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There were simple words that could change the direction of a person�s life. There were simple actions that could make or ruin a person. Something as simple as yelling �sell� on the stock market would make one individual a winner and another a loser. This was one of those times when something simple would mean so much. When Joey opened her mouth to answer she was acutely aware of how one simple word could change everything. The difference between a �no� and a �yes� was so potentially vast it was almost scary. It was almost enough to deter an individual from answering and yet this was one of those rare questions where there really were only two answers��yes� or �no�. There was no room for maybe here. A maybe would only postpone the inevitable until an answer was finally elicited. Of course Joey didn�t need any time to think. She already knew what her answer would. As she spoke Joey could almost feel the shift in direction her life was taking. Not once had she truly fathomed that she would be here but here she was. Her mouth was dry as she spoke. The single word coming out in the whisper of a breath, barely audible. There was strength in her voice, strength and conviction, although the word was soft in volume. Tears fell down Joey�s eyes. She had cried many tears today. Tears of joy, tears of sadness. She had cried tears of honesty and truth shaken by the purity of emotion. Joey Potter loved Pacey Witter but she now she was mourning the passing of a friendship.
When Pacey had asked Joey to marry him, he had realised that it would change everything. Whatever her answer would be nothing could ever quite be the same. And he didn�t know quite what to feel about the potential and probable change. Pacey J Witter who had thrived on uncertainty, adversity and evolution was now scared of change. Terrified. Petrified. So he knelt before Joey awaiting her answer with much anticipation and dread. When Joey finally spoke it was in a voice so soft he should not have heard. But moments of tension have funny ways of acting on one�s body. In the moment where Pacey awaited Joey�s answer, everything became hypersensitive. Pacey�s heart was beating wildly as blood pumped through his veins, adrenaline flowed and Pacey visual acuity improved tenfold, his hearing also now astounding. So he heard Joey�s answer and emotion overwhelmed him. He had no idea what to feel. He had no idea what the appropriate response should be. So Pacey wrapped his arms around Joey as they sobbed together. They cried for their loss, they cried because of the inevitable change and their tears mingled and fell to the floor. That night Pacey cradled Joey in his arms holding her so tight as if he would lose her. They slept not as lovers but as friends. It was a night reminiscent of their younger days where sharing a bed meant providing comfort and consoling the other. Tonight everything was as if Pacey and Joey were still two young, carefree high school kids. Tomorrow was a different day.
When Joey woke up the next morning she felt overwrought and emotional, even a little bit silly. She and Pacey would always be friends. It was just that their friendship had changed and evolved. In fact if she looked at it in a certain light Joey could say that she and Pacey had transcended their friendship. Still when she looked down at her hand part of her was saddened to see the loss of the claddaugh ring. She didn�t really need the ring anymore. �Are you okay?� Pacey asked concerned. �I�m good. I�m just feeling�I dunno�silly�crazy...sentimental. It�s not even logical.� �It�s okay, you know, to feel this way. Because I feel it too.� �But why Pacey? Why do we feel this way? Are we making a big mistake?� �Do you think we�re making a mistake?� �No. But I still want to know why Pace.� �I think Jo it�s natural. Our friendship was this incredible thing that we relied on so heavily throughout our lives. Which was why we were both so reluctant to become involved with one another, because neither of us was ready to lose or jeopardise that friendship. Not matter what happens Jo, we�re always going to be friends.� �I realise that. I know we�re always going to be friends. And part of me is thinking I�m acting crazy. Nothing�s really changed. Everything will be just as it has always been.� �And yet everything will have changed.� �I think I just need to get used to it all. You know I never took change very well, good or bad change.� �The Peter Pan syndrome.� �That�s the boy who never grew up, Pace. I think what I have is much more closer to the Dawson Leery syndrome, the boy who never wanted anything to change.� Pacey laughed a little. �He�s not like that anymore Jo.� �Neither am I. I think I�m over this little fit of melancholic, crazy angst.� �Are you sure Jo?� Pacey half teased, half serious. �Take all the time you need to absorb what�s happened.� �I think that might be forever Pace.� �I can wait forever.� �You do realise I�m never going to get used to this. I�m never going to quite get over this feeling.� �And what feeling might that be Potter?� �This feeling of the beginning of something new. This feeling that the rest of my life is just about to start.� �Clich� much?� �Well maybe sometimes things are clich�s because their true. I know it�s all been old and it�s all been said before but this is how I feel. I love you Pacey. And I might be feeling some pang of regret right now but that is all that it is�a pang. It�s just me being melancholic and hanging onto the past just a little bit longer and just a little tighter. But I�m ready to let go.� �I�ll be with you the whole way Jo.� �I know you will.� �And I�ll hold your hand tight and make sure you�ll never get lost.� �I�d like that.� Joey smiled looking down at the sparkling diamond ring on her left hand. �Let�s go home. I think there�s a few people we need to break the news to.� |
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