Chapter 12
Joey moved through the store with a workers like atitude. She was doing some shopping for Bessie, who had forgot a few things when she was here. HE had been back for two days now, and still no sign of HIM. How am i suppose to keep my witts about me when all i can think about is that first meeting.
She had played it over and over again in her mind. There were two main ways, it could play out. First: They would see each other from afar and slowly work their way toward each other. They would embrace, and in that moment all would be forgiven. Like none of it had ever happened. The creek would be flowing in the back ground adding its ambance to the whole scene. Second: They would come face to face, and all of the hurt would come out. She would blow up at him, and he would blow up at her. Not solving any of the problems that has built up over the last six years.
"Joey is that you?" She hears a voice from behind her.
'That is a voice i've waited to hear for six years.' she thinks to herself.
She isn't sure what to do or say. So she slowly turns around, taking great pains to keep her face calm and collected. When she locates the the person she knows is going to be there, her breath catches in her lungs. 'How can he be better looking today than he was back then.' She thinks. It is true, he is slightly taller, his shoulders have brodened out he has put on weight in all the right places. She can see the defination is his muscle tone due to the tight blue T-shirt he is wearing. This was not the Him of old.
"Joey?" He asks again.
"Yeah it is me." She says calmly.
Dawson was sitting in his room working on a script he was hoping to sell to the studio someday in the near future. When his mom walks in.
"Dawson could you do me a favor and run to the store for me?" Gail asks.
"Uh now?" He asks.
"Well i would really appriate it son. I need a few things before i can cook dinner." She tells him.
"Sure mom let me save this and i will be right down to go for you." Dawson says.
She nods and leaves the room, as he returns to his laptop and types away furiously for a few more moments. He then sighs and saves his work. Getting up he decides to go in just his T-shirt and Jeans.
'Not my normal attire, but hey you have to live sometimes.' He thinks.
'This seems a little strange to me didn't she just get back from the store?' Is his next thought. 'Well it won't kill me.'
He bounds down the stairs and into the kitchen. His mom is hanging up the phone as he walks in.
"Who were you talking too?" Dawson asks.
"Your father. It seems he will be moving back to Capeside to take over the head football coaching job." Gail tells him.
"I see, so does that mean he wants the house back?" Dawson asks her.
"No, he said he would find an apartment in town some place. That was what he was actually calling about. To see if i would look for him." Gail tells him.
"Well i can do some looking tomorrow if you would like." Dawson informs her.
"Would you, oh son that would be a life saver. I have alot to do in the next few weeks with the restaraunt about to open and all." Gail tells him.
"Yeah, you know you never did tell me who you got to be the head cook there." Dawson says thinking out loud.
"Well because i didn't know how you would react to it Dawson." His mom tells him.
"Ok, now i am really curious as to who it is." Dawson states.
"It is Pacey, Dawson. He worked as a chef at a very prestigous Place in Boston for three years before him and Andie got married and wanted to move back to Capeside." Gail says awaiting the out burst.
"What Pacey and Andie got married?" Dawson asks.
"Yeah son last year. Since then they have been looking for away to come back. When he heard about my place needing a head guy he asked me if i would consider him. Of all the guys i talked to, he was the best Dawson. I think if you two were talking to each other you would be really proud of him." Gail says.
"Mom i was always proud of him. He just had to learn it himself, and once he did. Look at what happened, he became very good at something. I knew if he puthis mind to it, he would do good at anything he tried." Dawson says with a smile.
"So you're not mad i hired him?" Gail asks.
"No not at all mom, i think it will be a perfect fit. Plus it will give him the oppertunity to show all those gossips that they were wrong." Dawson smiles at her.
"Wow. you really have changed over these last four years haven't you." Gail asks him.
"I had too mom, if i hadn't it would have eaten me up inside. Besides all he was doing was trying to get me too see how wrong he thought what i was doing, was. I can't fault him for that." Dawson tells her.
"Well son i am glad you have finally grown up into the man i knew you could be. Now go get what is on this list or i might have to rethink the whole man part." Gail says with a smile on her face.
"Ok ok, i am going." Dawson laughs at her, as he grabs the list and runs out the door.
As the door closes, Gail picks up the phone and makes a call.
"Yeah hey Bessie it is me." Gail says.
"Hey, so did he leave yet?" Bessie asks.
"Yeah on his way as we speak. What about her?" Gail asks.
"Yep just walked out the door five minutes ago." Bessie says.
"Good now all we have to do is hope that fate takes ahold of them." Gail says.
"It will, it might take a little while, but it will. They are meant to be together Gail. I can feel it." Bessie says.
"I know so can i. He is being so stubborn. I tried to get him to go see her or at least, call but no. He says it has to be her that makes the first move." Gail says.
"I know Joey is the same way. She says it was him who left, so it should be him that makes the attempt." Bessie tells her.
Dawson has been in the store for all of a minute when he sees a stunning brunette. Her hair is down to the middle of her back and is all in waves. She has her back to him, but he wants to see if she is as beautiful as he thinks she is. When she finally turns around, his breath catches in his lungs. Can that be Joey, God she has changed. 'She has an air of confidence around her now. She seems so self aware. Could this stunning creature in front of me, really be my Joey?'
"Joey is that you?" He asks.
At first he isn't sure she heard him. He is torn as to if he should say something again. In the end his curiousty wins out and he says her name again.
"Joey?" He asks again.
"Yeah it is me." She says calmly.
"WOW, you look diffrent." Dawson says.
"Thank you, so do you." She says.
"So how have you been Joey?" Dawson asks.
"I've been fine and you?" Joey asks.
"Doing good, missing everyone back here though." He tells her.
"Every one?" She asks.
"Yeah, some more than others, but everyone." He tells her.
"Oh, well give Pacey my regaurds would you." Joey says.
For some strange reason she is afraid to say his name. Even with him standing right in front of her. She knows he is tring to be polite, But she wants answers to the questions that have been burning in her mind for six years now.
"I wasn't talking about Pacey." Dawson says.
"Oh, i see." Is her only reply.
"Well i need to get these thing back to my mom. It was nice seeing you again, Joey." Dawson says to her.
"It was nice seeing you as well, tell your mom hi for me would you." Joey says.
"Sure, see ya Joey." Dawson says.
"See ya." Is her response.
Dawson is a little stunned, he knew there might be a little pent up anger, but never expected that. She had seemed so cold, it was like she had forgotten his name. He had to admit, she had turned out fine. She wasn't that scared little girl anymore. She was sure of herself, and confident in her moves. He had always believed she could be that way, and was glad she had made it to that point.
He went to the check out lane. Paid for his items and walked out of the store. He opens the trunk and puts his bag in it, then closes it. Just as he is about to get into his car he heard it, ever so softly.
"Dawson."
He slowly truns around and sees Joey standing by the back of his car. He is so stuned he almost doesn't answer her. He looks her in the eyes and in that moment he knows this is his Joey.
"Yeah Joey?"
"I'm sorry." She says.
"For what?" Dawson asks.
"For being so cold in the store." She tells him.
"Nothing to be sorry for." Dawson pause before continuing. " Really Joey it is nothing more than i deserve."
" No that is not true. After everthing you did for me when we were younger, you deserve better." Joey says.
"As i seem to remember we did alot for each other. So in my book we are even." Dawson tells her.
"Well it is nice to know you think i did alot for you." Joey tells him.
"Of course i would, why wouldn't i?" Dawson asks.
"Dawson, I don't think i am ready to get into that just yet." Joey says.
"Ok Joey, i think i understand. I only have one thing to say though, and i want to say it before i leave." Dawson says.
"Oh and what is that?" Joey says.
"I'm sorry Joey." Dawson says.
"I see, maybe we can talk about that later." Joey says.
"Any time, just give me a call." Dawson tells her.
"Maybe i will, i think we will have to take it one step at a time." Joey says.
"Anything you want Joey the ball is in your court. Bye." Dawson says.
"Bye." Joey turns around and walks back to her car.
A/N: It might be a couple of days before i update again, Sorry life calls me back to it. I know some maybe thinking that this is a little out of character for Dawson and Joey, maybe it is but only a little. I hope you can follow this chapter ok. The next two are going to be important ones, where things get settle between the two star crossed lovers and an old friend.