The Unseen Obstacle CH.9

I Disclaim

"I need a favor."

Jen cracked opened her bloodshot eyes and stared at, she hadn't been drinking but it was way too early for her to be up and coherent." Are you kidding me, its not even ten yet?"

"Come on Jen, you owe me." Joey pushed past the smaller woman, and walked into the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee, and then handing the blonde as she staggered in.

"How do I owe you?" She asked taking the coffee and drinking it down.

"Remember when you first moved here, and I wanted to kick your ass, well I didn't and now I need to collect."

The coffee finally taking effect she stared at the brunette with laughing eyes." So let me get this straight, because you didn't beat me up when I first moved here, I know owe you a debt?" At Joey's nod, Jen laughed." Have you been drinking some Irish coffee this morning Miss Potter?"

"No but I really need this favor done."

"Okay let's pretend for a moment that I'm following your insane Potter-like Logic, what would the favor entail, because I'm completely against nudity unless it's tasteful."

" I'm just asking you to check up on Dawson, if you decided you want to get naked with him them, that's a decision you're making on your own, and I'd appreciate it if you keep part of that information to yourself."

"Why?"

"Because part of my realizing that I wasn't in love with Dawson, was understanding that the thought of him naked creeps out, so obviously the though of you two naked does the same, it nothing personal against you it just ew….."

Jen picked up a muffin and threw it at Joey." I meant why do I need to check up on Dawson?"

" Because after our talk Friday night, I'm not his favorite person, and he apparently said something to upset Pacey, which crosses him off the list, and Jack has this intense desire to hit Dawson and as we can't predict when that will manifest itself, we're left with you as he doesn't have any other friends."

"So what know Jen Lindley has to watch E.T. and soothing the budding director? " Jen finishes dropping her head against the table, before bringing it back up to glare at Joey." I'm not happy about this, I HATE E.T."

Joey smiles but reaches over and pats Jen's head." I know but I'll find someway to make this up to you."

"You want to make it up to me, tell me what happened Friday in Dawson's room?"

Joey sighed. "What I think we all knew was coming, he wants there to be an us again, and I can't do, even if there wasn't that other person, then there'd be the fact that I don't want to be fifteen anymore doing this Siskel and Ebert routine, having a sleep overs, and seventh grade make out sessions. She ran a hand through head, and gave Jen a look of confusion." Maybe I was too young for you know who, but I'm definitely too old Dawson."

"I know Jo."

"Do you, because he's not growing and I can't seem to stop."

"Joey it's not your fault, that you're moving on and maturing, you have to do what makes you happy, you can't stall your life to satisfy Dawson." Jen helps Joey out of the chair and pushes her toward the door." Go home, I'll handle Leery."

"Thanks Jen." She tossed the blonde a wave, and then darted out the house and straight to her boat not even glancing at the home that she knew so well.

Jen watched Joey hop into her boat and begin paddling away and turned to look at the Leery house, she noticed that the movement behind Dawson's window and groaned. She hated being in the middle of a Joey/Dawson drama, why anyone wanted a relationship that was this difficult to begin with she'd never understand, but sadly for her she knew that a lot of people in Capeside had a problem understand the truth of the Joey/Dawson soap opera. And now she had to go comfort the King of Not Understanding.

"Josephine Lillian Potter."

Joey almost lost her balance and fell into the water as she finished tying her boat up. She glared at her sister." Are you insane, surprising me like that, I could have fallen in?"

Bessie scoffed at the younger woman, her sister had been rowing that boat since before she knew how to ride a bike, she knew for a fact that as stupid and dangerous as it was Joey could row drunk, she didn't think for a moment that surprising her on the dock would cause any serious injury. "Yeah right, get up we need to talk."

Joey groaned but did as she was asked, she hated talks with her sister, and they always involved bad news. Pregnancy, Cancer, jail time, and money problems were always the center of Bessie's talks, and for once Joey wasn't sure she could take any more bad news." Can we save this for later?"

"No it past time we talked about this." Bessie led her little sister into the kitchen glad that for one Sunday morning they didn't have B&B guest to cater to." Where were you this morning?"

"I just had an errand to run across the creek."

Bessie gave a frustrated sigh." You know Joey I've been waiting for months for you to share with me what's going on with you, you've been in all sorts of moods lately, giggly and happy one moment, depressing and sad the next, or my personal favorite angry and bitchy." " Now because Bodie and I love you very much we've been putting up with your bi-polar moods swings, but now I want to know what's going on."

"Nothing."

"Joey, I'm not stupid…"

"No one said you were?"

"You don't think I know about your secret boyfriend?"

OH GOD

"You don't think I saw the cruiser 'hidden' in the woods."

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD

She knew, Bessie knew about Doug, which meant Bodie knew, and OH GOD where was Bodie." Where….where…is Bodie? I don't hear him." Please say tell me he's not on his way to Virginia.

"Bodie left to give us sometime to talk."

Joey nodded but still went to check the kitchen knives." Oh, you sure he didn't go to visit anyone we know?"

Bessie smirked, but shook her head." Joey, Bodie is not going to beat up your boyfriend."

"Okay….um."

"Joey calm down, I know why you had to keep it a secret."

"You do?"

"Yes, hey I was there at your eighth birthday party." Seeing the look of confusion on her sister's face, she ruffled the younger girl hairs and smiled." I know what Dawson's like when Pacey gets the toy."

"Pacey?"

"Yeah you know the guy you've been sneaking around with for months, the one who's been stealing his brother's cruiser so you two could make out in the woods behind the house."

Joey eyes went wide, and released a nervous laugh." Oh yeah Pacey, Pacey J. Witter, that's who I've been seeing for the ALL these past months, yes, you got me."

"Yeah I got you, but Jo you have to know it won't do anyone of you any good if Dawson finds this out on his own, you have to at least tell him that you're together now, he doesn't have to know about what happened in the past, but if you want to keep him in your life, and truthfully I don't see why you would want to, but if you do, you have to tell him."

Joey nodded still too stunned to really be a part of the conversation." Yeah you're right, so I'll go and call Pacey, and we'll talk about telling Dawson."

"Good." Bessie stood and grabbed her sister in a hug, and kissed her cheek." I'm glad we're finally being honest with each other."

"Yeah me too."