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�The weather�s crazy!� Joey screamed as she and Pacey raced inside a motel situated somewhere on the road to Capeside. �Hopefully it will pass sometime tomorrow. I mean it�s only lightly snowing at the moment although it is raining pretty heavily.� Pacey said with little hope in his voice. �One bed.� Joey observed. �It�s all they had. It�s not going to be a problem is it?� �No don�t be ridiculous Pace. I mean we�ve been in this situation thousands of times. Why would it suddenly become a problem now??� Pacey shrugged lamely, �No reason. Just thought I�d ask.� �And what would have you done if I said it was a problem?? Sleep on the chair? The floor? Not very likely. Now do you want to get into the bathroom and change? You�re soaking wet and if we stand out here arguing about such ridiculous things you�re going to catch pneumonia.� �Yes mom.� Pacey teased as he moved into the bathroom passing Joey a towel so she could dry up a little herself although she really wasn�t that wet. Joey slipped out of the clothes she was wearing into something more comfortable and definitely drier. She could hear the tap turn as the shower came to life. The bathroom door was slightly ajar and light spilled through into the semi-darkened bedroom. A strong, muscular back could be seen in the reflection of the bathroom mirror leaving Joey breathless. Her heart rate increased as mesmerised she watched Pacey glide the soap over his body and the water fall down onto his tired body. She wasn�t meant to be having these thoughts. D/amn Jen. It was all Jen�s fault. If Jen hadn�t been continuously on Joey�s case about Pacey then none of this would have occurred. Such sexual thoughts about Pacey had long since been banished from Joey�s mind. Now was not the time for them to resurface. But resurface they did. Joey�s gaze stayed fixated as Pacey stepped out of the shower, oblivious to her observation, and began to towel dry himself. The way each muscle stretched and moved, the tousled look of wet hair�it was all getting to Joey. She closed her eyes but she still remained acutely aware of Pacey�s presence. The distinct scent of him that Joey had become accustomed to over the years. She always knew when Pacey had been in a room because the air lingered with an indescribable fragrance that always left Joey feeling warm and fuzzy and safe inside. Her eyes still closed she felt him leave the room walking closer and closer to her. The tiny hairs on her arm were not tingling with anticipation, her breathing had not gone ragged. Everything was normal. Normal. Normal. His lips carefully brushed her cheek and Joey was sure a sigh escaped her mouth. His hands gently ran down her hair smoothing the tangled strands. He lifted her up from the bed and with one hand carefully moved the covers aside before gently setting down again. Then the covers were pulled over her once more as Pacey carefully tucked the top of the quilt under her chin. He sank down on the bed beside her and quietly as possible without trying to make too much movement. As soon as Pacey entered the bed Joey instinctively rolled towards him, her body seeking refuge in his embrace. �I thought you were asleep?� Pacey whispered in surprise. �Not quite yet.� �Well get some sleep Jo. It�s been a long day.� His fingers were playing with a strand of her hair, tucking it in behind her ear. �You get some sleep too Pace. It�s been an equally long day for you too and the drive to Capeside is going to be heaps of fun in this weather.� �I will.� �Good.� Her hand moved to his head and touched the still semi-wet hair. Joey frowned. �You shouldn�t sleep with your hair wet. It�s bad for you. Here give me the towel and let me dry your hair for you.� Joey sat up as Pacey sat still letting Joey rub his hair dry. �You�ve got to take care of yourself Pace. You health is important. I don�t want you to get sick.� �Thanks Jo. I love you.� Pacey said with emotion in his voice. There was so much emotion in Pacey�s voice. The simple declaration of love had more than just the usual friendship undertones. Joey supposed it was Pacey�s inner child. The child who had been neglected and under loved. Pacey deserved all the love in the world and Joey had long since, willingly, accepted the role as the person to shower Pacey with love. Christmas always brought the inner child out of Pacey. Not just the humorous, silly kid but also the sentimental, vulnerable child. She hugged him tight and dropped a kiss on Pacey�s forehead. �Get some sleep Pace. I love you too.� They snuggled together, comfortable in the other�s embrace. Warm and loved. Exhausted from the hours of driving Pacey promptly fell asleep. I love you too. For some reason the words had never felt so true in Joey�s life and it had slipped out so easily, so effortlessly. She snuggled closer to Pacey and Jen�s words rang in Joey�s head. You�re just not willing to admit it to yourself. You and Pacey are perfect for each other. Were they really perfect for one another? There was a certain compatibility. Living together had proved that. And they had the sexual chemistry�at least if that one time on the road trip was anything to go by. Of course Joey was unsure if Pacey still felt the sexual tension between them. After all it wasn�t a day or so ago that Joey had been declaring the sexual spark between her and Pacey to be dead embers rather than a huge roaring flame. The theory of sex dissipating the sexual tension had worked, hadn�t it? But the thing that was really beginning to concern Joey was this overwhelming rush of emotion. Joey knew she loved Pacey Witter. She just never imagined that she might be in love with him as well. It was a crazy thought. Probably something to do with Christmas. Christmas and Jack�s and Jen�s interference. They were only crazy thoughts. Joey wasn�t really in love with Pacey�or was she? |
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