Joey was packing up her room. She had managed to read all her required summer reading and was working on the recommended lists in the last week so those were the only things left to pack. Jack had flown into Boston a few days ago and him and Jen were driving down to spend a few days in Capeside before they all started school together. It would be weird, having at least some of her friends back.

She had worked almost everyday this summer and she only had one more double and then she was done with the yacht club.

She had gone to another party last night, making it home in the early morning hours, managing to get a few hours sleep before she was back up again. Feed Alex, get breakfast ready for the guests. Empty the dishwasher and clean out the sink. Drink some water. Greet the guests as they came out of their room. Grab some fruit for the lady who prefers a healthy breakfast over bacon and pancakes. Sure she can run to the store and grab some yogurt before tomorrow morning. Then Bessie is up and she is handing off Alex who is crawling all over the place. Grab a shower and get ready for work.

"Joey breakfast!" Bessie called. Joey grabbed an apple, taking a bite before walking out the door. She finished it as she made her way into the yacht club. She poured herself a coffee, then poured one for Drue who was half asleep with his head on the table.

"Wonder woman" He mumbled, lifting his head just enough to drink it then squinting at her. "How are you not hung over? You had just as much to drink as I did."

"Light weight!" She teased, ruffling his head like she often did to Alexander. She quickly got the tables set up for the lunch rush, talking to the girls who were finishing with the brunch customers.

She was just counting her tips when she heard the unmistakable laugh of Jen Lindley. She tucked them into her pocket, going out to meet her friends, who were talking to Drue. He had finished his shift hours ago, but he often hung around the yacht club, drinking under other people's tabs.

"Jen! Jack!" She yelled to them, hugging them before looking to Drue. "Any parties?"

"Parties?" Jen and Jack both gave her a weird look, glancing between her and Drue.

"Well we have to welcome Will and Grace back to Capeside somehow!" Drue exclaimed. "There are two big ones, but I think the one at the beach is going to be much better."

"Well to the beach it is!" Joey sang, glancing between her friends. "You guys coming?" Jen and Jack both nodded, giving each other worried glances while they followed Joey and Drue to his car.

"So what have you been up to this summer?" Jack asked Joey, Drue had gone in search of a pretty girl he had ran into at the yacht club earlier that day. Jen had gone to get them a refill at Joey's request.

"Mostly work, some parties. Got my reading done, just one more book on the recommended list for one of my classes then I am free for the last few days before we head to Boston. Tell me all about it and your summer!" Jack just smiled at Joey, telling her about the cafe not far from Gram's and the cute guy who worked behind the counter that him and Jen were arguing about. It would be great if one of them had a gaydar.

"Hey babe" Drue said, wrapping his arm around Jen. He had given up on the girl, but spotted Jen.

"Drue."

"That for Joey? She isn't a fan of vodka." He told her, passing her the whiskey instead. She watched him as she poured the drinks.

"She been partying a lot." She meant it to come out as a question but it sounded more like a judgement, even to her ears.

"Not that either of us have the right to judge but yea. I've been keeping an eye on her but I think she felt a little abandoned, and with the whole Pacey thing..." He trailed off awkwardly. It wasn't really his place to talk to Jen about Joey, but he figured they might all be considered friends in some way.

"Thanks. Hopefully Boston will help clear her mind." She nodded to him, grabbing everyone's drinks and joining Jack and Joey.

It was a few hours later, closing in on one a.m. when Drue found them again. Joey was sitting, drink in her hand with half lidded eyes, laughing at something Jen was talking about. She seemed happy in that moment, though she almost always seemed happy these days. Which is what worried Drue the most.

"Parties just about done, anyone want a ride?" He questioned, pulling first Joey, then Jen up from the floor. They made there way to the car slowly, Joey laughing as her and Jen tripped over each other's feet while they leaned against each other. Jack didn't look like he had had anything to drink, and Drue hadn't since the first shot hours ago.

Drue leaned over automatically to put Joey's seat belt on, missing the look Jack sent to Jen in the backseat. As they started to drive Joey watched the stars, with her head leaning on the window. Drue knew it was coming long before she managed to find her voice.

"Do you think he misses me?" She whispered, watching as her breath made the window foggy. Jack leaned forward and grabbed her elbow.

"I talked to him a few days ago, he was off the coast of Flordia I think. They are starting to make their way back north." Jen offered, suddenly feeling much more sober.

"Hmm." Joey mumbled, shaking Jack's hand off and curling into herself a little more. "I'm not sure if I want to know." She said after a few minutes of awkward silence.

Then they were at the b&b and Drue was helping Joey out of the car and up the stairs, Jen and Jack trailing behind. "Careful not to wake anyone." He whispered to them before jumping in his car and driving off.

Alex was up the next morning at 4 crying. Joey almost pushed Jen out of bed, then almost tripped over Jack, but still managed to get to Alex before he woke anyone else up. She had barely been asleep for half an hour, giggling with Jen till one of them basically passed out. She was probably still a little drunk she realized. But she was walking in a straight line so good signs.

She made breakfast, starting on the cutting the fruit first, waiting till closer to breakfast time to start on the pancakes and bacon. She added in some waffles, knowing they were Jack and Jen's favorite. She was on her third cup of coffee by the time almost everyone was done with breakfast and her friends finally woke up. She handed them both a cup of coffee, smiling at their sleepy expressions.

"Why are you up so early?" Jack grumbled into his coffee.

"How are you up so early?" Jen added.

"Alex was up so I got him up and I usually do breakfast. Bessie should be up soon and we can do whatever we want the rest of the day." Joey told them, washing the breakfast guest's plates while the duo sat down to eat.

"Did you eat?" Bessie asked as she picked up Alex, giving him kisses.

"Not very hungry. Jumping in the shower." Joey told her, smiling at her friends before she left the room. Bessie sat down at the table, sighing.

"She has been over working herself, not eating enough." She told them, whispering. Just in case Joey could hear over the shower. "I'm nervous about her at school, you guys will keep an eye on her?" She asked them.

"Of course." They said in unison, looking at each other from over the rims of their coffee cups.