Author's Note: At the moment, I'm watching Stanford (Go Cardinal, woo-hoo!) vs. South Missouri State (Boo, hiss, growl), so forgive me for any spelling/typing mistakes. School does that to me. Just kidding, sorry it took so long for this installment!
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Jen, Joey, and Pacey opened the screen door and stepped onto Dawson's porch just as Dawson stepped out of the door. He was carrying the same stack of white computer paper that he had been writing on before and handed a thick stapled packet to each of his friends.
"What's this?" Pacey asked, waving the stack of paper in front of Dawson's grinning face, "Your life story. A novel perhaps?"
"It looks like at least 20 trees, if not more." Joey added.
"You don't expect us to read this, do you?" Jen asked, wide-eyed.
"Every good actor memorized their lines!" Dawson lectured to his friends.
"Yeah, Dawson. Every good actor gets paid too, how much are we making again?" Pacey snickered.
"You're doing this out of the kindness of your hearts. To help your desperate friend. To be reimbursed later, when I become rich and famous." Dawson rambled on.
"That's right. Remember that everyone, Dawson said he'd pay us back for making us suffer through his scripts. I doubt Bill Gates has enough money to cover the emotional distress." Joey joked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Joke all you want, I'll show you guys," Dawson replied, "Now let's get going, we don't have too much time left."
Dawson ushered his friends out onto the lawn with much difficulty, they were all trying to read and walk at the same time.
"So, Dawson, who'd you cast everyone as?" Joey eyed her best friend wearily.
"Joey, ever the nosy one." Dawson began, "You are Josephine, the sweet, naive, teen who falls in love with her mortal enemy."
"Sweet? Naive? Josephine? Dawson, have you gone absolutely insane?" Pacey burst out laughing.
"I hate you." Joey said good-naturedly, punching Pacey softly in the shoulder.
"Likewise." Pacey replied, still smiling.
"Are you guys done?" Dawson said impatiently.
"Sorry..." Joey and Pacey mumbled.
"Okay, Pacey, your turn. You are the..." Dawson began.
"Emotionally disturbed, deranged, juvenile, who ultimately gets killed by the heroine at the end?" Joey said hopefully.
"I still love you Joooeeyyy...." Pacey said in a sing-song voice.
"You guys, I think Dawson is getting mad...." Jen said under her breath, loud enough for Pacey and Joey to hear. They turned and faced Dawson, who was glaring, and Pacey saluted him.
Dawson sighed, "As I was saying, Pacey, you are the enemy of Josephine. Since you guys really are enemies, I decided that it would be appropriate to cast you as is. Pacey, your name is Pacey, get the picture?"
Jen coughed, "Where do I come into this, or am I the camera assistant?"
"Jen, you're the object of Pacey's affection, or so it seems. It turns out that Pacey and Joey have a mutual attraction to eachother."
"Objection!" Pacey interjected.
"Sustained," Joey replied, "Dawson..."
"Don't whine Joey, come on, please?" Dawson pleaded.
"Fine," Joey gave in.
"Okay, good." Dawson handed each of his friends highlighters and instructed them to highlight each of their lines while they were reading over the script.
The four friends sat quietly, occupied with their reading. The only sounds were of the water lapping up onto the shores of the creek, an occasional bird call, and the sound of highlighters scratching across paper. The sound of a car coming down the isolated road on which the Lindley's and Leery's lived made everyone look up. A silver Lexus pulled into the Lindley residence and Jen squinted, trying to make out who was inside the mysterious car.
A small woman stepped out of the passenger side. She had short, frosted, blonde hair that was short and framed her face prettily. She was wearing an elegant skirt and jacket with matching pumps. A taller man stepped out of the drivers side. Unlike his passenger, he had dark brown hair that was combed neatly and he was wearing a dark suit.
"That lady looks a lot like you, Jen." Joey commented thoughtfully.
Jen cleared her throught, "That's because she is my mother."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Joey looked nervously down at her paper, Pacey twirled the highlighter between his fingers, Dawson shuffled his papers, and Jen looked off in the distance.
"It's getting dark," Pacey's voice sounded nervous and fake, "Joey and I should really get going..."
"Yeah," Joey nodded in agreement, "We'll meet you guys tomorrow, after we've practiced our lines."
Joey and Pacey hurried to Pacey's car. Pacey turned on the motor and pulled out of Dawson's driveway faster than usual, which isn't saying much. Joey gave Pacey a frightened look and gripped the seat until her knuckles turned white.
"You don't think I'm an incompetent driver, do you?" Pacey questioned Joey, grinning.
"Of course not!" Joey exclaimed sarcastically.
"Good." Pacey pretended to look pleased, "Where to?"
"Where else, home?" Joey scoffed.
"Well...I really need help for that Biology test. I was sort of hoping you could provide that help..." Pacey's voice trailed off.
"I guess I could use the review too.." Joey contemplated her options, "Sure. Why don't we do it at your house? Mine is still a mess."
"All right, thanks a lot, Jo." Pacey said.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Witter household. Paey opened his door and practically ran to the other side and opened Joey's.
"What's with the politeness all of a sudden?" Joey asked cautiously, waiting for the insult or rude remark from Pacey. It never came.
Pacey ignored Joey's remark and said, "We can study in my room, all the easier to avoid Douggie."
Joey nodded in agreement and the pair quietly slipped upstairs, past the room in which Doug was listening to Barabara Streisand belt out some romantic ballad. Joey collapsed into a fit of girlish giggles when they finally reached Pacey's room.
"Barbara Streisand?" Joey gasped, "I can't believe it!"
"I told you my family was a freak show!" Pacey said indignantly.
Joey's laughter subsided and they began to take out some studying material.
"Hey, Pace," Joey said, "Check your email, Mr. McSherer said he'd email us with important parts of the book to study."
"All right, I'll log on quickly now." Pacey said and turned on the computer for the second time that day. Pacey scanned the list of unopened envelopes and found the one he wanted.
"Here goes." Pacey said while double-clicking on the picture.
Students,
As you well know your Biology test will be taking place next Tuesday. It will count for 30% of your grade, therefore it would be a good idea to study for this.
Study p. 30-65 in the book and do the review questions on p. 67. Also feel free to do the Chapter Summary questions at the end of each chapter. Then study p. 70-88 in the book and proceed to the review questions on p. 89. I also suggest making practice quizes for yourself and studying with partners.
Good Luck!
Scott McSherer
End of Message
"Good," Joey sighed with relief, "Now we know where we need to key in on in the book."
"Great." Pacey says unenthusiastically. He leans back on the headboard of his bead and opens the thick Marine Biology book.
