Note: thanks nursechrism, superfan24, PaceyandJoeyForeverandEver, elwoodluver00034 for the nice feedback. Sorry it took a bit longer to update but my muse didn't want to work on this yesterday but on my other DC/4400 fic. Here is the next chapter, hope you like it.
Chapter 4
Pacey was walking with Jack in the hallway on his way to lunch "So you seen Dawson yet?" Jack asked him.
"Yeah, he came up to me and Jo this morning. It was really weird." Pacey replied.
"I'll bet, so what did he say?" Jack asked.
Pacey sighted as he replayed his meeting with Dawson this morning "Well he apologized for what he did. And then basically asked for another chance." Pacey chuckled dryly "and the really weird thing about this is that part of me wanted to forgive him and give him that new chance. And another part of me hates that part of me and wants nothing more then to box Dawson up and dump him on a plane far away from any of the people I care about."
Jack chuckled "Well that would solve the Dawson situation. Still you shouldn't be upset with yourself for wanting to forgive him. He was a big part of your life."
"I know, but I just don't like being this uncomfortable with someone who used to be my very best friend. I mean I love Joey too but I don't go beat him into the hospital for all the manipulation he tried to do last year. I backed off and gave Jo room to decide who she wanted. But all Dawson saw was how he could lose Joey to me and he actually put me in the hospital for it. I really thought he would understand falling for Joey Potter but all he saw was his own problems and that I was somehow the cause of them." Pacey said to him as they reached the lunchroom and went to get food.
"Well Dawson has always been self-absorbed, if you ask me he saw Joey has his personal property and when you and her developed feeling for each other he could lose that. So maybe the way out in his mind was to eliminate you so he could get Joey back." Jack replied.
"So you're saying that if he still has feelings for Joey he could come after me again?" Pacey asked him as they headed over to a table and sat down.
"Maybe, I mean he did went to get better so maybe it is out of his system but I'd still be careful if I were you." Jack said.
Pacey smiled at Jack "That's what I love about you Jack, you don't judge people, you're always open to possibilities. And yeah, maybe that's because of your situation. Maybe it's because you know how it feels…but I don't think so. Not really, Jack. I think it's because you're a decent person. You're a good guy who knows how to treat other people. You're a real friend to your friends."
Jack didn't find himself in emotional situations very often and it was even less often that he felt he was moved to tears. But listening to Pacey's words about him, he could feel a tightening in his heart and his eyes mist slightly. No one had ever talked about him that way. He knew he was important to his friends, Jen especially, but even she would try to make any sentiments as light-hearted as possible. He knew he could always count on Pacey, hadn't the spitting incident proved that? But he never expected him to say anything like this.
"Thanks, Pace." Jack could hear his voice was raw with emotion. "That means a lot."
Pacey shook his head before he spoke. "It's just the truth, nothing special." He smiled when Joey sat down on his other side and she gave him a peck on his cheek but said nothing yet noticing Jack and Pacey were having a moment.
"Well, it still means a lot anyway." He cleared his throat. "I know I don't say this very often Pacey, but you're a good friend. This little group of ours may analyze everything to death, but we don't get very sentimental often."
"That's for sure." Pacey kept his eyes on Jack, but squeezed Joey's knee when he replied.
"Well anyway…um…thanks…you know…for being my friend." Jack shrugged. "You're one of the reasons I'm glad we moved here."
Pacey smiled "I'm glad you moved here too Jack." He replied.
"Hey guys" Andie and Jen joined them sitting across from them.
"Hey" they greeted back, Pacey took this opportunity to properly welcome his girlfriends' presence, kissing her passionately on her lips.
"Hey guys" Dawson suddenly said as he joined then at the table sitting next to Andie.
Joey and Pacey broke apart, both uncomfortable again by Dawson's presence. Pacey took her hand in his before he asked "Jo and I need to study some French vocabularies." Pacey said as they stood up and left the table leaving their friends alone with Dawson.
Dawson faked a sigh "you think they're ever going to forgive me?" he asked the group.
"Do you think you deserve forgiveness from them after what you did to them?" Jack asked him.
'Look Jack I don't give a shit what you think. All I care about is getting my Joey back and making Pacey pay for sending me away from this place to that loony bin. Keeping me away from my soul mate while he manipulates her.' Dawson thought to himself but said "What I did is inexcusable. I know that Jack but I feel better now. I just want my two best friends back."
"You were sick Dawson, I understand. And I also understand you wanting to get things back to normal. Even though Pacey and Joey need some time to get used to things again we are here for you." Andie said to him.
'Talk about delusional, oh well 2 down 2 to go.' Dawson to himself before he looked like he had been very touched by Andies' words "thank you guys."
"Hey that's where friends are for" Andie replied smiling.
Dawson smiled, while Jack looked over at Jen trying to read what she thought of this. He could see that Jen was trying to be supportive of Dawson but he also saw something he felt as well. Doubt. 'It's logical to feel doubt about him' Jack reasoned 'But why do I feel like Dawson isn't being completely honest with us. Maybe…' "Say Dawson, are you still in love with Joey?" he asked him.
Dawson looked at him a bit shocked, he hadn't expected that question to come from him, Jen maybe but Jack normally didn't really involve himself into other peoples relationship that much. "Joey is my soul mate Jack. I will always love her, but I don't have any romantic feelings for her anymore. I understand and accept that she isn't in love with me anymore and that she's with Pacey. I'm happy for my two oldest friends to have found such a happiness with each other." Dawson replied sounding sincere but not meaning a word of what he just said.
Jack watched him nodding as he thought 'he sounds honest about it but he still calls her his soul mate, something tells me he isn't over her and he only accepts them now because if he didn't he would really lose Joey. Which means he's probably working up some sort of plan to try and steal her away from him…or I'm just being paranoid. I wish I could talk to Jen about this, see what she thinks. Andie seems to believe him though. But Andie always believes in the good in people.' He noticed Jen was looking at him probably wanting to discuss Dawson with him as well. He smiled at her and started up a conversation about their first day back at school while letting her know with a look they would talk later.
Feedback please. It's a bit short, I know. I'll try to make the next one longer.
