A/N. Hello everyone, thanks for the suggestions on the long or short fic. I think I might do a couple more chapters of this one and then see where it takes me. I kind of like writing multiple storylines in the one story, so I will try to keep that tradition up.
Shining.
'So, how is my artist this morning?' Bessie said, moving behind Joey and handing over a couple of letter's that had arrived for her that morning.
'Stressed slightly, I have to get three new works together for the New York exhibition.' Joey said, kissing Bessie on the check and flicking through her mail.
It had been 2 months since that eventful weekend in New York and her long, lazy summer was fast approaching an end. Her and Dawson had been living like they were 15, sleeping around his house watching movies, swimming in the creek and working when the inspiration found them. He was close to completing his script and apart from a couple of choice characterizations that Joey disliked, she thought it was the best thing he had written. He was equally full of praise for her work, astonished at her ability to capture the look and texture of the world on canvas.
There had been uncomfortable moments that summer sure, moments when the pair of them just completely lost themselves in the idea of being together. Both of them had spent sleepless nights next to each other, just yearning to reach over and initiate the first move. But they had been good, Dawson especially. But the sparks were still there, lighting up the thick late summer air.
'Oh, look what I got this morning!' Joey held in her hand the delicate tissue of a formal invitation. Bessie took it from her, scanning the elegant writing.
'You are formally invited to the wedding of Audrey and Pacey. Wow, I can't believe they've made it without killing each other.'
'You're telling me, you didn't have to go bridesmaid dress shopping with her. She's turned into a total bridezilla.'
'Bridezilla?' Bessie said, handing back the invitation.
'She's close to obsessed with the wedding, nothing is good enough and she can't understand why the rest of the world is not revolving around it.' Joey said, taking off her painting smock and following Bessie to the reclining lawn chairs.
'Well, doesn't Audrey live her life like that already?'
'Yeah. But with less taffeta and satin,' Joey giggling, looking out over the sunshine filled creek. She glanced down at her mail and saw she had another one from the art dealing in New York. He said he would be posting her a couple of cheques from the sale of some of her items. She slowly lifted out the letter and read it slowly.
Dear Miss Potter,
We have the greatest pleasure in enclosing the cheques for the last 4 purchases of your art work (minus our fee). We look forward to seeing you next month for your exhibition.
Yours Sincerely
Anton Philips.
She folding the letter and scanned the cheque amounts. Suddenly, her hand flew to her mouth.
'What is it Joey?' Bessie said, setting down her drink.
Joey wordlessly passed her sister cheques, one after another. Bessie's mouth slowly fell open, her eyes widening with every cheque.
'Is this correct? He hasn't over paid?' Bessie said, passing all of the cheques back.
'He said he had raised the prices of some of the works because he thought they were worth it, but I never thought that much. I mean...ten thousand dollars.'
'Wow Jo, that's a real career you've got going on with that. What are you going to do with it?'
Joey thought for a second, she knew what she really wanted to use the money for. 'You want to come with me and find out?'
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'No, you stupid little man, I said cream coloured, not ivory....what do you mean my attitude, your attitude...well fine, I'm sure we can find someone else...thanks a lot,' Audrey angrily closed her cellphone shut and turned to face Jen who was walking alongside her.
'So, I guess we need to find a new minister then...' Jen said, mentally noting to add that to the ever increasing list of things to do.
'I just can't believe people can be so selfish, you know? He would not wear the colour I wanted him to and the whole look has to be perfect.' Audrey rattled off, her speech she used for all of the suppliers when things did not go her way.
'Yeah, selfish people are the worst,' Jen giggled and grabbed Audrey's arm 'Fancy taking a break from planning the wedding to end all weddings? I wouldn't mind doing a bit of light shopping.'
'Sure honey, we can go to Jimmy's to get some wonderful shoes and then off to...'
'Actually Samantha, I need to buy some wonderful and ever stylish maternity wear' Jen said, looking down at her ever increasing stomach. She was now 5 months and getting to the point where nothing fit her.
'Fine, I can handle that. How are you feeling?' Audrey said, hailing a cab.
'Tired, size of a whale, scared shitless, you know the usual,'
'Well you know we are all here for you, right? Anything you need...as long as it's after the wedding.'
'I understand that,' Jen said as she followed Audrey into the cab.
'Blooming Marvellous on third please?' Jen said, ignoring the look of disgust from Audrey. 'What, they sell nice clothes. They've also got lots of baby stuff I suppose I better have a look at. It says so in that book Joey bought me'
'Have you spoken to her recently? When we went to buy the dresses I didn't really speak to her,' Audrey said, pulling a list of things to do out of her bag and adding 'find minister'
'Kind of, she e-mails me at work a lot. But I think she's just been busy.'
'Yeah, I must call her about her hair. I really wished you would reconsider being my maid of honour?'
'Audrey, as much as I love the idea of wearing an ill fitting dress in late September, in Capeside, I think a 7 month pregnant bridesmaid would take the attention off you just slightly.'
'Point taken and not accepted!'
'Look, I will wearing a matching maternity outfit and have some kind of flowery thing on me, if that is enough?' Jen looked at her friend with a pained expression.
'Fine, but you still have to help me with my hen night. Joey is not know for planning raucous parties.'
'Okay,' the cab pulled to a stop and Audrey paid quickly before jumping out.
'So, this is the place then,' Jen said, looking dubiously at the shop, the window display's full of mannequins with huge plastic bellies.
'Come on, the sooner we get this done the sooner we can do some fun shopping,' Audrey said, brushing her friends nervous anticipation aside and dragging her into the store.
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'Okay, this surprise better be good. My eyes don't like being under wraps for this amount of time.' Dawson moans, holding Joey's hand tightly as she pulled him out of the car. Joey had been acting suspiciously for the last 2 weeks but he had been so wrapped up in actually finalising the last parts of his script to really pay much attention.
'Only a few more moments, you spoil sport.' Joey giggled, holding his hands tighter.
Suddenly, Dawson felt himself stopping. 'Okay, prepare to be amazed!'
Joey pulled off the blindfold to reveal an old boat house next to the creek. Dawson recognised it from their childhood, an old craggy lady use to live in it and they were too scared to bring themselves up to her door. Well, except Pacey who practically knocked to door down one Saturday when they were 7.
'Umm, slightly confused as to why we are at Mrs Pepperman's old house but...' Dawson looked at Joey's excited face and looked at her quizzically.
'You are looking at my new studio, my new home!' Joey screamed loudly, dangling keys in the air.
'What? You bought it?' Dawson said, running towards Joey and enveloping her in a hug.
'Yup, the whole lot, with the money from the art I've been selling in London and New York.' Joey pulled away and grabbed Dawson's hand, leading him to the door and unlocking it gently. 'I remember Bessie complaining that Mrs Pepperman's had been empty for years now, since she died, and that her son was desperate to off load it. So, when I got the latest amount of money through I put down a deposit and bought it for a very reasonable amount.' She stepped through the door, dragging Dawson with her.
It was very dirty and dusty, old bits of furniture lay around with dust sheets on them. The main space, the actual boat space, was immense and Dawson could see it being full of Joey's paintings. At the back of the grand room were a small kitchen and a door leading to another room. Then above was a small platform, led to by some old wood stairs.
'So, I can use the platform up there for a bedroom and there is a bathroom off the kitchen. Then, to get some money from it, I figured I could run art classes or do some touristy things to sell in the gift shops.' She turned her back to Dawson, who was busy trying to make out the room in the dark and unbolted the large boat house doors, pushing them open to let in the view from the creek. The view was amazing and vast, stretching over to Dawson's house and in the opposite direction to the B&B. There was a small, rickety dock with Joey's boat already tied to it, then a small garden with a couple of old lawn chairs.
'Wow, I don't know what to say,' Dawson said, looking around the room again before feeling the heat of the sun hitting him from the freshly opened doors. The light illuminated the beauty of the building perfectly and the view was amazing. He caught sight of Joey, he hair shinning in the sun and he groaned internally. He didn't know how much longer he could stand to be around her without sweeping her up into his arms.
'Do you like it?' Joey said, moving towards him and touching his arm lightly.
'I don't thing you could have found something that was more quintessentially you. This is going to be a lot of work you know, some of this place needs some serious...work,' Dawson said, glancing at the kitchen that was practically falling apart.
'That's where you and Bodie come in, as well as Pacey and Jack. I will be requiring all of you for a little assistance. Plus, you forget that my sister and I managed to happily refurbish and bed and breakfast without many problems.' Joey said, grabbing Dawson's hand again and pulling him towards the kitchen. 'I figured because this was a cause of celebration, I would splurge slightly.'
'What, like buying a house was not enough splurging?' Dawson joked, ignoring the tremors echoing down his spine from her touch.
Joey smiled and pulled a bottle of champagne and two glasses from a bag behind the kitchen counter. 'Oh you are funny Mr Leery, now be a man and open this.'
Dawson smiled and took the bottle from her. He noticed how alive she looked, like she had finally found what she was destined to do. The bottle suddenly popped and the fizzy liquid fell all over the floor.
'Woh, carefully there,' Joey said, shoving a glass underneath the falling alcohol.
'Sorry, I never was very good at this...' Dawson blushed, pouring in the other glass and then setting the bottle down on the worktop.
'So, here is to Joey Potter, the entrepreneur. Cheers' he said, clinking glasses with her and taking a long drink from his plastic glass.
'I can't believe I own something, you know? It's almost all mine.' Joey looked around and found herself looking at Dawson.
'I guess that means you are staying in Capeside then? Whatever happened to the girl who never wanted to stay here?'
'She grew up and realised there are worse places to be then at home with your friends and family,' Joey smiled, touching Dawson's arm and smiling 'I'm glad you are here for this Dawson, I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather be with.'
'That goes for both of us,' Dawson pulled her into a tight hug. 'I'm so happy for you Jo,'
'Thanks Dawson,' she said, absently rubbing his back. Dawson mirrored the action, sending the same shivers down her spine. She pulled away quickly, blushing slightly.
'Hey, let go sit on my Dock!' she said, over enthusiastically.
'Okay,' he said, following her out into the sunlight, trying to hide his disappointment.
They both lowered themselves onto the old wood, their feet dangling over the edge, before both lying on their backs like they did when they were kids.
'So I'm going to have to go back to LA in the next few weeks.' Dawson said quietly.
'Oh. Is this is a holiday go back or a move back, never coming back east again?' Joey said.
'This trip is for a brief holiday and a couple of meetings. But sooner or later, I am going to have to go back,' Dawson said, reaching over a grabbing Joey's hand.
'I know. I just don't want it to be today,' Joey closed her eyes tightly against the hot sun.
'Me neither Jo. Me neither'
