Living in the Memories

Two weeks later…

Everyone was sitting at lunch, talking about anything and everything that had happened in their friendships. The whole table was so loud from all the laughing and crying, even if the laughing caused the crying.

"Pacey, you remember the time you and Dawson tried and scare me and Caroline during the school camping trip? Man, if only all of us could've gone, we would've been laughing about it all night in our cabins." Joey said.

"Oh yeah," Jen added, "I think I remember that too. That was when Andie, Jack, and Henry couldn't go, and the guys dressed up like bears or something. It would've worked, but we knew it was them the whole time. It was so much fun. I'm not sure, but I might've gotten pictures of it."

Andie and her brother couldn't help but burst out laughing uncontrollably. It looked like they were about to start spitting out their drinks from all the laughing.

"I hope you do have those pictures, Jen. It would be nice to see our best friends trying to get you girls scared enough to wanna pee your pants."

"But then they'll end up wanting to pee their pants if anyone saw them." Caroline started. "Of course, I might've also gotten it on video since I thought it be great to tape the whole trip." She finished with a wide grin on her face.

Caroline was pleased with the fearful looks on the faces of her cousin and boyfriend. She loved tormenting them just as much as they did doing the same to her, especially when Joey was involved.

"Caroline, sweetness, are you sure you'd really humiliate me and Pacey like that?" he asked. "Maybe you should wait a while before you show it to anyone. Who knows, it might've been two other clowns trying to scare the wrong cabin."

"Honey, I wouldn't do that on purpose, at least not to you. Pacey is a different story. He's family, so I can embarrass him whenever I want. Besides, he'd do the same thing to me if he could"

"Don't you know it." Pacey added. "So, Caroline, where is this supposed video because I'm in the mood for a good laugh right about now."

"Let's see, where did I put it? I remember now. I recorded over your 'Good Will Humping' and then stashed it back in Dawson's room where you hid it from Uncle John." she said.

"NO!" Pacey said as he panicked. "How could you do that to 'Good Will Humping'? That was my favorite porno."

"I know. That's why I had to scare you like that. I didn't really record over your movie. In fact, I wouldn't even go near your stupid porno tapes."

"Oh yeah? Then how'd you know it was in D's room?"

"We told her." the rest of the girls said in Caroline's defense.

"Then where's the real tape?" Dawson asked. "I really wanna see it."\

"Caroline, Jen, and I hid it in case you found out by accident and wanted to erase it." Joey answered his question. "So, what are you gonna do about it, Leery?"

"Gee, I don't know, Potter." he said is a smile formed on his lips. "Maybe I'll just have to find out where it is and just let things happen from there."

"Yeah right!" Jen replied. "The first thing you're gonna do is try to get your girlfriend to spill the beans. If that doesn't work, you find another way to see where it is."

"Well, Jen," he said, "I guess you know me better then I thought."

"Of course I do."

All of a sudden, Henry and Caroline started laughing to themselves at the sight of their respective sweethearts.

Joey noticed this and wondered if they knew a secret no one else did or if they were just laughing at Jen and Dawson.

"Okay, I've had enough of this." She started. "What's up with you two?" her question being meant for the youngest members of their group.

Caroline and Henry stopped laughing for a couple of seconds to answer her.

"Well," they started at the same time, "okay Henry, you go first." Caroline decided to let Henry tell them what was so funny.

"Thanks Caroline. We were laughing because the way they were talking just now was the same way they were talking that first day Caroline came to Capeside. Remember when she was shy about meeting anyone since the only people she knew were Pacey, Joey, and Dawson?"

"Oh yeah, the day you two met in class and became best friends?" Andie added. "I remember how she wouldn't talk to anyone unless they talked to her first."

"Was I that shy? I don't remember the shy part, but meeting my best friend in homeroom I remember."

Caroline sat there thinking for a while trying to remember what everyone was talking about.

start of Caroline's flashback

There wasn't a single soul in the hallways, and it was so quiet that Caroline could hear herself breathe. She thought to herself 'Okay Caroline, it's just the first day of going to a new school. It shouldn't be too hard.'

As she reached for the doorknob. She took a deep breath, told herself to be confident and brave, and slowly opened the door.

"Excuse me. Is this Mr. Gold's homeroom class?" she asked with a really soft, nervous voice. "Principal Green and Mr. Milo sent me." she told the teacher as she handed him a piece of paper with her name and schedule on it.

"Welcome to Capeside…Caroline" he said looking down at it. "Please have a seat over by…let's see where we can find you an empty seat…Henry. Henry, would you please raise your hand so that Caroline can see where you're sitting?"

"Thank you, Mr. Gold." she said before going to sit down.

"Hi. My name's Henry, Henry Parker."

"Nice to meet you, Henry. My name's Caroline Witter."

"Likewise. Witter? Name sounds familiar. Are you related to a guy named Pacey Witter?"

Caroline smiled at the thought of someone she knew being mentioned. It was as if she didn't have to worry about being shy if she could talk about Pacey.

"Yeah, he's my cousin. Do you know him?"

"Not really. We sorta know some of the same people. So, how do you like Capeside so far?"

"Well, it's just the same as I remember. I used to visit Pacey and his best friends in the summers when I was little. So, which friends of his do you know? Maybe I know them too."

"Jack McPhee and Jen Lindley. Know either of them?"

"I sorta know Jen. I only met her one summer that I was here. I think I got sick for a few days or something, and her grandmother took care of me. She wasn't in Capeside anymore after that summer unless I didn't see her. But she was nice to me that summer, and I wish I would've known her better. I heard she had moved here but haven't seen her yet. I haven't met Jack before, but I've heard about him and his sister from Pacey. So, Henry, tell me something about yourself.

"There's not much to tell. Let's see." he thought to himself for a minute or two. "I'm a freshman, I'm quarterback of the Minutemen, I'm in love with Jen but not too successful in that area, and I'm sorta a musician."

"Really, what instrument?"

"Guitar. I also sing a little and write my own songs."

"Wow, that's impressive. So, why don't you use your music to try and get Jen's attention? Maybe it would help a little."

"Maybe, but I'm trying the 'patient' approach. I think it's starting to work."

"I hope it does. I know what it's like to have those feelings, but I'm not sure what it's like if they don't feel the same way. Does that make sense?"

"Perfect sense. So, the guy you like doesn't know you feel that way about him? Why don't you tell him and see what happens?"

"I would, but he's in love with someone else."

"Does anyone know about it, I mean how you feel about this guy?"

"Pacey knows, and Joey suspects. You got any advice?"

"All I can say is to talk to him and let him know about your feelings. Anyway, what class do you have next?"

"I don't know." she said looking at her schedule. "Looks like I've got French class after homeroom then algebra and then back here again for creative writing."

"Great, we've got algebra together. Good luck on that French class. I hear Mrs. Pringle is tough."

"Thanks. Well, I guess I better get to my next class, huh. Don't want to be late my first day."

"Yeah, I'll see ya in algebra. Bye Caroline."

"Bye Henry."

With that, Caroline was on her way.

cut to lunch that same day

Henry and Caroline were waiting in line at lunch when someone tapped Caroline on the shoulder. She turned around to see a familiar face smiling at her and the first thing that came to her mind was to put her arms around them.

"Hey stranger, it's good to see you too." was Joey's response. "So, when did you get into town? Pace said you were moving to Capeside, but the idiot didn't say when."

"Just got in yesterday morning. I had the usual paperwork to take care of and I asked him to let it be a surprise. I've missed the three of you so much."

"We've missed you too. I love the hair color."

"Really? I wasn't sure about it at first, but I was a little tired of being a brunette."

"It suits you."

cut to table

Dawson and Pacey sat at their usual table with Andie, Jack, and Jen waiting for Joey to show up. Jen, as well as the others, was interested in the surprise that Pacey had cooked up for them. To pass the time, she and Dawson were having a little "discussion" about the school censoring their reading list. Just when he was about to unveil it, Joey finally came to the table, but she wasn't alone. A chubby, but pretty, redhead was tagging along with Henry in tow.

"Hi guys, sorry I'm late."

"Potter, had to go and ruin the surprise, didn't ya?" Pacey jokingly said with a smile.

Joey played along. "Oh, you mean her," she asked tilting her head towards Caroline. "Just thought I'd give you a hand."

Caroline didn't dare say a word because she felt a little uncomfortable in the group since she was still sort of new and didn't know half the people sitting at there. She was able to throw her cousin a look that told him how afraid she was, and Pacey gave her a reassuring look to ease her nervousness.

"Guys, I'd like ya'll to meet my cousin, Caroline Witter from Halifax, Canada. Her family's gonna be movin' here pretty soon, and she's staying with mine for a while."

Half the table was surprised to meet Caroline and wondered if she was anything like Pacey. The girls noticed her shyness right away and tried to make her feel as comfortable in the group as possible.

Jen stood up and brought her over to the empty seat between her and Jack, being as friendly as possible to assure Caroline that she didn't have to be afraid of them.

"Here, have a seat next to me and Jackers." she said.

"Thanks. You're Jen, right? We sorta met when we were little."

Jen tried to jog her own memory, which didn't take much time.

"Oh yeah, my Grams took care of you one summer I was here visiting. You had smallpox, right?"

"I think it was either that or chicken pox. Are your grandparents still in Capeside? I'd really love to stop by and visit with them."

"Grams is, but Gramps died last year." Jen responded with a sad face.

Caroline wished she could take the question back. "I'm sorry. I know how close you two were."

"It's okay, at least it's better now then it was back then." Jen put on a small smile. "Don't worry about it Caroline."

"So, Caroline, how do you like Capeside?" Andie asked her.

She thought for a second before answering.

"It's nice. I think it's prettier now then when I used to visit. Back then, Pace didn't have to worry about me tagging along with him everywhere he goes. Ain't that right cous?"

Pacey didn't have to say a word since the answer was written across his face. Caroline always had a way to get to him using her sense of humor. Andie and Jack knew right away that they'd get along with her really good, and it didn't take long before the group would accept Caroline as one of their own.

end of Caroline's flashback

"Okay, maybe I was a little shy in the beginning. That all changed once I got settled in."

"True," Pacey started saying in her defense. "but you've gotta admit that it took you much longer to tell Dawson how you felt about him."

Dawson and Caroline equally blushed at Pacey's comment. They both knew in their hearts that he was right, but they also knew that he didn't have to keep reminding them about it.

"So, Pacey, when do we get to find out who YOU have feelings for?" Caroline asked with a raised eyebrow. "Because I'm sure there must be someone out there you've got your eye on."

Hearing this question being asked, and by the one person who knew the answer, made Pacey blush harder than her and Dawson put together. He tried to avoid the question, but there was no possible way to get around it.

"How's about we don't talk about it right now. By the way, how's your foot doing?", and with that he kicked his cousin from underneath the table.

"Ouch!" was the only thing Caroline could say before throwing Pacey a really harsh death-stare.

Everyone in the group turned to Caroline upon hearing her yelp in pain. The most concerned was Dawson, since he had come to care for Caroline more then he thought possible. He lovingly put her head on his shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, just a pain in my ankle." was all she could say with a puppy-dog face. She then quickly stuck her tongue out at Pacey and made a raspberry noise.

Pacey put his hands on his cheeks showing mock-horror. "Caroline Elizabeth Witter! Where is that lady-like behavior of yours?"

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me, Pacey Joseph Witter."

Just before they were about to get into an argument, Joey and Dawson pulled each of them aside in different directions. Things got so heated that Andie, Jack, and Henry felt the need to help keep these two apart for a while before one, or both, of them said something they'd regret. The girls took Caroline to the girls' restroom while the guys took Pacey outside.

All three girls were confused at how this pair of cousins, who love each other like brother and sister, was acting with each other. It was as if they were suddenly at each other's throats for no reason whatsoever.

"What's going on between you two?" Andie asked with concern. "The two of you have been at each other the whole day. Did you have some kind of fight?"

"Well, we sorta had a small fight after dinner because I told him that he shouldn't hide from his feelings, no matter what they were." she answered trying to calm down a little.

The girls comforted their friend who was on the verge of tears while recounting the events of the previous night.

"It all started when I was looking for Pacey, and he was in the attic staring at an picture. I asked why he was looking at it with such pain. When Pacey answered, he was screaming at me to mind my own business. It's like there's something he wants to say and it won't come out. To be honest, I'm starting to get a little worried. I know it has something to do with a certain thing, but I don't know what exactly it is." she told the three girls.