. Author’s Note: I always wanted a soap opera style fic, where the relationships change constantly. Anyway it’s sort of based on some life experiences from when I was in high school and had my own Dawson, Pacey, Jack and Jen, in fact some of the PJ banter comes from some banter I shared with a friend of mine. It takes place in multiple points of views so between every break I’ll label the narrator. Summary: The beginning of junior year, this picks up after season 2. Some plots and season 3 story lines from the actual show will be used but only briefly and altered. Example: Andie still cheated on Pacey and Dawson is still being seduced by Eve.. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15

Jen

I sit with Jack during lunch and we watch as Dawson and Joey once again awkwardly pass each other followed by a quick glimpse of Pacey watching after Andie longingly. “It’s times like these that I’m glad I’m gay,” Jack mumbles through chews of his lunch. 

“Why is that?” I question through an arched brow. 

“To avoid all of these relationships between friends, well unless Pacey decides to venture out of any closets that is.” 

I smirk, “What about Dawson?” 

“To needy,” he replies simply and I can’t help but laugh. I love Jack, I realize this all now but it’s too complicated, and the fear of losing this incredible friendship haunts me through acting on these feelings. 

“So should we promise to make this a drama free zone?” I suggest and we toast our glasses because it’s all better this way. 

~*~ 

Joey

I wonder out of the cafeteria and back to my locker during lunch because after Dawson stole a seat with Jack and Jen my options for eating accompaniment was gone. Even though the thought of sitting with a sulking Andie was alluring, I was pretty sure that I had dropped some pencil shavings in my locker and wanted to clear them out before they stained anything. 

When I get there Pacey is hunched in front of his with his knees drawn to his chest. “You’re ass is in the path of my door,” I explain nudging him with my foot barely paying attention to him. 

“Sorry,” he murmurs, and I quickly realize that some things wrong when his quip isn’t nearly as creative as my own, in fact it hardly even qualified as a quip. 

I sigh, “Not that I care or anything, but what’s wrong?” I ask crouching down next to him. 

“Why don’t you concentrate more on your little affair with Blondo the Boy Wonder and less on my own?” He counters and I feel at ease from his insult because it dismisses all terminal illnesses. I don’t like the guy but I’m not wishing any harmful deaths. 

“Because my affairs are rather boring and non-existent. So come on spill,” I say nudging his arm. 

“Andie dumped me, for no good reason whatsoever,” he explains bitterly. 

“Why would she do that?” I ask just as confused as he sounds. 

“Because I failed that English test,” he replies and I bite back a laugh. 

But this isn’t the time for humor because Pacey’s one of my oldest friends and he deserves my pity. “Do you know the real reason?” 

“Not a clue,” he sighs climbing to his feet and I follow. 

I sigh again to fill in the awkward silence, “Look if there’s anything I can do, if you ever need a friend to talk to or whatever, I’m here.” 

He eyes me strangely then cracks a smile realizing that I’m just as lonely as he is, “Thanks Jo,” he whispers, and I feel this warm feeling rush over me, like I’m finally doing something right. 

But then something catches his eye and he perks up and before I can glance over my shoulder to see what it is his lips are pressed tightly against mine. I shut my eyes tightly hit with this sudden shock of him kissing me. He pulls away glancing back over my shoulder and back at me, I figure there’s a mission to his madness so I refute from slapping him and wait for a rationale explanation. But instead he whispers, “At least pretend that you’re enjoying this.” 

He kisses me again and I loosen up slightly but I stay strong and refuse to part my lips and let his nasty slimy tongue slide into my mouth, I do have boundaries. He finally lets me go and when I look past his shoulder I see the reason for this momentary lapse into insanity. Andie was walking down the hall with another guy. 

“When I told you I was there for you,” I sneer, “the offer didn’t include free range on my lips!” 

“It couldn’t have been that bad,” he says slyly and this time I think I really am going to slap him. 

“Do it again Witter and I return your balls on a silver platter,” he flinches and I think sufficiently receives the point. And then the friend side in me begins to seep through my normal Joey façade. “Besides if I were Andie right now I wouldn’t want my ex-boyfriend kissing one of my closest friends.” 

“Well if I were Pacey right now I wouldn’t want to see her skipping down the halls with Roy Harting three periods after we break up, oh wait I am Pacey and I don’t want to see it!” He replies bitterly. 

“She wasn’t skipping,” I counter even though my argument isn’t nearly as valid as his own, but I’m stubborn that way. 

“Thanks for clearing that up,” he says dryly, “I guess everything’s alright after all, I guess my broken heart is mended due to the simple fact that she was merely walking down the hall instead of joyfully skipping.” 

“Don’t worry Pace, I’m sure within the next few days Andie will realize the horrible mistake of letting you go and your hallway maulings and christenings against my locker will resume as previously scheduled,” I say comfortingly patting his shoulder. 

He smirks the simple smile letting me know he’ll be okay, “Promise?” 

~*~ 

Jack

I flip through a book while I pretend to be doing research on the Civil War, junior year is crazy already with numerous assignments by the second week piled on top of SAT prep courses and a never ending supply of college lectures. 

“Jack,” Andie whispers a stickler for the library code of contact as she waves goodbye to Roy what’s his name. 

“Yeah,” I reply in a normal speaking voice and am responded with a stern look. 

“I was wondering when you were coming home,” she explains absently picking up a book and leafing through it. 

“I’ll come home when dad asks me too,” I reply with a shrug. I feel guilty because I moved out after Andie left and rarely told her of my temporary, now seemingly permanent living arrangements. 

“How about when I ask you?” She wonders and I feel even worse. 

“Things are complicated,” I sigh because I don’t have any better answers. 

“Yes they are, and with you hiding over at the Ryan’s we’re never going to solve any problems!” Her voice rises and she quickly corrects herself back to a whisper. 

“Maybe you should take your own advice,” I say in reference to Pacey. 

“That’s completely different,” she refutes shaking her head strongly. 

“I wouldn’t know,” I mumble ashamed of the relationship we share now, I barely know her anymore. 

“Well I leave that information for my brother, and right now I don’t think I have one.” She turns a cold shoulder to me and I want to say something but I can’t, because she’s right. 

~*~

Dawson

Jen and I take off to study hall and I catch a glimpse of the mysterious blonde from the first day of school. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since our infamous encounter and she gives me this sexy wave that does not go unnoticed by my petite companion. 

“Ooo la la, Mr. Leery already picking up chicks,” she teases me and I can feel the crimson color tinting my cheeks. 

“I did no picking up,” I counter, “She seems to be more of the dominatrix.” 

“Please,” she pats me on the arm looking at me woozily, “kinky doesn’t work for you.” 

My mystery girl heads towards us and Jen gives me an encouraging shove before deserting me in the middle of the hall to slip into our next classroom. 

“Dawson Leery,” she says simply and I’m surprised that she went to the trouble of finding out who I am, but my main focus is on the sound of her voice and it’s soft melodic tone. 

“Now that you know me, when do I get to learn more about you,” I ask suavely, years and years of endless movie marathons finally working in my advantage. 

“Patience,” she replies covering my lips with her fingers, “the mystery makes the build up so much more interesting.” 

“If I tell you I was already extremely infatuated would it help?” I plea, it’s not everyday I have beautiful women hurling themselves at me but I don’t tell her out of fear of losing my edge. 

“The marina, 10 o’clock,” she tells me and I nod blankly trying to create an alibi for leaving the house on a Thursday night. “More shall be revealed,” she dips near my ear and I shiver, “and I’m not just talking names.” 

I swallow the large lump that’s formed in my throat and before I can reply she’s already swaying her hips in that mesmerizing rhythm down the hall and I head into my class slipping down next to Jen. 

“You dog,” she mutters a tinge of pride in her voice that makes me grin, but it fades when I see Joey. 

~*~ 

Joey

Pacey and I head into study hall and when I see Dawson my heart jumps into my throat. I lick my lips nervously and all of a sudden this feeling of guilt washes over me when I can still taste Pacey there. 

I sit on the outside of Pacey sandwiching him and Jen between Dawson and me to avoid the inevitable awkward confrontation. It surprises me that I still haven’t talked to him once since that fateful day last June when I willed him out of my life. 

Dawson abruptly stands dragging Pacey off with him and brushes behind me and my whole body tingles Pacey tugs on my ponytail and I smile batting at his hand before turning back to Jen. 

“Has Dawson mentioned me at all, like ever since his return?” I ask and afterwards realize how desperate I sound. 

“What do you think? Dawson’s not the type of person to wail on his broken heart,” she explains, but she’s wrong because he is. I drop my head shaking it subtly, “What’s wrong?” Jen asked catching on to my body language. 

“Nothing I just forgot how frustrating the lusting part was,” she rubs my shoulders comfortingly and I’m glad I’ve finally opened up and accepted her friendship, because Jen’s the only one who seems to understand. 

~*~

Pacey

The collar of my shirt feels like it’s shrunk in the past few moments and I realize Dawson must know about what I did last period, “Look man, when I kissed Joey I was completely using her, there were no emotions involved and it meant absolutely nothing.” 

He arches his brows and I realize that this little chat has nothing to do with my impulsive stupidity. “You kissed Joey?” 

“It was to make Andie jealous,” I explain. 

“Why would you want to make Andie jealous?” 

“Because she dumped me,” I reply still not believing the words. 

“I’m so sorry Pace,” he comforts sincerely. 

“So why are we really out here?” I inquire glancing up and down the empty hallway. 

"There's this woman," he says with a sort of desperation in his eyes. I nod slowly and wait for him to continue. “She’s beautiful in an almost mythological sort and she kissed me and it was amazing,” I crack a smile because that’s just what the image of a beautiful woman does to me. “She wants me to meet her at the Marina tonight.” 

“So go,” I tell him simply not quite grasping onto his conflict. 

“Joey,” he says and I feel like we’re stuck in a never ending whirlpool that never let’s up…and wait I think I’ve heard this metaphor used before. 

“Move on,” I say and I think it’s the best advice I’ve given all day, they need to move on, they need to get over each other because being together didn’t work out all that well. “What’s the harm in at least going?” 

He shrugs and I pat his shoulder as we head back to class. 

~*~ 

Andie

I’m lonely and I’m miserable and ever since I saw Pacey kiss Joey this afternoon I’ve been nothing but confused. He doesn’t even like her, he rarely even talks about her and Joey looked utterly disgusted. Could he have been trying to make me jealous? Was it because I was getting notes from that kid to make photo copies in the library? A million questions flood my brain and the only clear thing still standing in my brain is how much I love Pacey and how I can’t live without him. 

If I got back together with him, I wonder, would we be starting off on a clear slate? Would anything over the summer become null and void? Could it just vanish from memory? Could I say I’m sorry for everything and include that without mentioning specifics? 

I think I’m going crazy again without him and now as I walk through the dark streets of Capeside I see the fountain to my right glowing with brilliance as the water dances around it falling like a waterfall in the pool. On my right is the bay, where boats bob along at a steady rhythm over the subtle waves and strings of light bulbs line my path along the creaking dock. 

It’s our spot, and I’m not surprised when I see him sitting there on our bench waiting for me, like he knew I would come. “I miss you,” I mumble, and he quickly looks up at me a smile tinting the corner of his lips. 

“It’s been a long eight hours,” he explains. I sit down next to him on our bench folding my hands in my lap. “What’s really going on Andie, you know you can tell me anything?” 

I feel this flooding need to cry but I shake it off focusing my attention on my hands, “I’m just a little overwhelmed that’s all, with everything last spring and the clinic and coming home everything’s changing so fast.” It’s partially true but I still feel awful for lying. 

“And when have I ever let you down?” He questions and he’s right. 

“I’m just scared that’s all, that this is all only temporary that everything that I’ve worked so hard for will just crumble in my fingers again,” I’m crying freely and he wraps his arm around my shoulder his warmth so comforting. 

“I’m scared too,” he whispers in my ear and I let out a loud whimper because I love him so much. “Let me go through this with you, so you’re not alone,” he always knows the perfect thing to say, and I don’t deserve it. 

I nod a few times burying my face in his shoulder as I continue to bawl. He takes my hand from my lap lacing his fingers through mine pulling me off the bench with him, “Andrea McPhee may I have this dance?” 

I nod smiling through my tears as he pulls my body against his and we sway to the music of the fountain trickling and the boats bobbing in the back ground. 

“My heart- boom, boom, boom, boom…” he whispers taping against his chest as he rests his forehead against mine. 

“My knees are shaking,” I whisper back and he tightens his grip supporting me like he always does. I look up at him with glossy eyes, “Kiss me?” 

“I thought you’d never ask,” he smiles capturing my lips with his and everything is perfect, the way it used to be. As we part he mutters, “I’m deliriously happy,” and I am too, but the only question remains is for how long? 

~*~

Jen

I sit out in the park waiting for the sprinklers to start, according to my watch eight minutes and counting. 

“Hey there lonely,” Jack says sinking down next to me. 

“Hey there overly attractive homosexual,” he smirks not catching onto the seriousness of my statement. He seems sad which is how everyone in this school has seemed lately so I ask him the farley overused question: “What’s wrong?” 

“It’s Andie, she just said some things today that really got to me,” he sighs. 

“Such as?” I inquire. 

“That I’m not her brother anymore, and I just felt guilty because we’ve developed this great bond, one that Andie and I could never manage to form.” 

“Maybe it would be better for both of you if you went home,” I suggest reluctantly, “I mean we would invite Andie to stay with us too, but McPhee Manor is much more spacious.” 

He smirks, “Everything at home is so complicated, between Andie and her sickness, and my dad trying to deal with my mother and Tim and my special case—.”

“I know Jack,” I cut in because I can see it’s really starting to get to him. 

I wrap my arms around him allowing him to cry into my chest, “I just miss that feeling,” he mumbles against my tank top. 

“What feeling?” 

“The feeling of unconditional love, that no matter what choices I make or who I become I’ll still be loved. Isn’t that what a father is for? To love me no matter what under any circumstances?” He whimpers. 

“That’s what you have me for,” I comfort, “no matter what you do, no matter what you say Jack, I will love you because that’s what a wonderful person you are, a person that your father has yet to comprehend.” 

His smile warms me because it’s so genuine, “Thanks Jen.” 

“And I think Grams may love you too, but the verdict is still out on that one, and Andie, no matter what she says she loves you too. There’s also Joey but Joey isn’t the best at showing love,” his smile grows and I hug him again because he’s my best friend and everything’s perfect that way. 

My watch beeps and as if on cue we’re drenched by the water dancing in the heavy summer air from the sprinkler system. Hit sharply by the cold jets I jump and shriek and we both run around like children in the cool water laughing and smiling brightly. 

~*~

Dawson

Wondering through the dark Marina I’m surprised to find a shiny red apple wrapped by a plastic snake sitting on a crate. “An apple and a serpent,” I mutter under my breath picking it up to examine it. 

“Make a connection yet?” The beautiful blonde questions wondering out of the shadows her mysterious allure deadly in my mind. 

“I’m sensing a biblical theme,” I shrug holding up the apple. 

“Good perception Mr. Leery,” she smiles taking the apple from my hand and wrapping her lips around it. The skin of it breaks with a loud crisp crunch as the apples juices trickle down her chin. “Do you remember who ate the apple?” 

My mind scans every biblical movie I’ve ever seen, every religion class I was forced to sit through, “Eve?” 

“Correct,” she smiles wickedly tossing the apple over her shoulder, she takes the plastic snake from my limp hands hooking it behind my neck and drawing me closer. “I like you Dawson Leery.” 

“Why?” I question, this being the biggest mystery to me of all. 

“Your innocence,” she replies simply kissing me roughly. I have no complaints and kiss her back the mystery enough for me. 

Almost as abruptly as she came she begins to back away, “We need to explore your wild side,” she tells me seductively. 

“I’m not sure that I have one, I mean the last time I cut school I handed in my math homework before hand,” I squeak embarrassment washing over me. 

“We’ll fix that,” she smirks, as she continues to back away. 

“When will I see you again?” 

“When I want to be found,” and with that she’s gone. 

~*~

Pacey

Andie has surprisingly distracted me from class, and I stroll into English smugly. “We’re reading Our Town,” my teacher informs me sternly, “now if you’d take out your play and open to page 28.”

I glance through the lone notebook I carry and shrug my shoulders, “Must have left it in my locker.” 

He shakes his head disapprovingly and mumbles, “Just find someone to share with then.” 

My eyes scan over the classroom searching for somebody to sit next to and I sigh loudly taking a seat next to Joey, who sits startlingly close to the front of the classroom. “Potter,” I nod in a greeting. 

“Witter,” she mutters in return as I slide next to her bringing our desks closer. 

“Pacey you can be George, Elliot the Stage Manager, Kirsten Rebecca, Josephine can play Emily, and Julie you can be Mrs. Gibbs,” our teacher calls out assigning different rolls to the class. 

It’s the wedding scene I think, because Joey and I suddenly start discussing how we’re nervous about getting married, in character of course. But suddenly I’m distracted as our teacher blabs on about the cycles of life because I notice that Joey and I are breathing at the same exact pace, like inhaling at the same time and exhaling at the same time. And every time I try to change the tempo of mine to ignore this awkward moment her pace increases or decreases as well. Then my mind begins to drift and I wonder if our heart is beating at the same rate too, it’s completely random and I don’t know why I’m thinking this. Thankfully, our teacher calls me to attention and I finish my ‘wedding vows’ to ‘her.’ 

Near the end of class we start talking about love songs for no particular reason and Joey announces her detestation for anything romantic. I find this the perfect opportunity to serenade her with my lovely rendition of That’s Amoure and to my satisfaction she laughs in return. Wait… no there was no satisfaction it was all just amusing. I drop to my knee wailing louder and she continues to laugh uncontrollably and the moment is absolutely perfect until Sean Jacobs taps me on the shoulder and tells me to, “Save it for Andie.” 

I suddenly feel awful, forgetting all about my girlfriend for nearly the entire period. Climbing back to my feet I shrug my shoulders, “Andie loves when I do that,” I explain, and for the rest of the period feel it’s necessary to mention her in every topic of conversation. 

Because I love Andie, and Joey rarely crosses my mind. 

But if that’s true, why do I have to remind myself? 

~*~

Dawson

I sit on a desk in study hall my mind reeling with thoughts of Eve and who exactly she was. I'm losing sleep at night wondering about her, wondering who she is and where she's from and why she wants me. 

It's at this point that Joey walks into the room and I catch her hazel eyes with mine staring at them intensely. I haven't let myself look at her like this in a long time but suddenly the rulebook is out the window and it's only her and I trapped in an intense gaze. 

Pacey gives me a friendly jab and I glance down at where his hand has made contact with my shoulder, "Pacey," I acknowledge, and when I look back at Joey she's looking away and I fight for her attention again. 

"How's mystery woman?" He inquires totally oblivious to my agitation. 

"Mysterious," I reply my eyes still trained on her. His gaze follows mine and I'm pretty sure he chuckles at me but I'm not paying attention because I'm hypnotized. 

"Hey Jo, come here," it's like I'm standing outside of my body watching the scene unfold, and I swear when I finally find my way back into my outer shell I will kill him for yelling this out. 

She glances over at us again and hesitates for a long moment before shyly approaching us. "Joey," I mumble and her face lights up at the sound of her name coming from my voice and I feel amazing giving her that feeling. 

"I'm going to Vermont this weekend," Pacey begins, breaking the ice, "it just snowed last night so it'll be perfect for skiing." Neither one of us replies but he continues anyway trying his hardest to get the three of us to be friends again, "Snow really is amazing isn't it? Have you ever caught a snowflake and looked at it really—." 

"You can't catch a snowflake, it melts immediately against the surface of your skin because of your body temperature," Joey counters always the cynic. 

"Alright, on your sleeve," he corrects himself, "anyway have you ever looked at them really closely, you can actually see the patterns like those little paper cut outs." 

"Really?" Joey says sarcastically but he doesn't catch on. 

"Really," he replies excitedly and I can't help but crack a grin. 

"That is so amazing Pacey! Really I can't believe it!" She says placing her hands on his shoulder to brace her 'excitement,' this time he catches her dry remarks and he shakes his head incredulously. 

"Are you going to let her talk to me like that?" He asks gesturing towards her and it feels like when we were kids, them bickering and me playing the mediator. 

"She's got a point," I shrug and he shakes his head again in betrayal. 

She smiles at me and I feel my insides flutter, that smile meaning everything to me. "Seriously Pacey, your obsession with snow is rather frightening." 

"It's not my fault that I'm fascinated with Mother Nature, imagine sex in the snow, now that would be hot," he says with a devilish grin. 

"Good luck talking Andie into that one," she replies with the roll of her eyes. 

The bell rings and without thinking I'm saying things I didn't anticipate on saying, "Hey Joey," she stops turning back to me with furrowed brows, "are you busy this Friday?" 

She shakes her head hesitantly and I can see how nervous she is and can only imagine that it reflects my own, "No," she finally breaths. 

"Great, maybe we could hangout." 

She nods, "Maybe." 

~*~

Joey

I practically skip out of study hall and over to my locker, my heart beating wildly out of chest a smile plastered on my face. Dawson Leery just asked me out, I remind myself and my smile widens. 

I clear my throat loudly and Pacey and Andie break apart from my locker and he wishes her off. I turn giving her a smile and wave before twisting the dial on my lock. "I told you the public maulings would resume," I mutter and he grins folding his arms over his chest and leaning against his own locker. 

"You did didn't you," he agrees. 

"I always keep a promise," I glance up at him through the corner of my eye and am startled by the way he's looking at me. "What's that foolish expression for?" I inquire; it's the exact same way he looked at me during our snail expedition last year when we were both freezing and wrapped in blankets. 

"No reason," he replies whistling and turning his eye away. "So what did Dawson want?" he interrogates with an arched brow. 

I try to act nonchalant and casually shrug my shoulder, "Nothing we just made plans for Friday," and by the time I finish my sentence I know I've lost my cool. 

"So I don't have to burn my Soul Mate Reunion shirts after all, huh?" I slap his arm and let my hand linger there wondering since when it felt so natural to touch Pacey to the point I barely realize it anymore. 

"As long as I get mine free," I shrug as we begin down towards Math together. And there's this faint thought in the back of my head that I'm glad Dawson was away this summer because I like the friendship I've developed with Pacey.