Ch 6
Not long after they dropped the kids off at the B and B, Andie, Jen and Joey found themselves sitting at the back of a small café on the couches in the corner. They had each ordered their coffee and were sitting quietly sipping the beverages. "So, who should start?" Jen enquired.
"I will," Joey offered, "After all it was my drunken idea." The other two women laughed remembering Joey's drunken rant. "I edit books for Random House in New York. I live in this little apartment that I love, and up until recently my I lived there with my boyfriend, but we just broke up," Joey told them.
"Is New York as bad as Jen made it out to be?" Andie wondered.
"No, it's a busy place," Joey sighed, "It's so big too, a lot bigger than here or even Boston. How about you Andie? I think we know the least about you."
"I'm a PR manager," Andie giggled, "Go figure my prediction actually came true. I just moved to LA where I have a wonderful job. Right now I'm living with Dawson until I can find a place of my own. I think it bothers his girlfriend, Katherine, but Dawson seems to enjoy having me around."
"You live with Dawson?" Both Joey and Jen were surprised by this news.
"Yeah," Andie nodded happily, "When he found out I was moving to LA he offered to lend me a room in his oh-so-grand house."
"Is the renowned Mr. Leery hard to live with?" Jen asked.
"No," Andie shook her head, "He's really great actually. It's your turn Jen!"
"Well, after Grams finished her treatment and Jack finished school and moved to Capeside Grams and I relocated again," Jen started, "To Soho. I got pregnant with Maddy two years ago, as you know, but I'd rather not get into that. Anyway, I manage an art gallery there with Grams and...I'm happy." Jen held back her desire to let them in on her secret. It was something that could wait.
"It's funny, but I never imagined us ending up like this," Joey sighed, "I though I'd be stuck in Capeside, miserable the rest of my life."
"But you live in New York and are only semi-miserable," Jen laughed, "I never thought I would've been a single mother living in Soho with her grandmother still at twenty-five."
"We have changed a lot, haven't we?" Andie mused, "But some things have remained the same throughout all this."
"Our friendship," Jen mentioned.
"My love triangle," Joey sighed. The girls looked between each other and smiled.
"So, how about we do this again in five years?" Andie wondered. Jen shifted uncomfortable in her place and it didn't go unnoticed by her companions. "Jen is something wrong?" Andie was quick to ask, "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"No," Jen lied, "Everything's fine. So, Joe, how was Paris?"
"Amazing," Joey responded slowly, watching her friend, "It was everything I imagined it would be. I'm glad that I did it, even more so alone. I mean, after Eddie left and that whole thing with Dawson, Pacey and Dawson's money, I think I was better off going alone."
"Plus, aren't Paris boys hot?" Andie laughed, "I mean I spend a week up there when I was in Europe and..." Andie needn't say more about the boys in Paris, Joey knew and Jen could only imagine.
"I watched 'The Creek' the other day," Jen mentioned, "Dawson did an amazing job telling our story."
"Yeah," Joey agreed, "But he could only tell so much. I mean, Dawson doesn't know all the details of all our lives, only as much as we let him in on."
"Like the details of your and Pacey's trip to the Florida Keys," Andie raised an eyebrow. No one really knew the details of Pacey and Joey's summer together on True Love but Pacey and Joey themselves.
"Am I getting hints that you guys want to know exactly what happened aboard that ship?" Joey laughed, "You all know what didn't happen. The rest stays between me and Pace. That's a time I keep close to my heart."
Pacey walked through the seemingly deserted Bed and Breakfast. He had taken another break at the restaurant and come to see if anyone here had needed anything, like food. He knocked on Jen's room door and opened it slowly to reveal and empty room. As he prepared to leave something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. There was an orange bottle laying in plain view at the top of Jen's bag. Entering the room Pacey moved over and picked up the delicate bottle.
Pills. The orange bottle contained tiny round white tablets. The prescription label seemed to have been torn off and Pacey stared at the bottle. Jen was using drugs again. That was the only explanation. If she had been sick she would've told them. Pacey was enraged that she would do such a thing, especially when she had a daughter to think of. "Jennifer, are you home?" Grams' voice approached Pacey from the hall, "Oh, it's only you Pacey."
"Jen's taking drugs again," Pacey declared showing her the orange bottle. A flash of something crossed Mrs. Ryan's face as she entered the room and took it from Pacey.
"Jennifer sick," Grams informed him, "She has a heart condition and has for some time. The drugs are prescribed by her doctor to help her. She seems better now, but there's a possibility that she won't survive the year." Pacey stared in shock as tears rolled down Grams' cheek. Pacey moved over and wrapped his arms around the old woman, letting himself cry as well. Jen was dying and no one knew it.
Joey, Andie and Jen had left the café some time ago and now sat on the steps outside Capeside High. It was late in the afternoon and they listened carefully for the ring of the final bell when the students would rush out and head to their homes and they could go steal Jack from his marking. Joey felt that this afternoon had been a success. The three had talked about everything from the past seven years and even some mention of before either of them had met. Joey discussed the summer that she and Pacey had caught the Chicken Pox at the same time and Pacey had to stay at the Potters' house because neither Gretchen nor Doug had had them. They hadn't been able to see Dawson for two weeks and then as soon as they got over it Dawson had caught it. During those four weeks that the three were separated Pacey had driven Joey crazy.
The bell sounded and Jen, Andie and Joey all stood up and headed inside, fighting the hordes of students trying to get out of the High School as quickly as possible. Andie and Joey hurried into Jack's classroom, Jen close behind and quickly took seats in the front row of desks. "Are we late Mr. McPhee?" Jen tried to suppress her laughed, but was unsuccessful. Jack looked up, seemingly happy to see them.
"Did you have a good day ladies?" He questioned.
"Yes, we did," Andie nodded, "We went to the park with Pacey and then had a special meeting at a café where we caught up on each others lives, past and present."
"Good to know," Jack began placing paper from his desk into his briefcase.
"So, what can we do for the next few hours?" Jen wondered, "Pacey told us to be at the Ice House for five. We still have three hours."
"Let's sleep," Joey suggested, "I feel like a kid again, all worn out." Her friends laughed. "I'm serious," Joey insisted, "We'll go down by the Creek, under some of the trees and sleep."
"Alright," Andie agreed, "I think we could all use some rest." Jack nodded as well and Jen muttered her response. Then, finally they headed out of the school, all of a sudden no longer feeling like the adults they had arrived as but as the kids they had left as.
Night was falling and Pacey was almost done preparing the meal, some of his chefs had agreed to stay and take care of the rest of dinner when Pacey joined his friends. He heard the swish of the kitchen door and he looked up to see Dawson Leery standing in the doorway. "Hey, man, the others here yet?" Pacey wondered.
"No, I haven't seen them all day," Dawson replied. Pacey furrowed his eyebrows as he took off his apron and told his assistant chef to take over.
"Strange," Pacey mused, "It's not like Joey and Andie to be late for anything."
"Especially not Andie," Dawson agreed.
"Think they're still at the B and B?" Pacey wondered. Dawson shrugged. "Let's run by," Pacey suggested.
Not long later they arrived at the B and B. The kitchen was busy as Bodie prepared supper for Grams and the other customers. Bessie was helping Grams put Madison to bed and Alexander was playing with his toys. There was no Joey, Jen, Andie or even Jack in sight. "Bess!" Pacey exclaimed, "You seen Joe or the others?"
"Not since about two hours ago," Bessie replied, "They came in, got some blankets and left again." Suddenly Pacey knew where to go. He left the house and headed down towards the Creek, right before he reached the dock he turned and headed towards a large tree where he could make out four shapes on the ground.
Glancing at Dawson, Pacey smiled mischievously and motion to Dawson to take care of the other three. Standing over Joey he contemplated what his choice of waking her up would be. "What do you think D?" Pacey solicited, "How should I wake Ms. Potter up?"
"I got an idea," Dawson grinned, "Take Joe, I'll take Jen. We'll come back for Andie and Jack." Pacey followed instructions and scooped the sleeping Joey up off the ground. Slowly he followed Dawson down to the dock where Joey's rowboats sat. "I rowed it over last night," Dawson reminded Pacey, "But I hitched a ride with you and Dougie to get home, so it's still here. We're going to strand these four in the middle of the lake."
"You've still got it man," Pacey smirked as he carefully placed Joey in the rowboat next to Jen, "Think they'll all fit?"
"If we lay the other two the other way around," Dawson nodded as they headed up to get Andie and Jack. Pacey carried Andie down first and then both he and Dawson managed to get Jack onto the rowboat. They untied it and pushed it off into the middle of the Creek. "Now, how do we get them up?" Dawson looked over to Pacey.
"What, the great Dawson Leery can't think of anything?" Pacey said aghast. Dawson shook his head.
"I'm surprised that Joey didn't wake up as it is," Dawson admitted and Pacey nodded in agreement.
"Maybe we should throw something," Pacey suggested, "Like one of Alexander's baseballs. The worst it could do is give one of them a back eye."
"You would love that wouldn't you?" Dawson speculated and Pacey shook his head.
"Nah," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then, Joey sat up in the rowboat and Pacey sighed, "Looks like we don't have to worry about that." They could see Joey turn her head and see them standing at the end of the dock. Jen, Andie and Jack eventually were all awake as well and there seemed to be a struggle for all four bodies to sit up and for one of them to be able to reach both of the paddles. Andie and Jen tried to switch places just as Joey stood up to sit in the middle of the boat and ended up falling over. Pacey burst out laughing and Dawson suppressed his own laughed.
Finally, they reached the dock with a sopping wet Joey Potter, who glared at both men. Pacey yet again could not contain his laughter. "You think this is funny Witter?" Joey demanded.
"Yeah, Potter I do," Pacey replied. Joey stepped out of the rowboat and stepped towards Pacey she smiled brazenly before pushing Pacey into the Creek.
"Think it's funny now?" Joey wondered. Pacey pulled himself out of the water and ran his hands through his wet hair.
"You really did not want to do that," Pacey informed her. Grabbing her hand and pulling her towards him. Joey squealed in protest and Pacey lifted her towards the end of the dock, kicking him as hard as she could.
"Pacey no," Joey yelped, "I'm wet enough!"
"Oh, no Potter you're not getting away with this," He dropped her into the creek. Joey sputtered the top of the water. Jen and Andie snuck up behind Pacey and pushed him in. Joey moved away just as Pacey tumbled into the water. Just as the two other women were enjoying their victory Dawson and Jack approached them pushing them into the creek as well but both Andie and Jen managed to pull in Jack and Dawson with them. The six adults were all swimming back towards dock laughing as they pulled one another, trying to stop either of the opposite sex from getting out.
"Pacey J. Witter, stop grabbing my ass!" Joey exclaimed,
"You never complained before," Pacey responded. Finally, they were all out of the water, soaking wet and late for dinner. Joey, Jen and Andie all headed to their rooms to get a change of clothes while the men contemplated what they were going to do. Seeing as the Leery house was closer they jumped into the Dawson's car and headed off to get out of their wet clothes.
Jen, Joey and Andie entered the Ice House and hour later completely dried off and primped up. Dawson, Jack and Pacey were already there, awaiting them and drinking their beverages. The women each took their respectful places at the large table and waited for their specially made meals to arrive.
After much laughing and talking during dinner they joked about making them pay for their meals as they each forked over their money. "Hey, I've got to make a living," Pacey defended.
"Sure, by stealing money from your friends," Joey had retorted. Soon, though Andie had convinced them to go on a walk, just the six of them.
After a while they found themselves at the main docks. People's boats anchored for the night and Joey strolled along examining each boat. When the reached the dock where Pacey used to dock True Love Joey paused. She remembered when she stepped on the boat with Pacey, as they headed off on their three month adventure. She remembered when she had returned to Capeside, stepping off and returning to the real life. The first night home when both she and Pacey hadn't a place to stay and they slept one last time aboard the boat. Truthfully Joey still missed the boat now and then. She missed the carelessness of being out on the open sea with Pacey. Not worrying about anything. She could sense Pacey beside her and knew he was thinking about the same things. He reached for her hand and led her on the dock towards the boat where he stopped and turned her slightly so she could see the boat. Joey froze. "Pacey..." she breathed.
"What do you think?" he whispered. Curious, Jen, Andie, Dawson and Jack had joined them on the dock and shared the same expression as Joey had, but theirs had less meaning behind it. Their expression was less awe, happiness and shock and more just shock.
"It's....perfect," Joey muttered, "But how?"
"A while back I visited the place where I found Tue Love," Pacey explained, "I wanted another boat because with the restaurant I had almost everything. I missed having a boat. I was surprised when I found this. It was a wreck. The man said it would take a lot to repair it and no one had wanted it. For years it had just sat there. I started putting enough money away so that I could repair it. And finally I had enough."
"Is it..." Joey didn't have to finish her sentence because Pacey already knew what she was asking.
"I don't know," he sighed, "It sure seems like it though."
"Are you calling it True Love?" Andie wanted to know. Joey had almost forgot about the others staring at the replica of the boat she had spent the summer on.
"I don't know," Pacey's eyes bore into Joey's. He was asking her something that Joey still did not know the answer to and she didn't know if Pacey saw that or not but he didn't press the issue.
"Why didn't you tell any of us?" Dawson spoke up.
"I was waiting for the perfect moment," Pacey touched the side of the boat, "Until we were all her, together."
Joey continued to stare at the boat. Thinking, remembering, and trying to decide what was going to happen. What she wanted but she couldn't. She noticed she was still holding Pacey's hand and she squeezed it lovingly as they both remembered together. Suddenly Joey wondered if she had already made her decision but looking over to Dawson, Joey realized she couldn't have. Not without talking with Dawson alone. After all she had spent so much time with Pacey already and hardly enough with Dawson to really know if she still loved him or if her feelings towards him were plainly platonic. Tomorrow she needed to have a much needed time out with Dawson. She had the perfect idea as to how to bring that about.
