No One Speaks...
Jen took a deep breath and looked over at Joey. It was really obvious she was really drunk, she was clutching onto the side of the wall, smiling obliviously. Jen knew whatever happened this was going to be a difficult and unwelcome conversation.
'Jo, we haven't really talked about what happened before you left. With me and Dawson,' Jen started, looking at her feet.
'Jen, we don't have to. It was years ago...' Joey started to rattle off the speech she had been practicing all the way home on the plane.
'I know it was Joey, but I need to say this just so I can. I'm sorry if I hurt you with what I...what we did. It was never my intention to do that,'
Joey was silent. Jen looked up and Joey's smiling face had been replaced by a slightly shell shocked one, similar to the one she had all those years ago when she saw them together. Jen swallowed hard, she knew the next part would be the worst.
'The next morning, when we found you and Charlie, Dawson and I broke up because we knew we were just friends and nothing else. We still are just friends.'
Joey was still silent but she was looking Jen directly in the eye. Jen didn't know what to say next. She was a little intimidated by Joey's persistent stare.
'And what I'm about to say next has to be said because I don't want it to become some ticking bomb between us, or you and Dawson. About 7 months ago I slept with Dawson. It was a one off thing, driven by depression and loneliness and it was a huge mistake,' Jen exhaled quietly after her speech.
Joey stayed silent. She felt much sober than when she had gone into the bathroom. She finally said something.
'Thanks for telling me.' Joey said, standing up and walking towards to door.
'Wait, is that all you have to say? Don't you want to over analysis it or at least shout or hit me or something?' Jen said, standing up and standing in front of the door.
'What's there to say Jen? You slept with Dawson. I had no claim over him this last 5 years. Do you really think I've been sitting in Italy saving myself for him? Jen, if you and Dawson have some insatiable need to hurt each other, that's fine. But don't mix up your guilty feelings about this with me. It has nothing to do with me anymore.'
'It has everything to do with you Joey. Dawson and I might have...' Jen stopped herself.
'Might have what? Had a chance if I hadn't have reacted the way I did? Jen, you've had five years without me being here to build a relationship with him and you didn't. You can't blame me.'
'But you've always been there. Hovering over us like some kind of ghost, never knowing when you were going to return. We couldn't have started a relationship if we wanted to. What if you'd come back and saw that? You would have run again and Dawson would have fallen apart.' Jen said, moving away from the door.
Joey turned around and watched Jen sit down on the floor, her back to the bathtub. 'Truth is Joey Potter, Dawson Leery is only going to love one woman and that's you. No matter what you do or how far you run. You know he's given Charlie nothing but evil looks and raised voices over the last 5 years? I think you know why.'
Joey stood their stunned. She hadn't realised that Dawson had been as hung up on her as that, which was naïve considering the complicated and multi-faceted state of their relationship.
'Jen, I'm not going to apologise for someone's feelings when I had no control over them.' Joey said bluntly, coming over and sitting next to Jen.
'I don't expect you to do that Joey. I just...we never resolved things. And now it all been messed up with other problems and now I can't see a way to through this.' Jen rested her head on Joey's shoulder.
Joey considered the whole situation for a moment. She rested her head on Jen's and closed her eyes tightly.
'How about this. If I apologise for sleeping with your soul mate on multiple occasions and for over estimating your involvement in my screwed up life, would you do me a favour?'
'What?' Joey's eyes were still closed.
'I need you to promise me you won't run away again. As much as I have loathed you these last few years, I've also done nothing but panic and worry about you. We have all.' Jen said in a quiet little voice.
'I promise I won't run again.' Joey replied, taking hold of Jen's hand and squeezing it tightly.
'Good. I think the other's probably think we are doing something kinky in here.' Jen said, squeezing Joey's hand in reply.
'Let them think what they want. You never know, it might get some of them all hot and bothered,' Joey replied drunkenly.
Jen sat up and looked over at Joey. 'My my, Miss Josephine Potter, has your worldly travels made you into a horny little minx,'
Joey smiled a croaked little smile in return. 'Maybe,' She stood up and pulled Jen into a hug. 'Does teasing Dawson by text message count?'
Jen pulled away quickly 'Really?'
'It's only a joke though, nothing serious.' she smiled. She knew in her heart it was quite serious, but she didn't want anyone to know that yet.
'Well be carefully, Dawson has a very selective sense of humour,' Jen said, linking arms with Joey and leading her out of the door.
When they fell out of the bathroom, giggling in their returned drunken state, the others all had their eyes glued to the door.
'Well, what has been going on in there then young ladies?' Jack said, getting up from the couch and moving towards them to help them up.
'Nothing, just two friends catching up,' Jen said, taking Jack's hand and getting to her feet.
'That and all the rubber and latex we've been trying on,' Joey said, shooting a look over a Dawson who blushed red. Jen erupted in laughter as she tried to pull Joey up.
'Come on,' Jack said, leading them back to the couches, pushing Jen into the space next to him and Joey over to Dawson, who caught her before she fell to the floor again.
'What was that all about?' Dawson asked quizzically as he cradled Joey in his arms, trying to manoeuvre her into the space next to him.
'Nothing, just girly stuff.' Joey said, shivering as Dawson's strong arms wrapped around her.
'We were going to put a movie on,' Jack said.
'How fitting, the first movie night with all of us here in years!' Pacey said, trying to shift a now sleeping Audrey off his shoulder and resting her head on his lap. 'Although some of us a more tired then they thought'
'Make that two,' Jack said, pointing at Jen who had fallen asleep next to him. Jack stood up and picked up Jen in a fireman's lift, her blond hair spilling over his back. 'I'm taking this one to bed,' Jack walked across the living space and to Jen's room.
'I better get this one home too. We have to open up early and she is going to have a major hangover.' Pacey said, reaching for his cell phone and calling a cab. He covered the mouth piece and asked if Joey needed a cab anywhere.
'Yeah I suppose...' but her mouth was covered by Dawson's hand.
'It's okay. I'll walk her back' Dawson said quickly.
Pacey shrugged and hung the phone up politely. 'I'm just going to tell Jack we're going. Watch her..,' he said pointing to Audrey. 'She's dangerous when she's wasted,'
'Are you sure you want to walk me to the hotel?' Joey said more sober than she expected herself to be.
'Actually, I was going to ask if I could stay with you tonight, I haven't booked anywhere I don't want to impose on the others.'
'Sure, I have a king sized bed so we would both be able to fit into it,' Joey said, standing up and quickly losing her balance.
'Whoa there! We can pick up some coffee on the way back,' Dawson said, standing quickly and catching her again.
'Good idea Spielberg.' Audrey mumbled from the couch, not moving with her eyes firmly closed. Dawson and Joey giggled and made their way across to the coat rack.
'You guys going too?' Jack said from the far corner of the room.
'Yeah, I'm beat and very drunk,' Joey replied, pulling Jack into a big hug when he reached the door.
'Okay, but I demand we spend the day together. All of us.'
'We can't till around 12pm. But you can all have breakfast at ours, my shout?' Pacey interrupted, Audrey slung over his shoulder.
'Okay, at Witter's at 11.00 then? Give us time to eat and decide what to do?' Jack said, opening the door and passing Dawson his discarded duffle bag.
'Okay, see you all tomorrow,' Dawson said, leading Joey out of the door and down the flight of stairs.
