Eric was sitting in the living room of his home. He was surrounded by candles, and the darkness. He had the living room window opened to let in the moonlight. The window faced the river, so no one would see what he was doing...at least not in the front of the house. They would think he was a devil worshiper or something, but he wasn't. He was full of rage, and hate...yes. But he didn't worship the devil. He was meditating. He was trying to anyway, but thoughts of Joey with Dawson kept interrupting him. He shook it off, and stood up off the cold floor. He walked around the candles and looked out the window. He saw the moon and the stars out, making the river shine like there are diamonds in the water. He got his revenge for his sister before he left NY, and he swore he wouldn't go back to that kind of living. But he proved that idea a bad one, when he faked a Driver's licence in order to purchase "merchandise". He would only use that if he can't win Joey on his own, and if Jen refused to help him. Plan C would have to be a last resort. And he would have to plan it carefully....ever so carefully. Dawson and them know this place very well. He would have to be very careful. He almost turned over a new leaf when he got to town. He almost sold all his "merchandise" when he met Joey.
He walked away from the window, and walked over to the couch, and sat down. He looked in front of him on the coffee table. There lied his favorite weapon...his favorite toy....his ‘44 Magnum. He was gonna use it on his father, but he did himself in that night by going crazy.
Well, dad...he thought, with an evil smile spreading on his face. It looks as though you might have ruined your life that night. But you made me come to Capeside, and I find the girl of my dreams. And after I make Dawson Leery disappear, she will be mine forever....and no one will be able to stop me. No One.
*****
Dawson and Joey arrived at the Hotel they were suppose to go to around two in the afternoon. They had waited at the airport with their ride for a few more couples to get off the plane. They were tired, but they were happy to be on this trip to Boston together. Or at least Dawson knew he was. He had dreamt of this day for a long time now. Or at least the day they would be together as a couple. In any sense of the word.
Dawson walked up to the counter. When he asked for the keys to their rooms he was slightly upset that they told him they had only one room, and it was registered under his name only.
"Jo, do you..."he was stopped by Joey.
"Dawson, come on!" she said laughing, and smiling at him. "It'll be like sleeping over at your house in your room. Its no big deal."
"Okay..okay." he said smiling at her.
Dawson took the key from the guy behind the counter, and said thanks to him. He picked up the bags and started toward the elevator with Joey. They were both tired. It wasn't the flight really, since it was only an hour or two at the most of a flight to Boston. But it was waking up at such an early hour to get the plane scheduled for them that made them tired.
They got off on there floor, which was the sixth floor, and walked to the end of the hallway to their room. Dawson unlocked the door, and let Joey in first. Then he followed in with the bags. Joey sat on the bed, which was king sized, and Dawson walked over to the window. He sat the bags down, and turned to ask Joey what she thought of the view. But when he looked over at her she had fallen asleep, laying backwards. Dawson laughed, and walked over to her. He lifted her legs on the bed, and shifted her around so her head was on the pillows, and she was laying fairly straight.
He walked over to the chair by the window, and he sat down looking at Joey. She had turned over, and was facing him. He felt himself starting to doze off, but he loved watching her till he did.
*****
Jen and Cliff were walking around town. They weren't dating as of yet, but they were hanging out more than Cliff thought he would do. He liked Jen a lot, and though Dawson was missing out on something good here. He knew Jen dumped him, but he didn't really try to stay with her either. At least in his eyes that was the case. Cliff was struck by Jen since she got to the school, and Capeside. But he didn't know how to get her interest. The date to the dance went well, and he thought it would have been easy after that, until Dawson made a scene in front of her........ making her leave early. He stayed away after that, except for a few hellos here and there.
"So, Cliff....how was your classes today?" Jen said. Her arms swinging aimlessly like they usually do.
"Okay I suppose. I hate school...the only thing about it I like is football and seeing my friends around school everyday. Especially you." he said smiling, his hands in the pockets of his letter jacket.
"Thanks, Cliff. Same here. Except the feeling that everyone in the school hates me for something. Except Dawson, Pacey and even Joey at times...and you. I don't have any friends at school." she said smiling. She now crossed her arms in front of her.
"That will all change though, Jen. Its just because everyone knows each other here, and you are new. By the end of the year it won't feel that way anymore. Ok?" he said.
"Okay...Cliff." she said. The reached the cinema, and stopped in front of it.
"Do you want to see a movie? Its a new one. Its sort of a romantic/comedy type film. And I think we both need a laugh." cliff said smiling his biggest grin.
"Sure, why not? Its a weekend, and I am not ready to go home yet." she said.
"Great."Cliff replied asthey walked over to order their tickets. Hopefully this is my second chance, he thought to himself.
*****
Pacey went to the Dating Company he got the video tape from. He walked in and the only person that wasn't busy was the girl at the desk. She looked up and smiled when she saw him come in with the tape.
"Was the results satisfactory, sir?" she asked.
"Yeah, actually." Pacey said, with his chester cat smile. "There is a girl on here I would like to take out on a date."
"Really, that's great. Who is it? I mean on the tape...I need the name to look her up on our files." she said turning to her computer.
"Abby." he said.
"Well, I would ask for a last name, but there is no need there is just one girl that registered under that name. Let me look at the tape to make sure its the same girl. Some register under false names..you know, just in case a creep wants to ask them out. They can't find them." she said getting up from her chair, and taking the tape from Pacey.
"Yeah, I understand that." he said. He watched her go the to the nearest free tape recorder.
"Which one on the tape is she..?" She yelled back to him.
"The last one on the tape!" he yelled back to her.
Pacey thought of his plans for her and him as he waited for her to return. He would tell her to dress fairly nice, and be prepared for a fun-adventurous evening. How he was going to do that would be the problem. Capeside wasn't like a big city. There wasn't much to do in the small town...but he knew the person the talk to.
"Well," the woman said as she walked back to him with tape in hand. "Its definitely the right girl, so did you want to contact her yourself, or do you want us to call and tell her?"she asked him sitting back down at her computer.
"Could you tell me her address, and you can call her. But don't tell her my name. Tell her I'll pick her up at seven tonight." he said.
"Ok..anything else?" she said jotting down the information
"Yeah, tell her to dress casual, but fairly nice. And prepare to have an adventurous and wild night." he said smiling
"Will do, sir." she said picking up the phone as Pacey walked out the door, with his video tape in hand. He had a lot of planning to do before tonight. And he knew he better start now.
****
Dawson woke up with the beeping of his watch. He turned it off before it woke up Joey. It was two, and they had till 6:30 to be ready and downstairs in the ballroom for the awards. He got up, grabbed his jacket, the key to the room, and before he left he wrote Joey a note. Not saying exactly what he was doing but that he would be back soon, and left the room.
He walked to the elevator and pushed the down button. He had to go see if there was a store in the hotel he could go shopping at for a certain item. He smiled to himself. He was gonna make this the most memorable three day weekend trip of their life.
Joey woke up with a start. She looked around the room for Dawson, but he was nowhere to be found. She saw a note on the table by the clock. She got up, and walked over to it. It read:
Joe,
I went to do some errands before we had to get ready for the award ceremony. I will be back soon, don't worry about that. But don't go anywhere!! Cause I will have a surprise for you when I get back.
Love your best friend (and boyfriend, get used to it, cause I am not going anywhere! You are stuck with me. )
Joey smiled, and laughed at the remark after Love your best friend. Yes she was stuck with him, but he was also stuck with her as well. Cause she wasn't going anywhere either.
She put the note down, and looked at the clock. It read 2:25. She walked to the window, and looked outside. It looked so beautiful out there, but it wouldn't be any fun without Dawson with her any ways, so she wouldn't do anything here without him. She looked in the bathroom, and was surprised to see a jet tub, two headed shower, and two sinks. It was the most expensive bathroom she had ever seen.
But the jet tube sounds good right now, she said massaging the back of her neck with her right hand. She walked out to grab the robe by the door.
"After all, Dawson isn't here, and most likely won't be back for quit awhile...so... why the hell not." she said to herself,smiling. "I need to treat myself to this...it could be the only time I can."
Joey turned on the water to the tub, and walked to the door and lightly pushed it to shut, but it bounced off the latch, and stayed open slightly. She started to take off her shirt, and then her pants. She poured some bath bubbles into the tube, and when the tube filled she turned on the jets. She pulled her hair up in a bun, sort of like she had it for the pageant, and finished getting undressed....
*****
Cliff and Jen walked to her house after the movie was over. They were laughing about the plot and the characters of the film. And Jen found herself actually liking Cliff's company more than she thought she would. He walked her up to the front door, and bent down to kiss her goodnight. She didn't pull away, and she kissed him back, wrapping her hands around his neck for awhile, than pulled away.
"Sorry." Cliff said.
"No, don't be. I liked it." she said. "Well, call me and maybe we can do this again sometime. I had a great time with you, Cliff."
"Same here, Jen. Well, goodnight." he said walking off the porch.
"You, too." she said. She watched him walk away, but before she could go inside she heard a noise from the dark side of the patio. She closed the door, and walked over there slowly.
"Hello, Jen." a voice said.
"Who's there?" she asked when she saw a figure on the railing.
"You know who it is..." the figure said walking toward her.
Jen saw who it was when he reached the light. But he didn't come totally in the light, and he looked frightening.
"Oh, Hi Eric. What do you want this late? And with me..?" she asked crossing her arms.
"I have a proposition for you. And unless you have a change of heart, you and I both will get what we want when this is all over."
"What are talking about?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"You want Dawson back yes? Or no?"
"I want another chance with him yes, but I don't think that concerns you though." she said.
"Oh, it does. Gravely." he said. The way he said "Gravely" made the hair on the back of her head stand on end. "I want Joey back, so Dawson concerns me...."
"Ok, so what is this proposition...?" she asked him, she made herself sound unafraid of Eric, but the truth was, she was getting pretty terrified.
"I want your help in breaking the new couple up. You would get Dawson, and I would get Joey."
"How the hell are we gonna break them up?!" Jen said, almost outraged. "Nothing will do that. Nothing. Dawson loves her more than he can ever love me, I mean the only way to break them up was if something happened to one of them, or one of them left town. And THAT will never happen."
"Oh, there are ways. Simple ones really....you wanna hear it?" he asked, waling around her.
"Shoot." she said.
"Ok. Its very simple, so simple its really not a plan, but a natural thing." he paused, making sure she had her attention. "You flirt with Dawson every chance you get, hang all over him if you have to...get Joey to think something is wrong. And she'll come to me with her problems...and I will comfort her. After that is a whole other plot...are in it so far??" he asked.
"Actually...no." she said.
"What?" he said surprised.
" It will not work. I have known them for three months. Longer than you have, and you think that will break them up. No way. Like I said before. It will take the end of the earth to break them apart."Jen said facing him.
"You know what....you are dead wrong." he said.
"You know what, I don't think so. You know what I think?" she said, walking up to him. "I'll tell you. No matter what happens Dawson is always gonna be there for Joey, and the same for Joey. Someone hurts one of them, the other will search for revenge. Something happens to the other one, and the other will search for them till they find them. They love each other, and their love is the kind that hell itself will not be able to destroy. All I have to say to you Eric is this: Give it up!" she said turning and walking away from him. As she opened the door to her house, she turned back to him. "And one more thing...get off my porch, and don't come back unless invited!" she shut the door behind her locking it.
"You are so wrong, Jen." he said, walking into the dark, and jumping over the railing. "You see there is something that can break them apart. And that is something I do best. That one thing is the one thing even love can't defeat.....Death."
He walked off into the trees, and the darkness. Plotting his next move. And how Plan C was going to go down.....
*****
Pacey got his mom's car for the date, and he got dressed up in his nicest outfit, that he was sure would even throw Abby off the scent. This was gonna be a night that he didn't want her to forget. He will start it off as a normal date, they will go see a movie...but after that: No prisoners.
"Night mom." he said running out of the house. He got in the car, and took off before his mom could stop him.
"I wonder who it is that is my date, the company wouldn't say." Abby said waiting by the window to the front door. Her parents weren't home, and wouldn't be home till early in the afternoon the next day.
She heard a car pull up the driveway, and she smiled. She ran out the door, locked it, and walked up to the car. She opened the door, and jumped inside.
"Oh my god...its you?!" she said, a disgusted look on her face.
"I was proud to have you on the tape myself..." he said backing out the driveway.
"You had me on your tape? I don't believe it..." she laughed.
"Would you like to see it for yourself? I am not lying." he said.
"No, lets just get this date over with, and try to make the best of it. Ok?" she said.
"Sure." he said.
They arrived at the cinema and parked in front. He walked around and opened the door for Abby, which shocked her. He helped her out, and they walked into the cinema together.
During the movie he was having second thoughts on playing the tricks on her he wanted to. He was actually getting along with her, and she seemed to be having fun with him. He took her to dinner next and she ordered what he did which was burger and fries.
"This is actually an interesting evening Pacey." she said, taking a sip of her soda.
"I know what you mean." he said.
"Well, its getting late. I better take you home." he said wiping his mouth with his napkin.
"Actually no need really to hurry." she said.
"Why?" he said. "Won't your parents be mad at me if I don't get you home now?"
"No, cause they are out of town. They won't be back till early tomorrow afternoon." she said, smiling.
" Well, we should leave here any ways...they are about to close." he said smiling.
"Yeah, here is my half of the bill, and I will wait for you outside by your car, Kay?" she said handing him a five, and walking out side.
When Pacey walked out side he saw three huge guys dressed in baggy pants, and crappy shirts giving Abby a hard time. She was pushing them away, but they wouldn't leave her alone. He walked up to the guys, and pushed his way threw to Abby.
"You okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah, just lets go..." she said turning to the car. Pacey took out his keys, and unlocked the door. She got in, and shut her door. She locked the door out of fear.
When Pacey turned around the three guys were blocking any move he could make. "Okay guys let me threw."
"No way, punk." the tallest one said.
"Look, I want no trouble with you guys. I just want to get my girl home. That's all. Ok?" he tried moving again. Did he just say 'my girl'?? No he couldn't have...
"Look whitey, you aren't going anywhere except maybe in a body bag." he said. The other two were ganging up from behind him.
They were now about ten feet from the car. They kept moving him farther from the car. Farther into the street.
"Why? Why do you want to start something with me? I didn't do anything to you." he said, holding up his hands in the air.
"You put the whore in the car!" he yelled.
"Okay, that's it. I didn't want to do this, but..." Pacey curled up his right fist, and swung it with all his strength at the guys face. The guy went backwards, and the two guys that were behind him were now holding his arms.
The other guy came over and started punching him in the stomach, chest, and face. Abby watched in horror as they beat up Pacey. When they ran off she jumped out of the car, and ran over to him.
"Pacey, Pacey..you ok?" she asked him. Picking him up off the ground. He wrapped his arms round her shoulder, and slowly walked back to the car.
Pacey's eyes were black and blue, his mouth was bleeding from the corners, and his cheeks were scratched.
"I am okay...I had to stand up for my girl." he said, drowsy.
"Thanks, but you didn't have to. What did they say that set you off...?" she asked.
He looked at her. "They called you a whore."
"Oh,...thanks for standing up for me." she said, smiling.
He tried to smile, but it caused him pain.
"Come on...lets get to my house." she said helping him to the drivers side.
*****
Dawson returned to the room with his hands full. He was carrying two outfits in his hands, and a separate bag. But they were covered with black plastic. One was his tuxedo for the evening, and the other was the perfect dress for Joey. He unlocked the door, and saw that Joey was not on the bed. He laid the outfits down on the bed, and looked around the room. He saw the bathroom door open a crack, and walked over to it slowly.
He peeked in and saw Joey in the bath tub. It looked like she was asleep. There were bubbles all around her. The only parts of her that were not hiding behind bubbles were knees, and her right arm was on the side of the tub. He stood there for it seemed eternity, just looking at her. Finally he knocked on the door
"Jo, you awake in there?" he said.
Joey opened her eyes, and looked for the closest towel. She grabbed the one off the rack, and stood up wrapping it around as she got out.
"Yeah, I was just taking a bath." she said as she saw the door was slightly open. But she didn't see him standing there, watching her. "Where did you go Dawson?"
"Get out here and you'll see." he said, he was walking away from the door to the bed.
"Okay..." she was skeptical. She dried off and put the robe on.
Dawson took his outfit off the bed leaving only hers on the bed. He hung it up in the closet, and placed the separate bag on the bed next to the outfit. He sat down in the chair next to the window and waited for Joey to come out of the bathroom.
"Okay, Dawson..." Joey said as she came out of the bathroom. "Where did you...." she paused. She saw the stuff on the bed, and wasn't quite sure what to say. "Go?" she finished. Joey looked at Dawson, and saw his grin. She had to smile back at him. "What is this, Dawson?" she asked.
"Take a look..." he said gesturing for her to open them.
"I don't think I want to know..." she said with a laugh.
"Oh, come on.." he said getting up, and walking over to her. He picked up the outfit, and slowly started to take off the plastic. What it revealed made Joey take a step back. "What do you think?" he asked holding up the dress.
Joey didn't know what to say. It was a beautiful dress. It was not fancy, but it wasn't all simple either. The dress was black, but it one sleeve that came off the right shoulder. There was no left sleeve. The dress was long, a slim line dress with a slit down the left side. It looked like the slit might start a little under her hip line. On the shoulder of the right sleeve, there was, what looked like to her, a flower that spilled out diamonds. The dress sparkled in the light from every angle.
Joey looked from the dress in Dawson's hands to Dawson. She smiled, and slowly took the dress from him.
"This is beautiful Dawson." she said walking to the mirror by the bathroom. "It looks like a dress that an actress would wear."
"I know, that's why I bought it for you." he said walking toward her, and standing behind her left shoulder. "Its pretty, but it had to compliment you....it couldn't beat your beauty though Joe."
She turned around with an embarrassed smile of hers. "Dawson..."
Dawson kissed her. And she wrapped her arms around him still holding the dress.
"Do you want to take a shower now?" she asked him, walking away toward the window.
"I better," he said removing his jacket. "Its already four thirty."
Joey turned around and looked at the clock, surprised at the time. "I was in there for two hours!?" she laughed and sat down.
"Hey, don't forget to check inside the bag too." he said walking into the bathroom. He made sure the door locked behind him.
Joey laid the dress down on the bed next to her, and reach for the bag. She placed it on the floor, and reached inside. The first thing she pulled out was a pair of black high heel shoes. She smiled and sat them on the bed. She reached in and pulled out a black velvet box. Curious, she moved the bag out of the way, and slowly opened the box. Inside was a pearl necklace, and making earrings. The earrings had the pearl dangling down from a diamond. Joey's mouth felt like it was dropped open to the floor.
"Dawson Leery, you are incredible!" she said to herself outloud. "And you have great taste." she laughed.
*****
Jen sat in her bedroom trying to read a magazine on her bed, but the incident that occurred earlier with Eric lingered in her thoughts. She got up off her bed, and walked to her window. She wished Dawson was home, but he was away at the Festival. She wished him luck. She wanted to tell him that Eric was a time bomb ready to explode, and she had this nagging fear inside her that Joey or Dawson was gonna get hurt somehow.
She walked to her phone to call Cliff, but she placed the receiver back down. He would think she was overacting, on the other hand...so would Dawson. She walked to her table, and took out a piece of paper and a pen. She would write her grams a note saying she went out for a walk, and would be back later. If she wasn't to call Pacey. She left his number on the paper by his name. She got up, went to her closet and grabbed her coat.
Slowly she walked out of her room and down the stairs. Jen hoped for everyone's sake she was wrong about Eric. But she had to think, and she knew just the place to go to.
*****
Eric was back at his house by now. He was more determined then ever after his discussion with Jen to win back Joey. He went over to his trunk by the patio door, and pulled it out to the light of the full moon. He opened it up with the key he kept around his neck. Inside was what looked like a chest of memories of his past in New York, but he lifted the stuff on the blanket out of the trunk, and revealed what was really inside. There were guns, night vision equipment, rope, handcuffs, masking tape, and knives. He smiled to himself.
"Soon, I will be ready to use these things." he said placing the blanket back in the trunk, and locking the trunk back up. He stood up, and walked out the patio door. "I have to wait till Joey and Dawson get back to town from their little trip to Boston. But when they get back I will get my plan in motion. I will have my girl at the end, and this town will be lacking one person in its population." he laughed. Laughed till he couldn't anymore.
*****
Pacey had drove to Abby's house, but he wasn't planning on getting out of the car. Abby looked over at Pacey, and smiled.
"Pacey, thanks for the wonderful night." she said. "Surprisingly we get along great. After the detention thing I never thought we could get along like we did tonight. Or that you would stand up to three really huge guys for me."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." he said. "Let me walk you to your front door." he said getting out.
"Okay." she said opening her door.
"Maybe we can do this again sometime, Abby." Pacey said, while he placed a hand on his shoulder. He was nervous, and he couldn't explain why.
"Yeah, that would be fun." she said. "You are a really sweet guy, Pacey. Not the idiot I once thought you were." she laughed.
"Yeah, well you are a fun person yourself." he said, smiling.
Abby turned and unlocked her front door. As she opened it to go inside, she turned back to him.
"Well, g'night Pacey." she said kissing him on the cheek.
Pacey put his hand on her cheek, and pulled her close for a kiss. He met her lips and kissed her lightly.
"G'night, Abby." he said. Pacey stood there as she walked inside, she had a huge smile on her face.
"What have you started
Pacey....what have you gotten your sorry ass into now?" he
said lightly under his breath as he walked back to his car.
"She is nice under her snot nose appearance at school,
but..." he paused as he thought back over the evening. He
sat in the driver seat, and turned the engine on. "Oh, man.
Is Dawson and Joey gonna have a field day with this one." he
smiled, as he laughed slightly.