me to put it?" He laughed.
"Here," Dawson said, reaching out. "Let's put
it out on the roof for now…I don't want it smelling like crap in here."
Jack
handed over the bag and Dawson set it just outside the bedroom window.
"Are you sure we won't get caught?" Andie asked as
she still fiddled with her pigtail.
"Yeah, McPhee! Don't worry! We got it all figured
out!" Pacey sat up as Jen finished with Jack so that they could switch
places. She started to apply the black
makeup to Pacey's face as he continued. "Besides McPhee…Its tradition!
Every year someone T-P's the principal's house for graduation…and this year,
it's our turn!"
One might say the six of them resembled a bunch of thieves,
sitting around, waiting for the big heist to go down. They had been planning
this night for weeks…carefully calculating every detail to perfection. Now Jen, her cropped platinum hair pinned at
the sides, was painting their faces up like commandos as part of their
camouflage. She pouted her lips as she worked diligently.
"But why tonight?" Andie asked. "We don't
graduate for two weeks…we still have finals."
"Because, sis…" Jack said tightening the laces on
his combat boots. "We need to do it first before someone else beats us to
the punch…"
"Don't worry so much Andie…" Joey said
sarcastically. "It'll be 'fun'…" She rolled her eyes. She had thought
this idea was stupid from the start…and she had let her opinion be well known.
"Joey, if you don't want to, you don't have to
go," Dawson said.
"No…I want to." She sighed. This was probably
going to be the last chance they’d have to get into trouble together, and as
indifferent as she acted and as much as she had complained, she didn’t want to
be excluded. She wouldn’t miss this for the world.
"And why do we need the dog crap again?" Andie
asked, now chewing the end of her pigtail.
"Because, we have to light it on fire and toss it on
his porch!" Pacey grinned. He stared up at the ceiling, hands rested
behind his head. He was the one who had first suggested the idea to Dawson, and
together, the two of them had conceived their plan. He was so excited…
He was attracted to trouble, and trouble was attracted to
him. He didn’t know why, but the fact that all of them were in on this,
together…it made him feel proud…Proud
that they were actually setting out to accomplish something that was so…risky. And so entirely bad…Ultimately, this could be a death
sentence if they were caught. But if they
weren’t…
And the fact that they were doing it together; one last
time, one last night to act like children, and stick it to authority… It was
liberating…even if it involved dog shit.
"That's so
gross," Joey scowled. He sat up and glared at her.
"Hey,
Potter…" He said taking on the 'annoyed-father' tone. "If you don't
stop complaining, you're gonna be the one to do it, understand?" He took a
little yellow Bic lighter from his pocket and threw it at her. She recoiled as
it hit her in the chest and fell to the floor. She leaned down, picking it up,
then her eyes narrowed on him.
Joey looked at Pacey with such resentment that Dawson had to
laugh. She switched her glare to Dawson, her mouth ajar. He was taking Pacey's side. Joey’s eyes blazed as the frown shot
across her lips. She absentmindedly picked at her silver nose ring…a clear sign
that she was irritated, a sign that they were entering dangerous waters…
"He's right
Jo," Dawson smiled. He had a hunch that he should stay out of this one,
but he couldn’t resist the temptation. Maybe it was Pacey rubbing off on him,
but teasing her had become one of his favorite past times. He chuckled aloud as
her face grew more and more taught. “Those are the rules…”
"What!" She said, cocking her head to the side.
“What are you talking about?”
"Yeah, Jo…" Jack smirked. "Those are the rules."
"Ugh!" She groaned in detest. Now Jack too?
"Joey," Jen laughed. "I have to agree with
the fellas here. Quit complaining and relax!"
Joey looked from
one face to another. She couldn’t believe them! Her gaze finally settled on
Andie. Her hands went right to her hips as she waited for Andie to put her two
cents in. Andie shook her head in response to Joey’s questioning look, careful
to avoid direct eye contact.
"As long as I don't have to do it,” She started, biting
her lip. “I don't care who does. I'm staying as far away from that bag as I
can…"
"Great…everyone
gang up on Joey." Joey crossed her arms in defiance, then sighed.
"Okay…I'll light it, but Pacey has to throw it!"
"I think Jack has the better throwing arm," Pacey
laughed.
"No way!" Jack chuckled. "I had to scoop it,
you have to throw it!"
"Okay, okay…" Dawson mused. "Jack's already
throwing the rock…Pacey tosses the bag.
Who's responsible for the toilet paper?" He sat down across from
them, growing more serious now.
"I brought my backpack," Jen said. "So I
guess me."
"Okay, and the shaving cream?"
"Right here," Andie said, raising her hand.
"Me and Joey brought three cans."
"Great…and I got the eggs," Dawson said. He looked
from one blackened face to the other. "That sounds like everything…we
ready to roll?"
"Let's do it!" Pacey said, standing up. Jen put
the tube of mascara back in her makeup bag and set it aside on Dawson’s
nightstand. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed the group to
the window.
"Out on the roof, let's go!" Dawson said as they
each slid through the opening. "Careful!” He warned. “Don't make any
noise."
"That's all we need is your dad or my Gramms to hear
us," Jen smirked. Dawson took her hand to help her as she was the last to
climb out over the ledge.
"Yeah, no kidding."
Pacey slid down the ladder first, followed by Jack, Andie,
Joey, and Jen. Finally Dawson followed. They ran stealthily across the yard to
the driveway and up out onto the street.
"I parked over that way," Pacey said as they
stepped across the dirt along the side of the road. "It’s over in that
little turnout around the corner.”
Andie and Jen pulled on their black caps, careful to tuck
their hair up inside so as not to be easily recognized if seen. Joey walked
beside Pacey at the front of the group. He gave her a playful shove and she
smiled. The sky was dark and full of stars, and the summer air was warm…As much
as she was regretting it now, it was perfect weather for a T-P party.
"Pacey…We are gonna get in so much trouble if we get
caught…"
"Don’t worry,” He said confidently. “We won't get
caught."
They rounded the corner to where Pacey had parked the
vehicle.
When they saw it, they stopped in mid stride. Joey spun
around and glared at him.
"Are you sure no one will notice that the getaway car
is a police suburban?" She
shouted, her voice ringing out into the night.
"Pipe down,
Ms. Smarty-pants…this is the beauty of the plan.” Pacey smiled
persuasively. He had this knack for
making things sound easy. He put his
arm around her shoulder and she pushed him away. No bother. He smiled anyway. “See…no one would suspect that a
police vehicle would harbor a bunch of juvenile delinquents out to vandalize
private property,"
"Unless they
are Principal Green and they know your dad's a cop!" Joey smirked.
"Dawson, will you tell her to stop wiggin'!" Pacey
held up his hands defensively.
"She's totally bringing me down, man."
Dawson folded his arms across his chest, the carton of eggs
in one hand. The other's grinned in
amusement as Joey’s face turned red, and she engaged Pacey in a staring
contest. He wrinkled his nose, mocking her and finally pulled open the door.
She paused to roll her eyes. Pacey snorted.
"Everything's
going to be fine," Dawson said calmly. "Joey, stop worrying and get
in the car. Pacey, leave her alone…"
"What'd I do!" Pacey exclaimed as they climbed
into the truck.
"You brought the police truck instead of the
Jeep!" Joey grunted from the backseat. Pacey looked back at her coolly.
Banter was banter, but she was starting to wear him thin…
"You think after eleven years you'd stop acting like
such a-"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Dawson intervened.
"I was gonna say 'rascal'!"
"Sure you were," Dawson smiled.
"Jack!” Jen screamed. “Will you open the window! How
many times do I have to tell you? That shit STINKS!"
"Sorry,"
As Pacey pulled the truck out onto the road, Jack held the
brown paper bag out the window.
They drove to Principal Green's neighborhood and parked two
streets over. They scanned the street
for any burning lights…
It was dark, as it should be. It was almost one o’clock in
the morning and this was Capeside, where they rolled up the sidewalks every
night at eight. The six sat quietly for a moment, surveying the surroundings.
"Looks good
here." Pacey finally said. He looked over at Dawson in the passenger's
seat. "Anything on your side?"
"All clear...Jack?" They looked back to Jack in
the far backseat. He watched out the rear window, shaking his head.
"Nothin, let's go."
They quietly climbed out of the vehicle, before ducking
behind some bushes. They peeked out down the dark sidewalks one last time
making sure the coast was clear.
"Ok, recap." Dawson said as they hunkered down
behind a low hedge. “Jack, you and Jen
are in charge of the toilet paper. I'll sneak onto the property first…When I
give the signal, you guys start draping it everywhere…as far as it will go.
I'll help. Then Andie, you start writing 'Green Sucks' on his car with the
shaving cream,"
"Are you sure you wanna do that, man?" Pacey
interrupted. They looked at him questioningly, a mischievous grin playing at
his lips. "I mean, Andie's got the penmanship of a serial killer…He may
recognize it."
"Oh, shut up, Pacey!" Andie squealed, socking him
in the arm. He laughed as he recoiled. Dawson smiled and went on.
"…Andie, just write in big, plain letters. Don't worry
about neatness…"
"Okay." She said.
"Then, once we're almost done, we'll duck off to the
side…but careful of the neighbors rose
bushes, we didn't bring any band-aides… Jack, you stay to the left, behind
the car in the driveway…make sure you're in range. Find the biggest rock you
can throw. That's when Pace and Jo head to the porch. You light the bag, then
toss it…"
"Wait a minute!" Joey said. "You're serious about me lighting it?"
"Yeah, Jo." Dawson said. "Is there a problem?
You can wait in the truck if you want…"
"No! I'll do it!" She huffed.
"Good! That's the spirit!” He looked around at them,
their eyes bright in the dark, smiling in anticipation. “Okay, Just remember that as soon as it's
lit, toss it! Jack will throw the rock at the door. I'll cover you with the
eggs as you run, got it?"
"Got it!" They said.
"Got the lighter, Jo?" Pacey asked.
"Yeah, I got it…" She frowned. Dawson giggled,
taking a deep breath and showing them the most enthusiastic grin he could
muster.
"K! Let's go!"
They headed off in different directions; dodging through the
neighbor's yards, keeping low and pausing cautiously near open windows so as
not to blow their cover. Besides a dog bark in the distance, the night was
peaceful.
"I can't believe we're doing this!" Joey said as
Pacey helped her over a short fence. Green's house was visible now.
"Ssh!” He whispered. “And don't drop the shit!"
"This isn't Mission Impossible!" She mumbled as
they continued to run. "And don't worry…I got the bag."
"This is so exciting!" Andie whispered as she and
Jen, scrunched down behind a neighbor's picket fence, began removing the toilet
paper rolls from the backpack in preparation. Jack grinned at them from a few
feet away as he was waited for Dawson's signal.
Dawson tiptoed through the yard on the Green's property. He
kept close to the trees, and quiet so he could hear if any noises came from the
house. He listened for a few minutes, egg carton in hand.
Nothing.
He looked back and saw his friends as they waited at their
strategic points. He pushed the button on his day-glow watch and zig zagged it
in the air a few times.
The signal.
Jen and Jack came first, Andie on their tail.
Jack threw the first of the toilet paper rolls into the air.
Dawson and Jen helped, chucking them everywhere.
As the toilet paper settled in the branches, Andie came
forth armed with shaving cream. She started on Green's Jaguar.
She looked at the shiny paint with a remorseful little
frown. Then she smiled as the cream squirted on the hood.
"Psst!" Dawson whispered. She looked at him.
"Get Nikki's car too!"
She looked over at the shiny red Miada that Principal Green
had gotten for his beloved daughter on her seventeenth birthday. Andie looked
at it with a gleam of vengeance and smiled. She nodded back to Dawson, then
went to work on the vehicles.
"This is what you get for winning the presidential
candidacy this year, Nikki Green…"
"Okay, Get ready!"
Dawson motioned to Jack to take his place in the driveway.
Jack sprinted across the yard to where his sister worked, squirting the shaving
cream happily until the cans were emptied.
"Andie, get ready!" He said. She ducked down
behind the cars with him.
"Go, Jen." Dawson instructed as the last of the
toilet paper drizzled in the air. They ran back to the sidewalk, ducking behind
some trashcans beside the driveway.
Dawson nodded to Pacey, who waited with Joey in the shadows on the
opposite side of the street.
"Ready, Potter?" Pacey whispered. They moved
quickly across the asphalt.
They advanced to where they were only about ten feet from
the porch. Pacey held up the bag, and Joey took the lighter from her pocket. As
she lit it, Andie scurried back towards the sidewalk to Jen’s side.
Pacey tossed the burning bag on the porch, and he and Joey
turned to run. As Jack pulled his arm back in throwing stance, the porch light
suddenly flicked on, flooding the area with light. He dropped the rock.
"RUN!" Someone shouted.
Dawson
dropped the eggs.
Joey turned back as the front door opened. Pacey, who was just behind her, didn't give
her a chance to panic. He grabbed her up, throwing her over his shoulder, and
bolted.
"Ah!" She squealed as her long dark hair swung
over his back.
"WHO'S OUT THERE!" Green's voice boomed from
inside the doorway.
They met up with Jack in the street; Dawson, Andie, and Jen
ahead of them. They ran hard and fast.
When they rounded the first corner, they broke into
unbridled laughter. Pacey slipped Joey
off of his back.
"You're turn to carry me!" He huffed as they ran
again.
They ran down the second street, screaming into the night.
Nikki Green
watched from her bedroom window as her father ran out onto the porch. At first
she had not recognized who it was that she had seen in the yard below. But then
she had caught sight of a very familiar stature in the street…
Dawson
Leery.
She heard them howling in amusement
as they disappeared down the street. Her eyes narrowed as she clenched her
teeth.
…END
OF CHAPTER ONE