A/N. Again thanks for all the reviews. This is just a short bridging chapter so I apologise. I have started work on the sequel to 'Alone without you' so I will post that soon. I have also updated Operation Graduation in the New Soul mates trilogy so check it out.
I'll remember.
Joey inspected herself in the mirror of her hotel bathroom. She looked tired. She was tired. Her whole day had been a whirlwind of hugs and kisses and tears and laughter. So much more laughter than she expected. Not that she was disappointed about it but she was now exhausted. She scraped her hair into a French twist and turned the light out.
That evening had been great. They had all spent the evening talking and laughing like they were still teenagers. Everyone drank lots, except Jen who was surprisingly quiet. Joey couldn't quite understand it. She knew that before she left her and Jen hadn't really talked about what had happened but she assumed that all of that was now in the past and beyond talking about. Jen had kept herself to herself all night, only really joining in when Jack nudged her. Joey tried to brush those thoughts aside. She climbed onto the bed and switched the light off. She could hear New York was still awake downstairs. She had never really understood the city. It was always moving, always busy but having lived in a small community all her life and then to an even smaller one for the last few years she was finding it hard to adapt.
Her phone started to vibrate on her bed side table and she picked it up to see why. She had a text message....
Just thought I'd let you know I've been writing all day...do I get a treat now, like a good little boy?
It was Dawson. She smiled as she started to compose a message back to him. They had been sending messages to each other all day.
Now, what kind of treat would a good little boy want?
She reviewed the message before sending it, considering it a little risqué but sent it before she could change her mind. She lowered herself into bed and clutched the phone to her. What was she doing? Flirting with Dawson over text messages was probably not the best path to follow. The phone buzzed again.
Well your company would be nice...or some leather pants...or both.
Joey inhaled deeply at this last message. Even by her flirtatious standards that was a bit risky. She then thought it was a joke, like the gross out game they had played as teenagers. Dawson was always good at that. Well, she thought, two can play at that game.
I don't like leather. Rubber is better. Much better, if you know what I mean.
She didn't hesitate this time, just pressed the send button firmly. She felt like a naughty school girl passing notes in class but it was a good feelings. Knowing that she was making him all uncomfortable was worth it. Her phone buzzed.
No, I don't know what you mean Miss Potter, please enlighten me?
Damm, he had double crossed her. Her cheeks flushed red at the thought of herself in some kind of rubber outfit. She had no idea what to put, having never purchased anything like that herself. Should she call Audrey and ask (Joey remember one of the first nights in dorms when Audrey had come home in a rubber cat suit)? Then a much better idea came to her mind.
You will just have to wait until I get back to teach you your lesson.
Joey smiled to herself. That should teach him the smug little bastard. The phoned buzzed again.
Or I could come to you for some one to one tuition...
She pauses for a second to consider the options. She had accomplished most of the things she wanted to in one day. She honestly thought that she would have to work longer and harder to regain the trust of he friends. They all seemed so happy to see her. She started to text back.
That would be fine Mr Leery. Let me know when you are in town and our schedule our lesson.
A few moments later the phone buzzed again. She smiled to herself, desperate to know what he had to say next
Okay, I will see you soon. Goodnight.
She read the message and was slightly disappointed that the fun game was ending. She pulled the covers over herself tightly and started to drift off, visions of herself in a rubber cat suit swimming through her mind.
'That was a long night,' Jen said, walking through the front door of the apartment she shared with Jack. She threw her hand bag to the floor and started to take her jacket off.
'Why do you say that? Something you want to tell me?' Jack said, dead bolting the door behind him and struggling to get his scarf off in a dignified manner. He had noticed that Jen was, at best, slightly moody tonight.
'No, I'm okay. Just tired.' Jen said, pulling a bottle of water out of their 50's style fridge in the kitchenette. Their apartment was very open plan, very kitsch and very them. She had found it the first day they went house hunting and fell in love with it.
'Not buying it Lindley. Spill,' Jack said, taking a seat at the breakfast bar opposite where Jen stood, struggling to open the bottle of water.
Jen looked up and saw that Jack could still read her better than anyone else, even Charlie. Not that she saw much of Charlie anymore. Not that she really wanted to see much of Charlie anymore. She handed Jack the bottle and moved to sit next to him.
'I just can't believe she's back, you know? All these years with no contact, not even a call at Christmas and suddenly she's here. God knows how Dawson's feeling right now,' Jen lowered herself onto the bar stool and took the now open drink from Jack.
'I know it's hard. Disappearing like that was a stupid thing to do and not calling us was hurtful and selfish. But she needed to do it. She would have gone crazy if she didn't.' Jack lowered his head to Jen's shoulder and sighed. 'Anyway, at least she gave us a painting,'
They both glanced over at the abstract piece of artwork that Joey had done for them. It was nice, significant in the use of Jen's favourite colour Blue and Jack's favourite colour Purple. Joey had said she had called it Individual Together. Jack loved it and it was growing on Jen.
'Yeah, but can a painting really make up for 5 lost years of friendship?' Jen said, closing her eyes and taking another sip of water.
'It's going to have to Jen. At least for the moment.' Jack said, closing his eyes too and wrapping his arms around Jen.
Pacey balanced the painting of Capeside on the ledge of the old fireplace in his and Audrey's apartment. It was beautiful. He always knew that Joey was talented but could really see the difference that Italy had made to her skills in painting. He stood back and admired the scene of the marina, True Love taking centre stage at the dock. He loved that she had remembered, had not erased the memory of their life together.
'You know, a girl could get paranoid about this. When her fiancé hangs pictures of the love boat he spent the best summer of his life on with another girl around their apartment and then gazes at them wistfully.' Audrey said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him, kissing his neck.
'You've got nothing to worry about on that front. I only love you, you know that.' He said, turning around and cupping her delicate face in his hands.
'Yeah I know Witter.' She said, letting him move forward and kiss her. 'You glad she's home?'
'Of course. She seems really together, really okay.' He said, turning to look at the picture again.
'I don't think she is together, but at least she's here with us. Jen seemed weird doesn't she?' Audrey said, joining Pacey's gaze.
'Well, she still blames herself for Joey leaving. Plus, her and Dawson's relationship had been very up and down over the years, you know that.' Pacey said.
'What happened? Did I miss another teenage angst moment?' Audrey asked, pulling Pacey away from the painting and towards their bedroom.
'Well when Charlie left to go on tour last year Jen kind of fell apart. Jack was away on holiday with his boy toy Jason, we were in LA visiting your family and Dawson came to rescue her and the rest you could chalk up to being lonely and full of alcohol.' Pacey said, following Audrey into the bedroom and taking his shirt off.
'You never told me this! How do you know?' Audrey asked slipping into her Pj's and jumping into bed.
'Jen told me while drunk a couple of months ago. Swore to me I would die a painful death if I told anyone.' Pacey said, pulling of his jeans and joining Audrey in bed.
'So are they together?' Audrey asked, snuggling into Pacey's bare chest.
'No, Jen woke up the next morning and Dawson had gone. He left her a note,' Pacey said, tuning the lights off and closing his eyes.
'That Leery's a heartbreaker. Do you think Joey knows all this?' Audrey asked quietly, sleep taking over her slightly.
'I doubt it. Not the kind of thing you throw into a 5 year catch up conversation 'Oh yeah and by the way I slept with Jen 7 months ago,''
Pacey waited for a response but Audrey was fast asleep. He kissed her forehead and closed his own eyes. Whatever was about to unravel, he knew it was going to be complicated and full of emotion. He sighed slightly. At least he was, for once, not at the heart of it.
