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Better Safe Than Sorry

(General POV)

"Stop hogging the marshmallows," Scarlett said from under Dawson's covers as she clutched her mug half full of hot chocolate.

Dawson smiled and tossed them to her.

He laid his head back on her lap and stared at the ceiling.

"I really don't want to do this project," Dawson released with a deep exasperated sigh.

She ran her fingers through his hair, stroking the top of his head gently.

"It's just a project. Plus I think it'll be good for you. You have to learn to be ok with Joey and Pacey," she said coaching him mentally and his eyes rolled.

"I am ok with Joey and Pacey. I'm over it. But that doesn't mean I want to just act like nothing ever happened," he said, his eyes glazing over with irritation.

"Grudges get you no where. And no, you and Pacey never have to be friends again if that's not what you desire. But..."

"Always a but."

"But the longer you stay bitter the longer he has control over your life and the more resentful you become. Then it eventually gets to the point where you are unfairly blaming him for things that aren't actually his fault. Your heart isn't made for resentment Dawson," she said reassuringly as she stared down at him intently.

Dawson brought his hands to his face and groaned into them.

He found her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"I'm really glad you're coming," he said, giving her hand a squeeze. He looked up from where he lay, briefly locking eyes with her.

"We better go," Scarlett said patting his shoulder lightly for him to rise.

"If we must," Dawson said sighed and she smiled caressing his sad face briefly with her finger before putting on her shoes.

They made there way down the stairs to find Mitch and Gale sitting on the couch, wrapped in blankets and holding tissues.

"Oh, so you're sick now, too?" Dawson inquired.

"Uh, I got the sniffly part," his dad said depressingly.

Gale coughed, "Oh, I still got that nauseous part."

"I could make you guys some chicken noodle soup that will change your life, cutesy of my great grandmother. And an amazing homemade tea that'll clear that sore throat up," Scarlett suggested.

"That's very sweet of you honey but, I think we'll be fine," Gale said and then sneezed.

"Well, you know, maybe if you two kept your tongues out of each other's throats for 2 seconds, you'd stop passing this thing back and forth." Dawson said matter of factly and Scarlett smiled.

"Lay off Dawson. You'll be lucky to have as much passion in your future marriage. It's good to have a...healthy appetite for one another," she said and Dawson gave a face of disgust.

"Thank you Scarlett," Mitch said and Scarlett smiled wider.

"Can we not talk about my parents' appetite for one another," Dawson said.

"Take a good look, honey. This is marriage," Gale said and Dawson put on his coat.

"All right. We're going to the yacht club. We have some homework to do," Dawson threw out.

Mitch's eyebrows furrowed, "Mmm. A sociology report on the wealthy?"

"No. We've got a project to do with Joey. Wasn't our idea. We got assigned," he responded nonchalantly.

"Are you ok with that?" Mitch asked with a worried Gale next to him.

"Why does everybody treat me like my head is going to spontaneously explode every time her name is mentioned?"

"Because it did," Gale said.

"Three months ago. Which in teenager time is like a decade. Joey's got her life and I've got mine," Dawson said annoyed at the prospect of being hung up on Joey.

"And Pacey?"

"I see you've joined dad and Scarlett in your great Pacey watch 2000. Sorry I don't have any updates. Except for the fact that he hates me even more since I let Joey know about his little situation. Thanks for the tip, pop," Dawson said sarcastically.

"You did the right thing," Mitch said.

"Well, I'm all out of right things as far as Pacey's concerned. You guys want me to get you anything before I go?" he countered, done with this conversation.

"No. On your way out, would you shut the windows back there? The wind's starting up," he requested and Dawson nodded.

"Will do. All right," Dawson agreed.

"Bye Mitch, Gale," Scarlett said giving them a smile and following Dawson out.

!$!$!$! $#$ #$ $#$%#$ #!$ # (Dawson's POV)$^&$*^&%#$#%*^$#^#%

I glanced around The Capeside Yacht Club.

The place was deserted.

The only ones there were Mr. Brooks, Joey, Drew, Scarlett, and I.

Drew was off talking to his next conquest while we were trying to sort out this debate.

"I just think that if Valentine and Proteus came to some mutual understanding... Oh, god. What?" Joey said after she saw me shoot her a look.

"Joey, we are trying so hard not to talk about Pacey, he's become the subtext of this whole damn play. What do you say we just get it out in the open once and for all?" I said wanting to be completely straight forward.

Having Scarlett beside me was definitely motivation and I could feel her hand on my knee warning me to be nice.

Her eyes briefly looked at a quiet Scarlett who's eyes skimmed over her book.

I could tell Joey didn't want her there but, frankly I didn't care.

"Ok. Let's," Joey said shakily.

"Pacey and I are not going to be friends again. End of story. I know everybody seems to think that it's time we made up, but that's not going to happen," I said clearly making sure there was not misunderstandings.

"Well, since you did bring this up, why not?" Joey questioned.

"What's done is done."

"After 10 years of friendship, what's done is done?"

"No, after the greatest betrayal of my life, what's done is done."

Joey sighed, "Dawson, I was a part of that betrayal."

"Yes, and you apologized for it. You really showed some sort of remorse for what happened. Pacey could care less. Which is fine. It's just not the kind of person I'm going to race out and be friends with again. And it's time for everyone to just accept that reality and move on with their lives, starting with you and me talking about this play without referencing him. Can we do that?" I finally got out, relieved.

"Yeah, ok," Joey said defeated.

A round of thunder went off and Joey shifted uneasily.

"What?" I asked.

"I'll be right back," she then said rising from the table and heading for the bar.

"Jeez, you're both so stubborn," Scarlett said making me look at her.

"Excuse me?"

"You're both stubborn. She wants things to just magically fall into a land of happiness and sunshine where she's dating Pacey and you're all the best of friends. She's being naive and dare I say a little stupid if she thinks you and Pacey can just be friends again," she said flipping through her book.

"I know that's what I..."

"Hold on there. Not so fast. She may be thinking unrealistically but, some of her points are still valid. You were hurt and betrayed and you think that forgiving Pacey makes it seem like what he did was ok. You shaking on it and moving on makes it seem like he didn't just push your friendship over and spit on it."

I looked down at my hands with a pang in my chest. I didn't think about Pacey much. I actually avoided it at all cost.

It hurt too much.

"But bottom line is he's human just like the rest of us. He makes mistakes and screws up royally and maybe he hasn't recognized it yet but that's because his pride is getting the best of him. So when he does apologize, which he will, don't be a pigheaded jackass even if it's hard to understand and even if you don't have to. You guys have something that some people would kill for and I'd hate to see you throw that away over teenage hormones and immature hardheaded revenge," she said her eyes gentle on the side of my face.

She was really good job of taking harsh subjects and making them easy to talk about.

But she was also graceful in the way she said things making it so very hard to be mad.

"I'm done talking by the way. Enough inspirational words from one day," she joked and I sighed.

I turned to her and she smirked.

We leaned in briefly placing our foreheads together, my eyes closed.

She took my hand.

"It's going to be ok," she said and I sat up.

"I know," I responded looking over at Joey who was watching the television.

"You ready to go? Clearly they aren't interested in getting any work done," I said rising and grabbing my books.

Scarlett got up as well and followed me to the bar.

"Joey, we're outta here, if you actually want to work later, let us know," I said trying not to be so annoyed.

"Dawson? They're out there," Joey said panicking.

My eyebrow rose, "Who's out there?"

"Pacey and Jen are out on the boat."

"All right, no wonder you've been so out of it. Why didn't you say something like an hour ago?"

"Well, it wasn't this bad an hour ago."

Jack came through the doors drenched.

"Hey, guys, have you seen Andie? I'm supposed to pick her up here," he asked.

"Hey, jack, I'm here," Andie said from behind us.

"Look, I came early. It's really getting ugly out there," Jack said worriedly.

"Not half as ugly as it got back there," I heard her respond but, my mind was on Pacey and Jen.

What were they thinking?

Bruce, the man who managed the boats at the club, came in.

"Whew. Drue. Yeah? Where's your mother?" Bruce asked.

Mrs. Valentine came in as well, "What's the matter, Bruce?"

"All the boats from the club are secure at the docks except for 3, and those 3 have radioed in their position, and they'll need assistance into the harbor," Bruce responded and my heart sank.

Joey jumped in front of him, "Is one of those boats the True Love?"

"The True Love is out there?" Andie's voice chime in.

I zoned into my head trying to think of a solution.

I could vaguely hear Joey tell Bruce that the boat was out there but, he wasn't taking it.

I was worried.

No matter how mad I was at Pacey he was still...well, Pacey.

"There are 3 boats at the mouth of the port trying to make their way into the harbor," Bruce said and Joey shook her head in denial.

"But you just said yourself none of those boats are the True Love," Joey shot out at him.

"Yeah, well, we're escorting them in one at a time. If your friends are out there, we'll get them back safe and sound," Bruce tried to assure her but, I knew this did not soothe her.

"Pacey wouldn't come into dock in this weather. There's no way he'd risk his boat," she said.

"No sensible person would stay out there in this," Bruce argued.

It finally came to me.

"There's a cove right off of Crescent Island. We waited out a storm there once when we were kids. That's where he is," I said knowing for sure.

Bruce shook his head, "Yeah, but at this point, in this weather, Crescent Island would provide very little protection."

"Well, he doesn't know that," I said.

"How could he not know?"

I was starting to get frustrated.

"Well, obviously his radio is broken. That's why no one has heard from him," Joey said.

"Let's just get these boats in. And if we still haven't heard from them, I'll send someone looking for your friends," Bruce said trying to be reasonable but, not reasonable enough.

"You can't possibly wait that long. It'll be too late and you'll have lives on your conscience," Scarlett stated and Bruce sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry. That's the best I can offer at this point."

Bruce turned and left us defeated.

"They're there. I'm sure of it," I said completely sure of my conclusion.

We went there as kids.

"Well, what can we do about it?" Joey asked.

"Go get them. Now. Do you know if there's a boat I can borrow around here?" I asked.

"Uh, I think Mrs. Valentine has a spare set of keys to all the boats at the club."

Drue came in carrying keys.

"Which is why it's always a good idea to be nice to Mrs. Valentine's little boy. Try slip 41, the Artful Dodger. Don't let the old geez see you," he said and handed them to me.

Me Scarlett, Joey, and I went out to the docks.

It was pouring rain and freezing.

"I'll radio in when I know something," I said loudly over the rain and Joey rejected it.

"If you think you're going without me, you're high!" she said angry.

"Joey, you're not coming with me, and that's not negotiable!"

I felt Scarlett's hand in mine pull me back.

"She's going and you know it. You need help so take it. Plus if she wasn't going I would be. No way you're going alone," she said her voice full of demand and worry.

She reached up and kissed me on the cheek, lingering at my ear.

"Be safe," she said lightly and then pulled back to look me in my eyes before squeezing my hand and turning around to head back up the dock.

I smiled but, didn't bask in it as I turned and quickly jumped on the boat.

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