Description: My completely original version of how Pacey and Joey got together. Set after high school. Slight crossover with Pretty Little Liars, has nothing to do with -A though.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. The only thing I own is the original storyline.
Author's Note: Leave a review and I will update regularly.
Second Chances
Chapter #7
(half hour later)
(Jen's pov)
" Joey are you almost done? Jack just got a call from Dawson, he's at the diner and wondering where we're all at.", I call out once I hear the bathroom door open slightly. What the heck is taking this girl so long? It is almost ten o'clock. Ugh, I am so hungry it is not even funny. Letting out a breath of relief when Joey emerges from the bathroom finally, the look of uncertainty that flashes in her eyes at mention of Dawson's name does not go unnoticed. Guess she wasn't expecting to see him anytime soon. I'm not sure what the big deal is, but something tells me the thought of seeing Dawson isn't an appetizing one. Guess that it sort of makes sense, from the little Emily filled us in on Dawson is partially the reason Joey and Ezra split up.
" ...Dawson is meeting us for breakfast?", repeats Joey while making her way into the living room once more. She really is not thrilled at the thought of seeing him. I wish those two would give it a rest already. One minute their on speaking terms and the next one is dodging the other...and by one, I mean Joey. Then again, I can't exactly say that I blame the girl. After all was it not last Christmas when Dawson more then hinted that he still had feelings for Joey? The guy all but said he stilled had feelings for her. Boy was that an awkward Christmas dinner, especially after Joey broke it to Dawson she'd been seeing and was in love with Ezra. Something tells me since he got wind that's no longer the case that Dawson's hoping maybe there is still a chance of Joey and him rekindling an old flame.
" Joey, if you're not out that door within the next two minutes I will not hesitate to drag you. You're coming, no arguments. Shut up and lets go, now.", orders Emily before tossing Joey's coat onto the couch and pulling on her own. Laughing to myself at the shocked expression that briefly crosses over Joey's features, I shake my head in amusement. Huh, Emily is not messing around this morning. She's probably just as hungry as the rest of us. This girl does not take any crap this much I know for a fact. Emily never hesitates to put Joey or anyone else for that matter in their place when needed. This last year or so she has almost become part of the gang. Emily does have a valid point though, Joey can't merely avoid Dawson forever. They have to hash things out eventually. Still cannot believe that Ezra broke up with Joey the way he did. That guy all but ruined her. Emily told me that Joey was a mess for nearly a week after the two of them broke up. To make things worse? Dawson is partly the reason, albeit not intentionally. Seems Ezra all but accused Joey of sleeping with Dawson behind his back. The guy never liked Dawson once he found out him and Potter had history together. Those two haven't been an item since the beginning of junior year in high school. What could Ezra possibly feelthreatened by, their life long friendship? Fine so they hooked up briefly freshman year of college, that was how many years ago? Joey has made it more then clear that she has no intentions of getting back with Dawson anytime soon. I'mnot sure why Ezra felt so threatened, but what I do know? He is an idiot for letting Joey slip through his finger tips, she was head over heels for him. Unfortunately for Joey, Ezra was too blinded by his own damn insecurities to see this.
" Great, it's settled can we please stop standing around and talk about going for breakfast and actually go now? Pace, Jen and I will drop you off at your jeep if you want. Then you and Potter can follow us across town to the diner.", offers Jack while standing from his seat beside me. Breathing a sigh of relief as one by one we all make our way out the apartment, I watch as Joey hesitantly makes her way down the front steps and towards the car. Something tells me the thought of seeing Dawson isn't exactly a thrilling one for her. I wish those two would just leave the past in the past where it belongs. We've all come a long way since high school, hell mine and Joey's friendship was rocky in the beginning. There was a time when Joey despised me for the sole reason that I was seeing Dawson and she couldn't even get him to notice her. It seemed no matter how nice I was or how much I tried to be Joey's friend, Dawson was somehow always wedged between us. Thankfully those days are behind us now.
Holding the passenger door open for Joey, Paceyclimbs in the backseat beside her and Emily. With a mere nod of his head, he reaches in the pockets of his jean and grabs his keys," Yeah, that's fine with me. It's only a few blocks from here either way man."
Sitting up front with Jack, I glance back at Joey in the review mirror as I tauntingly mock," Maybe don't let Joey drive though or you'll never make it to the diner."
(Joey's pov)
" Oh no, we'll make it to the diner Jen. It would be after lunch by the time we did, but we'd make it there.", chimes in Pacey much to my disliking. Regarding the both of them with an irritated scowl, I roll my eyes with a shake of my head. I don't know why they're both laughing, I'm great driver. So what if once in a while I still stall out while driving stick shift. At least it's not as often as I used to. In my defense, I had Dawson as a teacher and he was never exactly patient while teaching me. That day was a living hell, I couldn't even make it down the driveway without stalling out. Hell, I had just about given up on learning to drive stick shift when Pacey had offered to teach me. Not something I would have ever expected from him at the time...then again Pacey Witter has always been full of surprises. While the two of us might have had our fair share of sparring matches over the years, he's always been there without me ever needing to ask. Annoying as he may be at times, I'm glad Pacey will be around more now that he's living in Boston. I would never admit this to anyone else let alone him...but I have missed Pacey. He always did have a knack for coaxing a smile out of me when all I wanted to do was fall to pieces.
" Funny, for your information I know how to shift gears now. I can't even remember when the last time I stalled out was thank you very much.", I protest in my own defense of their mockery. Of course this is a bold faced lie, I actually stalled out twice just last week. I'm not about to tell Jen, Jack or Pacey this though because then I will never hear the end of it. To be fair both times that it happened, I was waiting at a red light. Maybe a breakfast out with the whole gang together again, minus Andie of course, is exactly what I need to take my mind off of...well everything. So what if things were a left a little bit awkward between Dawson and I last Christmas. Can I really let an intoxicated profession of feelings come between our friendship? Dawson, Pacey and I have all known each other and been friends practically since we were in diapers. For all I know, I could just be making a big deal out of nothing. Dawson knows that I am seeing someone now...or well at least that I was. Aside from Emily and Pacey, I haven't really told anyone about Ezra breaking up with me let alone the reason why. Then again it's not exactly a secret these last few months before our break up things have been rocky between Ezra and I. There was a time when neither of us could stand to be apart from one another. These last few months though we had been arguing more and more. Funnily enough nearly all of our arguments were about Dawson. Ezra was sure that I had slept with Dawson last Christmas. I knew not telling him that the two of us had a past together would one day come back to bite me in the ass. Regrettably for me, I had been right.
" Care to drive then Potter?", ponders Pacey with a taunting smirk making it's way across his features. Arching a defiant eyebrow in his direction, I narrow my gaze as I now regard him with a scowl. Should have known that Pacey would call my bluff. With an agitated roll of my eyes, I do my best to keep from smiling. Somethings will never change between the two of us. Leave it to Pacey to coax a smile from me while wanting to cause him bodily harm at the same time. Giving him a frustrated nudge in the side, I climb out of the car after Pacey once Jack pulls up behind his jeep.
" Bite me Pacey J. Witter.", I exclaim with an amused shake of my head. Grinning in victory at the pained groan that escapes Pacey's lips, I climb into the passenger side of his jeep. Reaching into my pocket when I feel my cellphone buzz, I glance down at the screen briefly. The smile slowly fades from my features when I notice there's an unread text from Ezra, it must have came in this morning while I was still asleep. He is slowly killing my resistance. Knowing better than to open the text, I merely turn my phone off and toss it onto Pacey's dashboard. I am not about to deal with him right now. Ezra is the one who let me go, that was his decision not mine.
Climbing in the drivers side, Pacey starts the jeep and takes off down the streets of Boston following after Jen. Noticing my gradual change in demeanor, the two of us sit in silence for a few minutes before he softly inquires," Something bothering you, Jo?"
Knowing better than to answer with the threat of tears ready to fall, I instead take a second to compose myself before calmly pointing out," Looks like we're here Pace, we should probably get inside and find the others before they go ordering breakfast without us."
" Yeah, guess you're right Jo.", acknowledges Pacey reluctantly while throwing the jeep in park and turning the engine off. Before I ever have a chance to unbuckle, Pacey is at the passenger side door and opening it. Staring down at the hand he's offered out to me, I arch an eyebrow in his direction but eventually take hold of his hand and jump down. Startled when our eyes meet briefly, I can't help noticing the shiver that runs up my spine when his fingertips brush against my cheek lightly while tucking a stray strand of hair back behind my ear. Ignoring the now rapid beating of my heart at our unusually close proximity, my gaze meets Pacey's with an awkward half smile. Unsure what exactly just transpired between the two of us, for a fleeting second I catch myself wandering if he felt that same jolt and what it could have meant. Turning around at the sound of my name, I see Emily making her way towards us with Dawson, Jen and Jack in toe. …