Who's to say?
'So D, how goes the film making?' Pacey eyed his friend up, looking for any further evidence of his burgeoning relationship with Joey. No love bites, no obvious kissing rash.
'Kinda quiet at the moment. But hopefully a meeting I had with Nikki Green might have turned things around.' Pacey's suspicious looks did not go un-noticed by Joey, who kicked him under the table. They had, so far, had a quiet meal. Reminiscing about high school and when they were all children. They had laughed and eaten well over two hours. But the moment that Dawson and Joey were really waiting for was yet to come, the admittance of their relationship.
'Ouch…I mean oh. Isn't that that girl from High School? Principle Green's daughter?'
'Yeah, that's her. She's trying to help me out,'
'How is her Dad? That feels like a lifetime ago,' Andie joined the conversation, not oblivious to the looks the three had been giving each other.
'Principle Green? He's at a school in New York, working the magic. He's done really well for himself. It's a shame this town didn't give him a chance.'
'Do you know what I heard from someone in town the other day? That boy, the one who got him fired…god what's his name again?' Bessie said, clicking her fingers in some vain attempt to recall his name.
'Matt Caufield' Joey said through gritted teeth.
'That's it. Well I was at the store and I overheard some gossips saying that after he stole money from the family company and his father's car, the police busted him. He's going on trial next month for mass fraud or something.'
'Wow. Shows you what a good education can do for you!' Pacey remembered the final expulsion he got, two days before they all graduated, for attacking a teacher. Even his father couldn't get him out of that one.
'And a wonderful family,' Dawson said sarcastically.
'Well lets all be thankful that our lot turned out so well.' Gail said, reaching over and patting Andie on the arm.
'Thanks Mrs. Leery,' she blushed deep red.
'Don't be embarrassed Andie, you've done so well for yourself. How is the job?' All eyes turned on her after Gail's remark. Andie hated this kind of attention.
'Umm, all consuming, all hours. But I couldn't imagine doing anything else. It just leaves me with little time to do anything fun,' she sipped her water, hoping the attention would be drawn away from her.
'Is there anyone in your life at the moment Andie? I know Joey said you were quite popular in Italy?' Bessie joined in the interrogation.
Andie threw a murderous glance over at Joey, who was trying to pull her patented 'forgive me' face. It didn't work.
'No, I'm seeing no one at the moment. But Joey said she might have a boyfriend? Wasn't that right Josephine?' Andie said, smiling.
All eyes turned to Joey, all except for Dawson who was starring at his plate, pushing his food around into little piles.
'Joey Potter you little minx. Where do you have the time? Between renovating the house and all the time you spend with Dawson I can't see…' Bessie's train of thought came to an abrupt stop when she caught sight of Dawson's sheepish expression, the look of amusement on Pacey's face and the guilty look on Joey's.
'…Dawson honey, is there something you want to tell us?' Gail asked, lightly nudging a giggling Lily.
Dawson looked at Joey and smiled. She nodded slowly and lowered her head slightly.
'Yes there is actually. Joey and I….Me and Joey…well, we've been seeing each other again. Only for the last few weeks, not all summer. But we are definitely together,' Dawson grabbed Joey's hand in his and placed it on the table, for everyone to see.
'Wow. Well that's a surprise…' Gail said genuinely shocked at the latest revelation in her son's life.
'Well we wanted to keep it secret, just to see if we could work things out...' Joey explained.
'Okay, hands up who actually knew,' Bessie said suddenly, noticing several embarrassed faces at the dinner table.
Slowly Pacey, Andie, Alex and Lily raised their hands.
'Alex? Lily? How…when?' Dawson asked the two young children.
'Well, we came to see Joey one day and found you kissing on the dock…' Alex started
'..yeah and we're not stupid Dawson, we know you love her. We've watched Sleepless in Seattle, we know how this works,' Lily finished.
Pacey couldn't help but laugh at the two. They reminded him so much of Dawson and Joey at that age. Alex, naïve and quiet, while Lily was headstrong and stubborn.
'Hmmm, maybe we should collect the dishes kids. Andie, can you give me a hand?' Pacey said, taking Alex and Lily by the hand and leading them to the kitchen with a collection of dirty plates. When they were out of ear shot, Bessie spoke.
'So how serious is it?' her face was unreadable.
'We love each other Bess. In a way, we always have.'
'Well that's all well and good Joey. But what happens if he breaks your heart again? Are you going to run off again, leaving you friends, your family?'
'Bessie I would never hurt her again, I swear it. You saw how it destroyed me when she left. I wouldn't put you or her through it again,' Dawson said firmly, looking Bessie square in the eye.
Bessie's stern face softened slightly. 'I know you wouldn't. I just don't want to lose her again. I've only just got her back.
'Neither do I Bessie.' Dawson stood up and walked over to Bessie. He held his hand out, as to shake it with her. She stood up and eyed the hand cautiously. She looked over to Joey, her face willing some kind of resolution.
'Okay. But you hurt her Dawson, I swear I will make it my number one objective in life to hurt you,' she said, brushing aside the hand and pulling him into a hug. Dawson, startled at first, returned the hug warmly.
'I'm just thrilled you two. Ahh, I knew you would end up together in the end…' Gail started to cry as she reached over and hugged Joey.
'It's okay Mrs. Leery. You don't need to cry.' Joey said shooting confused looks over to Dawson.
'Mom, are you okay?' Dawson let go of Bessie and went to comfort his sobbing mother.
'It's just…sniff… you're Dad was so sure you two would end up together. And now you are…' Gail smiled warmly at the two, kissing each on the cheek in turn. 'Be good to one another okay?'
'I promise,' Joey said quietly.
'Ahem…are we ready for dessert yet?' Pacey said, Andie cowering behind his back along with Alex and Lily.
'Depends what it is Witter?'
'Ah my dear, untrusting Joey. I have made my specialty. Chocolate fudge cake.' Pacey lowered the spectacular dish onto the table.
'Mmmm, that sounds perfect to me. Pass me a bowl,' Joey reached for the bowl just as the front door flew open.
Hurricane Audrey had returned.
'Josephine Potter if you touch one bite of that pudding I will strangle you personally. You are wearing a very VERY tight dress in two days time and I will not be upstaged by a bulgy bridesmaid,' Audrey threw her coat off onto the arm of a chair and took the spare seat in-between Pacey and Alex.
'Nice to see you too honey. How was your day? Oh it was wonderful Audrey, thanks for asking.' Pacey replied sarcastically, cutting a huge slice of cake for Joey and passing it to her.
'I'm being serious Joey. Little pickers wear bigger knickers,' Audrey said with all seriousness.
'What? Audrey have you seen the size of Joey? There is more fat on Kate Moss's ass than on any part of her,' Pacey said, his voice raising to a confrontational level.
'Do you want to ruin this wedding Pacey? Do you?' Audrey stood up to meet Pacey's eye level.
'Joey having a slice of cake two days before the wedding is not going to transform her into Roseanne Barr.'
'I mean its bad enough with the hair but…'
'Alright, that's it! Audrey, you've finally driven me crazy…' Joey threw her napkin to the table and stormed off into the kitchen.
'Nice one Audrey, nice one,' Pacey said, falling into his seat. Audrey stood there flabbergasted at Joey's explosion. Everyone tried to look in a different direction, none of them keen to catch Audrey's eye.
'I'm just going to check…' Dawson got to his feet but quickly sat down when Joey came back into the room.
'So my hair is such a problem is it? It's causing you sleepless nights and ruining you're wedding then fine…' Joey pulled a pair of kitchen scissors out from behind her back and pulled a huge section of her hair between them. 'I wouldn't want that now would I?'
Joey started to close the scissors.
' No Joey, stop!' Audrey suddenly screamed.
Joey looked over triumphantly, seeing the look of concern and guilt on Audrey's face.
'If you are going to cut it bunny, it needs it at the back,' Audrey continued.
Joey's face turned red with rage and she dropped the scissors to the table.
'You know what Audrey; I can see why Jen got knocked up so she wouldn't have to do this for you! I quit! Pacey, good luck with Miss Hitler. You're going to need it,' Joey pushed her way past the now standing Dawson and stormed out of the back door, slamming it behind her so hard that the pictures shock on the wall.
Everyone remained silent. The glasses on the table silently shook as the sound of Joey's car being driven away filled the room.
'Andie, I don't suppose you would like to…' Audrey started, turning to a frightened looking Andie.
'You. Me. Outside. NOW,' Pacey grabbed Audrey's wrist and dragged her through the front room and out onto the porch, leaving behind the shell shocked remnants of the dinner.
'I've never been a bridesmaid before…' Andie said absent mindedly.
Pacey slammed the front door behind them, throwing Audrey down into a nearby chair.
'Oww, what was that for?' Audrey rubbed her wrists where Pacey had been gripping them.
'What? You can not be asking me that right now Audrey,' Pacey rubbed his throbbing temples.
'This is an important day Pacey, I just want everything to be perfect,'
'Audrey, you are single handedly driving everyone insane.'
'This is about Joey isn't it?'
'Yes it is,' Pacey lowered himself to Audrey's eye level.
'You still love her don't you? Oh my god, Oh my god,' Audrey stood up abruptly.
'Will you listen to yourself? No I don't love Joey, I haven't loved Joey for almost 7 years. Most of that time was taken up by loving you. It's about Joey, because you are consistently being mean to her, putting her down and treating her like dirt. It's got to stop.'
'She started it, her hair could be…'
'Audrey let go of the hair! You love Joey don't you? She's you're friend right?' Pacey stood up and spun Audrey around to face him.
'Of course I do,' Audrey's eyes started to fill.
'Then let her be her. This wedding isn't about hair and make up and dresses. It's about you and me. That's what you want isn't it?' Pacey reached up and brushed a tear off of her cheek.
'Well yeah? I wouldn't be getting all stressed out about everything,'
'It's just a day Audrey. Just one day. We have the rest of our lives before us,'
The two of them stared deep into each others eyes, the past 4 years flashing before them. Suddenly, it all became clear to Audrey.
'Do you still want me? I've been a bitch,' Audrey finally smiled.
'Bridezilla I think would be a better term,' Pacey pulled her into a hug. 'I love you Audrey and I still want you'
'I love you too Pacey. I'm sorry.'
'It's not me you should be apologizing too,' Pacey pulled away and gave her a stern look.
'Joey?' Audrey pouted slightly.
'A ha,'
'Okay, I call on her in the morning. But I would like to spend my last night as a single woman with my stunning and clever boyfriend,'
'Hmmm, what am I going to do then?'
'You could come too, I mean, I'm sure he wouldn't mind,' Audrey took his hand and led him back into the house.
'That's a very liberal boyfriend you have. You sure it isn't jack?'.
'Joey? JOEY!' Dawson called out when him and Andie got back to the boat house.
'She not here. The car isn't here,' Andie pulled her jacket of and slung it on the couch.
'Where could she have gone?'
'She might have just gone for some space. Anywhere she would do that around here?' Andie walked over the kitchen and pulled two beers out of the fridge.
'Well, here. We always run away to here.'
'She'll come back. She used to do this all the time in Italy. Just bolt when things got too much for her. Usually surface later in the day, smile on her face.' She passed Dawson the beer and took a long swig from hers.
'I better not, I've probably going to have to drive to find her.'
'Let her be Dawson. She'll come home. Anyway, we didn't get a chance to talk to each other last weekend at the party, what with the alcohol and the baby.'
She lowered herself onto the couch and patted the space next to her, beckoning Dawson to come join her. Dawson hesitated. There was something about Andie's behavior that he didn't recognize, didn't trust.
'Come on Dawson, I'm not going to bite!' Andie said, once more patting the battered old leather sofa.
Dawson moved slowly and sat next to her. She held her bottle out to make a toast.
'To Pacey and Audrey, may they have at least a seasonable amount of time together,'. She downed half her bottle in one gulp.
'Andie, are you feeling okay? You seem to be acting a little….odd,' Dawson placed his drink, untouched, onto the floor by his feet.
'How would you know how I act? You haven't seen me in almost 5 years.' She snapped back angrily.
'True, but…I suppose I don't know you anymore,'
'The only one of you that does is Joey and even now she doesn't know everything.' Andie downed the last part of her beer and reached for Dawson's, leaning across him to get it.
'Andie…what?' Dawson tried to lift her off him but it only spurred her forward. She planted a firm kiss on his lips.
'hmmm…..Andie, get off of me. What has gotten into you!' Dawson stood up and wiped his mouth, as if trying to remove all traces of her.
'What? You don't like a little fun occasionally? Come on, she'll never know.' Andie stood up and moved towards him.
'Oh yes she will,' Joey's voice echoed around the near empty house. Dawson and Andie looked up to see her leaning over the balcony where her bedroom was located.
'This isn't what it looks like Joey, I swear,' Dawson said quickly, putting further space between them.
'I know. I've been here the whole time. I was about to come downstairs before the little seduction act began.' She started to walk down the spiral stairs towards the pair, her eyes glued on Andie's unrepentant face.
'What is this about Andie?' Joey asked, moving towards them.
'It was a test…see if he really wouldn't hurt you again. Well done Dawson, you've passed.' Andie said, swaying slightly as she walked across to get the beer she had been after.
'You were always a pathetic liar MacPhee. I'll ask again, what is this about?' Joey said firmly.
'Nothing….nothing…honestly…' Andie lied, trying to avoid Joey's piercing stare.
'This is about Pacey. About Pacey getting married.' Joey grabbed Andie's wrist and spun her to face her.
'Wha…what? No, it's not…' Andie's façade started to drop and the determined look on her face started to fade.
'You forget, I was there. I saw you cry your eyes out every day in Italy. I know Andie.' Joey's grip became softer and she pulled Andie into a warm hug.
'I just…I…still love him…and she's so….' Andie started to sob.
'Audrey. I know. I know sweetheart,' Joey looked over at a confused Dawson, his face awash with a mixture of relief and concern. Joey shoed him away, mouthing 'I love you'. He mouthed it back and left the two alone.
'I'm so sorry Joey.' Andie stopped crying and pulled away to look Joey in the eye.
'Why Dawson? I mean, he's hardly…well, you know,'
'I don't know. He was there, I was depressed and tipsy. It seemed like a good idea, might have even made Pacey jealous.' Andie walked to the couch and lowered herself back down.
'All that would have achieved is me kicking your ass and that could still happen if you don't tell me what the hell is going on.' Joey sat next to her and wrapped her arm around her.
'I want to be over him, I really do but…he's the love of my life. Always will be,'
'I know that feeling,'
'Exactly! So it could still happen for us, I mean you and Dawson…'
'…were both single and in totally different circumstances when we got back together. Andie, he is getting married in two days time to a woman he loves dearly. Yes, she is a professional nightmare, but they have been together for 4 years. That means something. You have to get over this Andie or it will drive you insane.'
'I know,' she said solemnly. 'Thanks and I'm sorry again for the Dawson thing,'
'He doesn't get many well educated, beautiful women throw themselves at him, don't worry about it. What are you going to do?'
'I don't know. I'm going to sleep on it.' Andie got to her feet, followed by Joey. Andie turned to her one last time and held her closely. 'Thank you' she whispered.
She didn't wait for a reply. She walked passed her and into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Joey ran her hand through her hair and sighed deeply. She went to the cupboard by the bathroom to get the spare blankets for her makeshift bed on the couch but stopped.
'Andie, I'm just going out. I will be back later,' she shouted through the bathroom door.
Dawson sat at his desk, reviewing his script for the hundredth time since it was written. He clicked the save icon and slowly closed his laptop. It was too late; he was too confused and too tired to concentrate as he should be. He switched his desk lamp off and started to get up to go to bed. Suddenly, he heard the familiar sound of the ladder. Although they had been spending almost all their time at the boathouse, occasionally Joey would surprise Dawson with a midnight visit.
Joey carefully stepped through the window and found Dawson sitting expectantly on the bed.
'Well hello there,' he said cheerfully, all too glad to see the one thing that made sense in his life.
'Tell me about it, stud,' she said huskily.
'Don't joke about it. It was….scary,' he admitted.
'Only you would consider a woman throwing themselves at you scary,' Joey sat on his lap, kissing him softly.
'This isn't too scary…' Dawson murmured.
'Then I must be doing it wrong…'
'…hmmm…before this gets too heated, is everything okay over there?' Dawson broke away.
'I honestly don't know. I knew she was still hung up on him when we were in Italy. Talk about awkward.' She subconsciously tucked her hair behind her ears.
'I could see that.'
'But she went on plenty of dates, saw other men. I honestly thought she had got over it,'
'When it's your soulmate, it's kinda hard to get over it,' Dawson looked her in the eyes, he could see she was still concerned. 'But I'm sure everything will be fine. Shall we sleep?'
'Sleep for sleep's sake? No funny business?' Joey said, an eyebrow raised.
'Me? Funny business?' Dawson said, flipping her onto the bed and tickling her furiously. The laughter rang out around the house, alerting Gail as she finished the last of the clearing up after the eventful dinner. She dropped her tea towel and walked over the picture wedding photo's hanging on the wall.
'See, I told you it would all be okay,' She kissed her finger and gently placed it against the cold glass encasing the fading image of Mitch. 'Night darling, good night,'
