Can It Be Done? : Starting Over
By: Kat
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Dawson's Creek. This is only for recreational purposes, people!
Rating: PG13 - mature conversations, mild cursing
Distribution: Take it anywhere...just tell me first.
***
Pacey could barely control his excitement as he took the quick bike ride to Jen's house. As he pulled up the gravel drive, he saw two figures heading in his direction. Dawson and Joey.
"Hey, Pace!" Dawson called. Joey looked at the ground.
"Hey D, what's up?"
"We were actually just headed for Main Street to go to lunch. You want to join us?"
Looking at Joey's don't-even-think-about-it expression, he decided to toy with her. Make her think he might actually ruin a potentially romantic excursion with Dawson.
"That sounds like fun," he replied. Batting his eyelashes at Joey he asked, "Would you mind if I came, Jo?"
"I don't give a crap what you do, Pacey. As long as it has nothing to do with me."
Putting his hands in front of himself, he laughed nervously. "I was only joking around. I was on my way to Jen's, so I can't."
Dawson looked from one friend to the other. "Okay then. Call me tomorrow and we'll do something."
Nodding vigorously, Pacey sat back on his bike. "That I will." They said their good-byes and walked off.
As Pacey was getting closer to Jen's he turned around and called out to Joey. "I hope your surgery goes well, Jo!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!" she shouted back.
"The surgery to remove that stick from your ass! Have fun you two!"
Joey scowled, trying her best to hide the embarrassment. "He's such an ass."
"I thought you two were friends now. What happened?" She didn't respond. "Joey?"
"Nothing, I don't want to talk about it."
*~**~*
"I thought you'd never get here," Jen greeted him. She was wearing a long blue skirt and another crocheted sweater, this one was blue.
"You're quite the color coordinator," he commented. She smiled and motioned for him to come in. "Don't mind if I do."
Once he was inside he felt her hand rest on his back. Reaching around with her other hand, she took his arm and shoved him gently towards the staircase.
They both went slowly, hoping that there would be no interruptions this time around. Finally, they reached Jen's room. Pacey couldn't understand why his palms were so sweaty and his stomach was fluttering. It felt sort of like his first date with Andie.
"Are you as nervous as I am?" she asked. Pacey chuckled.
"If you're stomach's in knots, then yes." He sat down on the bed. "Why is this so hard? I thought we wanted this."
Jen sat beside him. "We do, but it's hard to completely detach yourself from your heart. Let's face it, pace, I don't think we're going to be able to do this whole "no strings attached" thing."
"So are you suggesting we..."
"Have an actual relationship?"
"It might work. We're not totally incompatible, you know?"
"No, we're not. In fact, we could be pretty damn cute together."
Pacey crinkled his nose. "Cute?"
"You're such a dork. Okay, we could be pretty damn hot together. How's that?"
They both laughed. Pacey leaned in and kissed her cheek softly. Jen closed her eyes, concentrating on the feeling of his lips on her skin. She reached up and placed her hand on the back of his neck. Why did she have to want him so badly as soon as they had agreed to start dating?
"Pacey, could we?" He looked at her, nearly dizzy with lust. "Would it be wrong?"
"I don't know, Jen, I just don't know."
*~**~*
"Thank you," Dawson said brightly to the waitress who had seated he and Joey. Joey fidgeted with the napkin, placing it in her lap. "So, when do you want to talk about it?"
"I already told you..."
"No, not that. About our fight. Why did you get so mad at me?"
"Dawson, you have to let me live my own life. You told me you didn't want me. I tell you I want to be with someone else and you blow up," she explained.
"Don't you think it's too soon?"
"You were with Eve! Why can't I be with..." She looked down at her lap and was startled when a glass of water was placed noisily in front of her.
"I'm so sorry, miss. What can I get you two?"
Dawson glanced at the single sheet of paper that was the menu. "I'll have a turkey club and a Sprite."
"I'll have a Caesar salad and a Coke." The waitress smiled and walked away to place their order.
"Who is it?" Dawson asked.
"No one you know," she replied nastily. "Drop it, Dawson, or I'll leave."
"I don't want to drop it, Joey, this is important."
"It isn't important to you, Dawson. Not if you don't want me, like you said."
He frowned. "What if I do?"
"Then that's your own fault. You waited too long."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Dawson felt like his heart had been shattered into a million pieces. Joey was silently wishing she could take back what she had said, but it was the only way to make him understand. To be harsh was the only way.
Their food arrived and the only words spoken were quiet thank yous. They ate without talking, let without talking, and went home without saying good-bye.
*~**~*
Dawson carried his ladder with great difficulty, to Jen's window. He hoped that she and Pacey hadn't gone out. He needed his friends to help heal his wounded heart and reassure him that he and Joey really were meant to be.
As he got to the top rungs he heard whispering and mumbling. They were still there.
"Hey, guys," he said cheerfully. He didn't look directly in until he heard gasps of surprise.
There was a sweater and a T-shirt in a pile on the floor. "Oh!" Pacey had lipstick smeared across his mouth. "I guess I came at a bad time," he mumbled.
He saw Pacey blush. "You could say that." Jen pulled on her sweater and handed Pacey his.
She grabbed a tissue from her night stand and wiped Pacey's mouth. Dawson noticed the look they shared. Pacey blinked but his eyes stayed closed a little longer than they might have.
"What's happening, D-man?"
*~**~*
"And she won't tell me who it is," Dawson finished. "It's so frustrating, that we can't be honest with each other."
Jen looked at Pacey. His eyes pleaded with her. She couldn't resist that stare. "I'll talk to her, Dawson," she mumbled.
"Really? Oh, Jen, you have no idea what that would mean to me. That's fantastic, thanks!"
Pacey grinned and brushed Jen away. "Now shoo, woman. Go do your dirty work."
"You're going to pay for that, Witter." She walked, no, glided out the door, Pacey's eyes following her every step of the way. It was something even a pinhead like Dawson couldn't ignore.
"Come on, D, let's head over to your place."
"Platonically, I hope."
"Actually, you ruined my perfectly good chance of getting laid, so you're going to have to make up for it," Pacey said, in a breathy, feminine voice. "Let's go, big boy."
"That's so not funny."
*~**~*
Jen didn't have to go very far to find Joey. She was sitting on her dock, hair blowing in the wind. It had taken Jen a little while to actually get across the creek in Dawson's rowboat, but it was easier than looking all over town.
"Hey, Joey," she said, tying up the boat. "What's happening on this side of the creek?"
Joey looked completely surprised to see her. They didn't talk much anymore, since Jack moved to Jen's. Without really admitting it to anyone, much less herself, Joey was jealous of Jen. Again, for taking away her best friend.
"Same. How is it on the well-off side?"
"Ouch." Jen jumped on to the dock, which was not an easy task in a long skirt. "Not so good. I've been sent by a party that wishes to remain anonymous."
"I wonder, wonder who."
"He loves you, Joey. And he's sorry for being such an ass lately."
Joey thought for a moment. That "he" could be two people. Dawson and Pacey had both been acting like asses lately. But only one of them was in love with her. As far as she knew anyway...
"Dawson, right?"
"Who else?"
"I was just making sure."
Jen eyed her suspiciously. "You going to tell me who you like or not? Otherwise, I'm paddling back over to the other side and telling Dawson you want him back."
"Don't do that!"
Jen laughed. "You are so gullible. I would never do that to you, Joey, you can trust me."
Smiling that half-smile, Joey looked away. "Thanks. There aren't a whole lot of people I can trust."
"No, thank you."
"For what?"
"For not tipping my boat over or something." They both laughed. "Come on, then, spill your guts. Who's this mystery guy?"
"You're a real gossip queen, you know that?"
"Did I ever deny it?"
"Okay, I'll tell you about him. But I won't tell you his name. It's way too embarrassing."
"Hon, if I told you who I'd been with today, you'd kill yourself laughing."
*~**~*
END OF PART 3
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