* * * * *
The theatre is dark and quiet as the couple in the movie move closer to one another. The whole movie they've been dancing around their feelings for each other and now they are finally starting to see what was there all along. Dawson is sitting in the aisle seat with Jen beside him. His arm is draped across her shoulder but his eyes aren't on the screen. They are where they have been for most of the last hour and a half: on Joey and Pacey. Pacey is sitting beside Jen and Joey is beside him. Pacey's arm is perched atop her seat but Dawson continues to check and see if it has moved down any further.
Pacey whispers something to Joey and she giggles quietly. Jen looks over at Dawson and follows his eyes. He's been watching them all night. She turns back towards the screen, trying to ignore it. 'He's just worried about Joey getting hurt,' she tells herself. 'They're just friends.' If only it was so easy convince herself of this.
* * * * *
"So, where to now?" Pacey asks when they walk out of the theatre together.
"I think we'll just head home," Dawson says.
"Home? At barely nine o'clock on a Friday night?" Pacey replies.
"Excuse me for not being a party animal," Dawson quips.
"Hey, it's okay. He and Jen want to go. We can go see if Bessie and Bodi need some help at the restaurant," Joey tells Pacey.
"Yeah, okay," Pacey says. "Well, see you guys," he says and starts walking in the direction of the Icehouse with Joey.
Dawson stands with Jen and watches them walk away. "Ready?" Jen asks to break his trance.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he says and they start to walk off the other way.
"Dawson . . ." she starts as they walk.
"Hmm?"
"You know, you can't not have her but still keep her from everyone else."
"What?" he stops her and looks at her. "Jen, you think I . . . No, it's nothing like that," he says.
"You mean you weren't watching Joey and Pacey like a hawk the whole time we were in the theatre tonight? You aren't even the least bit jealous? Come on, don't fool yourself Dawson," she replies.
"Jen . . . I don't want Joey. I want you. Joey's just . . . she's my best friend. And I know Pacey. I know he and Joey aren't right for each other. I just have to watch out for her. She's like my sister or something. I feel responsible."
Jen looks at him skeptically but finally nods. "Okay, if you say so," she says.
"I do," he smiles as they start walking again. He laces his fingers through hers and says, "Hey, what do you say we make a detour before going home?"
"Detour?" she asks.
"Yeah, you want to?"
"Sure, I'm up for some adventure," she says. Dawson smiles, leans down to kiss her gently, and walks her towards his intended destination.
* * * * *
"Are we really going to the Icehouse?" Pacey asks when they are out of Jen and Dawson's earshot.
"Of course, where else would we be going?" Joey asks.
"I don't know . . . just wondered," Pacey replies.
Joey looks at him for a second as they walk towards the restaurant. She's not sure what's going on with them. She gets the feeling Pacey may want to be more than friends . . . but does she want that? She can't be sure. He's a great guy and they have fun together but . . . he's Pacey. She shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts as they continue walking.
They walk up in front of the Icehouse together and see that it is still pretty busy. Joey turns to Pacey. "On second thought, maybe we don't want to help out. It looks like a madhouse in there."
"Yeah," he agrees. "So, where to?"
"I don't know. Maybe we should just call it a night," she says.
"Okay, if you want to. I'll walk you home," he says.
"Oh . . . okay," she says. They turn and start walking in the direction of her house. As they get further away from the restaurant and the noises of the town, the night seems to grow very silent. The only sounds Joey hears are the crickets and frogs chirping to one another in the nearby water. But, the air is also heavy with sounds that can't be heard. Words hang in the air between she and Pacey, unspoken but none the less there. She knows they'll have to get these words out in the open eventually and figure out where they both stand . . . she's just not sure if tonight is the night or not.
* * * * *
"How did I know we'd end up here?" Jen asks as she and Dawson approach the ruins together.
"Well, maybe I'm predictable," he says.
"No, just incredibly romantic," she replies.
Dawson blushes. "So, shall we sit?" he asks.
"Sure," Jen replies and they sit together on the marble steps in front of what was once a beautiful garden. The crumbling fountain before them stands testament to what this place once was: a gift of love from a man to his wife. He'd practically moved heaven and earth to bring her just a little piece of happiness during her final days. The irony was, if their love was so strong that he'd go to these lengths just to see her smile, she probably would have been just as happy without all the flowers and marble and fountains. In the end, she probably only needed him.
"It's so beautiful and sad here," Jen says.
"Yeah," Dawson replies. "It almost feels like traveling back in time, doesn't it?"
"Um hmm," Jen murmurs.
Dawson leans down to kiss her. She responds instantly, returning the kiss. He leans her back against the steps and moves his hands along her sides. As the kisses grow deeper, Jen feels Dawson begin tugging her shirt free from her jeans.
"Dawson, wait . . ." she says against his lips.
"Jen . . ." he says in a persuading tone as he continues kissing her.
"No, Dawson, we can't," she says more forcefully as she pulls free from his embrace. "It's . . . it's just not right."
"What? Why? Tell me Jen, what is it? What am I doing that's so wrong?"
Jen looks at him in the eyes and a sad expression crosses her face. She hasn't wanted to admit it, but she knows why she's reluctant to let Dawson go any farther than an innocent kiss. "Because . . . because when you look at me, I see her in your eyes," she finally says.
"See who . . . Joey?" he asks incredulously.
"Yes," Jen says softly, looking down at her hands as a few tears make their way down her pale cheeks.
"Jen . . ." he says quietly and touches her shoulder.
She pulls back. "No, don't," she says. "I . . . I need to go." She gets up quickly and starts away. He starts to follow her but she turns back around to face him and says, "Please, just let me go."
He watches helplessly as she leaves. He wants to follow her and explain things. But, then he has to wonder what there is to explain. He's so confused about his relationship with Joey right now that he couldn't possibly justify it to anyone else. Finally, Dawson sinks back down to the steps and lays his head in his hands. He sighs, hoping that he'll figure out the answers soon before it all drives him crazy.
* * * * *
"Well, here we are," Pacey says as he and Joey stand on her front porch.
"Yep . . ." she says. "Uh, would you like to come in for a while?" she asks.
"Well . . . sure, okay," he says. He follows her inside and they sit together in the living room. "So . . ." he begins.
"So . . ." she repeats.
"The movie was good," Pacey says.
"Yeah . . ." she agrees. "Pacey, look . . ." she starts.
At the same time, he says, "Joey, listen . . ."
They both laugh. "You first," she says.
"No, go ahead," he says.
"Well, it's just, about what happened earlier . . ."
"You mean at the video store," he replies.
"Yeah . . . I'm not sure what was going on. I mean, you're a good friend and I've had a lot of fun hanging out with you these past few weeks. We have a lot in common and we know each other really well . . ."
"But?" Pacey says, knowing what's coming next.
"But . . . I'm in love with Dawson," she admits. "I hate myself for that and I don't want to be but I can't help it. I'm just afraid that if we moved past friendship I'd just be substituting you for him. I'd hate to do that to you, Pace."
"Yeah, I guess I feel the same way," he says. "I'm probably just trying to find someone to take Tamara's place."
Joey moves closer to him and touches his shoulder. "You know, if you ever want to talk . . ."
"Believe me, I know who to turn to," he tells her with a smile. She returns the smile and they sit together in silence for a while, finally feeling like one thing in their lives is certain. They can always count on each other.
* * * * *
