I'm a die hard PJ fan, Dawson is a dork and he should be kicked off the show. Now that I've got that out of my system, some of these characters are mine and some of them aren't. I'm jsut borrowing them, and I haven't got a dollar right now much less ten cents. So don't go suing me or anything because all you'll get is my computer, some clothes and a few video tapes.
Please read and enjoy, and review if you feel so inclined. And also check out my other stories and see how you like them.
Thanks ~ Krista
Joey Potter climbed out of Bessie's truck and stared up at Brooks Hall, her home for the next few months. She took a deep breath and walked around to the back of the truck to help unload her things."Let's get you unpacked," Bessie said as she opened the back and began placing boxes on the ground.
A tall dark haired boy in a fraternity shirt came up to the two sisters, "Excuse me ladies, may I be of some help? A bunch of the guys are helping carry luggage. I'm Kurt."
Joey was silent due to the ball of nerves in her stomach so Bessie spoke up, "Thanks a lot Kurt. My sister here is staying on the third floor."
Kurt grabbed more boxes than Bessie thought humanly possible and followed Joey and Bessie in to the building.
"This is it, room 212," Joey said as she put her new key in to the lock. She swung the door open and allowed Kurt and Bessie to enter before her. The room was empty except for furniture, two beds, two desks, and two dressers. They set all the boxes down on the bed and surveyed the room.
"Thanks for your help," Joey told Kurt as he walked towards the door. He nodded and closed the door behind him.
Bessie sat down on the empty bed, "Are you happy Jo?"
"That's the third time you've asked me that since we left the house this morning." Joey sighed, "Of course I am Bess. This is what I want."
"I'm just checking. You know that you can come home whenever you want okay. Just call me and I'll come out and get you."
"I know."
"Do you want me to stay and help you unpack?" Bessie asked.
Joey thought about it, "No I think I'd like to do it on my own. You've got to get going anyway."
"Okay I get it. I'll get out of your hair."
Their goodbye seemed to take forever. Joey closed the door after Bessie had left and went to the window to see her drive away. It all seemed like so much to take in. She was living on her own away from home for the first time. She walked away from the window and went and sat on the empty bed.
She wasn't unhappy, this was a big step and Joey was proud of herself. It hadn't been her dream to attend school in Massachusetts but UMASS at Amherst had offered the most scholarship money and at least it was out of Capeside.
Dawson had been in New York City since July. She hadn't heard from him, not that she minded, they had grown apart during their senior year. They'd lost the closeness. Joey was sure that the city would eat him alive, even after his experience in Philadelphia.
Andie was as expected happily starting fresh at an Ivy League school paid, for by her daddy. Jack had already been gone for a year, attending Berkley. Strangely enough, Joey didn't miss either of them. Actually she'd never been good friends with Andie but she had learned to live with out Jack.
Jen was at that moment probably drinking espresso in Paris or backpacking in Switzerland. She was taking a year off to 'find herself'. Joey thought it was just the sort of thing Jen would do to further enrage her parents.
Pacey was ... Pacey was hopefully starting college or university just like Joey. The sad thing was that she had no idea where. In the middle of their junior year, Pacey's parents had divorced.With no custody battle whatsoever, his mother took all the children and moved away to Maine. oey hadn't seen him in what felt like forever. She hadn't heard from him in a long time either. They had both lost touch in the beginning of their senior year. She had no idea where Pacey was and she hated it. They had gotten closer after everything with her and Dawson. When Pacey and Andie had broken up Joey had been the only one there for him.
**
"Well, a funny thing happened. I got in Dawson's rowboat and it magically drifted to your dock," Pacey said as he floated towards her on the dock.
Joey threatened him, "Magically drift any closer and I'll kill you."
"I almost believe that," he tied up the boat and sat down beside her.
"He told you, didn't he? Didn't he?"
"What do you think?"
"I think I hate you both," Joey sighed quietly.
"You're gonna hate what I'm going to say even more. He did the best thing, Joey. You two need to be apart now."
"Of all the people to see me like this, it had to be you," she said a few minutes later.
"It's a new year, Joey. You never know, we could even end up friends."
"Pacey, I'm upset enough as it is," she managed to reply.
He simply smiled and pulled her closer, "Hey Potter. Come here." Joey leaned against him and began to cry.
**
Joey mentally berated herself for dwelling on the 'Pacey matter' and ordered her self to begin unpacking. She stood in the middle of the room and decided which bed she wanted and then she started unpacking books, clothes and pictures.
Joey was tucking sheets underneath her mattress when a girl walked in to the room. "Hey what's up? I'm Emily Greer. I'm pretty sure we're roommates." The girl placed a box on the empty bed and watched as three frat boys carried in the rest of her things.
Joey sized the girl up, she was average height and average build. She was pretty, Joey thought, with shocking short red hair and a few freckles. Her clothing was flashy and bright, unlike what Joey was used to seeing in Capeside. "Hi, I'm Joey Potter," Joey walked across the room and shook Emily's hand after the frat boys had left. "Are you from Massachusetts?"
Emily threw open a box and began hanging clothing in the closet. "Yep, Boston actually. I just wanted to get out of the city. You know?"
"Not really, I come from a small town. Capeside, have you ever heard of it?"
**
Pacey pulled his black Honda Accord in to the first parking space he could find and turned off the ignition. He sat back in the seat and closed his eyes for a few seconds. As much as he hated to be back in Massachusetts, he was grateful that it wasn't Capeside.
After all he should be pleased he wasn't attending some community college. UMASS at Amherst was his number two choice. He opened his eyes again and checked the housing assignment. He was in the Central Living area, parked in front of Brooks Hall. Now all he had to do was get his things up to room 201.
"How am I going to manage this?" Pacey muttered to himself as he opened the trunk. He picked up as many of his things as he cold and closed the trunk again.
Twenty minutes later Pacey was laying on the unmade bed in his new room, breathless. He stared at the ceiling until he had caught his breath and then set about unpacking all of his belongs.
He was pulled a picture frame out of a box and placed it on his desk. It was him and Joey the summer before he left, they were sitting on her front porch laughing hysterically. He tried hard to remember what they were laughing at.
**
"Well how 'bout like sticking out your thumb, huh?" Pacey asked.
Joey scowled "Oh yeah? And what else? Maybe hike up my skirt, pout my lips, strike some sexy pose for some horndog trucker? Stick out your on thumb you sexist toad."
"I am not a sexist, I am a pragmatist. OK? You ever seen 'A Sure Thing? That movie elegantly portrays one of life's simple truths-that a female standing on the side of a road, even one with a perpetual scowl like yourself, has a better chance of flagging down a car than a guy."
"Since I'm the only one here with an opposable thumb, I guess it's up to me to use it," she muttered turning towards the road.
"And here's you chance," Pacey ran towards the bushes.
Joey stuck out her thumb and waited for the school to slow down. "Hi."
"Today is your lucky day Miss Potter, need a ride back to school?" Mr. Green asked.
"Thanks."
Pacey came running out of the bushes carrying leaves, "Oh! Principal Green. Whoo! Thank God you were here. In preparing for out botany assignment it appears Josephine and I wandered significantly farther away from the school than we had anticipated. Frankly, I was beginning to worry that we weren't going to make it back by nightfall.
The principal chuckled. "That's a good one, Pacey."
"Yeah, well, you know, let it never be said that I'm lacking in the creativity department," Pacey replied as he grinned.
**
There was a knock at the open door, "Can I help you?" He regretted being pulled out of the daydream.
"I'm Bryan Foster, your roommate," Bryan walked in to the room and set some of his things down.
Pacey extended his hand, "Nice to meet you I'm Pacey Witter. I hope you don't mind I already chose a bed and everything."
"No problem. Would you mind helping me carry my things up? My cars right out front."
**
Joey was beginning to get settled in her new room. She and Emily were getting acquainted.
"So are you going to go to the little party they've got planned for tonight?" Emily asked as she folded some clothes in to a drawer.
Joey bit her lip as she considered it, "I'm not sure. I just want to be lazy to night."
"Will you at least check it out with me? I don't know anyone here. I don't want to go alone, please?" Emily whined as she hopped on to Joey's bed.
Joey sighed, "Fine."
"Wonderful!"
**
"Please tell me that you are not the bookworm type and that you'll go downstairs and check out this party with me?" Pacey said as he looked in to the mirror above his dresser.
Bryan looked up from his computer, "Do you see any math awards on my desk? I'm so there, man. Just give me a minute to powder my nose." Pacey gave him a quizzical look. "Kidding! You so have to get used to my sense of humor." Bryan laughed and left the room for a while.
**
"Okay so we're not exactly raising the roof or anything here," Emily said unhappily as she sipped her drink.
"The fact that you just used the term 'raising the roof' makes me think twice about you," Joey warned her.
Emily giggled, her laughter was loud and infectious, "My littler brother says it all the time. Oh that's sad. I'm picking up slang from a fifteen year old."
"My cup is empty, I'm gonna go get a refill. Do you want anything?" Joey asked. Emily shook her head, "Okay don't go anywhere," Joey said before making her way across the room.
Joey had just filled her cup when she turned around and crashed in to someone, spilling the drink all over the stranger. "I'm so sorry I didn't realize."
"No harm, no foul," Pacey said as he surveyed the damage to his t-shirt.
Joey was filling up her cup again, "But you're soaking!"
"I can go up and change in no time. Don't worry about it. What's your -," Pacey had finally looked at the face of the girl. "Joey?"
"Pacey!"
"What are you doing here?" They asked simultaneously.
They replied in unison. "What does it look like?"
Joey laughed, "I'm so sorry about your shirt."
"Forget the shirt, I can't believe it's really you. It's so good to see you," Pacey told her as he opened his arms.
"No offense Pacey, I'm all for hugging you but your soaked," Joey stepped back.
"Oh right. Well it's your fault anyway. Come up stairs with me while I change. I can't wait to talk to you."
Joey looked around the room, Emily was dancing with a number of boys. "Okay."
**
"What happened Pacey, none of us have heard from you in almost a year!" Joey cried as she followed Pacey in to his room.
"Hey as I recall communication is a two way street," Pacey pulled his wet t-shirt over his head and left it on the floor. He found a new one in his dresser and put it on.
"I guess you're right. Sorry about that." Joey looked at him, "I missed you."
"Same here." He smiled at her, "Can I have that hug now?"
**
"What happened to you tonight?" Emily asked as she climbed under the covers I her bed. "The last time I saw you, you were going to get a drink but then you disappeared."
"It's the strangest and the greatest thing. A friend of mine is here. I haven't seen him in a long time because he moved away a year and a half ago and we lost touch."
Emily sat up, "Hold up, it's a he?"
"Yes, his name is Pacey. We go way back." Joey saw the look on Emily's face. "No not like that. We never dated. We used to fight a lot when we were younger and before he moved away we started to be best friends. Then he left."
"So this is good then. You guys get to pick up where you left off."
"Basically. We're going to stick together tomorrow at the orientation as much as possible. Make up for lost time I guess."
**
"Hey who was that brunette I saw you talking to before you vanished?" Bryan asked while he and Pacey stood in the men's room brushing their teeth.
Pacey looked at Bryan in the mirror, "Brunette? Oh you mean Joey. It's the craziest thing, we went to high school together. But I moved to Maine about a year and a half ago so I haven't seen her since then and I haven't spoken to her in a long time either. We had no idea that we'd both be going here."
"So are you glad that she's here then?" Bryan rinsed out the sink.
"Of course I am. You ought to hang out with us tomorrow at orientation. You can get to know her."