The Plan

Pacey walked over to Dawson's to see if he was home, and to tell him what had been found at Joey's. He wondered if that Anderson guy had done it before leaving town. He was on the pier when he departed. His mind was full of thoughts on how to get Dawson and Joey together and now the surprise....Joey had a secret admirer. But the poor fellow doesn't realize she loves someone else. Her best friend of all people. Pacey wished he could tell Dawson, but he wouldn't believe him any ways. He told him on the boat the night of the beach party. And he didn't believe him then either. Dawson, Pacey thought. If only you knew the truth. If only you knew the one person that knows all about you is in love with you, what would you do?

Dawson had saved his best friends life, the woman he loved, and he sent her flowers as a secret admirer. All in all it was a busy day. He had awoke at ten, and needed to take a walk. He went to the ruins, then wondered to the beach. That was when he took a swim, and then saved a life. His best friends life. He was a hero, in some small way. It was unknown, only he and Joey knew about it. They were alone on the beach. Dawson wanted to hit himself in the head. He had the perfect opportunity to kiss Joey, but he didn't. It was one of those things where you wanted to do something, but it almost didn't seem right. Until you finally do it, and it feels SO right. He fantasized about the day he would finally get the nerve to tell her, and show her how much he loved her. But his fantasies were dashed with a ladder hitting his window sill.

"Hey, Dawson." Pacey said as he climbed through the window.

"Hey Pacey. What are you doing over here?" Dawson asked, sitting up on his bed.

"I ran into Joey down close to her house, and I walked with her to the front door. Man, you won't believe what we found..." he said laughing. Little did he know Dawson did know...He did it!!!

"What?" Dawson asked, with a tone of voice making him sound genuinely curious.

"She had a note from a secret admirer on the door, and when we opened the door..." he had to take a pause he was about to burst with laughter.

"A trail of red and white roses, all leading to her room!!"

"No way..." Dawson sounding surprised.

"Yeah, and then there were two roses on her bed, and two on her windowsill." he said smiling. "I mean don't get me wrong, Joey's pretty...but a secret admirer!!?"

"Yeah,.." Dawson said getting up. "Any ideas on who it could be?"

"I think it might have been that Anderson guy...but he left. Other than that I don't know, man." Pacey stood up, "You got any ideas?"

"Nope,...." Dawson said moving some tapes.

"I feel so sorry for whoever this guy is." Pacey said shaking his head.

"Why?" Dawson asked, he was really curious now.

"Because Joey loves someone already. I mean with her whole heart, man. She is so lost in the clouds she can't how much she likes him." Pacey, stopped himself from saying more. He hoped he didn't make it sound too much like it was Dawson.

"Really? She never said anything to me. And the way she acts around all the guys at school, I mean the only ones she even talk to are me and you." Dawson said, sitting on the bed.

"Yeah, well...she doesn't make it known to the world. But I read the signs." Pacey started to leave. "I have to go, Dawson, bye!" And with that Pacey was out the window. Leaving Dawson very confused, and was regretting sending her the flowers.

Jen found Pacey at the ruins. She had wanted to talk about the plan they had, and when they would start it. She wanted to know for sure that Dawson only loved Joey, that he belonged to Joey. Jen couldn't lie that she had strong feelings for Dawson, but she had to know the feelings were mutual. That was clear the night I told Dawson it was over!, Jen thought. He was angry that I walked into his life, started something between us, that I ended before it began. She knew they had to many differences, and her past would always cause problems for them. She needed to spend time away from men. At least in the dating sense. Friends couldn't cause any harm. She walked up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and smiled.

"Hey, can we talk about the plan?" Jen asked sitting next to him.

"Yeah, I could use some distraction." Pacey said as he turned sideways to face her.

"Okay, what do we have so far?" she asked.

"Well, I figure we arrange a little moonlight walk, after seeing movie. Maybe dinner. What do you think?" Pacey asked.

"What about something simple....I mean something they would ordinarily do any ways." she said, know full well the only thing Dawson and Joey ever do that is continuous.

"The only thing they do is watch movies every night...." his voice trails off.

"Exactly." she said, smiling.

"But his parents are always home." he said puzzled as to where she was going with this.

"Not quite..." she said teasingly, as she stood up. "See, I called over there nonchalantly and talked to Mrs. Leery. I asked if her and Mr. Leery had anything planned this weekend to help work out there marriage...ya know?"

"Continue.." he was getting even more curious as she went on. He stood up, and walked in front of her.

"Well, she told me that they were going to a lodging close to town for the weekend...WHOLE weekend. She was just about to tell Dawson about it when I called. I wished them luck, and said my good-byes." she said, smiling her schemer smile.

"This is great!!!" he said clapping his hands. "Dawson and Joey are gonna be home alone, watching movies...I just got the most brilliant idea!" he said.

"I thought you would...tell." she said.

"Okay here it is...."

Dawson couldn't believe what his mom had told him. His parents were leaving him alone, all weekend, and that if he wanted Joey or someone to spend the night they could use their room to sleep in. She said the sheets were new, and everything. They were leaving tonight. He was ecstatic. Joey was gonna be coming over in about two hours. He wondered if she would consider sleeping over the whole weekend? He jumped off the bed, and walked to the phone. He picked up the receiver, and dialed Joey's number.

"Hello?" Bessie had picked up the phone.

"Yeah, it's Dawson is Joey still there?" he asked, hoping he had caught her before she left.

"Yeah, she was about to leave for your house...Joey..." he hears Bessie hand Joey the phone.

"What's up, Dawson?" Joey asked.

"Can you sleep over the whole weekend?" he asked right out. HE didn't like beating around the bush if he could help it.

"What?! Aren't we too old for sleepovers Dawson?" Joey asked, sarcastically.

"Well, you see....My parents are going out of town, and I would love to have your company all weekend. This house gets lonely fast when its empty. Please say yes Jo. If you don't I will be over there constantly while their gone." he said in his charming voice that he knew she could never resist.

"Okay...okay. I can't stand it when you do that voice." she said. "I'll be over in about an hour." she laughed.

"Great, bye Joey."

"Bye Dawson." she hung up.

Joey arrived at Dawson's window before she even said she'd be there. Dawson was watching a movie already, and turned to see her enter,. He turned off the TV, got off the bed, and walked over to help her with her duffel bag.

"You got here early, Jo." he said.

"Yeah, Bessie was in a hurry to get me out of there." she said smiling.

"So, I guess I am sleeping on the floor here?" She said moving to the side of the bed closer to the window.

"No, actually you are sleeping in my parents room." he said walking out his bedroom door. Joey was behind him the second he said parents room.

"What? I have to sleep where your parents made home videos of Humpty-Dumpty!! No way!!" she said, trying to take her bag from Dawson.

He tugged back on it, and they pulled and tugged on the poor bag all the way into the room. They fell on the bed, bag dropping to the floor, and a tickling war broke out. They rolled over, one minute Dawson was on his back, then Joey was. They were both trying to make the other cry UNCLE, but neither would. Joey opened her eyes, when Dawson had stopped for a breather, and their eyes met. Their faces were about four inches apart. Joey wanted to kiss him right then, but the thought of kissing Dawson on his parents bed, was a weird one. Dawson moved from being almost on top of her to the side of her.

"Fine, I'll try to sleep here. Alright?" she said.

"Okay." he smiled at her. "Meet me back in my room, Kay?"

"Okay." she said watching him walk out the room.

This is gonna be a true test on how long I can control my feelings for you , Dawson. She thought to herself. One wrong move, and I might lose all control, and kiss you. If I do that, what would you do? Would you tell me you feel the same, and kiss me back? Or what?

Dawson woke up, and found the TV a gray fuzz. It reminded him of Poltergeist. They're here, he thought to himself. He turned and saw that Joey had already gone to bed. For an instant he thought she had left to go home, but remembered she was right down the hall. He stood up, and took off his shirt. He stretched, and walked out of his room toward the stairs. He walked to the kitchen and poured himself some orange juice. Walking out of the kitchen he saw Joey lying on the couch in her pajamas. What surprised him was her pajamas was just a tie-dyed-swirled- purple-velvet shirt. It went down past her hip just a little, and her hair was tossed over the pillow, her head tilted to the right. She looked peaceful, her right arm over her stomach, her left arm hanging off the couch.

Dawson smiled at this sight, and he sat down his orange juice. He walked over to her and bent down to where he was looking directly at her. If her eyes were open they'd be starring each other in each others eyes. Dawson pulled the blanket that was at her feet up to her chest, and made sure she was covered up. She wouldn't sleep in his parents room, and he understood why. He heard thunder outside, and soon heard rain hitting the roof hard. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, whispered goodnight, and went to bed. He picked up his juice as he left the front room.

Jen and Pacey were outside Dawson's house. Joey and Dawson had retired early tonight, it was only ten o'clock. It wasn't like a weekday, he thought. Their plan was working perfectly. After tonight nothing would be easy for Dawson and Joey. Hopefully their feelings would come out tonight. It was all up to Jen and Pacey. And it was time to start part one......

Joey woke up with a start. She had the most intense dream she had ever had. And she was in a cold sweat. She found that she was covered once her senses were back on. She had remembered falling asleep before she even could pull the blanket up. She got up, and walked to the kitchen, her throat dry. She opened the fridge, and grabbed the orange juice. She poured herself a cup, and after placing the orange juice back, walked back to the couch. She was trying to figure out what her dream meant. It was about Dawson and her, and they were having a romantic night out. She couldn't remember exactly what her dream was about now. She got up off the couch, and started up the stairs. Her mind still in a daze, she heard Dawson's TV. She walked to his room, closing the door behind her, and found him covered up. Dirty Dancing in the VCR. It was practically at the beginning, she looked at him again, and thought she saw his eyes closed. Thinking it was safe, she walked over to the side of the bed she usually laid on, pulled back the covers, climbed in, and started to watch the movie.

"Nice of you join me, Baby." he mumbled under his breath. Moving his head slightly toward her.

"Well, Johnny...think I'd miss a great movie?" she replied back.

"I didn't doubt it for a second." he smiled a weak smile, he was asleep, and she had woke him up.

"Want me to leave? Let you sleep?" she said sitting her orange juice down.

"No, I'm awake." he said. Sitting up. "I guess you really didn't want to sleep in my parents room...huh?" he said smiling at her. Their faces no more than eight inches apart.

"Why you say that?" she asked, hoping it wasn't because he saw her downstairs.

"I got me some orange juice, and I found you lying on the couch, in....your nightgown." he said, teasingly.

"Well, I was hot, and I forgot to cover up." she said looking at the TV. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey were dancing in his room.

"Okay," he said.

Dawson wanted to kiss her so bad. They were lying in his bed, watching one of the most romantic scenes in this movie, and he couldn't even kiss her on the cheek, or she'll know how he feels. He focused on the movie, but when he did he saw Joey and him in the same situation as on screen. He thought he heard a click, but shrugged it off. He looked at Joey, than at the TV. The wind started to pick up outside, and his window started to jiggle, then it slammed shut. Dawson got out of the bed and walked toward the window. He tried three times to open the window, but it was stuck. All of a sudden the power goes out. Everything. The TV, lights everything. Dawson saw his flashlight near the window, thanks to the moonlight, and picked it up. HE turned it on, and started toward the door.

"I'll be right back," he said placing his hand on the door knob. He tried turning it, but it was locked. Or jammed he didn't know which right now. A part of him was saying 'Thank you God for locking me in the room with the woman I love. But the other part was afraid of what was gonna happen in here until someone found them locked there.

"It seems we are locked in my room." he said turning to face Joey. Joey looked at him like saying ' you aren't serious are you?'. She jumped out of the bed, and not noticing what she was wearing, tried the door herself. Dawson felt his mouth drop with desire. And thought he was gonna drool. He caught himself before Joey turned to face him. He liked what he saw the more he saw it. Control yourself, Dawson, he told himself.

"So, now what do we do?" Joey asked him.

"I have no idea." but what he was thinking was: And I am not hoping for an answer anytime soon.

Jen and Pacey ran out of the house, and behind it to where the boat they used was waiting. They were excited, it went like clockwork. Joey and Dawson are locked in his room, and the window wasn't part of the plan. Pacey and Jen hugged each other, Pacey twirled her around, and they were laughing hysterically.

"Now what?" Jen said, as they stopped spinning, and she was free from Pacey's strong arms.

"We wait. Until the morning any ways." Pacey said.

"Why the morning?" she asked getting in the boat.

"I am gonna just happen by, and see the door was "jammed" and that way I'll see what happened." he said as he sat down and started rowing.

"You are so devious." she laughed.

"Thank you, I try."

Dawson, after seeing how uncomfortable if was for Joey to just be in a shirt around him, offered her a pair of his boxers to wear until tomorrow. Dawson and Joey were rummaging around his room trying to find another flashlight or anything to add more light. Neither was tired now. Joey and Dawson tried to laugh this off, and they tried to fall asleep, but neither could.

"Hey, I found some batteries. Does your CD player take these?" Joey asked holding up six D batteries. He walked over to her, and took them out of her hands.

"Yeah, here..."he handed her the flashlight, and she followed him to his CD player. He unplugged it, and turned it over. Dawson removed the back of the panel, and placed the batteries in. He turned it over, after placing the panel back on. He Turned it on, and turned it on. It was the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing. The song that came on was "She's Like The Wind". He sat he CD Player down on the bed, as the music began, and stood up. He offered Joey his hand, and she took it. Dawson pulled her close, and he felt her head on his shoulder.

"She's like the wind through my dream She rides the night next to me She leads me through moonlight Only to burn me with the sun She's taken my heart But she doesn't know what she's done Feel her breath in my face Her body close to me Can't look in her eyes She's outta my league Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs She's like the wind"

Dawson rubbed his head lightly against the top of her head as they slow danced. It almost felt like they were in a spotlight. He didn't want this dance to end, and the song reminded him of how he felt toward Joey, maybe not every line, but most of it. And with every line that did, every phrase, he wanted to kiss her.

"I look in the mirror and all I see Is a young old man with only a dream Am I just foolin' myself That she'll stop the pain Livin' without her I'd go insane"

That last verse really was how Dawson felt he knew it as soon as he heard it. He'd literally go insane if he lost Joey. She was the glue that kept him in reality. She was all that was important to him. If he lost her....he didn't even like to think about it.

"Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs She's like the wind Feel your breath in my face Your body close to me Can't look in your eyes You're outta my league"

Dawson backed away from Joey slightly, and looked at her. They made eye contact, and he felt like their faces were getting closer, and closer. Joey's mouth was slightly opened as if she was about to try and say something, but the words didn't want to come out. Dawson didn't realize how close his face was to hers. But only a part of him wanted to pull back, but it wasn't the majority of him, the majority wanted to kiss her, not to put it off any longer. Not to make it a dream any longer. He wanted to make it a reality. Dawson's face started to creep down toward hers, and before they could kiss....the song ended, and Joey backed away quickly.

"I think I should lie down..."she said walking toward the side of the bed. She moved the covers, and slipped under. "Night Dawson. Thank you for the dance."

"Night Joey." he said walking toward his side of the bed. "And you're welcome."

Dawson left the CD player going, the next song was "Hungry Eyes" and Joey realized that the song in some parts, reminded her of her feelings for Dawson. She couldn't believe she backed out of the perfect moment to kiss him. They were so close, but she pulled back. Why!!?, was all she could ask herself. Dawson had turned the flashlight out when he sat on the bed, and the room was completely dark. Joe was lost in her thoughts, and she kept hitting herself in the head for backing away from Dawson. It was like he wanted to kiss her, but she thought it was just the heat of the moment. Joey turned over, not knowing Dawson was facing her direction, her eyes closed. She fell asleep, thinking about Dawson.

Pacey walked into Dawson's house, and started up the stairs. He was hopeful as to what he was gonna find. A night locked in a room, two people who loved each other, usually turns out nicely. He heard music coming from Dawson's room, and opened the door, acting like it was jammed in case one of them was awake. But they were both asleep. Joey was lying facing Dawson, and Dawson was facing her. They were so close to kissing, Pacey also noticed that Dawson's arm was wrapped on Joey's side, and her head was tilted...touching his forehead. Pacey walked out, and shut the door behind him, leaving it unlocked. He went downstairs, to the basement, and turned on the electricity. He heard Dawson wake up, and snuck out the back door. Jen is gonna love this!!, Pacey thought.

Dawson awoke to the loud noise from the TV, and the lights. He got up, and turned the TV and lights off. He watched as Joey turned over, and stayed asleep. He smiled and walked out his room, and down to the kitchen. He saw Pacey knocking on the front door, and Dawson walked over to the door. He opened it, and motioned for him to come in.

"Hey, Dawson." Pacey said.

"Shhh....you'll wake up Jo." Dawson said as he shut the front door, and walked toward the kitchen.

"What?" Pacey said, acting surprised. "What happened last night Dawson? Huh??" he said in his nosy way.

"Nothing, Pacey. I invited her to spend the night with me this weekend while my parents are away." he said as he poured him some orange juice.

"Oh, so I take it she slept in your folks room?" Pacey said, with a wry smile.

"Not exactly..." Dawson said trailing off. He walked around Pacey, and into the front room.

"Okay, Dawson. If nothing happened between the two of you why are you shirtless?" Pacey asked.

Dawson just starred at him, not knowing what to say.

Joey woke up to Savage Garden "I Want You". It reminded her of the dance Dawson and her shared at the dance. She had this strange feeling that night that if Jen and Cliff hadn't come by, Dawson and her might have kissed during that slow dance. She sat up, and kicked off the blanket. She remembered everything from last night as well. How Dawson had been so close to kissing her, and she backed away. She still wanted someone to kick her for that. The perfect moment...now gone!! She laid back down backwards, running her fingers through her hair. She got up, and started out of the room, toward the parents room, when she heard Pacey downstairs. He was questioning Dawson about last night. Why he wasn't wearing his shirt...I have an idea... She ran down the stairs right up to Dawson, and laid a big kiss on him. Joey stopped kissing him, and went down to his neck, where she could whisper in his ear. His arms had gone around her by now.

"Go along with me on this....trust me." she whispered. Not knowing doing that turned Dawson on.

"Wasn't last night terrific, Dawson?" she asked, playfully.

"Yeah...it was." he said smiling down at her. Kissed her again, "Really great."

Pacey was speechless. "Are you telling me you two...?"

"Yep, that's what we're saying." Joey said looking at him.

Joey couldn't believe that she was pulling this off. She wanted to get Pacey for always bugging her about her feelings for Dawson, and she suppose he was bothering him about his for her. This would get him. Wait till he finds out its a joke, she thought. But I don't want it to be.

"Okay, I think I'll leave now. I feel like I am intruding here." Pacey got up, and walked out of the house.

Dawson let Joey go as she backed away. Going to the window to stare at Pacey. He was still baffled.

"We got him good that time Dawson." she said, laughing.

"Huh?" Dawson was puzzled. He had missed a scene in this script.

"He was always bugging us on whether we had feelings for each other, right?" she said, walking toward him.

""Yeah...so you acted?" he said, smirking.

"Yep, hey I am an actress in your movies. Am I not?" she asked, jokingly. "I'm gonna go get dressed. I can't wait to see Pacey's face when we tell him it was an act." she laughed all the way up the stairs. Or at least till she got to his parents room. When she shut the door, she sighed a huge sigh. She pulled it off, and she thought Dawson bought it. She hoped he did, because if he didn't.....she was in a in a huge hole!!

All an act, Dawson thought. He had gone upstairs after Joey did, and took a shower. He had just slipped on a pair of jeans, and was trying to find the perfect shirt to wear with them. He was really confused. He had wanted to kiss Joey all last night, and she comes into the living room and kisses him in front of Pacey...all for an act? Dawson picked out a blue shirt, laid it on his bed, and sat down nest to it. He picked up his shoes, and put them on. He stood up, and placed the shirt on in front of the mirror. Just then Joey walks in. She is in a black, spaghetti strap tank top, and black jeans. She had her shoes in hand. Her hair was wet, and she looked great. Joey walked over to the bed, sat down, and began slipping on her shoes. Dawson starred at her through his mirror. He loved her, he knew that for certain now, but was he literally ready to destroy their friendship?? That was the question that puzzled him the most. Secondly....how was he gonna get through tonight without kissing her? He almost didn't make it last night. Dawson wasn't sure he'd be that lucky next time.