True Love Renewed
Chapter One: A New Life
TO: Dleery
FROM: Jpotter
Subject: New school, new life
September 10, 2001 12:00pm
Hey Dawson, how are you? Seeing as how you have been at your "new" school for three months now, you are probably starting to forget your OLD life and everything about it, but I am only just beginning to learn about everything that goes along with my new life. My first week at Worthington has been very different from what I expected it to be. Now don't get me wrong….I absolutely love it here and I am glad that you talked me into taking the money you offered. I can never thank you enough for that. For the third time in the past three years you have unselfishly made my dreams come true. I only wish there was some way I could pay you back for everything you have given me. If it weren't for the very noticeable lack of Pacey by my side I would be the happiest women in the world right now. I know that it has been three months and I still haven't heard a single word from him, but my heart is still holding out the hope that he will come back for me. I guess I'm just a sucker for heartbreak. Anyway, I have to get to my next class so I should get going. Hope I hear from you soon.
All my love,
Joey
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As he read the email from Joey, Dawson couldn't help but feel guilty about lying to her. Well, he wasn't lying exactly. He was just withholding information. Not only did Dawson hear from Pacey regularly, but he knew exactly where Pacey was this very moment. After his original phone call, made to apologize to Dawson, Pacey had continued to call, email and send post cards to Dawson from every port he had stopped in over the summer. In fact, not a day has gone by since Pacey returned from his trip to paradise that Dawson hadn't heard from him in some way. Having traveled to the Keys by water, Pacey was now journeying back to Capeside on land, making various stops in different cities on his way. When Dawson went back to Capeside to visit during his brief break between the summer program and the start of his fall semester he had driven to Florida to deliver the Witter Wagoneer and then had flown back to Los Angeles from there after a short visit with his male best friend. Things were definitely getting back to normal in the friendship between the two men.
As Dawson left his dorm room on his way to his first class of the day he reflected upon his decision to agree not to tell Joey anything about Pacey's whereabouts. Pacey had already made arrangements with Doug to have him give Joey updates on Pacey's well being. Dawson had only agreed not to say anything for the simply fact that he did not want Joey to feel even worse when she found out that Pacey had chosen to stay in touch with Dawson and not her. Besides, how was Joey ever going to move on with her life if she kept holding onto the idea of reuniting with Pacey? Dawson also realized that he had his own motives for keeping the information from Joey. As much as he hated to admit it, especially with all of the miles between them, Dawson was still holding out the hope that when all was said and done Joey would realize that she was really in love with him and come back to him. It was a stupid thought, but still, it was something to hold on to.
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Hey D-man, how goes the quest for film knowledge? How is the college life treating you now that real classes have started? As you can see from the picture of the beautiful "City of Brotherly Love" on the front of this postcard I am getting closer to home every day. Sometimes I think to myself, maybe I won't go home after all. I mean other than Deputy Doug, is there anything in Capeside that I really miss? I mean all of my friends escaped from the quaint little town, why can't I? It's something that is seriously worth considering, don't you agree? Well, I have to hit the road again so I better get this in the mail. Talk to you later.
Pacey
When Pacey was finished writing the card he hesitated before putting the stamp in place and mailing it. What would be the harm in telling Dawson the truth? He trusted him enough to know that Dawson wouldn't say anything to Joey. Maybe he should be honest……at least to one person. But then he thought better of it and mailed the postcard. He would let Dawson in on his secret when it all became final. Because the truth was Pacey already knew that he wasn't returning to Capeside. Not yet anyway. And he knew exactly where he was going. Had a job lined up and everything. He just wasn't ready to share his secret yet.