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It had been over a week since Joey's revelation. A drunken revelation that had changed everything. At least for Pacey. It hadn't been easy to push aside his feeling for Joey but in the past he had somehow managed to do it. Things had been relatively plutonic between except for that one time during the roadtrip when...but Pacey didn't like to think about it. And now to have it all coming back because of Joey�s drunken statement� Not that Joey remembered anything she had that night in his bed and she certainly wasn't acting any different. He had searched for some sign that Joey might be in the least bit, remotely attracted to him. Pacey had been disappointed but unsurprised when he found no signs. And even if by some crazy chance Joey really had been speaking the drunken truth - well then it didn't matter. Because while Joey might feel some attraction to Pacey it was nothing more than that. Her words had made it very clear - they were best friends. Nothing more. She thought of them as a couple akin to Jack and Jen. Not a single chance of ever getting involved. And with the floodgates of emotions now open Pacey knew what he wanted from Joey, what he had been hiding and suppressing from both Joey and himself - he wanted her love, he wanted them to get married, he wanted them to have kids and to buy a house, he wanted forever with Josephine Potter. Instead he had to settle for best friends. Not that Pacey wasn't grateful to have the friendship of someone as wonderful and miraculous and amazing as Joey but when you were in love with someone, truly in love, sometimes friendship just wasn't enough. There had been many sleepless nights, agonising over how Joey so close and yet so far. He was avoiding contact with her because to have her curled up his arms, to have her head resting peacefully on his chest...it was sweet torture. A torture he had grown to love and become accustomed to only now Pacey couldn't take it anymore. Luckily Pacey and Joey had both been so equally consumed with work that he didn't really have to avoid her. Their lives were doing it for him. Of course it was a week before Christmas and it was time for their annual, customary shopping spree before they headed back to Capeside for the season's festivities. So Pacey and Joey were amongst the many crammed and frantic shoppers searching desperately for that perfect gift. "Christmas wrapping! Exactly what you need!" Joey exclaimed as she dragged Pacey towards the stall. "Exactly what I need? Why would I need someone to wrap my gifts?" "Because you always need someone to wrap your gifts Pace. It's the law of nature. You cannot wrap presents." "I realise that...but why do I need someone to wrap my Christmas presents when I have you??" Joey just gave him a look before she moved to the counter presenting several bags to be wrapped. "Hi. You do Christmas wrapping don't you?" The lady at the counter nodded and smiled. "Yes we do. Seems like you've got a whole lot of shopping there." "Enough to keep you busy I hope." Pacey joked. "Well it definitely looks like it." The lady commented surveying the numerous items that came out of the bags as Joey carefully pointed out what needed to be wrapped and with what ribbon and paper. "So have you finished your Christmas shopping then?" "Oh no!" Joey stated. "Glad to know someone's like me." The lady chuckled. "Actually that's kind of a lie. I've finished my shopping but this fellow over here..this is just the beginning of his." "Hey! I can't help it if I'm not little miss organised like some people." Pacey protested while throwing a flirtatious smile at the lady who was busy wrapping their presents. Joey's eyes saw some wigs at a nearby stand. "Oooh..." She grinned like a kid and quickly moved trying on the different wigs. "how do you like me as a blonde Pace? Or maybe blue? Pink maybe. Oh I know purple!" Joey twirled around the bright purple hair spinning around her face in a flash of colour as she showed off to Pacey. "Gorgeous Jo. Real gorgeous. Hey what do you think of this?" Pacey stood playing with a wire meshed fruit basked. "Who's it for?" Jo inquired. "I was thinking my parents. Maybe the straw one?" "Oooh the straw one looks good. But what type of kitchen do they have. I know you told me they refurbished. You can't just buy any sort of basket. It has to match." "It does?" Pacey asked incredulously. "Yes it does. Geez Pace you're so hopeless." "Well the wire one then. They have a lot of metallic stuff." "Okay. Why don't you go and pay for it while I check on the gift wrapping." Joey walked back to the lady who was busy wrapping one of the last items. "Now what ribbon did you say you wanted for the presents?" "I think the...." Joey began. "Do the blue one. Make it easier. Do all of them blue." Pacey interrupted. "Oh yes the blue ribbon is very nice isn't it. The blue with the silver looks delightful together." The lady agreed. "Oh and I have one more item for you to wrap." Pacey stated handing them the wire fruit basket. "Nice and difficult for you." "You're such the gentleman Pace." "Glad to see you noticed Jo." "Well..." The lady at the counter looked at the basket thoughtfully, "I'll just wrap it like this..and tie some ribbons round the neck. So you should be able to hold it easily around the neck. How does that sound?" "Lovely." Joey and Pacey stated together. "So how long have you been holding this one around the neck?" The lady joked to Joey. "Oh! We're not together. We're just friends. I'm just helping him with his shopping. He's so hopeless. He wouldn't get any of it done or at least not properly without me." Joey explained. "You know maybe you could use some of that tissue paper and stuff her mouth with it." "And tie a big fat red ribbon on me as well?" Joey asked sarcastically. "Tissue paper in a woman's mouth. That's the only type of woman you could stand." "You know Jo there's this nice big bag that I'm sure you could just step in and fit perfectly. How much does it cost to wrap her up??" "Because I'm such the perfect present." Joey added smarmily. "Whereas this guy here...well I wouldn't even give him to my worse enemy." The lady laughed before handing them their various items now all beautifully wrapped. "Have a Merry Christmas you two." "Merry Christmas!" Pacey and Joey chirped as they left. "So Potter what next?" "Well you're the one who needs to get his shopping done...you decide." "Actually I was thinking maybe we could split up and meet later?" "Fine with me Pace. But don't blame me if all your presents there after turn out to be disasters!" Joey said with a twinkle in her eye before she disappeared into the crowd. Pacey sighed knowing the task ahead of him was huge. He had one more person to buy for. The one, perfect gift that he would hours if not days to search for. He wanted it to be perfect. He wanted it to encapsulate everything that he felt. Pacey was now on the hunt for Joey's Christmas present. |
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