Joey woke later than usual that morning. She lay in the bed staring at the ceiling for the first few minutes of consciousness. She then turned to her side, where she saw Lily sleeping. A smile slowly appeared on Joeys' face. Lily looked so peaceful while she was asleep. She was genuinely happy, for the first time in ages, she felt like she didn't have to worry about the rest of the world. Today is going to be a great day. She glanced over Lily and looked at her clock. It read 7:15am. She figured she would lie there a bit longer, figuring no one else would be up yet. To her surprise though she heard some sounds rising up from downstairs. She slid out of bed, and grabbed a nearby robe. She quietly exited the room and made her way towards the main floor.
It was as she walked down the stairs, when started feeling strange. She couldn't remember even going to bed. As she arrived downstairs, she saw Pacey out cold on the couch, but there were no signs of Andie. She headed towards the kitchen.
As she walked in the kitchen, she laughed at the sight before her eyes. Jen was walking in circles. Jack stood leaning against the counter, rubbing his eyes with one hand, holding a cup of coffee with his other hand. Andie, also drinking coffee, sat at the table, just taking it all in.
"What's all the commotion about?" Joey asked, everyone turned around to see her standing there.
Jack rolled his eyes, "Jen's just a little wired this morning, remind me to go out and replace all the coffee with decaf until she gets hitched."
The room filled with laughter, Jen slugged Jack's arm. "Hey Mister you just remember this, you touch the coffee, I'm throwing the remote control away." She teased. Jack stood there, blankly smirking. He slowly set down his coffee. All of a sudden he ran across the room, and chased Jen. She attempted to escape, but with no avail. She was quickly caught. She laughed so hard, she was almost unable to catch her breath.
"You just remember, that I can still take you down." Jack teased. As Joey made her way over towards Andie Jack grabbed her and held the two girls captive. "I can take you both."
It was that moment a very groggy Pacey walked in the room, his eyes shot wide open because at the comment Jack made.
"And here I thought you were gay all these years, the secret is finally revealed." Pacey managed to slur out.
"Hey, a mans gotta do, what a mans gotta do." Jack said as he released the girls.
Everyone noticed Pacey's unusually slurred tone, the messy hair, and the topper..the fact he was still in the same clothes he was wearing last night. Jen looked around the room, she decided to be the first to speak up.
"Gee Pacey wild night last night?"
"Um, sure." He answered, reaching for a cup of coffee.
Jen let a small laugh escape. She looked over to Andie.
"Hey, I had no part in this." Andie replied, smiling. Jen then looked over at Jack.
"Me neither, all I remember is being told I needed to go upstairs." Jack watched as Jen focused in on Joey, "Oh don't even think Sleeping Beauty made it up past 10pm, heck she couldn't even make it to bed on her own." He laughed. Joey looked a little confused, but she let the conversation continue, with out questioning last nights events.
"So Pacey, who exactly did you go out with last night?" Jen asked inquisitively.
"Well, hmmm, let me think. That's right, it would be the same person who carried little Miss Sleeping Beauty upstairs." Pacey glanced over to Joey, she was now really confused, he glanced back at Jen. "Me and Dawson went out for a few drinks last night. Nothing formal, just two old friends sitting at a bar, sharing a few laughs." He sat down next to Andie, rubbing his head. "Now if someone could please direct me in the direction of some aspirin I would be forever grateful."
Jack opened the cupboard behind him and tossed Pacey a bottle of aspirin.
Joey heard a few creeks on the ceiling above them, she quietly slipped out, and headed for the stairs. Lily met her on the top step.
"Well good morning sunshine." Joey said as she picked up Lily, who tightly clung onto Joey.
"Look who I found" Joey said in a cheerful voice, as she carried Lily into the kitchen.
Lily, who herself was still a little sleepy, smiled shyly at the group.
The phone startled everyone. Jack quickly reached for it.
"Hello...Oh sure, just a second." Jack replied, and then he handed to the phone over to Pacey.
Pacey pulled the phone up to his ear. "Hey... Yeah.... uh huh...all right." Then he ended the phone call. A small devilish grin came across his face. He slowly stood up.
"You guys come with me, I have something to show you." He said as he headed toward the back door.
"Outside?" Andie asked.
"Uh huh," he answered.
"In our pajamas?" She asked again.
Pacey looked back at the others, then down at his own clothes. "Well speak for yourself." He found this amusing. "Yes, now come on, it's just for a minute, hurry up."
They all reached the back yard, and were standing near the driveway. They all were looking at Pacey, wondering what he was up to. Then they noticed a car pulling up the driveway, it was Dawson in the rental they had all seen the day before.
"Dawson." Lily happily squealed.
"Pacey, okay, can we go in now." Jack was still completely lost.
"That's not what I brought you all out here for." He smirked. Dawson got out of his car. Just as he opened his door, another car pulled up in the drive behind him. As the car approached them, they could all see it was Gail. Lily quickly slid down Joey and became excited. Dawson made his way over by Pacey.
Now they all stood there patiently waiting for Gail to exit her car, but still wondering why Gail had followed Dawson over, or why she hadn't called Joey to come pick her up. Joey was completely puzzled, along with the other three who were out of the loop.
As Gail's car came to a stop Lily ran over to Gail and lunged at her as soon as the door was opened. Gail managed to get out of the car and swept Lily up into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"Well good morning everyone." Gail spoke to them all, she was beaming. She was looking over the group, and then back at the car she drove in. "So how is everyone doing this morning?"
Andie had made her way to Pacey, she wrapped her arms around his side. He quietly tilted his head and whispered, "You are never going to believe what I learned last night. Just sit back and watch the fireworks begin." He was sure that no one overheard them.
Joey walked over to Gail and hugged her. "Well you could've called me. I would've picked you up. That way you wouldn't have had to go to all the trouble with the rental."
Gail looked over her shoulder at the car, "You mean this thing? It's not a rental." Gail was grinning widely. "Actually, it's someone else's, I really didn't ask if I could drive it though."
Dawson walked up next to his mother, watching Joey carefully. He wanted to see this as closely as possible, he had to turn around to conceal his grin also. Behind Joey, Jack and Jen were standing besides Andie and Pacey. Pacey leaned over again, this time towards Jack. He whispered something to Jack. Jack's eye's just about popped out, he in turn leaned over and whispered something to Jen. Joey on the other hand was amused by Gail's strange behavior.
"Funny, I never thought you were one for Grand theft." Joey teased. Gail looked at Dawson, he nodded.
Gail looked back at Joey, "Well I was hoping that the owner would be a little lenient with me, after all this is my first offense." With that said Gail tossed the keys towards Joey. Joey caught them, still a little confused at what was going on. Then she looked at the key chain, it was a small silver heart. It had been monogrammed with the letters "JLP", Joey stood frozen for a moment, and she turned the heart over to find a small inscription. "We are so proud of you, congratulations. Love Gail and Lily". After a few moments of silence, the whispers from behind snapped Joey out of her trance like state. She slowly raised her head, shaking it at Gail. Tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Gail in turn, nodded, and hugged Joey tightly, "Happy Graduation honey," she whispered into Joey's ear. Joey stepped back, barely able to speak.
"I...I...I can't, this is to much." Joey tried to find the words, small tears rolled down her cheeks
"No, you deserve this, if anyone deserves this it's you honey." Gail said trying her best to fight the tears.
"But.." Joey attempted a rebuttal.
"No, there are no 'buts' about it dear. You have sacrificed everything in the last four years, especially this year. This is something I really wanted to do." Gail said wiping the tears off Joey's face. She gently stroked the back of Joey's hair. They stood there looking at the navy blue Honda Civic, crying together. They glanced at each other and laughed thru the tears. "Let's get you dressed, we can't have you test driving your new car in your pajama's now."
The rest of the group circled around the two of them, all standing looking at Joey. In the course of a year her life had been turned upside down, and now with the help of her friends, and adoptive family she was finally catching a break. Jen and Jack each hugged her. Jen too, had tears in her eyes. Jack stood on the opposite side of Joey than Gail did, rubbing her back. Pacey and Dawson winked at each other, both proud of the part they played in it. Lily, tugged at her mommy's hand, and Gail picked her up.
"Let's get you pajama clad people inside, I believe this day has only just begun." Gail said happily.