Freaked
Disclaimer: Same as before. If you want to read it again, go to one of
the previous parts. Just don't sue, please!
Freaked by: Alex
It was lunchtime. Jen finally got up from her hiding place in the
bathroom, relieved that she could eat and talk to Pacey, Dawson, and
Joey. She took a quick look in the mirror and saw that she looked
horrible. She went through her bag and was thankful that she had a
brush. She brushed her hair and washed her face. She smiled when she saw
that her eyes were no longer red and puffy. She put some lipstick on and
left to eat with her friends.
"Pacey," she waved from down the hall when she saw him about
to go in the cafeteria.
"Hey, Jen," he smiled. "Did my dragging you to school today
make you feel any better?"
"Right. School making things better. No," Jen said, "I've been
hiding out in the bathroom all day. But, it's okay."
"You've been taking this pretty well, you know that, Jen?"
Pacey said as they got their food. "I'm proud of you. Hey, there's
Dawson. C'mon." Jen was beaming when she spotted him. Her expression
sank a little, but she decided to try not to let him bother her. Dawson
was frantically looking for Joey. He had seen her go back into the
school, and he realized that he had never seen her leave. he figured
that she had, though. He didn't even notice when Jen and Pacey sat down.
"Hey, Dawson," Jen said weakly.
"Hey, Oompa Loompa," Pacey said, trying to make Jen laugh. She
gave Pacey a warning look because of the broken nose he had received the
last time he had called Dawson that. Dawson hadn't even notice, though.
He sighed and suddenly realized that Pacey and Jen had joined him for
lunch.
"Hey guys!" he said, trying to act happy. Pacey remembered
that something was bothering Joey.
"So, Dawson. What'd you do to Joey this morning?" he smirked.
Dawson's eyes lit up.
"Have you seen her today? I need to talk to her," Dawson said,
trying to hide his excitement. Maybe she hadn't ditched school.
"You mean you haven't seen her today?" Pacey asked
thoughtfully. Could he have been wrong? Was Joey so upset over something
other then Dawson? "She was pretty upset. I saw her before homeroom this
morning when she smacked into me and fell over. She ran down the hall
after she picked up her stuff." Dawson sank back into his chair. It was
bad enough that no one had seen her since they had talked that morning,
but it was worse to know that he was the cause of her pain. Pacey
noticed his reaction, and knew that he was right. Dawson was the cause
of this, as always. He decided not to say anything else, though, because
Dawson looked pretty upset.
"I saw her, too," Jen chimed in. Dawson sat up hopefully. "In
the bathroom before homeroom. I think that she was crying, but she said
that she was fine. She wasn't as catty to me as she normally is." Dawson
sank even lower in his seat.
"Did you see where she went?" he asked quietly.
"No, I haven't left the bathroom all morning. Sorry."
"Jen, what's wrong?" Dawson asked.
"My grandfather died last night."
"Jen, I'm so sorry," Dawson sat up suddenly more alert. "I
treated you so badly yesterday, I'm sorry." Pacey took Jen's hand under
the table when he saw tears coming into her eyes again. Dawson noticed
this and was glad that he wouldn't have to feel guilty about not
comforting Jen. Pacey would help her. He would bring her and her
grandmother flowers later, though.
"Yeah," Jen agreed. "You did." Dawson squirmed uncomfortably
in his chair. Maybe he would feel a little guilty...
"I'm so sorry, Jen. I really am. My behavior was unforgivable."
"Dawson, always the nice guy. Can't feel right unless everyone's
forgiven him for his obliviously hurting them. What did you do to Joey,
huh?" Pacey, suddenly angry, said harshly.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't oblivious, it was a mistake. I'm so
sorry," came the rush of words from Dawson. Jen and Pacey looked at him
questioningly. "Jen, you I obliviously hurt, and I'm sorry. I don't know
what else to say. But, Jo..." Dawson realized that his friends were
staring at him attentively waiting for his explanation. "Never mind," he
mumbled, picking up his fork and poking at his food. He silently stared
at whatever the glob on his plate was supposed to resemble. Pacey
continued to eat his food, but Jen continued to stare at Dawson. "He did
something to Joey," she thought. "And now he feels guilty. That's what
he's thinking about right now. How he feels guilty because he loves
her." The words echoed in her mind. "He loves her...he loves her." Jen
was suddenly hit by the real meaning of the words. She had no chance
with Dawson. None. Ever. He was in love with Joey. Jen couldn't take it
anymore. She couldn't sit there staring at him. "C'mon, Pacey. Let's go
eat outside. Now," Jen said sharply. "See you later, Dawson," she added,
smiling sweetly and hoping that he would get the hint and not follow. It
didn't matter, though. Dawson was oblivious, as usual. He was lost in
thoughts of Joey.
"Now, Pacey!" Jen almost screamed.
"But it's kind of cold out..." Pacey whined. He changed his
mind when he was the anxiousness in her expression. "Yeah, okay," he
said, picking up his tray to follow. "Bye, Dawson. " Dawson continued to
stare at his food. "Dawson," Pacey said, waving his hand inbetween
Dawson's gaze and the food. "He's gone. Let's go." Pacey told Jen on the
way out of the cafeteria. Dawson suddenly shook himself out of his
trance a few minutes later and was surprised to find himself sitting
alone at the table.
***********************************************
Jen still had no appetite. She threw out the food that she
hadn't forced herself to eat. Pacey took his food with him, though, when
he followed her outside.
"Pacey, this was so much easier yesterday," Jen moaned. Pacey
carefully put down his food and hugged Jen. "I mean, when I first heard
that he had died, it hadn't registered. I felt numb. That's all, just
numbness. I felt like I was aimlessly walking around in this horrible
dream, you know? When you found me last night, I had just begun to
realize, I'm not going to wake up. He's gone. This is real. Add Dawson
pining away for Joey in there and it's just too much. I can't take
this!" Jen buried her head in his shoulder and started to cry again.
"It's okay, Jen. It will be all right. C'mon," Pacey started
walking. Jen sort of followed, although her head was buried in his
sleeve. He found an unoccupied bench on the docks and sat them both
down. They stayed there for a while, but Pacey was anxious to check on
Joey, too. Since no one had seen her, she must have cut school like he
and Jen just had. Well, let Dawson get to her first. Then go check on
her. Pacey smiled that he had a plan and continued to comfort Jen.
***********************************************
Joey was still sobbing on the beach. She slowly picked her
head off her knee. The tears were still rolling and falling onto her
shirt, but she had made her decision about France. She was going to go
after school to inform the program of her decision. She figured that by
then all the teachers whose classes she had cut would be gone. She also
hoped that Dawson would be, too.
***********************************************
Any ideas? Feedback? Watch for the next part with Joey's decision!
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