"I think he's making a mistake." Mitch Leery looked sternly at his wife, Gale, and tightened his grip on the empty can of Budweiser he was holding, crushing it. Gale bit her lip and shrugged.
"California is on the other side of the country. He wants to be closer to his family—" Mitch cut her off, slamming his beer can down onto the table.
"Bullshit! This is about Joey Potter and you know it. I don't know what she said to him tonight, and frankly, I don't care, but she's holding him back, Gale."
"Mitch," Gale reached out to touch his arm, which he pulled back. "Joey is a sweet girl, and Dawson loves her very much."
"She walks all over him. Pulls him in different directions. Plays mind games with him. Uses him," Mitch said angrily. "She's been doing it since they were seven years old." His eyes flashed with anger. "She dumped him," he spat out, "for his best friend. Left him crying like a little girl on the dock while she ran off on a boat to fuck Pacey, or whatever the hell it is they were doing, for three totally unchaperoned months—" Gail stood up and began clearing the empty beer cans and bowl of chips and dip from the table.
"That's enough, Mitch," she said coldly. Mitch put an arm on her shoulder.
"Hear me out," he demanded. Gail rolled her eyes and reluctantly took her seat. "She dumped him, humiliated him, and now she has the nerve to ask him to forgo college because she doesn't think she can handle it without using him as her crutch?! She doesn't want him, Gale. She just can't stand the idea that he won't be following her around like a puppy dog for the next four years."
"I'm not happy about his decision, either," Gale said. "But Worthington is an excellent school. And they have a great film school. It's closer to home—"
"It's not USC. The film school doesn't even compare. He's shortchanging himself, Gale. I want the best for our son. And unfortunately, I think the best thing for him would be to make a clean break from Joey." Gale lowered her eyes and buried her face in her hands.
"I just don't know what to say about this. I'm trying to be supportive of our son. I know how you feel about Joey. Believe me, I know. I'm not thrilled with the way she's treated him in the past year, either. But Dawson loves her, and I think that deep down, she loves him, too. She's just confused. She has so many problems in her life—"
"Problems that aren't Dawson's," Mitch interrupted. "I'm tired of seeing him agonize over Joey's problems. Literally making himself physically sick from the stress of her complicated life. He's 18 years old. He has enough problems of his own without feeling obligated to solve all of Joey's."
"I know." Gale squeezed Mitch's hand and looked up at him. "I just don't think that staying nearer to home is the worst thing that could happen to him." Mitch stood up quickly, clenching his fists in rage.
"He's going to USC, Goddammit," he snarled. "Being accepted to this program has been his dream since he was five years old. And I'm not going to stand by and watch him throw it away for Joey Potter."