Falling in Love is Hard to Undo
Part 1
When You're Gone
by: Shirley
E-mail:msdaydream@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Dawson's Creek or any of the characters. How do you know? Cuz if I did Pacey and Joey would be together, Dawson and Jen would be together, Andie and Jack would of never existed, Bodie would still be here and Abby would still be alive. Note: In this story Joey is still working at the Icehouse. I know that on the show, the Icehouse has burned down. But since this is MY story, please pretend that very little damage was done by the fire and the Icehouse is still up and running. This is my first attempt at a DC/P&J fanfiction. Please, PLEASE send me feed back! ANY feed back is great! Well, that's all from me! Enjoy!
Joey Potter struggled to put her jacket on as she made her way to the ruins. The light breeze was pleasurable but a bit too chilly for her liking. She was thinking to herself about the events from the past few weeks that all made a huge impact on her life. The most important one involved her father and . . . Dawson. Dawson Leery was her best friend and her boyfriend all rolled into one. Well, at least he was her boyfriend until the whole incident with her father. She still remembered every single detail that happened since Dawson told her that her father was selling drugs again. He made her strap herself with wire for the police to catch her father's confession on tape. She blamed him for putting her father in jail. If it wasn't for him, she would of never cheated her father and he would still be here. With her. After that, everything was turned upside down. She told Dawson that she didn't want to know him anymore. After all, it was his fault that her father was in jail. But sometimes she just couldn't help think that maybe it wasn't all his fault. That maybe-
"Well if it isn't the Ice Queen herself," a voice suddenly cut into her thoughts.
Joey's head jerked up from surprise. She realized that she had reached the ruins and sitting under a tree there was, she sighed, Pacey Witter.
"Hi Pacey," was all that she said.
"What? No comeback Jo?" Pacey said teasingly. "I know that we haven't exactly been hanging out lately but that doesn't give you an excuse to greet me with that much disrespect. What happened to ‘bite me Pacey' or-"
"Shut up, Pacey," Joey said rolling her eyes, but with a small smile on her face at the same time.
"That's more like it," Pacey said. "So, what's up with you lately?"
"Nothing," was all Joey said.
"Yeah. Like I'm gonna believe that. I have a brain you know," Pacey pointed out.
"Could of fooled me," Joey said under her breath.
"So what's up with you and D man? Oh, and I heard that," Pacey said slowly.
"You just had to go there didn't you," Joey said with a bit of annoyance in her voice. "For your information, there's nothing up with me and Dawson because there is no me and Dawson."
"Jo, why don't you just forgive the poor guy already. You have to admit he did do the right thing and he didn't exactly do anything wrong," Pacey explained.
"You know what Pacey? Your not really in a place to pry in my life. I knew it was a bad idea to talk to you and now you just proved it. I was just trying to have a little peace and quiet before my shift at the Icehouse, but that's not exactly happening is it? Thank you for ruining it for me," Joey yelled and stalked off.
Pacey watched her stalk off. He wasn't sorry for what he said. He knew that she wasn't mad at him for ruining her "peace and quiet", but for bringing up Dawson. It was so obvious that Joey was miserable, and so was Dawson for a fact. Why couldn't she just forgive him? Things would obviously be better that way. Pacey sighed and continued to play with the long piece of grass in his hand.
* *
Joey wiped the counter furiously. Her face was red from anger and her knuckles were white from gripping the towel so hard. That Pacey. He knows how to ruin a girl's day, doesn't he? How dare he tell her what's right and what's wrong. He should just mind his own business and-
"Joey!" Bessie said for the third time. "Table 5!"
"Oh right. Sorry Bess," Joey apologized to her sister.
Great! Look what Pacey did! He made me get in trouble.
"Hi. May I take your order?" Joey asked the people at the table.
"Yes. I would like. . ." the customer ordered.
Joey scribbled down the orders and brought them to the kitchen. She continued working but was thinking the whole time. She kept on cursing Pacey until it finally dawned on her on why she was so mad. Pacey was right. As much as she wanted to put the blame on someone else for her father presence in jail, she knew deep down that it was her own father's fault. Suddenly, she got all angry again. Why did her father have to and sell drugs again? Didn't he know that he could wind up in jail again? Didn't he want to change? Spend the rest of his life with her and Bessie?
"Joey careful with those cups!" Bessie warned.
"Sorry," Joey apologized for the second time that day. She continued putting the cups back on the shelf, but more carefully this time. Her thoughts slowly drifted back to Dawson. In the few times that she had caught glimpses of Dawson before he went to Philadelphia, she could tell that he was miserable. He didn't deserve to be depressed. Well, maybe he did, but not for that long. The more she thought about it, the more determined she was to talk to Dawson. Maybe even apologize. There was only one problem. She didn't have the number to where he was staying in Philadelphia. She couldn't ask Mr. Leery since he was off on some vacation. The only other person left was. . . Pacey.
Great, she thought. She was going to have to make more apologizes today.
* *
Pacey took another sip of his soda as he continued walking down the docks. He leaned over a bit and rested his elbows on the railing. It had already been two weeks since Andie left for Providence, but he still missed her like crazy. He felt alone, like he had no one else to talk to. He still remembered the first couple days after her departure. He was miserable. Dawson would have to come over and literally drag him out of bed. But as time passed, he got better and could actually get out of bed on his own, but he still missed Andie like hell. It was too bad that Dawson was gone too. He was hoping that they could spend the summer doing some serious male bonding but his plans were shattered once he heard that Dawson would be going to Philadelphia with his mom for some internship thing. He absentmindedly took another sip of soda and continued to stare out at the glistening water caused by the full moon.
"Pacey?"
Pacey turned around and realized that it was Joey. He wasn't exactly thrilled to have her as company because of their little encounter earlier today.
"Hello Josephine," he greeted.
"Pacey, you know I hate it when you call me that," Joey said.
"That's why I said it," Pacey said smiling.
Joey smiled despite herself. "Look, I just came here to apologize for earlier today."
"Josephine, are you actually apologizing to me?" Pacey said in mock surprise.
"Yes, but your not making it any easier," Joey said grinding her teeth together.
"Continue," Pacey ordered, like he was on top of the world.
"Well, I really didn't mean to lash out on you like that. I realized that the reason I was so angry was because...I realized that you were right," Joey said, mumbling out the last few words.
"What? I can't her you," Pacey said, pretending he didn't hear her last few words.
"I said you were right," Joey said a little bit louder this time.
"What was that Josephine?" Pacey asked again, obviously enjoying himself.
"I said you were right and would you please stop calling me that?" Joey yelled.
"Geez, Jo. You sure know how to apologize," Pacey said sarcastically.
"Well it isn't easy when you have to apologize to the scum on the bottom of your shoe," Joey shot back.
"Hey that scum was right," Pacey said defensively.
"I know," Joey said defeated.
"I don't think that you've actually said ‘I'm sorry' yet," Pacey said in a playful voice.
"Yes I did," Joey said, trying to avoid the actual ‘I'm sorry'.
"No you haven't," Pacey corrected.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll say it. But under one condition," Joey announced.
"Oh? And what's that?" Pacey asked.
"Only if you stop calling me Josephine!" Joey exclaimed.
Pacey smiled. "Alright, Jo."
"I'm sorry," Joey said.
"Good, Josephine," Pacey said.
"Hey! No fair!" Joey said, as if she was back in fifth grade again. "I take that back."
"No can do. Once you said it, you said it!" Pacey explained content.
"Pacey...." Joey warned.
Pacey knew that voice and face. It could only mean one thing.
"Gotta go," he said abruptly taking off with Joey chasing after him.
* *
Joey was busy working at the Icehouse as usual, early Wednesday morning. She was busy getting the change for a table when Bessie called out to her from the kitchen.
"Table four's order's ready."
"Gotcha Bess," Joey shouted.
She gave the change to the nearby table and proceeded to the counter when she bumped into someone.
"Oh!" Joey yelled startled.
"Relax, Jo. It's just me," Pacey laughed.
"Look Pacey, just take a seat at the counter and I'll be with you in a minute," Joey ordered.
Pacey made his way to the counter and took a seat.
"Hi Pacey," Bessie yelled from the kitchen.
"Hey Bessie," Pacey called back.
Joey returned and shoved a plate with eggs, toast and bacon in Pacey's face.
"Here," Joey said.
"But I didn't order anything," Pacey said.
"Please, are you going to tell me that you're not gonna eat it?" Joey challenged.
"Well, no, but it doesn't matter anyway cuz I don't have any money with me," Pacey replied.
"Consider it on the house," Joey simply said.
"Really?" Pacey asked in surprise. Then his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Why? Did you drop this on the floor a couple of times?"
Joey rolled her eyes. "No, just consider it part of my apology to you. And also because Bessie told me to give it to you."
"Well, if Bessie gave it, I guess it's safe to eat then," Pacey said, munching away.
Joey gave Pacey ‘the look' then decided to change the topic.
"So, whatcha doing here anyway?" she asked.
"Nothing else to do. Dawson and Andie are away for obvious reasons. Jen and Jack are in New York visiting her parents. So that just leaves you," Pacey explained.
"Gee Pace, it's nice to know that I'm number one on your list," Joey said with sarcasm.
"Girl, you should be lucky that you're even on my list," Pacey teased.
"I should be, but I'm not," Joey shot back sweetly.
"Joey!" Bessie yelled from the kitchen. "Table 9 is ready to order."
"Be right back," Joey told Pacey.
Pacey obeyed his hunger and ate his free breakfast.
"What time do you get off?" Pacey asked as Joey returned.
"Five, why?" Joey asked as she filled some cups with water.
"I was thinking that we could hangout," Pacey replied.
"Well, since Tom Cruise canceled, I guess I can go," Joey told him.
"Great I'll be back then," said Pacey getting off the stool.
"Can't wait," Joey said with fake enthusiasm.
* *
"Say that again," Joey instructed.
"Gee Jo. With you practically being a guy and all, I would expect that you would at least know how to hold a football," Pacey commented.
"Well, I never had. Now stop complaining or else I'm gonna shove this up your rear," Joey said holding up the football.
"I think you're getting the hang of this," Pacey said a little intiminated. "Now just throw it to me like how I showed you."
Pacey ran a few meters down the grassy field. They've decided to play a little bit of football. Well, actually he decided but that wasn't important. He turned his attention back to Joey. Joey was actually kind of fun to be around, when she was completely clueless on something and she depended on him for help. Like learning football for instant.
"Hey Pacey!" Joey yelled from the other side of the field. "Are you standing there looking like a fool on purpose, or does that just come naturally to you?"
"Just throw the ball, Jo," Pacey called back.
Joey followed the steps Pacey have given her earlier.
Unfortunately she was a little off and the football landed in the creek beside them.
"Joey!" Pacey exclaimed.
"What! It was my first try! I thought it was pretty good. And it's pretty close to you," Joey said.
"Yeah, if your close means twenty feet away!" Pacey retorted.
The stood there in silence for awhile.
"Well, aren't you going to get it?" Pacey asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm not jumping into the creek just to rescue a football!" Joey yelled back.
"But you threw it in there!" Pacey yelled.
"But it's your ball!" Joey defended. "Personally, I don't care what happens to it, so it wouldn't mean the world to me if we just left it there."
Pacey narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he said and slowly made his way to the creek. Joey followed him. He took off he's shoes and slowly slid in. The creek was deeper than he expected. He dove under the water and felt the bottom of the creek with his hands. When he finally found the football, he resurfaced.
"Got it," he said, spitting some water out of his mouth.
"See, that wasn't so bad," Joey said, trying to get rid of the guilt that was washing over her for making him jump into the creek.
Pacey narrowed his eyes again. "Just help me out of here," he said.
Joey offered her hand to Pacey. Pacey took her hand, But instead of pulling himself up as planned, he pulled her in. Joey fell in the water with a big splash. She regained her balance in the water and then resurfaced.
"Pacey you idiot!" Joey yelled.
"You should of seen the look on your face!" Pacey laughed.
As a reflex to her anger, Joey automatically shoved water in Pacey's direction.
"Hey!" Pacey yelled and returned the wave.
This continued on for quite awhile. At first there was shouting, but after awhile, Joey and Pacey gave into the fun and started laughing. Joey was the first to notice the darkening sky.
"Pacey, it's getting dark. We should go," Joey said, ending their water fight.
"Alright," Pacey said. He hosted himself out of the water and helped Joey out.
"I hate to say it, but I had fun," Joey said.
"Well, anyone would if they spent the day with me," Pacey replied.
Joey rolled her eyes. "No, that's not it. I think it was because you nearly drowned!"
They continued talking and walking until Pacey noticed that something was missing.
"Hey, Jo. Where's the ball?" Pacey asked.
Joey just looked at Pacey and he knew the answer even without her speaking. They both automatically turned around and made their way back to the creek.
