"Yes, it was just mom." He looked around noticing the lack of a small child. "Where's Lily?"
"Oh I put here down upstairs, she'll be out for a couple of hours. Why don't you come in and I'll grab you something to drink." She pulled him by the arm into the house. "Anyways, they should be home pretty soon." She sat down him down on a nearby chair and took his coat. "So what would you like to drink?"
She returned from the kitchen with two glasses of water. She sat across from Dawson. They both just looked around the room for a moment, avoiding looking at each other.
Joey broke the silence, "So how is everything going for you mom?"
"Unfortunately it sounds like she wasn't all that impressed by this chef. I guess this is going to sound a little weird but what happened to Bodie? Wasn't he helping out in the kitchen?"
Joey moved around, visibly a little uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. "Umm, last I heard the Bed and Breakfast was doing really well, Bessie and Bodie decided it was for the best if he tried to concentrate on their business. Your mom said that Bodie is still helping her out at Leery's but she's trying really hard to find an adequate replacement." Joey slowly pushed a few dangling hairs behind her ear. Her eyes were focused on her glass of water.
Dawson couldn't figure out what was going on, it looked as if something was bothering her, but he wasn't sure. "So everything is going good at the Potter B&B."
"Umm, I guess, I really don't visit that much. They have changed the name though, it's Creekside Bed and Breakfast." She answered as composed as possible. Damn him, come on, drop the subject. Why is he grilling me about this, he has to know by now.
Well Dawson did see that she was getting uncomfortable with the conversation, but it puzzled him. His mother had let him know what was going on with Mr. Potter. Was there something more? No they hadn't been the best of friends in the last year, maybe she was just tired of talking to him, he thought to himself. Joey had noticed that she made him uncomfortable. She shook her head unnoticed. Maybe he doesn't know, it's not like I told him. I asked Gail to keep it between the two of us, maybe she really did keep Dawson out of the loop. Here I am getting all pissy with him and he might not know really what happened. She thought it over for the next couple of seconds, then took a deep breath.
"Dawson, I don't mean to sound so rude, it's ... Well let's just say it's incredibly complicated." Joey said looking up from her glass of water. "It's a part of my life I'd just rather not remember. Has your mom told you anything about what happened back in Capeside last year?" Her voice was soft, almost fragile. Her eyes searched his to see if he knew anything.
Dawson was unsure of what to say, he knew about what Gail had told him, but something told him there was a lot more to the story. "Well, to be honest. I just found out at Christmas, after our conversation. I'm assuming this is about your dad."
Joey nodded. She curled her legs up on the couch and grabbed a nearby pillow to clutch. Dawson noticed and felt a wave of sympathy hit him. "Listen, I now you really aren't comfortable with the subject. I really don't know all that much. I know he's back in prison though." He paused for a moment, and then looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry Jo, I'm really sorry." Dawson could see that the subject was still to agonizing for Joey to deal with. Her head fell, but no tears were shed. He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to her. He stood up and walked over to her. He had no clue what was pushing him towards her, pity, or maybe it was guilt. Guilt that he wasn't there for her, guilt that she felt the need to hide this from him. He slowly sat down next to her and hugged her. No words were spoken. They just sat there for a moment lost in the embrace.
Within a few minutes the phone began to ring. They awkwardly separated each other and looked at each other.
"Listen maybe another time, not today we could just sit down and just talk about things, ok?" Dawson asked carefully.
"Sure, I'd like that." Joey answered. She stood up and grabbed the phone. She quickly took the phone call in the kitchen. Dawson, remained seated and just leaned back and closed his eyes.
The afternoon faded away. When Joey returned from her phone call Dawson had fallen asleep. She figured it was the jet lag catching up with him. The afternoon had been so strange. If someone would have told her a week ago that she would end up spending the day at the zoo with Dawson Leery, she would've told that they were certifiably crazy. Let alone sit and discuss her 'year of damnation' with him. She sighed to herself then smiled, she gently maneuvered his body into a more restful position. She was incredibly gentle, making sure not to wake him.
She met Jen at the door as she returned, she quietly hushed her and motioned towards Dawson. Pacey and Andie weren't far behind. Everything was running like clockwork, with the exception of Jack. It was 4pm when he finally phoned. He and Joey agreed that he would meet them at the house after Jen left, to make sure nothing looked to planned. Pacey and Andie were heading off to go "shopping" soon after the phone call. Jen had dropped Audrey off at the hotel, after their adventure. Everything was falling into place. Joey decided she needed to go jump in the shower, then wake Lily. She walked upstairs and headed towards Jen's room. Jen was sitting in front of the mirror, playing with her hair. Joey tapped on the open door to get her attention.
"Hey" Jen turned around seeing Joey leaning against the doorframe. "I can't decide, should I wear my hair up, or let it down... Or should I just pull part of it back?" Jen said as she pushed her hair up, then released it to flow over her shoulders.
"With that dress, Jen I think you could shave your head bald and David wouldn't notice." Joey smiled as she walked in closer to Jen. "Anyways, what's the big deal? Just dinner out right. Anything I need to know about?" Joey smoothly spoke, almost laughing, but biting her lower lip.
"No, it's just dinner. I don't know though. It seems so .. I don't know. It seems so planned. You know David never is this set in stone. I just want to look fantastic for him tonight. Just as a thank you for putting up with me the last few weeks. I have just been an emotional roller coaster during the last few weeks. A deadly mix of studying all night for finals, and working way too much"
"No argument from me, you really deserve a night out. By the way, the whole worrying whether or not you look incredible, don't worry you look amazing. Personally I think David is going to be floored." Joey said happily. Joey was been honest, David would himself be in for a surprise. Jen walked over and the two of them embraced.
"Thank you Joey. Hey is our house still doubling for the Leery house of slumber?" Jen asked jokingly.
"Actually yeah, they still are both out cold. Would you mind keeping an eye out for Lily? I'm going to jump in the bathroom for a quick shower."
"Sure, no problem. By the way you haven't helped me with my dilemma." Jen said once again staring at the mirror playing with her hair.
"Where it up, definitely up." Joey said as she turned the corner into the bathroom. Joey stopped just inside of the bathroom and smiled thinking about the changes that were about to occur. She was unbelievably ecstatic for Jen. She had been there for Joey, and now Joey was so happy that David had included Joey in on the occasion. Joey snapped out of her rain of thought and realized that she better hurry along, otherwise she would end up standing in the bathroom for the next hour reminiscing.