Back To Your Love
Part 1
Karen H.

Oh, how time flies!, that’s all I can say. It seems like only yesterday Dawson and I were still watching movies in his room. Life back then was simple, ....when you think about it now. Dawson was oblivious, Jen was a friend but wasn’t and Pacey was ...... just Pacey I guess. But things changed in an instant, Dawson kissed me. That was when it was the beginning of everything, but the end of everything else. Nothing was the same. In the beginning things had been great.

We see clips of Dawson and Joey together. That detention kiss, Joey Drunk, Pacey kissing Joey. Dawson telling Pacey that he’s changed his mind about Pacey and Joey going out. Then the beauty pageant, Dawson going with Joey to visit her father and the sudden realisation that there is more to their relationship than friends.

**Flashback**
Dawson: She's great. She's smart, she's beautiful, she's funny, and she’s a big old scaredy cat. If you creep up from behind her she'll jump out of her skin. It's pretty amusing. She's honest and she always calls them just like she sees them. You can always count on getting the truth from Joey even if the truth hurts. She's stubborn, and we fight a lot. She can be so frustrating sometimes but she's a really good friend. I know her to a fault and she believes in me. I'm a dreamer so it's good to have somebody like that in my life. If she goes away, I don't know what I'm going to do. She's my best friend, you know? She's more than that; she's my . . . everything.

*****

Then Joey going back to see her father.

**Flashback**
Joey: Do you really love me though? Because I'm 15 years old and I go through everyday of my life thinking nobody loves me.

Mr. Potter: Well nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm not the only one, Dawson Leery. He loves you Joey, he's never told you?

*****

Thinking Jen and Dawson have gotten back together.

Jen: Thanks for letting me crash at your place.

Dawson: No problem.

*****

Jen looks up and kissed Dawson. He doesn't really respond. Just then, Joey pokes her head through the window.

Dawson: Joey!

Joey's eyes widen as she sees them kissing and flies down the ladder, running away from Dawson.

*****

Their first official kiss. The next day at school, their first date. Kisses 2, 3 and 4. All the good times.

"But that never really lasted long. I thought, hoped, dreamed of that day for so long, being with Dawson. Just when I got him things became complicated. It was like I didn’t want him anymore. Then there was that other kiss, the one with Jack. God, how that changed everything. I felt guilty and didn’t want to hurt Dawson. But not telling Dawson wasn’t a good idea. He found out anyway, from me. I wish I could have just been honest about it.

Then I dated Jack, and now he’s gay. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Jack and I hadn’t kissed, or if he wasn’t gay?? Would Dawson and I have been okay?? Would I still be with Jack?? Then there was Dad. Just as Dawson and I thought we could start again, he came back. Yeah and ruined things. Goodbye Dawson".

"I couldn’t believe Dawson and I were really broke this time. But it didn’t get better. I offered myself to him and he turned me down cold. I couldn’t believe I’d done that, but at the same time it was a major turning point with regards to my relationship with Pacey. We actually became friends. And everything changed after I told A.J to go be with his soulmate."

Cut to clip of Joey and Pacey kissing.

"Then there was Pacey. Now, I never thought we’d get it together. We never intended to hurt anyone. But then no one ever intends to hurt anyone. Which brings us to the worst day of my life. The day we told Dawson or rather Jen did. I couldn’t believe I’d hurt him again and I really wanted to make it up to him.

DAWSON: Then I guess it would be safe to say that friendship doesn’t come above sex on your list of personal priorities.

PACEY: This isn’t about sex --

DAWSON: -- Oh, what, you’re in love? Is that what this is?

*****

**Flashback**
DAWSON: It’s a simple question, Joey. Do you need him like you need me?

JOEY: Those things don’t have anything to do with each other. The way I feel about him is totally separate from the way I feel about you and about our friendship.

DAWSON: What friendship? As of this moment, we don’t have a friendship. You don’t get to have us both. You can’t have him as your boyfriend and me as your consolation prize. You have to choose. And if you choose him, I won’t be there to pick up the pieces when it falls apart. And it will fall apart. So it better be worth it. If you do this, there’s no going back. This ruins everything, Joey.

But what if I was meant to be with Pacey now?? What if I never found out?? After we told Dawson, I felt as though he was trying to make me love him again. But I already did. It’s just that I felt something for Pacey too.

More clips of Dawson and Joey after Dawson knows, movie nights, the regatta

*****

**Flashback**
PACEY: Dawson Leery couldn’t have scripted this any better.

JOEY: What do you mean?

PACEY: Don't you get it? No matter what I do, he wins. If I drop out, he wins. If I race, I’m forced into competing with him. If I win that race, I beat... you. And guess who wins?

PACEY: You think indulging in some James Dean meets Greased Lightnin' fantasy is gonna prove that you're a better man than me?

DAWSON: I don't have to prove that. You made that clear when you moved in on Joey.

and the prom

**Flashback**
DAWSON: Don't you get it Joey? You can't go back. You can't come to my room and pop in "E.T." and sit with me on my bed and have it be the same. And you can't dance with him at the prom I organized and expect me not to get hurt.

JOEY: You told me tonight was about you and me, and our friendship. But if that were true it wouldn't matter who I danced with.

DAWSON: I said tonight was about moving forward. What did you think that meant? You can't think that’s all I wanted. Of course I want more.

JOEY: I don't know why we can't just try to get our friendship back --

DAWSON: -- Because, don't you see? The entire reason I suggested this stupid alternative prom -- it wasn't just about Jack. It was about you. Maybe I was trying too hard, but I didn't want to miss my chance to dance with you, to hold you, to make you remember what it's like between us. I thought if only I could make tonight perfect...

JOEY: That I'd pick you. Say it, Dawson -- you thought that if you orchestrated this whole evening I'd be convinced into picking you over Pacey.

DAWSON: You have to pick somebody, Joey! And I wanted to remind you what you'd be missing if you didn't pick me. Because you’d be missing a lot. And so would I. We'd be missing everything.

He kisses her.

Always with that look in his eyes - he still loves her and wants her back. Then the wedding, Dawson crying and telling her that "Pacey is this years Paris", Joey crying.

DAWSON: To my parents. Who taught me that love doesn’t conquer all. That love ends. And then it begins again. (He then just looks at Joey).

The song continues as Dawson sits on the pier and cries, he’s lost Joey all over again.

Pacey had wanted me to ask him to stay, but somehow I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. Then the pier, the boat - Pacey.

*****

**Flashback**
JOEY: I think I'm in love with you.

PACEY: You think, or you know?

JOEY: I know it. I've know it since the moment you kissed me, and maybe even before that. And as scary as it is, I don't want to deny it anymore. I don't want to run from it or let it run from me.

PACEY: So what are we going to do here?

JOEY: I'm still not gonna ask you to stay.

PACEY: I see...

JOEY: Because I want to go with you.

PACEY: What?

JOEY: I want to stop standing still. I want to go forward. I want to go with you, Pacey.

PACEY: What about Bessie and the B&B -- they need you.

JOEY: Not as much as I need you Pacey.

They kiss and sail away.

I so wanted our future to be together, and Pacey had problems but we tried together.

*****

**Flashback**
PACEY: I'm scared, Jo. I screwed up. I'm not doing very well in school, and you need to help me.

JOEY: That's all you had to say, Pacey. Whatever it takes... we'll fix it. Everything is gonna be okay.

PACEY: How can you be so sure?

JOEY: Because I'm not going anywhere without you.

We all had our fair share of falling-outs, and not only because of my relationship with Pacey. But I think Andie did a pretty good job at trying to mend things.

*****

**Flashback**
PACEY: Wait. That’s not all. There’s something else I wanted to say, too... I know that things between us are pretty much beyond repair right now. And I wouldn’t ever presume to try and make everything better with a conversation, so that’s not what this is -- but I just wanted to tell you, I wanted to say about everything that happened last spring... I’m sorry. I’m sorry for my part in it. And I’m sorry for the pain I know it caused you. But mostly I’m sorry because I miss our friendship. And however far off it may be, I look forward to the day that we can be friends again. So, until then...

DAWSON: Until then...

PACEY: Remember when you told me that you'd never be able to trust me again? That was definitely among the top five worst moments of my life.

DAWSON: Remember when I walked out of my house and found you and Joey? That was my worst ever. Number one with a bullet.

PACEY: Do you think it’s possible that maybe, I could prove to you that I could be someone you could trust again, someday?

DAWSON: I’d like to believe that it is.

PACEY: I gotta try. Not ready to give up on you.

ANDIE: Thought I knew exactly how to start. Rehearsed it and everything. But now that you’re here and waiting and... staring at me... It shouldn't have taken a scheme to get you all here tonight. When my Dad made me the offer to take the rest of the year off, I sat down with a trusty number two and made a list of pros and cons. The pros were obvious, a chance to live in Europe. To get lost for an afternoon in a book that wasn't assigned or down a cobbled street that wasn’t on any map. The opportunity of a lifetime, right? But then came those nasty cons. And you know what got top billing? You. The biggest negative was leaving my friends. The ones who supported, consoled and understood unconditionally. But look at us now, we’re a mess. Let's talk about why... starting with last week's fiasco. Enough with the blame Jen game. If I don't, you shouldn't. Yes, she had them, but I took them. I got your pity and Jen got your wrath and that’s wrong because it was my fault. Don't you remember when we used to look for not run from each other? When we faced problems together -- we weren't the problem? What happened? Pacey... Joey... and Dawson. You guys are so lucky. Do you have any idea how rare it is to have friends who you've known for your whole life? I mean, you have a list of remember when’s that date back to the cradle. Please don’t underestimate that. There are still memories to create and that’s precious. 'Cause in the end you always turn back to who was there at the beginning. And at the beginning there were the three of you. And you two. This... it's inexcusable. One of the things that was keeping me here was the thought that if I left, Jack wouldn’t have a sister around. But then I realized, he would. It’s you. Maybe my leaving... maybe it will remind you that in six months, you all will be, too. Time's ticking. Your lives in Capeside are almost over, do you really want them to end this way? Because the only ones who can decide that are sitting at this table. When I first met you... I didn't know much about friendship... or love. Each of you taught me a lot about both. And maybe by leaving... I can return the favor. Because the thought of it ending like this... like... the way things are right now... it isn't... it’s not how I want to remember us. Do you?

Pacey never quite made it to university, so he decided to repeat his final year of school. So Pacey stayed in Capeside, and me, well I couldn’t just hang around for him, and he wasn’t going to let me anyway. So we agreed to take a break until he came to university. Andie came back from Italy to start College with us. So there we were Jack, Andie, Dawson and myself all out in the big bad world, - Boston University. It was hard in the beginning, without Pacey but we both knew if it was meant to be, then it would work out in the end.

*****

3 years later.

PACEY (bursts into Dawson’s flat): "You guy’s are never gonna guess what’s happening in the student union tonight?" No one said anything, they just stared at him. He continued "Okay, there’s a singing competition and me thinks Joey should enter it."

JOEY: "Yeah right, and why would I be entering this?"

PACEY: "Ah, dearest Joey, you would merely be singing a song so that we (points to everyone), could go on an all expenses paid weekend trip to New York" Pacey hit back.

Everyone just looked at Joey.

JOEY: "What?? You lot think I should enter??"

JACK: "Come on Joey, it could be fun."

DAWSON: "What’s the worst that could happen??"

JOEY: "Okay, I’ll think about it."

*****

That night Joey is on the phone to Bessie.

JOEY: "So the big move is tomorrow".

BESSIE: "I say you’ll have killed one another within a month".

JOEY: "Anyway Bessie, that’s not why I called. I have something to tell you."

BESSIE: "Let me guess this is love related??"

JOEY: "How’d you know??"

BESSIE: "Women’s intuition. So what’s the news?? Pregnant, getting married, the whole package, dumped?!?"

JOEY: "Whoa Bessie, the whole package?"

BESSIE: "You know, moving in together, getting married and pregnant."

JOEY: "Not all of it."

BESSIE: "Start talking!"

JOEY: "Oh, it’s a long story. But basically I was going to ask him to ma. . ."

BESSIE: "You were going to ask him??"

JOEY: "Yes, why does that surprise you??"

BESSIE: "Just never pictured you proposing. So does he have any idea?"

JOEY: "Not a clue."

BESSIE: "So how are you going to do it??"

JOEY: "Well, tomorrow I move in with Andie and Jen and we were going tohave a house warming meal type thing and I was going to do it then."

BESSIE: "Why do I feel a but coming??"

JOEY: "But there’s this stupid singing/talent type contest in the student union and everyone thinks I should enter."

BESSIE: "Do you want to enter? What do you win??"

JOEY: "I don’t know and a weekend trip for up to 6 people to New York. I suppose if I win I could always do it in New York."

BESSIE: "Do what exactly??"

JOEY: "Bessie!!!"

BESSIE: "Oh I take it you mean propose??"

JOEY: "I think I will enter."

BESSIE: "What are you gonna sing??"

JOEY: "I don’t know. Well I have a list about a mile long."

BESSIE: "Example Joey, examples."

JOEY: "’Let’s talk about love’, ‘I ask of you’, ‘Time goes by’ or ‘Tell me what you dream’"

BESSIE: "How about ‘When you love someone’, or this ones corny, ‘I love the way you love me’ or my favourite."

JOEY: "Which is??"

BESSIE: "’Don’t be a stranger’"

JOEY: "I love that song"

BESSIE: "Have you told anyone else??"

JOEY: "About what??"

BESSIE: "About the proposal??"

JOEY: "No, the only one that knows about the relationship is Andie. We decided that because of the big break up the last time that it would be best if we kept it to ourselves. But we both decided that we needed to tell someone or we would probably burst. We both felt more comfortable telling Andie."

BESSIE: "So he won’t be the only one who’s surprised??"

JOEY: "Oh this is going to be fun!!"

BESSIE: "How do you two manage to control yourselves when you’re with them??"

JOEY: "Sometimes it’s difficult, but that just adds more excitement to it. We have had our fair share of close calls. Like the time we were at a party and Jack spotted us kissing, but he didn’t know it was me ‘coz my hair was different. Or if we’re all out eating and we are sitting beside each other we hold hands. I think that sometimes we just really need to be touching, whether our legs touch or we’re holding hands. And it helps that Andie knows. Listen Bess, I’m gonna have to run. I’ll let you know the outcome."

BESSIE: "Oh you better believe it. I want the details of everything."

JOEY: "That may take a while. See ya Bess."

BESSIE: "See ya Joey and good luck."

*****

Scene: - We see a blonde and a brunette kissing in someone’s dorm room, then we see the door open and Andie standing there.

ANDIE: "Oops"

PACEY: "Uh, Hi"

JEN: "Mmm, were you looking for me??"

ANDIE: "It’ll keep" then as she closes the door.

JEN + PACEY: "We can explain."

ANDIE: puts both hands up and adds "None of my business, but don’t you think you should tell people" Then she leaves.

JEN: "You know she’s right??"

PACEY: "She’s Andie, She’s always right!!"

JEN: "So we sort this out and then we..."

PACEY: "Yes"

JEN: "Us"

PACEY: "Maybe it’s a good thing that she knows"

JEN: "Why, because this has been going on for months and we stillhaven’t said anything to anyone"

PACEY: "Yes and do you know what?? This is going to be so difficult!"