"Does Andie hate me?"

Jen regarded her silently for a minute before replying. "She's still in love with him, you
know."

Joey closed her eyes, remembering the afternoon at the library. "I know."

She'd gone home after Pacey left to follow Andie. Bessie didn't need her for the rest
of the night, so she had a quick dinner and decided to go to Jen's to talk.

"I just -" Joey bit her lip in frustration. "I don't know, I guess I didn't think it would be
so hard."

"She just needs a little time, Joey."

Joey nodded. "Yeah," she murmured, tracing a pattern on Jen's blanket with her
finger.

"How's Pacey?"

A smile formed on Joey's lips. "He's… amazing." She paused and frowned. "He was a
little weird today, though. And he wouldn't tell me why."

Jen shifted on the bed. "Pacey's gotten used to keeping everything inside, Joey. I
think it would take him a while to get used to confiding in anyone."

"He confided in you." Joey tried to keep her voice casual.

Jen smiled. "Not without protest - or a lot of coaxing, I assure you."

Joey sighed. They were quiet for a while, each thinking about what had been said.
And what hadn't. "I ran into Dawson this morning."

"How did that go?" Jen stretched and lay back to stare at the ceiling.

"Not as bad as could be expected, actually." She stopped and tilted her head, lost in
thought. "He said he's glad that I'm back."

"And this surprises you?"

"Well, that's not exactly the kind of reception I was picturing in my head."

Jen grinned. "Our little penchant for melodrama would dictate that that particular
reunion scene be a bit more…"

"Ugly? Bloody? Full of shouting, crying, blaming?" She joked. The two of them
laughed.

"Jen?" Joey started tentatively after the laughter had subsided. "How is he,
seriously?"

"He's… okay. Not completely, but getting there."

"Okay." Joey nodded. "I mean… I love Pacey, but… "

"You're scared of losing Dawson?" Jen finished gently.

"I'm scared of losing them both."

**********

Joey chewed on her lip, slowing down as she walked out of Grams' yard. It was
almost midnight, but Dawson's light was still on.

She wondered if Pacey was still talking to Andie.

Her eyes traveled to the side of the Leerys' house, noticing for the first time that the
ladder was no longer there. She felt something squeeze a little in her chest. Her mind
flashed back to the very first time she'd climbed it, long before any of them had ever
thought about growing up, or being in love. Long before she ever had to worry about
losing her two best friends.

Her mind made up, she walked purposefully into the screened-in porch and stood at
the front door. Joey hesitated, rubbed the palms of her hands against her jeans, and
knocked.