The Unseen Obstacle CH.5

I Disclaim

Joey stepped out of Pacey's embrace a confused look on her face. "Dawson, what are you doing here?"

"I asked you a question Joey, help with what?"

The tone of his voice annoyed Pacey to no end, ever since their conversation this afternoon, everything about Dawson was annoying him. "And she asked you one, and as it's her house and you weren't invited you go first."

"I came to talk to Joey."

"But Joey already told you that she was busy." He stepped in front of her then, blocking Dawson from her view so that she could put on her brave face. Joey hated walking around with a weakness showing." So maybe you could call her later, and do this."

"Why don't you let her speak for herself?" Dawson stepped further into the room and began looking around , something wasn't right Joey crying, Pacey comforting her, he didn't know what was going on but he was sure didn't like it. "Joey, what did you need Pacey's help with?"

"What did I just say?"

"Hey Jo I brought back your notes…" Jen stopped mid sentence as she took in the sight, Dawson looking irate Pacey looking protective and Joey looking smaller then she ever had before." Hey what's up guys?"

"That's what I'd like to know?" Dawson stepped around Pacey to look at Joey, who had taken a seat on the edge of her bed. She looked crushed, he could see tear stains, and felt the sadness in the room, he just didn't know what caused t, but so far all signs pointed top Pacey Witter. "Joey what's going on?"

"Nothing, I had some news that didn't exactly breed happiness, and so I'm not doing really great, so I really can't talk to you today Dawson." She saw him about argue, and she pushed on ignoring him. "Pacey, I'm sorry but I don't think I'll be able to help you tonight either."

"That's okay Joey; we can do this some other time." Pacey lifted two papers bags and then placed them on an empty spot on her desk." I brought some Chinese, so you be sure to eat okay."

"Yeah, thanks Pacey." Their eyes met, and he knew she was thanking him for more then the food." We can meet up tomorrow before the first bell, and I'll help you then."

"Sure, D-man, I'll see you out."

"Wait a minute…"

"I think that's a good idea." Jen spoke up suddenly getting a vibe, and needing some one on one time with Joey." You boys go, and I'll make sure that Pacey's food doesn't go to waste."

"Hey, I'm still not satisfied with what's going on here."

"You don't have to be Dawson; it's not your house." Joey said as she stood, and walked past them to the front door, which she held open. "School library at 7:30 Pacey, Dawson have a nice night, Jen the plates are over the oven."

Dawson gave his puppy dog look to Joey on his way past her, but she was seemingly unmoved as soon he crossed the threshold she shut the door.

Jen finished doling out the food on two plates just as Joey came into the kitchen, she looked much better since her visit to the bathroom, but Jen could still tell that she had cried earlier. "Hey Pacey did very well, he even remember the egg rolls."

"Pacey knows food." Joey said as she sank into her chair, and began playing with her food, she didn't look at the blonde across from her but she knew the question were coming and she didn't know if she was ready for them.

"Come on Joey, it's just you and me now, no Y chromosomes to mess up the convo, what's going on."

Taking a deep breath she decided she should talk to Jen, she needed a female voice on this, and there was just no way she could EVER go to Bessie with it. So it looked like Jen Lindely was her last hope for some female compassion. "So how long do think the mourning period on a relationship should be, I mean how long is too long?" "And what factors do you include in measuring this period, the intimacy of the relationship the depth of feelings the length of the actually relationship?"

"Joey, you and Dawson have been entwined for a very long time, and..."

"It's not Dawson Jen." She gave an eye roll, and silently wondered when people were going to stop associating her love life with Dawson Leery.

"Oh..." Jen dropped her fork and looked at the brunette confused, she knew all of Joey's exes, or more accurately she knew BOTH, so if it wasn't Dawson, it was…." OH MY GOD, Has Jack gone straight, are you thinking about Jack again?"

"No Jack is still, much to my dismay, and apparently yours as well, still completely gay, and actually on that Gay note, I happen to have information about the rumored sexuality of a person we both know.

"Really do dish." Jen perked up as she noticed that the new conversation seemed to lighten Joey's mood, but it didn't get her off the hook." But then we're right back on you and your mourning period."

"I happen to know with a great certainty and no room for argument that Doug Witter is not as Pacey paints him and is in fact straight." Suddenly the knowledge that she was going to have someone to share the secret with beside Pacey was starting to make her feel light and carefree.

Picking up her fork again and started chuckling to herself before replying to Joey. "Really, are you sure, what's your source, because I know Doug, and I'm thinking he's a gayer then Jack."

"Well I know because for the past 5 months I was secretly seeing him, and for the last of those five months we were having sex."

"I'm sorry what?"

"Don't be obtuse Jen, you heard me."

Again the fork dropped to her plate, but this time Jen pushed away as she dropped her elbows on the table and stared at the girl across from her as if she had never seen her before. And Jen was really starting to think she hadn't ever seen this person before Doug Witter and Joey? That was…." Wow."

"What was that back there?" Dawson asked stepping away from the door and turning to catch Pacey as he made his way toward the Witter Waggoner.

"What was what?" The taller man asked as he unlocked his car door." Joey's having a bad day, so we canceled our study session."

"Bad day, about what, she was fine two hours ago?"

"So." Pacey hopped into the car but left the door open, so he could talk to Dawson. "Things happen in her life in between her moments with you D."

"Well then what was this that happened?"

"Ask Joey, if she wants to tell you, she will until then I got nothing to say on the subject." Finally shutting his door, he strapped into the car but was held hostage by Dawson putting his hand through the window onto to the steering wheel." Get off Dawson."

" No I want to know what's going on, I come in and you and Joey are hugging and she looking hurt, and I want no I demand answers."

Pacey fed up removes Dawson's hand, and shoves him back." Demand all you want, but the fact of the matter is this isn't any of your business until Joey says it is, but until that happens why don't you be the friend you claim to be and just be there for her, without making this about you and your need to know."

"So …wow…uh…wow… Doug… like Doug Witter." Jen blinked, and then just to test this reality she pinched herself hard." Okay I am in fact awake, uh…. How did this happen?"

"I don't really know, one day I was crying over Dawson, then I just like that I was just in love with Deputy Doug."

"Whoa, how we miss this."

"Well it's not like we advertised or that we could, he's older, a cop, and pretty high up on the forbidden list." Joey moved a piece c of hair behind her ear, and looked down at her plate." So it's goes without saying that I need you to keep this to yourself, its bad enough it happened I don't need the entire town to know about it."

"But Doug left … didn't he wasn't Pacey saying something about him going to FBI school or something."

"Yeah, He's in Quantico, for some training."

"So that mean that you two…."

"I got short email the other day telling me it was over."

Jen reached across the table and placed her hand over Joey's." Joey, I'm sorry."

"No I'm fine, well I'm not fine, I miserable, but I knew it wasn't going to work, but …."

"What?"

"I guess for once in my life I wanted to do something that I knew wasn't right, but would make me happy, I wanted to be completely selfish and self serving."

Jen nodded, she did know the feeling it was how she lived the last years of her life in New York. "So how did that work out for you?"

"I ah… think I may have completely shattered my heart." That said the strength finally left her, she finally broke, she felt Jen take her in her arms, and for the second time that day Joey Potter cried in public.