Disclaimer: The show Dawson's Creek does not belong to me it all belongs to the WB, the creator and etc. Characters that aren't with the series are completely mine.
Chapter One: Missing Pacey Witter
Joey Potter knew that the biggest mistake in her sixteen almost seventeen life was letting her head, her loyalty to Dawson Leery control her choice of who she should end up with. Even though Dawson did the unselfish thing and letting her go, he let her go to late. Joey had left right away to find Pacey and tell him how much she felt for him, how much love she had for him. But she was to late. She had seen Pacey sail of to the Florida Keys. She stayed on the docks were True Love once floated and cried until Doug Witter found her on behalf of a worried Bessie. Joey stayed that night and the next nights staring at the wall Pacey had rented her. The words ASK ME TO STAY kept running through her mind day and night. By the second month of her vacation she was able to finally go out with Andie and Jen. Once in a while she would even go with Dawson and watch a movie. But her mind would always wonder back to a brown haired, blue eyed Pacey Witter. She hated herself for not acting with her heart, she hated Pacey for leaving, she hated Dawson for coming in the way of her happiness and letting her go right at the end when it was finally to late. She had, under Jen's supervision gone to Pacey's house and asked Mr. and Mrs. Witter to tell Pacey to call her right away. But after John Witter had figured out who Joey Potter was or in other words who Joey's father was, he kicked her out of his property and told her that he would never tell his youngest son that a convict's daughter wanted to talk to him. So she went and asked Doug to send the message to Pacey, but he refused since Pacey never called him and when he did call and he happened to talk to him he would always make the phone calls shorter than thirty seconds. So Joey gave up, she didn't stop loving Pacey she just stopped trying to get in contact with him. She joined Dawson, Jen, Andie and Jack's painting business to get her mind off him. So when the day finally came, the day Pacey would return to Campside, Joey was painting along with her friends a nearby beach house that was awaiting a new landlord by next weekend. Dawson was the first one to spot True Love sailing towards the docks. Joey looked behind her shoulder to see Pacey's boat sail back home. Though she was happy she was also dreading seeing him again. Jen, Jack and Andie told Dawson and Joey that they were going to welcome him back and left the pair to finish the last wall. Dawson saw the longing in Joey's brown eyes, the longing to join the rest in welcoming Pacey back home. He also saw the love in them as well, but Dawson knew she wasn't going anywhere near Pacey at that moment, and to his disgust he actually felt relieved and pleased about that. When Joey got home later in the afternoon she found a wrapped gift on her bed. She unwrapped it right away and found a book, The Little Mermaid. She opened it to the first page and she saw a small message with Pacey's messy scrawl. What she read made her cry.
You don't have to worry Potter you got your wish, everything this year will get back to normal. Well in our relationship wise that is. You nor Dawson will have to worry about me ever kissing you.
P.J.W
Joey cried herself to sleep that night. The next day she went to school like nothing happened the year prior. Even though it pained her to act that way she did anyway to protect her pride. When she entered Campside High, she saw her friends minus Dawson in a tight circle she walked to them like nothing was out of ordinary.
"Hey guys, so what's up in this torturous day of our senior year?" when Joey finally noticed who her friends were talking to she couldn't stop looking at him. Pacey Witter flesh and blood was standing right their, right in front of her smile fading rather quickly from his handsome, freshly tanned face.
"Well hey their Potter, no how you doing Witter or how was your summer sailing trip?" the fact that Pacey talked to her like nothing happened between them annoyed her and hurt her. So he wants to play this stupid game then so be it. Joey gave him her usual smirk before she responded back to any of his banter or lame double meaning statements.
"I don't know Pace, I hardly noticed you were gone this summer. Though should have known you would eventually return back to Campside to make my senior year a disaster." Pacey laughed at her comeback, while Jen, Jack, and Andie chucked nervously at their usual banter.
"Nice to know not much has changed while I was gone. I missed you all, and I'm telling you guys you should all head over to the Florida Keys next summer, it was a beauty over their." though he may have been talking about the islands, Joey couldn't help but wonder if he had met a girl who was true beauty. But those thoughts were quickly dismissed when Dawson walked up to them. And he had something on his hand, and he had a look of pure loathing on his face. When he reached their group he went straight to Pacey and handed him the wrapped box.
"What ever you thought that gift might have fixed you were totally mistaken. Don't you get it Pacey you and I aren't friends anymore, you stabbed me in the back when you moved in on Joey when my back was turned. No matter what you thought when Joey wasn't in that boat with you, that you and I will get back together as they were you as my best friend, then you were mistaken." Pacey looked at the gift he had bought Dawson and saw that he hadn't even opened it.
"This gift wasn't a piece offering, nor a take Pacey Witter's friendship back. I know what I did was wrong, but this gift wasn't for you, it was for your parents. If your mom thought it was for you, she must have been confused at what I was telling her. Oh and to clarify something Dawson, my time on True Love wasn't wasted on thinking about who Joey chose to stay with or if I might get our ruined friendship back again. I spent that summer trip thinking about what my future holds for me, never did I think about the what ifs. So if I got over it, then you should as well. Now I must leave you all, I have an important meeting in the guidance counselor's office that I cannot miss." Pacey walked passed them all and went straight to his destination. Jen was the first of the group to actually look at Dawson.
"He's not here at this school for more than a second and you Dawson are all over him. For someone who claimed you were over it from the beginning of the summer you sure have a way of showing it. Come on Jack lets go to class we don't want to miss-" Jen looked at her school transcript "-English twelve A with, holly shit" Now it was time for the whole group to look at her strangely.
"What's up with you Jen? Don't tell me we got a hard and evil teacher" Jack looked at his own transcript. He read the name and it rang a bell in his brain but he couldn't remember anything. "Who in the world is T. Jacobs?" Dawson, Joey and Jen locked eyes immediately.
"And to think this was going to be a free of teen drama year" said Joey. The five of them started walking. Jen put her arm around Joey.
"Hate to tell you this Joey but no high school, especially senior year is free of teen angst. Its our right of passage, until we go to college and even then we deal with angst, but with a whole new title, adult angst." The group laughed.
"Well last time I checked Tamara Jacobs has nothing to do with us, Pacey is the one who has a connection to her, and since Joey, Andie and I have AP English we wont be seeing her. Now you Jen, Jack and Pacey that's another story." Dawson couldn't help but smile at the prospects of Pacey's first sexual encounter coming back to Campside. At least this will get Joey and I closer and her and Pacey farther apart.
Pacey knew that having a meeting with his counselor so early in the school year was bad news. And he was right. When Mitch Leery told him what he had to do in order for him to graduate with his friends that year, he knew he had to do a whole lot of work. After Mitch dismissed him he headed straight to his first class. Which happened to be English twelve A. Don't get why they gave me this class if I failed the last one. And they blame me for not learning this crap if they only keep on passing me. Pacey was to busy thinking about what he needed to do this year to get out of Campside and make something of himself, that he didn't notice who the English teacher was. When Pacey entered the classroom and saw Tamara Jacobs' slender legs dangling from the edge of her desk he couldn't help but feel the urge to run away from that room as fast as possible. This cannot be happening to me. Not now, not when I just wanted to spend my senior year with no women problems. Every single student in the classroom including Jen and Jack were staring at him. Ms. Jacobs gave him a seductive smile which didn't go unnoticed with Jack, Jen and Pacey.
"Well I believe I have my very first tardy mark on my roster, thanks to you Mr. Witter." Tamara hopped off the desk and walked towards Pacey. He gulped, seeing her this close since over a year and half, he still wondered what she ever saw in him. She extended her hand and Pacey handed her his transcript. "That proves it Mr. Witter you're in my class for this period and my after school class. And I do hope Mr. Witter that you would be on time for that one." She winked at him trying to imply something more. Which made Pacey quite uncomfortable. He walked towards the empty seat in the back behind Jack. Once he took his seat Ms. Jacobs started giving the usual speech all teachers gave on the first day of school. Pacey was about to drift of to space, to think about Joey like he did those three months off in the Florida Keys, when he heard something from Jack's right side. Pacey turned his head towards Jen.
"What?" Pacey asked her. She handed him a folded piece of notebook paper. Pacey took it and opened it. He saw a small message with Jen's familiar writing.
What are you going to do about this, Pace?
Pacey took out his pen from his shorts pocket and wrote one single word. Then he refolded it and handed it back to Jen. Jen quickly opened it and saw one single word below her question.
Nothing
Jen was about to write something back but the bell rang dismissing them all to their second period. Jen quickly grabbed her stuff and went straight to Trigonometry, even though she hated math, and she was planning not to take it that year Grams made her take it. It was that or no car for the year. Pacey looked at his transcript and saw the word HOCKEY written for his second period. What the fuck? They expect me to make up three classes yet they give my second period away for some hockey class? Pacey was good at hockey, all his friends knew that. At one point he was even in a local park team, but he was quickly taken out because Mr. Witter didn't like his son thinking that he might end up professional, that and Pacey wasn't doing good at school. Though Pacey believes that, that was the day he pretty much gave up in his academics, thinking their was nothing to study for if he was going to end up the town loser. Pacey snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Jack walking along side him. He didn't look to pleased with his second period either.
"What's wrong Jackers, you got Mr. Quint for physics?" asked Pacey
"Yes I do but that's my fifth. No I have Hockey for second period. I don't know why they demand for me to take up a sport when I already played football for them." Stated a quite annoyed Jack.
"Well you know McPhee, Campside is always trying to get their students to show school spirit and try something new for the benefit of their trophy room" Pacey said.
"But hockey, I mean are they really trying to kill the only gay kid at this school?" both Jack and Pacey entered the gym to find at least fifteen boys their age or younger waiting for the coach.
"Hockey isn't so bad Jack. I've played it a couple of times. I was even good at one point in my adolescences. Will and I use to belong in some Peewee hockey team, but then he moved but I still continued it just for the heck of it." They both sat on the gym bleachers and waited like the rest of them.
"If you were so good why you stopped?" asked a very curious Jack. After all he hardly knew Pacey, Dawson, and Joey's childhood as much as he knew Jen's and he met them all at the same time.
"Just lost the passion for it I guess. Plus Dawson wanted me to star in his first movie and he needed me to help him out." Though Pacey may have not told Jack the whole truth, part of why Pacey never join any sport teams was because of the way Dawson saw all the whole high school experience, and by he becoming some sort of jock would have changed his view towards him.
"You know Joey spent her whole summer mopping around Campside." Jack looked at Pacey to see any reaction from him but he saw none.
"Whatever Joey did this summer doesn't really concern me Jack. She made her chose. Dawson was the she wanted even if she did have feelings for me. Those three months on True Love got me to see things more clearly." Pacey said. Jack looked at him for a moment and he saw pain and loss in Pacey's blue eyes.
"Do tell me Pacey what you realized those three long months alone at sea?" asked Jack.
"I realized that falling in love with Josephine Potter was a mistake. She will always love Dawson no matter what, no matter who comes in her life. And even if she did end up choosing me at the end that never guaranteed our relationship to survive their unspoken yet quite visible love for each other." Pacey hated himself for three weeks once he came to that realization. "Plus Jack at the end of senior year she would end up going to some ivy-league university and leaving me behind. Its best this way. Now she wont have to worry about watching a loser boyfriend like myself." Jack shook his head in disagreement.
"Your family and Dawson sure did a good job making you think your not worthy of someone like Joey or even Andie. You Pacey Witter are not a loser. When Andie got sick you were their for her and for my family. Not many friends or even boyfriends can say they've done that. When Joey needed your help all last year you were their, Dawson can't say that, none of can. You may not be a straight A student but I know, Jen knows, Andie and Joey know that if you wanted to you can come close to that if you actually set your self at that level. Now stop comparing yourself to Dawson, because everyone in this god forsaken town may think Dawson Leery is the hero, golden boy, perfect son, I don't think so. And I also don't think of you as the perfect anything cause hell we all are human, we are not perfect. But I can tell you this I would trust you with my life any day than Dawson." Pacey listened to what Jack said and he couldn't help but believe in what he said. But Pacey knew better than to listen to his friend's usual pep-talk about how he isn't a loser. Before Pacey had any chance to respond Mitch Leery came into the gym.
"Alright everyone quite now!" Mitch waited until the group of twenty boys stopped talking before he addressed them all again. "Now you all may be wondering the heck am I doing here, and don't worry I'll answer that in a sec. But first things first you twenty boys were chosen from Campside's database indicating that you are not quite prepared or used to dealing with the pressure of High School. Now most of you are either C students or higher. This class, besides being a practice period for Campside High Hockey team, this class will offer you tutors for any subject, free SAT prep, and discounts to any college applications of your liking." Mitch stopped talking when a younger boy, who to Pacey and Jack knew was in his sophomore year. "Yes, the kid with the hat, which I might remind you to take off." The kid took off his hat before he spoke.
"Um, my name is Jason Kirk, and I'm in the tenth grade. When do my privileges for this class come up." Seven other kids either his age, freshman's or juniors nodded in agreement.
"Good question Kirk, now your benefits aren't as great as the seniors, but you do get SAT prep and you get sixth period off if you desire. But if any of you have English, History, Math or Science I believe that's a big No-no." Five of the younger students cheered for the new development in their year. "Now I want you all to stand in a straight line in front of me so I can give you your lock for your locker and your equipment including your jersey." All the boys including Jack and Pacey lined up in front of Mitch. Jack let out a groan, which caused Pacey to look at him.
"What's up Jack?" Pacey asked.
"Nothing really. Just regretting all those times Andie told me to study and get a higher grade than a C+. But no I was more involved with other problems. Now I have this program which is a plot to find any great asset for Campside's Hockey team." Pacey couldn't help but nod his head in agreement to what Jack said. "I mean I don't hate Hockey I've played it before, I'm better at skating that's for sure." Pacey was going to ask him if he had a great shooting arm, but they reached the front of the line.
"McPhee you get your old football number. Thought that maybe your number would bring us luck when the season starts." Mitch crossed Jack's name of his list. "Witter. Now I know what you're thinking, if this year needs to be all about your grades why did I sign you up for this class for this team. But I have a good reason, you'll be in this tutorial program which will help you out a lot, not to mention SAT prep. You'll better your chances if you take them and apply for a community college." Mitch handed Pacey his yellow jersey. "Your number four. Oh and Pacey I've decided not because I consider you part of our family--"
"You and Gail still consider me part of your family even after what happened and didn't happen between Joey, Dawson and I?" asked a nervous Pacey. He had thought that the Leery's would hate him for all the pain and suffering he caused their only son.
"You're part of our family, you and Joey are. Right now Dawson may not want you in his life, but he knows that your friendship is worth keeping. You've been their for Dawson as much as Joey and probably even more. But before you interrupted me I was going to tell you that I believe that you're the only one I can trust besides Jack in this group of kids to lead them, and us to victory." Pacey looked at Mitch with shock written all over his handsome face. Pacey quickly unfolded his jersey to see the capital royal blue C sowed on his yellow jersey.
"What? . . . . You cannot be serious?" Pacey couldn't muster any coherent thought at that moment.
"Pacey I've seen you play in all your games since you were nine. I know for a fact that every spring while Joey and Dawson would go and visit Aunt Gwen you and Will would come back to Campside for a day and play against those college guys and win, am right?" Pacey was a bit shock.
"How'd you know? Will and I have never told anyone, especially Dawson about those games." Mitch shrugged his shoulders.
"What can I say I know the guy who owns the rink you boys play in. Now stop questioning me Witter, just because your captain doesn't mean you're the coach. Now put your equipment in your locker and then head to your third period." Pacey followed Mitch's orders and went inside the locker room. He found his locker, which was next to Jack's and dumped his equipment in their.
"Hey Pace what number you got?" asked Jack
"I got number four, and I also got captain." Answered Pacey, who was busy putting his hockey gear in order. Jack was shocked for a moment before he clapped Pacey on the back.
"Congrats Witter. Now you can lead me into the pits of hell with dignity." Both Jack and Pacey laughed.
"Still don't get why he assigned me as Captain. He should have chosen you." Jack shook his head.
"Don't think so Witter. Theirs a reason to every action and thought a Leery makes. Now don't doubt Mr. Leery's choice. I don't and I bet you no one else will. Now lets go or we'll be late for third, which happens to be Economics. Well at least Jen will be in that one." Both Jack and Pacey walked out of the gym and headed for their Econ class.
Joey arrived at the B&B after her job interview at the Yacht club. She took Andie's advice and started dropping names. She would end up staring the day after tomorrow. She dropped her bag on her bed and went straight to Bessie to inform her of her new job. What she found, or more like who she found in the living room made her stop in her tracks. Pacey was sitting on her living room couch talking to Bessie about the gift he brought her from the Florida Keys. She also saw Alexander sitting on Pacey's lap playing with a baseball glove and ball which Joey knew Pacey bought him since she never seen him play with it. Alexander was the one who noticed her first.
"Aunty Joey!" Alexander wiggled out of Pacey's lap and went running towards her. She picked him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Alexander did you miss me?" Joey asked her nephew.
"Yes I did. But looky, look what Uncle Pacey got me." Alexander showed Joey the glove and the ball. But what caught her full attention was that Alexander called Pacey, uncle.
"He called you uncle." Joey stated to Pacey. Who was smiling at the both of them.
"What can I saw Potter, no one can resist my charm. And little Alexander loves me." said an overly conceited Pacey. Joey and Bessie rolled their eyes, and Alexander just laughed.
"Joey please take your friend outside and away from my innocent son before he corrupts him." Bessie grabbed Alexander from Joey's arms and went towards the kitchen. Pacey followed Joey out the B&B. She walked him towards the Witter Wagener. Their was an awkward silence between them. Joey decided to make the first move broke the silence.
"So is their a reason why you came today? I mean you have pretty much ignored me all day besides this morning's encounter." Asked a semi-annoyed Joey.
"You see about that. . . .well theirs no explanation about that besides the fact that Dawson kept on dogging me all day making me feel uncomfortable, and I really wanted to talk to you. Trust me Jo I really wanted to talk to you all day. But I just chickened out I guess." Rambled a nervous Pacey.
"You're my friend Pacey. Just as much as Dawson. So don't ever hesitate to talk to me or ask me for help." Joey grabbed his hand and she still felt the strong surge of some invisible connection between them.
"You mean that Joey?" asked a very hopeful Pacey. Joey looked at him with a perplexed look before she answered him.
"Of course Pacey. I wouldn't say or do something that I didn't mean." And Joey was telling the truth. And Pacey knew that.
"Well okay here goes. I need your help. And I already asked Andie and she agreed as well but I need all the help I can get. So to make this story short, I failed History, Math and English three big No-no's. And I'm making them up after school. But I need someone or in my case some people to help me catch up with the other subjects. And that's were your help might come in if you accept." Once Pacey was finished he looked at Joey closely to see any signs of refusal but he saw nothing in her brown orbs. She gave him a smile which he returned it.
"Of course I'll help you Pacey. But it has to be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That's the only time I have available." Joey loved this arrangement because now she could spend as much time with Pacey than last year. Pacey was thinking along the same lines but he tried not to show any emotion.
"That works for me. Thank you Joey you don't know how much this means to me. But seeing as your tired and I have to go find Gretchen and see if she found any future prospects of our living quarters." Pacey let go of her hand and entered the car. Before he left he looked at her and gave her a sad smile. "You know I lied to Dawson earlier today when I told him I didn't think about what happened last year. Part of that trip I spent moping about thinking about you and him. And I have to tell you this just to get it out of my chest so to speak. I never stopped thinking about you nor did I stop missing you." Pacey saw the smile forming on Joey's beautiful face. He started the engine was about to head off when Joey started to say something.
"You know Pacey I never stopped thinking about you either. And I as sure never stopped missing you this summer. It wasn't the same without you." With that said Joey moved away from the car and headed to back to the B&B. Pacey smiled and drove off to find his sister. Maybe there is hope after all.