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High school had finished. They had sat through the ceremony dressed in their gowns, walked up to the podium, smiled and received their certificates. They had officially graduated. Now the entire Class of 2001, Capeside High, was congregated at someone's beach house drinking, dancing and generally creating mayhem and havoc. It was a celebration of their liberation and freedom, of the future that was anticipated and the simply fact that they had survived the many long years at Capeside High. Amidst the crowd of people Joey spied Dawson, for once alone, walking out of the house and walking towards the beach. She navigated her way through her overfriendly, sentimental ex-classmates until she found herself in a secluded spot on the beach, standing in front of a sitting Dawson. "Hey." Dawson looked up in surprise. "Hey." "The party's inside you know." "Yeah I know. I just felt like taking a moment to reflect." "Not that you don't take enough of them as it is." "It's just that..." "...It is finally over." Joey completed the though for Dawson. "Hard to believe huh? Over 18 years of living in Capeside, rowing across the creek to visit you, countless movie nights and by the end of summer we'll be living across the country from one another. You'll be in Boston and I'll be in LA. It is hard to believe that it is going to be over just like that." "It won't though Dawson. It isn't going to be over just like that. So maybe there won't be anymore movie nights and watching ET ever week. And maybe you won't be just a boat ride away from me and I won't be climbing up your ladder but it's not the end. Whatever has happened to us Dawson and whatever will happen you'll alway be my friend. Even if the years go by and we lose contact and we never speak again, you'll always be my friend and your friendship, the years we spent together that is always going to mean something." "Thank you. I needed that. I think I'm scared because who we were and who we are now and who we will be, it is daunting. We've changed so much and so has our friendship and part of me can't help but think I've ruined what we've had. I overwhelmed you, I pushed you away, I was insensitive to your feelings, your desires, to you as a person." "Whatever happened between us, whatever was wrong with our relationship and whatever 'ruined' our friendship it wasn't your fault Dawson. It was ours. We were both responsible. We both let ourselves slip away from one another." "And now we're moving across country. Even further away from one another." "It's just physical distance Dawson." "Is it Joey?? Is it really?? Have you ever wondered about friendships where people see each other each day and are the best of friends then one or both move away?? At first they still remain friends but as time passes the friendship slowly dissipates into oblivion. And don't tell me it won't happen to both of us because the way our friendship is at the moment I'm not sure how strong it really is and whether it can last the distance, a distance we created." "I can't give you any answers or reassurances about the future Dawson. All I can say, as I said before is that in here, in my heart, you'll always be my friend. And when I think of my childhood and how I was one of the lucky ones. Because not everyone finds a friendship like ours and I'm always going to be thankful that I had my share. That I was able to experience that type of friendship even this is it for us." "Somehow I expected more cynicism from you." "Somehow I expected more optimism from you." "Well sometimes some things are hard to be optimistic about." "And sometimes some things are hard to be cynical about. Our friendship. The friendship we share. That is one of them." Dawson smiled as he took Joey's hand. They sat on the beach, the cries and cheers of their ex-classmates in the background and the sound of waves crashing as the tide came in. Then he appeared, silently, not surprised to see Joey and Dawson. He sat besides Joey, his arm slung around her shoulder and now the two became three. Joey leaned her head on his shoulder as she looked up into his deep blue eyes. "Hey Pace." Joey greeted him. "Jo. Dawson." "The three musketeers." Dawson commented. They smiled at one another before falling into a comfortable silence. Several hours went by, the three of them sat in that one spot talking about their dreams, their future, the past they shared. They fell into the old routine of Pacey and Joey incessantly bantering and Dawson as the buffer. Yet all three knew that everything was different. They were no longer the three children they had once been and the group dynamics had changed. But for now they were reliving their past, being the three inseparable kids they had been. It was no surprise when around midnight Jen appeared and found the three musketeers. She joined them and half an hour later Andie and Jack appeared. They spent the entire night until early morning on the beach talking until they fell asleep together. Promises were made, friendships renewed and all the angst and strain that they had suffered were gone. They were friends as they had been, friends as they had been initially and all that mattered was now. After today everything would change. They were all going to their college of choice, many miles away from one another. They would meet new people, new friends, fall in love, live their life but they would always have this. The friendship they shared. The friends they were even if tomorrow they all travelled on their separate paths never to meet again. In that sense they were friends forever. Morning came too quickly. Andie was leaving for Italy in the afternoon. Jack and Jen were going to New York the next day and two days later Dawson was also leaving for LA with his parents to explore and familiarise himself with a whole new existence outside Capeside. Joey and Pacey were going for a road trip around the USA the week after. So it was easier to say the goodbyes now. Easier and harder at the same time. In the afternoon they were all there to farewell Andie off. The next day Jack and Jen were sent off. Two days later Pacey and Joey appeared at the Leery's house to watch Dawson leave. The ladder was already packed away, something Joey could not help but notice with sadness. Dawson and Pacey had their moment. Too manly to cry but the oath they took as children, to be blood brothers hung in the air. Best friends. They were no longer as close as they used to be. Dawson's relationship with Joey, Pacey's relationship with Andie and Pacey's and Joey's friendship had caused a rift, a distance which both Dawson and Pacey had been happy to live with. Now they took a moment, a moment together. "Take care of her Pace." "I will. I have." "I know. You did a good job, cleaning up my mess." "D-man..." "Pace. You did. You did good. In everything. With Joey. With Andie. With school. With your life." "Thank you." "I'm just stating it as it is." "So you know I was thinking, will you still remember me when you're rich and famous?" "Pacey Witter?? Never heard of him." "Well you know, you're going to have fun in LA. All those chicks and everything." "Still the same horn dog as ever I see." "Well some things don't change. Besides you know you'll have fun. At least you won't be stuck all summer with the Ice Queen." "I heard that, Jailbait!" Joey cried from the far end of the lawn. "I know you did, prude!" Pacey replied. Dawson laughed, "Some things really don't change. I'm going to miss you both." "We're going to miss you D. I'm going to miss you." They smiled at one another and awkwardly embraced the other. 'Click'! Joey with a camera in her hand began taking photos of Dawson and Pacey. After a while Pacey grabbed the camera of Joey and started snapping pics of Joey and Dawson. Finally Mrs Leery took over and captured shots of the three musketeers. Before they knew it, it was time for Dawson to leave. Pacey and Joey ran besides the car as it drove away, Dawson leaning out of the window waving. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Pacey cried. "Actually don't do anything Pacey would do." Joey amended as Dawson laughed. Then car turned the corner and Dawson was gone. Now it was only Pacey and Joey. "Seems like everyone had left us, Jo." "Probably couldn't stand the sight of you any longer Pace." "You wound me. I'm hurt. See look, my bleeding heart." "C'mon Pace. Let's take that bleeding heart of yours and your sorry self to the B&B." "Bodie got some grub for me?" "Yeah he's prepared for you and the hollow stomach of yours." "I'm an appreciative customer." "You don't pay!" "Semantics." Joey shook her head in amusement. "C'mon let's go Pace. We have a road trip to plan." "I think Jo, this is going to the best summer ever." "Me too Pace. Me too." |
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