Disclaimer: I don't own them, and trust me…no money is being made.

True Love Renewed

Chapter 11: Finals

December 9, 2001

The rest of Thanksgiving break went by in a flash. Joey continued to hang out with the group without letting on that she was still extremely pissed at Dawson and Pacey, but refused to talk to either of them one on one. She knew that she would forgive them eventually, Dawson sooner than Pacey, but she wasn't ready to forgive yet. She went for long walks with Jen everyday and spent most of the rest of her time with Drue. Drue found it hard to believe that she spent so much of her time with him considering that both Dawson and Pacey were in Capeside, but he didn't question his good fortune. He wasn't sure how much longer his relationship with Joey was going to last so he just enjoyed it while he could. Joey and Jen were up to something because shortly after there first afternoon walk they ran up to Jack's room at the B&B and stayed locked up in there with Jack and Tobey for hours. After that they would sneak away and not tell anyone where they were going. Drue didn't worry about this too much. It gave him time to study for his finals. He had to admit that for the first time in his life he was worried about doing well in school. Now they were all back in Boston and Dawson was back in California and everyone was worried about actually taking there finals, which were scheduled to start the next day. Drue sat in his dorm room studying his history book since that was his first test of the week. Jack and Jen were at Grams' apartment studying for the Psychology final they had together, and Joey and Tobey were at the Worthington library studying for their Intro to Lit. final. After finals were over on Friday they were going to have their last dinner with Grams at her apartment and then on Saturday they were all traveling back to Capeside for the semester break. Grams and Jen were coming too, staying at the B&B, along with Jack (whose father had moved back to Providence for work), Drue (whose mother didn't want him at her apartment), and Pacey (who didn't want to stay with his parents or impose upon Doug again). So the Potter B&B was going to be full with Joey and her friends, which was just fine with Bessie and Bodie, who were letting everyone stay for free. Joey wasn't returning any of Dawson's phone calls or emails and he was afraid that she might never forgive him for lying to her about Pacey's whereabouts.

Around midnight Joey and Tobey finally decided to call it a night. They got up from their table and walked to the front doors of the library.

"I'll walk you to your dorm," said Tobey with a smile.

"That's okay, it's in the opposite direction from yours. I can make it on my own. Don't worry."

"I'd just feel more comfortable knowing that you aren't walking alone this late at night."

"I'll walk with her," the familiar voice came from behind them. They both turned to see Pacey walk up from the sidewalk in front of the library.

"What are you doing around here at midnight?" asked Tobey.

"Just taking a walk. But I'd be more than happy to escort Miss Potter to her dorm so that you don't have to go out of your way. If it's okay with her of course."

"It's okay with me. I'd be happy to have your company Pacey," said Joey, who was surprised to find that she actually meant what she was saying.

"Okay, then I'll see you tomorrow before the test Jo. Have a good night, both of you." said Tobey, before turning and walking off in the direction of his dorm.

Pacey turned to Joey and said, "So I guess now is when you tell me that you are perfectly capable of walking to your dorm by yourself and send on my way, huh?"

"No, I meant what I said Pace, I'd be happy to have your company."

"Okay."

The two walked to Joey's dorm in silence and stopped out front. They spent a few more in silence standing in front of the dorm. Neither of them seemed to want their time spent together to end.

Finally Pacey looked up and said, "Well, your back here safe and sound so I should probably get going."

"Oh, okay."

"I guess I'll see you later." Pacey turned to start walking away.

"Pacey?"

"Yeah Jo?"

"Do you want to come up to my room for a little while? My roommate is staying with her boyfriend."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'd like that."

Pacey and Joey walked into the building and got on the elevator to go up to her room. When they reached her floor, Pacey let Joey walk ahead of him and watched as she walked to her door with more confidence than he was feeling at the moment. She opened the door, walked in and put her books on her desk, then she took off her coat and hung it in her closet. She took Pacey's coat from him and hung it on the back of her desk chair.

"Make yourself comfortable. Do you want anything to drink?"

"No thanks."

"Okay."

Pacey sat down on Joey's bed while she sat on her roommates bed. They sat up for most of the night talking about old times. Joey told Pacey about the classes she was going to take next semester and Pacey told Joey that he was going to be taking a couple of classes at the Boston Community College starting in January. Both of them finally felt like they were on the way to becoming friends again. When Pacey left, around 4:00 am he was happier than he had been in a long time. Throughout the rest of the week everyone got together for dinner and then went their separate ways to study for their finals. They all went to take their tests every day and felt more and more relief as they each handed in one test after another. And each night when Joey was finished studying in the library, Pacey was there to walk her back to her dorm and then stayed for a little while catching up with Joey. On Friday night the group all ate dinner with Grams and then went home to pack. And on Saturday they all met at the train station to go home for a month. The only thing still bothering Pacey was that Joey and Drue were traveling together on the train. They were still a couple and even though he and Joey had started to become friends again, Joey and Drue continued to get closer. They were planning their Christmas together and Pacey was jealous because he was not going to be a part of it.