SUCKER PUNCH 🛶 PACEY WITTER [book one]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES

...🛶...

HEATHER and Pacey hadn't talked about their surprise kiss, not since Dawson had immediately whisked him away for the rest of the weekend to Maine whilst she spent the time helping Joey unpack for France. But Monday had come before either of them could blink and now as Heather sat in economics first period, she desperately tried to ignore the piercing stare on the back of her head as Mr. Maddock spoke "What is the difference between macroeconimics and microeconomics? Kenny?"

The Reilling boy beamed at being chosen and sat up straighter "Macroeconomics is the study of the whole economic systems and how they interrelate. Microeconomics is the study of individual areas of economic activity. Like corporations."

"Very good. Well put, thank you Kenny." Mr. Maddock complemented "Which leads me to your assignment. We're gonna focus on the microeconomics of the family household. This week you're going to pair up and play a game I like to call 'Alternative Lifestyles'."

A collective groan swept around the room that their teacher ignored as he picked up a hat "Now, in this hat, are all your names. You're going to choose a partner, I will assign you identities and then you are to prepare an extensive annual budget for your fictional household. I strongly recommend research trips into the field. How much money will you have to spend a year on food, clothing, travel? Now these are questions that every household must ask. And these are the questions I want you to answer. So let's begin."

The Leery girl held back a sigh as the hat was held out in front of her and she slipped her hand inside, pulling out a piece of paper with the one name that made her heart sink "Pacey Witter."

Mr. Maddock smiled "You and Pacey are a lower middle class family with three children. Pacey, you're a bus driver. Heather, you're a salesclerk."

She glanced back at the boy only to find him already staring and she quickly turned back around as Andie, who sat to her left, pulled out her name from the hat "Kenny Reilling."

"You'll be an upper middle class family with one child. Andie you'll be a divorce lawyer and Kenny, you'll be a volunteer firefighter."

Abby snorted from beside Jen "How's he putting out fires? With his ass?"

As most of the class snickered at her referral to his weight, Mr. Maddock sighed and held the hat out to Jeff Birdwin "Trey Carter."

The class watched as the two best friends and football players shared a high five while their teacher smiled in amusement "You two, will be a well-to-do, same sex couple. Trey you're going to be a pediatrician, Jeff you are an advertising executive."