After getting everyone situated in bed, Dawson returned downstairs. He found Pacey and Andie sitting on the recliner, together. Andie laughing, all while sitting on Pacey's lap. They were laughing at what appeared to be a passed out Jack. As Dawson got closer he could tell that Jack was out for the count.
"Does anyone in this house stay up past 9:30pm?" he asked while slightly chuckling at Jack, who was now drooling all over the pillow.
"Well you know, here I thought they were so entertaining last week."
"So you were here last week too?"
"Yeah it was a good time, funny thing was that they didn't tell Joey about me until after the fact. Andie and Jack kept it a little surprise." Pacey said winking at Andie.
"So Dawson, what is on your agenda tonight? Are you going back to the hotel and hit the sheets, like these people? Or are you up for a little fun?"
As Dawson and Pacey walked into the hotel lounge, they looked around. They walked over to the bar and took a seat.
"Can you tell me how exactly we ended up here?" Pacey laughed. The bartender walked over. "Two beers." Pacey requested.
"You mean between the fact that the first bar was a biker bar...well I'd say we weren't exactly the cliental that they are used to seeing. Personally, I thought I could've handled it, but you on the other hand." Dawson teased. Both Dawson and Pacey laughed at that comment. "And I personally don't really feel to comfortable in that other bar you found, nothing against it, but I really think Jack would've been more comfortable there than me."
"Hey don't be to critical, I've actually spent an entire evening there once with Jack." Pacey said as he picked up his beer.
"That could explain a lot about you Pacey." Dawson laughed, then grabbed his own beer. This comment caused Pacey to choke on his drink, laughing a little to quickly after sipping his beer.
"And by the way let's not mention that to Andie, I do have an image to protect. It's a really good thing she stayed home with Jack, I could see her just fitting right in at the biker bar." They laughed again. "So what have you been up to Dawson?" Pacey asked.
"I've kept myself busy, with the movie lately. How about you, tell me Mr. Witter, what exactly have you been up to."
Pacey gave Dawson all the details of his latest adventure on the seas, the chef training he received down in Miami. He told him about the break up between him and Audrey, Dawson could tell that it had been emotionally draining on Pacey. They laughed and enjoyed the constant flowing beer. They talked about all the places each had seen, and things they had done. All while drinking, unaware of the amount they were consuming. They began reminiscing about there childhood, all the things they did, the three of them. Pacey, Dawson and....Joey. Suddenly Dawson quieted, almost troubled by the mention of her name.
"Tell me Pacey how much do you know about the whole situation with Mike." Dawson said slowly.
"I know a little, I had already left when everything went down, all I know is that Joey's world was turned upside down. Jack filled me in with the basics."
"Yeah, my mom filled me in on the basics too, but not until this last Christmas. I really had no clue, I'm not sure if I would have known anything if Lily hadn't handed me the phone." Dawson looked up and saw Pacey listening carefully. "She gave me the basics, but said if I wanted any more answers that I had to go to Joey."
Dawson remained silent for a few minutes, Pacey knew there was more to the story. The question was should he move on or should he dig deeper. He knew, that if this was anyone else, it world be best if he dropped the subject. But Dawson was different, he needed to get things out on the table to deal with them.
"Dawson, you know, I can tell this is really eating away at you. I can't help unless you let me." Pacey was carefully laying it on the line, being sure not to push too hard. Dawson looked up at him. Pacey nodded.
"Mom and Lily had come out for Christmas. Mom wanted to check on Joey, so she called to wish her a Merry Christmas. Lily just had to talk to her too. My mom excused herself from the room, I wasn't sure exactly why. So when Lily was done, she handed me the phone. I talked to her for a couple of minutes, she seemed hesitant to really even talk, so I did the talking. It wasn't until after I hung up that my mom came back in, and then I could see the tears in her eyes. She explained to me that Joey asked her to not go to me with the information she was about to give me."
"So you're saying she honestly didn't want you to know." Pacey asked sympathetically.
"No." Dawson sighed. "I just want to know when everything changed. You know there was a time when," he paused, his voice cracked, "when I would be the first person she would've told."
"Dawson, and that was a time when you lived across the creek. We were young, and counted on one another." Pacey looked to Dawson. "She's not the same girl from Capeside, and neither are you."
Dawson chuckled for a moment, and then inadvertently spoke out exactly what came to his mind. "She sure looks, and feels like the same girl I feel in love with." Dawson's eyes shot wide open, realizing what he just said out loud. Those were words not meant to fall on others ears. Pacey stared at Dawson, who was not about to make eye contact.
Before Pacey could get another word out, the moment was lost completely. Dawson's cell phone began to ring. At first the phone startled Dawson, but he was quickly enjoying the fact that it was a distraction. He quickly pulled the phone up, looking at the caller id.
"Hello?" he answered, not sure who it was. Pacey watched, carefully studying his expressions.
"Hey, mom......So you're here...okay...give me about five minutes and I'll be right there....oh and you'll never guess who I'm bring with me......Okay." He set the phone on the bar. Pulled out his wallet and paid for the drinks.
"Come on. My mom just arrived, I thought she might enjoy seeing an old blast from the past." But before they were on their way, Pacey grabbed Dawson's arm.
"That's all good and fine, but later we have a few things to talk about. This isn't something that is going to be let go." Pacey said sincerely, being incredibly gentle with the subject at hand. He let go of Dawson and they were on their way to the concierge desk.