Calendar Guy by Kelsie
Part 1 in the Series

[Dawson and his mom are sitting at the dinner table.]

"You're kidding, right?" Dawson said, staring at his Mom over the dinner table. She tried to smile perkily.

"Nope, it's absolutely true. Congratulations, Daw..." her voice trailed off as he dropped his fork and leaned back in his chair, running his hands through his hair.

"I take it you're not exactly happy about this?" she said.

"Not exactly happy? I'd put it a little stronger than that. Words come to mind like violated, humiliated, prostituted...."

"That's pretty dramatic language when all I did..."

"Was completely trample on my privacy and do something to me that shouldn't be done to any teenager, particularly not one in my current state of mind. God!" he said, looking away from her.

"Now come on, Dawson. You act like I sold you into white slavery. I entered you in a contest, that's all. And you won. So be happy about it. You should be flattered."

"Flattered that I won the chance to be a month in your station's 'High School Hunks' calendar? How many other station employees' sons did I beat out for that honor?"

"It's not that trivial, Dawson. This is a statewide contest because we do it for charity. We had over 800 applicants this year."

"Uh huh," he said, playing with his food.

"It's actually a big honor, Dawson. They judge candidates not only on their photograph but their grades, their activities..."

"Evening gown and swimsuit too?"

"OK, smartmouth...."

"I mean, how hard could it have been to win when my mom...."

"They didn't know you were my son. No names were mentioned. You won on your own merits."

"That's not the point, Mom. I didn't want to be in the contest to begin with. Why didn't you ask me if I wanted to do this?"

"Oh, I knew you'd refuse, maybe? I'm the chairman this year, Dawson. I wanted to support the cause."

"But I didn't. Can I refuse now? I mean, with 800 potential months standing by, I'm sure you can fill in one month and leave me out of this."

"Dawson, get beyond the fact that I should have asked your permission. I should have, and I'm sorry. That was a lapse in judgement on my part. Think about this before you refuse. It is for charity. All sales go toward a good cause."

He looked sullen as she continued. "It's also a great chance for you to meet a lot of important people - good connections for later when it comes time to apply to colleges and you need references."

He still looked unconvinced. "There's also a $2500.00 scholarship donated for each participant. So you don't have to do it for free. It might come in handy for college. And it's for charity - and I know that you have a big heart. You may not do it for me, but for Big Brothers and Big Sisters? Come on, honey, what do you say?"

Dawson looked up with a sigh. "Okay - what do I have to do?"

Gail smiled triumphantly.

-----------------------

Pacey fell back on Dawson's bed, laughing his head off. Dawson flipped off the TV in annoyance. "It's not that funny, Pacey."

He could barely speak. "You - a 'high school hunk'? My old buddy Dawson? A pin-up for thousands of east coast pre-pubescent teens?" He laughed again, and Dawson got up, going to sit at his desk.

"It IS for charity," Dawson said, glaring at him.

"Man, what possessed you to enter something like that? That's so not like you."

"I didn't enter it - Mom entered me without my knowledge, okay? I'm not as far gone as you seem to think."

"But you are going to do it, right?"

Dawson nodded, looking miserable. "She pulled a real guilt trip on me, Pacey. She's the chairman of the committee so it would suck if I declined."

Pacey sat up, wiping tears from his eyes. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"No - you're the first person I've told. Maybe the last," he said.

"Sorry to laugh, bro - I wasn't laughing at you - just at the whole idea, I guess. I mean - you are a hunk. It's no wonder you won."

"Excuse me?" Dawson said, cocking an eyebrow.

"No, I mean it - once you grew out of the baby fat and added a few inches, you've become a knockout, man. I like the new hair, too, by the way."

"I'm going to forget you said all that, Pacey. Next you'll be telling me I have a cute ass," Dawson said.

"Well, who could tell, with all those baggy pants you wear? Now take my ass, for example..."

"I'd like you to take your ass right out that window, actually. You're not providing the type of moral support I was expecting in this situation."

"Sorry, Dawson. I just can't help it - I mean, you gotta admit, it's funny."

Dawson nailed him with a glare. "Funny to who?"

"You take things like this way too seriously, man. Have fun with it. It's what, a few in-person appearances on the radio stations, a few calendar signing sessions, and that's it."

Dawson looked thoughtful. "I guess. It might be kind of fun."

"That's the right attitude. Be cool. Have a blast with all of this. Don't take yourself so seriously - if that's possible."

"That's enough advice, Pacey, okay?" he said.

"Done," Pacey said, taking a drink from his Coke. "So - what month are you?"

Dawson winced. "August."

Pacey raised his Coke. "To my best friend - Mr. August."

----------------------

"So, I guess congratulations are in order," Jen stopped by Dawson's locker.

"What?" he asked, putting his books away.

"You - Mr. August. Mr. 'High School Hunk' ", she said. "I think that's cool."

Dawson closed his eyes. "Pacey. I should have known he couldn't keep his mouth shut."

"Oh, I didn't hear it from Pacey. Obviously you haven't checked your email today. It's part of the Capeside High Update. Your mom's station sent out a press release. You'll probably make the Sunday paper too."

He turned to her. "You're kidding. They sent out a press release? I really am screwed now. I knew this was a bad idea."

"Hey, you should be proud. Not every guy could have won something like that. Besides, if you didn't want to do it, why did you enter?"

"I didn't - my mom entered me...it's a long story, Jen." He looked up and saw Joey walk up.

" Hey, Mr. August," she said teasingly. "Can I have your autograph?"

He groaned, closing his locker. "Do you think anyone would miss me if I bagged now?"

"It's second period, Dawson. And you can't hide out forever - and the more you act uncomfortable, the more people will tease you about this," Jen warned. "Believe me."

"Every time someone says something about it, just tell them - 'it's for charity, and I'm a nice guy' ", Joey offered. "That IS why you did it, right?"

"Right," Dawson said, ignoring Jen's look. "That's me, Mr. Nice Guy. It's all for charity."

"Then you have nothing to be embarrassed about," Joey finished. "So let's go to class."

"Right," he said grimly, shouldering his bookbag.

------------------

"Oh, hi honey!" Gail said as Dawson entered the kitchen, laying down his bookbag. "How was your day?"

He gave her a hateful look as he pulled a soda from the refrigerator. "Did you have to send out a press release, Mom?"

"Oh, the press release. Well, it's a big event, and our PR department obviously wants to get the word out. More publicity means more sales."

"And more embarrassment for your teenager, now known all over Capeside High as 'Mr. August'. Thanks, Mom. Tell me again why I did this?"

"Charity - you're doing it for charity."

"That's right, charity," he said, "And because I'm a nice guy. Now how many times have I said that today?" He started up to this room.

"Dawson, wait - I've been meaning to tell you." She handed him a sheet. "They need to get started with the photo shoot for the calendar. I went ahead and signed you up for a time."

He took the paper from her as if it would bite him. "I thought they already had a picture of me?"

"You think they're going to use the picture I sent in? This is a calendar, Dawson. They want something a little more..."

"What - revealing? Something to show off my cute ass?"

"Stop it," Gail said, annoyed. "They want something professional, something themed for August. So get yourself a haircut, and get yourself to the studio Saturday afternoon. Understand?"

Dawson looked like she just sentenced him to life with hard labor. "Sure. Whatever." He turned and walked up the stairs. "It can't get any worse than this", he mumbled to himself.

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