Chapter One



Andie McPhee sat at her desk, daydreaming as her teacher rambled on and on.

Leaning her head on her hand, she gazed out the open window beside her, and breathed in the fresh spring air.

Capeside, it had been home for seventeen years, but somehow it just didn't feel that way.

Things weren't as simple as Andie hoped they'd be.

'I really shouldn't complain' she thought wearily 'Things could be much worse..I'm pretty well off'

Drifting back to the classroom, Andie smiled as she glanced at Pacey Witter.

Leaning back in his desk, in the next room Pacey gave her a warm smile back.

'He's the best friend I could ask for' Andie grinned as she remembered how great he'd been when they were growing up..there for through all the challenges life handed them.

She winked, turning her attention back to the teacher.

As the teacher wrote endlessly on the board Andie felt her thoughts drifting again.

'I hope I've been as good a friend to him' she gazed 'He's had his fair share of problems too..His dad, hell his whole family has never accepted him, never known him for the truly wonderful person he is'

Anger began to rise as she thought of his family life. He hadn't had it easy either, maybe that's why they got along so well from the beginning. They both shared the knowledge they could never change the way their lives were. It was just the way it was going to be.

The unspeakable bond they felt was automatic. They needed each other and they knew it.

Through tears, they'd confide in each other things they'd never tell anyone else.

"Miss McPhee!!"

Andie snapped out of her daze as she saw the entire class staring at her, and her teacher looking very angry

"Would you please read chapter three?"

Andie bit her lip, frantically flipping through her textbook "Ummm..Uhh..."

Stopping on page forty-five, Andie began to read aloud. After she was finished, the teacher asked another student to read the next chapter. Andie sunk down in her desk, feeling eyes on her.

Turning her head slightly, Andie glanced behind her shoulder.

Her eyes locked with Dawson's, as she caught him staring at her.

A wave of self-consciousness swept over her, her cheeks turning a light shade of red.

Dawson Leery was new, but instantly deemed popular. His perfect good looks, blonde hair, blue eyes, toned body He was on all the teams in school, and wanted more than anything to become a famous Hollywood director. Constantly linked to his arm stood Joey Potter. Joey was beautiful, long dark hair swept over her shoulder, dark brown eyes, and perfect porcelain skin. She was an artist, and so obviously in love with Dawson.

Then there was Jen Lindley. Jen was originally from New York City.

She was just as gorgeous as Joey, if not more so. Her short blonde hair fell in soft curls on her shoulders; her designer clothes were like nothing kids wore in Capeside. Shipped to her from her rich mother no doubt. And they were they most popular cliché' in school.



A few days later Andie was working late at the new music store on Main Street.

It was only a couple weeks before prom and she wanted to make some extra cash just incase she decided to attend.

"Not that I have a date" Andie said to herself as she priced checked movies

Suddenly her eyes shot up as the bell on the glass door rang, signaling a customer.

Dawson Leery walked in, lifting his sunglasses into his wavy hair with a quick sweeping motion. As he headed to the back of the store his eyes remained locked on the same thing they'd instantly drifted to, Andie. Smiling at her, he shuffled through a few cd's.

Andie's heart fluttered as she remembered the way he'd look at her in school, the same way as he was now.

All of a sudden he walked up to her, lifting up a cd "Any good?"

"Uh..yeah, it's great" Andie stammered, her voice catching in her throat.

"Great, I'll get it then, thank you..." Dawson began looking down to her nametag "Andie McPhee"

Andie smiled warmly as she took the cd and rang it up.

Dawson continued to stare intensely. "Hey wait..you're in my English class, aren't you?"

Andie blushed "Uh, yeah"

Suddenly the alarm in the back of the store went off. A loud, pulsating noise filled the room. Covering her ears, Andie began to step away.

"Be right back" she told Dawson, walking out from behind the counter.

As she walked through the door to the back room, Andie's jaw clenched. Perched atop a heater, Pacey sat grinning wildly. Andie shot him an agitated look, and then quickly punched in the code to disengage the alarm system.

"Damn it Pacey!" Andie shouted, putting her hands on her hips "How did you get in?"

Pacey silently pointed to the back door.

Rolling her eyes, Andie pulled him to his feet as she grabbed his hand, and then started to push him to the back exit.

"So how's it going?" Pacey said smiling devilishly "Better now that I'm here, right?"

Andie tried to keep a straight face but a smile crept across her lips. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to a customer"

"Customer?" he repeated, peeking into the front

Instantly his smile fell, replaced by a dazed look "Oh that prep guy from school, what's his name.....Dawson Leery?"

"Yeah" Andie replied quickly "But he isn't like that, I mean I think he's different"

"Ha!" Pacey exclaimed raising his eyebrow "Looks like the same snob to me"

With a sigh, Andie gently pushed Pacey to the back door "See you tomorrow in school Witter"

Hopping on his bike, Pacey gave a wave, and then rode off.

After work Andie got in her car and headed home. Everyday she'd pass by Dawson's on her way. It was enormous, it looked like a white castle surrounded by a high black iron fence. She knew instantly that he lived there when she spotted his shiny new black BMW in the driveway.

'A gift from his parents I guess' Andie thought, as she turned on the radio.

When she got home, the first thing Andie did was flop down in bed with a yawn.

The answering machine on the nightstand beside her blinked five new messages.

Rolling onto her stomach, Andie pressed play.



"Hey Andie! It's Pace..uh give me a call okay? I need to ask you somethin"

*beep*

"Babe it's Pacey! Call me the minute you get in that door or well whenever you know..it's not an emergency or anything, just need to talk"

*beep*

"Yeah it's me again, listen give me a call when you get home, i need your help"

Andie rolled her eyes, laughing. Pacey could be so funny.

*beep*

"Alright, when are you getting home?? I NEED you to call me a.s.a.p!"

*beep*

"Witter here, umm yeah I guess I'll drop by your house tonight..I REALLY need to talk to you"

Andie rolled onto her back and closed her eyes. Determined nothing was going to ruin her sleep, Andie yawned again and sandwiched her face between two pillows.

As if reading her mind, the doorbell rang, loudly, waking her ten minutes later.

Andie peeked out the living room curtains, searching the porch to see who was there.

Dressed in a light brown jacket and jeans, Pacey stood behind the door, nervously playing with the straps on his backpack.

"Hey" Andie said cheerfully as she swung open the door.

"Hey there yourself" Pacey replied, instantly breaking into a grin.

"So wanna come upstairs?" Andie offered, gesturing to the room beside them "Mom's visiting, she fell asleep on the couch so..."

Pacey nodded, and followed Andie upstairs.

Taking the desk chair, Andie yawned again and watch as Pacey flung himself onto her bed.

"So what's up?" Andie asked eagerly "Common the suspicion is killing me!"



TBC...