The alarm of my clock went off at precisely 8am. But that wasn’t the thing that woke my up. The sun had risen at around 6.30 Sunday morning, and I had been sitting by my window watching it brighten the world to all its glory. My mug of tea in one hand had gone cold as I continued to watch the view of the creek; I heard the door creak open.
“Morning Jo!” I could hear her feet touch the carpet with every step she made towards me.
“Morning!” I replied. She placed a hand on my shoulder, and I kissed her hand.
“How are you handling things?” She asked as she moved to sit opposite me, she wrapped both hands round her mug.
“More or less like last time!” I replied, we would always have this talk after we moved each time.
“That’s good!” she took a sip and smiled at me, “What?”
“Aren’t you going to ask?” I took a sip of tea, and then placed the mug beside me. Her hair shone in the morning sun, my mother looked so beautiful and young at that moment.
“About what exactly, would that be?” She asked raising an eyebrow. I shrugged looking down at my mug and ran my finger round the rim a couple of times, “the fact that you came home late the other night, the fact that you sat talking to a guy for hours on our front porch or the fact you avoided him all yesterday, take your pick?!” her voice was mocking me. I shrugged again glancing up at her. “So you want to talk about it?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you, I just got caught up in having fun with my new friends!” I shrugged I knew she wasn’t cross at me, but I just needed to say it.
“I’m glad you have some new friends, but your old mum here still worries about you sometimes!” She held my hand in hers.
“I’ll call next time, I promise!” I told her. She nodded and took her hand back to take another sip of her drink.
“So who’s the guy?” she rose her eyebrows, now she was making fun of me.
“Mum,” I said hitting her leg playfully, “his name is Pacey!”
“And?”
“As far as I know we are just friends!” I said biting my lower lip, to keep myself from smiling.
“Ok!” She took another sip as we both sat in silence staring at each other drinking our drinks, “He called before!” My eyes widened in shock.
“What did he want?”
“He was wandering if you were up to spending the day with him!” her smile was sicking to watch, “What did he mean by that?”
“Nothing,” I paused and looked over at my mother, I knew she didn’t believe me, but I wasn’t going to give it to her, well not for now anyway, “So what did you say?”
“No,” my face fell, “but to come on over and help us unpack all your boxes!” She laughed as my jaw dropped open.
“Please tell me you didn’t,” she shrugged her smile growing into a grin, “You did didn’t you. I’m going to kill you.” I reached out and attempted to push her, but she caught my hands.
“Joey, calm down a minute. He sounded really nice on the phone and I thought it would be a good opportunity for me at least meet the guy that’s got your attention and get my approval before you start dating!”
“I don’t want to date him, I don’t even know him!” I defended sitting back down.
“Joey you forget that I know you better than you know yourself.” She got up, “I would go have a shower, if I were you!”
“Why?” I asked looking over at her at the door.
“When I told him to come on over, I don’t think he would of wasted anytime!” I could hear her laugh as the door closed behind her. Now what I am going to do, Pacey could be here any minute now. I really didn’t like this.
* * * * * *
There was a knock; I looked at my hands, my palms were sweating. I tried drying them on my jeans; it didn’t really work. I opened my bedroom door and Pacey stood there smiling at me. He seemed to forget about everything.
“Hey!” he stepped into the room.
“Hey!”
“Where do you want me?” he asked looking around the room. I could think of a few places, now I felt really dumb because I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Boxes were everywhere; I had been putting some of my clothes away; so my closet was open. I closed the bedroom door.
“Um, you could start with my desk if you want?” I suggested towards the desk that had at least 5 boxes on top of it.
“Ok!” I headed towards the closet again, “Which box goes where?” I looked over him as he picked up the first box. I laughed as he turned the box around to open it and found the label on the side, “Never mind; Potter is a neat freak!” the label read,
‘Joey’s room desk first draw’
He ripped the box open.
“Hey!” I said acting like it upset me, he looked over at me and he raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t tell me; your mother wrote that!” he laughed when I didn’t answer.
We continued in silence after that. We had done a lot when my mother called out for me. My desk, closet and side drawers were done which only left my bookshelf.
“I’ll be back in a second!” I told him, as I got up to leave.
“Take your time, I’m not going anywhere!” He told me as he stacked more books, with a smile.
I found my mother in the kitchen, “What?”
“The phones for you!” She pointed towards the phone lying on the counter. I picked up the phone and walked into the living room.
“Hello?”
“Joey hey it’s Dawson, I was wandering what you were doing tonight?” He asked as I paced biting my lip.
“Nothing, why?”
“Do you want to come over and watch movies tonight with everyone?” my face lit up at his question.
“I would love to, what time?” I sat down on the couch.
“Around 7!” He said I knew he was smiling too.
“Ok then I’ll see you then!” I said getting up again.
“Bye Joey!”
“Bye!” and I hung up and walked back into the kitchen, “That was Dawson, he invited me to go watch movies at his house tonight!” I placed the phone back on the counter.
“Oh,” Is all she said getting up and turned to wash her hands at the sink.
“So can I go?” I asked as she dried her hands and faced me.
“How many people will be there?”
“5 other people including Pacey, probably. It’s not like there will be drugs there, we are only going to watch movies, I promise!”
“Ok, but what time will you be home?” She asked rubbing her forehead.
“I will ring you!” I said smiling.
“No later than 1 ok!”
“Fine!” I said walking back to my room. I walked in and found Pacey leaning over the desk hooking up my computer and radio. I bit my lip and tried to rip my eyes away from his arse again. He stepped back to admire his work and noticed me, watching him.
“Hey, like what you see?” He chuckled looking down at himself and then at the desk. I rolled my eyes, “I think your rooms finished,” I nodded looking around, “What did your mother want?”
“Dawson was on the phone!” I said bending down to pick up some of the empty boxes.
“Let me guess, he invited you over for movie night tonight?” He asked as I stood and looked confused at him, “We watch movies every Sunday night, because there is nothing better to do!” he smirked picking up the rest of the boxes.
“Oh!” I said walking into the hallway; he just followed. We placed the folded boxes on the growing pile at the front door.
“You kids want something to eat?” I turned and saw my mothers head poke out of the kitchen.
“Yeah, I could go a sandwich or two!” Pacey said heading for the kitchen as I followed.
“Great!” she said and handed him a plate with a sandwich on it and another one to me.
“Thanks mum, we will eat outside!” I said looking at Pacey and heading for the door and opening it. Pacey closed it behind him as we sat on the porch steps.
“Wasn’t that a tad rude Joey?” Pacey asked taking a bite. I shrugged and took a bite as well.
“Is it such a crime, to want to spend time with you, without having my mother hovering over me?” I asked once I had sallowed.
“When you put it that way it doesn’t sound bad at all.” He smiled and ate in silence.
* * * * * *
We had finished the third movie when we had run through 3 bags of popcorn.
“I think it’s the guys turn to go get more!” Andie said clapping her hands together. She was right too; the girls had gone last time. The three guys groaned. Jack had been lying next to the bed with Jen lying at the foot with her head resting on his lower back. Andie and Dawson were on the bed, where as Pacey and I sat at the foot of the bed. I lifted my head off Pacey’s shoulder as he got up.
“I hate you!” Pacey mumbled glaring at Andie as they left the room. She poked her tongue out at him.
“So?” Jen sat up hugging her legs.
“What?” I asked looking at her; I was confused.
“Details Joey, we want details!” Andie asked from the bed, clapping her hands again.
“Details?” I asked looking from one girl to the other.
“Honey, get a clue, Pacey and you!” Jen said rolling her eyes and looking at Andie who was giggling now.
“There is nothing to tell!” I bit my lip, trying to stop my self from laughing. Jen raised an eyebrow at my childishness.
“Yeah and cows might fly!” Andie said, I laughed.
“Its pigs might fly, dear!” Jen said laughing too.
“That’s not the point!” Andie said chewing her thumbnail.
“Can you seriously say that you to don’t think Pacey is one fine specimen?” Jen asked looking at me, I raised and eyebrow at her suggestion.
“If you like him so much why don’t you date him?” I asked she just smiled.
“Oh have been there done that!” Andie proclaimed, “Twice!” I laughed and turned my attention back to Jen.
“It would never work, we know each other all to well!” Jen said, “Which leaves only you!” I shrugged.
“We are not having this conversation!” I said just as the guys decided to come in again.
“Well it’s not over!” Jen said as Jack passed out the drinks, Dawson handed one of the bowls he was holding to Jen as she got into position lying on Jack. Andie grabbed the other off Dawson as he lay down next to her. Pacey passed the third bowl to me as he went in search for the next movie.
“What were you girls talking about while we were gone!” Jack asked as he made himself comfortable, and grabbed some popcorn.
“Nothing!” We said all together.
“That sounds highly suspicious!” Dawson said as Pacey held up the two remaining movies, for us to see. ‘Never Been Kissed’ or ‘Jaws’.
“I second that!” Jack said as Jen hit his shoulder with her hand.
“Shut up!” Jen voiced.
“I vote ‘Never Been Kissed’!” Andie said taking a sip of her drink.
“You would! I vote ‘Jaws’!” Dawson said taking some popcorn and throwing it at Andie.
“You would!” Andie throw popcorn back.
“Sorry Dawson majority rules!” Pacey said popping in Never Been Kissed, flipped the lights and sat down next me. I laughed and placed my head back on his shoulder as Dawson groaned. I smiled, I liked this.
