Rating: PG? PG-13? There's nothing too bad in here.
Spoilers: Nada
Author's note: This will be the last story in this series for a while. I have ideas if I decide to pick it up again, but enjoy this last (?) part. Thanks for all the feedback so far, I hope you decide to send some after you read this part. Also, thanks to Matahari for reading over each part before it was posted and giving me some ideas. Thanks to Lisa for reading over the first few parts before they were posted, too.
Stand by Me
Joey broke away when the violins held out their note. She said three words, but much to Dawson's dismay, they weren't the words she had said before.
"I've gotta go," Joey said, almost angry.
"You can't go. We have to talk," Dawson held onto her arm. Joey stood there thinking for a minute. She pursed her lips and then let out a sigh.
"Um... uh, fine. Okay, fine. Just turn the damn song off!"
"Okay," Dawson reluctantly shut off the stereo. The spell was broken.
"Dawson," Joey shut her eyes to keep from exploding, "what was that?"
"That was me wanting you. That was me knowing exactly how I feel about you. I'm sorry if I never showed you legitimately before."
"You can't keep doing this to me," Joey said with tears in her eyes. "It's not fair."
"You're right, Jo. Of course you're right. I'm sure this time. Really."
"No. You're jealous. Dawson," Joey's voice fell to a whisper "you're too late."
"You can't mean that. You told me that you were in love with me just a couple of weeks ago--"
"You don't get it, do you?" Joey interrupted. "You only wanted me after I was gone. You don't love me. Not more than a sister or something. You're jealous and feel threatened. It may be an infatuation or an obsession but that's not love. Anderson... he could really love me. He forgave me for everything and asked me for a second chance. You can't ask me to give that up."
"Who are you to tell me how I feel about you? I finally figured it out and you tell me I'm lying to myself," Dawson yelled at her. "I was never lying to myself. To you maybe when I pretended to be oblivious, but not to myself. Joey, I want you so badly."
"Maybe lust is a factor, too. Jen wouldn't give you any, so now you turn to your only other friend with breasts!"
"Joey, it is not like that," Dawson said darkly. "I love you. Why don't I deserve a second chance, too?"
"Because... because... I don't know," Joey fell onto the bed. "I can't do this anymore, Dawson. No offense, but I am so sick of thinking about you. You're too much a part of my life and if it continues, it will destroy our friendship."
"Too much a part of your life?" Dawson said, exasperated. "You've been avoiding me since the dance!"
"I wish we never went to that dance," Joey shook her head. She was blinded by the sudden rush of tears. "I wish we never--"
"Joey, don't say that," Dawson laid down next to her. Joey was silent for a while.
"Dawson," she turned her back to him.
"What?"
"Dawson?" she called weakly. "What?" he put his hands on her shoulders. "Jo, what is it?" Dawson asked lovingly.
"Do you remember the first time you tried to get me and Pacey to act in one of your movies?"
"Sure, we were ten," Dawson smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"And you made a video camera out of cardboard," Joey remembered fondly, "because your parents wouldn't get you a real one. And it was so terrible."
"Yeah."
"You would stand there and pretend to tape me and Pacey and we would forget all of our lines and make them up as we went along. We'd always end up fighting and you would get so mad that we messed up your movie. So then me and Pacey felt bad and got those big letter stickers and spelt 'Dawson Leery' on the back of the chair you used to sit on that you thought was your directing chair."
"Which was actually one of my mom's good dining room chairs. She got so mad at us for that!"
"Dawson," Joey rolled over to face him and covered his hands around her waist with hers, "I don't think this can work."
"Why not?" he asked, pulling her closer.
"We've known each other for like our whole lives. It's not worth ruining our friendship over. If we go out now, we're inevitably going to break up and that will destroy everything we've been through for the last eight years." Dawson simply responded by running his hands up and down her back. "Maybe if we still wanted to, we could start when we're older and have a better chance to last."
"It's too hard, Joey. I love you now. I'll always be thinking about it. Nothing could be the same."
"Nothing can be the same anyway," Joey put her head on his shoulder, "but we can try."
"I love you so much, Joey."
"I love you, too, Dawson." Joey turned her head up and their faces inched closer to each other. Their noses touched softly and Joey turned her cheek to lay on his.
"What will we do?" Dawson said quietly.
"I don't know." Dawson gently turned her cheek and kissed her on the lips. They pulled apart slightly a few minutes later. The could feel the warmth of the other person breathing on their faces.
"Can I sleep here tonight?" Joey murmured.
"Please," Dawson put his hand on her neck. Joey kissed him again and made herself comfortable lying on his should. They held each other and had peace until they fell asleep.
***********************************************
"Joey, I'm really glad you could come with me," Anderson smiled. This is going to be so much fun."
"So you'll both be back Sunday night, right?" Dawson asked.
"Yeah. Two and a half days, two nights," Joey smiled back at Anderson.
"You'll love the coast of Maine. It's so pretty," Anderson took Joey's hand. "Yeah, I've never slept a night on a boat before, though. You must thank your parents again for letting me come."
"Hey, don't worry about it. They need to check up on the cabin anyway and the boat's got plenty of room," Anderson said.
"I'll be glad to get out of Capeside, though. Even if you're only taking me to Maine for the weekend," Joey said.
"You've got a very nice sister letting you take the weekend off to go on a trip with your boyfriend," Anderson said, helping her onto the boat.
"Yeah," Joey agreed.
"I'll see you, Jo. I'll wait up Sunday night, no matter how late," Dawson said. "Oh, and here." He pulled a picture out of his wallet. It was a picture that Dawson's mother had taken of Dawson and Joey right before they had left the house on the night of the dance. "I have one, too. We're still best friends, Jo." Joey smiled and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek.
"The very best," she said, putting the picture in her pocket. She took Dawson's hand and gave it a squeeze before letting go.
"We're ready to go, Joey," Anderson put his arms around her.
"Always," Joey said to Dawson as she happily waved good-bye.