Dawson had decided to have Joey over for a movie again. It had been a long time since theyd done that. He was happy when she accepted to come: theirs was a friendship worth having.

'So. What did you think?'

'That was the directors cut, right? Cause it seemed a lot bloodier.'

'No, I meant with what I said earlier.'

Dawson had asked Joey to act in his movie, for old times' sake.

'I dont know, Dawson. I mean, considering that you have money now and can afford it, wouldn't it be easier if you hired a professional?'

'But I don't want a professional. I want you! The character is inspired by you and theres no-one that I can think of that can play it better.'

'The character is inspired by me? You never told me that. Come to think of it, you never told me what the movie was about.'

'It's about love. Its a sort of a romantic comedy with a twist.'

'Uh-huh'

'...its not going to be silly! I promise you wont have to say any pompous love lines! It will be simple and straight to the point the way I expect your love life to go.'

'My love life is anything but simple and straight to the point.'

'Oh really? In what way? Please enlighten me! Who exactly is your love life nowadays?'

Joey rolled her eyes.

'Unlike you, mr. director, I *dont* have a love life.'

'And whats more simple and straight to the point than the lack of a love life?'

'Silence.'

'Come on, Joey. I promise, the lines are really becoming to you.'

'I can't say yes until I see the script.'

'I was kind of hoping it would be a surprise.'

'Dawson, what self-respecting actress do you think would accept to act in your movie under these circumstances?'

'My best friend in the whole world who wants to help me do a great movie?'

'Urgh. I hate it when you do that...'

'Please, please, please...'

'Fine.'

'Yay!' Dawson hugged Joey.

'Now let me go home and prepare myself for the movie that shall not be mentioned'

'Pacey! Just the man I wanted to see!'

'Good morning to you too, Dawson. What can I do you for?'

'You could play in my movie.'

'Uhm that movie that you mysteriously hide from everyone?'

'That one'

'And why would I do that?'

'Because you're my best friend and I can't think of anyone who would play this part better than you.'

'What's the movie about?'

'It's a romantic comedy.'

Pacey stopped short.

'Listen Dawson. I played in your last movie because ripping heads off is cool. However, romantic stuff are not. No self-respecting chick would like me if I played in a romantic comedy. Those are so...'

'Oh come on, Pacey. Why do you think they are called chick-flicks? Because girls like them! Every girl will want to meet you after she sees you playing Petey!'

'Petey? What kind of a stupid name is that?'

'A name like any other like Pacey for example.'

'Dude, I dont appreciate you picking on my name. That's not a good way to convince me.'

'Come on, Pacey, I know you are the best man for the job. I've worked with you before and you'd be great at it!'

'Who will I get to kiss?'

'Excuse me?'

'It's a romantic comedy. Inevitably there has to be a female counterpart to yours truly. Who will play that?'

'Errr I don't know yet.'

'You must have someone in mind.'

'I do, actually, but she hasn't said yes yet.'

'So who is it?'

'I told you I don't know yet.'

'Dawson, man, don't play games with me. Who hasn't said yes yet?'

'Joey.'

'Say again?'

'It's Joey.'

'Man, I don't think that's a good idea.'

'Come on, Pacey, it's not like you haven't done it before!'

'Yeah but that was different!'

'In what way?'

Pacey opened his mouth to talk but said nothing. Dawson looked at him curiously:

'In what way, Pacey?'

'You know what, nevermind. Just know that I don't think its a good idea.'

'It's just a movie, Pacey! What's the worst that could happen?'

'We could fight all the time?'

'You're doing that already, remember? It's all part of the Pacey-Joey dynamic.'

'Well, my friend, that dynamic has changed a little lately.'

'In what way?'

Silence.

'In the way that we're kind of getting along as surprising as that may sound'

'To be honest, that doesn't sound surprising at all. And that's another reason why your excuses don't work.'

'Not really because the new dynamic is fragile and I don't want to ruin it.'

'Pacey, what better way to enforce a friendship than to spend a lot of time together? And what better way to do that than by filming a movie?'

'A movie, maybe. A romantic comedy however involves kissing, I presume.'

'I promise that this movie will not pull you apart. You will become better friends than ever, Im sure of it.'

'Well, let me read it and decide that for myself.'

'Actually I was hoping that the actors would act it as it comes'

'What do you mean by that?'

'I mean you learn your scenes as they happen. So that when the finale happens you can act genuine surprise'

'I can act surprised.'

'Please, Pacey, I'm trying a new thing. Bare with me.'

'How can I act in a movie when I don't know whats happening?'

'I will give you the first scene, after we shoot that, I will give you the second and so on...'

'Dawson, man...'

'Come on, it's gonna be great. I can feel it.'

'Fine'

-

Dawson hugged Andie from behind and kissed her hair:

'I did it!'

'Did what?'

'I convinced both Pacey and Joey to act in my movie!'

'Really? That's cool! Does that mean I can see the script?'

'No.'

'Dawson'

'It's a surprise. Even the actors will get the scenes as the movie is shooting.'

'That's an original way to do things.'

'Exactly, original is the word.'

'So what's the movie about?'

'It's a romantic comedy.'

'A romantic comedy? With Pacey and Joey starring?' Andie frowned.

'Yeah, isnt that great?'

'Dawson, but I'm not sure Pacey and Joey are really good at playing lovebirds.'

'Who says they'll be playing lovebirds?'

'Well, I'm assuming that a romantic comedy would include romantic scenes and Pacey and Joey in a romantic scene sounds almost like a blasphemy.'

'It won't. Their dynamic will help this movie look sincere and great. It's a great idea, trust me'

'Okay' Andie said unsurely.

'You don't still have feelings for Pacey, do you?'

'What, me? Feelings for Pacey? No, I mean, I thought I liked him, but, no... He's just too... no, I dont like him.'

Dawson frowned.

'Look, Andie, if you still have feelings for Pacey, it would be nice if you let me know about it cause I have feelings for you, and...'

'Dawson, I dont have feelings for Pacey, ok? I have feelings for *you* too.'

'Good. Now lets get to class.'

'Okay, Pacey, heres your first scene. Now I have to find Joey and give her a copy.'

'Is she playing in this thing?'

'Yes, she eventually said yes.'

'I see.'

'Trust me, this is gonna be great.'

'Does she know I get to play Petey?'

'Not yet, but I'll tell her... oh, there she is!'

Joey came to them:

'Hey Dawson, you said youre going to give me my first scene to read?'

'Yes, here it is. Well all meet after school at my house and shoot it. Everything's ready.'

'Great.' Joey took the papers and started to leave. Suddenly she turned around and asked:

'So, who else is playing?'

Silence. Pacey bit his lips and tried to find something interesting to look at.

'What?' Joey asked with a frown.

'Pacey's playing Petey.' Dawson said in what he tried to make a sure tone.

'Who's Petey? I havent read it yet, remember?'

'Your romantic counterpart' Pacey said with a small smirk and stared Joey right in the face. Joey turned pale.

'Err...'

'Come on, Joey, you've done it before, youll do it again.'

'Dawson, this is a romantic comedy. Do you honestly expect me to act sincerely in love with this...' she pointed at Pacey but ran out of words.

Pacey looked at Dawson:

'I told you, man'

'Joey, you said you'd do it.'

'I didn't know *he* was going to be in it!'

'Joey...'

She looked unsurely at Pacey who avoided her stare. A long silence ensued.

'So, I'll see you both at my house after class to shoot the first scene, right?' Dawson said.

Pacey and Joey shrug, turned around and left. Dawson looked at Andie:

'Well, that wasn't at all awkward.'

'Ok, everyone, thank you for coming. We will today start shooting for my second movie. I have explained it to everyone, we're trying something new here: we're shooting the scenes as they come, without knowing what comes next. Like that we will have a genuine element of surprise and the acting will be more sincere. Does everyone have the first scene?'

Everyone nodded.

Ok, then lets get started.

-

'Dawson'

'Yes, Joey.'

'What are you trying to do?'

'What do you mean?'

'Dawson this is us!'

'Us?'

'Me you Pacey this are things that actually happened! And Pacey and I are basically playing ourselves!'

'I told you the character of Sam was inspired by you... And there was a reason why I wanted Pacey to play Petey'

'Dawson, but me and Pacey were never romantically involved... how are you going to turn this into a *romantic* comedy? And why would you want to make a romantic comedy based on me and Pacey?'

'It's the classical story of enemies turned lovers!'

'But we didn't turn lovers!'

Dawson bit back a smile.

'No, you didn't, that was my personal addition.'

'Does this have anything to do with what we discussed when we when we broke up? You know that that had nothing to do with Pacey, right?'

'Yes, I do, Joey. And, no, I dont believe there is anything going on with you and Pacey...' Dawson noticed Joeys subtle blush, 'however, I got inspiration from that and turned into a story every storyteller and screenplay writer has been doing this ever since stories happened. Whats the big deal?'

'The big deal is that people know us they might think that I dont know Im just uncomfortable with this! Very uncomfortable!'

'Relax, Joey. Its just a movie. Right?'

Joey bit her lips:

'Right. '