"A Change Of Scenery"
A Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Dawson's Creek Crossover
Episode Eight - "Everything You Want"
(OL:Music - "Days Like These" by Janis Ian)
*FADE TO: Xander digging outside the Icehouse with a spade. He makes a decent hole in the ground, and then reaches off screen to grab a small bush. He proceeds to plant it in the ground and move to the next marked digging spot.*
The Icehouse's front door opened, and Joey came out bearing a large glass of lemonade. She had a big smile on her face, and came over to him. Right on her heels was her big sister Bessie, also looking appreciative.
Joey smirked as she got his attention, "All right, big boy. Time for a break." She squatted down near him and handed him the glass. He looked quite relieved as he fell back on his butt into the dirt.
"Its about time!" He exclaimed after finishing a gigantic sip of lemonade, "I was beginning to think you were going to work me to death."
"Oh hush." Joey teased.
Bessie gave her little sister an angry look, "Really, Xander... we can't thank you enough for the work you and Pacey have put in around here. All that commotion last week really knocked us for a loop."
"Speaking of Pacey... where is he? I thought he was supposed to be out here helping me."
"He's inside helping Bodie fix the hole in the floor." Bessie leaned on the bumper of the Witter truck, "We've been wanting to do some landscaping out front here, but never had a good excuse. I guess whatever it was that happened last week was a blessing in disguise."
"Enough thanking, Bessie. I understand how you feel... and it's my pleasure." He smiled lop-sidedly.
Joey slugged him in the arm lightly, "Taking lessons from Pacey, I see." Xander smiled wider, and dodged another swing, "That's not a good thing, Xander."
He finished his glass of lemonade and politely handed it back to Bessie. She smiled, and spoke up, "I'll just be heading back inside now... uh, Joey, could you come here for a sec?" Joey nodded, giving her sister a strange look.
When they were a good distance away, Joey asked, "What's wrong, Bess?"
"Nothing, nothing... just wanted to say something about that Xander boy."
Joey half-rolled her eyes, ready for some back-hand comment about something her sister didn't like, but was surprised when she heard a confident, "I like him." Her sister's smile was genuine, and she lingered only a moment before heading inside.
Joey glanced back at him herself, and a thoughtful look came over her face. She cracked a smile, and whispered, "So do I, Bessie ...so do I." She, too, lingered only a moment before going back inside.
(OL:Music - Fade out)
*Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Dawson's Creek combined credits.*
*FADE TO: Pacey leaning halfway out of the Icehouse door, talking to someone inside.*
"Yeah... I've got it Doug... Stone Quarry and Flint... who picked the names of those paints anyway? Somebody with too much time on their hands, no doubt..."
"Just get going, Pacey!" Doug said, loud enough to be heard. Pacey jumped a little, and strolled out of the door. He was about to hop into the Witter truck, when a devilish grin came over his face. He closed the door to the truck, and proceeded to do a 'Dukes of Hazard' slide over the hood of Doug's squad car.
He climbed in and started it up. He paused for a moment, admiring his own daring, before shifting into reverse and pulling backwards. He got hardly more than a foot and a half out, before a car wrecked into him, though not with too much force.
The girl got out of the car, and sprinted over to the driver's side of the squad car. She looked totally frazzled, and screeched, "Oh my God. Oh."
Pacey opened the door and reluctantly climbed out. He ignored the girl for a short while, as he went around to the back and surveyed the damage, "Great. Just great. Doug is going to kill me."
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Officer, please, I am so sorry." She was looking worse by the second, her brow furrowed and sweating, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
Pacey finally tuned into her rambling, and looked around before he realized that she thought he was an officer.
"I didn't see you pulling out. I mean, I did see you pulling out but it was so abrupt that..." Pacey just nodded and tried to look stern, "Oh god. I just got my license. Please be kind."
"I'm going to have to see that license and your registration, too, Little Miss." Pacey said flatly.
She scurried between the passenger's side of her car, and the spot where Pacey stood, before handing them to 'Officer' Pacey.
Pacey looked the license over, "Andie McPhee. A Rhode Island driver's license?"
Andie's eyes shifted a little, "Uh, yes sir. See, my family just moved to town. We live over on Windsor."
"Country Club." He commented off-handedly.
Andie croaked audibly, "Yes. Is that a detriment?"
Pacey really started getting into his police officer impersonation, "Do you realize the severity of what you've done here? Hm? Do ya?" Andie nodded excitedly,
"Sitting behind the wheel of a very powerful and dangerous automobile is a huge responsibility. One lapse of judgement and you could run over a cat, a child, a nun."
Andie looked to be near tears from his berating, "You know I could have this license revoked, just like that. In fact, I think I'm just going to take you in and book you right now." He walked towards the driver's side of the squad car.
"No, no, you can't!" She screeched, catching his arm. He turned around, trying his hardest to keep a straight, stern face, "I mean, um, please don't do that. I just got my license. Please don't revoke it."
Pacey got a contemplative look, as if pondering it, "Okay. Maybe I can just, let this one incident slide. But I just want to let you know that I got my eyes on you now, Blondie. You cause anymore trouble in Capeside and Officer Pacey is coming after you. Got it?"
Andie nodded excitedly once again, and took her driver's license and registration back, "Okay, I understand. Thank you. Thank you so much. Oh, um it was really nice meeting you." She scurried off to her car, and was gone in a mere moment.
Pacey turned back to the squad car, with an 'oh my god, I can't believe that worked' look on his face, "Damn."
*CUT TO: Xander coming in, later in the day. He's observing the areas that have been painted, and can't help but comment.*
"Well, the floors are a wonderful state of shiny..." He smirked, "Tell me, is this the new look we're going for?"
Doug, in full painter clothing, looked up with mild annoyance, "Well if Pacey hadn't taken his sweet time getting the paint, some of it might be dried by now." Pacey feigned innocence and went back to painting the area he was working on.
Bessie cautiously came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of empty glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. She set it down on one of the repaired tables, and started pouring. Doug took a break to get a drink, which Bessie handed him.
"Doug... I can't thank you enough for your help here." She thanked.
Doug nodded, "Well, its the least I can do. This place was pretty beaten up, and I do like to come here on occasion."
Pacey stood up, holding his glass, and quipped, "He'd be here more often... but you guys don't serve donuts." He smirked as everyone had a good laugh. Doug lightly threw a dirty rag at his little brother.
Everybody broke apart and started to work again. Doug and Pacey continued painting for a while, and Pacey felt a need to break the somewhat comfortable silence in the place, "Hey Doug?"
"Yeah, Pacey?"
"Uhh... I know you understand how much Bessie and Bodie appreciate your help here." Doug nodded, looking at his brother curiously, "But I want you to know that I... well, I appreciate you're being here, too." His brother got an almost-shocked look on his face.
"It is nice to know that we can be in the same room and coexist peacefully..." When Pacey raised an eyebrow, he added, "...To a degree." They both smiled,
"Honestly, I've started to get tired of the 'born loser' wrap dad has tried to stick you with. I've been watching you lately, and I see you've changed."
"Changed? Moi?" Pacey joked.
Doug got serious, "I mean it, Pacey... sure, you're not an upright citizen quite yet. You'll probably never get rid of your 'devil may care' attitude... but you're changing for the better. You're not just sitting around letting dad rail on you... you're going out and you're doing something about it. Even if he doesn't notice, I do."
"Well, I must say I'm startled. Civility amongst the Witter boys... hell hath no fury like the brothers' calm."
"Get back to work, wiseguy." Doug said sternly, yet smiled widely.
*CUT TO: Xander and Bodie, fixing tables, chairs, and stools. After a while, Bessie and Joey come to help.*
Bessie leaned over, getting Bodie's attention, and gave him a smooch. A pair of groans emanated from the other side of the table they were working on, and they both grinned.
"Get a room you too... preferably sound-proofed." Joey quipped.
Bessie ignored her and went back to thanking-mode, "We're almost back to normal now. We still can't open for a few days, but at least its not a total loss."
"Glad to hear it, Bess." Xander commented as he used some sandpaper to smooth out the seam on a 'grafted' table leg.
Bessie smiled, and addressed Xander directly, "Y'know, Xander... If you wanted to, you could come over for dinner tonight. We're making lasagna." Her ways were anything but subtle. Joey's eyes were widened at the invitation, and she started to blush for no real reason.
"Umm... I don't know..." He said, a touch embarrassed himself.
"Come on... I've still got a lot of work to do to thank you for all your help around here. Unless you don't like lasagna... we could find something else."
"No, no... It's not that. I love lasagna... but, I... I wouldn't want to intrude." He said, looking back down at his work.
"Don't be ridiculous... we'd love to have you over." Bessie completely ignored the embarrassed look Joey was giving him.
Xander stopped what he was doing, and thought about it. He looked up timidly, "I suppose. Aunt Edith is out of town tonight anyway... macaroni and cheese was on the menu for me, and lasagna sure sounds a lot better than that."
"Great! We'll set an extra place for you."
*Commercial break*
*FADE TO: The Potter house, around the dinner table. Xander is finishing up his dinner, as the rest of the table's inhabitants look on, aghast.*
"I can honestly say, I have never seen one person consume so much food in one sitting." Bessie said, looking at Xander in awe, "And I'm in the restaurant business."
"Uhh... I'm sorry." Xander said, putting down his napkin and turning bright red.
"No, no... it was actually an interesting site..." Bodie spoke.
"If you tell me I should be proud of my eating skills, I think I might leave." He joked.
"No, no... I don't think any of us want to say that to you." Bessie said, getting up with Bodie to clean up the table.
Xander slid his chair back and stood up, "Do you need any help?"
Bessie smiled, "No, but thanks for offering. Bodie and I can handle it... why don't you two go watch TV or something."
Joey did a double take at Bessie's suggestion. Rarely was there a night that Bessie or Bodie cooked that Joey didn't have to do the dishes. The look on her face accurately portrayed the feeling of confusion and surprise she felt.
Bessie saw her sister's state of confusion, "Don't look at me like I've grown a second head... go, live, have fun." She pulled her sister up out of her chair and shoved her in the direction of the living room.
*CUT TO: The Rialto. Doug and Pacey have just bought their tickets, and they're waiting in line for snacks.*
"Hey, Dougie... I know we're on the track to becoming more brotherly and all... but isn't this overdoing it a bit?" Pacey said, as the line moved up a little.
Doug pointed out what he wanted to the clerk, and spoke back at Pacey, "It's not exactly like you have an action-packed evening, is it, brother?" He turned and looked at him seriously, "Pick out what you want, Pace."
Pacey got a strange look on his face, which Doug reacted to immediately, "Don't look at me like that... you know you're paying for this stuff, too, right?"
"Huh? I got tickets."
"You also got a nice sized dent in the bumper of my squad car. This is the start of a long, and torturous payback."
"I knew there was something behind this brotherly bonding." Pacey said, sarcastically distasteful. He paid for the snacks, and they headed for the theatre doors.
"Officer Pacey?" A high voice called from behind him. Pacey's head lowered immediately, knowing he was in for it.
"Officer Pacey?" Doug echoed.
They both turned around to see the skinny blonde charging forward, pulling along a slightly taller, dark-haired boy.
"I think I'd rather be facing a zombie." Pacey mumbled, under his breath. Andie and the other boy stopped in front of Pacey and his brother. Everybody looked uncomfortable except for Andie, who was nauseatingly cheery.
"Hey Officer Pacey!" Andie greeted, yet again. She looked about to explode, "I didn't see your squad car outside... are you off duty?"
'Stupid questions much?' Pacey thought to himself, but further thought was interrupted by his brother, "First of all, miss. It's my squad car." Doug said, mildly annoyed. Andie's disturbingly wide smile fell, and Doug continued, "And secondly, he's not off duty... because, despite what he may have told you, he's not an officer."
Pacey was a dark shade of red by the time Doug finished, and he choked out, "Uh, Andie... this is my brother Doug. Officer Doug."
Andie's face contorted, severe anger came over her face, "You lied? You bastard! You had me splitting hairs all over nothing? I ought to..." The boy she was with laid a hand on her shoulder stopping her.
"Andie... calm down. It was just a stupid prank, nothing to get so worked up over." He pushed Andie back, and looked at Pacey with a serious amount of worry on his face, "Uh, hi... I'm Andie's brother Jack..."
He turned back to his sister and whispered something to her. She was jumpy, obviously not appreciative of Pacey's special brand of humor. Pacey turned to his brother, looking sorry, and said, "Y'know, Doug... maybe we should just bag this night at the movies and go home?"
Doug still looked annoyed, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "And why should I let your childishness ruin my chance to enjoy a free movie?"
"Because your my brother?"
"Your responsible and law-abiding brother. If you don't want to be in the same theatre as that young lady, you can go home... walking, I might add. But I am going in and watching the movie that I now have a ticket for."
"You're a great brother... y'know that Doug?" Pacey said, laden with sarcasm. Doug just shook his head and went into the theatre.
Pacey walked past Jack and Andie, who were finishing they're hushed conversation, when Andie noticed. She got a satisfied smirk on her face and called angrily,
"Going somewhere, Officer Jerkwad?"
"Home, McPhee... because I don't feel comfortable being in that theatre now."
"Jackasses like you shouldn't feel comfortable anywhere... you deserve to..." Jack threw a hand over her mouth and hushed her.
"Andie... just calm down, okay? Lets go into the movie now and just forget about this." Andie nodded reluctantly and started in. Jack turned around and apologized,
"Uh, sorry."
Pacey lowered his head, "Nah... its my fault... just, uh, keep the reigns on her until I get out?"
Jack frowned a little, but nodded. Pacey exited as Jack and Andie entered the theatre.
*CUT TO: Joey and Xander sitting on the couch. Joey is aimlessly flipping through channels on the television.*
Joey threw the remote down, and sighed frustratedly, "I told Bessie that cable was a waste of money... all those channels and *still* nothing to watch."
"I thought the infomercial on the Teflon house paint looked interesting..." Xander joked. Joey quickly grabbed a pillow from beside her and hit Xander upside the head with it.
"You're a lot of help." She cursed.
Xander shrugged, rubbing the spot on his head where the pillow made contact, "Well, I haven't been living in this town for very long, but I already know there isn't much to do." He looked at her for a while, suddenly at a lost for words.
She was busy scanning through their TV Guide, seeing if there might have been something they missed, but soon felt his eyes on her. Her head peeked up slowly, cautiously, as she said, "Is there something on my head?"
Xander's eyes bulged a little, realizing he'd been caught staring, "Uh, no... just, um, thinking. Maybe we should go rent movies or something."
Joey shook off her nervousness and continued, "A noble idea, fair sir, lacking in only one detail. Transportation. Whatever game Bodie and Bessie are playing, they won't be willing to go as far as letting two unlicensed drivers out on the road with their personally valuable, though monetarily destitute motor vehicle."
He shrugged, "We can walk. Its not *that* far to the downtown district... I mean, heck, you walk to work at the Icehouse."
Joey's eyes squinted as she tried to think of a logical reason why they shouldn't go, "Umm... isn't it kind of 'dangerous' out there?"
"Don't worry, Jo. I'm along to protect you." He smiled lop-sidedly, but it fell and he looked at her, "Or is it the other way around?"
She gave one of her trademark half-smiles and nodded, "One of those." After thinking about it again, she conceded, "Okay, well go get movies. Just let me tell Bessie."
*CUT TO: Pacey sitting outside the Rialto, with his knees pulled up to his chest. He's looking quietly off at the surroundings. The door to the Rialto opens up behind him and someone comes out.*
"You alright out here?"
"I'm fine." Pacey said distantly.
Jack stepped forward, "I shouldn't be out here too long... Andie thinks I'm in the bathroom." He fell into silence after saying this, failing in whatever he hoped to accomplish.
"Did you come out here for a reason?"
"I just wanted to say... my sister isn't somebody you want to mess with... she's got a temper."
Pacey rolled his eyes, "What is she going to do, run me over with that Saab?" He laughed, "It'd probably fall apart on impact."
"I'm serious... I think it'd be a good idea if you just stayed clear of her for a while."
"Fine, fine." Pacey said, "You should probably get back in, before she comes looking for you with claws beard."
Jack looked at Pacey with examining eyes, before finally turning around and heading back in.
*CUT TO: Joey and Xander walking out on the street. The moon is out, and they're bathed in is dull blue light. There's a slight breeze.*
Joey shivered as a particularly strong gust of wind struck her. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to try and warm up, "It's really cold out tonight."
Xander looked at her, "The last dregs of spring expressing themselves before giving way to summer."
Joey glanced at him, smiling, "How poetic." She shivered again.
"If I had a jacket with me, I'd give it to you." He said apologetically.
She shook her head, "Its okay, I'll survive."
He smiled a little, "I should hope so." Joey purposefully didn't look towards him, knowing his eyes were on her. They walked in silence for a bit, before Joey shivered once again. Xander looked down at his button-up shirt. He quickly unbuttoned it, taking it off and rolling down the sleeves, leaving him in only a white t-shirt.
She turned around when he tapped her on the shoulder, and he thrust the shirt towards her, "It might not help much, but its something."
She shook her head, pushing it back at him, "I can't... you'll be freezing then!"
He pushed the shirt right back at her, "Maybe... but this way you won't have to answer a million 'Is it cold outside?' questions from gawkers."
She glanced downward and blushed furiously. Without another protest, she slipped his shirt on and buttoned it up. She idly noted it was still warm from being on him.
She didn't understand why she took comfort in the fact.
They walked silently the rest of the way to the video store.
*Commercial break*
*FADE TO: Andie and Jack exiting the theatre.*
"That wasn't a very good movie." Andie commented loudly.
"It wasn't that bad... it had its moments." Jack said.
Andie looked at Jack, and said pronouncedly, "Jack, lets get dinner."
Jack looked weary, "Alright... lets go."
*CUT TO: Doug exiting the theatre. He makes his way to the door, and upon exiting, notices Pacey huddled between a pair of objects. He appears to be shivering.*
"Pacey, why didn't you go home?" Doug said, stopping by him.
"And face dad alone? Are you nuts?" He said dryly, "Besides, it was really cold out here... I'd have been a popsicle before I got half-way."
Doug stood there, crossing his arms, "I don't see why you couldn't have just gone into the movie."
"What, and have to keep my eye out for G.I. Jane in there? I'd rather freeze solid than have to worry about her slitting my throat open with the jagged edge of her popcorn tub."
"You're too overdramatic, you know that, don't you?" Doug said, laughing slightly, "And besides, its not like you don't deserve it. You did pull a pretty childish prank on her."
"I'm sorry about that, okay? It was a heat of the moment, look before you leap, forever regretted prank, okay?" Pacey said, shivering still.
"Come on, Foot-In-Mouth... lets go swing by the Icehouse and check up before we go home." He said before heading towards his Witter truck.
Pacey hopped up, almost skipping towards the passenger's side door. He smiled his Witter smile, "Dougie... you're the greatest."
*CUT TO: Joey and Xander roaming the aisles of the video store. Nellie is at the front desk, eyeing them like a hawk.*
"Is that girl always so blatantly nosey?" Xander whispered.
"It's Nellie... I think her middle name actually *is* Brown-Noser." Joey whispered back.
"I heard that, Potter." Nellie called angrily.
"Stuff it, Nellie." Joey called back, silencing the clerk girl.
"Well, if she can hear us... I guess there's no use in whispering anymore." Xander commented.
"Hey, you're that weird kid, aren't you? The one that always hangs around Pacey. Why do you want anything to do with that freak anyway?"
Xander rolled his eyes, holding up a video case for Joey to look at. She shook her head, making Xander put it back, before he responded, "Maybe because he's got more than half a brain... unlike some of his co-workers."
Nellie fumed, and stormed into the back, "Enjoy the adult section back there, Nellie. Don't wear out the VCR." Joey called, laughing. They heard a muffled screamed back there, obviously of frustration.
Xander mockingly smacked his forehead, "Now we'll never get her to check these out for us."
*CUT TO: Joey and Xander exiting the video store, just as a large moving van drives by. It turns off onto a side road, and noisily disappeared into the night.*
"I don't think I've ever seen Nellie so red in my life..." Joey said, laughing out loud.
"You must have struck a nerve with the adult section crack." Xander said, grinning lop-sidedly. When the meaning of his words struck her, she broke out laughing again, almost dropping the videos. Xander swooped in and grabbed them from her, until she regained her composure. They headed back to Joey's house in a good mood.
*CUT TO: The Icehouse. The Witter truck is pulling up, and the headlights glance past the blatantly open door. Doug and Pacey hop out of the truck and proceed cautiously.*
Doug threw a hand in Pacey's direction, warning him to stay back, as he dug back into the truck and pulled out a flashlight. He made his way towards the open door, observing the severely broken lock with the flashlight.
Against warning, Pacey followed up behind him quietly. Doug realized it immediately, although spared his little brother a lecture. They both tiptoed into the building, trying to maintain quiet.
The inside of the Icehouse was once again trashed, though not as severely as before. There appeared to be a trail leading back to the kitchen area. Doug waved Pacey to go around the other way, as he went behind the bar.
The kitchen was a mess, with boxes and trash spilled all over. The refrigerator was pulled open, and a trail of blood and hamburger patties was streaked across the kitchen floor. Doug scanned the area and saw no victims.
"Pacey... get on the phone... call Deb at the station... we've got a break-in here." Doug called from in the kitchen. Pacey was about to shout a witty remark, when Doug yelled again, "Just don't, Pacey. Resist the urge and call already."
*CUT TO: Joey sitting on the porch swing. The front door opens quietly, letting light out on the dark evening, as someone comes out.*
(OL:Music - "Secret Smile" by Semisonic)
"The VCR is ready to go... you coming in?"
"Yeah, in a minute... I just wanted to come out here for a bit."
"So you came out here for a reason?" She didn't respond, and he sat down, "To get away from me?"
Her head snapped in his direction, "No... Xander, no." She blushed, "To get away from that embarrassing matchmaker game my sister is playing tonight."
Xander looked down, "Is it that embarrassing to be matched up with me?"
Joey looked at him again, "Xander, no! Why are you so down on yourself all the time?"
He smiled lop-sidedly, but there was no humor behind it, "I call it Yo-Yo Lover Disorder."
She sighed, "Its not you, Xander... I like you, a lot. I just don't know if I'm ready to go on a romantic endeavor so soon after..." She didn't want to say it, "After things got rough."
He nodded, and started to get up, but stopped himself, "Y'know what I think?"
"No... if I did I'd be psychic." She joked dryly.
"My personal philosophy is... you never know until you try. I mean, you'd never know if you liked lasagna unless you got out a fork and ate some, right? You could assume you didn't like it, but you wouldn't know until you did. So I say to you... try. If you fall flat on your face, or you realize its so totally wrong... well, then you *do* know you aren't ready. Until then, it's only an idea."
"Food analogy? Hello, Dr. Freud." She joked, but nodded immediately afterwards. She looked at him seriously, "So where did you pick up this hobby of diagnosing people's problems?"
"Sitting up, night after night, thinking about how much I wanted to... uh, kiss Buffy. Y'know, have her recognize the fact that I was even there. I got a little curious as to why she kept going back to Dead Boy..."
"Dead Boy?"
"My pet name for Angel... I disliked him, if you couldn't already tell." He shook his head, "Anyway... I wanted to find out why she kept going back to him, when he hurt her all the time, and I was right there ready to give my all for her. I dug up a couple of psychology books from the library, without Giles' knowledge, of course..."
He smiled dryly, "Turns out she had some form of Heroic Dominance Disorder. She felt she always had to be the stronger one... even in her relationships. She felt she had to give the most, and deal with everything. Which is why she turned to Dead Boy... cause he needed so much. He needed her attention and her love, and her strength."
"You, on the other hand, were strong all by yourself. You had nothing to offer her other than your love... and she wanted none of it, right?"
He nodded, "You don't seem to be half-bad at psychology yourself."
She shook her head, "No... just common sense." He nodded again. They sat there in silence for a few minutes, admiring how the moon glinted off the creek. She spoke quietly, "They say if you look long enough and hard enough... the answers to all life's questions can be found in the moon's light. Don't ask me who said it... maybe they were quacks..."
He smiled faintly, leaning in behind her to get a better look at the creek, "So what is the quack's moon light telling you to do?" He asked softly.
She turned around, looking him in the eyes, before she leaned forward. Their eyes remained locked as they drew closer.
(OL:Music - screeches to a halt)
The moment was broken as Joey received a pounding headache in her temples, and a handful of images flashed into her head. Her eyes were wide when the headache faded, to be greeted by, "So, I leave for a couple of days and you're already going to kiss someone else?" Both their heads whipped to the side.
*CUT TO: A figured basked in moonlight, leaving no doubt as to who it was.*
"Dawson?" Joey said disbelievingly.
*Commercial break*
*FADE TO: Dawson standing in the Potter front yard. Joey thinks she's having another nightmare or delusion.*
(OL:Music(sans vocals) - "Uninvited" by Alanis Morrisette)
"No no... you're just not possible..."
"He certainly keeps well for a corpse..." Xander commented dryly.
Joey's head snapped in his direction, "You see him, too?"
"Of course, Jo. He's kind of hard to miss out there." He turned to Dawson, "And for your information, Dead Boy... it's been a bit more than a couple of days."
Dawson glared at Xander, looking at him angrily, "Why don't you go away? This is between me and Joey."
"Au contraire, fangly. I'm right in the middle of this."
Dawson growled, his face morphing from innocent to demonic, confirming suspicions about his unexpected return. His yellow eyes made him look all the *less* like the Dawson of old, and he spoke angrily, "I said get out of here... you have no idea what you're dealing with here."
Xander stood up, walking to the porch rail challengingly, "Wrong again, Dawson. And it's all the more reason why I should stay."
Joey nervously tugged on Xander's arm and motioned for him to sit down. He did so reluctantly, and she spoke softly, "Please don't make him mad... we don't want that." She turned to Dawson momentarily, "Just let me be alone with him." She said, almost inaudibly.
Xander looked at her like she was splitting in two, "What?"
"Just do it, Xander... if I need your help, I'll yell."
He let out a frustrated noise, and walked off towards the dock, looking back every so often to make sure nothing was happening.
*CUT TO: Dawson and Joey, where they were from their previous scene. Dawson's face has returned to normal.*
Dawson took a step forward, meaning to come up on the porch, when Joey stopped him, "I think'd be best if we just stayed where we are right now, Dawson."
Dawson cast a quick, angry glance down toward the dock, "What crap has he been putting in your head, Joey? You know I'd never hurt you."
"How are you standing here right now, Dawson?" She asked, ignoring Dawson's question.
He lowered his head, "I don't know, Jo. All I know is that all I could think about was coming to see you again... and, well, here I am."
"That's not possible, Dawson... You can't just come back to life..." Joey looked ready to cry, but her stubbornness prevented it. She was also overlooking an obvious fact...
"Can't you see, Jo?" Dawson said, stepping forward, "This is a sign... We're soulmates... meant to be... why else would I have come back?"
She sat down, thinking deeply about the situation. The telephone rang inside, unnoticed by either of them. Dawson tried to move forward, onto the porch with her, but an invisible wall blocked him. He cleared his throat loudly, and she looked up, seeing the expectant glance that Dawson was giving her.
She shook her head, "No, Dawson... not until I figure this all out." They heard loud steps coming towards the door, and Dawson looked alarmed.
He looked at Joey intently, before stepping backwards, "Just think about it, Jo... I'll be back." A moment later, he had vanished, just seconds before the front door flew open and Bessie came flying out.
She looked at Joey, and breathlessly relayed, "Somebody... broke in... at the Icehouse... gotta go..." Bodie came out behind her, looking a little bit calmer than her sister looked. He put his arm around Bessie to try to help with her hyperventilating.
"Oh my god..." Joey gasped.
"We all need to go, Jo..." Bodie said, heading for their car.
Joey looked in the direction of the dock, where Xander seemed to be off in his own little world, "But..."
Bessie grabbed her, a desperate look on her face, "No time... we gotta go." She gave her sister no time to reply as she dragged her to the car.
*CUT TO: Xander sitting down on the dock. He turns his head as he hears the Potter automobile start up. He stands up and watches it drive away. His face falls even further, as he realizes he didn't even get a goodbye.*
"Looks like I lose to the vampire lover again..." He said, before trodding up to the trail.
*CUT TO: The next day, at Screen Play Video. Xander enters, carrying the videos he and Joey had rented the night before. Pacey is at the desk.*
"Hey X... you look pretty frazzled there." Pacey commented.
"Its what I get for staying up all night watching movies... alone." Xander said sadly.
Pacey frowned, "Alone? Oh yeah... Jo had to leave."
Xander looked up, "How did you know?"
Pacey shook his head, "Somebody broke into the Icehouse last night and trashed it all over again. The Potter clan made their way there pretty fast."
"What? How did you find out about this before me?"
"I found it... or I should say Doug and I did... we stopped by on a half-patrol, and found the door busted open and the contents of the fridge scatter across the kitchen. Looked like somebody was hungry."
Xander's frown deepened, "And Jo didn't even tell me about it before she left... geez."
Pacey frowned too, "Well... sorry to hear about that."
He sensed a topic change was in order as Xander placed the videos on the counter and stated, "Please don't prosecute me if some aren't rewound... I was a little out of it last night."
Pacey nodded, and initiated the change of topic, "So, uh, what else is new?"
Xander looked up, his weary eyes showing just how bad a night he had, "Oh, not much... that new comedy movie is kind of overrated... Bessie makes a mean lasagna... oh yeah, and Dawson has come back to life as a vampire... y'know, nothing out of the ordinary."
Pacey's head snapped up, "What?"
"Bessie's lasagna... its pretty killer." Xander said non-chalantly.
"That's not funny man..."
"Like death is supposed to be funny?" Xander said dryly, "He came back, Pace... nothing big... oh, and he's managed to knock Joey and I off course with nothing but a glance."
Pacey squatted down on the floor and fell back against the wall. He had a 'frazzled' look of his own now, "God... what is going on around here? Isn't life going to be normal around here anymore?"
Xander sat down near him, "Nope, man... That ticket to Xander-Land is non-refundable... and the ride has just gotten bumpy."
Pacey looked at him, "Do you at least have a nice, calm, water slide in that park of yours? Y'know... something simple."
"Nothing is ever simple around here... not even in the normal things."
*FADE OUT*
I'd love to hear what you think... and why not go check out http://northernstar.8m.com/acos/ Its the page I put together about this particular series. I'd love to hear what you think of that too.