Chapter 2
Once Joey and Pacey arrived to Capeside High, they parted.
"Good luck on your test," Pacey told Joey.
"Thanks," Joey said. With that they each went to their lockers. Soon after Joey had reached her locker, Jen approached her.
"Hey Joey," Jen greeted her.
"Hi," Joey said, as she reached inside her locker and pulled out a textbook. Something about Joey's tone told Jen that something was not right.
"Joey, are you okay?" Jen asked.
"Yeah, just a little test anxiety I guess," Joey told her.
"We are talking about Josephine Potter here. Capeside High's Class of 2001 valedictorian," Jen told Joey, jokingly.
"Speaking of which, I really should get to class," Joey told Jen, as she closed her locker.
"Okay, good luck," Jen told her.
"Thanks," Joey said, as she headed down the hall. Jen sighed as she watched her friend; she never had the opportunity to talk to Joey about what was bothering her.
Later that same day, at lunchtime, Jen tried to approach Joey again. As she made her way through the lunch line, she spotted Joey sitting at their usual table. After she had paid, she made her way towards Joey.
"Hey," Joey greeted Jen as she took her spot at the table.
"Hey," Jen responded.
"Listen Joey, before Andie comes over, there's something that I need to ask you," Jen told her.
"You have my undivided attention," Joey said as she took a sip of soda.
"Jo, have you talked to Dawson lately?" Jen asked.
"No," Joey told her.
"Well, you really should," Jen told Joey, sighing.
"Jen what is it? You obviously know something so just tell me already," Joey demanded.
"Joey I wish I could but, I think that it is best if Dawson told you," Jen told her. Joey sighed, surrendering to Jen's request. Just then, Andie came over to join them.
Later that day, after school, Joey rowed her way across the creek to Dawson's. She didn't really know what she was going to say to him but she knew that she needed to say something. She approached the dock and tied the boat. She stepped onto the dock and slowly made her way towards the latter that hung from Dawson's bedroom window. That ladder had been there for as long as Joey could remember; ever since she and Dawson had become friends. Finally, Joey reached the latter. There she stood, unable to climb up it. Joey had climbed up it many times before without even thinking about it, but this time seemed more difficult for some reason. She took a few moments to collect her thoughts and then with a sigh she made her way up the latter. Dawson was sitting on his bed watching E.T. when Joey came through the window.
"Joey hey, what are you doing here?" Dawson asked her.
"E.T., good choice," Joey told him, as she looked at the movie that was playing on the screen.
"I thought so," Dawson simply replied.
"Dawson, is there any reason why you are reliving the memories of our first date?" Joey asked, sitting along side Dawson.
"Joey, there is something that I need to tell you," Dawson told her, paying close attention to her.
"What is it? Whatever it is you can tell me," Joey told him.
"Joey, I am moving to California. My Mom got a new job there," Dawson told her.
"When are you moving?" Joey asked him, not believing what Dawson had just told her.
"Soon, in the next couple of weeks," Dawson told her.
"But we graduate soon. Are you going to graduate?" Joey asked Dawson.
"No, we move before then," Dawson told her.
"Wow. I can't believe this," Joey said.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either when my mom told me but, it's happening whether I want it to or not," Dawson told Joey.
"Dawson, I don't know what to say," Joey told him.
"Don't say anything. Let's just savor the moment," Dawson told Joey.
"Dawson, we don't have to say goodbye yet. We still have time," Joey told him.
"What do you say Friday night you, me, Jen, Jack, Pacey and Andie all get together and do something?" Joey continued.
"Sure that sounds great," Dawson replied.
"And then on Saturday you and I can spend time together...just the two of us. We can even watch E.T. again if you want," Joey told him.
"It's a date," Dawson told Joey, as she started to make her way out the window.
"Dawson, have you told any of the others?" Joey asked.
"Why?" Dawson replied.
"Because Jen practically cornered me and begged me to come talk to you, so here I am," Joey said.
"Dawson, why didn't you come to me first?" Joey asked.
"I think we both know the answer to that," Dawson told her.
"Yeah, I guess we do," Joey said as she climbed the rest of way out the window. Dawson went to stop her but it was too late; she was already across the lawn and on the boat, disappearing out of sight as Dawson watched from the window.