Title:  Green Apples � Part 1
Author:  Angie
E-mail address:  [email protected]
Category:  Pacey/Joey
Rating:  PG13
Disclaimer:  These characters are not mine.  They belong to Kevin Williamson, Paul Stupin, and the WB.
Summary:  The gang is finally graduating!  Everyone is planning on attending college together...except Pacey.  Joey is upset, but love can withstand anything, including separation, right?  But when the unthinkable happens in the lives of these six friends, will it cause Pacey to rethink his situation?  Find out the answers in this new fan fiction series.
Author's Note:  Thanks to Evie who inspired me to write this fanfic, Kim (my sister), and all of you who read this.  I hope you like it!


Capeside High School's football field and stadium was filled to the max with the graduates of the class of 2001 and their families.  The graduation ceremony was about to begin.  As the students took their seats a hush fell over the crowd.  Principal Green stepped up to the podium. 

"Good evening everyone.  I would like to welcome you all to this celebration of excellence and achievement of the students of the class of 2001..." he began.  As he continued with the opening statements, Pacey Witter gazed up at him with great respect.  This man had sacrificed so much for his students.  He had been forced away from his job as their high school principal for a while and had just returned earlier that year.  Pacey smiled to himself as memories of him ran through his mind.  After all, Pacey had spent a great deal of quality time with this man from time to time.  He could not possibly calculate the hours of detention Principal Green had issued to him, but he still always and forever remained a fair and understanding man.  Pacey was pulled out of his reverie by the principal's next words.

"And now it gives me great pleasure to announce this year's valedictorian for Capeside High School...Miss Josephine Potter.  Would the parents of Miss Potter please stand?"

Joey smiled broadly as her dad stood proudly within the crowd.  He took his seat again as she shyly and approached the mike.  "Thank you Principal Green."  Pacey stared in awe at the beautiful creature speaking in front of him.  Words could not express how much he cared for this girl.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Joey began, "when we walk off of this field tonight we will all walk travel our separate ways.  I however feel sure that we will forever carry with us the memories formed inside the walls of Capeside High."

As she continued her speech, Pacey's mind wandered.  Memories?  Ah, yes.  They had definitely made memories.  Saturday detention.  Dawson's movie making.  Cutting class.  Going to jail.  A smile sprung to Pacey's lips. 

Pacey turned his full attention back to Joey as she continued.  "We will carry with us lessons learned, and of course tips on how to cram for a final until the wee hours of the morning."  She said with a smile, and the crowd laughed.

Pacey's mind began to wonder again to that night back in the tenth grade, when they had stayed all night at Chris Wolfe's house cramming for that blasted English final.  Well, they didn't actually cram ALL night.  Well, maybe they actually only crammed for about an hour and a half max, but hey, it was still quite an experience.

Joey was concluding our speech.  "Our class has made a mark in Capeside history.  And may we have a positive influence on the students that follow in our footsteps in the years to come.  Thank you."

The crowd broke into thunderous applause.  Bodie gave her a thumbs up.  And Bessie whispered something to little Alexander and he broke out into a big smile and waved frantically at his aunt.

Joey took her seat.  'I sounded so stupid,' she thought.  'Oh, that did not come together well at all'.  Andie was sitting two rows in front of her.  She turned around and caught her attention.

"Joey, that was fantastic!"  She said in an excited whisper. 

"Thanks,� Joey replied shyly. 

After the crowd was silenced, the salutatorian, Barbara Johns, was announced.  Most of the student body sighed, rolled their eyes, and shot each other pointed looks during Barbara's speech, which seemed to go on and on and on. 

After Barbara's speech, Principal Green took the podium again.  "And now, we will have the issuing of the diplomas."  One of the high school counselors took the mike and called the students up one by one to accept their diplomas from the principal.

"Leslie Ackerman," she began.  "Bobby Applegate...Phillip Barns..."

Dawson turned to Jen, who was sitting directly on his right.  "So...this is it, huh?" he whispered.

"Yeah..." she answered.  "You know.  When I first came here, I never would have thought this would become home for me.  I mean...I know I have only been in Capeside for three years, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else."

"You thought about college?" Dawson asked.

"Well, I guess I am just gonna join the rest of you guys at good old Capeside Community College for a while...at least until I decide what I wanna be...when I grow up," she added and smiled.

"Well, I think it is good that we have all decided to stay here for a little while longer.  We can always go to big universities later, but once we split up, it may be years before we are all together in one place again."

"Gee, what a comforting thought, Dawson,� Jen said, "but, you're right."

"Dawson Leery."  The counselor called out his name and he stood with a bright smile.  He could see the faces of his smiling parents in the crowd.

"Jennifer Lindley."  She stood and followed.  They both accepted their diplomas from Principal Green and filed back into their seats.

Andie was shaking.  "Jack!  This is it!  We are graduating!" she whispered excitedly.

"Sis!  Calm yourself."  He said smiling.

"Well, forgive me for enjoying this monumental celebration in our lives."

Jack just shook his head.  Typical Andie...but he loved her.

"Andrea McPhee."

"Jack McPhee."

They received their diplomas and returned to their seats.  Over half of the students had been called.  The counselor continued down her list.  Joey sat wringing her hands.  'I can't believe this.' She thought excitedly.  'In just a few moments I will be a graduate.  I will spend a year at the community college just so that Dawson doesn't end up in therapy over his separation anxiety, and then I am gone.  Away from Capeside.'  She glanced over at Pacey.  He smiled at her.  She loved him so much.  She felt for sure that they would attend college together after they left Capeside...they would always be together.  That is just the way it was supposed to be, right?

"Josephine Potter."

She accepted her diploma from Principal Green then smiled and hugged him.  "You're gonna go places Joey.  You just keep that head of yours held high.  There is nothing you can't accomplish."

"Thank you," she said with tears in her eyes.

The rest of the names were read from the list and the students filed up to accept their diplomas.  One name left on the list.

"And...Pacey Witter." The counselor said with a big smile. 

He approached the principal to accept his diploma.  He shook his hand.  "You're a good kid, Pacey.  Stay out of trouble."

Pacey grinned.  "Thank you sir.  I'll remember that."  He walked past the principal and shifted his tassel to the other side.  Then he faced his classmates.  "Well, come on guys!  What's the hold-up???"  He yelled then laughed out loud.  He jerked his cap off of his head.  His classmates all stood and did the same and then together they tossed them into the air.

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The graduation party was well underway at Leery�s Fresh Fish.

�Thanks again, Mrs. Leery, for letting us hold our party here.� Joey said.

�Oh, honey, it is my pleasure.  Mitch and I love doing things for you kids.  Just think of this as a graduation present to you all.� Gale said with a smile. 

Once she walked off Dawson smiled at his friends.  �Well..first the junior prom...now the graduation party...and all the little celebrations in between.  You know...sometimes I think you guys only keep me around because my parents own this place.� Dawson said with a smile. 

�Oh, Dawson,�  Jen said.

�That is so not true.� Joey continued.

�Yeah, man.  I mean there is also your video game collection.  Unmatched by anyone else I know.�

They all laughed.  Dawson couldn�t help but think about how good it felt that everyone was close once again.  He could remember a time only about a year before when it seemed that things would never be right again.  But now all of that was in the past.  Pacey and Joey belonged together and Joey and Dawson were meant to be friends.  It all seemed so simple to him now.

�And now...college!�  Andie piped up.  �We are gonna have a blast guys.  Even if we are only gonna be in school together for a little while longer.�

�Yeah, I have to admit.  I am kinda glad to be staying in Capeside a while longer...woah...never thought I would utter those words.� Joey said.

�Umm...I think I am just gonna take me a little walk outside,�  Pacey told the group.

�I�ll come with you,�  Joey offered.

Once they were outside Joey took his hand and squeezed it in hers.  �College.  Isn�t it exciting, Pace?�

�Umm...well, Jo...I don�t know if I�ll be there.�

�Not there?  Why?  You are not going to college?  At all???�

�Yeah, I�m going.�

�Well, then what did you mean by that?�

There was only one way to say this.  He just had to say it.  And he knew it sounded stupid coming from him, anyway.  �Jo, I�m enlisting in the marines.�

She dropped his hand.  �You�re what?�  she asked incredulously.

�The marines, Jo.  I have been thinking about um...enlisting in the marines.�

�Ok, hold up a minute, Gomer.  Why?�

�I think it would be a good experience for me, Joey.  I have changed a lot over this past year.  I have matured.  And there is one other thing.�

She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to continue.

�There is an excellent chance that they will pay my way through college.�

�Pacey.  There has to be another way.  Scholarships!  Grants!  Student loans!�

�Do you really think with my GPA I could get a scholarship?  And I would be drawing a retirement check before I ever paid off a student loan.�

�There has to be another way, Pacey.  You have to find another way.  I mean we are talking years!  You could be gone from me for years!�

�Joey.  Ok, listen.  This is just something I have been looking into.  Nothing definate.  Don�t worry about it tonight, ok?  Please?�  Pacey pleaded.

�Fine...ok.�  Joey said.  What else could she say?  This was the biggest shocker she had gotten in a while.

�Ok.�  Pacey said and wrapped his arms around her, and kissed the top of her head.  �Ok, now what?� he thought.  He had actually checked into this a lot more than she had thought.  He was pretty certain it was his only option if he wanted to go to college. 

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It was a week later and Joey was staying over at Jen�s house for the night.  She had been very upset since Pacey told her of his plans and she had to get away from home.

�Ok, Joey, so tell me what has been bothering you.� Jen said as they sat on her bedroom floor with a bowl of potato chips and a game of Monopoly between them.

�What do you mean?�

�Oh, come on, Jo.  I am more perceptive than that.�

Joey sighed.  �Pacey...�  she said  �you will never in a million years believe what he told me the night of graduation.�

Jen looked thoughtful.  �What�s that?�

�Well...he told me that he is enlisting in the marines.�

�The marines?  Pacey?�  Jen giggled.  Yeah, that is a surprise for me too.  �But I dunno...maybe it would be good for him.�

�Come on, Jen.  If we were at war with some middle eastern country that didn�t speak our language, would you want Pacey over there protecting us?�

�Actually, Jo, there is no one I would trust more with my life.  And Pacey is a lot more mature than he once was.  He has a brain...even if he doesn�t exercise it regularly.�

�And then what happens to us?  I mean there is no telling where he will end up or how long we will be apart.� Joey said.

�These things have a way or working out, Joey.�  She saw the tears in Joey�s eyes.  �Hey, I have an idea.  Let�s go down and check out the new releases at the video store.  We could get out of the house for a while and we may be in luck and find something cool to watch tonight.�

Joey shrugged.  �Ok, sure.�

They went downstairs and Jen grabbed the car keys from their hook by the door.  �Grams, I�m gonna borrow the car.  Joey and I are gonna run to the video store, ok?� 

�So late?  It is after 11:00.�

�Yeah, they don�t close until 12:00.  Don�t worry, we won�t be long.�

�Ok, dear.  Drive safely and wear your seatbelts.�

�Yes ma�am.� They answered in unison and then went out the front door.

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The phone rang at Doug Witter�s house.  Pacey ,still half asleep, reached for the cordless phone laying on the coffee table in front of him.    �Umm hmm...�  he said into the reciever.

�Pacey.  It�s me.  Get awake, I need you to listen to me.� Dawson said on the other end of the phone.

�Hmm?  Dawson?�  He looked over at the wall clock.  �Dude, it�s nearly 2:00...what�s up?�

�Pacey.  You need to get up and meet me at the hospital.  Mrs. Ryan just called from there.  Joey and Jen were in an accident about two hours ago.  An eighteen wheeler ran the red light and hit them.  Get up and meet me there as quickly as possible, ok?�

But Dawson never got an answer...only a dial tone...Pacey was already practically out the door.

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End of Part One. 
Feedback is appreciated guys!  =) 
You can e-mail me at [email protected].