The Unseen Obstacle CH.21

I Disclaim

"Oh you guys look so handsome." Bessie gushed at Pacey and Jack as she let them into the B&B. Both were dressed in dark suits, but Pacey being the showman he was choose a bright blue dress shirt to show off his eyes, while Jack just stuck with a white shirt. She took the time to straighten Pacey's collar before she pinched Jack's cheek.

Pacey rolled his eyes, you wouldn't know Jack was gay the way he seem puff up and bask in Bessie's adoration." How again is he your favorite?"

"Well first off he wasn't sneaking around with my sister." She said hitting him in the chest.

"Of course not he's GAY."

"He's polite and sweet."

"So am I."

"No you're obnoxious, plus we have a lot in common."

"Like what your love of the male species."

"That and our belief that Dawson is a tool, our love of Jude Law."

"And our willingness to kick your butt if you hurt Joey." Jack spoke and was once again given a pinch on the cheek from the Bessie.

"Now let me go get the girls, we'll be off."

Bessie wandered off down the hallway, and Pacey turned and hit Jack in the shoulder." You know you make all men look bad when you suck up that way."

"I can't help it I love that she loves me." Jack shrugged and narrowed his eyes on his friend, stepping closer so only Pacey could hear him." And don't tell me that you don't bask in it, when a Potter girl shows you a little love."

Pacey raised an eyebrow and gave Jack a confusing look." What does that mean?"

"It means it will be fun watching you figure it out on your own."

"You know what I like to see, two hot guys waiting on me, but…. I guess Pacey and Jack will do too." Jen walking out of the back and shrugging into her coat.

"Now now Jen, Jack's hot." Joey taking the coat Pacey held out for her and put it on. "And in the right situation Pacey will do."

"Thank You Josephine."

For a moment the sound of her full name caused a flicker of pain to appear in her eyes, before she just glared and went to the door." I'll be in the car."

Pacey frowned and followed her out, but Jack caught Jen before she could do the same." What was that about?"

"You should know better by now, then to call my little sister Josephine, Pacey." Bessie said she walked to the car following her sister.

"But Pacey…" Jack stepped closer to Jen and smiled at Bessie as she passed to get in the car." We'll lock up Bessie." "But Pacey…is I mean you know right."

"That Pacey is in love with Joey, yeah but that's not new Jack it's just new to them."

The ride to the restaurant was relatively quiet except for the usual banter of the foursome, whatever had upset Joey was still lingering she was removed from the group not contributing to the conversation, just nodding and small laughs at Jack as played with Jen and flirted with Bessie.

When they reached the restaurant, it was packed, but Gayle just smiled and waved them past the crowd and sat them a window booth with a perfect view of the Capeside harbor, where Gram was already waiting for them. "Good evening children, you all look very nice this evening."

They all murmured they're thanks, and sat down, Joey being not so obvious in her desire to not seat next to Pacey, and tugged down Jack bringing him down next to her.

Jen's eyes widen and se raised any eyebrow to Joey. But the other girl ignored, so she skipped ahead. "So what we having?" She said picking up the menu.

"I don't know what do you recommend, Joey?" Jack looked to his side and smiled at Joey trying to pull her out of whatever funk she had fallen into.

"That you put a cap on that bottomless pit you have and not eat my brother out of business on the first night."

"I resent that I can practice restrain." His three friends laughed at him, and he pretended to pout." I can and to prove it, I will limit myself to only one of each course, except dessert, there is no point in eating out if you don't get more then one."

"That's really profound Jack."

"Well if there's anything to get philosophical about its food."

"Don't be ashamed of you appetite, Jack you're a growing boy." Gram said.

"How do you do that, Jack?" Pacey asked and motioned to Grams and then Bessie." Get them to like you so much?

"It's cause I'm not a threat, I'm gay they don't have to safeguard their sisters or granddaughter around me, but you Pacey you're a wolf, funny and somewhat harmless but a still a wolf. "

"True, and looks like you're not alone." Jen said and nodded toward the door." Isn't that your Dad?"

"Yup." Pacey looked up and sure enough there was he Dad and Mom, beating seated across the room by the hostess." Looks like the Witter's are in full force tonight."

And that was all it took, one look at John Witter then a glance at Pacey, and Joey excused her self, and practically bolted from the restaurant out the back door.

It was too stuffy in there although there wasn't really anything in there to remind her of her time with Doug Witter; everything tonight seemed to do it. Especially Pacey, she shouldn't have been surprised they were after all brothers, but never before had it been so obvious. Everything he did, every move, every smile reminded her, she couldn't breathe from remembering it all , she needed to get out of here, but she couldn't there was no where she could go that she couldn't remember.

Why was this happening now, yesterday she barely remember anything, and now she was lost in memories, she knew how he sighed, his laugh, everything and it was all so vivid. "Why now?"

"So is one of us going after her, or are we giving her space?" Jen asked the table, when Jack just shrugged she looked at Pacey." Well boyfriend?"

"I would but I have the distinct feeling that I'm part of the problem."

Jen looked at Bessie but she shrugged her shoulders." I'm taking a day off of Joey Drama, sort it out amongst yourselves."

"Well I can't cause if Joey's in a real bad mood, she can take me, so… Jack."

Jack looked up his mouth full of a bread stick. "Sure get me a minute."

"Oh for goodness sake, I'll go see what's wrong with the girl." Gram dropped her napkin and excused her self from the table and headed out the same way as Joey.

She found her leaning against the balcony murmuring to herself. She stepped closer and finally her words.' Why now'. "Joey dear." She grimaced when the girl jumped a foot in the air and grabbed her chest." Oh I'm sorry."

"Mrs. Ryan, no it's okay, where you looking for me?"

"Yes dear and it's Grams," She stepped over to the balcony and looked at the view, Gayle certainly did know how to pick a location, it had a breathtaking view of the Harbor. "We're quite concerned about you"

"Oh I'm sorry memories are catching up to me."

"A certain someone you thought you were forgetting."

"Yeah." Joey gave a heavy sigh, and quickly looked at the other woman." It's not Dawson."

" My dear I'm not one of those shallow people that only has two thoughts in my head, I'm quite aware of the fact that you are capable of having other interests , I didn't assume it was him."

"That's a first, every one assumes it Dawson."

"Well in their defenses, that's because you made everything about him, and now the town is just trying to catch up."" You know love is a very complicated emotion, and it can resemble so many things that it's really very hard to pin point when you find it."

"Are you suggesting it's not love?"

" No I'm suggesting that it's complicated , and that expecting anything involved in it to NOT be difficult is silly, they're can't be any real rules or datelines for it, it just takes time, dear."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, now we should get back before Jack really does eat Bodie out of business. "Grams turned to walk back in, but stopped at a person blocking their path to the entrance. "Dawson, how are you?"

"Good, How you this evening Mrs. Ryan. "

"I'm fine, your mother and Bodie did an excellent job."

"I'll pass that along to her, do you mind if I borrow Joey for a minute."

"I'm sorry Dawson, but that's up to Joey?"

"Its fine Grams, I'll be in shortly."

"Okay." She nodded to Dawson as he held open the door for her.

"How are you Joey?"

"Annoyed, I thought we had established that we have nothing to say to each other."

"I don't think that true."

"That's because you don't think, you only pretend, but I'm done pretending, and I'm done dealing with you." She walked pasted him but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"I can't believe that after all we've been to each other all we're meant to be that you would treat our relationship like this."

"Dawson let go."

"Not until you listen to me, now…." He words however were cut off, as a someone came from behind ripped Dawson off her, and then punched him sending him crash to the ground, and if Joey wasn't mistaken re-breaking his nose.

Pacey stood over the fallen Dawson and just lifted Joey over his body." Go inside, Jo."

"Pacey..."

"Go inside Jo." Joey gave him a look that clearly said they weren't finished but did as he asked. "I really want this to be the last time I catch you browbeating her Dawson." "You don't approve or whatever fine, but leave her alone."

Dawson held his nose and stood up, glaring at Pacey. " Enjoy it while you can, no woman falls for your charm for long."

"DAWSON." Both boys turned and saw Mitch standing in the door way, he tossed his son a handkerchief, and looked at Pacey." Pacey I think I can take it from here, please tell Joey that this is the last time this happens."

"Sorry Mr. Leery." Pacey said as he passed.

"That's okay Pacey." Mitch turned and looked at his son, disappointment clearly visible." You're done Dawson, tomorrow we start talking about boarding school and therapy."

"But Dad he attacked me."

"You know what's sad, is that you actually think that, that none of your actions caused this reaction, and I ashamed cause I helped make you this way." He shook his head." I'm partly responsible and I'm sorry I let you down, but now we need to fix this."