"What is this?" Joey asked in disgust. "Dawson shut it off."
"Joey, it's just getting god. He's falling in love with her."
"He's falling in love with a facade. If there's ever a more disgusting
representation of a woman than one succumbing to a male's wishes. What the
movie doesn't show is a year later when the wife gets sick of pretending to be
a humble passive character and runs off to Arkansas with her psychiatrist."
"What's wrong with making the man you love happy? If you ask me, you're
taking this women's lib trip a little too far, Joey." Dawson laughed while
lying on his bed his E.T. doll snuggled close to him. Joey just sneered at
his commentary. "Y'know Joe, I can't wait to see you married. I swear you'd
have your husband wrapped around your finger. You'd bring new meaning to the
word 'whipped.'"
In a second a pillow was hurled at his face. The movie still playing the
tickle fight began as they rolled around on the bed.
*****
"Joey, let me see your schedule," Dawson asked when he found her exiting the
counselor's office.
"They stuck me with Home Ec this semester," Joey complained. "I tried to
change it, but all the classes I want are full." Joey threw a dagger stare
toward the door as if the dirty look would change the administration's mind.
"Josephine Potter learning how to cook and sew. I'd pay to see that." All
Dawson could do was laugh at her. "Hey, at least we have Spanish together.
You can help me out. I'm at a loss with foreign languages."
She smiled up at him. "?vamanos?"
Dawson's smile turned into a vacant stare, "Huh? What'd you say?"
She sighed and pushed him toward their class. "Never mind, Dawson..."
"No really, what'd you say?"*****
The bell sounded and signaled the end of class. Students flooded out and
into the halls.
"I'll see you around, Joey?" Tommy, a new student at Capeside, asked
hopefully as they departed Spanish with Dawson following closely behind them.
"Yeah, I'll see you," Joey replied casually as he smiled and walked in the
other direction.
Dawson quickly replaced Tommy at Joey's side. "I don't like that guy."
"Why not? He's really nice. I talked to him all during Spanish."
"Exactly! I mean, he was talking to you."
Joey placed a shocked look on her face and gasped. "Heaven forbid. We
should lock him up and throw away the key. How dare he talk to Joey? Damn
him to hell..." She shook her head. "Dawson, save the big brother
protectiveness routine. I'm a big girl now."
"Yeah, I noticed," Dawson mumbled as Joey walked away.*****
Joey arrived in the Home Economics room just as the bell rang. Glancing
around she noticed only one free seat and that was beside Pacey. Tempted to
just walk out seeing that she was dreading this class all day and having Pacey
there was just another added bonus to the class from hell, she gritted her
teeth and walked into the classroom.
She sat beside Pacey as he gave her a toothpaste commercial smile. "What are
you doing in Home Ec, Pacey?" She looked around seeing that the class was
composed mainly of females. The answer to her question dawned on her with the
one glance around the room. "Oh, Lord. You've got to be kidding, Pacey.
Another desperate attempt to find companionship? Wouldn't taking out an ad be
easier?"
"Ha, ha, Joey, but you can't blame a guy for trying. Besides, taking out a
personal is my next option. Maybe you could help me out with that one.
Didn't yours read 'Overbearing, anal retentive control freak seeks
companionship-'"
"All right class, settle down. I'm Ms. Barkley your teacher this semester.
We're going to start this semester off with a bang and do our egg project.
We're going to simulate a family by pairing the guys with girls and having
them take care of eggs which will act as your babies. Now unfortunately,
ladies, there aren't enough guys to go around. Isn't that always the case?"
The majority of the females giggles while Joey rolled her eyes. "I've already
matched the guys with their psuedo-wives. The remainder of the girls will be
single mothers," she laughed. "The list of the husband and wife teams will be
passed around."
*****
The list was handed to her, and Joey scanned the list for her name.
"POTTER/WHITTER" it read.
"Oh no..." she moaned and looked at Pacey who raised his eyebrows and winked.
His mischievous smile came again, "Hi honey, so! What's for dinner tonight?"
Joey looked up toward the ceiling. "Someone up there is having a lot of fun
with me today."*****
Joey carried her lunch tray to where Dawson, Pacey, and Jen already sat.
Dawson and Pacey seemed to be heavily concentrating over their lunch tray and
didn't give a second glance Joey's way. Jen greeted her as she pulled up a
chair, "Hey, Joe. It's a new semester, how's your day gone?"
"Eh... don't ask." Joey replied uneager to relive the memories of her hellish
day. "What's with them?" She nodded toward the guys.
"Oh, you know how guys are... can't concentrate on more than one thing at a
time. Right now it's food." Jen said apparently unnoticed by Dawson orPacey.
Joey stared at the two wondering what was going through their minds as they
shoveled the cafeteria food into their mouths. Feeling a hand on her
shoulder, Joey looked behind her to see Tommy. "Hey, is this seat taken,
Joey?" he asked gesturing toward the vacant chair beside hers.
"YES," Dawson and Pacey stated apparently awoken from their comatose state
and obviously not wanting Tommy to be anywhere near Joey.
Joey's stare silenced them both. Jen looked back at Tommy, "No, don't pay
any attention to those two. Sit down, Tommy."
"Oh well, I know when I'm not wanted," he replied. "I'll just make this
quick." He took the seat beside her. "I'm new here, Joey, and I heard that
you were pretty smart. The Spanish class we're in is a little more advanced
than where I left off. I was wondering if you could help me out and I
guess... tutor me, more or less." He gave her a pleading look.
"Sure, no problem," Joey said without a second thought.
Tommy's face lit up. "Great, how about tonight in the library?" "Okay."
"Great, tonight then... at around seven... I'll see you."
As he left, Pacey picked up their egg, "How do you like that, babe? You're
one day old and your mommy's already cheating on your father."
"That guy was cute, Joey," Jen said, a smile planted on her face.
"I don't trust him," was all that Dawson could say.
"What are you guys talking about? I'm tutoring him," Joey shifted in her
seat not comfortable with all eyes on her.
"Aren't you a little interested?" Jen nudged.
The words raced through her head and she gave a wistful glance in Dawson's
direction as he seethed in anger staring at Tommy. "Y'know, the thought never
entered my mind" she mumbled.
*****
"Pacey, put that egg down!" Joey yelled as Pacey juggled the egg between his
two hands.
"What? Can't a kid's old man show off some of his tricks?" Pacey asked still
tossing the egg around.
Joey grabbed the egg in midair before Pacey had a chance to catch it. "No"
was her answer.
"C'mon, Joey. You have to teach your kid how to have fun. You're going to
be one lame mother."
"Bite me, Pacey. Our egg will not be hurt. What if you dropped him?" Joey
nagged. "I don't like your mother hen role. Stop being so protective," Pacey
snatched the egg and began playing with it again. Now the fight wasn't about
the egg's right to play, it was a matter of principle. "You know, you are one
step away from being a single mother." Pacey said casting the egg high into
the air. "Oh really? Please, can I?"*****
"Pacey don't leave our egg just lying around like that!" Joey yelled at him.
"Calm down. Geez, it's an egg," Pacey said carrying the egg lovingly.
"Pacey, it's also our grade. I've been working my @$$ off to get straight
A's all year. I'm not about to fail Home Economics because I got some loser
for a husband." "Better a loser husband than a wife on permanent P.M.S"
"You guys really act like a married couple," Dawson laughed closely observing
his two best friends.
"Shut up," both said in unison turning their anger toward Dawson.
*****
Dawson and Jen sat at the dock admiring the creek's relaxing environment.
Jen sat beside Dawson and saw the glazed expression evident in his eyes. She
sighed and tried to get Dawson's attention. "Dawson?" she repeated snapping
her fingers before his eyes. Dawson snapped back into reality. "Huh?"
"What's with you today?" Jen asked concerned. "You were fine this morning.
What happened?" "I'm just," Dawson sighed. "I... nevermind."
"Is it Joey?" Jen interrupted knowing the answer before it was even spoken.
He humbly nodded as she put an arm around him. Right from the start she'd
regretted breaking up with him. She longed to get things back the way they
used to be, but Jen wasn't sure that Dawson felt the same way. She realized
now that Dawson had gotten over her and maybe even fallen for his best friend.
"I envy what you two have," Jen said softly staring at the picture the
reflection on the still water made in the creek.
"What do you mean?" Dawson asked.
"I mean, the relationship you guys have. Even your friendship with Pacey
isn't the same. You guys know each other so well. I've never had that. When
you and I were going out I would get so jealous sometimes when I saw you and
her together. You had a connection with her that you didn't have with me. I
was your girlfriend and she was the one sleeping in your bed..." Jen trailed
off knowing she'd said more than she was willing to share.
"Hmm..." Dawson mumbled.
"I wish you'd talk to me, Dawson," Jen said attempting to salvage their
friendship. "I want to know what you're thinking."
"I don't know what I'm thinking, Jen. I don't know..."
*****
Jen finally entered her house after a long day. She gathered herself up on
the couch along with a book and a blanket. After her talk with Dawson and a
long walk alone, she had affirmed her suspicion that the special place in
Dawson's heart was no longer on hold for her.
"Jen, are you just getting in? It's so late," Grams asked concerned as she
knocked on the door leading into the den. "Yeah, Grams. Sorry, I didn't call."
Grams entered. "Jen, I was worried about you. You weren't with Dawson all
this time, were you?"
Jen shook her head and looked out the window towards Dawson's house. "No, I
wasn't Grams," she sadly said.
Grams noticed the sorrow in her voice and sat beside her, "Jen, what's the
matter?" "Nothing," she mumbled unsure if her Grams would really understand.
"Jen," Grams began. " I know things have changed between us, and you've been
through a lot since you were a child. One thing has remained the same," she
looked into Jen's eyes and saw the eyes of husband in them. "I've always
known when something's wrong." "Grams, I know you're trying to help, but-"
"Did you know how wise your great-grandmother was?" she asked ignoring her
granddaughter's protests. Jen gave in, "No, Grams, I didn't."
"Well, she was... only now do I realize it though. I was about your age when
she told me this, and I want you to listen to it." she put a hand on Jen's
shoulder. 'Too much time spent lamenting a love not found leaves too little
time to find your heart's desire.'"
Jen smiled at last and held her grandmother's hand. "Thanks, Grams."
*****
Joey sat at her desk her head in her hands from frustration and wanting to
finish the egg project so she could finally get some sleep. "Okay, Pacey.
C'mon we have to name this thing."
"Shhh... honey, please the baby's sensitive to being called a 'thing,'" Pacey
mocked covering the egg's drawn on ears. "Fine, what do we name him?"
"How about Pacey Whitter, the Second?" Pacey said grandly. "I think it has
a sort of ring to it, don't you?"
Joey's eyes rolled, "Please, Pacey. We don't have remind this boy that he
has you for a father. He's tortured enough to begin with."
"Fine, you name him then."
"I will," Joey said scribbling the first name that popped into her head.
"So how was your tutoring love session with what's his face?" Pacey asked
curious to know if his chances with Joey remained at slim to none or had
decreased into the "When hell freezes over" range.
"Oh great, after having sex in the non-fiction aisle of the library, we
decided to cover verb conjugation." sarcasm dripping from her words.
Pacey gave her a look that Joey couldn't define but made her get serious,
"Pacey, I'm tutoring him, that's it."
"I can't help be worried," Pacey admitted a little timidly.
"There's nothing for you to worry about. Why would he be interested in me?"
she scoffed herself.
Pacey was appalled that Joey did not see the very attractive girl she was and
wondered how long it had been since she'd looked in the mirror. "Joey, you
can't be serious."
She looked at him and shrugged fiddling with the pencil in her hand.
"Do you realize how pretty you are? Because I do and you're not like every
other girl. You've got your head on straight. You know who you are and
refuse to change for anyone who thinks less of you." Pacey pulled her in
front of the mirror and forced her to look at herself. "Despite your
undeniable beauty, that's the trait I admire most about you. Your strength of
character." Joey pulled away surprised still at Pacey's deep sentiments.
He softly laughed reading the expression on Joey's face. "Yeah, I know what
you're thinking..." He leaned closer, "I'm not as bad as you think, Joe."
She blinked still in shock and staring up at him.
"So what did we name eggie here?" Pacey asked eager to change the subject.
*****
Dawson clicked on the latest release the video store had in stock and
wondered if Joey would show up to watch with him. Lately, Joey's attendance
to movie night was seldom and he wasn't sure if it was something he had done
that caused it. Ever since the beginning of their coming of age, things had
been different as Joey had foretold. He laid in bed and stared blankly at the
television. Joey Potter, the girl he could read like a book was now a mystery
to him. Jen's words sang back to him and his head raced with thoughts. He
didn't know when, but all of a sudden he found that he was surprisingly cured
of Jennifer Lindley. Hearing a noise outside he looked toward the window with
hopes of finding Joey there, yet the window remained empty and he turned back
toward the movie again. *****
Joey lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, and despite being exhausted she
was unable to seleep. Thoughts raced through her head Pacey's words echoed in
her mind as she looked out the window. She had a perfect view of Dawson's
place as she lay there. She remembered the countless times that she had
stared out that window and dreamt of the boy across the creek. He had always
been just out of reach. Dawson Leery was so close to her yet not close
enough. Dawson's light was off and she wondered what he was doing, wondered
if he was out to see a movie with Jen. Only with Dawson did she turn into the
misguided dreamy eyed teenager, she loved to hate. Her insomnia overriding
her system, she jumped out of bed and decided to make a visit across thecreek.
*****
By the time Joey made it to Dawson's she saw a flicker of light from the
bedroom signalling he was up watching a movie. She climbed in and saw that
Dawson had fallen asleep. She sat on his windowsill and contemplated whether
or not to wake him, but as she sat pondering he awoke and feeling another
presence in the room, he turned the window expecting and finding Joey.
"Hey," Joey replied softly. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Dawson scooted over on his bed to make room for her. "It's cool, Joey. You
know you can come in at any time. You've been doing it since you were seven."
Joey climbed down from the window sill. "Yeah, I thought maybe by now things
might have been different."
Dawson remembered all that was happening between him and his childhood
friend. He remembered the nights when he wondered if their friendship would
survive. "Y'know as much as you insist that everything changes, I assure you
that you're always welcome here. This bed gets lonely sometimes without you
in it."
His admission snapped her head up to look at him. "I miss it too sometimes,"
she mumbled.
"We won't mention that to our spouses when we grow up, will we?" Dawson
joked. "That sleeping with my wife beside me isn't quite the same as with my
best friend. "What are you doing here anyway?" Joey shrugged, "Couldn't sleep."
"Why? What's up?" Dawson asked.
"Nothing really," Joey replied meekly. "Just another case of insomnia, you
know how that is..."
"Yeah, I've been tossing and turning thinking about you," Dawson admitted
without realizing the meaning of his words. "I don't know why, Joey... But
that guy, Tommy, he makes me feel so jealous."
"The same jealous you felt with Pacey?" Joey asked still annoyed by the whole
bodyguard routine. "You've got nothing to worry about, Dawson. I might as
well join the convent now and condemn my life to celibacy voluntarily."
"Joey..." Dawson struggled to find the right words.
"Why do you feel so jealous?" Joey asked curious to know.
"I don't know. It's just a feeling. Maybe it's a temporary break from
reality, a lapse of sanity... it happens. Maybe I'm afraid he'll see in
seconds what took me years to notice..."
Joey looked away afraid of what Dawson might see in her eyes. "Dawson, you
always do this." "What, do what?" Dawson asked confused.
"Take a sudden interest in me when you think someone else has me," Joey got
up from the bed. "I'm sick of your 'I don't want you, but no one else can
have you either' mindset. Get over it. Why can't you see who I am like...
like-" Joey sought her soul trying to find the strength to finish what she'd
started. "Like who?" Dawson demanded. "C'mon, Joey, tell me. Who?"
Her head snapped up to look Dawson straight in the eyes, "Like Pacey," she
shook her head. "I've gotta get out of here."
Joey retreated out the window and left Dawson at a standstill. He mumbled,
"I never do anything right," and collapsed on the bed.*****
Joey sat in Home Ec looking at the egg notes she'd taken while awaiting the
sounding of the bell. Pacey just arrived and sat beside her.
"Hey Mommy, you'll happy to know that I took good care of eggie here. Not a
scratch on him, and you didn't trust me," he lightly joked.
Joey smiled, "Hey, Pacey?" she asked. "Yes?"
"Well, I-" Joey stopped not wanting to admit that he was right. "Thank you
for, well- you know..."
"Yeah, I know," Pacey smiled. "Maybe one day I'll get on your good side.
Joey smiled. "Being your wife wasn't that bad..." she admitted. "Maybe a
little fun... sometimes."
"Hey, we haven't gotten to the fun part yet." Pacey winked. "I believe a
big part of marriage is consummation. Ready for the honeymoon?"
"PACEY!" Joey pushed him away and thought some things would never change when
it came to Pacey Whitter.
*****
Dawson stopped Joey as she headed toward her next class. "Once again, I owe
you an apology."
"Yeah," she agreed not giving an inch and wanting to hear everything he had
to say.
"I'm sorry, Joe. I seem to have my foot permanently stuck in my mouth when
it comes to you." Dawson admitted. "I want you to be happy, Joey, with or
without me. Even if I have to sacrifice a little of my sanity in theprocess."
Joey smiled already forgiving him from his first words.
"Pacey was right," Dawson replied. "Yeah, he was," Joey contended.
"What's up with you two, anyway?" Dawson asked. "What do you mean?"
"Is he a friend?" Dawson hesitated, "Is he more?"
"Pacey's..." Joey didn't know how to answer. "I... He's not my sworn enemy
anymore." She sifted through her thoughts.
"And?" Dawson asked afraid of what might come next but still eager to know.
"I guess he's my friend... I know I have fun with him most of the time. I
don't know, Dawson. He always knows what to say or do when I'm down and I
appreciate that." "I guess we'll see how it goes?" Dawson said reluctantly.
"Yeah," she nodded as they walked down the hall together.
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