Chapter Four

(Later that night)

Andie worked organizing the new shipment of cds, Abby helped her by putting up posters, and Pacey sat behind the counter incase someone came in.

It was quarter nine and there was no sign of Dawson yet. Andie looked clearly worried he'd stood her up.

Abby noticed her looking out the window for the millionth time. "Hey McPhee he'll be here, don't worry"

Pacey perked up "Who's coming?"

Realization hit her that she'd never told Pacey about her date and Abby cringed.

Abby jumped in, feeling guilty "Uh, oh..um the boss man, he said he's gonna give Andie her check early, you know on a count of prom and all"

Sitting back, Pacey yawned "Oh that's cool of him..so is he closing the store up so you can get off your shift?"

Andie looked up from working "Yep"

Twenty minutes past and still there was no sign of Dawson.

"I hate to say it but I think your gonna uh...have to close the store up yourself Andie"

Abby looked at Andie sadly "Yeah I guess your right, he's not coming"

"Sorry"

Andie shrugged and got up to turn out the lights. Suddenly she spotted Dawson leaning up against the glass door searching inside. Her heart began to race.

"He's here" she replied with excitement.

Abby smiled, and then noticed Pacey looking in the same direction. Abby motioned for Andie to talk to him, after seeing his crushed expression. Andie walked over, surprised Pacey is hurt by her going out with Dawson.

Pacey looked devastated as he pieced it together, then backed against a wall.

"Um, Andie?" he called out.

"I'll get the door," Abby offered, walking away.

Andie's eyes drifted to the floor momentarily. Then she lifted her hand to his shoulder, setting it down affectionately.

"Are you going to go out with this guy? Is this a date or something?" Pacey replied, his voice strained with hurt "Is that it?"

"Yeah," Andie answered lightly "You'll like him...he's not like the others.. Seriously Pacey"

Pacey remained speechless for a moment, then threw his hands out.

"Andie please don't do this, they aren't different….he isn't-he's just going to use you"

Andie started to look mad, as her patients wore thin "You don't know Pace"

"Yes I do, he's a rich snob just like the others!"

"So what am I suppose to do?" Andie asked frustrated "He asked me out, and I like him...if I hate him because of what people say that would be just like him hating me, or us because of what his friends say"

Pacey sighed, "You can't do this and respect yourself, you just can't Andie"

"Well that's my decision to make I guess"

Pacey raised his hand "Sure, you can do whatever you want"

Andie started to feel worse "Your just talking like this because I'm going out with Dawson"

"Dawson?! Dawson, even his name has rich kid written all over it"

"Just because I'm going out with Dawson doesn't mean I can't be friends with you. .it doesn't change the way I feel about you"

"Well that's very nice, I'm glad" Pacey replied with sarcasm, jumping up "Here's the thing Andie, I'm not particularly concerned with whether or not you like me..because I live to like you, and..."

His voice lowered, becoming serious "And I can't like you anymore"

Andie backed away, looking like someone punched her in the stomach.

It breaks his heart to see her like that, but Pacey just clenched his jaw, pushing aside his feelings.

"So when he breaks your heart don't come running to me to pick up the pieces cause maybe...just maybe for the first time in your life I won't be there"

Shaking her head, Andie swallowed the lump building up in her throat "I can't believe your saying this"

"Well I guess that's just too damn bad, see you around"

Without another word, Pacey bolted for the door. Andie looked out of breath as he rushed out the door pushing past Dawson. Dawson said sorry raising a hand but Pacey just kept going. After taking a deep breath and recomposing herself, Andie headed back out front.

They both left without a word until they were outside in the cool night air.



"So that was Pacey huh, is he okay?"

"Oh, sure he's..he's fine" Andie replied taking a deep breath "He just had a rough day..he's a great guy though, he's been my best friend forever..he's really important to me"

"So..ready to go?" Dawson asked changing the subject.

Andie looked a little upset, but then forgot about it.

"So where are we going?"

"Up for a party?" Dawson asked with a grin "Yeah..no..maybe?"

"Uh, I don't think so" Andie replied uneasily.

"Why.why?" Dawson exclaimed with questioning eyes "They are my friends, it's okay"

"Yeah that's just it," Andie answered quickly "They're your friends..can't we just go somewhere else?"

Dawson stopped in his tracks, grabbing Andie by the shoulders "Hey Andie I like you, I think you like me, um we both know there's a lot of crap that goes on but if your above it, so am I"

Andie still looked unsure, and a little uncomfortable.

"If we wanna make something out of this-whatever we have to deal with it right?"

Still no give on Andie's part.

"Come on, we could go out with your friends if you want, go crawl under a rock?"

Andie looks obviously pissed at his comment and a little surprised he'd say such a thing but kept her mouth shut.

Dawson noticed he had accidentally offended her and started trying to change the subject.

"If we have a bad time, we can leave"



Outside it started to pour. The rain was like ice pellets. Pacey sat on the curb of main street, arms wrapped around his knees, which were pulled up to his chest. Slowly lowering his head onto his knees, he shivered.



On the other side of town Dawson's BMW pulled up in front of a large mansion, Jen's house. Various expensive cars were parked outside and the house is lit up, shining beside the creek.

Joey answered the door in a long black evening gown.

"Hello Dawson..I'm sorry I don't know your name"

"Andie" she replied biting her tongue "Pleasure I'm sure"

Joey scowled once Dawson's back was turned. Then he quickly pulled Andie by the hand into the party. Andie looked around nervously at the people, all obviously rich, and snobby by the looks of it. Dawson saw she was uncomfortable.

"I can't believe I actually associate with these people" he offered an apologetic smile "Pretty bad huh?"

"Yeah, pretty bad" Andie replied honestly.

"I'm sorry, wanna go upstairs?"

Andie is wide eyed and by now at the end of her rope "Excuse me?"

Dawson blushed a little "Hey I didn't mean..."

Andie crossed her arms, which he took as not a very good sign.

"Hey I haven't even tried to kiss you, have I?"

Still Andie didn't speak, but let out a sigh.

Dawson put his hands in his pockets and lifted a case of beer under one arm, then grabbed a bag of pretzels in his mouth "Look at me here, I'm utterly defenseless"

Andie smiled a little, her scowl disappearing.

"And utterly foolish" he mumbled, grinning.



Upstairs Dawson opened the first door to find Jen and Chris making out on a bed in their underwear.

"Oh, I'm sorry" Dawson quickly replied when they looked up "We'll just go-

"No it's okay," Chris replied sitting up "What's up, you guys want this room, um.. the bed or something"

"No," Dawson replied quickly raising his hands in the air "We'll just go out-

"Hey who's that you've got there?" Chris replied cutting him off "Is that you Andie?"

Andie just offered a small smile, then Jen rolled over on the bed clearly inebriated.

"Hey what are YOU doing here?" she replied with a glare "I mean you shouldn't be allowed to invite just anybody Dawson"

"Shut up Jen" Dawson exclaimed with anger.

"Hey you can't tell me what to do Dawson, this is Chris's party and MY house"

Chris pulled Jen to her feet, and then offered a fake apology "Hey, enjoy yourself"

Andie recrossed her arms.

"I'm really sorry Andie, your right this wasn't a good idea"

"Can we just get out of here?"

Dawson looked genuinely sorry "Hey I don't want to take you home yet, I'm having a good time just being with you..I'm truly sorry I made a mistake, I over estimated my friends"

Rubbing her head, Andie sighed, "It's fine, let's go"



TBC...