"Why aren't you heading for school, Dawson?" she said smiling.
"I am gonna meet Joey, and go to school with her." he said. That was what he was going to do, but something told him that might not be what happens.
"Can I walk with you?" she asked.
"Sure." he said, smiling at her.
They reached Joey's and saw that Bessie and Bodie and gone to work already. Dawson walked up to the door and knocked. No one answered. Jen was walking around the house, and noticed a window open.
"Dawson?!" she yelled, still holding her book bag on one shoulder.
"Yeah," he said running up to her.
"Is that Joey's window?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said, concerned. "She's not there?" he said after looking inside.
"I think we might want to go to school, and see if she is there, Dawson." she said, trying not to sound scared.
"You're right." he said. "C'mon." he said, starting for school.
Pacey saw Dawson and Jen running up the steps to the school. He walked up to them, and smiled.
"What's up guys?" he said. But he saw their expressions, and they weren't happy.
"Have you seen Joey yet today?" Dawson asked.
"No, I thought she would be coming to school with you, man." he said, his smile fading.
"That means she's missing, Dawson." Jen said, frowning.
"She can't be..." he said, in denial but sounding serious.
"Man, she is not here yet, and if she isn't at home," he paused. "Which I am assuming you checked..."
"Yeah, that was the first place we checked." Jen said.
"Then she is missing, man." Pacey said.
Dawson turned his back to his friends, and stared at all the kids coming into the building. No Joey in sight. And his face went from no emotion, serious...to worried, and concerned.
"Joey, where are you?" he whispered to himself.
Dawson turned around and looked at his friends, grabbed his backpack with a firm grip, and turned for the doors to the school.
Pacey and Jen looked at each other, then ran after Dawson.
"Dawson, what are you doing?" Jen asked.
"I am gonna find Joey." he said.
Jen and Pacey stopped walking, and waited for Dawson to stop as well.
"We have no idea where she is..." Pacey said, but then it hit him. "I think I know where we might try though..." he looked at Jen, hoping she knew what he was talking about.
"Eric's!" she said.
"Exactly." he said.
He turned around and looked at them.
"Then that's where we will go." he said, he turned around and started toward Eric's house.
"Dawson!!" Pacey and Jen yelled after him.
"You could wait up for us, you know?" Pacey said putting a hand on Dawson's shoulder.
"I have to find her Pacey..."he said, his voice filled with concern, worry, and fear. "I can't let anything happen to her."
"I know, man. I know." he said, sympathy in his voice.