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

True Love Renewed

Chapter 14: Spring Break

March 16, 2002

Joey was sitting on the train on her way back to Capeside but her mind was not on the trip home. She was thinking about last night when they had all rented movies and sat around Joey's dorm room watching them. Each person got to choose a movie and everyone had to watch it no matter what. That was what started everything, if she hadn't had to watch the movies then there never would have been a problem. She was sitting on her bed between Pacey and Drue. Jen was sitting on the beanbag chair on the floor and Jack and Tobey were curled up on her roommate's bed. Everything was going fine until Pacey's movie…I Know What You Did Last Summer…started. They got through the pageant and the party at the beginning of the movie and the group hit the man walking down the road. They were dropping the body in the ocean when it happened. The supposedly dead man opened his eyes scaring Joey, who then jumped and buried her face in Pacey's chest. She didn't know what made her do it. She only knew that it felt comfortable and safe. She jumped back immediately and apologized, but she knew that the damage had been done. After everyone else left she apologized to Drue again. He said that he understood and that he wasn't angry, but Joey still felt horrible. The only thing she could take comfort in now was that she had a full week ahead of her where she knew that she wouldn't have to face Pacey.

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Drue sat on the train next to Joey and he knew that she was still thinking about the night before. He knew that it wasn't her fault that she had reacted that way. Now that she was spending so much time with Pacey it was only natural that some of her old habits would start resurfacing. It still hurt though. He wished he was going to be spending the whole week with Joey, but his mother was making him go visit his father in New York. Like his father even cared if Drue came to visit or not. But he would be the good son and go. What did he have to lose. Other than Joey?

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Pacey sat in his apartment with Jen and watched the sequel to his movie from last night. He couldn't help but remember how good it felt when Joey had jumped into his arms. He knew that she hadn't meant to do that, but it felt good anyway. He hoped that it wouldn't cause any problems between Joey and Drue while they were home for break. Drue was only going to be there for part of the week, but still, they deserved a good break and it was probably for the best that Pacey hadn't been able to travel home with them. He was going to be lonely when Jen went back to Capeside at the end of the week, but Grams had insisted that he come to her place for dinner on Friday anyway. Hopefully after a week away from each other things could be normal between him and Joey again.

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March 20, 2002

Joey watched as Drue's bus left for New York. She had spent all of her time with him while he was in Capeside and she couldn't help but be glad that he was gone now. Now she could get on with the rest of her plans for spring break. Jen had come in to town on the train last night and Joey was supposed to meet her, Jack and Tobey for lunch then they had some work to do. The four of them spent the rest of the week together, running off everyday after lunch so that nobody, not even Bessie had any idea where to find them. They were like school kids again, keeping their secrets from the adults who might try to stop them from what they were doing. All four were somewhat sad when Saturday came and it was time to go back to Boston. They perked up though when they realized that on Tuesday they would get to see Dawson again.

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March 26,2002

Dawson couldn't believe the difference in temperature between California and Massachusetts. He would admit that it was quite chilly in LA, but it was nothing compared to the downright cold of Capeside and Boston. He was just putting on a second sweater when there was a knock on the door of the apartment.

"I'll get it Grams."

Dawson opened the door and there stood Pacey.

"What are you doing here already? I thought you were coming over later with the others."

"I was, but I wanted to talk to you. Alone."

"Okay. What's up Pace?"
"I'm in love. With Joey. Still. I know that she is with Drue now but I can't help how I feel. I don't know if I can keep controlling my emotions when she is around. I don't know what to do."

"Pacey, I don't know what to tell you . You really hurt her bad when you left last summer, and then when you lied to her. When we lied to her. Her heart was broken all over again. I don't know if she has let it heal enough to love you again. You need to try to keep control, because she doesn't need any more confusion in her life."

"I know man. You're right. I'm not what she needs right now. She needs Drue. So I'm just gonna have to move on with my life and try to forget what she means to me. I just don't know if that is possible."

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Joey stood on the other side of the apartment door and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Pacey was still in love with her? Of course she knew that he still had feelings, but she never dreamed that they were this strong. What was she going to do now. Should she tell Pacey that she knew how he felt, but that she was happy with Drue and nothing was going to change that? Or should she just let him move on like he had said without knowing that she knew. It was probably best to just let the whole thing drop without letting him know that she had heard this conversation. So with that decided she turned around and left the apartment building to head toward Drue's dorm. She would just wait until later to go see Dawson with everyone else.

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March 30, 2002

The rest of Dawson's visit went very well. The group showed him around Boston and took him to all of their favorite places. They went out to dinner and to the movies and to some clubs and frat parties. Every night they did something exciting. Of course, Joey and Dawson spent time alone together during the day between her classes. She told him all of the exciting things that were going on at school and with Drue. She told him how happy she was and how glad she was that he could come visit them all for his break. By time Saturday came they were all sad to see him go, but they only had a couple of weeks left of the semester and then they would have the whole summer together in Capeside. They all went along for the trip to the airport and stayed until after Dawson's plane took off. Although Drue didn't know Dawson well, even he was sad to see him go. Drue had another reason to be sad though. He was seeing the beginning of the end of his relationship. He would watch Joey when she didn't know he was looking, and more than once he had seen her gaze longingly at Pacey before quickly turning away from him.