A/N: Thank you two for the reviews. I am continuing this cause I was asked nicely and I love Gretchen/Dawson. Plus the Gretchen/Dawson episodes are on Noggin this week haha.

Disclaimer: again NOT MINE!

Gretchen Witter looked at Capeside High as she climbed out of her car, she took a deep breath and settled her bookbag on her shoulders. It was her Senior year. Eight more months and then she was done, Thank God.

Gretchen heard laughter and turned her head, she smiled, her brother Pacey was walking towards the school flanked on either side by Dawson Leery and Joey Potter. Gretchen laughed herself as she saw Dawson make a funny face and do an impersonation of her father. Most daughters would take offense at someone mocking her father, but her dad was an ass, ecspecially to Pacey. She was glad that Pacey had friends who stood beside him like Dawson.

Pacey had to be the brother that Gretchen liked the most, he was probably the most normal out of all the Witters, besides herself of course. Gretchen credited his best friend for all that, Dawson and his family were always like family to the Witters and always gave Pacey, and even Gretchen on occasion, a place to run away to. Gretchen bit her cheek, letting her mind wander to the fairhaired boy she had once made fun of.

Her world had changed just three years ago when she had been outside Dawson's Window, not eavesdropping, well not on purpose. Gretchen had heard him tell Joey that he was in love with Gretchen. Gretchen was sure that it was just some adolescent crush that would pass over time, and while the crush had faded over time, Dawson's eyes still lit up when they met hers.

Gretchen sighed as she made her way into the school to collect her schedule. Just when she thought that maybe she could reciprocate Dawson's feelings, it seemed that he had fallen head over heels for his best friend, Joey Potter. Gretchen knew that she couldn't compare to Joey, that she couldn't loosen the bond that the two shared, but part of her also knew that the love Joey and Dawson had, but hid from one another, was a childhood love. A love of testing the waters, finding out what dating was really all about. She had a premonition that someday her brother would end up in the arms of the brunette from down the creek and when that day came, maybe Gretchen could have her turn, her turn with Peter Pan.

"Gretchen!" Dawson hollered and sprinted over to her.

"Hey Freshie." She teased lightly and gave him her patented Gretchen Witter smile.

"Whatever Gretch." Dawson rolled his eyes and Gretchen chuckled.

"I'm just kidding Dawson, what do you want?" Gretchen asked him as she kicked her locker, trying to get open. Dawson swooped in and opened it with ease, "Mysogynistic piece of shit." She muttered.

"Gretch..." He teasingly scolded, "It's not mysogynistic, you warmed it up for me."

"Whatever Dawson."

"Anyways, I just wanted to say Hi. Ya know, wish you luck on the start of your senior year." Gretchen almost melted, that's why she liked him, he was great at the simple things.

"Thank you Dawson. Good luck with your freshman year. Stay away from Mr. Thorton, he's psycho. Try all the clubs once and if nothing else you'll find a place among the AV geeks. Make sure my brother doesn't flunk out completely and you should be fine." Gretchen told him, smiling so hard she felt like she slept with a hangar in her mouth.

"Thanks Gretchen." Dawson smiled.

"Dawson!" Joey called from where she was standing with Pacey.

"Gretch, quit hogging my best friend!" Pacey called.

"Buzz off Loser." Gretchen told him with a roll of the eyes.

"I should go. See ya around Witter." Dawson told her with a smile.

"Catchya later Leery." Gretchen breathed as he walked away, leaning to heavily against her locker door and it shut, "Dammit."