Description: Takes place a few years after Pacey and Joey's break up.
Author's note: If you review, I will update.
Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters, just the original storyline.
Heart aches Revisited
Chapter #1
(Jen's pov)
" Are you coming to the Christmas party at Mrs. Leery's?", I ask while setting a cup of coffee in front of Pacey. Sitting down beside him, Itake a few sips from my own. Joey is supposed to be going. Trying to gauge Pacey's reaction when I tell him that she is going to be there. I have a good feeling that he will be surprised to know that she is newly single. The guy that she was seeing...well, they broke up. Joey was packing his suite case to come down here and found an engagement ring. She flipped out and told him she thought that they should take a break. He wasn't too keen on the idea and suggested they break up instead. I know for a fact Pacey is no longer seeing that Emily chick either. This should be an interesting Christmas.
" Well, I was thinking of stopping by for a bit. Is Dawson going to be there? Last I heard he was finishing up filming in Boston.", comments Pacey before taking a bite of his piece of toast. Dawson should be there yes, more importantly Joey will be there. While those two are on speaking terms, they don't exactly go out of the way to spend time together. There have been times where Joey will catch wind that Pacey is coming by and she will think of just about any excuse she could think of to leave. It has been a little over three years since thetwo broke up. You would think things would have gone back to normal between them. Heck, Dawson and Joey dated and they're still good friends. Guess Pacey really did a number on her heart though. I'm not saying that I want the two of them back together, but it would be nice if they could be in the same room together and not find a reason to take off after only a few minutes.
" Dawson is expected to be there, yes. Know who else is supposed to be going? Little miss Josephine Potter.", I inform with a smile when he drops his piece of bacon. Ha! Knew that he wanted to see her. Pacey can say otherwise all he wants but judging by his reaction? It is not difficult to see that he would be completely lying. I think maybe it is time these two sit down and talk. What could it possibly hurt? They left a lot of things unspoken between the two of them after senior prom. It might be nice to get it all out in the open once and for all. I am not saying they are going to work everything that went wrong between them out. But it would be nice if they could get back to actually being friends again. It has been so long since we have all been able to hangout without all the pent up tension whenever Pacey or Joey show up.
" Thanks for the heads up, I will be sure to keep my visit short then. Tell Potter and her boyfriend Charlie that I said hi and Merry Christmas will you Jen.", offers Pacey in a gruff manner. I can't help but notice him tense when he mentioned Charlie's name. Guess he is not too fond of the guy. Then again, why should he be? For the last two and a half years this guy has been the one lucky enough to make Joey happy. The girl was always all smiles whenever someone would ask about him. I can see how that would make Pacey more then a bit jealous or resentful of the guy. Seems like someone still has some left over feelings for dear Joey Potter.
Finishing the last of my breakfast, I place my plate in the sink," Oh come on, Pace. You know that you want to see Joey. Besides, haven't you heard? Her and Charlie are no longer together."
Poking at the last of his eggs, Pacey raises a confused eyebrow," The happy couple broke up? What happened?"
" Lets just say Joey wasn't too excited when she found an engagement ring in his suite case she had been packing for him on their trip down here. Jo panicked and wanted to take a break. Charlie took it a step further and broke up with her instead.", I confide while studying Pacey carefully for a reaction. If he is relieved or not I wouldn't know the difference. Currently Pacey is acting as though he could care less. We both know this is not the case though. Had Charlie actually had the chance to propose on Christmas like planned? Something tells me Witter wouldn't be sticking around to hear Joey's answer. He is so obviously not over Joey, why can he not just admit this to himself? Do I think there is a chance of those two ever getting back together? Honestly, I don't know. But it would be nice if they could get back to being friends again at least.
" That sounds like Potter. Leave it to her to look for the easy way out when things get complicated. The girl can't even be in the same room as me for more then five minutes before taking off.", laughs Pacey in a somewhat bitter tone. Excuse me? Is he kidding me right now? Lets not forget who broke up with who in front of literally everyone at senior prom. And for what? Because he was afraid of Joey eventually pushing him away? Please Pacey, you are exactly like her. You are just too blind to see it. The only reason the two of them are not still together today is because Pacey could not get over his jealousy of Dawson and doubts about what their future held. Had he been able to do that? Pacey and Joey would more then likely still be together today.
" If that's not the pot calling the kettle black then I don't know what is Witter.", I remark with an amused shake of my head. Holding back a chuckle at the look on his face, I only shake my head. Oh it is going to be fun trying to get those two to sit in the same room together for more then two minutes. I am going to need Jack's help with this one. Not sure but I am fairly certain if we tell the both of them the other was hoping to see them, it might peek their interest and maybe even start a conversation between the two. Think I have just the plan to get those two speaking to one another if not only briefly.
" Right, well if we're done here Lindley I should probably be going. Tell the Leery's and grams that I said hi and sorry I couldn't make it to the Christmas party this year.", advises Pacey with just a hint of agitation in his tone. Oh he can be so melodramatic sometimes. He and I both know that he's going to show up. Dawson and the rest of us would all be super ticked off if he didn't. But just to be sure, I am going to test the waters. I know for a fact that Jack is out with Joey currently, so I am going to text him to tell her the same thing that I am about to tell Pacey. Jack would call this meddling and lying but something needs to be done and what better way to jump start a conversation between these two then with a little white lie.
" Oh come on Witter, it was only a joke. Besides, I think that you're going to want to come. Jack told me that Joey mentioned she was sort of hoping to see you there.", I confide just as he goes to walk off. This stops him in his tracks and I can't help but smile. Knew that it would work. When these two figure out what Jack and I both did they're going to want to kill us. What other choice did we have though? This three year long silent treatment they have been giving each other has gone way too far. Time to take matters into my own hands and get the ball rolling for the two of them. Pacey clearly wants to see Joey or he would have just kept right on walking.
(Meanwhile; Jack's pov)
..." Pacey actually told you that?", questions Joey with a surprised look on her face. What do you know? Jen is a genius. This little scheme of hers is going to work like a charm. Who would have thought? They're both going to figure it out eventually though and more then likely want to kill the both of us. I am just going to say that it was all Jen's idea. Why should I be thrown under the bus for going along with something that was completely her idea to begin with. The plan is pretty brilliant though. If it gets them talking? Why not give it a try.
With a mere nod of my head, I take a drink from my glass of orange juice," Oh yeah, he told Jen that he thought it was time the two of you cleared the air between you finally."
Biting down on her bottom lip in thought, Joey hesitantly nods her agreement," Guess maybe he does have a point. It is Christmas after all and there is no reason we couldn't try to be friends again."
" See? There is the Christmas spirit Jo.", I tease with light nudge to her side. Judging by the smile on her face, I would say Joey is happy at the thought of settling things between her and Pacey. If all it takes is a slight nudge from Jen and I? Then it will all be worthwhile in the end. It would be nice to see those two finally getting along once again. It has been too long since all of us have spent time together. Hopefully this little scheme of Jen's will work and not backfire. Will it lead to the two of them getting back together? Somehow I doubt this, but a friendship is at least a start in the right direction.
" Lets not get too carried away Jack, you and I both know Pacey and I have not been on the friendliest of terms.", reminds Joey while playing with the buttons on her shirt. This is true. While they have not been bitter toward one another, there have been a few close calls with those two. Still, if they would only take the time to sit down and talk about things I am sure they could eventually get past the ugliness that was their break up. Pacey said more then a few things he didn't mean that night and I bet he feels bad about it too. It is Christmas time, maybe the holiday season will rekindle some of the old sparks that once flickered between the two of them.
" Hey, anything is possible Potter. It is the Christmas season after all.", I point out before following Joey from the diner. If her and Dawson were able to overcome their differences why shouldn't she be able to do the same with Pacey? There was a while there where Joey wanted nothing to do with Dawson. It was about the middle of her freshmen year at Worthington, Dawson was in town. They had a few drinks and wound up sleeping together. Unfortunately for Joey, Leery had a girlfriend at the time she knew nothing about. She hadn't found out until after the fact when she over heard him leaving the poor girl a break up message on her voice mail. Needless to say Joey was beyond ticked off. They hadn't spoke for a while but eventually wound up talking things out. Shortly after that is when Joey began dating Charlie. He was a nice guy, we all liked him...well except Witter. He was never too fond of the guy but then again he was with Joey.
" Maybe, I guess only time will tell Jack. I should probably head out, Bess is expecting me at the B&B.", advises Joey before pulling me into a hug. Happily returning the gesture, I walk Joey to her truck. Watching her climb in, I wait for her to drive off before doing the same. Well, the deed is done. Far as Joey knows Pacey is hoping to see her at the Christmas party and from what Jen told me, he thinks the same thing. Should be fun seeing how this plays out. I am just hoping this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass because I will so blame this on Jen. …
