*~* From One Harbor To Another *~*
The Season Three Ficlet Collection
by M&M Works
A/N: The inspiration for this collection of work came from reading fics in another fandom for a current show (traitorous, right? LOL). Every new episode that airs brings a fresh wave of epi tags. Don't know about you all, but we both came to DC late in the day; this sparked the question what it would have been like to watch Dawson's Creek during its original run. At this point, we all read and write DC fan fiction from the vantage point of knowing the entire canon. But what if we didn't know what was to come? What if we began watching season three with only the canon to that point upon which to base our thoughts, opinions, and conjectures? After rewatching season three with that eye, the creation began of a series of ficlets, epi tags, and drabbles for each epi – almost like missing scenes - as if we didn't know that the final epi of the season would be True Love.J
As we wrote, we also realized that this was the perfect opportunity to experiment with different points of view, persons, and writing styles. Consequently, some of these are quite different than anything else we've tried. Feedback relating to that would be much appreciated.
The fics – or ficlets as we like to call them - are connected to each other only in that they are all from season three. Some epis even have more than one ficlet. They can each stand alone but the idea is to show what we believe happens off-screen to get Pacey and Joey on that boat at the end of the season.
The series is not finished; we are still writing. But we will post what we have as regularly as possible, every Friday for now. The series is rated NC-17 for language because we all know there was no sex in season three. :P And bear with us - you do all know how the story ends eventually. ;) As always, please let us know what you think! Now, on with the untold defining moments of season three. The first one kicks off at the end of epi one beside a moonlit dock...
*~* Uncharted Waters *~*
I. Standing In
"See you tomorrow, Potter."
Pacey hopped into the rowboat, picked up the oars and started his journey back down the creek toward the Leery's dock.
"Don't hit a snag out there, Witter. If you come up missing, no one would look for you until you were fish food." Pacey rolled his eyes and chuckled tiredly as her voice drifted through the dark. She always did have to have the last word.
His conjecture that they might end up to be friends didn't look promising. Despite their tentative connection over the years as Dawson's mutual best friends, Joey was a pain in the ass. He didn't relish the idea of filling in for Dawson on Potter patrol. Besides, Andie was coming back soon and he had every intention of spending all his spare time showing her just how much he had missed her over the summer.
Because at this point, even D was getting more action than he was with that hot blonde, Eve. And that just wasn't right.
God, he missed Andie. All those barely-clad girls dancing tonight had certainly gotten him hot under the collar. He was a guy after all, and breathing. But although he'd danced with them - to entice the paying clientele and boost Dawson's profits - he'd been up close but definitely not personal. He was a one-woman guy and she'd be home, back in his arms, very soon.
He sighed happily to himself and turned his gaze upwards, taking in the stars as he slowly made his way. Man, it felt great to be out on the water, even if it was only the creek. One of these days he was going to get himself a boat and sail the seas. Andie didn't enjoy sailing; it seemed Jack wasn't the only one who got seasick in that family. But he was confident he could find a way to twist her arm as he was certain sailing the open water wouldn't feel the same without the person you love by your side.
Pulling out of his daydream, Pacey focused once more on the evening's events and his newly acquired babysitting duties. Contemplative, he chewed the inside of his cheek. Maybe he could get Jen to step up and do the girlfriend thing with Joey. Girls loved to spend time together talking, right? And God knows Potter loved to talk. Surely they were over whatever issues they'd had between them. Yeah, that's what he'd do. Catch Jen at school. Enlist her sympathetic nature. Turn on the old Witter charm. Get her to hang out with Joey, check up on her.
Hey, maybe Jen would even have a girly influence on Joey. Or at least her wardrobe. Because he'd be the first to admit, Potter was growing up to be quite a looker. Too bad she didn't even realize it. And her ego took a big hit tonight. He had a feeling it was going to be hard for her to recover from Dawson's poorly-handled rejection.
Thank God he and Andie didn't have their problems.
He'd seen Joey sometimes in the past few months, dragging home after long hours at the marina. Joey could never be accused of perkiness but she'd always been passionate and this summer she had just seemed defeated. They had only exchanged the briefest greetings as they headed in different directions. He wasn't feeling very cheerful himself and was fairly certain she wouldn't welcome any sympathy from him anyway.
He'd never say so to her or to Dawson – mostly because it would be a waste of breath - but they didn't really belong together anyway. Pacey was sure he was right when he told D it wasn't the right time for them. They both needed to move beyond that childhood dance that was more like the bunny hop than the tango. He was proud of Dawson (and not a little envious) for taking a chance with the hot chick.
And Joey, who knows? She was desperate and destined to get out Capeside. He was sure her future and some highbrow guy existed for her far beyond its city limits.
No, he might try to bail on his assignment but he just wasn't gonna bet against that Potter girl.
*~*
II. Standing Tall
"See you tomorrow, Potter."
Joey watched as Pacey hopped into the liberated rowboat, picked up the oars and started his journey back down the creek toward the Leery's dock.
"Don't hit a snag out there, Witter. If you come up missing, no one would look for you until you were fish food." As a way of a reply, she heard the faint murmur of a chuckle from the rapidly disappearing rowboat.
Could this night get any worse? Not only had she humiliated herself in the bedroom fortress that had previously been her haven, but she got Pacey Witter as the consolation prize. She'd cried. In front of him, of all people. Maybe he would end up as fish food – she could only hope.
She pulled her knee up and propped her chin on it, now only randomly sniffling.
What was that all about, him coming over to console her? She certainly had no intention of trading Dawson for Pacey. Although, she had to admit he had filled out over the summer and leaning against his solid body with his warm arm around her shoulder had definitely been comforting.
Hearing the distant, intermittent splashes of Pacey's oars over the hum of the crickets, she shuddered a little, disgusted with herself for finding comfort on the shoulder of her lifelong nemesis.
However, one benefit of putting up with and spending time with Pacey - she was sure to get Leery updates. That would have to do for the time being. Of course, Andie was coming back and, whether Joey understood it or not, that crazy blonde girl was crazy about Pacey. And then how much time would he really have to hang out with her once Andie was in his eye line?
She sighed to herself. Let's face it, she didn't have a huge pool of friends to choose from. Maybe she'd call Jen. Oh God, how desperate was she? Still, maybe she could get Jen to give her some tips in going blonde. She briefly wondered if that would help her chances to get back into Dawson's life. She could see it now…
Approaching the white clapboard house where she had spent the best days of her childhood, shiny blonde hair swinging in the afternoon sun, Dawson sees her from the porch. Raking his eyes down her lithe form clad only in a tiny bikini top and denim shorts, he lets out a low wolfish whistle, "Hey beautiful…"
She rolled her eyes at herself. Never in a million years…
Gradually over the summer she had not only come to forgive Dawson for his part in the Paternal Potter Drug Scandal Part II but she realized that she may have been just a bit harsh with him. She had even gone so far as to let herself fantasize their reunion in her head. Never had she thought that their lifelong friendship would not hold fast in the long run. Notwithstanding the newest blonde bimbo in his life.
Joey slowly stood up, tossed her hair back, wiped the last vestige of her tears from her face and set her chin resolutely. Hey, she didn't need any of them. She needed a plan, that's all. She was smart and she was going to spend the next two years working her ass off to get out of Capeside, which so far had held nothing but loss and pain for her.
Then her real life could finally begin.
