Animal House

Dawson was drying his hair when the phone rang. “Hello?” he asked when he picked up the reciever and held it to his ear.
“Hey, Dawson.” It was Joey. “Are you ready to go?”
“So, we’re definitely going to this thing at Pacey’s, huh?”
Joey sighed into the phone. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. I just thought it’d be fun, and I’d like to see some people that I haven’t seen in a while. You know, in case you missed it, I was in Paris for six months.”
“Yes, Jo, I’m well aware that you were gone for six months,” Dawson laughed, “And yes, I’m ready to go, are you?”
“Almost. So, can your parents give us a ride over there?”
“Well, they could, but I thought it’d be easier if I drove,” Dawson answered.
“Oh. I didn’t realize you had your license.”
“Well, Jo, as you so off-handedly stated a few moments ago, you were in Paris for six months.”
Joey laughed, “Okay, Dawson, I catch your sarcasm. Do you want to pick me up or shall I row over?”
“Why don’t I pick you up? It’ll give you some time to finish getting ready.”
“Sounds good. See you soon.” Joey hung up the phone.
“Bye, Jo,” Dawson replied into the receiver.
***
Dawson pulled his red Dodge Neon in front of Joey’s trailer home. He got out and walked up to the door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. Bessie answered.
“Hello, Dawson. Joey’s nearly ready. Do you want to come in?”
“No, that’s okay,” Dawson replied, “I’m fine out here.”
“But it’s about ten degrees out there. Please, come in.”
“If you insist,” Dawson said as he stepped across the thresold of the door. “How’s Alex doing?”
“Fine, he’s sleeping,” Bessie answered, “That’s when everyone seems to appreciate him, you know?”
“I underst...” Dawson saw Joey. She looked incredible. She was wearing a short red halter dress with four-inch high red velvet shoes. And make-up. Dawson rarely saw Joey wearing make-up.
“Ready Dawson?” Joey asked as she grabbed her purse and jacket.
“Umm... yeah, let’s go.” They closed the door behind them. Joey reopened the door.
“Bessie, I’m leaving!” she yelled.
“Joey, I’m right here, I can hear you just fine,” Bessie replied. Joey heard Alex start to cry as she closed the door again. She laughed silently to herself.
“Nice car,” she said to Dawson.
“Oh, thanks. By the way, you look amazing.”
“Thanks, I bought it at this little boutique before I left Paris. My friends talked me into getting it.”
“Well, it looks, I mean, you look great.”
Joey smiled awkwardly, “Well, you look great, too,” He did look great, Joey thought. His new hair cut made him look older than he used to. It went with his olive cargo pants and gray sweater quite nicely.
***
Pacey looked around his new apartment and he couldn’t believe all the people that had shown up. Word travels fast, he thought to himself. He wasn’t even sure who some of the people were, and he wasn’t too sure if he really wanted them there. This is definitely going to get out of control, Pacey thought, I’d better be ready.
***
Joey couldn’t stop staring at Dawson as he drove through town on the way to Pacey’s new apartment.
Dawson glanced at her quickly, “What, do I have something coming out of my nose or something?” he asked self-consciously.
Joey smiled. She had been caught, “No, nothing like that Dawson. It’s just, what in the world did you do to your hair?”
“I was wondering if you were ever going to say anything. Do you like it?”
“Y...e....s,” Joey answered slowly, “In fact, I do. I just kinda miss the blond, you know?”
“Yeah, I just was in the mood for something new. And I wanted to surprise you when you returned.”
“Well, you certainly did that. And Dawson?”
“What Jo?” Dawson asked with concern.
“You’re a much better driver than Pacey ever was,” Joey laughed.
Dawson laughed, too, “I don’t think that’s a big accomplishment. It’s not that hard to do.”
***
Jen was standing with Cliff when Pacey walked up to her.
“So, Jen, does this remind you of your great old New York parties?” Pacey asked.
“Not quite, Pacey, not quite,” Jen replied. Pacey looked like he had been slapped in the face. “It’s a nice try, though. Definitely a good party for Capeside.” Pacey regained his smile. “But, do you think it’s wise to have all this alcohol around?”
“Scared, Jen?” Pacey replied, “It doesn’t matter. People have parties all the time and never get caught. This is my first real bash, don’t diss it.” Pacey walked away to mingle with some more people.
“He’s scared to death that he’s going to get caught,” Jen said to Cliff.
“What are you talking about? He’s fine. What are you so nervous about anyway?” Cliff countered.
“I don’t know,” Jen replied, “This just doesn’t feel right.”
“Well, do you want to leave?”
“No, we’ll see what happens.”
***
Dawson stepped up to Pacey’s door and was about to knock on it. Before he got the chance, Joey cut in front of him and opened the door. “Hey everyone, we’re here,” she yelled into the crowded room.
Dawson was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe that Joey just did that, he had never seen her do anything like that before. “Joey, what are you doing?” he whispered to her.
Joey looked at Dawson with a strange look, “What are you talking about, Dawson? I’m just announcing our arrival, that’s all. It’s not like I shot the President.” Joey walked up to Pacey and slapped him on the arm, “Hey, Pacey, great place you’ve got.”
“Yeah,” Dawson interjected, “A real ‘happenin’ pad’.”
“Thank you Dawson. More importantly, welcome back to Capeside, Jo. How was your Parisian excursion?” Pacey asked.
“Wonderful, thanks. Well, enough of this chit chat, time to make rounds. Coming Dawson?” Joey walked away from the two boys and into another crowd.
Pacey grabbed Dawson’s arm, “What’s going on with her, man? I’ve never seen her like that before. What took over her body?”
“Pacey, I wish I knew. Before this night’s over, I’m going to find out.”
“Oooohh.... Big man. Is that a threat or a promise?” Pacey asked Dawson sarcastically.
“Enough, Pacey, I just want to find out what’s going on. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go ‘make rounds’.” Dawson left Pacey to follow Joey.
Wow, Pacey thought, Dawson doesn’t know what’s hit him.
***
When he rejoined her, Joey was talking with some kids that Dawson didn’t know . “Yeah,” she was saying, “It’s a lot different than Capeside, but that’s definitely a good thing, you know?” She winked at a taller boy with black hair. She then touched his friend on the arm, “You’re from Boston, you said?”
Dawson’s mind couldn’t process what Joey was doing. She was flirting. And not just flirting, but flirting excessively. And it wasn’t even with HIM. What’s going on, he wondered. Angrily he walked away and met up with Jen and Cliff.
***
Joey saw Dawson leave. She wondered what his problem was. All of a sudden “Sell Out” by Reel Big Fish came on the stereo. She smiled and remembered dancing to this with all his friends in Paris. She found herself grabbing the closest boy and saying, “Dance with me, I love this song!”
***
Jen watched Joey from across the room. Dawson was headed towards her. He was about to walk right past her. She grabbed him before he passed her. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Dawson was glaring at her, “I wish you could tell me, because I have no idea. Look at her out there. She doesn’t dance. What happened?”
Jen smiled to herself and thought about how completely clueless Dawson really was. “Dawson, did you ever stop to think that maybe six months in Paris might change a person? Even if the person is Joey?”
“She’s never been like this before. I don’t know her anymore.” Dawson sighed.
“Then tell her that, Dawson. It’s very obvious that you two need to talk.”
“But we did talk, I thought everything was okay. I’m leaving. I can’t take her behavior anymore.” Dawson started to walk away.
Jen grabbed his arm. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not leaving without her, I won’t let you. I’m going to go talk to Joey right now, you stay here with Cliff. Be right back boys.” Jen smiled and walked away.
***
My mission, Jen thought, if I chose to accept it, is to find out what the hell is going on with Joey. And I accept it. She approached Joey, “Can we talk?”
“What?” Joey asked, “Here?”
“Yes, here, now,” Jen retorted. She walked away from the mosh pit and Joey followed her.
Joey grabbed a beer on her way there and chugged nearly the whole thing. “Sorry,” she said sarcastically, “I was a little thirsty.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Jen asked.
“Umm... if you couldn’t tell I was dancing. Having a good time. You should definitely try it some time. It might help.”
“You know what I mean, Joey. Come on, you finally got Dawson and now you’re totally confusing the boy.”
“What do you want me to do, Jen? Apologize for changing? I’m not going to do that. This is who I am. He has to accept that.”
“He would if you would give him a chance. You just blew him away, Joey. Please, talk to him. If you don’t I don’t think you two will make it.”
Jen’s bluntness caught Joey off guard. “Is it really that bad?”
“Yes, now please, talk to him.”
***
Jen left Joey standing with a bewildered expression on her face. She rejoined Cliff and Dawson. They stared at her. “Don’t worry boys,” she said, “It’s all taken care of.”
***
Joey’s mind was reeling. This can’t be right, she thought, I can’t lose Dawson. He’s everything. As she was thinking, Dawson confronted her.
“Hey,” he said, “I think we need to talk.”
“Yeah,” she replied, “Let’s go.” Joey grabbed her things and she and Dawson left.
***
The dancers were shaking the walls, literally. This place is going to fall apart pretty soon, Pacey thought, I’ve got to get these people to calm down. What am I thinking, he asked himself. These people are gone, they’ll crash when they’re good and ready and there’s nothing I can do about it.
***
Jen was proud of herself when she saw Joey and Dawson leave together.
“You’re beaming,” Cliff commented, “Want to dance?”
“Why not?” she said, “I think I deserve it.”
***
There was a knock on Pacey’s door. He opened the door and found the figure of his older brother, Doug, on the other side. “Excuse me,” Doug was saying, “But a complaint was filed....” Doug’s voice trailed off as he saw Pacey. “What are you doing?”
“Um, nothing, but thank you for checking.” Pacey tried to close the door but Doug stopped him.
“PACEY?? It’s you that people are complaining about? There’s a shocker.”
“Well Doug, now that you’ve done your job, please leave.”
“Sorry, little bro, but I’m afraid that I have to place you under arrest.”
“What Doug? This is just a small party, that’s all. PLEASE, just forget you ever came here.”
“I’m sorry Pacey. This might be a small party, but it’s also a small party with alcohol and a lot of people under 21. I’m going to have to arrest all of you.”
Those words rang in Pacey’s ears.