This Can't Be It
Chapter Two
Song lyrics from "How was I to know" by Reba McEntire. If you read the lyrics you'll be surprised how much they touch home.
"You shouldn't have hit him." Pacey just rolls his eyes.
"Prick deserved it, and you shouldn't be defending him." She sighs, and continues to gently press the frozen bag of peas on his bruising knuckles. Wincing, he turns his head away, facing the window where the darkening sky is present. Pacey looks back to her.
"Want me to drive you home?" Looking up to him sternly, she responds, trying to hide something.
"Once I'm finished up, sure." He can tell, it's upset her.
"Joey, look, I'm sorry, I sho-"
"Didn't you just tell me not to defend him?" Licking his lips, Pacey takes the package off and tosses onto Doug's couch. She opens her mouth to yell at him, but he cuts her off. And takes her hands and pulls her down onto his lap.
"I know I shouldn't have punched him, but, but," she closes her mouth before he can barate her, "I wasn't thinking clearly, I know he's your best friend and everything . . ." There's a minute long silence before she wraps her arms around his neck and lowers her head to his shoulder.
"Was . . . was my best friend."
Dawson Leery, Protector of the Kind. Well, that's what Pacey had called him once when they were seven.
"Now I'm protector of what I want, whats min-"
"She isn't yours." He spins towards the voice. Jen. Her hands are clasped behind her back. Her look is one of sympathy, and slight irriation.
"Excuse me?" Irriation grows at the anger in his voice, so she nears him. Her black boots making a clonking noise on the wooden dock.
"Joey isn't yours. Hasn't been for some time. I understand you have the right to be angry, but who are you really angry at?" He inhales, and freezes. Who am I really mad at? Dawson just doesn't know, but he does know something.
"Pacey." She shakes her head disgracefully.
"Pacey? You're best friend, okay male friend, of ten years, you . . . hate him, right now?" The last part she says slowly, trying to get him to open his stubborn-movie-producer-I've-got-a-stick-rammed-up-my-ass-eyes. Dawson sighs loudly, and faces the setting sun. After crossing his arms across his chest he takes a deep breath.
"I don't hate him per say, I want to, I really really want to, but I can't." The blonde smiles, mission accomplished. Walking over to him, she stands next to him, gazing at the same site.
"You can't do this to them."
"Do what?"
"Break them apart," Eyes close, "They've got to do this, and you cannot get in the way." Dawson doesn't respond.
"This has nothing to do with you, I hate to say it, but-"
"It has everything to do with me!" His scream echos on after she steps away from him, staring at his heaving chest and clenched fists.
"They, are ruining my life. It has everything to do with me. And I'm going to go fix it, right now." Jen's eyes get big and she moves to stop him.
"No Dawson you can't! You can't!"
"Shut up." She can do nothing but fight the tears as he runs off toward the Potter B&B.
My world revolved around you
Every word was a promise I was hangin' on
Swept up inside a whirlwind
I just couldn't see the end till you were gone
I thought I would fall apart
With shattered dreams and a broken heart
Scramblin' in the dark
"If you don't ice that again tomorrow morning, I will hunt you down, understand?" Pacey just smirks.
"And how will you know, exactly?" Ignoring his triumphet grin, she leans toward him, in the passenger seat.
"I have spies everywhere." This makes him chuckle and lean forward. Their lips meet for a brief second, before they pull apart.
"Come on, I'll walk you to your door, madam." Near the end, he had taken up a French accent. Smiling sofly, and shaking her head, she steps out of the truck and starts to follow him inside. Hands together, hearts together, about to reach the porch when they hear footsteps behind them. Pace turns around in time to find a fist flying towards his face. Joey screams as he hits the ground. She quickly kneels next to him, glaring up at Dawson with angry tears flooding her eyes.
"You bastard." She despertly tries to go after him, but her arm is grabbed by a groaning Pacey. Both stand and glare at the young man in front of them. The boy they grew up with and were friends with forever. Can this be it?
How was I to know
That I'd be O.K.
Thought I'd lose it all when you walked away
How was I to know
I would be this strong
I had what it takes all along
How was I to know
"I don't get it Joey, he punches me, its okay. I punch him, I'm the bad guy? Explain this to me please, because I'm having a hard time!" Her whole body is trembling with a mixure of emotions. Rage. Sadness. Love. A love that she hadn't realized until now. Composing herself, she stands taller, gripping Pacey's hand tighter.
"I, know this must be hard for you to cope with, Dawson. But you don't run my life, or own me. Believe it or not, but I do have a mind of my own." You can tell he's breaking; looking between the two of them. As well as catching the conscending tone she used while saying his name.
"And, I want you to get off my sister's property right now." He just stares at her in shock and takes a step toward her.
"You're not serious. Pacey is just messing with you, he can't possibly . . . he can't." Dawson can only watch in horror the love of his life slowly looks up to the tall boy standing next to her. The one she fell for. Blinking slowly she just stands still; the light breeze ruffling her hair.
What I was so afraid of
Turned out to be my freedom in disguise
Now I know what I'm made of
Guess it just took some time to realize
I was blind I couldn't tell
Put too much faith in someone else
Gave up on myself
Facing each other, oblivious now to Dawson, both swallow hard. Biting her lip she reaches up and wraps her arms around his neck, his around her back and waist.
"I love you." She whispers to him, inches from his face, emerald eyes glued to cobalt ones. Attempting to not cry, Pacey gulped.
"I love you too, and I've never been so sure of anything else in my whole life." Dawson watched as they kissed then embraced, never wanting to let go. Sighing with a sad look in his eyes, he turned around and left. Feet carrying him away from the life he thought he had known. The most familiar place except for his own home. Hands stuffed in pockets, his siloette disappears down the dirt road. Looking up to the sky, he smiles.
"I guess this is it."
How was I to know
That I'd be O.K.
Thought I'd lose it all when you walked away
How was I to know
I would be this strong
I had what it takes all along
How was I to know
How was I to know
That I'd be O.K.
Thought I'd lose it all when you walked away
How was I to know
I would be this strong
I had what it takes all along
How was I to know
How was I to know. . .
Was that okay? God I hope so, I think it sucks, but please give me your opinion. Meant to be short and sweet!