Snapshots...
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Dawson's Creek.
Coupling: Andie/Other/PJ
Rating: Pg-13
Shout Outs: To my friend Jo for proofing and to ellasblues for her encouragement.
Summary: This is a series of scenes from the beginning of the Junior year at Capeside High and tracks the bumpy path to love for Andie along with all the gang.
Snapshot: At night, outside Andie's house – November, Senior Year
It had cost him the better part of $300 to get most of the band in one place for that night and he had to make all sorts of promises to some to help them with their homework. He was a planner and this had taken three weeks to pull off. Now here he was, holding the microphone about to disturb the neighbours and publicly declare his love for Andie. He'd been waiting for this night ever since he'd received the notice that Harvard was sending out the acceptance letters. Andie had gotten hers at school today. They had made plans for tonight but she didn't realise that what he had planned for her. All Andie knew was that he would come by tonight and they were going out to celebrate. Well, they were going to do that as well, but this surprise was going to be special.
Making sure that the band didn't alert Andie, Jack and her father, Issac made sure they knew the cue for them to start playing.
"You got it right Pete? As soon as I sing the second cant take my eyes off of you that's your cue to kick it. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Dude where's our money?"
Issac was exasperated. "Look, you'll be paid when we finish ok? This is for Andie man. She got into Harvard alright?"
He turned the amp on and switched the mike on. Taking a deep breath he began to sing the old Frankie Vallie Four Season's song 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'.
"This is for you Miss Andie McPhee..." he began.
"You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you..."
The second 'Cant take my eyes off you' was the band's cue, he pointed to Pete. The band kicked in. By this time Andie, Jack and her father were standing at the front door in amazement. Andie couldn't believe her boyfriend had done this for her.
"Pardon the way that I stare
There's nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak
So if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it's real
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you..."
"This is total cheese" Jack commented to Andie, "wasn't this in a movie?"
"Watch it. That's my boyfriend you're talking about" Andie replied and elbowed Jack in his side. "I don't care if he's copying a movie, it's sweet."
Issac altered the chorus for Andie especially
"I love you Andie and if it's quite al lright
I need you Andie to warm the lonely nights
I love you Andie, trust in me when I say
Oh pretty Andie, don't bring me down I pray
Oh pretty Andie, now that I've found you stay
And let me love you Andie, let me love you..."
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - lyrics by Fankie Valli
Issac went for the big finish by kneeling in front of Andie. Once the music was finished, he stood up. She threw her arms around him.
"This was wonderful, I love you." She whispered in his ear as the tears were welling up and she pulled him into a hug.
Issac was stunned. She loves me! SHE LOVES ME! He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. The very thing he wanted to hear from Andie. He had to make sure.
"I love you Andie, I am so proud of you and I'm so lucky to have you in my life" and he kissed her tenderly.
"I love you Zac. I really do. Wow, this thing, for me. I don't know what to say." She knew at that moment that her feelings were true. He loved her and she loved him back.
"Tell me again."
"I love you Issac Evetts."
"I love you Andie McPhee."
They kissed again as the band members yelled out while Jack and Joe McPhee looked on...
Snapshot: Senior Prom, on the dance floor of the boat:
If Zac and Andie had been able to take a wide view at that precise moment they would have seen an interesting tableaux unfolding around them. In one corner there was Jack and Tobey, looking very uncomfortable and casting angry looks between them. In the other corner, Dawson and Gretchen danced slowly and both looked miserable as they broke apart as a couple. Off to the side sat a drunk and crying Jen while Drue was trying his best to comfort her. They both looked wretched after the events of the evening. If they could have seen, behind them a distraught Joey and an equally despondent Pacey moving through the crowd trying to avoid one another and cursing the fact that they were stuck on this vessel until it docked in about ninety minutes.
Lost as they all were in their own dramas, they all missed the abundantly happy couple swaying gently to the music in the middle of the dance floor. Issac and Andie were in a world of their own. It had been a magical night as far as they were concerned. They did not pick up on the tension in the group, especially Pacey and Joey. All Issac could think about was the fact she was here with him and they were a couple. How things had changed in the past year. This thought caused him to break the comfortable silence.
"Hon? Do you remember what we were doing this time last year?"
Andie looked at him and smiled. "I seem to remember that you were very nervous and hesitant about dancing with me."
"Yeah, absolutely. I was madly in love with you and the fact that I was holding you was almost too much for my poor heart to cope with."
"And now?" Andie giggled at the memory. If only she had known the depth of his feelings for her. At the time, she was too wrapped up in Pacey and the irony of it all was that it would be Pacey that opened her eyes to Issac's love.
"And now? Well, we're here, we're in love, we're a couple and I'm not a mass of insecurity and nerves. I said that dancing with you was heaven then and even now, after all this time, it still is Andie."
Her eyes glistened with tears. He never failed to surprise her with how much he was in love with her and she never got tired of hearing him tell her. She kissed him softly and whispered "And I love you so much Zac. I feel the same way. Being here with you tonight is heaven. This past year has been the best of my life Zac. Loving you is the best I thing I have ever done."
Issac smiled and kissed her back and they resumed slowly swaying to the music and sighing contentedly. He didn't notice the circle of miserable friends that surrounded the bubble of bliss he and Andie had made for themselves.