Falling in Love is Hard to Undo
Part 3
Changes
by: Shirley
E-mail: Msdaydream@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Dawson's Creek, but you already knew that, so don't sue! Author's Note: I hope you guys are enjoying this. And if you are, please drop me a note telling me that! I would really appreciate it. You writing to me is the only reward I get for writing this!
"I so kicked your ass tonight!" Joey exclaimed as she and Pacey made their way back from Capeside Bowlers.
"Oh please! I let you win," Pacey said, waving his hand in the air as if it was no big deal.
"Uh huh," Joey said unconvinced. "Then why was I winning from the beginning?"
"Because..." Pacey started, thinking of a good argument.
"Because..." Joey repeated, signaling Pacey to continue.
Pacey finally thought of an excuse. "Because I knew you were bad and wanted you to raise your self-esteem."
"But I wasn't losing," Joey pointed out.
"That was because I was letting you win," Pacey explained again, like that was the most simplest thing in the world for anyone to comprehend.
"But I got a spare on the first bowl," Joey argued.
There was a pause.
"Those burgers sure were good weren't they?" Pacey said changing the subject.
Joey let out a small laugh. She won the "battle". She looked at Pacey and found a disapproving frown on his face.
"What?" Joey asked.
"You're laughing at me," Pacey responded.
"No I'm not," Joey said trying to hide a smile.
"Than what is that on your face?" Pacey challenged.
"What? Can't a girl smile?" Joey asked innocently.
"Not if that smile's a laugh and directed at me," Pacey said reaching over at Joey, locking her head under his arms, and ruffling her hair around.
Joey tried push herself away from Pacey but was weakened by her laughter. She continued to weakly push Pacey away as she thought of a way to break loose. She caught sight of Pacey's foot and instantly stepped on it. Hard.
Pacey instantly loosened his grip and let out a loud scream. After catching his breath, he looked over at Joey. He tried to scowl at her, but instead, ended up laughing and pushed her in the direction of her house.
Joey let Pacey guide her towards her house. Back from another fun night with Pacey, she thought to herself. Two weeks ago, that phrase would be classified as fictional. It just didn't seem right. First there was the ‘night with Pacey' part which was weird just as it is. Then there was the ‘fun' part which almost made the phrase a joke. But once you and in the ‘another', you would be questioning the fact if you were still on Earth. But it wasn't two weeks ago and she found herself enjoying the time she spent with Pacey. But as friends of course. Of course, she thought to herself. Why would there be anything else?
Suddenly, she remembered the weird feeling that washed over her the night she and Pacey went star gazing. She shook her head and laughed. She couldn't believe that she had actually thought that she was jealous of Andie's time with Pacey. She figured it all out why she felt ‘jealous'. She wasn't jealous of Andie being with Pacey. No, of course not. She was just jealous of how happy those two were together and how she wished she was that happy with Dawson. It was as clear as day right now that that was exactly what happened. Probably being so exhausted that night really got to her head. Her being jealous of spending time with Pacey! Ha! That was funny!
"Ha!" she said out loud.
"What?" Pacey asked bewildered at her sudden out burst.
"Huh?" she said, snapping back into reality.
"Why were you laughing?" he asked.
"Was I?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"What were you laughing at?"
"Laughing? At what?"
"Never mind, Jo," Pacey said, a little frustrated with Joey's sudden odd behaviour. "Look we're at your house. I suggest you get some sleep."
"Right," Joey said, finally returning to her normal self.
"Well, night Jo," Pacey said as he turned around to leave.
"Night Pacey," Joey returned.
* * *
Rinnnnnnnng!
"Come on Pacey," Pacey said to himself. "Hurry up!"
Pacey fumbled with his key as he searched for the one that fit into the keyhole of his front door. He heard the phone ring inside and hurried up his pace. He finally heard the click in the knob and pushed the door open. He quickly slammed the door as he made his way to the kitchen phone.
"Witter's residence," he said into the phone, the way his father instructed him to.
"Pacey?" asked the voice on the other end.
He knew that voice too well to even question who it was.
"Andie, hi," he greeted. "Long time no speak."
"Yeah I know. Sorry about that. I've been really busy with my sessions and everything," she explained.
"I understand," he said, although he was a little hurt by the lack of calls he received from her.
"So, how are you?" she asked.
"Fine, and you?"
"Great. How's everyone back in Capeside?"
"The same. We're all hanging in there."
There was a pause.
"How are things going with you?" Pacey asked, breaking the silence.
"It's improving. I met some new people and they're really nice."
"That's great."
There was another pause.
"How about you and you're father? Are things getting better?" Andie asked.
"Things are improving, but slowly," Pacey answered.
"Well, give it time."
"Yeah."
The call fell silent again.
"Listen Pacey, it's been great talking to you again, but I've got to go," Andie told him.
"Oh yeah, sure," Pacey said.
"Well bye," Andie said.
"Bye." And with that, they both hung up. Pacey sighed. Things were not going well with him and Andie. He hate to say it, but it was true. As the number of calls decrease, so had the conversation length. At first their calls would last for hours, but now he was lucky if they would get past a minute. Things had changed so much in a month. Deep down he knew that things were going to, when she had first left. And now whether he wanted to believe it or not, his prediction was coming true.
* * *
"Um, chocolate. No wait! Chocolate chip! Wait, what about Cookies n' Cream?" Joey pondered as she looked at the wide variety of ice cream flavours staring at her from under the glass counter.
"Look kid," said the ice cream lady from behind the counter. "I don't have all day, and so don't the line of people behind you."
Pacey turned his head and saw that the ice cream lady was right. There were some very unhappy people behind them.
"Hurry up Jo," he rushed.
"Okay, okay," Joey said a little flustered. "I'll take......chocolate mint."
The crowd behind them cheered. Even the ice cream lady gave a little joyous yell. Joey blushed. She quickly paid the lady and grabbed Pacey's arm as they ran she ran out the store.
"Gosh Jo," Pacey said once they were outside. "I never knew that choosing an ice cream flavour was a life or death situation."
Joey stared daggers at him. "I just wanted to make my two bucks worth it."
"Whatever you say," Pacey said, licking his chocolate ice cream.
Joey stared at Pacey again. "So," she started, gritting her teeth, "where do I have the pleasure of being seen with you in public today?"
"At Old Timmy's Miniature Golf Couse," Pacey replied.
"Miniature golf?" Joey asked, a note of disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Pacey questioned.
"Well, it's just that I, uh, nevermind. Let's go," Joey announced.
"Alright, hop in," Pacey instructed as he opened the truck door.
* * *
"Let's get our clubs and get going," Pacey said after they'd payed for their admission.
"Where are they locate-" Joey began but was interrupted.
"Pacey! Joey!" they heard a voice behind them call. Pacey and Joey turned around and found them face to face with Cliff Elliot.
"Hey Cliff," Pacey and Joey greeted in unison.
"Hi. I just wanted to tell you guys about the birthday party I'm throwing," Cliff said. "You guys are on the guest list and I was wondering if you guys could make it."
"Sure," Pacey accepted. "We've got nothing else to do."
"Actually," Joey cut in. "It depends on what day it's on. I've got babysitting duties Mondays and Wednesdays.
"That won't be a problem," Cliff assured her. "It's going to be this Saturday, 7 p.m. sharp."
"We'll be there then," Pacey told him.
Suddenly, Cliff became a little nervous.
"Uh, do you guys know if Jen will be able to make it? Oh and Dawson too," he added quickly. "Sorry, they're both out of town," Joey replied.
"You're still not over her yet, are you?" Pacey asked Cliff with a smile.
"I...better get going now," Cliff said.
"Alright, Saturday then," Joey called out to him, after shooting Pacey a death stare for being so nosy.
"Right," Cliff said, making his way back to his friends. "Oh, and it's semi-formal, so dress up!" Cliff called out from a distance.
"Semi-formal?" Pacey and Joey whispered in shock.
* * *
"I still can't believe we accepted an invitation to a semi-formal party!" Joey exclaimed as she watched Pacey take his first shot.
"Afraid you won't have anything to wear?" Pacey asked as he took a swing.
"That's hardly my first or second concern. You know how much I hate dressing up," Joey reminded him.
"Calm down, Jo. If you're worried about not looking good, you don't have to worry. You look good in just about everything," he told her. Pacey stopped mid stroke as it dawned to him what he just said. That comment was innocent enough, but for some reason, it just wasn't appropriate, especially if that comment was directed to Joey from him. If he had said it in a joking kind of tone, it would of made things better, but it came out more serious than Pacey had intended it to. Pacey didn't have to look at Joey to know that she was feeling just as uncomfortable as he was. He quickly took his swing and turned to Joey.
"Uh, it's your turn," Pacey said.
"Um, thanks" Joey said and took the club. She awkwardly took her position and fidgeted with the club before she took a swing. At first Pacey thought it his comment that caused Joey to act so weird, but it wasn't until after her shot that he realized why she was so awkward at taking the shot.
"Ouch!" said a man walking by as Joey's golf ball hit him on his shin.
Pacey broke out laughing as Joey quickly apologized to the grumpy man, blushing furiously.
"Stop laughing!" she commanded, her face still red.
Pacey tried to stop, but that only made his laughing fit worst. After what seemed like hours to Joey, with people staring, Pacey finally gained control of himself.
"You...you... you've never played golf before have you?" he asked between deep breaths, as laughing had knocked the wind out of him.
"So? You don't have to be so mean about it," Joey said defensively.
Pacey looked at Joey and see that she was genuinely hurt and embarrassed.
"I'm sorry Jo," he said. "I guess everyone has to have something that they suck at."
Joey glared at him and began to stalk off.
"Wait!" Pacey said, grabbing her arm. "That didn't come out right. Look I'm sorry. I am, really."
Joey looked at him and decided that he looked sincere enough. "Okay, but I don't want to hear about his any more!"
"Deal. So... you want to leave or do you want me to teach, uh, I mean help you?" Pacey asked.
"Well, I guess I'll make the most of this night and stay," Joey finally said.
"Good," Pacey said picking up the club and handing it to Joey. "I'll guide you through it. Just relax your muscles."
"Okay, okay," Joey said.
Pacey stood behind Joey and placed his hands on top of hers. He was surprised to find himself almost pulling back from the surge of electricity that had run through him when he touched Joey's soft skin. Joey's scent had filled his head causing him a brief conscience lost. Her flowing hair tickled his neck as he bent down to see the ball. The soft touch of her skin, the tickle on his neck and her sweet scent had an unexpected affect on Pacey. He was aroused. It took all of his strength to control his hormonal body. Beneath him, he felt Joey stiffen. That small movement instantly brought Pacey back into reality.
He quickly searched his head for his knowledge on golf, which was kind of hard to do with Joey in his arms. Old feelings he had for Joey began to creep into his head, but he pushed it out before it completely filled his mind. He choked out some words.
"Uh, bend your knees like this," Pacey finally said, as he begun teaching Joey the correct position for golf. The rest of the night went by like a daze to Pacey. His mind was filled with questions and thoughts as he wondered what his changing feelings for Joey meant.
Please write to me and tell me what you think. Despite what you guys may think, I cannot read minds! *gasp!* I really want to know if there people out there are enjoying this story. So if you want to make this desperate girl happy write to me!
