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Operation True Love: Pacey and Joey > Pacey and Joey Fan Fic > Turbulence 8/27/03 |
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leep4joy
Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 57 (8/27/03 11:52 pm) Reply |
Turbulence 8/27/03 Not mine, just using them for my own enjoyment. Onto the long list of people that have encouraged me along the way and pushed me into something that I fought so hard to avoid….. MEGGY….You are so awesome and you pushed me in ways that you knew eventually I would breakdown and write. I still don't know why you decided to spend over two weeks hounding me to even begin writing. You put up with me in every state of mind and held my hand through this whole process. I never would have done this without you pushing me (not so gently) sweetie. Not to mention all the "deals" we struck along the way. I don't think any of them ever worked. I'm not your bitchy pineapple for nothing! ANGIE….What would I have done without you reasoning out Meggy's insane demand that I write and all the encouragement you gave as I fought with both of you about it?? You were an awesome sounding board and encouraged me even when you didn't know it. Danielle, Evie, and Martha… All three of you were so encouraging to talk with and kept me on track. Thank you ladies!!! You're all awesome and I'm so blessed to know you and chat with you. Love you! *muah* Turbulence By Lee Joey Potter tapped her foot and glared at the airport security team as they carefully examined her belongings. She was going to miss her flight to Paris if they didn’t hurry up. The book signing earlier that day drained her and all she wanted to do was sleep during her seven-hour flight. ‘Why did I agree to such a rigorous schedule?’ she mused as she finally passed security and ran toward her gate. Boarding the plane, Joey started to feel tense. ‘I haven’t felt this on-edge in a long time. Not since…. No, that can’t be it.’ Approaching the flight attendants, she overheard the giddy women discussing a male passenger in first-class. Rolling her eyes, she mumbled, “Great, a Don Juan is on board. I hope I’m not seated anywhere near him.” Looking around for her seat, 3B, Joey froze when she saw the flight attendant flirting with the passenger seated in 3A. As her heart began to race she took in his physical appearance, ‘That hair, those shoulders, his head…it couldn’t be,’ she contemplated. He walked out of her life seven years earlier without a word, breaking her heart. Pacey was annoyed with all the attention from the flight attendants. Just because he has his own nationally syndicated cooking show and is an eligible bachelor, does not mean he’s interested in sleeping with all the women currently on this airplane. The one presently in front of him looked better than the others that already visited though. Medium-dark suntanned skin with short light-brown hair and brown eyes. However, just like every other woman he’d been with in the last seven years, she couldn’t hold a candle to his true love. “We’ll be taking-taking off shortly Mr. Johnson, just waiting for the final boarders. May I get anything for you?” ‘What was she saying?’ Pacey brought himself out of his reverie and tried to concentrate on the brunette in front of him. “No, thank you, Carol. I’m fine, I just want to sleep before we land in Paris,” he replied with the smile he knew would get her to leave. Carol smiled in return and walked up to the passenger still frozen in the middle of the aisle. “May I help you find your seat miss?” Her head snapped to the woman standing in front of her. “No, thank you. I believe my seat is right there,” Joey curtly responded nodding towards 3B. Narrowing her eyes at the woman, Joey whispered, “Is that Pacey Johnson?” “Yes, it is. However, he is tired and wants to sleep for a while. I suggest you not disturb him, miss.” Joey tried to hide her shock at the woman’s forwardness and smirked in return to the warning. Drifting off to sleep, Pacey thought he heard Joey Potter’s voice. ‘Just wishful thinking. You really need to move past this Witter,’ he thought right before falling into a deep sleep, dreaming of his true love. Moving slowly towards her seat, Joey noticed his closed his eyes and even breathing. He appeared to be sleeping. Gently placing her carry-on bag overhead, she settled into the seat next to the man that broke her heart so many years ago. “Incredible!” she mumbled. ‘The first time I see him in seven years, this is never how I imagined our encounter going.’ Wondering how things would go when he awoke, Joey settled in for the long flight as the plane began its taxi to the runway. Dreaming of her olive colored skin under his hands, Pacey awoke with a start, becoming aware of the hand holding his. Looking over at the woman next to him, he jumped back toward the window. His heart racing, Pacey looked closer at the woman and realized it was indeed Joey Potter. ‘What is she doing on this flight? Does she know she’s holding my hand while she’s sleeping?’ Figuring she was unaware of her hand’s claim on his own, he regrettably unwound her fingers from his and began to study the new lines of her face. ‘She still looks just as beautiful as I remember,’ he thought to himself. Taking a closer look, he saw bitterness and fear etched in her features. ‘Joey was never bitter and seldom showed fear in any situation. What happened to her?’ he wondered. Concerned for her, he began to think through what he knew of her life. Looking for the events that changed her heart and turned her into a cold and bitter person. He had followed her career closely and was so proud of her first book. Writing fiction was something he always imagined her pursuing. He was shocked when he found himself present in her first book. But as the same thing occurred in every book, he became accustomed to seeing himself in characters she created. Never wanting to spend too much time analyzing it, he just read the books and delighted in her literary success. ‘She must be in the midst of publicity for the latest book,’ he thought. ‘The next stop must be in Paris.’ Always having known she would reach international fame, Pacey let his thoughts travel to their childhood home. Something he rarely permitted himself time to reminisce about; thinking about that life was too painful for him. Deep in thought, Pacey didn’t notice Joey’s change of breathing. She slowly awoke and without opening her eyes, tried to tell if he was awake or still asleep. Once the plane was safely in the air, Joey quickly fell asleep. She could feel his gaze on her and then it was gone. A sensation she spent the past seven years longing for and thinking about now made anger bubble up inside her. The pain and fear she felt and carried with her after he never returned to Boston her sophomore year of college returned to her now in ways that she never thought possible. “Been busy the past seven years Pacey Johnson?” Startled that she woke without him noticing he instantly heard anger and hurt in her question. Not wanting to aggravate her further, he calmly answered, “Yeah, I guess ‘busy’ covers it.” Looking at her for the first time since she awoke, he saw the fire behind her eyes as he spoke. “Look, Joey…I’m sure that you have a lot of questions for me and I would love to learn about your life, but I don’t think that we should have this conversation flying over the Atlantic Ocean in a plane full of strangers.” As he finished, he looked around wearily at the half-empty first-class cabin occupied by sleeping passengers. “Oh really? Where do you propose we have this conversation Pacey? Or should I call you Mr. Johnson now?” Grimacing slightly at the hostility in her tone, he sighed. “Are you staying in Paris or is this a connecting flight for you?” “You expect me to sit here for another four hours next to you and not ask you anything important all because we’re over an ocean with over 100 strangers as company?! Of which less than 10 are actually in first-class with us? Are you really that concerned with your image or do you just not know how to tell me what’s been going on with you for seven years?” More anger came out than she expected and she heard herself almost shouting by the end. No longer able to keep his own emotions at bay Pacey launched into a conversation he wasn’t prepared to ever have with this woman. “Actually Jo, it has nothing to do with my image. I was only looking out for you because I know how difficult this conversation will be,” he continued, softly mumbling, “for both of us.” Ignoring his excuse, she tried to calm herself before responding. Sheer determination masked her emotions now. Refusing to back down, she forged ahead. “So what happened to you seven years ago Pacey?” Seeing that he could no longer read her, he thought back to seven years ago and tried to figure out what to tell her. He hadn’t called or contacted anyone other than Doug from payphones for years out of fear of facing her again. Not being able to tolerate the thought that she ran back to Dawson once that summer ended; after he broke up with Audrey he ran away from all of them. Calling from payphones meant that Doug could just give him the basics and Pacey shut everyone out of his life. Searching for his own future away from his past. Recognizing the look on his face as one of concentration, she knew he was gathering the words to tell her what happened. She knew from Audrey that they spent their summer in Los Angeles with a few minor arguments, but nothing serious. Then, one night on the drive back to Worthington, he suddenly broke up with her. Never giving Audrey a real reason, she always suspected he loved Joey too much to really commit to a relationship with anyone else and ended it. That’s all Audrey knew when classes started that August and Joey waited for him to show up suddenly just as he had the previous year. Only this time, he never came back. Several weeks passed before Joey grew tired of waiting and finally called Doug in desperation. He refused to tell her anything other than “Pacey is alive and healthy.” He told her that for five years until one day Joey was home in the afternoon and saw Pacey on her television hosting a cooking show. Since that day two years ago, she gathered every piece of information she could about his current life. Not much information was available though and all she really knew was that he lived in Los Angeles for filming and his show became more popular every season. Reporters recently started to take notice of him at premieres and Hollywood galas. The thing that shocked her was his new last name. Turning his middle name John into the common last name Johnson, he dropped the Witter. While she knew some about his most recent past, Joey still wanted to know about the missing five years between his disappearance and nationally televised show. He furrowed his eyebrows and pursed his lips together before asking, “How much do you want to know Joey?” “As much as you’ll tell me,” she quietly replied. ‘Good,’ he thought, ‘she calmed down some. Now I just need to decide how much she should know.’ Clearing his throat, he shifted in his seat to look at her as he talked. “Well, what did Audrey tell you when she returned to Worthington without me?” He knew that Joey called Doug on a regular basis for over five years asking about him. Pacey lost count of the times he argued with his brother about contacting Joey and telling her where he was and what was going on. Pacey always won and Doug never revealed anything. But he didn’t want to tell her more than he needed to about those missing years. He had to make sure to keep her at bay and not let his heart rule in this situation. “She told me that the two of you broke up in Buffalo for reasons that she didn’t really understand, but suspected it had to do with you still being in love with me.” Looking up at him through her lashes, Joey wasn’t sure what she saw pass over his face as she finished. “That’s all she said? She didn’t tell you anymore about it?” “No, that’s all she told me. Audrey never even hinted that she thought you still had feelings for me until she was leaving the following summer for vacation.” “Well, we did break up in Buffalo and I drove all the way back to Worthington with her to make sure she arrived safely. Then I hopped a Greyhound bus to the first city west of Boston I could afford. I was able to purchase a ticket to Cleveland.” He heard her breath catch as he mentioned the city and wondered what was going on, but continued on with his story. “Since I didn’t really have much money, I quickly found work in a restaurant on the pier of Lake Erie out near the Lorain lighthouse. They were in the process of cleaning up the lake and reviving the businesses along the lake front when I showed up. The restaurant started to do really well while I worked there and eventually I became head chef.” Pacey watched as her face betrayed pride in him for his early accomplishments. She didn’t know this part of his story as most internet biographies she read didn’t start carrying information about him until only a year before she saw him on television. However, she knew something else happened in the break-up with Audrey that they both weren’t telling her. Somehow Joey knew that it was a key part of why he ran and stayed away all those years. But, she also knew that asking about it point-blank would get her nowhere right now. Taking a calmer approach, Joey listened as Pacey continued his story. Seeing her eyes convey pride, gave him the courage to continue with the story. “The restaurant was a struggling family establishment when I first arrived and within a few years it became a favorite of politicians and society people in Cleveland, becoming one of the most successful high-scale restaurants in the Cleveland area. I was at a society function one evening with a date, where I met my friend Ken. He produces television shows for major networks in Los Angeles and was working on a daytime show appealing to stay at home parents. Impressed with my culinary skills and charismatic personality, he thought I fit the profile for the job. He screen-tested me and now I have my own cooking show. I’m going to Paris to participate in a week-long culinary conference and shoot an episode for next season while I’m there.” “What else was going on during that time Pacey?” Shifting nervously in his seat, Pacey became evasive. Looking away from her, he didn’t want her to read his eyes. She could still see into his soul through them and he wasn’t ready for her to read him so easily again. “What makes you think something else was going on Jo?” “Well, I don’t think that it would take you five years to make something of yourself in the city. And you’ve hosted your cooking show for two years. So, what else happened?” “Jo, I led a pretty normal life all those years. Nothing else was going on. What have you been doing?” Letting him change subjects, she began to tell him about the last seven years, while carrying on what she wanted to say in her head. “Well, I spent three years finishing up school and worked in Boston for two years,” while thinking, ‘I was really looking for you Pacey, you disappeared without ever saying goodbye to me. The pain that left me as I grieved the loss of my best friend for unknown reasons marred me permanently.’ Continuing on with her verbal story, Joey shared, “one of the publishers saw some of my work one day by accident and decided to sign me as an author instead of an editor.” The mental battle for the truth raged within her, ‘As an outlet of the anguish I’ve experienced in my short life, I began writing. Those journal entries eventually found their way into works of fiction.’ Finishing up, she said “Now, I’m a successful author on my latest book signing tour. Paris is the next stop and I convinced my publisher to let me stay there for a week as a mini-vacation.” He beamed at her, “I’ve read your books Jo. I always knew you were a writer at heart.” “You’ve read them?” she asked in astonishment. ‘Over and over again, they have been my only window into your heart for years Potter,’ he thought to himself. “Yes, I’ve read them. I always knew growing up in Capeside would come in handy for you at some point.” ‘I wonder if he recognized himself?’ Asking instead, “You picked up on that?” Tilting her head to the left and giving him a half-smile. Pacey’s heart melted as he saw her smile. “Yes, Joey. Anyone who lives there picked up on it and knows the real stories behind the fictional ones that you weave. Although, you created a lot more characters than were actually there,” he finished winking at her and then smiling. ‘That smile, I’ve never been able to resist that smile.’ Turning red, she nodded her head in acknowledgment that he had read the books well. She always wished that he read her work. It started out as her therapy to get over him. Only it never worked. Characters were created based on him throughout her writing, perpetuating her love. Glancing at him sidelong, she noticed a yawn escape his mouth. “Tired Pace?” ‘Oh how I’ve missed her calling me that.’ “Yeah, I had a long day before catching the plane in Cleveland today.” “How about we take a nap and we can talk more later?” she suggested. Shocked that she let him off the hook so easily, Pacey knew something drastic had changed her over the years. The fire was still in her somewhere; he had seen it only a little while earlier, but it was buried beneath a cold and passive exterior. Concerned that she had changed so drastically, he agreed to a nap and settled back into his seat. Neither one knew where they stood with the other. Restless sleep came to them both, but they were comforted by the thought that the first encounter was less stressful and traumatic than it could have been. “Please remain in your seats and fasten your seatbelts,” came the voice from overhead as Pacey awoke. Noticing that Joey was still in a restless sleep, he tried to doze off for a while again. All the sudden the plane shook violently, waking him up. Joey, still asleep, reached for him. He complied as the plane hit more turbulence. This time, she woke up. “I’m s-s-sorry,” she stammered looking at how she was holding him. She noticed the disappointment pass over his features as he released her. Clearing his throat nervously, Pacey broached the topic he didn’t want to. “Do you want to talk more Joey?” “Is there something you’d like to discuss Pacey?” “Actually, yes. You were correct when you thought I was hiding something from you Jo.” He looked at her cautiously, not sure why he was telling her this, but following his heart for once in eight years. “It took me so long to become such a famous chef because I’ve been splitting my time between work and school. My boss paid for half of my tuition and gave me flexible hours at the restaurant so I could pursue my political science degree.” “That’s really great Pace! Where did you attend? When did you graduate?” Hearing the pride and enthusiasm in her voice, he was compelled to tell her the rest of it. “Well, I finished my Bachelor’s degree a few years ago and graduated in the top ten of my class. And while I was there, I decided to pursue business law at Cleveland State University and was accepted shortly thereafter. I have a few more years before I finish my degree and then I need to pass the bar.” He looked at her uncertainly. “Wow! Capeside’s child criminal is going to be a lawyer!” She beamed, as the smile he loved grew on her face. Her eyes lit up with pride for him. However, he also saw the sadness and disappointment pass behind her eyes before she dropped them to her lap. Confused by her dual reaction to his news, he asked, “What’s wrong Joey? You look proud for me, but something else is going on too.” “It’s nothing Pace, I’m proud of you.” Not believing her answer, he pushed harder. “But what Jo? What is it?” She wasn’t used to people pushing her for answers anymore. She was so cold and so bitter that her old nickname came back into use. Most people in the publishing world called her “Ice Queen” behind her back, but she knew about it. Joey was only welcoming and warm to readers and her close friends, Jen and Jack. Sometimes Audrey or Dawson were included in the list of friends, but that happened less and less over the years. They never understood or agreed with her hunt to find Pacey. Jen and Jack supported her through all the dead-end searches and tear-filled nights. All that drama ended two years ago and while her relationship with Jen and Jack survived, Pacey was a topic deemed off-limits. She changed, becoming bitter and angry shortly after finding out about him, and they understood without asking her a bunch of questions. Pacey was too emotional of a topic and after seeing that he was alive and well and fully capable of contacting her and choosing not to, she forced herself to live without Pacey and killed all hope of ever seeing him again. That is, until this evening. Lost in her own thoughts, Pacey tried again. “Jo, where are you? What are you disappointed about? I saw it in your eyes. You can’t lie to me Potter.” Snapping her head up at the use of his endearment for her, the fire returned. The fire he longed for and missed every moment of every day in the last seven years. “You have no right to call me that name, Pacey Johnson,” she seethed. “You don’t know me anymore and how dare you question my reaction to your news?!” She had lost control of her calm, passive demeanor and it came out before she thought it. “You walked out of my life and broke my heart Pacey! I spent five long years searching endlessly for you. I cried myself to sleep and almost failed out of college with grief and depression. You have no business being so casual with me after seven years that you’ve been absent. How dare you?” As she finished her tirade, she realized she was shouting and for the first time since waking up became aware of her surroundings. Thinking quickly, she ran to the bathroom for first class passengers. Pacey sat there shocked, taking in all of her behavior once she stopped yelling. Observing her hand flying up to cover her mouth as her eyes grew big brimming with unshed tears. He saw the desperateness in her movement as she bolted to the bathroom. “What just happened?” he asked aloud. Pacey’s mind was on overdrive and was playing catch-up. He sat there and replayed her comments, ‘She cried herself to sleep over me? I know Doug said she sounded ragged at times, but I never suspected this. But, Doug knew. He would have heard from Bessie how sick Joey had made herself.’ Feeling the guilt of his actions, he figured he was to blame for her icy and bitter exterior now. “Figures I’d mess this up again,” he fumed. “And Audrey knew the reason I broke up with her. How could she not tell Joey?” Noticing she had been gone a while, he got up, ignoring the seatbelt sign and went to the bathroom he saw her run into. The group of flight attendants standing outside the door confirmed his suspicions. He could hear here weeping from where he stood. Looking for the brunette that was talking with him earlier, he finally picked her out of the group. “Carol, is there a tall brunette woman in there right now?” “Yes, Mr. Johnson. You should really sit back in your seat. We’re experiencing dangerous turbulence.” ‘You have no idea Carol,’ was his internal reply. Putting on his knee-weakening Witter grin from high school, he offered, “May I try talking with her? Alone.” Unable to resist his charm, Carol gathered the other flight attendants and observed from a respectable distance. They hadn’t overheard the entire conversation between Pacey and Joey but knew something happened between them in the past and guessed that it was that past that sent the beautiful woman running to the bathroom. “Joey?” came Pacey’s concerned voice. “Please come out and so we can finish this conversation.” She could hear the pleading in his voice and it only caused her to cry more. Listening to the heightened sobs breaking through the small barrier, his heart broke for the pain she was experiencing. “Jo, there are some things I would like to say to your face and I can’t do that with you in the bathroom.” More turbulence caused Pacey to lose his footing and his body slammed against the door. Hearing him crash against the door, she felt remorse for running away and refusing to exit. “Pacey, are you ok?” Silence. “Pacey?” as panic filled her heart. A quiet pained, “I’m here Jo. Please come out so we can go back to our seats before one or both of us are injured,” came from the other side. Nodding her head as if he could see her, she slowly opened the door. Pacey’s heart broke at her red puffy eyes and tear-stained face. Opening his arms to her as she slowly emerged, he wasn’t sure she’d walk into his embrace. She felt his arms pull her tight against him, comforting her as she stepped into the embrace he offered. The realization hit her that he matured over the years and was fighting for her now. Keeping her emotional walls up, Joey took in the changes in his body since he last held her. No longer the teenage boy she remembered, he was now a man. His shoulders seemed broader and his chest harder, with more muscular arms. It was almost as if he still sailed on a regular basis. But he hadn’t said anything about sailing again. Tears came streaming down her face again for all she lost when he walked away and for their broken relationship years earlier. The torment of tears soaked his shirt as his heart broke for the broken woman crumbled in his arms. ‘What happened to you Joey? Where’s that strong independent spitfire I fell in love with so many years ago?’ Noticing the concerned looks they were receiving from all the flight attendants, the plane jolted in the sky once again. Falling together in the aisle, he broke her fall, “Joey, I think we should return to our seats and buckle up. It’s not safe for us to be out of our seats right now.” Nodding her consent, Joey moved off of him, missing the warmth and protection of his arms immediately. Pacey led her back to their seats as Carol followed to make sure they had everything they needed for the rest of the flight. “Would you like anything else, Mr. Johnson? A blanket or pillow?” “Do you have aspirin or mild sleeping pills?” “Yes, I do. However, we aren’t supposed to share our personal pills with passengers. But I’ll make an exception for you. What would you like?” She asked, with concern etching her features. Gazing sidelong at Joey, “Could I have some sleeping pills to last the rest of the flight? But not too large of a dosage?” “Yes, sir. I’ll be right back with them and a glass of water for you.” In confusion Joey asked, “Pacey, you’re taking sleeping pills? What happened to talking?” Cupping her face in his hands, he turned her red puffy, tear stained face to him. “They aren’t for me Joey. They’re for you.” Cutting her off as her protests arose, “We will finish our discussion, but not here Jo. You need to rest and I’ll be here when the plane lands. We’ll find time in the next week to talk about the last seven years.” ‘I never could resist those blue pleading eyes.’ Sighing in defeat and nodding her head, “Alright Pacey. Will you hold my hand while I sleep?” Brushing his thumb over the knuckles, he lifted her small hand up to his lips and whispered a kiss of promises to her. “Here you are, Mr. Johnson,” Carol said as she returned, handing him the requested items. “Thank you, Carol. I appreciate this.” Joey swallowed the pills and relaxed into Pacey as much as possible in the small quarters as the turbulence continued over the Atlantic. |
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EviePJlvr 
 Posts: 206 (8/27/03 9:16 pm) Reply |
Re: Turbulence 8/27/03
cool beans great fic
 Reading is good. Writing is even better. |
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