AN- OMG I am sooooo sorry about the longess of no updating. Please, don't be discouraged. Here is chapter 9!!

Dawson and Joey were walking down the streets of Capeside, holding hands.

''We graduate is two days.'' Dawson said suddenly

''Yea, we do.'' Joey replied.

''You ok Jo? You seem so out of it.'' Dawson said, squeezing her hand gently.

''I'm fine.'' she said.

As they walked down the street, they were suddently met with a surprise visitor.

Doug Witter.

''Oh, hey Dawson. Joey.'' Doug said, trying to keep cool.

''Hi Doug.'' Dawson said, wrapping an arm around Joey.

He knew that those two had a fling. Joey was with him now.

''Hi Doug.'' Joey said, grabbing Dawson's hand and dragging him away.

Doug sighed as he watched the love of his life walk away again.

Jen climbed above True Love that night, calling Pacey's name.

''Hey Jen.'' he said, walking up from below deck.

''Hey you. Whatcha doing?'' she asked, walking over and kissing him lightly.

''Some last mintue stuff.'' he said.

''I still can't believe you're gonna sell this boat.'' Jen said, sadly. ''This is your dream boat.''

''Yea, but I can't very well keep it up in Boston can I? Plus, the money can help a lot.'' he told her.

He grabbed her hand and tugged her under with him. They lay down on the bed in each others arms.

''I love you.'' he whispered quietly.

''I love you to.'' Jen whispered, snuggling into him.

They fell asleep.

The next day.

Joey and Jen walked through town, doing some shopping. They stopped at the corner cafe.

''So, Dawson and I ran into Doug yesterday.'' Joey said, taking a sip of her coffee.

''How was that?'' Jen asked.

''Awkward.'' Joey said.

''What exactly happened when Doug came back? You never did tell me.'' Jen said, taking a bite of her bagel.

''We had an amazing night together. Then I told him about Dawson.'' Joey said quietly, so no one would hear them.

''He didn't take it well?'' Jen asked.

Joey shook her head.

''He was upset, but did he honestly expect me never to move on?! I mean, come on! He probably dated a ton of girls and plus, how was I supposed to know he would come back?'' Joey asked.

''Did you though?'' Jen asked calmly, taking a sip of coffee.

''Did I what?'' Joey asked.

''Move on?'' Jen wondered.

Joey was silent.

Doug Witter took another sip of brandy, wondering what on Earth that pouding was. He decided to get up and answer the door.

''Hello, little brother.'' Doug said, slurring slighly on his words.

''You are so drunk.'' Pacey said.

''Wow, you are smart.'' Doug said, stepping aside to let him in.

He grabbed the bottle and took another sip.

''What's wrong Doug?'' Pacey asked, conerned for his older brother.

''Nothing. Not a thing. I just happened to see Capesides cutest couple walking around but hey! Who doesn't see that!'' Doug exclaimed.

''Dawson and Joey. You're killing yourself over them!'' Pacey exclaimed.

''Yes. Yes I am. It's my fault.'' Doug told him.

''How?'' Pacey asked.

''She came here, wanting me. I brought her to my bedroom and we had a great night. Then she told me about Dawson, how she didn't want to be with him. I told her to leave, because I was hurt she moved on. But I moved on too. It's my fault.'' Doug moaned.

''Coem on Doug, let's get you to bed.'' Pacey said, grabbing his arm lightly and bringing Doug into his room.

Pacey spotted his girlfriend and walked over.

''Hey you guys.'' he said, sitting down next to Jen and kissing her cheek.

''Hey where were you?'' Joey asked.

''Doug's. He got drunk. He's pretty upset.'' Pacey said, eyeing Joey pointedly.

''Is he ok?'' she asked.

''You should go see.'' Pacey did.

''I will.'' Joey said, leaving.

''Is he ok?'' Jen asked.

''No, not without her.'' Pacey told her.

Joey entered Doug's place, via the key he had given her so long ago.

''Doug! Are you here?'' she asked.

''Joey Potter, as I live and breathe.'' Doug announced, walking into the living room.

''Doug, don't do this to yourself.'' Joey said, spying the half empty bottle of brandy in his hand.

''Why not? Why should I be mierable while you be happy!'' Doug exclaimed.

''I'm not happy. Not without you.'' she said.

''Yeah right! Why don't you go back and warm Dawson's bed!'' Doug yelled.

Joey fought back tears.

''You don't mean that Doug.'' she said.

''Yea, I do. Get out.'' Doug said.

She turned to go, but his voice calling her name stopped her.

''Yea?'' she asked.

''Leave the key. You won't need it anymore.'' Doug said.

Tears now streamily freely, Joey put the key down and walked out.

Joey walked to Dawson's house, now knowing what she had to do.

''Dawson?'' she asked, stepping into his room via ladder.

''Jo. Are you ok?'' he asked.

''No. We need to talk.'' she said.

''What about?'' Dawson asked.

''Us. Dawson, you'll be in California and I'll be in Boston. It isn't fair if we ask ourselves to stay together. To not meet new people. I think we should break up.'' Joey said quietly.

''And this has nothing to do with Doug?'' he asked, angerly

''Yes and no.'' she said.

''Fine. Don't be my girlfriend. No bother to be my friend either. You can go now.'' he said coldly.

Joey nodded, taking the door this time and walking out of his life.

At the ruins.

Joey was now crying freely, her heart breaking. Today, she lost both the man she loved and one of her best friends.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Pacey walking over to her.

''Hey, what are you doing here?'' Joey asked.

''Bessie said you didn't come home. I was worried.'' he told her, sitting next to her.

''Pacey, I lost Doug.'' she whimpered.

''Shh, it's ok Jo.'' he said, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close, letting her cry on his shoulder.

It was finally graduation day! Everyone was excited.

Except for Joey.

She missed Doug.

Bessie drove her here, saying how proud she was of her little sister. Mom and Dad would be proud too.

But it didn't matter.

Not without Doug.

She met Jack, Jen and Pacey but Dawson kept his distance.

She didnt' really care.

The graduates were called to take their seats and Joey was able to make her speech. She walked to the podium and looked out at her fellow graduates.

''As we stand here today, I'm sure we each are thinking of the future. What we will do now that high school is just a memory. How can we find such good friends as the ones we made here. I'm not gonna lie to you, the future will be scary. It will be downright terrifing. But, we can make it. Looking back, I realize that these four years spent here only makes me stronger. That my friends helped shape me into the best person I can be. The person who can face the future. They help me believe in myself. They help me overcome everything. But they aren't the only ones. Only you can truly help yourself move on, into the future. As scary as it is, I have faith that all of you will ake something of yoursleves. After all, why else did we have to spend four years together, if it wouldn't help us succeed. I wish all of you good luck as you face the world. I know you can do it.''

Joey sat down to many applauds. As she looked at the audience, one person caught her eye.

Doug Witter.

After everyone recieved their diplomas, Joey met her friends.

''We did it!'' Jen yelled as the girls hugged tightly.

''Yea, we did!'' Joey exclaimed.

''I'm proud of you girls.'' Pacey said, pretending to wipe away a tear.

''Bite me Pacey.'' Joey said.

''Yes! The other Joey lives.'' he yelled, picking her up and swinging her around.

''Put me down!'' she screamed.

He did.

Joey spotted Doug and excused herself to walk over. Dawson intercepted her.

''Hey.'' he said.

''Hey.'' she said.

''I'm sorry about yesterday Joey. You were right. It was time for us to move on. I hope I didn't lose our friendship.'' he said.

''You didn't.'' Joey said, hugging him.

They broke apart and Joey looked past him, towards Doug.

He glanced at what she was looking at.

''I hope he makes you happy Joey. You deserve that.'' Dawson said, honestly.

''Thanks. I hope someone makes you happy too. Promise you'll come visit in Boston?'' she asked.

''Promise.'' Dawson said.

They hugged again and Joey walked away from the crowd over to Doug.

''You're not drunk.'' Joey said, standing in front of him, her arms crossed.

''I'm an ass when I'm drunk.'' Doug said.

''I know.'' Joey told him.

''Congrats, graduate.'' Doug said.

''Thanks.'' Joey replied.

''How are thing with you and Dawson?'' he asked.

''Over.'' Joey said, stepping closer to him.

''Good.'' Doug said, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her.

''Does this mean I get my key back?'' she asked after they broke apart.

''Nope.'' Doug said.

Joey looked down sadly.

''But I do have this.'' he said, handing her a small square box.

Joey opened it.

There was a key.

''What's this for?'' she asked.

''My new place. In Boston.'' he said.

Joey gapsed and looked up at smiling brightly.

''You're mvoing to Boston?'' she asked.

''If you want me to.'' Doug said.

''You know I do.'' Joey told him.

''I'm sorry about, '' he started but stopped when she pressed her finger to his lips.

''I love you.'' she told him.

''I love you to.'' he said.

They kissed.

After the broke apart, Joey carefully lifted the cap from her head.

''To the future.'' she whispered, tossing the hat in the air and bringing Doug's lips to hers once again.

An- No it's not the end. It might take me a while to update but this story will go into college life for Joey and her and Doug's relationship! Stay tuned!