Almost
Note: None of these characters are mine. I wrote this story only
because I love the show
Situation: Jen and Dawson are broken up. Basically right after In the
Company of Men
The sun was barely rising and the air was cool and crisp. A lone
figure appeared on the dock tying up her boat. The figure than ran up
to Dawson’s house, up the ladder, and into Dawson Leery’s room.
“Dawson? Are you here? Are you hurt? Where are you?” gasped Joey as
she frantically searched the room. Dawson walked into the room eating
an apple.
“Hey Jo. Glad you could make it.” Dawson grinned and flopped down on
the bed still munching on the apple. Joey turned to look at him with
a look of disbelief. She slowly walked over to the bed and perched
next to him.
“You’re okay? You’re not hurt or anything?” Joey questioned.
“No I’m fine. Why would you even worry?”
“Okay I get a call about 5:30 in the morning in which you scream,
‘Joey! Get over here NOW!’ and you’re not dying?”
“Yup”
“Okay now I’m going to kill you.” Joey grabbed Dawson and proceeded
to playfully beat him up. “Don’t you ever make me worry like that
again. I thought you were hurt or dying.”
Dawson smiled. “Sorry but I have the best news in the entire world.”
“If this involves Jen then I don’t think that the entire world cares
about your pathetic attempts to stalk her into going back out with
you.”
“No this doesn’t involve Jen. I .... wait I do not stalk Jen.”
“Dawson please. You’re trying to tell me that you just happen to run
into her like 10 times a day?”
“She lives next door to me.”
“Okay what about yesterday. You just happened to walk into Mr.
Browning’s class for homework help the same class Jen had it?”
“I needed help with my homework.”
“Dawson, Mr. Browning teaches chemistry. You’re not even taking
chemistry this year.”
“Chemistry? So that’s why he looked so confused when I showed him my
English assignment."
Joey groaned and flopped next to Dawson on the bed. “You’re pathetic!”
“Okay well that’s not why I called you over. I really do have the
best news into the entire world. Remember my film that I entered in
the Young Filmmaker’s Contest?”
“Remember it? I have nightmares trying to forget the kissing scene
with Pacey.” Dawson laughed as Joey shuddered in memory.
“Well you effort was not in vain because I just received a call from
them.” Joey sat up in the bed with interest. “I won something Jo. I
don’t know what but they invited me and a date to the awards banquet
to receive my award”
Joey leapt off the bed and shrieked. She ran over to give Dawson a
hug. “Oh my gosh! That is fantastic. When is the banquet?”
“This Friday in Providence.”
“This Friday? Gee they sure give you tons of time to work things out.”
Dawson sat down and grinned. “Well I can go but I still have a major
problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I don’t have a date. I mean I broke up with Jen and there aren’t
really any girls I’m interested in at .... “ Dawson stopped in mid
sentence and peered up at Joey.
Joey noticed this and began to vigorously to shake in her head.
“No way Dawson. I’m not going with you to some fancy smancy banquet.
Forget it.”
“Oh come on Joey. You’re really the only person I want to take.
You’re my best friend in the whole world and I would do it for you.
Please.”
Joey sat down in disgust and sighed. “You’re using guilt. That isn’t
fair Dawson.”
“I know but its working isn’t it?”
“Yeah it is you big dope.”
“Thanks Jo. You’re the best.”
“Yeah I know but I get to pick the movies we see for the next month.
Deal?”
Joey stuck out her hand and Dawson grabbed it and shook. “Deal!”
The halls were packed and Joey felt herself being shoved into the
lockers and her patience snapped. Slinging her backpack into the
person beside her she created a hole for herself to squeeze through.
She walked over to her locker, opened it , and slammed her books into
it one by one. Slam! Slam! Slam! With each little slam she felt a
little better.
“Now now, what did those books ever do to you?” came a sarcastic
laugh behind her.
Without turning around Joey knew who it was and her mood instantly
nose dived again. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten Pacey but these books
allow me hours of homework joy. But then again how would you know
that. Your books spend their life holding up your unused desk.”
“And she breaks out her claws lady and gentlemen.”
Joey turned around to face the monster that lurked behind her. “HA HA
very funny Pacey. In the interest of saving time why don’t you just
tell me what you want.”
Pacey placed his hand on his heart. “I’m wounded Joey. What makes you
think that I want anything.”
“Because you came up to me and if I recall correctly you think my
life is far too boring for you to have any interest in. Remember?”
“Yeah well that was true ... until now.” Joey’s head snapped back to
look at him and Pacey began to smile grin ever so sneakily.
"Okay I’ll bit Pacey. Why is my life so exciting now?”
“Well I heard the news about you and Dawson. I bet you’re just
walking on cloud nine. After all these years of being friends with
you two, I can say I saw the first days of your romantic ... “
“Pacey what are you talking about?”
“Come on Jo. I know about the banquet.”
“Oh. Please Pacey. We’re going as friends and that’s it”
“I think that deep down you’re hoping that’s NOT what this is. Joey
Joey if you think that you can hide the truth from you old pal Pacey
then you’re just as disillusioned as Dawson.”
Joey closed her eyes and let herself imagine her and Dawson dancing
the night away like an old movie. He would take he in his arms and
tell her that her loved her and not Jen and that he was crazy to not
have realized it sooner. Joey opened her eyes and saw Pacey smirking
at her and her illusion vanished. “For the last time, I don’t like
Dawson. We’re friends. I don’t even want to go to the stupid banquet.
“What banquet?” Pacey and Joey turned in the direction of the voice
and found Jen staring at them quizzically.
Pacey looked at Joey with a cocky grin. He loved conflict and this
was the best that life had to offer. Apparently Jen didn’t know about
Dawson’s award banquet or the fact that her number one competition
was escorting him to that banquet.
“Well Jen it turns out that our gifted friend Dawson has won an award
for his brilliant film and our other prudish friend Joey is going
with him as his date.”
Jen looked at Joey who was at this moment glaring at Pacey with fire
in her eyes. She always knew that Joey liked Dawson but she had been
sure that Dawson didn’t reciprocate those feelings. “You and Dawson
are dating?”
Joey managed to light-heartedly laugh as if the mere idea was absurd.
“No, no not at all. He needed a date and since his first choice was
ummm unattainable he asked me ... as a friend.”
“Oh okay well that certainly is good news. I’ll have to congratulate
Dawson. Listen I have US History so I’ll catch you guys later.” She
gave a distracted wave and began to walk off down the hall.
Pacey’s eyes followed her and laughed. “Well that seems to have
shaken her up a bit.”
Joey glared up at him a bitterly replied, “What do you mean?”
“Well history is down that way.” Pacey pointed in the opposite
direction and chuckled.
Joey gave one last blazing glare at Pacey and started to walk down
the hall. She listened to his laughter follow her, changed her mind,
turned around, and punched him in the stomach. Joey then walked to
class without Pacey’s laughter anywhere near her.
“And the award for best editing goes to Richard Bellom.” The
announcer had been announcing awards for over an hour and Dawson
hadn’t received anything yet. He was as excited, though, as he had
been when he had entered the room.
The hall looked fabulous and everyone was decked out in their best
and looked their best. None looked better than his date and he was
extremely proud to be there with the best looking girl in the room.
What shocked him about this was that it was Joey, his best friend.
Ever since he had picked her up he had been mesmerized by her all
night. He still vividly remember her opening the door and casting her
spell on him. She looked beautiful with her long black form fitting
dress and her hair all curly. Was he starting to like her? Itcouldn’t
be. This was Joey his best friend.
“What? Do I have an alien on my head”
Dawson snapped back to reality at Joey’s voice. “Huh?"
“Dawson you’ve been staring at me for the last ten minutes. I’m
beginning to feel a little paranoid.”
“Oh well I was just daydreaming.”
“Daydreaming? Wishing I was Jen?"
“Not at all,” murmured Dawson.
“What?”
“Nothing. Lets go and get our food.”
Joey watched Dawson get up and start for the buffet. She pasted a
smile on her face and followed him but inside she was furious. How
dare he think about Jen. She had spent two hours getting ready with
Bessie’s help. No matter what she did Dawson would never think of her
as anything but a friend. The truth hurt and she wanted to hurt
Dawson back but for the sake of her friendship, which was important,
she would have to get over it and move on.
An hour had passed and more awards had been given out than Joey could
count yet none of them had been for Dawson. “Hey Dawson I don’t want
to sound negative but the award ceremony is going to be over in like
15 minutes. When are you going to get your award?"
“I don’t know Jo and stop asking me every 15 minutes. You’re making
me nervous.”
“Well sorry but I would like to know when . . .”
“And now for the last and biggest award.” The announcer’s voice
boomed over the room. Joey raised her eyebrows at Dawson and smiled
as he swallowed in a desperate attempt to calm his nerves.
“The next award goes to the overall best film. This young filmaker
has shown great promise in his film. And the award goes to Dawson
Leery.”
Dawson stood up and was nearly pushed down by Joey’s hug. His head
was swimming as he walked up to the stage to receive his award. He
won. He really really won. He took his trophy and faced the audience.
“Gee this is the best thing that has every happened to me ... well so
far. I would like to thank my friends and actors who happen to be the
same people. I would like to thank my parents for never discouraging
me in my dreams. Steven Spielberg for all his years has an
outstanding filmmaker and as my idol. But most of all I would like to
thank the most important person in my life. I could never accomplish
anything without her. This is for you Joey.”
“Hey you won the big award. Should I start calling you Mr. Leery?”
Joey teased as she meet up with Dawson at the reception.
“Can you believe it? I’m still shocked. So how’s the party?”
“Well its not as good as that fabulous beach party, but it has its
good points.”
“Yeah like dancing. Come on lets dance.”
“Dawson you know I don’t dance.”
“No I remember at the last dance you dazzled me with your
extraordinary dancing skills.”
Joey smiled remembering the dance that she and Dawson had shared.
That moment had been the realization of her feelings for Dawson. It
had been perfect ,,, until Jen showed up. “Dawson you were dazzled by
Jen not me. Besides we have to catch the ferry back to Capeside so we
have to leave now.”
“Oh I really don’t feel like going home. My parents planned a save
the-marriage-dinner and I don’t want to hear them fighting again.”
Joey saw Dawson’s face sadden at the mention of his parents. “You
think they’ll be able to work things out?"
“I really don’t know. But it scares me Jo.”
“Well why don’t we take a walk on the beach when we get home. There’s
a full moon out and we can just talk.”
Dawson smiled and held out his arm to escort Joey off. “Then shall we
be off?”
“We shall.”
The wind was blowing softly as Joey and Dawson walked barefoot down
the deserted beach. Dawson was overwhelmed by his desire for Joey. He
was also terrified by it though. Romance could destroy their
friendship and he couldn’t do that. He had meant it when he said she
was the most important person in his life.
“You look so serious Dawson. Whatca thinking about?”
Dawson turned to look at Joey and decided to talk to her about this.
He wanted to be able to tell her anything including this. “I was
thinking about us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. About our relationship and where it stands. Joey I meant it
when I said you were the most important person in my life and that I
couldn’t live without you.”
“I feel the same way Dawson.”
“And that’s what scares me Jo. If our friendship ummm well changes
then we’re in danger of destroying it.”
“Dawson I don’t know how I feel ... well actually I do, but I’ve
tried to ignore it because I respect how you feel about Jen.”
Dawson looked out at the sea and sighed. “I don’t even know how I
feel about Jen. I mean I’m supposed to be mourning for her, but I
didn’t think about her once tonight. How can I be so in love with her
if I have all these other feelings for ...” Dawson let his sentence
trail off into a whisper that wasn’t audible.
The two sat there for what felt like an eternity before Joey raised
her head to speak. “I always felt safer when you were with Jen. There
wasn’t any danger of US. But now I don’t know.”
“Me neither.”
The soft sound of music floated through the beach. Dawson peered up
at a house and saw a couple dancing. He remembered his dance with Jen
and his parents dance after their fight. It seemed like dancing
solved most problems. Just like in the old movies where dancing was
the way to express your true feelings.
He looked over at Joey and decided that the time had come to follow
his heart. He had to know his true feelings for Joey and dancing
seemed like a good place to start. He stood up, grabbed Joey’s hand,
and pulled her up.
Joey looked at him quizzically. “What are you doing?”
“I just realized we never got our dance.”
And with that Dawson pulled Joey toward him and held her close. She
seemed stiff at first but relaxed as the song continued. She placed
her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
Nothing entered his head except for Joey in his arms. As they swayed
in the night air, their minds for once were not thinking of the
future but merely of the present and of how they felt right now at
this very moment.
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