Chapter 7
The gang sat at their usual table in 'Cassandra's', their favourite bar was well-known for not carding any female customers and Pacey had ensured that Jack, Dawson and himself had been supplied with top-notch fake ID cards at the start of the semester. Everyone was chatting mindlessly and sipping at their drinks when Audrey's mobile phone began to ring.
" Excuse me," she smiled at Pacey and left the table, " Joey Potter, where the hell are you? Okay, but are you sure you wanna do that? You do know that everyone is here, I mean everyone in the sense of Dawson, Pacey, everyone. Well, it's your party, princess, see you in a min," Audrey returned to the table and took a sip of her white wine; everyone was staring at her with questioning looks on their faces.
" Where is she?" asked Pacey. Audrey looked over at Jen and smiled before starting.
" She's on her way…she's bringing her new boyfriend," laughed Audrey. Jen immediately dropped her head onto the tabletop. " I warn you now, please be nice to her. She really likes this one and you hyenas tend to be a little abrasive,"
" I'm guessing you two know who he is," said Jack, poking Jen in the ribs until she lifted her head and nodded. Audrey looked back over her shoulder as Joey entered the bar, her hand trailing out behind her. She waved to the table with her free hand but everyone ignored her, aching to see who was going to walk in behind her. The table remained silent as Professor David Wilder entered the bar, still hand in hand with Joey.
" Hey guys," smiled Joey, pushing David forward slightly, " This is David. David, this is Pacey, Audrey, Jack, Jen and Dawson," David shook hands with everyone before disappearing to the bar.
" So, Jo. Is this so he can buy you booze?" laughed Pacey, Audrey kicked him under the table but it did no good. He and Jack had been on form tonight and they couldn't let this easy target slide. " I mean, I know you're working a lot lately but alcohol is not the answer!" Joey just glared at him, not allowing him to wind her up. At least not in front of everyone else.
" Well, who wouldn't like him?" said Jack, taking a gulp from his pint. Joey started to smile, thankful of the support. " Tall, dark, handsome and he marks your papers? By the way, how are you doing in his class?"
Pacey started laughing hysterically until Audrey kicked him again. A little harder this time. Joey looked over at Dawson who hadn't spoken yet but was drinking his beer and watching David walk back from the bar. He sat down next to Joey and handed her a glass of wine, she thanked him and nudged him with her elbow. He felt awkward being there but he knew that it meant a lot to Joey, especially as she had such a tight-knit group of friends.
" So, how did you and Joey meet?" smiled Pacey. Joey covered her face with her hands and laughed, thankfully, David started to laugh too. Even Dawson managed a smile. The table was soon deep in conversation and despite the age difference David was fitting in fine. Only Dawson kept himself back from the conversation, choosing to drink his beer and occasionally glance at Joey as she casually placed her hand on David's arm or picked imaginary bits of fluff from his t-shirt.
" Dawson, will you come to the bar with me?" asked Joey. Dawson stood without answering and they both disappeared around the corner, leaving Jack and Jen to bombard David with questions while Audrey attempted to seduce Pacey.
" You okay?" asked Dawson as they reached the bar. Joey turned to face him.
" I was about to ask you the same thing. You've barely said a word to me or David since we arrived, have I done something wrong?"
" Of course not. It's just strange seeing with you with someone else. It's always going to be like that, I guess. I just have to get used to the idea, that's all,"
" Dawson, I don't want you to 'get used to the idea'. I want you to be happy for me. I thought you'd really like David, he's an amazing man," Dawson looked over to the table, watching David and Jen animatedly chatting and realised that there was never going to be a time that he would be happy with Joey's new boyfriend. It wasn't that he wanted her for himself, but that he didn't want anyone else to have her.
Joey looked up at Dawson and realised that all the aching, unknown feelings for him had disappeared. He was looking at her new boyfriend, unable to figure out the how's and why's but Joey didn't care. She loved Dawson as much as she ever had and nothing could ever change that but she realised that she could never love him as more than a friend. Lovers would probably come and go but that was a role that would never be filled by Dawson. He still saw her as little Joey Potter from across the creek and there were times when she saw him as little Dawson Leery but she had grown. She was different and even if he couldn't see that, it didn't matter. She was happy, happy knowing she was falling for David and happy knowing that Dawson would always be her friend. Dawson looked back at Joey as she stared up at him and decided that no matter what he was her best friend. No matter what, he would always be her friend.
*After some consideration, I have decided to continue this story rather than write a sequel so stay tuned, it should be up very soon.
