"Bessie?" Joey called as soon as she entered the B&B. "I'm home." She looked around,
heading toward the kitchen.

"I'm just gonna change the sheets in - " Bessie stopped short. "Joey!" She dumped
the bed sheets she'd been holding onto the nearest surface and hugged her sister.
"You just got back? How'd you get here from the pier? You could've called, you
know. How was Florida?"

Joey laughed a little, hugging back tightly. "Wow, if I'd known that my going away for
three months would have this kind of effect, I would've done it sooner!"

Bessie looked at her sternly. "Don't be a smart ass. You, young lady, are grounded
until school starts. Now, let's go to your room so you can change - " She paused to
inspect Joey's clothes. "Don't tell me you've been in that same outfit the whole
summer," she teased, hooking her arm through her sister's and heading toward her
bedroom. She glanced behind her. "Bodie's in the kitchen with Alexander. Tell me
everything."

**********

Joey tucked a lock of hair behind one ear and took a deep breath before stepping
into the doors of Capeside High School. She and Pacey had been back for a week, all
of which she had spent working at the B&B. Pacey had been busy, too, looking for a
new job, so they hadn't been able to talk much.

She felt a little thankful that Bessie had kept her occupied - she hadn't had time to
think too much about seeing everyone again. But now there was no way to avoid it
anymore, and she almost wished she'd agreed to Pacey's suggestion that they go to
school together.

Relax, Joey. You have to deal with this sooner or later. Might as well get it over
with. Joey repeated the words in her head over and over as she headed for
homeroom. She still had plenty of time before the first bell rang, but she couldn't
think of anything else to do. She rounded a corner and froze, bumping into the very
person she felt most anxious about seeing.

"Dawson!" The name flew out of her mouth before she could even think.

He looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face. "Joey."

"I - uh," Joey stammered, shifting from foot to foot. "How are you?" She smiled
tentatively.

"Great," Dawson replied, his expression still guarded. "And you?"

"Um, great, great." Joey echoed, feeling unbelievably dumb. "Listen…"

"Joey," he interrupted, finally smiling now, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'd
really rather not discuss the events of the past summer to death before the school
year even starts." He paused, then added, "I'm glad you're back…" He reached out
and held her hand briefly, squeezing it a little. "Let's leave it at that, okay?"

She nodded, her lips turning up into a half smile. "Okay," she replied, and stood there
after he left, staring off into space and trying to process what had just happened.

"Hey, Potter."

Joey started and turned. "Pacey!" She exclaimed. "You're early," she smiled at him.
"The bell hasn't rung yet."

Pacey looked at her silently for several moments before answering. "It's senior year. I
thought it was time for a change."

Her forehead wrinkled. That wasn't the witty comeback she'd expected. She was
about to ask him what was up when the bell rang, cutting her off.

"Later, Jo," he called before leaving.

**********

Pacey restrained the urge to hit something with his fist as he walked to class. Shit,
shit, shit, shit, shit! Fuck! He'd been in a good mood on the way to school. He
was actually excited, thrilled at the prospect of not having to hide what he felt for
Joey even while they were in school. But that had to be the very first thing he saw
the moment he got in the door.

Dawson and Joey. Talking, holding hands.

Never had the sight of anything so familiar made him feel so sick. He shook his head
and laughed mirthlessly. It shouldn't have surprised him, really. He'd known all along
that for all her bravado in deciding to spend the summer with him, Joey would never
be able to turn her back on Dawson.

Not that he thought she should cut off all ties completely. He didn't have a problem
with them being friends. Even he missed having Dawson as a friend, no matter what
kind of jerk he'd been. He and Joey had finally talked about it during their last few
days on the boat, and they'd decided to deal with things as they happened, not
overanalyze or second-guess.

But now… now he had to deal with actually seeing them together again; had to deal
with the fear nagging at the back of his mind that she would go back to Dawson and
he - he would have nothing.

Have no one.