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The months passed by as they do and high school was nearing the end. Friendships had changed and evolved for each member of the class of 2001. For Joey there was a time that she could envision a life without Dawson in one way or another but now it seemed more and more of a reality. She would always treasure what they had had but sometimes friendships do not grow the way one expects. After their break up things had been admittedly awkward at first with neither knowing exactly what to say to the other whenever they encountered each other in the small town of Capeside or the narrow halls of school. Now a friendly warm smile would pass between the two. Conversation would be exchanged, inquiries about how the other was doing which was not generated by the need to say something but by a genuine interest in the other's well being. When Dawson had started dating again there had been many sympathetic and pitying looks for the single Joey. Everyone was worried about how she would react, as if she was fragile and would break at the though of Dawson with anyone besides herself. Not many people realised that her "I'm okay" was true. That Joey was truly fine with Dawson moving on. In way it had surprised even Joey at how easily the transition had been. She had expected to feel some pang of regret or jealously when she discovered that Dawson was now dating another yet all Joey felt was the finality of resolution. It was truly over. That weekend after seeing Dawson and his new girlfriend walking cosily down the halls of Capeside arm in arm, Pacey had taken Joey out to a club in Boston. A little road trip not to console Joey or relieve her from the pain that most people believed Joey felt but rather as a celebration. "This is insane!" Joey cried through the din of the club. "I know wonderful isn't it?" Pacey replied his eyes wandering as a cute red head slinked by winking suggestively at Pacey, her hand quietly slipping a napkin into his hand with a number and a name.
RaeAnne. "Hey I thought you took me here to celebrate??" Joey playfully hit Pacey's arms to divert his attention from the red head who disappeared into the crowd. "Not to pick girls up!" "Well Jo, you know that's only an excuse. I means it looks better if I have a gorgeous girl by my side. Makes me more appealing to the ladies. And I can always you use as a buffer when the hordes of women come chasing after me." "Delusional. Witter you are so delusional. Now stop staring at the redhead and buy me a drink." "Whatever your heart desires." Several hours later of drinking and dancing and both Pacey and Joey were happily inebriated and exhausted. They stumbled into the motel room Pacey had rented for the two of them and crashed on the bed. Yet even in such a state they were still coherent, their minds unusually clear and not the least bit tired. They talked for ages until the bright rays of morning signalled a new day had arrived. "You know it's truly over between Dawson and I. Seeing him walking down the halls with Sarah made it abundantly clear and I've never felt so free in my life. I'm not saying I know what the future will hold but I have this innate sense or feeling that this is it for the two of us. We're finally moving on and I can imagine in twenty years time down the track coming back to Capeside for a high school reunion and Dawson will be there. And we'll meet and we'll talk and we'll show each other photos of our family, our children, our respective husband and wife and it'll two best friends reuniting. Beautiful. Amazing. But the love, the relationship that's over. Not that I won't love Dawson in some way or other. I will, always. But it really feels like our time has passed." "I like the idea Jo. Of coming back to Capeside, twenty years later, and you and Dawson connected by your past and sharing your future and present with each other. Do you think we can have the same thing Potter?" "No." "No??" "No. Because I see you in my life. You'll be my next door neighbour or the guy across the street. Or will meet up each day for lunch. Or even if you're interstate we'll write and email and every single day you'll have to call me." "I have to call you?? Oh no. No way Jo. I fully expect you to call me." "Split?" "Nuh huh. No way." "Why not?" Joey pouted and whined adorably. "Because if we're ever living in separate states it will be all your fault." "How do you figure that out?" "Well I plan to be wherever you are Jo. So it's only if you move that we won't be together and therefore it'll be your fault so you'll have to pay the phone bills." "Okay." "Okay?? You giving up so easily Potter? I must say I'm disappointed." "Oh I'm not giving up. It's just that we won't have a problem since I have no intention of ever moving away from you Pace." "I'm glad." "Do you know how happy I am Pace. Just being here. Lying in your arms watching the sunrise through the half open curtain in this dank motel. It's perfect." "A moment." "A moment." Joey agreed. Then they lay there in the motel bed, their arms wrapped in one another watching the rays of lights shine through. Pacey and Joey were firmly cemented in their friendship. A unique and miraculous friendship that no one would have ever considered possible or likely only a few years ago. Joey had also found friends in Jen and Andie. Friends that she valued and respected and although she could not guarantee the friendships' lasting power Joey certainly intended to try and keep contact with the two other girls as much as possible. Jack was another person Joey intended to stay in contact with. They had a special link through their mutual love of art, their previous relationship and the hardships and angst they had both suffered in their lives. As for the others Joey knew that Jack and Jen were pretty much inseparable, best friends the way she and Pacey were. Close, intimate and reliant on one another. Dawson and Andie had become quite close and Joey was not surprised if Andie would email Dawson frequently. In fact Andie's determination and optimism to keep in contact with everyone would ensure that she would at least write or email each member of the group. Although Joey was uncertain as to how realistic Andie's expectations of the maintenance of friendships would be as Senior year drew closer and closer Joey found her optimism infectious and inspiring. Pacey and Andie were friends and Joey expected Pacey to keep in contact with Andie. They had shared too much not too. Just as Joey expected to keep in contact with Dawson. Yet both Pacey and Joey felt that their time with Andie and Dawson respectively had reached a certain level of expiration. Things were different and it was likely and possible that the friendships that came after the breakups might fade away as time passed, although never completely dying out. So life as Joey knew it was coming to end. In a few weeks it would all be over and each person would go off to their individual colleges of choice. The time was coming to say goodbye. |
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