"What?!" Joey exploded, "he's here, where?"
"I don't know", Jen mumbled, "he was with his sister, they wondered off together".
Dawson remained silent, his mind racing. Joey's angry reaction had worried him a little, why was she so upset? They could handle this, they'd been through worse.
"Which sister?" He suddenly spoke up.
"What?" Jen looked at him slightly confused.
"You said he was here with his sister, I was just wondering which one, Kelly, Gretchen?" He was trying to trivialise the matter so as to ease the tension.
"Oh, err, I'm not sure. She looked young though, not much older than us", she answered plainly a little taken aback by Dawson's calm reserve.
"That'll be Gretchen", he stated simply before returning to his vodka. He wasn't a big drinker but even he could kick back from time to time and right now it was just what he needed to do.
"Are you okay?" Joey asked watching as he emptied his cup.
"Of course I am", he answered with a half smile, "Hey can I get a re-fill?"
Jack took the cup from Dawson's hand and began to pour. Joey watched him hand the cup back to Dawson and looked down at her own drink. 'Maybe it's not such a bad idea', she thought slowing raising the cup to her lips and taking a small sip.
Everyone in the boat was silent, no one quite sure what to say next. Jen examined the faces of her two friends, Joey looked a little shaken and on edge. But Dawson, he seemed just fine, she hadn't expected that. Angered, maybe a little upset, that was typical Dawson but right now he was placid and silent. 'Probably not a good sign', she thought.
"Okay this awkwardness has got to go", Jack said breaking the silence.
"I agree", Jen said smiling straight at Dawson searching his face for some kind of emotion, it remained blank. He noticed her stares though.
"Jen, could we talk for a minute?" he asked gently moving Joey from his lap and motioning for Jen to follow him over the side of the boat.
"Sure", she replied rising to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Joey asked nervously. Jen shrugged her shoulders and looked at Dawson.
"We'll be right back", he said. With that he leant forward and kissed Joey on the forehead before turning to walk away. Jen jumped down from the boat and raced to his side.
"What's that all about?" Jack spoke up. Joey kept her eyes on Dawson's back.
"I don't know". She was worried. "Jack", she turned to face him, "you don't think Dawson would go confront Pacey do you?"
"What?" Jack wasn't sure how to answer, "Come on Jo Dawson's hardly a confrontational kinda guy. Besides what would he have to say to him? As far as Dawson's concerned there's no need for those two to ever speak again".
"This is all my fault right?" Joey asked solemnly, tears beginning to well in her eyes.
"What? Jo no, this isn't your fault", he reached across and grabbed her hand. "This is nobody's fault, the only person who could be classed as being in the wrong here is Pacey but even he couldn't help how he felt, none of you could".
"I just wish you could make Dawson see that", Joey sighed throwing her hands in the air. "And Pacey, I wish he would understand that this wasn't done to hurt him. I can't fight the feelings I have for Dawson, and god knows I've tried. Last spring I fooled myself into thinking I could feel that way about Pacey because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life loving no one but Dawson Leery. In the end though, I realised that my heart is resigned to it's fate, and there'll never be anyone else that can make me feel the way he does". Slowly warm tears began to roll down her cheeks. She pulled her knees up to her chin and hugged her legs tight against her chest. "But he wasn't supposed to get hurt, no one was".
"Least of all you", Jack said soothingly, rapping his arms around her. "It'll all be okay Jo I promise. Pacey will bounce back like he always does and eventually he and Dawson will work things out", he paused when he realised she was looking right into his eyes. "You and Pacey will be friends again one day too. And as for Dawson well, he loves you Joey, not that you need me to tell you that. And he would never hurt you or let you go now that he has you. I've seen you guys together this summer, and it's the only time you both seem truly happy, so concentrate on that Jo. You don't always have to see the bad in everything". The moment he stopped talking Joey leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek rapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"You truly are the greatest Jack, thank you".
"Anytime".
"So, let me guess. And tonight's topic of conversation is the one and only Mr. Pacey Witter", Jen said sarcastically, adding a smile to lighten the mood. Dawson grabbed her arm and pulled her round the side of an old wooden boat shed.
"I'm glad you find my tortured existence so amusing", he commented wryly.
"Look Dawson, why are you freaked?"
"Why? I'll tell you why should I, because the guy who tried to steal my girlfriend just waltzed back into town. Because the only guy, apart from me, that Joey has ever had feelings for is here tonight, walking around as large as life*!", he yelled waving his arms in frustration, "because ..."
"Okay Dawson, *Dawson*!" Jen shrieked grabbing his arms. "Just stop okay, calm down".
"Calm down? *Calm down*!?"
"*Yes!*" Dawson stared at Jen silently, sensing her anger.
"I'm sorry", he said lowering his head.
"It's okay. But, right now Dawson I'm gonna talk okay? And you're gonna listen. And there will be no interruptions, understood?" He simply nodded his head knowing she was serious.
"Okay, firstly, what have I told you about the whole 'he tired to steal my girlfriend' line? Do you know how stupid that sounds Dawson, not only because, she wasn't actually your girlfriend at the time. But also because for something to be stolen it has to be owned and, you don't *own* Joey" Jen paused to catch her breath, Dawson looked like he was about to speak but she quickly silenced him by clasping her hand over his mouth.
"Look Dawson, do you know what I see when I look at you and Joey? I see two people who are very much in love and very, very happy. Keep that in mind Dawson because no matter what happens, that love will always be there, no matter who gets in the way. Yes, Joey had feelings for Pacey, I'm not gonna deny that but do you really think that those feelings even came close to the love she feels for you? Because I sure as hell don't".
She stopped and looked at him, she was sure she could see tears forming in his eyes. Gently she placed her hand against his cheek.
"Dawson?" She grew concerned.
"You're right", he said, his voice little more than a whisper. He ran his hand through his hair and gulped hard as if swallowing his pride. "It's just, I'm scared Jen, I'm so scared". Unable to control then any more tears fell silently from his eyes.
"Scared, why? What are you scared of?" Jen asked truly worried about her friend.
"Of losing her, if I were to lose her now", he paused trying to steady his erratic breathing. "I won't survive that pain again, I can't".
"Why would you think you're going to lose her? You don't think she's going to leave you for Pacey?"
"If not Pacey then some one else, or for some other reason, who knows?"
"Dawson you're crazy! Joey loves you okay, she wants you, she chose you!"
"I know, I know. It's just that, sometimes I let my stupid insecurities and paranoia get the better of me. She's everything to me Jen, the last twelve years of my life have been lived around her. And last summer, when I lost her, my whole world came crashing down I thought I'd lost her for good. The way I saw it, I had her for one perfect moment and I blew it. Now, I have a second chance".
"And you're scared that you'll make the same mistakes as last time?"
"No, I've learnt from past mistakes. My greatest fear is that with every new chance there's a whole new set of problems and a fresh array of mistakes to be made. And if I blow it this time, well, second second chances are scarce".
"Don't you see Dawson, that's why you've got to make the most of what you have why'll you still can. You know as well as me that happiness comes and goes, and you can't win them all but while that happiness is with you, when you're on a winning streak, you hang on as long as you can and you make it last. If you give in to your fear all you're gonna do is drive Joey away and ruin any chance you had at a future. Instead you should take each day as it comes, savour every moment. Why are you looking at me like that?"
Dawson stood with his head cocked slightly to the side and a grin from ear to ear.
"Thank you", he said earnestly.
"No thank you's required, just paying you back for all the times you've helped me", Jen said as the two hugged, "and besides, I'm not gonna let you blow it with that girl, I don't think I could cope with another year of moping and whining and angsting from either of you".
Dawson punched her playfully in the shoulder.
"Come, let's get back", he said setting off.
"And what about Pacey?" Jen asked not moving to follow him. He stopped in his tracks.
"What about him?" Dawson said turning back.
"If you see him?"
"I see him".
"Will you guys ever work this out?"
"Who knows Jen, remember from now on I'm living for the day. Tomorrow may bring renewed friendship but that's tomorrow, I'll worry about it then. Right now however I suggest we get back to those guys and reclaim that vodka, have you seen Joey drunk? It's not a pretty sight".
Jen shook her head and began to laugh, she caught up with Dawson and he rapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked back to the boat.