Episode Ten "Expect the Unexpected"
The road was empty and clear in front of them. The only sound you could hear was the radio playing softly in the car. Drue was in the driver's seat with Jen next to him up front. Joey and Jack sat in the back, staring out the window into the open space.
"What time is it?" Joey asked, sitting forward in her seat. Jen just smirked and Drue rolled his eyes.
"About ten minutes later than the last time you asked me."
"Sorry," Joey said sarcastically, making a face at Drue. "Is it my fault that Pacey had to go home early?"
"No. But he's not running away. You'll see him soon enough," Drue argued.
"It's okay for you. I know you don't care, after all you've been spending all your time with Jen. Don't think I don't know exactly what you were doing every time you made an excuse to come to the B&B."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Drue's voice was completely innocent. "I just had to get away from the landlord from hell, also known as my mother."
"And ending up in Jen's room was just a bonus right?"
"Exactly. Now you're understanding me, Potter." Joey sighed, being called Potter always reminded her of Pacey.
"Okay, okay," Jen, who had remained silent spoke up. "Will you two give it a break? Bantering is only cute when done between people who are or will become a couple."
"We weren't bantering. We were fighting," Joey disputed.
"Whatever it was, it's giving me a head ache," Jack spoke up. "Drue keep driving and Joey go back to looking at your watch every five seconds." Joey looked down at her watch, realizing that she had been counting the minutes ever since they got into the car.
Pacey had only been able to get a very short break from work. He had gone back to Capeside for Christmas with everyone but could only stay for a few days. Joey wanted to go back with him but Pacey convinced her that she should stay since she wouldn't get many opportunities to see her family. But she realized it was a big mistake because being with Pacey but away from him was even worse than being away from him when they were broken up.
She felt weird not being able to see him when she wanted. Of course they spoke on the phone every day, but it wasn't the same. Joey couldn't remember the last time she felt a week go by so slowly. She had fun at home, but she really missed Pacey and couldn't wait to get back. Classes started on January 8th, leaving her with just three days to spend every single second with Pacey. And she planned to do just that.
"Can you believe Dawson brought his 'friend' home for Christmas?" Jack said.
"Well I was waiting for him to ask Cathy out, but as usual he was being a chicken. I'm glad he asked her to come home with him since her family was going away for the holidays," Joey added.
"I can't believe a girl like that would even consider going out with Dawson," Drue said.
"Hey, he's our friend!" Jen and Joey both said at the same time and then started laughing.
"Oops, did I say that out loud?"
"Yes!" Jen hit him lightly and Drue just grinned.
"She was really nice so I hope Dawson does hurry up and ask her out," Joey commented.
She settled back in her seat again and they continued in silence for a few seconds before Joey broke it.
"How long now?"
"Joey!" All three passengers in the car turned and shouted at her.
-&-
"Here we are," Drue announced as they pulled up outside Joey's dorm.
"Thank you." She smiled at Drue and then got out of the car.
"Do you want us to wait here for you?"
"Why would you do that?"
"Well you're obviously coming straight to my apartment, we may as well give you a lift."
"Nah. It's okay. I think I'll walk." Drue smiled at her and she waved goodbye to everyone else.
She watched Drue pull away and then headed up to her room. She didn't think she would actually miss her dorm but she had. Boston was like home now and it felt weird being away. But right now she missed Pacey more than anything. Drue was right, she was actually just planning to dump her stuff and then was heading straight to Pacey's.
She opened the door to her room and was shocked to find Stacy and three other people there. Stacy quickly looked up from where she was sitting on Joey's bed.
"Joey! Hey, you're home."
"Yeah…hey Stacy."
"How was Capeside?"
"It was…Capeside." Stacy just laughed. "No it was really good."
"Great. I hope you don't mind. We were just catching up." Stacy said, gesturing to her friends.
"No problem. It's your room too." She smiled at Stacy's friends.
"This is Steve, Tia and Erik." Stacy said pointing to each of them. Steve was tall, medium build, blond and very cute. Tia was small black girl; she had short straight black hair and a bright smile. Erik was also quite cute and smiled at Joey.
Sorry for taking over your room," Tia said politely.
"Hey, no problem. I only came to dump my stuff anyway."
"Going to see Pacey?" Stacy said knowingly.
"Maybe."
"Well actually he stopped by about two hours ago." She reached behind her and picked up a folded note off of Joey's bedside table. "He left this for you."
"Thanks." Joey looked at the note and then at Stacy and her friends. "Excuse me." She smiled before retreating to the bathroom to read the note in private.
She closed the door behind her and stared at the note. She unfolded it and then started reading.
"To the most gorgeous, most wonderful girlfriend in the world." Joey rolled her eyes. "Stop rolling your eyes, I'm being sincere." Joey laughed at how well he knew her.
"I know you are going to kill me for this, but this job came up out of the blue this morning and I had to take it. I had to go up the coast for a few days. I'll be back on Tuesday. I'm really sorry." For some reason she really wanted to cry.
"I was missing you like crazy but I couldn't say no. Don't worry, it'll only be a few days. Just enjoy yourself while I'm gone. But don't let Stacy rope you into anything. She assures me that she'll look after you but something in the way she said it makes me very worried." Joey laughed lightly.
"See you soon. I love you. Pacey." Joey sighed. She had been looking forward to coming home for so long. Now she had to wait a few more days. It seemed like forever.
-&-
"Home sweet home." Drue looked up at his apartment building as he and Jen both got out of the car.
"The only reason you think it's sweet is because it's private." Drue laughed and walked around the car to Jen.
"Damn right. With my mother at home and everyone at the B&B, we didn't exactly have a lot of chances to be alone together, now did we?" He pulled her to him and kissed her softly.
"Drue Valentine?" Drue turned his head and saw someone familiar walking towards him. He let go of Jen and walked over to the guy.
"Edie McConoln? What are you doing here?" Drue smiled and shook hands with the guy.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Didn't you move to some small little town?" Edie was tall, slightly butch guy, a couple of years older than Drue.
"I did. But I go to college here now."
"Really?" Edie looked over his shoulder at Jen, who was standing waiting for Drue. "Oh my god. It's Jenny Lindley!" He grinned over at her and Jen cringed, she really hated being called Jenny.
"Hi Edie," she said rather coldly, not moving to greet him.
"Don't tell me you're here too? Well well well, looks like all of New York's finest have relocated to Boston."
"Drue," Jen called from her place still by the car. "Give me the keys, I'll wait for you upstairs." Drue looked at her confused, but took his keys out and passed them to her. She took them and left the two guys, not looking back.
"Don't tell me you're living with Lindley? You really have moved up in the world." Edie looked impressed.
"Not living but…"
"Oh, I get it. You dog." Edie laughed loudly and Drue looked uncomfortable.
"So what are you doing in Boston?" Drue quickly changed the subject.
"Just here on business if you know what I mean." Edie grinned. "I'm here for a couple of days. We should hook up again."
"Sure. I better go though."
"Jen keeping you on a tight leash?"
"No, I…"
"You want to watch it Drue. You don't want to let some girl tell you what to do." Edie continued.
"I… It was nice seeing you again Edie."
-&-
Jack sat at his computer, checking his email. He had been waiting for an email from Tobey for days now. He knew it was hard for Tobey to get time to check his email in London but he couldn't help checking every chance he had.
"Yes!" He screamed a little too excitedly as he clicked on a new email from Tobey.
"Win the lottery?" David stuck his head round the door and Jack looked up.
"David. Hey, how was Christmas with the parents?" Jack asked, as he read Tobey's email. David came in and stood by the computer.
"It was…" David searched for a word. "Okay." Jack just laughed.
"How was Capeside?"
"Good. I only went back because everyone was going but it was still great. It was good seeing everyone again. They've all been closer to me than my family for years now." He logged off the net and turned to David.
"Good news?" David pointed to the computer.
"Yeah. Tobey's coming back from London tomorrow. He said he's going to call as soon as he gets in." Jack smiled. He was glad that after the whole kiss thing he had been able to get back to being friends with David. David had hung out with the group a few times before Christmas break and was quickly becoming one of Jack's good friends.
"That's great."
"So what have you been upto since you got back?" Jack asked. David had come back to Boston right after Christmas.
"Nothing much. Trying to get sorted. I hung out with Pacey a few times."
"Yeah? That's great. Joey was going crazy missing him." David laughed.
"You should have seen Pacey. Unfortunately she's going to go even crazier. Apparently some job came up and he had to go away for a few days."
"Really? Must have been some important job. She's really going to kill him." David looked confused.
"They have that whole love hate thing. First she'll kill him then she'll hug him." David just laughed.
"I thought it was Drue and Jen who had that?"
"They do. I don't know, Jen and Joey both seem to be attracted to the guys that annoy them the most. If I was straight I might have tried annoying girls to get them to like me." David laughed.
-&-
Joey came out of the bathroom feeling slightly more relaxed. She had washed her face and freshened up a little. She opened the door to the bathroom and Stacy got up.
"Don't worry Jo, you can hang out with us." Stacy put her arm around Joey. Joey looked at her and then at the others.
"Err…Thanks Stacy but I don't know if that's a good idea. Pacey told me not to let you rope me into anything." Stacy looked shocked.
"He wrote that? Wait till I get my hands on him." Joey laughed. "Come on, we were just going to watch a movie."
"We're deciding between 'chick flick' and stupid macho thriller," Tia spoke up. "We need another vote against the thriller."
"Well actually I'm more of an action movie kinda gal." Joey smiled.
"Ha," Erik grinned and stuck his tongue out at Tia. "Then you are so our kind of girl."
"Thanks for the offer guys. But I don't really feel like going out." Stacy looked a bit downfallen. "But we can watch something here if you want?"
"Great." Stacy grinned, pulling Joey to sit down on the bed as she chose a movie.
-&-
"What was Edie doing here?" Jen asked, as Drue walked into the apartment.
"I don't know. He said he had some business. You know Edie." He dropped his keys on the table and sat down next to Jen on the couch.
"Unfortunately," Jen mumbled. Edie had been one of their main suppliers when they were into taking drugs. And if Jen remembered correctly Drue and Edie used to be good friends.
"It was weird seeing him after ages. I can't believe how long it's been."
"It must have been wonderful," Jen said sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean? I thought you liked him? You guys were friends remember?"
"We weren't friends. He gave us drugs, that's all."
"That wasn't all. We used to hang out together…"
"Getting wasted and stoned," Jen disputed.
"Is that what you think of all your old friends?" Drue asked, slightly shocked.
"No…I…" Jen sighed, knowing she would say something she would regret if she didn't stop talking. "Can we just not talk about this?"
"You bought it up."
"I know. I'm sorry." Drue looked slightly confused. "So what do you want to do now?" Jen forced a change of conversation.
-&-
"I'm bored!" David declared, getting up from Jack's bed.
"I'm sorry I have to finish paying my bills. But they are due at the end of the week and I don't want them turning my phone off." David sighed.
"Why are you so responsible?"
"Responsible?" Jack laughed. "If you saw the balance I was carrying on my credit card after Christmas you wouldn't think so. That's not very responsible. Don't you ever have to take care of stuff like this?"
"Chill Jack. I get it done. I work better under pressure."
"I bet you do. I've seen how you get your assignments done for your classes," Jack commented. He remembered how he had been stressing out over their joint assignment for weeks while David did all his work in the last week. Jack was sure that they weren't going to have it ready on time. But somehow they had managed and got an A too.
"I can't work unless I absolutely have to."
"You're never going to get through life like that."
"I don't know, it's worked for me so far." Jack just laughed.
"Just don't come crying to me when you're on academic probation." David looked at Jack who went back to his paperwork and sighed.
-&-
Jen walked up to her dorm room after having spent most of the day with Drue. He had just dropped her home after a quiet ride home. Although they ignored what Jen had said about Edie she knew it was still bugging Drue. It was still bugging her. She didn't know why, but when she saw Edie she just wasn't overcome with happiness like Drue had been. And she knew that had surprised him.
She opened her door and dropped her bags on her bed. Just as she was about to start unpacking she noticed Brenda was sitting on her bed.
"God, Brenda you scared me!" Jen exclaimed. But then she looked at Brenda and realized she had been crying. Brenda had quickly wiped her tears but her eyes were still red. "What's wrong?" Jen went over to the girl quickly.
"Nothing. Nothing." Brenda quickly got up and walked into the bathroom. "I'm fine," she called from inside.
"Brenda, you've been crying. What happened?"
"It was nothing, really." She came out the bathroom looking slightly better. "How were your holidays?"
"Fine," Jen said, distractedly. "Was everything fine at home?"
"Yeah. The holidays were great. I had the best time at home. It was so much fun." Brenda said excitedly, but for some reason Jen just didn't believe her.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." Brenda said quickly. Jen still didn't believe her but there wasn't much she could do if the girl wasn't willing to talk.
"Well I'm beat. I think I'm just going to leave my unpacking till tomorrow."
"Good idea." Brenda agreed.
-&-
Joey sat in her bed reading a book. Occasionally her eyes drifted to the phone sitting on her bedside and she had to force herself to continue reading. She sighed and then put her book face down. She picked up the phone, placed it on her lap, and then picked up the receiver. She couldn't believe she was being so stupid, her phone was working just fine. She put the receiver back down and just as she put it down the phone started ringing. She jumped and knocked her book off the bed by accident and then quickly answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Potter, what are you doing up so late?"
"Waiting for you to call!" Joey blurted out. "I mean, I was reading. Definitely not waiting around for you." Pacey laughed lightly.
"It's okay, I know you miss me."
"You know how dead you are? Who told you to go and take a stupid job on the day I was coming home?" Joey pouted.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't say no to the boss." Pacey sighed. He had been missing Joey just as much as she was missing him. Probably more. He couldn't believe the bad timing when he had been asked to do the job. "So how did you do?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Joey said innocently.
"Jo…"
"Okay, okay. I got all A's." Joey said it like it was no big deal."
"That's my girl. I knew you could do it." Pacey smiled, really proud of her. "I miss you so much Jo."
"You better. I was planning to lock myself away with you for the next three days." Joey pouted.
"Really? Little Joey Potter would lock herself away with her boyfriend just three days before classes started. I don't believe it," Pacey said sarcastically.
"Duh! You don't have any studying to do before semester starts."
"Yes I know. 'You' in the general term do not have any study to do. But you, Miss Potter, always find something you have to do that involves the library." Joey laughed.
"Well I would have even given that up for you but I guess you're out of luck now."
"Damn Jo, you're making me feel guilty. And I'm definitely regretting taking the job now. Now what exactly would this escape from the world have entailed?" Pacey asked curiously.
"I guess you'll never know," Joey said slyly.
"Damn!" Pacey sighed, knowing that once he got back classes would be starting and they would have even less time to spend together. Now he really couldn't wait to get home.
"Where are you anyway?" Joey asked, remembering she didn't even know.
"I'm about 300 miles away. I had to go to Bar Harbor Maine to get the boss's boat. He lent it to his friend and now he needs it back. I had to get the train here so that I can sail the boat back."
"Isn't that a little out of your job description."
"I'm doing him a favor," Pacey said unconvincingly.
"He's paying you a lot isn't he?"
"Oh yeah!" Joey just laughed.
"Typical. Pacey Witter doesn't do anything for free," Joey joked.
"I seem to remember doing a lot of things for you at absolutely no charge," Pacey said teasingly.
"Hey, I repaid you. In my own very special way of course," Joey reminded him. God she missed him. Just talking to him made her want him there with her so much more. "Pacey, when are you getting back?"
"Soon," he assured her.
"When?"
"It's no fun if I tell you."
"That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard, Pacey," Joey moaned.
"Good. What did you do today?"
"Hung out with Stacy like you told me not to." Joey laughed.
"Typical."
"Don't worry she's not too crazy."
"She seems it." Pacey laughed. "Why don't you start looking for that job. I know I said I'd help but if you at least get started then I can help you when I get back."
"Good idea. I really need to fine one soon. I don't want to be indebted to Dawson for the rest of my life."
"You know he won't ask for the money back."
"I know. But the sooner I give it back the better I'll feel. I never should have taken it."
"Whatever you think. You didn't say what kind of job you want."
"Anything really. They're not hiring at the Marina are they?"
"Unfortunately no. Although I don't know how much work we'd get done working together." Pacey laughed.
"I don't know, I think we make a pretty good team."
"Of course we do." Pacey agreed. "Anyway I better go. I probably won't be able to call you tomorrow because I'll be sailing. But I'll see you very soon."
"Okay. Love you."
"I love you too. Bye Jo."
-&-
The next morning Jen woke up with a strange unsettling feeling. She couldn't understand what it was. She tried to ignore it but she couldn't shake it off. She decided to take a walk to try and clear her head before going to Drue's.
As she came out of her building she bumped into Paul. She hadn't spoken to him in quite a while.
"Hey Jen."
"Hey Paul. How are you?"
"I'm ok. How are you? Did you go home for Christmas?"
"Yeah, I just got back yesterday."
"Cool. Lucky for some. Some of us were stuck here all holidays. Like me. Ask your roommate, it is not fun."
"Yeah I guess I…" Jen realized he said something about Brenda. "What did you say?"
"What?"
"About my roommate?"
"Nothing. Just that she would know what it's like to be stuck here. I saw her around all the time over the holidays."
"Are you sure? She was supposed to have gone home."
"I'm sure. It was definitely her. Maybe her plans just got changed." Paul suggested.
"Yeah, I guess." Jen was confused. Why had Brenda said that she had a great time at home if she hadn't gone back? What was she hiding?
Jen spoke to Paul for another couple of minutes and then continued walking. She walked to Drue's apartment and went upstairs hoping he was awake. It was only ten in the morning. She knocked on the door and waited for him to answer.
"Jenny! What a surprise." Jen was definitely shocked to see Edie in Drue's apartment looking very at home.
"Where's Drue?" Jen asked, walking past Edie.
"Why so cold? What, we're not friends anymore?" Edie asked, in a tone of voice that just made Jen more annoyed.
"Is he asleep?" Jen ignored his questions and walked past him into Drue's bedroom.
"Nice to see you too Jen," Edie mumbled. He went back to lie on the couch where he had evidently spent the night.
Jen walked into Drue's bedroom where he was standing by the mirror, combing his hair.
"Lindley, hey. I was just going to call you." Drue walked over to Jen and was about to kiss her but Jen stopped him.
"What's he doing here?"
"He needed a place to stay. I couldn't turn him away."
"Why not?" Jen demanded.
"What's your problem? Like it or not, Edie was our friend," Drue reminded Jen. He was surprised by her sudden closed off attitude.
"He's a drugie."
"You act like we never took drugs. Since when did you become so judgmental?"
"I'm not being judgmental."
"Sure sounds like it to me. And this is my apartment, I can let whoever I want stay here." He knew he shouldn't have said that by the look on Jen's face. He didn't mean to sound like a jerk, but he didn't understand why Jen was telling him not to talk to Edie.
"Right. So now I have no say in your life? Let me guess, he gave you the old, 'don't let a girl push you around' speech?" The guilty look on his face said it all. Jen turned to leave.
"What's wrong with you, Jen?"
"Nothing. Obviously you listened to your good friend, Edie, and I have no say in who you let stay here. And since he's here I really don't want to be. I'll see you later Drue."
"Jen!" Drue called but Jen was already out the door. She stormed past Edie and slammed the door behind her.
"Problems in paradise?" Edie asked as Drue came out of his room. Drue just sighed.
-&-
"Why do I always end up here when I'm mad at Drue?" Jen laughed. She was sitting on Jack's bed and had just told him about her fight with Drue.
"Well I'm glad you do otherwise what kind of best friend would I be?" Jack nudged Jen lightly.
"Thanks Jack."
"For what?"
"Listening. I don't even know why I got so angry."
"Neither do I. This guy couldn't have been that bad."
"He's not. Well he is. I don't know. He just reminded me of my past, you know? And I'm scared he's going to remind Drue of that."
"Drue would never go back to that kind of life."
"I know. But I know he misses it a bit. I gave it up because I wanted to. Drue gave it up for me. I don't want Drue to think I'm holding him back. And I know Edie; he has this typical chauvinistic view of everything. I could already hear it in Drue this morning. He was basically saying that I was telling him what to do and I have no right to."
"He said that?"
"No. Just the way he said it. He thinks I'm being judgmental."
"Aren't you?" Jack asked softly.
"No. I know Edie. I know what he's like. Edie and Drue used to be hell together. Drue was okay on his own but when he was with Edie he used to be even more annoying than usual."
"Wow. I forget that you guys grew up together sometimes."
"Yeah." Jen sighed.
"Maybe you need to just give Drue some space. You guys have been spending all your time together lately and Drue is talking to one other person and you going psycho will make him think you're trying to control him."
"I'm not."
"I know. But spending some time apart won't kill you."
"I guess."
-&-
Joey sat at her desk going through the want-ads in the newspaper she picked up earlier that morning when there was a knock at the door. She put the paper down and got up to answer it.
"Steve, hi."
"Hey Joey." Steve smiled at her.
"Stacy isn't here so…"
"No, I know. I actually came to see you."
"Me?" Joey rose her eyebrows.
"Yeah. We were all at Erik's and we were thinking of going out bowling or something. Stacy sent me over to invite you."
"Oh…er that's really nice of you guys."
"It's no problem." Steve smiled.
"But I'm looking through the classifieds. I really need to find a job so I probably shouldn't go," Joey said.
"Oh, well, maybe another time. Actually a friend of mine is having a party later tonight. We're all going, maybe you want to meet up with us then?"
"Err, sure. That sounds like fun."
"Cool. So I guess I'll see you tonight then?"
"Sure, thanks." Joey smiled as Steve left.
-&-
"So what happened with Jen?" Edie asked, as Drue made them a late lunch in the kitchen.
"Nothing."
"Come on Drue, I know you."
"We had a fight, that's all." Drue shrugged.
"You should be careful with that one."
"Why?"
"I remember the way you were with her. Don't think I've forgotten how you treated her."
"And how did I treat her?" Drue asked, curious.
"Like she was special."
"She is," Drue said.
"Yeah but you used to follow her everywhere. And you spent a lot of time worrying about her, instead of out having fun. And how did she treat you in return? She ignored you."
"She didn't ignore me."
"I'm just saying. Seems to me that she has a lot of say in your life."
"Look Edie. I appreciate the concern but Jen and I are fine. She is not trying to control me. I was the one who loved spending time with her. You don't know her like I do. There is nothing wrong with our relationship."
"Sure there isn't." Edie patted Drue on the back and then walked into the living room. Drue just sighed.
-&-
"You can't stay here all night."
"I can and I will," Jack disputed. David just sighed.
"At least come out for a little while."
"I can't. He's going to call."
"He definitely said he'd call tonight?" David asked.
"His flight comes in at seven and he said he was going to call as soon as he got back to Capeside," Jack said. "Besides I don't really feel like going out."
"Cool. So what's on TV?"
"You don't have to stay. Joey and Jen are going to some party tonight, why don't you go with them?" Jack suggested.
"Nah, I may as well keep you company while you sit by the phone."
"I'm not sitting by the phone," Jack disputed. David just glanced at the phone, which was sitting on the bedside table next to Jack and then back at Jack.
"Fine, whatever. I admit it." Jack sighed. "So do you want to rent a movie?"
"Good idea."
-&-
"I don't know why I let you bring me here," Jen moaned as she and Joey entered a large party house. Music was blaring and people were talking and dancing everywhere.
"If I go you go remember? I kind of got talked into it. I said no to going out with Stacy's friends twice now and I didn't want them to think I was unsociable or something," Joey said as they walked through the house.
"But you are unsociable."
"Am not!" Jen just laughed lightly but then settled back on her frown. Joey sighed. "Cheer up. You're bringing my mood down."
"Oh and you're just Miss Mary Sunshine today aren't you?"
"I'm trying to forget that Pacey isn't here and I haven't seen him for over a week. So you can forget you had a fight with Drue."
"It wasn't a fight," Jen lied.
"You just stormed out of his house for the fun of it did you?" Jen just glared at her.
"God we're pathetic. We promised ourselves we wouldn't get so wrapped up in our guys."
"Hey, I did no such thing. I quite like being wrapped up in Pacey," Joey joked.
"Well I promised myself not to do it."
"You can't help it, you're in love with the guy."
"I know. That's the really annoying thing."
-&-
"It's nearly nine o'clock. He's not going to call." Jack sighed.
"He'll call. Give the poor guy a chance," David assured him.
"I hate the waiting."
"I never would have guessed," David joked. "Maybe his flight was delayed?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"I checked." David just gave him a look. "What?"
"Nothing." David just laughed.
"Just shut up and watch the movie."
"Yes sir!"
-&-
Jen and Joey stood by the window drinking and talking. Joey glanced to her left and saw Steve looking at them.
"Looks like someone's got an admirer," Joey noted, nudging Jen. Jen turned and noticed Steve looking at them. "I think he likes you Jen. He's been staring at you for about half an hour."
"That's Steve isn't it? Stacy's friend?"
"Yeah. Although I wouldn't go there, I think Stacy likes him."
"Hey, I'm not planning to go anywhere with anyone. I only had a little fight with Drue, we didn't break up."
"I know. I was only kidding."
"And anyway, how do you know it's not you he likes?"
"Because…because I just do." Jen laughed.
"Hey guys!" Stacy came up behind Joey and Jen. "You made it!"
"Yep. Made it to another night of watching the wasted youth of America get drunk in a frat house."
"You're so cynical," Stacy noted.
"And you're too happy," Joey countered. "Anyway we were just talking about you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. So have you gotten anywhere with Steve yet? He is the guy you were telling me about right?"
"Yeah. Except there's nothing. I don't think he's sees us as more than friends." Stacy sighed.
"But you can change that right?" Jen said.
"I hope so." Stacy turned and looked at Steve who was still looking over at them.
-&-
"Okay now he's not going to call Jack," David said softly. It was close to eleven o'clock and they had spent the entire night watching movies and waiting for the phone to ring. David knew that Jack was about to go crazy.
"I know." Jack sighed. "Do you want to go to that party?" Jack suggested, feeling bad that David had stayed home with him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. We may as well." Jack got up and David followed.
"I'm sure he'll call tomorrow," David tried to reassure Jack.
"Yeah, I just miss him that's all."
"I know." David smiled at Jack and they both grabbed their jackets and left.
Just as Jack closed the door behind him the phone started ringing. On the other end Tobey held the phone, waiting for Jack to answer. Finally realizing no one was going to pick up Tobey hung up, looking upset.
-&-
"Thanks for taking me out Joey. I had fun." Jen smiled, feeling slightly better.
"No problem. Are you going to be okay to get home?" Joey asked as they reached her dorm building.
"Sure. I'll get a cab."
"Don't worry about Drue, you guys will sort it out."
"Yeah." Jen smiled and then walked off. Joey sighed and then turned to go inside. As she reached her floor she bumped into Stacy.
"Stacy! What are you doing here?"
"Just had to get something. You're home early."
"I know. I was tired."
"Good thing too. There's someone waiting for you in our room. I gotta run." Stacy was already half way down the corridor.
"Who?" Joey called but Stacy was already gone.
Joey's face lit up. She couldn't wait to see Pacey. She couldn't believe he had come over so late. She jogged to her room, not being able to wait. She opened the door quickly and then stopped.
"Pacey!" But it wasn't him. The figure turned and Joey's mouth fell open.
"Hello sweetie."
"Dad?" Mike Potter was back.
To Be Continued...