1.

'So, this is your classroom Joey,' the principle opened the door to the musty, old room. Joey remembered it well. Her own experience with art was nurtured here, all those years ago. Yellowing dust sheets draped over the desks and aging easels, paint splattered over the floors and chairs.

'Sorry about the state of the place. It hasn't been used for almost 5 years. Cuts in budget meant we had to close certain subjects either partly or completely. Luckily, with the support from the scheme you're part of, we can re-open the art, drama, music and media departments.'

'So there are more new starters?' Joey turned around to look at the principle. Mr Philips, or Mike as he has insisted on being called, was one of the new breed of principles coming out of the education system. He was young, idealistic and enthusiastic. His enthusiasm had, of yet, not rubbed off onto Joey who was still resenting the fact she was here.

'Yes. The music and drama departments were opened last year by Melissa and Geoff but the media department has a new teacher today as well…umm I can't quite remember his name, something unusual… but you'll meet him later. I'll let you get settled in. Here is an order form for some basic supplies, pens and such, and the boxes in the corner are you're new text books. We have a meeting at 12 in the main hall so I'll see you there,' Joey leaned over and shook his hand.

He was cute, far too enthusiastic but cute.

The old wooden door shut and another layer of dust fell from the old shelves and on to the floor.

'Cough cough…well, that's a great start,' she muttered, walking over to the windows and opening as many as she could.

It took almost 2 hours but eventually the room seemed to be more alive. All the dust sheets were gone and the new books were on the shelves.

The room didn't look too bad, the walls were still bare but she knew in a few weeks they would be full of student art work. Nevertheless, she had started an inspiration wall at the end of the classroom, a couple of postcards from London and a few prints of her favourite works sat along side a program from Audrey's current show. She had added a note to say that the students could join in whenever they wanted. It was something she was taught at college but she always had her doubts about it, remember what had happened all those years ago when her own unity mural was vandalised.

'Knock knock,' a voice said from the door. Turning around she saw Jack, polo shirt and khaki draped, a pot plant in one hand and a smile on his face.

'Hey!' Joey smiled widely as she walked towards him, arms outstretched.

'Hey stranger! Don't come see me when you came back then?' Jack put the pot plant down and embraced his old friend warmly.

'I'm sorry, no excuse. Completely monopolised by my sister.' Joey pulled away and took a good look at her friend. He looked mature but not older. Granted she hadn't seen him since High School graduation but had been talking to him via e-mail for years. Every time she set out to visit him something had happened, she had a paper to finish, an Audrey to bail out of jail, her sister needed her. So the two had become the modern equivalent of pen friends.

'My god Joey, you've grown up. What happened to the hair tucking little girl I last saw all those years ago?'

'She got her heart broken repeatedly, had to live life on the edge vicariously through her room mate and then moved halfway across the world to find some peace. But apart from that, she's fine.'

Jack took a long look at her. She did look her age, her hair now falling into a tousled bun around her face. It was red, a colour he had never seen her with before. She was dressed casually, the preparation day not having a dress code, but he could tell it was fashionable.

'So, I see you've brought a little life back to this room. In the spirit of that I brought you this,' he picked up the pot plant again and thrust it into her hands.

'Thank you. You know that I kill these things for sport right?' Joey joked, placing it on her desk next to the apple that Alex had given her earlier that day.

'I remember the project involving the spider plants when we were 17! You know that the teacher you traumatised, Miss Jenkins, still works here?'

'You're joking right! Oh god, I might have to escape now,' she lowered herself onto the edge of her desk, Jack sitting next to her.

'Not a chance, I've missed you too much. So is Capeside all you remembered and more?'

'Oh yeah. Small, provincial, full of gossips.' Joey joked, looking up and seeing her postcard of London. Her heart ached slightly.

'It's not that bad. I mean, if it were do you think I would be here?'

'I know. I still can't understand why you left New York though.' Joey turned around and saw his face drop.

'Well ugly break ups, my sister selfishly moving to Boston and the slow disintegration of my friendship with Jen aside, I just wanted to come home. Sad huh?'

'Not at all,' she took his hand 'you never did tell me what happened between you and Jen,'

'Let's just say my ugly break up with Sam and Jen's friendship were more connected that I had led you to believe.' Jack looked down at his hand, encased in Joey's delicate hand.

'Oh Jack, I'm so sorry.'

'Well, it's what you get for dating a man who is obsessed with your roommate. They're supposed to be very happy according to all consumer reports. But I'm over it. What about you miss, any long distance romance going on?'

Joey took a deep breath. 'No, unless you count London as a person. I dated, you know, but nothing serious. London men are…very self obsessed. It's not all that Bridget Jones had cracked it up to be,'

'If it's any conciliation, American men tend to be just as bad,' Jack giggled and jumped to his feet. 'But enough! We have an hour before the big welcome back to school meeting. Fancy a spot of lunch?'

'Yeah, that would be wonderful!' Joey hopped off the desk and linked her arms with him, grabbing her hand bag and closing the door behind her.

'Welcome back, teachers of Capeside High!'

Applause rang around the hall as Jack and Joey quickly ducked into their seats near the front of the hall. They were late, having become so engrossed in playing catch up they forgot the time. Mike nodded at them sternly and then continued.

'This year is shaping up to be our best year ever. We have reinstated almost all of our extra curricular activities and all of our departments, so I am depending on all of the staff to make these new members feel welcome and to help in any way they can. We will introduce them in a moment but first, coach Leery wants to say a few words on behalf of the sports department.'

Joey clapped loudly as he got to the podium, his frame as large and intimidating as ever. He caught sight of Joey and Jack and waved at them, a smile on his face.

'Well welcome back, new and old. We have a fight on our hands this year with the new programme that the state has introduced. All sport participants need to hold a B grade average of they are being booted off any teams they are on. So I need the entire faculty to help target possible problems and make me aware, so that tutoring and support can be arranged for these particular students. I'm sure together we can tackle this new legislation. Thank you,'

Applause rang out again for the popular coach. After almost an hour of notices and important announcements, Mike returned to the podium.

'So, that's about it…Oh…Almost forgot. I need to introduce our new staff members. Firstly we have another member of the college tuition fee scheme. She is also an alumnus of these very halls. She studied at the prestigious Worthington in Boston and has just finished two years working for the leading art museum in Europe, Tate modern in London. Please welcome the new head of art history, Miss Joey Potter.

The crowd appalled, Mitch getting to his feet and smiling widely. Mike gestured Joey to get up. She turned to Jack, rolling her eyes and then got to her feet, waving shyly at the assembled crowd. She got back into her seat as quickly as possible; ignoring the mocking look that Jack was giving her.

'and our next new starter also comes from the same programme. He studied film and media at NYU and comes to us straight from 2 years of teaching at New York High school. Please welcome Dawson Leery,'

Joey's heart stopped. She turned to face Jack who was smiling and clapping.

'You knew!' she hissed

'Of course I knew. I also knew if I told you, you wouldn't come back,'

Jack smiled at Joey's scowling face, winking at her and then turning around to see where Dawson had been sitting.

Standing on the far side of the hall, dress in a simple blue shirt and green chords was the boy she had loved most of her life. His hair was longer than she had last seen it, curling slightly with length and he looked tired but it was defiantly him.

It was her Dawson.