Part 10
Joey turned and curled into Pacey’s arms. Smiling, he stared down at her wondering how he could have gotten so lucky.
I like the way you wanted me
Every night for so long baby
I like the way you needed me
Every time things got rocky
He was also wondering how Bessie would feel if she found him naked in her little sister’s bed. Concluding that she wouldn’t be pleased, he kissed Joey on the forehead, and attempted to disentangle himself from her arms. Joey held on tighter, even in sleep, and Pacey realized he wouldn’t be able to leave quite so easily. He kissed her on the lips softly, hoping to wake her. Not a sign of stirring came from his slumbering girlfriend. “Jo, it’s morning,” Pacey whispered in her ear.
Joey’s eyes blinked under the brightness of day and she wrinkled her nose a little, whispering back, “So?” Then she kissed Pacey’s neck, trailing a few more kisses down his clavicle and snuggled back into his strong arms. She shut her eyes firmly.
“So?” Pacey repeated in a mocking falsetto. “I’m naked, Jo.”
Joey opened her eyes with exaggerated surprise. She pulled the covers up and peeked under them. “That you are, Pace.” She smiled sleepily at him and yawned.
“Uh huh. Funny, Josephine. I should probably get up and go, don’t you think?” Pacey hesitantly asked the last part, not really wanting to leave the warmth of her bed.
“You’re not going anywhere, Witter,” she mumbled into his chest.
I was believing in you
Was I mistaken
Do you say, do you say what you mean?
I want our love to last forever
“Kaylie? Are you awake, Honey?” Kaylie blinked as a shaft of light from the hallway brushed over her sleepy eyes. Her mother stood in the partially opened doorway, the light illuminating her blond locks like a halo. Kaylie smiled, remembering the first time she’d seen her like that. She’d always suspected her mother was an angel.
“I’m awake, Mom,” she whispered, clearing her throat with a shaky cough. It was always hard to speak first thing in the morning. It was a leap of faith. Kaylie always had the slight fear that she’d open her mouth one morning and nothing would come out. At least nothing worth hearing.
“Good....Kaylie, your dad needs to see you.” The worry in her tone was unmistakable. Before Kaylie could pose any questions, her mother had closed the door, plunging her bedroom into darkness again. Kaylie rolled onto her stomach and pushed off of the bed slowly. Getting up, she fumbled for the switch to her lamp. She trembled in the cold room and draped a blanket over her shoulders. Dressing quickly, she made her way out of the room and down the hall to her parents’ bedroom.
But I’d rather you be mean than love and lie
I’d rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I’d rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don’t you break my heart slow
“Jo,” Pacey protested, despite the steadily growing desire to do whatever Joey wanted him to do. Especially if that included her staying naked. “Your sister, Joey, your sister might come in and-”
“And what? She knows, Pace,” Joey returned, raising up on her elbows above him.
“She knows?” Pacey’s face took on a stunned expression. His complexion began to resemble a very ripe tomato. “You told her we....we were together?”
“I did,” Joey confirmed, kissing him on the chin. “Where do you think our very first condom came from?”
“I-I-I, I didn’t think....did you tell her everything about our first time? Everything, Jo?” Pacey still believed the first time didn’t speak very well of his sexual prowess.
“I didn’t tell her everything,” she responded, smiling shyly, “But I told her how wonderful you were, are, how much I love you. I’ve told her how good you are to me. I even told her about that thing you do with your tongue when we kiss. I think Bessie’s sick of hearing about Pacey J. Witter by now.”
I like the way you’d hold me
Every night for so long baby
Pacey broke into a smile and released a tiny sigh of relief. “Well, okay....you know Deputy Dougie might be a little sick of hearing about you too.” His eyes crinkled at the corners, alight with mischief.
Joey’s mouth opened into a wide “O” of surprise. “You told Doug about....me?” She swatted at Pacey’s chest lightly and bit her lip to hold back the giggle threatening to escape.
“Gotta have something to talk about while we decoupage, Jo,” Pacey replied seriously. He waggled his eyebrows at her and laughed. “Don’t worry, Sweetie, that birthmark on your....well it’s just between us.” He reached around her hip and brought her close to him, their bare skin brushing against each other. Joey laughed and curled back into the crook of his arm.
“Alright, Pace.” Her body relaxed in his arms and her breathing deepened, letting him know they would be sleeping in this Saturday. She whispered an “I love you” into his neck, and he fell back to sleep smiling.
And like the way you’d say my name
In the middle of the night
While you were sleeping
“Sam, I don’t see why she’s here.” Kaylie waited behind her parents’ door. It was slightly ajar, and although she felt a little guilty for eavesdropping, she remained silent and listened.
“She’s here to see Kaylen,” her father replied tiredly. “She’s here to, to-”
“To spy. She’s here to be around us and spy. To watch that boy.” The anger filled her mother’s voice with venom. Kaylie peeked through the crack in the door and watched her mother pace across the floor. Her father sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his hands back and forth across his knees. “I don’t want her here. Why don’t you tell her that?”
“She has a right to see Kaylen,” her father whispered. “And we can’t just wish that away.” He cast his eyes to the floor and let out a small sigh. Kaylie let out an identical sigh from her place in the hall. Her father looked up and Kaylie froze. “Kaylen, come in here now.”
Biting her lip, she debated turning on her heel and hiding in her room. “Coming, Daddy.”
I was believing in you
Was I mistaken
Do you mean, do you mean what you say?
When you say our love could last forever
Dawson woke with a jolt. The dreams he had lately....they were disturbing. Sometimes he dreamed about Joey. Those were the dreams he looked forward to. They were safe and comforting. Joey was always there for him. No matter what....at least in his dreams. Then he dreamed of Gretchen. She still refused to speak to him. She said he was marked with several signs she’d ignored too long. “Jailbait,” was one she’d mentioned. The others were variations on “Self-Centered Egotistical Pig.” Gretchen had quite the vocabulary. And then there were the dreams that haunted him. The ones about Kaylie and Steven. The ones where he found himself in Steven’s shoes.
He dressed and headed out the door quickly. He was late for work. It didn’t bother him too much though. It was his mom’s restaurant. Not like she’d fire him. Not like he was getting paid.
But I’d rather you be mean than love and lie
I’d rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I’d rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don’t you break my heart slow
She was drumming her long nails repeatedly against the glass table in front of her. Her hands were mapping out a system of clicks and pings, much like an old fashioned telegraph machine. She looked up from beneath her mascara-ed lashes at the thin young brunette approaching her cautiously. “Kaylen.”
Kaylie eyed the blonde woman appraisingly. She was in good shape. Thin and well put together for her age. She was nearing her forties now. Her makeup was a tad heavy and her blue eyes were wary. Possibly wary of the scrutiny she was now under, Kaylie thought with a smirk. Kaylie waited before speaking, treasuring the feeling of power over her guest. “Hello Tammie.”
The woman straightened and smiled brightly. “Give me a hug, Sweetie.” She stood and opened her arms to Kaylie. Kaylie stared back and wondered if she was kidding. Then she stepped forward and let the woman hold her stiffened body in an awkward embrace. “I missed you, Baby.” The woman nuzzled her nose into Kaylie’s shoulder.
Kaylie stepped away and turned to face the stairs. She considered running back up them. She heard her parents up there, and realized she’d just be forced back down again. “What can I do for you....I mean, how long are you staying?”
“No, I think you meant the first question.” The reply was icy. Her blue eyes froze and the anger flashed from within the frail woman. “You lied, Kaylen.”
Kaylen stared her down for a minute and then shifted her eyes to the floor, faltering under the intensity of the woman’s gaze. She had to do something to change the direction of this conversation and so she went with the only thing that came to her mind quickly. “Mom, why are you here?”
You would run around and lead me on forever
While I wait at home still thinking that we’re together
I wanted our love to last forever
I was believing in you
“Dawson, you’re late.” His mother greeted him at the door to the restaurant with her hands on her hips. She was tired and the morning had been busy with demanding tourists. She was understaffed enough without her son showing up whenever he pleased.
“Sorry, I overslept,” Dawson replied. He sighed patronizingly and headed to the kitchen with a frown. He was an indentured servant. What did she expect from him?
Gale followed her son into the kitchen as quickly as she could manage on her swelling feet. She was pregnant and receiving no help whatsoever. And she vaguely suspected her son of the condescending attitude he was indeed guilty of at the moment. “Don’t walk away from me. I’m your mother.”
“Okay Mom,” Dawson muttered in a tone of infinite patience.
I’d rather you be mean than love and lie
Kaylie ran from the house, her hair streaming behind her. She was out of breath by the time she fell to the ground. She should have known when the calls stopped abruptly that it wasn’t the end. She should have known her biological mom was driving around town waiting for the perfect time to bring her world crashing down around her. She laughed out loud at the idea. She should have known what? She sounded like someone straight out of a soap opera. She resolved not to think about her “mom” for the rest of the morning. The whole conversation wasn’t worth the effort. The slut wasn’t worth the effort.
She’d given her some stupid story about wanting to make a “connection” with her daughter. Needing to be near her. Which was bullshit. Kaylie knew why she was here, what she meant when she accusing Kaylie of lying. And Kaylie would continue to lie. Tamara Jacobs didn’t deserve better.
Kaylie strode quickly over to Leery’s Fresh Fish, her strength returning with every rage filled step. She was going to have breakfast and then she was going to find Pacey. She was going to find Pacey and confess. A lie of omission was still a lie. It was a big lie. A lie that might....she blinked a few tears away. She couldn’t lose Pacey....or Joey. They were her first genuine friends in years. And they would understand. Or not.
I’d rather hear the truth and have to say goodbye
I’d rather take a blow at least then I would know
But baby don’t you break my heart slow