 |
Author: Cariann |
Joey stared forlornly out the window of the bus. She watched as the scenery flew by the window in a blur. She never imagined this was where she would be. She never expected to be taking a bus from Virginia back to Capeside. She couldn�t believe that she had only made it to Virginia before everything fell apart. As the Virginian landscape whizzed by, tears formed in Joey�s eyes as she realized what a mistake she had made.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time leaving with Pacey on his boat. She felt free, and in control for the first time in her life. Nothing was holding her back except herself, and she made the decision to not let her own fears, and insecurities keep her from what she wanted. And she wanted Pacey. She had wanted him from the moment he kissed her.
Until he kissed her that day on the side of the road, Joey hadn�t let her self see him as anything more than a friend. The thought of kissing Pacey Witter had never even entered her mind until he kissed her, and after that kissing him was all she could think about. Well that and the incredible complexity of the situation.
But that freezing cold morning, Pacey had opened a floodgate of feelings that Joey hadn�t known were there, but in retrospect they had been there all year. Ever since Pacey had shown her a side of him that she never thought she would get to see. She knew he could be sweet, a good friend, and that he could love, but he rarely showed that side to her before this past year. They were enemies only attached through their mutual friendship with Dawson Leary. They put up with each other, but never liked each other.
Of course there was that kiss sophomore year, but Joey hadn�t thought about that again until he kissed her that morning. At the time, she thought he was just horny, and she was there. But then she began to remember all the little things he did that year like taking her to see her dad, and bribing the guard. Pacey was this completely amazing person that had the ability to shock her every day. Unfortunately for them he could shock her in good ways, and bad ways.
After three weeks of complete blissful happiness aboard True Love, things began to unravel. Before then everything was perfect. They spent sun filled days on deck, or in whatever town they happened to be docked at. They spent the nights holding each other, kissing each other, and quite honestly groping each other like crazy. They talked about nothing, and everything, but she should have known the bottom would fall out because they never talked about Dawson.
Dawson, the inevitable black spot on an otherwise perfect relationship. Joey hated that her happiness was at his expense, and she knew that Pacey was equally upset that their relationship was built on the ruins of his, and Dawson�s friendship. But what could they do really? Joey knew Dawson was right. She had to explore these feelings with Pacey otherwise she would never be able to move on if she always wondered what if.
What if? At this point Joey wished she had just let the what ifs haunt her. She knew now where these feelings for Pacey led her. The led her straight back to Capeside on a dirty bus all alone. They led to heartache. They led to regrets.
Part 1
Pacey walked absently through the small Virginian town shivering as the night air washed over his bare chest. He didn�t know where he was going, or what he was doing. All he knew was that he had to get off the boat. He had to get away from her. He had to get away from what she had said.
Joey. His Joey. Dawson�s Joey. Joey Potter. She was the girl he had spent his whole life trying to annoy. She was the girl he was never supposed to have particularly liked. She was the girl that was his best friend�s ex. She was the girl that he gave up everything for. She was the girl he loved. She was the girl that would destroy him.
Pacey continued his destination less walk as he wondered how things could go from so right to so wrong in less than five minutes. The first three weeks of their trip had been nothing short of perfection. Pacey was happier than he had ever been, and he knew Joey was too. It was like nothing existed but them. There were no parents, no jobs, no responsibilities, no expectations, and no Dawson.
Pacey chuckled to himself as he remembered what he told Joey once. It�s a fairy tale�but reality always finds a way of creeping back in. The clock inevitably strikes midnight, and then it�s pumpkin city. The fantasy fades.
About an hour ago the clock struck midnight on their fairy tale.
It was like any other night. They ate dinner, and then started their after dinner marathon make out session. When they were alone together on the boat, which was most of the time, they couldn�t keep their hands off of each other. Even if it was just a light caress, or a playful punch, their bodies rarely ceased to have contact, and yet they still had not had sex.
This didn�t bother Pacey necessarily. He wanted to have sex with her. What red blooded heterosexual male wouldn�t, but he was just happy being able to touch her, hold her, kiss her, and just having her be there knowing she wanted to be there with him. Pacey wasn�t going to push her. He wanted her to know that sex wasn�t an issue unless she wanted it to be one, and Joey had believed him.
And then it happened.
She was lying underneath of him on the bed. Both their shirts had been removed long ago, and Pacey was working his mouth over her breast. Joey�s hand wound through his hair holding him there as he continued to suck on the soft flesh. Joey gasped as Pacey lightly ground his hips into her. She could feel just how much she turned him on, how much he wanted her, and it excited her. Joey�s legs instantly wrapped around his waist, and she pulled him tighter against her body. Pacey moaned in response to her action.
�Pacey,� Joey breathed.
Alarmed, Pacey looked up at her. Her eyes were wild with desire, and her lips were parted slightly as she took jagged breaths.
�Jo?� Pacey questioned scared he had gone too far.
Joey looked into his eyes, and saw the intense desire burning there that matched her own. �I�m ready,� she whispered.
Pacey inhaled sharply. He closed his eyes as his body trembled from her softly spoken words. He started counting in his head trying to focus as Joey continued to stare at him. Pacey knew it was too soon, but he wanted her so badly. He knew he couldn�t, at least not yet, but he wanted to.
One�I can�t
Two�this feels so good
Three�we�re not ready for this
Four�I want her so badly
Five�she wants me
Six�No, I don�t want to screw this up
Seven�I love her
Insecurity coursed through Joey, as Pacey didn�t move. This was not the reaction Joey had expected, and she started doubting herself, Pacey, and their relationship. Her body tensed, and she suddenly felt very naked, and exposed.
Eight�it�s wrong
Nine�it�s too soon
Ten�she�s so warm
Eleven�we should wait
Twelve�damn I�m horny
Thirteen�No, No, No, No
Fourteen�I love her
Finally, Pacey felt like he had his hormones under control, and he opened his eyes. Joey was biting her lip staring at the wall to her right. Pacey lifted his hand to gently caress her cheek. Joey looked at him, and he could see the slightest hint of tears behind her eyes.
Fifteen�she�s so beautiful
Sixteen�why is she crying?
Seventeen�I don�t want to hurt her.
Eighteen�I�d do anything to not hurt her.
Nineteen�I want our first time, her first time to be perfect, and right, not giving into teenage hormonal overload.
Twenty�I love her
�Jo.� Pacey briefly closed his eyes again before continuing. �I think we should wait.�
Joey�s heart stopped, and she struggled to not let her tears fall. Everything she ever doubted about herself, everything she ever doubted about Pacey, and everything she ever doubted about their relationship, came rushing to the surface from where they had been buried. Pacey, for the past three weeks had made her feel secure, invincible, beautiful, special, and most importantly loved, but now all those things that had been banished to the darkest recesses of her mind came back to torment her.
Joey suddenly felt unbeautiful, vulnerable, insecure, bitter, and unsure of her self. Joey reacted the only way those feelings had always made her react. Joey got defensive.
Joey angrily pushed Pacey away from her, and stood up. She grabbed the closest shirt, which just happened to be Pacey�s, and threw it on covering up her naked chest.
Pacey stood up as well. He could feel the anger radiating off of her, and this was not the reaction he had expected. He hadn�t expected her to get mad. He expected her to maybe appreciate his caution, or possibly get offended, or maybe try to seduce him anyway, but anger was not something Pacey thought would happen.
Pacey reached out, and placed his hand on her shoulder, but Joey jerked away from him, and Pacey flinched.
�Jo,� he began, but Joey cut him off.
�Forget it okay. You don�t want to have sex with me. I shouldn�t have even thought about it. It�s stupid.�
Joey looked away from Pacey, and wrapped her arms protectively around her body.
�Joey it�s not stupid, and I want to have sex with you.� Joey looked over her shoulder, and gave him a doubtful look. Pacey continued. �I do, more than anything, but I want it to be perfect, and right, and special.�
Joey�s heart swelled at his words, and a little smile formed on her lips. She thought that maybe she had overreacted.
�And I want to be positive that we�re ready for it. I don�t want us to make a mistake by rushing into sex too soon,� Pacey finished.
His last sentence was like a slap to the face. �A mistake? Sex with me would be a mistake?� Joey yelled.
Pacey sighed as her obvious overreaction, and misinterpretation began to annoy him. �No, that�s not what I said. You�re twisting my words.�
�What did you say then Pacey? Cause what I got from it was that having sex with me would be a mistake. Am I wrong?� Joey shouted her voice rising, as her anger built up.
�Yes you�re wrong. I said rushing into sex *might* be a mistake,� Pacey shouted back
�Might? Well, right now I�m pretty damn positive it would be,� Joey declared.
Pacey physically reeled from her words as they felt like a punch to the stomach. Joey stood across from him with her arms crossed defensively over her chest. She glared at Pacey daring him to disagree. She wasn�t even thinking clearly. She was too wrapped up in her own anger, and fear. If she thought about it, she knew she would know she was overreacting, but it was easier to lash out at Pacey. It was easier to hurt him like he had hurt her no matter how irrational it was.
�Is that how you really feel?� Pacey asked quietly.
Joey stood there silently. She could see the pain on Pacey�s face, and she felt guilty. But her defenses were completely up by this point, and she couldn�t turn back now. She was scared. �Yeah,� she answered with a nod.
Pacey let out a little laugh, and smiled. �Okay. Joey Potter having sex with Pacey Witter would be a mistake. Can I ask why?�
Joey didn�t answer him. She didn�t know what to say. She knew Pacey was right, and it was too soon, but the hurt of his rejection still stung. She was being unreasonable, but the issues she has always had regarding sex, and herself were blinding her rational. She had relied on Pacey to make everything okay for the past three weeks, and now things weren�t okay. All her confidence was crumbling, and she was grasping onto anything not to sink.
A part of her wanted Pacey to make love to her, so she would feel desired, and loved. The other part of her wanted to just evaporate, and leave this conversation, because it was bringing forth everything wrong in their relationship. They both needed the other to make them believe in themselves. They both suffered from self-doubt, and low self esteem. The constant fears that they weren�t good enough haunted them. They both feared they didn�t deserve this much happiness, and until now they had been able to put those fears to rest, but now those fears were all they could think about.
Pacey watched Joey as she stood there not answering his question. Self-loathing, and doubt raced through him. Sex always ruined everything in his life. Whether it was actual sex, or the perception people had of him as a sex crazed loser. Why would Joey want to have sex with him? She probably thought she had to, or he wouldn�t want to be with her. Who he is was ruining this beautiful thing he had with Joey, and he hated himself for it.
Pacey searched for something to say, as they stood there with this tension filled silence hanging over them. Finally, Joey broke the silence, �Pacey.�
His name hung in the air, and he looked into her eyes. He could see the pain, sadness, fear, and insecurity in them. He hated himself even more as he looked at her. He felt the tears build up behind his eyes, and he fought to keep them from falling.
�Jo, I�m so sorry.�
�What�s wrong here Pacey?� she asked lowering her eyes from his penetrating gaze.
�I don�t know,� Pacey answered with a shake of his head.
Pacey inched closer to her. He slowly pulled her into his arms, and held her. She rested her head on his bare chest, and wrapped her arms around his waist. He smoothed her hair, and he gently rocked her in his arms. If only things could stay this simple. If only they didn�t have to talk about it.
Joey buried her head into his chest, and whispered, �Was this a mistake?�
Pacey froze. As much as he doubted himself, he never doubted them. Hearing those words changed everything. Pacey stepped away from her, and let his arms fall to his sides.
�You�re using that word a lot tonight,� he said bitterly.
�Pacey, I didn�t mean,� Joey stopped, before continuing with a different thought. �I didn�t mean we were a mistake. I mean was it a mistake to leave. We�re here all alone, detached from the real world like nothing else matters.�
�Does anything else matter?� Pacey questioned.
�Yes. I mean it�s nice to think it doesn�t, but back home we have families, and friends.�
Pacey cut her off. �What do they have to do with us?�
�Pacey, they have everything to do with us. Our lives are intertwined with others. We can�t just pretend they�re not.�
�You mean you�re life is inexplicitly intertwined to others.�
Joey�s eyes widened, as she understood exactly what Pacey was implying. �Pacey, it�s not about him.�
�It�s not?� Pacey asked.
�No it�s not.�
�Well it�s sure not about us, since we don�t exist outside of everyone else�s opinion right, and to be quite blunt who�s opinion are we really talking about here? Jen? Andie? Jack? Bessie? They�re all on the sidelines. There�s only one other player in our little game, Jo.�
�This has nothing to do with him,� she said angrily.
�It�s always about him, isn�t it? I mean you wouldn�t even be here if he hadn�t given you his blessing.�
�That�s not fair,� Joey shouted.
�Not fair? Who�s not being fair, Jo? Do you know how it makes me feel to know that the only reason you�re with me is because he said it was okay? To know that you didn�t love me enough to come on your own.�
�That�s not how it was, Pacey.�
�Then how was it Jo? I�d really like to know.�
�He�s my best friend. I couldn�t lose that. Pacey you have to understand that.�
�He was my best friend too Jo, and now he�s not. And do you know why he�s not, because I love you. Dammit Potter, I love you, why isn�t that enough.�
�Pace,� Joey began, but Pacey had lost it.
His feelings of inadequacy in light of Dawson Leery raged inside of him. The tears he had tried to control came pouring out. �Is that it Jo? Is that why sex with me would be a mistake, because of him?�
�No,� Joey shouted.
But Pacey was on a roll now, and couldn�t stop his anger, or his tears, or the pain that was now consuming him. �Sleeping with me would forever change his opinion of you wouldn�t it? And you couldn�t live with that.�
�Pacey stop,� Joey shouted tears streaking down her face.
�Or is it because you�re saving yourself,� Pacey paused before he finished the sentence. �For Dawson.�
The second the words left his mouth, Pacey regretted them. He wished he could swallow them back up, but instead they hung in the air. Any anger he felt towards Joey quickly dissipated as fear overcame him. He knew he had gone too far, and he was just waiting for Joey�s explosion, and everything to fall apart.
Joey stood there in shock as Pacey�s words hung in the air. She was so in shock she wasn�t even able to be angry. Her tears stopped as her whole body ceased to function. She stood there her mouth hanging slightly open staring at Pacey, but not really seeing him.
When Joey didn�t say anything, and just stood there staring, Pacey got even more scared. He was expecting a loud, angry tirade with some hitting, kicking, shoving, and possible bloodshed, but this was even more terrifying. He knew what he said was mean, and even that it wasn�t true, but he just couldn�t stop himself.
�Jo, I didn�t mean it. I�m sorry.�
Red flashed across Joey�s eyes, and Pacey saw her tense up, and he knew it was coming. He braced himself as she exploded.
�HOW DARE YOU,� she shouted as her fist hit his chest. �HOW DARE YOU USE DAWSON AGAINST ME LIKE THAT.� Her fist hit his chest again.
�Jo, I�m sorry,� Pacey pleaded as her fist hit his chest again.
�SORRY. YOU�RE SORRY.� Another fist hits his chest. �SORRY FOR WHAT PACEY? SORRY FOR USING DAWSON TO MASK YOUR OWN FAILINGS AS A HUMAN BEING? SORRY FOR BEING AN ASSHOLE? SORRY FOR NOT HAVING SEX WITH ME? SORRY FOR LOVING DAWSON�S JOEY? WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU SORRY FOR PACEY? EVERYTHING? NOTHING?�
Joey had hit him at every angry question, and finished her rant off with a shove that sent Pacey flying backwards, and onto the bed.
Pacey didn�t know what to say. He was sorry for all those things, but saying that wasn�t going to help. At a loss for words, Pacey just stared up at Joey as she stood over him, her hands clenched in tight fists, and her eyes flashing with anger.
�ANSWER ME PACEY. WHAT ARE YOU SORRY FOR?�
�I�m sorry Jo, for being a jerk, and bringing up Dawson. It was wrong, and it was a low blow.�
�Want to know what I�m sorry for?� Joey asked her voice lowering to a normal level.
Pacey sighed with relief, as Joey seemed to have calmed down. �You have nothing to be sorry for.�
�Yes I do,� Joey answered. �I�m sorry I thought I loved you. That was the mistake.�
Joey�s words cut Pacey to the bone. He didn�t think he�d ever felt such pain as the daggers that stabbed at his heart from her words.
Joey flinched slightly as she watched Pacey�s reactions to her words. She instantly regretted them. She didn�t mean it, she was just so mad at him. Joey reached out to Pacey with an apology on the tip of her tongue, but Pacey jumped off the bed away from her. He pushed past Joey, and ran up to the deck of the boat.
�Pacey,� Joey called after him.
Pacey jumped off his boat, and turned to look at Joey watching him. �If I was such a mistake, go home Potter. Buses leave by the hour.�
And with those words Pacey ran as fast as he could from his boat True Love, and from her. Pacey laughed bitterly at the irony of it.
Part 2
Joey leaned her head against the dirty window of the bus. She tugged absently at the hem of her shirt, Pacey�s shirt. She had left in such a hurry she had forgotten to change. She hadn�t even packed what few things she had managed to buy along the way. She had just shoved on her shoes, and grabbed her wallet. She hadn�t even left a note.
The bus slowly pulled into the terminal. Joey lifted her head, and she stared out the window not knowing where she was, or even caring. She was going home, and that was the last place she really wanted to be. Well the second to the last place, the first being on True Love. Joey didn�t want to have to face everyone with their questions, and their �I told you so�s,� but even more than that she didn�t want to face Pacey.
Joey still didn�t quite understand how it all happened, but the hurtful words they had said to each other could never be taken back. Joey wasn�t even sure if the wounds they had opened could ever be healed, and now she would never know, because she was going home without Pacey.
Joey stood up to stretch her legs. She looked around the practically empty bus trying to figure out where she was. An older man was sitting at the seat across the aisle.
�Excuse me,� Joey said.
The man looked up from his book, and peered at Joey with concern. �Yes miss.�
Joey realized she must look like hell. She self-consciously ran her fingers through her hair. �Where are we?� Joey asked.
�Maryland, is this your stop?� the man asked.
�No,� Joey replied with a shake of her head.
�We�ll be here for about another twenty minutes, so if you�d like to get something to eat you should go now,� the man informed her.
�Thanks,� Joey replied with a smile.
Joey reached into her pocket, and pulled out what little money she had left. Joey silently counted it. She had three dollars and forty-three cents. The man watched her as she counted the money.
�Are you okay, miss?� he asked.
�I�m fine, thanks,� Joey answered.
�Do you need some money to get food?� the man asked reaching into his pocket for his wallet.
�No, I�ll be home soon, but thank you.�
�It�s okay. I could give you a few dollars,� the man insisted.
�No really I�m fine. I just need something to drink,� Joey answered.
�Okay.�
Joey gave him a little smile before walking down the aisle, and off the bus. She made her way through the bus terminal looking for somewhere to buy a snack. She passed a gift store, and ducked inside. She walked down the aisles looking for a bag of chips, or a candy bar, or anything to tide her over until she reached Capeside.
Joey passed the postcard rack, and she stopped. She picked up a postcard, and sadness washed over her. Tears started to well in her eyes as she stared at the postcard depicting a picturesque view of the Florida Keys.
Joey couldn�t help but think that was where she, and Pacey were supposed to be going, but now she was going back to Capeside, and Pacey, he was going there alone. Joey moved to put the post card back, but stopped. She held the postcard in her hand as she quickly made her way to the candy section and grabbed a Snickers bar. She headed to the register stopping briefly to grab a diet coke. She set her items on the counter, and dug out what little money she had while the cashier rang it up.
�Two dollars, and twelve cents,� the cashier replied.
Joey counted out the money and handed it to the cashier. She grabbed her stuff, and started walking back to the bus. She passed another bus that�s marquee read Richmond Virginia. Joey hesitated. She wondered if Pacey was waiting for her to come back. She wondered what Pacey would do when he found her gone. Would he stay in Virginia until she came back, or would he just go on his way down to the Keys?
Joey lowered her head, and continued the walk to her bus, the bus that was going to Capeside. For a brief second she had wished she were on the bus to Virginia, because it was going to Pacey, but what would Joey say to him? How many times can a person say I�m sorry? How many times can you hurt a person before the damage is too great to repair? And how could she forgive him for what he said?
Joey slowly climbed back onto her bus. She made her way down the aisle and sank back into her seat. The older man looked over at her.
�Where�s home?�
Joey thought about his question. If it was true and home was where your heart was well then Joey left her heart in Virginia. She left it broken, shattered, and ripped to shreds. Now she just felt empty, and tired. Very tired.
�Capeside, Massachusetts.�
�Beautiful place,� the man answered.
�You�ve been?�
�Once years ago,� was his answer.
Joey smiled, and the man watched her closely. Joey turned away, and pulled her arms tightly around her body. She was getting cold, and Pacey�s t-shirt didn�t provide much warmth. It only provided memories that left her colder than she already was. Joey pulled her knees up to her chest, and laid her head back against the window. She thought that maybe if she fell asleep this would all be over soon, and she could forget it all happened. Not likely, but at least it wouldn�t hurt so much if she wasn�t awake.
~~~
Pacey approached True Love slowly. He had been gone for a couple of hours, but now he was ready to grovel for Joey�s forgiveness. He had said things he shouldn�t have said, and so had she, but Pacey knew she was just scared, and insecure. He was too, but he just couldn�t stay mad at her for long. Pacey climbed aboard True Love and headed down below. He was greeted with silent darkness.
�Jo,� he called out.
Pacey fumbled around in the dark. He finally found the lantern on the table, and turned it on. The room slowly lit up, and Pacey�s face fell when he realized Joey was gone. Dread filled Pacey as he looked around the room trying to sooth his fears that she had done exactly what he told her to do, and left.
Pacey saw her shirt on the floor, and her other clothes stacked on the floor. He sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed. He figured she had needed to get away and think just like he had. She should be back any minute now he thought.
Pacey waited, and as the night dragged on he became more and more scared. He couldn�t help the fear that was constantly nagging him that she had just left without even a note, but he forced himself to remain hopeful that she would return.
As the sun began to rise, Pacey made his way above deck to wait for her. He sat on the deck of True Love and watched the sun rise. He thought back to their first night aboard True Love when he had done exactly that with Joey in his arms. They had sat in silence as the sun slowly banished the darkness of the night away. When the sun had finally risen completely, Pacey had turned to Joey and told her he loved her for the first time. Everything was so perfect, so magical then.
When there was no more night left in the sky Pacey whispered, �I love you Potter.�
Silent tears slid down Pacey�s face as he finally admitted to himself that Joey had left. Joey had left him.
~~~
When Joey woke up hours later it was daylight outside. She tried to stretch her legs out in the cramped seat. Her whole body ached. She wasn�t sure if it was from riding on the bus for the past twelve or so hours, or because the past 24 hours had been one of the worst of her life.
Joey looked across the aisle and was surprised to find the older man gone. In his place were a little boy and his mother. As Joey turned to look out the window something caught her eye. On the seat next to her was a folded piece of paper. Joey picked it up, and opened it. A five dollar bill fell out, and Joey picked it up. She read the note to herself.
�It�s still quite a ways to Massachusetts. Take care.�
Joey smiled to her self. She refolded the note, and stuffed it in her pocket. She gazed out the window, and was surprised to find herself in a city. She searched the buildings, and signs for any clue as to where she was. It finally dawned on Joey that she was in Philadelphia.
Halfway home Joey thought to her self. She pulled the Snickers bar out of her pocket, and unwrapped it. Joey hated to admit it but she was starving, and extremely grateful that she now had about seven dollars. At least she could eat when they stopped.
The bus pulled up into the Philadelphia terminal, and Joey stood up. She had a few things she had to do before the bus left again. Joey made her way to the front of the bus.
�How long are we staying here?� Joey asked the bus driver when she reached the front of the bus.
�Half an hour,� was his answer.
Joey nodded and climbed off the bus. Joey looked around nervously at the crowded, and noisy bus terminal. She forged her way past all the crowds scanning the terminal for what she was looking for. Finally, she saw the row of pay phones. Joey made her way over to them, and pulled out her calling card.
Joey didn�t want to call Bessie. She didn�t want to have to explain why she wasn�t with Pacey, and why she was coming home, and Joey knew Bessie would ask about a zillion questions. Joey also knew that it was possible that Pacey had called Bessie when she hadn�t returned last night, and Joey didn�t want Bessie to worry about her.
Joey picked up the phone, and dialed the number. Bessie answered the phone on the third ring.
�Good Afternoon, Potter B&B.�
�Bessie, it�s Jo,� Joey answered.
�Hey Joey,� Bessie answered happily on the other end. �How�s your trip? How�s Pacey?�
�Great,� Joey stammered.
Joey didn�t know what to say now. It was obvious Pacey hadn�t called Bessie, and Joey didn�t want to tell Bessie how the trip was really going, and where she was.
�Well I hope you are having fun, because we�re swamped here,� Bessie answered.
�I�m sorry, Bessie,� Joey whispered.
�I can�t hear you Jo. The noise in the background is drowning you out. Where are you?�
�I�m on a busy street sorry. I have to get going. I�ll talk to you soon,� Joey answered much louder.
�Okay Jo, have fun.�
Joey hung up the phone and her face fell. Have fun yeah right she thought. Joey looked at her watch, and quickly started walking again. She had to get some food before her bus left.
~~~
Pacey sat on the deck of True Love as it sailed through the water. The sun was setting, and Pacey wasn�t sure what he was going to do now. When it became obvious that Joey had left, Pacey had set sail again. Instead of heading south, Pacey had set sail going north, going home. There was no point in going to Florida now without her.
Pacey knew he wouldn�t be able to beat her home, but he was determined to get there as quickly as he could. He glanced at the sky again. He knew it wasn�t safe to sail at night, but if he stopped every night it would take at least two weeks to get home if not more. Pacey made the decision to keep going. He prayed that the wind would be on his side for the next few weeks, so he could get home and make things right.