Stumbling
Chapter 3Jen was at the radio station, giving advice, when she spotted Audrey on the other side of the glass window. She motioned her to sit down.
"It's time for a commercial break. When we return, more of 'Cheating Dogs and the Women Who Keep Falling For Them'." Jen dropped down her headphones and exited the booth. "You've got five minutes."
"I had this idea to try another dinner party. If you're against it..."
"In theory, it sounds good. I hardly ever see you or Joey anymore. Grams will be out of town for a retreat. The only problem is we had the advantage of Pacey cooking the meal that time. It just doesn't have the same impact without him there."
Audrey pointed out, "Pacey already knows. I wouldn't have done it if he couldn't show."
"I'm confused. Why would he willingly be in the same room with you after everything? Why would he agree to this awkward situation?"
Audrey considered that for a moment. “I’m not sure. I had Joey ask him and he sounded enthusiastic. Then again, it could be Joey spin-doctoring that conversation.”
Jen was puzzled by Audrey’s tone. “Why would she do that?”
Audrey sighed, “You don’t want to know.” In a more cheerful tone, she asked, “So it can it be done at Grams?”
“Yeah. I don’t see Dawson or Jack having busy social calendars so I’m sure I can get them there.” Jen tapped her foot on the floor, thinking. “I think I can convince Jack. I haven’t really seen him around lately. I get this feeling that Pacey said something rather cruel to him that night because he’s been really quiet.”
“I wouldn’t concern yourself with it. I’m sure it was just Pacey mouthing off about me. Unless…” Jen widened her eyes, wondering what Audrey knew. Audrey withdrew the comment, “Yeah, just him being a dick.”
* * * * *
Dawson and Jen were in the kitchen chopping vegetables when Joey and Audrey walked into the room. Audrey was carrying a loaf of bread and a bottle of Coke. They glanced up expectantly then resumed their work.
"Nice to see you too," Audrey said sarcastically.
"It's not that," Jen replied apologetically. "Pacey was supposed to only take a few minutes. He said that he had to pick up a few extra things at the restaurant."
Audrey nodded. "Is Jack around?"
Jen pointed upstairs. "He's trying to catch up on his studies so I've been told to leave him alone."
"Can I help you guys?" Joey asked eagerly.
Dawson passed a couple of stalks of celery to her. "Whenever you're ready."
Audrey smirked, "Much as I'd love to assist, I'm bugging my favorite bar patron." Nobody argued with her as she headed upstairs.
"I'm still confused," Dawson said as he uncovered a pot on the stove and stirred the contents. "Why would Pacey and Audrey agree on a dinner party if they had this supposedly brutal breakup?"
"It's not that bad," Joey insisted. "After all, isn't this supposed to be more awkward? You’re here with your ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend. Besides, I get the feeling that Pacey wants to reunite with his ex-girlfriend."
That stopped all activity in the room. Jen’s mouth dropped as Dawson questioned, "He and Audrey? So soon?"
Joey shrieked, "No, you blind fool, me."
Dawson shook his head as he continued chopping. "If you say so. I just don't see it."
Jen patted him on the shoulder. “Thank you. I thought I was alone. I thought you meant him with Audrey as well.”
“Audrey told me that he’s attracted to someone else and doesn’t want to admit anything. Helloo? That’s me. Who else is there?” Joey glanced at Dawson and Jen, waiting for an explanation.
After what seemed like minutes of silence, Jen mumbled, “Considering the history of our little group, do you really want an answer to that?”
Joey sat down on a chair as she mulled this possibility. “There’s truth to that.” Then, just as suddenly, she stood up. “Wait, no, there isn’t. That’s silly. It’s not you – we’ve already established that you and him have no sexual chemistry whatsoever…”
Dawson muttered, “Not that there’s any need to hide what you’re talking about with the current boyfriend right here. Not that there’s any history of Pacey being attracted to ladies I’ve dated or anything…”
Jen cut him off before he could offend her. “Jo, I really don’t want to go through this with you right now. Isn’t it bad enough we have one common boyfriend? My point is that you shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
* * * * *
Jack was sitting on his bed, surrounded by books, when there was a tap at the door.
"Jen, I don't care if you and Dawson have burned Grams’ favorite pot, I'm not..."
Audrey let herself in. "Ye of such little faith."
"I get it. They were trying to be sexual with food again. I don't blame you for leaving. I think that was my original reason for jumping into schoolwork today." He resumed writing down a problem from the Calculus textbook.
"If that's the case, I feel sorry for Joey because I left her with them. Also, I hate you for leaving me with this picture of them with celery. Ewww." She cleared a spot on his bed and sat down.
"It would be useless to tell you to leave me alone."
Audrey smiled. "You'd be correct. There's something I really need to talk to you about."
Jack looked up to see she was serious. He dropped the pen in the textbook and closed it, focusing on Audrey. "So, what's going on?"
"I don't know how to tell Joey that Pacey's over her."
"I thought you said..."
"No." She affirmed. "I didn't. She just assumed I was talking about that."
“Oh." Jack had no idea what else to say to that information. After all, Joey wasn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.
"Did Pacey say anything to you the night he came over?"
"He said he was shocked by your behavior..."
"Not about me. Does everything have to be about me in this situation?" She tapped on the bed, trying to think of what to say next. "Okay, I haven't said this to anyone yet. I know that Pacey wants to convey this ideal that he's the self-assured, confident individual. The truth is probably that’s completely untrue. That everything you’ve pictured is probably wrong. First thing, I’m absolutely, one-hundred-and-fifty percent certain that he doesn’t want to get back together with Joey.”
“Why haven’t you told her that?”
“Because I don’t have the faintest clue how to tell her the truth without betraying Pacey.”
Jack scoffed, “It’ll be hard enough to tell her that part. How much worse could it be?”
Audrey considered that for a minute, then answered, “Okay, you know how Pacey thought he’d turned me on to women?” Jack nodded, waiting for her to get to the point. “I don’t think I’m the only one with that experimenting mentality, if you get my meaning.”
“Well, I know that. He’s the one suggesting threesomes. Obviously, he’s seeking a bit of adventure…”
“Jack, are you deliberately missing my point?” She hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. “It wasn’t two girls he wanted. It was one guy!”
The news hit Jack with a jolt. The night Pacey was over, he could claim it was just a mistake. But what if what Audrey said was true? “This isn’t something he said to you.” He was surprised at how calm he sounded. It was bad enough that he’d been trying to block out Pacey’s words and actions for the past week. Just when there was some semblance of getting back to normal, Audrey had to say something like that to stir everything up again.
“Of course not. It’s just that given everything that’s happened…”
“He didn’t say it to you so I suggest you stop telling that story until you get some facts.” He replied sharply. “What makes you so certain anyway?”
Before she could reply, they were interrupted by a yelp, then a crash. Audrey and Jack jumped off the bed, ignoring the books spilling in several directions, as they raced downstairs to see the problem.
They saw Jen pull a pissed-off Joey into the dining room while Dawson took bags from Pacey. When Pacey went outside, Dawson turned around to see Audrey’s confused expression. He dropped the food and shoved Audrey back upstairs before she could see anything more.
Jack walked to the front door to see Pacey stride back to an older brunette leaning against his Mustang. He took the last shopping bag and wrapped the other arm around her waist as he led her into the house.
“Lovely evening for a dinner, isn’t it McPhee?” Pacey exaggerated a smile.
The brunette said, “I hope you don’t mind if I join you. It seemed the other ladies didn’t appreciate my arrival.”
Pacey laughed, “I’m sure Jack here won’t mind. I’d like you to meet my helper for the evening, Dara.”
Dara coyly asked, “So exactly what am I helping you with?”
“You’re helping me survive a dinner with friends,” Pacey mumbled as he set the bag on the floor and gave her a kiss. “Although if you can think of anything else I’d need help with, you can gladly assist.”
Audrey was able to get past Dawson’s barricade as she bolted back down the stairs to be greeted by Dara kissing Pacey back. When Pacey spotted Audrey, he stopped what he was doing and directed his attention to his ex-girlfriend.
“What a surprise!”
Audrey growled, “This is pathetic.”
“And yet it’s perfectly fine to lead me to your date,” Pacey snapped. “How is Carla, anyway?”
She retorted, “Better than anything we ever had.” She stalked up to him and sneered, “Are you prepared to play this game? You think I’m the only person you’re going to hurt but you’re wrong.”
Pacey bent down and pulled out a bottle of vodka from the bag. “Does that mean that you’re ready for the challenge?”
Audrey grinned as she snatched the bottle from his grasp. “You knew exactly what we’d need to get through the evening.”
Jen returned to the room just then. She snatched the bag off the floor and tugged on Audrey’s shirt sleeve. “I need your help preventing me from killing Joey...”
Pacey watched them bemusedly. Jack noticed his expression and cracked, “Just what are you trying to prove?”
His good mood ruined, Pacey turned around and stared Jack down. He snapped, “What did you think I’d do? Wait around until I make a fool of myself a second time? I’ve opted to move on.” As much as he wanted to look away, Pacey felt himself get taken in by Jack’s eyes. Damn, he didn’t want to get entranced in those eyes again. There were times he’d convince himself that there was an equal amount of desire staring back at him, though it was probably nothing more than wishful thinking.
Dara whispered in Pacey’s ear, “Do you think this will work?”
“Huh?”
Jack decided to leave the new couple alone as he headed back upstairs. He hadn’t noticed that Pacey was paying more attention to the place he’d been standing than to whatever she’d said.
After being ignored for too long, she stated irritably, “Isn’t the idea of this date to get that co-worker ex of yours jealous? I’m not upset but it’d be nice to know why I’m here.”
Pacey blinked quickly to get back to reality. He forced a smile as he said, “I’d better get this dinner started.”
Part 4
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