Senior year, the year that turns boys into men, average guys into heroes, film geeks into filmmakers. To say I’m excited proves to be an understatement as all these strange emotions race through my veins. Today I’m the top of the school, the king pin, the one all the other grades look up to.

“And plus…we get to park our cars on the senior block now!” Pacey says excitedly as he, Joey and I stroll through the corridors after picking up our new timetables.

“That’d be great if we had a car Pace.” Joey states, less than enthused about senior year. She seems to carry this strange notion that all three of us aren’t ready, that we’re all still in the same place we were when we finished Prep school.

“My Dad doesn’t always need his car Josephine.”

“I’ll not be an accessory to your grand theft auto, Loser.”

“My, my, quite the cynic we are.”

“He borrows Jo, he never steals.” I laugh; quoting a line Pacey’s used many times, a line I’m sure Sheriff Witter would be quick to dispute.

“Exactly.” He nods in agreement. Joey merely rolls her eyes in the cute way that only Joey Potter can.

“So…lets check out what classes we’re in together.” Pacey says, grabbing everyone’s timetables and perusing them. I know for a fact that the teachers wouldn’t have been stupid enough to put Pacey and I in the same class together again, in spite of my attempts to the contrary, we’re far too disruptive together.

“Damn, I’m in two of Joey’s classes.” Pacey moans. Joey gives him a scowl and snatches her timetable back.

“Note I’m not exactly delighted at the prospect either loser.”

“And here I was looking forward to senior year, looks like I’ll be spending it grieving when the two of you kill each other.” I laugh, knowing they’ll be able to cope more than well being in each other’s presence, hell, they’ve done it for 17 years!

“Maybe I can talk to the guidance counsellor about changing classes.” Joey mumbles to herself as we continue walking down the corridor.

I hate this…I so really hate this. Here we are at a turning point in our lives that can only lead to disaster and Dawson’s beside himself with excitement and Pacey’s his usual cocky self. Am I the only one to understand the gravity of the situation? Here we are, embarking on possibly the greatest, hardest year of our lives, and we’re no different than when we first started on the journey known as the high school experience. How can we possibly make it out unscathed?

I may be slightly over dramatising the situation but really…what kind of a girl in her senior year can boast utter social obscurity? The only two friends in the world I have are standing beside me and after this year is through, we’re all going to different states…and this year, this year is all we have left.

It’s not like I’m not excited about the very prospect of finishing High School and getting out of this god forsaken town, coz I am! I’m just a little…wary; anxious; scared. I’m scared I’ll be alone. Pacey and Dawson on the other hand seem to hold no such fears. Sure, Dawson’s worried he won’t make it to film school and Pacey’s concerned that the gas station won’t be hiring but are these realistic concerns? Well…maybe Pacey’s is.

Senior Year…Senior year. No matter how many times I repeat those words to myself I still can’t fully grasp what it means. This is the year that I’ve been waiting for, for all my life. This is the year that will be filled with parties, sex, alcohol, sex…maybe even for Dawson, lord forbid!

“Are you guys coming over tonight, maul over our first day back?” Dawson asks. It’s always been a ritual with the three of us, to report back to Dawson’s bedroom every time an important event has occurred in our less than eventful lives, to discuss it for hours on end. Not exactly my idea of a good time, but what can you do? It’s not like I have any other friends; in fact, Joey, Dawson and I seem to have completely segregated ourselves from the rest of our peers somewhere along the line and have turned into three complete outcasts.

“Sure.” Joey answers Dawson’s request. I merely nod.

“It’s not like I have anywhere else to be D. I mean, I could go home…but we all know how much I despise that idea.” I say.

“Do we ever.” Joey rolls her eyes. She has always resented my bitter comments about my family as her family is far beyond repair and mine can only attest to mild dysfunction.

“So let’s say 7, Pacey you can pick up a film or two on your way home from work?” he asks. Work for Dawson and I is none other than the local video rental store, very convenient for our fetish with films.

“Sure.” I answer, preparing myself for yet another long year as Dawson Leery’s sidekick.