A/N Here's another chapter for you.
Light and Day.
Joey sat on the bench in central park, sipping her coffee and watching the people move around the park. It was Saturday and the park seemed to be more alive than yesterday. She had slept very well the night before, mostly because she was exhausted but also because she felt she had finally redeemed herself in the eyes of her friends. She was grateful they had forgiven her for leaving them all those years ago, although part of her wanted them not to be angry at all.
She knew she had left a lot of things unsaid, especially with Dawson and Jen. But she reasoned that it was all over. Dawson was in turmoil over his father's death and Jen was confused over her feelings for Dawson and Charlie. She smiled when she thought of Charlie and that one incredible night they had spent together. But she was happy that things had never gone any further. She would have hated to start a relationship with him if she felt she was just doing it to spite others. It would not be fair. Not to anyone.
Dawson had sent her a message very early in the morning, letting her know he was coming to the city later that day and they should meet up. After the excited rush of anticipation that the text message game had brought her, she was unsure of her next move. Unsure of what he was expecting from this relationship. She downed her coffee, stood up and started to walk towards the edge of the park, dumping her empty cup in a trash can.
Whatever was going to happen, she felt as ready as she could be for it.
Joey spent the day alone, seeing the sights and watching the crowds across the city. Jack had asked her if she wanted to go shopping or sightseeing but Joey wanted to spend the time alone. She could tell he was disappointed, but they had all arranged to meet up at Jack and Jen's apartment that night for a get together. Joey saw the art galleries she had only read about, took a trip on the Staten Island Ferry and surveyed the city from the Empire State. It had been magically in its own little way, almost like a reintroduction to Americana. She was still finding it difficult to get used to being back in America, so much had changed since she had left.
At 8.00pm that night she glanced down at the piece of paper with a badly written address on it and checked with the cab driver that this was correct. Jack and Jen's apartment was in a very eclectic neighbourhood, one unlike the plush apartment that Jen had taken her to on her first visit to New York all those years ago. She stood in front of the door and buzzed the ancient intercom.
'Faghag halls, head faghag speaking?' Jack's voice sang down the intercom.
'It's deputy Faghag here. Can I enter?' Joey replied smiling. She heard the door click and Jack's voice mumble something out of the speaker she couldn't make out.
She finally made her way to the door of the apartment, the 4 flights of stairs being a killer workout. Before she had a chance to knock the door flew open and Jack stood before her smiling.
'Hey there! Enjoy your step class?' Jack pulled her into the apartment and pulled her jacket off her.
'You could have warned me! I've been walking around the city all day, I'm pooped.' Joey said breathlessly, relaxing her arms so Jack could take her jacket off more easily. She unwound her scarf and made her way towards Jen who was standing nervously by the kitchenette.
'Hey, I brought wine. I hope that was okay?' Joey asked, pulling Jen into a hug.
'Wine's always good,' Jen answered simply, returning the hug and quickly moving away to put the wine in the Fridge. Joey was a little taken aback by Jen's attitude but couldn't put her finger on it. Before she could dwell on it too long Jack swept past.
'Come on, you need the tour of our magnificent bachelor pad,' Jack said, handing Joey a glass of a punch he had already made. He pushed her towards their bathroom, dying to show her the place they had finally agreed to hang her painting.
Jen waited until Joey had left the room to exhale. She felt like she had to walk on eggshells at all times when she was around. As much as she knew it wasn't her fault, the resentment that both she and Dawson had had to endure after Joey had run away was uncomfortable and still haunted her sometimes. After everyone had given them their opinion on Dawson hitting Joey, they all started to voice their concerns over Jen's involvement. Even though she and Dawson were not in a relationship they picked and poked at her, about why she did what she did. It was horrible and, she thought, undeserved . Which is why when Charlie turned up on her doorstep a fortnight later, after going to Joey's dorm and being told by Audrey what had happened, she kind of resigned herself to a relationship with him. Almost as some kind of perverse punishment. She downed her strong drink and closed her eyes as it stung her throat. Now Joey was back, she intended to try and not do anything that would mean she would run again.
There was a knock at the door and Jen jogged over to open it, thinking it was Pacey and Audrey. She pulled the door open and saw Dawson standing in front of her, duffle bag in hand.
'Hey!' Dawson said cheerfully, trying not to seem too disappointed that Joey wasn't the one who answered.
'Hey yourself stranger, how you doing?' Jen asked, her speech slightly slurred. She impulsively pulled him into a hug, planting a big kiss on his cheek.
'Great Jen. Are you drunk?' Dawson asked, pulling Jen apart from him delicately.
'No. I'm inebriated. But I can say it so I'm not,' Jen said bitterly before crossing back over to the alcohol.
Dawson paused and looked at Jen. They hadn't really spoken since the night they had spent together all those months ago. He had been avoiding her, it was true, but he didn't know what to do. They had both been really drunk and things happened that were not suppose to. Jen had told him that night she loved him. And he blocked it out and ran. He laughed bitterly at the memory, recalling how much he had hated Joey at first for running away from him. Maybe it was something they all did sometimes.
'Wanna drink?' She said, holding a beer up in the air. He walked over and took it out of her hands.
'Thanks,' he said, pulling the top of the bottle and taking a long swig.
'That's the spirit,' Jen said, downing another drink. 'So, how you been?'
Dawson sat down on one of the bar stools, taking another swig from his drink. 'Good. Life's been getting better recently. I've got to write a script for a network.'
'That's really great. And now your Soul mate's back you've got to be over the moon right?' Jen said, mostly into her drink.
'Of course I'm happy to see her. Jen, I know that we haven't talked about...'
'Save it, you said all you needed to say in your note. I'm cool. I understand. Anyway, we were both very drunk right? Being drunk impairs everything.' Jen said quickly, hoping that she could limit some damage.
'Okay. But I don't want us to stop being friends.' Dawson said quietly.
'We're still friends. Now, let me go find some music to put on. It's like deadly quiet in here,' Jen said, stumbling away from Dawson and towards her bedroom. She slammed the door and fell onto the bed, pounding it with her fists. Why did she say that? She knew that she didn't love Dawson. She knew when she said it while she was drunk, it was something that just happened. Like most things that evening. But she couldn't deny she had some residual feelings for him. Maybe they would always been there. She knew that sometimes when she and Charlie made love she thought of him. She picked herself up and moved towards some CD's, flicking through them to distract her mind. She was about to leave the room before she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was going to be a long night.
'And finally, this is the living...Dawson!' Jack said, as he rounded the corner in the room.
Dawson stood up and hugged Jack. He looked over and saw Joey standing behind him and huge grin on her face. It had only been 2 days since he last saw her but it felt like months. He quickly let go of Jack and enveloped Joey in a huge hug.
'Hey you,' she said into his ear.
'I'm here for my lesson Miss Potter,' Dawson whispered into her ear, causing her to giggle.
'Okay Dawson, put her down. She's not going anywhere. We won't let her,' Jen said as she walked pass the couple and towards the CD player. Dawson let go of her and watched Jen as she walked away.
'Yeah Dawson, we all want to see her this evening!' Jack said, missing all loaded atmosphere between all of them. 'Another drink Joey?'
'Hmm, yes please,' she passed Jack her empty glass and down another cup laid out already. 'This stuff is potent. What's in it?'
'Everything' Jack answered simply, passing Joey's cup back to her.' Dawson, you want to try?'
Dawson drained his beer and put it down on the bar. 'Why not?' Jack poured himself, Jen and Dawson cup and handing them all out.
'Let's make a toast,' Jack announced when everyone had their drinks. 'To old friends!'
'To old friends,' they all said.
'You drinking without us MacPhee? Don't you love us anymore?' Audrey's head was poked around the open door. Pacey pushed her into the room and they started to shed their coats.
'Hey, what are you doing here D? I thought you were back at the old homestead, trying to put another creative spin on our uneventful lives?' Pacey said, walking over and embracing his friend warmly.
'I thought I could do with a break. Anyway, it's not everyday we are all together,' Dawson said, glancing over at Joey.
'That's a good enough reason. Now, where's my drink?' Audrey butted in, haphazardly hugging Dawson while planting a hug lip glossed kiss on his cheek.
'Here we go, another toast then!' Jack said, pouring two more drinks. 'To more old friends,'
'To more old friends,' the seven said, all downing their drinks.
They all moved towards the huge over stuffed couches and started to relax, talking much like they had the night before. Sharing stories and talking about work, life and love. They all eat their take out pizza greedily several hours later and then settle down with more drinks. By this point they were all quiet drunk and relaxed. All relaxed except Jen and Dawson, who sat upright and glared at each other occasionally. Audrey noticed it, even in her drunken state. Jen stood up and made her way over to the bathroom and Audrey decided to follow her.
'Hey, what are you...' Jen asked as Audrey followed her into the bathroom and locked the door.
'I need to ask you this while drunk because I couldn't handle doing this while sober and more over I am concerned that my little bunny is going to leave us all again and I couldn't bare it so you have to give me and honest answer because god help me if you don't I'm going to hurt you in ways you've only imagine before.'
Jen stood in front of her silently; trying to digest all that was being said to her.
'What?' Jen finally said, unable to think of a more fitting comeback.
'You slept with Dawson.'
'Pacey told you?' Jen said, knowing that Pacey wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut for long.
'Yes but only last night. Do you still want him? Audrey said, taking a seat on the toilet.
'No. I don't'
'Honestly?'
'Yes. I have no feelings for him, it was a mistake. A drunken mistake. Plus I with Charlie.' Jen said quickly.
'We both know that's a big lie,'
'What?'
'You and Charlie haven't been together since he left, really have you?' Audrey said, looking over a Jen. She was pouting slightly and staring at her feet.
'He's on tour Audrey, what do you expect me to do? Hitch a ride on the bus and play along as the groupie girlfriend?' Jen suddenly replied angrily.
'Yes, if you love him. But you don't do you?'
Jen paused for a second before taking a seat on the wicker laundry hamper. ' No, I don't love him. But I don't love Dawson either. I'm just...arrh when did this all get so messy,'
'I'm guessing when you took Dawson to New Hampshire,' Audrey replied flippantly.
'You are so funny Audrey, look my sides are splitting.' Jen said, clenching and unclenching her fists.
'Look, just stop being so weird around them both. They're not together either you know, I don't think Joey is in the right place to be having any kind of relationships right now. Especially with her soulmate,' Audrey said, walking over the Jen and hugging her tightly.
'I just... I don't won't to become a spare part in all this,' Jen said.
'Why do you say that?'
'You know, Joey's back so Dawson has his soul mate back, you have your best friend, Pacey had his sparing partner and Jack has his faghag in training back. I'm just a Joey replacement,' Jen said.
'You are so not. You're my best female friend in New York, you know that? The way you handled yourself after everything that's happened was amazing. And you aren't being replaced. Ever. But, I think you need to talk to Joey about...everything.' Audrey said, squeezing Jen tightly one last time before opening the door.
Joey stood at the door, waiting to come in. 'Are you too okay? We've been worried about you?' she said, slightly slurry.
'Actually, I was about to get you. Jen wants a word' Audrey said, pulling Joey into the room and exiting quickly.
'What's going on? I know I'm drunk but I'm really confused.' Joey said, locking the door and walking over to the toilet to sit down, hoping it would stable her racing head.
'Joey, we need to talk don't we?' Jen said, taking her set on the laundry hamper and looking over at Joey. She took a deep breath and started.
