Fools Rush In

"Hey bro, what are you doing here? I thought you were staying after school to work on the movie? Isn't today rehearsal?" he asks.

Dawson walks behind the counter and picks up his vest and begins putting it on. He rolls his eyes and replies, "Well, it seems the filming was in conflict with Cliff's football commitments so now we have to reschedule. This whole thing is a complete waste of time! It makes a mockery of the film industry."

"I guess this really throws off the shooting schedule, huh?"

"Yeah, as if it matters. I don't think anybody will stay awake through the end anyway," Dawson grumbles.

"A delay in the completion of 'Helmets of Glory' . . . too bad. I'll alert the Academy."

Dawson laughs a little and shakes his head. "So, have you been very busy?"

"Nah," Pacey replies. "I've been here for two hours but it's been pretty dead."

"So, where's Joey?" he asks, trying to sound casual but not doing a very good job.

"As far as I know she's at the Icehouse. I think that's where she said she was headed after school." Pacey, who has gone back to reshelving the videos, looks curiously at Dawson. "Why do you ask anyway?" he wonders.

"Just making conversation," Dawson replies. "I figured she'd be here."

"Hmm, okay . . ." Pacey says but he is s suddenly pretty sure he knows why Dawson chose to come on in to work after his rehearsal got cancelled. "So, are you going over to Scott whatever-his-name-is house for that party tonight?" he asks.

Dawson shakes his head. "No, Jen wants to see the new movie at the Rialto."

"Yeah, Joey mentioned that, too. Maybe we could all go together."

"Like a double date? Did you and Joey have a date tonight?" Dawson inquires.

"Oh no, I am not going down this road again with you, man," Pacey says emphatically. "I am so not up for an inquisition this afternoon. We are just friends! I think we've been over this before."

"Sorry, sorry, forget I asked," Dawson relents.

"Well, do you or not?" Pacey asks.

"Do I what?" Dawson gives him a strange look as he sits on one of the stool beside the front counter.

"Earth to Dawson . . . the movies . . . tonight . . . me, you, Jen, Joey . . . sounding familiar at all?" Pacey responds. v "Oh, sorry . . . uh, yeah, that's cool. I'll have to run it by Jen but I don't think she'll mind." He sits silent for a moment as Pacey kneels down to the S section to put away a returned copy of 'Sabrina'.

"What do you think, Harrison Ford or Humphrey Bogart?"

"What?" Dawson wasn't paying much attention. He was too caught up in his thoughts.

"Sabrina," Pacey explains. "Do you like the new version with Harrison Ford or the old version with Bogie?"

"No contest. How can Harrison Ford compete with Humphrey Bogart?" Dawson replies. "Besides, when was the last time you saw a remake that was as good as the original?"

"True," Pacey says and keeps his eyes on the shelves as he scans the B's to replace another title.

"Do you think Joey will be okay with this?" Dawson asks suddenly.

"With Harrison Ford stealing Bogie's role? I think she'll live," Pacey quips.

"No dufus, that's not what I mean. I mean, do you think she'll be okay with all of us going to the movies together? You don't think it'll make her uncomfortable?"

Pacey sets the few movies he still has left to shelve on the counter beside him and turns to look at Dawson. "Don't worry about Joey. She'll be fine," he assures him. Dawson can't help but dislike the certainty with which Pacey speaks about Joey's feelings. However, to avoid an argument, he doesn't comment on it.

"Well, uh, I guess I'll go call Jen and see what she thinks of all this." Dawson climbs off the stool and starts for the phone.

"You can go if you want. Go see her, I mean. I have this under control," Pacey says.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, unless I forget the alphabet I think I can handle it," Pacey says with a sarcastic smirk.

"Alright, cool. I'll call you after I talk to her."

"Sure, okay," Pacey says. Dawson turns to leave as Pacey goes back to the videos. He shakes his head and laughs a little. This is going to be one interesting evening!

"One shrimp sandwich and one chicken Caesar salad," Joey announces as she stands beside the table and hands out food to the waiting customers. After she has delivered the food to the correct people, she smiles and walks back over to the front counter. It's an average Friday evening. The restaurant is about half full now but she knows there will be three times this many people crowded in here within a few hours. Right now, at 5pm, not many people are ready for dinner but come 7 o'clock she'll be running around here like crazy. She decides to sit for a minute and enjoy the peace while it lasts.

"So, did you have a good day at school?" Bessie asks as she comes up and sits on the stool next to her. She is holding Alexander, who has already learned from many a weekend night at the Icehouse to sleep through any kind of noise. He's snuggled up to his mother, blissfully unaware of the many conversations and chattering going on around him.

"Yeah, it was okay," Joey says.

"Any big plans for tonight?" Bessie asks with a slight smile.

"Yeah, I thought my plans included serving umpteen billion plates of chicken Alfredo and smiling happily about it," Joey replies.

"Oh no, you're off tonight. I have Sandy and Trish coming in an hour. You worked every day last weekend. I want you to go out and have some fun tonight."

"Bess, I . . ."

"No buts Joey. You're fifteen years old. I don't want you to spend every waking minute in here serving pasta. Call your friends, go to a party, have some fun. Enjoy it while it lasts kiddo. Growing up happens way too fast," she says as she looks down at little Alex and pats his head.

"I don't have anything to do anyway, Bess. I'll just end up sitting at home watching 'An Affair to Remember' and bemoaning my miserable existence. Do you really want that on your conscience?"

"Joey, do I have to call Dawson Leery myself?"

"Bessie!" Joey hisses, afraid someone will hear her. "This has nothing to do with him."

"Oh, I think it has everything to do with him," she replies.

"Yeah, well, whatever. Dawson probably has plans with Jen anyway and I am not going to call to see what they're doing. That is just . . . no way. I'd rather stay here and push pasta."

Bessie sighs, "Well, I tried," she says as she gets up. "I'm going to put him down in the back," she says, indicating Alexander. "If you change your mind you're free to go."

"Thanks," Joey replies but her lack of enthusiasm is pretty obvious. It's just another Friday night just like every other night of her life. She sighs as she contemplates this. Aren't things ever going to change? She shakes her head, deciding she doesn't want to think about this anymore. Getting up, she heads to the kitchen to wash some dishes and take her mind off of life for a while.

"Jennifer, you have a visitor," Jen hears her grandmother call from downstairs. She figures from the disapproving tone in her voice that this visitor is probably Dawson. She decides she'd better hurry and get down there to save him from a lengthy conversation about sin or whatever her Grams has in store for poor Dawson.

"Thanks Grams, I'll be right down," she calls down the stairs. She goes over to the mirror in her bedroom and checks her appearance. Deciding she doesn't have too many hairs out of place, Jen turns and exits her room and starts downstairs.

She walks into the living room and finds Dawson sitting on the couch by himself. "Hey," she smiles. "I'm glad to see you aren't getting the third degree."

Dawson returns the smile and stands up. "You and me both," he says.

"So, what are you doing here? I thought you were staying after school."

"Ugh, don't even get me started on how Cliff the great has ruined this movie now. I'm telling you, I've seen better made movies starring Pauly Shore."

Jen laughs. "So, this means you're free tonight, then?"

"Yep, actually that's what I came to talk to you about. Uh, Pacey wants us to go to the movies with him and Joey tonight. You said you wanted to see the new film at the Rialto, right?"

"Uh, yeah, sure. Pacey and Joey?" she questions. "Is that something new or what?"

"No, Pacey says it's strictly a friend thing," Dawson says.

Jen nods but doesn't say anything. She knows how the "strictly friends" thing seems to be turning out between Joey and Dawson so she has her doubts but she doesn't voice them. It's not the time for that. "Okay, what time does the movie start?"

"I'm not sure. Either seven or nine but Pacey didn't say how long Joey had to work. How about I go home and call him to find out the details while you get ready, okay?"

"Okay, sure," she smiles.

"Great, I'll call you in about half an hour," he says. He bends down quickly to kiss her. The kiss is light, barely a brush of the lips. God forbid Grams walk in and catch them making out. He pulls back and smiles at her one more time then heads for the door.

Jen watches Dawson leave and wonders if this movie thing is such a good idea. She can't help but remember the last time they all went to the movies together . . . that had been an experience. Still, she knows Joey and Dawson are going to remain friends no matter what. She figures she might as well go ahead and start getting used to it.

"Josephine!" Pacey says cheerfully as he walks up behind Joey and lays a hand on her shoulder. She turns from the table she is clearing to give him a dirty look at the name.

"What Pacey?" she asks in a biting tone. It's very apparent she's not in the mood for kidding today. As usual, Pacey pays little attention to this, though.

"Now, is that any way to talk to your new best friend?" he asks with a grin.

"Yeah, whatever, Pace." She starts for the kitchen with an armload of dirty dishes and Pacey follows her.

"I'm serious Joey. You're going to love me after I tell you what I have planned for us tonight."

"What are you babbling about?" she asks as she sets the dishes in the sink and starts back out to wipe down the table. Pacey continues to follow her around the restaurant as he explains himself.

"Tonight, you, me, Dawson, and Jen are all going to the movies together," he says.

Joey drops the rag she is wiping off the table with and spins around quickly to face Pacey. "What!?" she says loudly.

"It's okay Jo, no need to thank me," he replies.

"Thank you? How about I kill you!" she says.

"What? You mean you don't want to spend the evening in a dark theatre with our good friend Dawson?" he asks.

"With him and his favorite bottled blonde? No, thanks, I'll skip the festivities," she replies.

"Oh, come on Jo. It'll be better than waiting tables. And you want to see the movie anyway. You told me that the other day. Besides, I can't go with just the two of them. I'll look ridiculous."

"Pacey, I hate to break it to you, but . . ." she starts with a smirk.

"Not one more word, Joey!" he says. "Look, please come with us. You'll have fun, I swear." Joey thinks about this for a moment. She considers the movies, then considers the alternative of being here waiting tables all night. Is there really anything to think about? "I'll buy you some gummy bears," Pacey says with a grin.

Joey giggles. "Well, in that case . . ." She picks up the rag off the table and starts back towards the kitchen. "Let me just go tell Bessie I'm leaving," she says.

"I knew you'd see it my way," Pacey says. Joey turns and gives him a look that says, 'Don't push your luck,' then proceeds to go find her sister and let her know that she has actually made plans for the evening. She can't think of anything that will make Bessie's day more.

She sighs to herself and hangs the other shirt back in the closet. She's fairly sure this evening will not turn out good. It's one thing for her to see Joey at school and for Dawson to remain friends with her, but . . . Is Jen really ready to face a double date with them both? Even if Joey is with Pacey, it will still be awkward. And it's not really Joey that worries her.

Jen knows that Dawson is not being completely honest with himself about his feelings for Joey. She knows he's telling himself that they are just friends and that he really wants to believe it. But, Jen has a hard time really believing that. She likes Dawson a lot but she also doesn't want to be the one whose heart gets broken when everyone stops kidding themselves and faces their true feelings.

'Oh well,' Jen thinks as she stands before her mirror and brushes her hair. 'Whatever happens, happens. Just don't let it happen tonight.'

The phone at Capeside Video rings about ten times. Dawson is ready to hang up when a voice finally comes on the phone. "Hello?" he hears through a flurry of giggles.

"Pacey?" he questions, honestly not sure.

"Yeah, hey," Pacey says.

"What's going on? What's so funny? And how come it took you so long to answer?"

Pacey tries to control his laughter. "Sorry, me and Joey were just being stupid. It's a long story. Anyway, what's the word on tonight? What did Jen say?"

Dawson hesitates for a moment, not liking the sound of an inside joke between Joey and Pacey that he wouldn't get. Since when is he the third wheel in this relationship? He shakes his head, trying to stop his jealousy from showing in his voice. "Uh, she said that was fine. So, if Joey's off work already I guess we're going to the seven o'clock show?"

"Yeah, fine with me. Joey," he says as he turns towards her. She's sitting on the same stool behind the counter that Dawson was sitting on this afternoon. "How's the seven o'clock show? Sound okay?"

"Sure, that's fine," Dawson hears her say.

"Okay, that's cool, Dawson. Should we meet you two there or what?"

"Actually, we can meet you at the video store. It's about 6:15pm now. We'll be there in, say, twenty minutes?"

"Yeah, okay. Stan's on his dinner break but he should be back soon to take over for me." Stan owns the video store and usually works the evening shifts on the weekends for lack of anything better to do.

"Okay, I'll see you guys soon then," Dawson says and hangs up the phone. He's beginning to think this evening was a bad idea. All of that time watching Joey and Pacey together . . . he can't pretend that doesn't bother him. Still, he has to get over it. It's not fair for him to do this. They are all just friends. And if Joey and Pacey decide to be more, well, what can he do about it?

He sighs and flops down on the bed. Maybe he does have to live with this and maybe he does have to grin and bear it while his is slowly squeezed out of the picture . . . but that doesn't mean he has to like it.

"So, are they meeting us there?" Joey asks as she slips off the stool and goes over to one of the walls of movies to thumb through the titles.

"No, they're coming here. They should be here pretty soon," Pacey replies.

"Oh," she says as she stares absently at the tapes in front of her.

"You're okay with this aren't you?" he asks.

"Should I be?"

"Well . . ."

"No, forget I said that. Yes, I should be and I am. Dawson is my friend, that's it. He's Jen's boyfriend. I can respect that. I'll be just fine. We'll all have a great time."

Pacey watches her and he can see that she's as unconvinced by her words as he is. This hurts her, whether she wants to admit it or not. She doesn't want to be in love with Dawson . . . but sometimes feelings aren't so easily controlled.

He steps towards her and places his hand on her shoulder gently. "I know how you feel . . ."

"I really hope that you don't," she says miserably without turning around. She keeps staring at the movies as tears fill her eyes but she fights to push them back.

"I wish I didn't, but I do. I know what it's like to want someone so much and know that they are out of your reach," he says.

She turns to look at him. "Miss Jacobs wasn't exactly out of your reach. She just left before you were ready," Joey says.

"I wasn't talking about her," he says softly as he looks at Joey.

She freezes, not sure what to make of this. She searches her mind but can't think of what to say. She feels Pacey draw closer and she is sure he is going to kiss her. At first, this causes a panic to rise within her. But, then, she realizes she might just want this, too. After all, he's been so great to her lately . . .

"Pacey," she says in a whisper. She prepares for the kiss she is sure is inevitable, blocking all thoughts from her head except the anticipation she is surprised to feel rise within her.

The moment is shattered, however, by the sound of the bell ringing to alert them that the door to the video store is opening. "Hey guys, I'm back," Stan calls as he walks behind the counter. Pacey and Joey separate quickly. He looks at the two of them strangely. "Am I interrupting?"

"No, no, we were just . . ." Pacey stammers.

"We were looking for a copy of . . ." Joey begins.

"The Truth about Cats and Dogs," Pacey says as he grabs a movie nearby and quickly reads the title.

"Hmm, sounds like you two need to know more about the birds and the bees," he comments.

Pacey laughs nervously. "Get out of here, Stan. You're nuts," says, trying to sound convincing.

"Sure, whatever," Stan replies.

"Well, Dawson and Jen should be here soon. I'm just going to wait out front for them," Joey says as she turns quickly to leave, wanting to get away from what has suddenly become an awkward situation.

"Yeah, right behind you," Pacey says.

"Hey, play safe," Stan says quietly to Pacey.

"You really should get out more," Pacey says with a smirk.

Stan arches his eyebrows at Pacey as if to let him know that he is not fooled by his sarcasm. Pacey turns to follow Joey, glad to get away from these questions he can't possibly begin to explain even to himself. Stan watches them go with a knowing look.

Jen hears the doorbell ring and dashes down the stairs to beat her grandmother to it. "I got it Grams," she calls. She opens the door to reveal just the person she had been expecting: Dawson Leery.

"You look nice," he smiles.

"Thanks, you too," she replies. "I'm leaving. See you later, Grams," she calls over her shoulder as she starts out.

"Don't be out too late, Jennifer," she hears as she pulls the door shut. Jen just rolls her eyes.

"She likes to keep a tight leash. Never can tell what I might try to pull," she says sarcastically.

Dawson smiles and reaches down to take her hand as they walk off the porch together. "She just cares about you," he says.

"Well, there is a thing as suffocating a person with too much caring," she replies.

"I think you'll come to appreciate it one day," he says.

"Maybe . . ." she says. "So, enough about her. Let's change the subject."

"Okay, what would you like to talk about?" he asks as they walk together down the quiet street towards the center of town.

"I don't know . . . how's the movie coming?"

"You mean mine or that masterpiece by the Scorcesi of the gridiron?" he cracks.

Jen can't help but laugh. "I meant yours. Did you enter it in the contest?"

"Yeah, but I haven't heard anything yet. They don't usually tell you anything until a few weeks after the entry deadline at least. And that'd be the soonest."

"Well, you're really good at filmmaking. You have a passion for it that shows in your work. I think you'll do great," she says.

He squeezes her hand gently and smiles. "Thanks, it's good to know you have faith in me."

"I always have," she smiles back.

He starts to say something else but looks up to see that they are only a block from the video store. This conversation will just have to wait. They walk on in silence, neither sure if they are drawing closer or just trying to make drifting apart a little easier.

"Hey Jo, wait," Pacey says as he follows her out the door of Capeside Video just as she is having a seat on the bench out front.

"Sorry, you didn't have to leave," she says. "I just didn't really know what to say in there . . ."

"Yeah, I felt the same way," he admits as he sits beside her. "Did we almost just . . ."

"Yeah, I think we did," she replies.

"What do you think about that?" he wonders.

"I don't know, what do you think?" she asks back.

"I don't know either."

"We're quite a team," she laughs.

"Yeah . . ." he laughs back.

"Pacey, I don't know if I'm ready to . . ." she begins.

"Me either," he replies before she can finish.

"So, what does this mean? What do we do now?"

"We . . . I don't know. I guess we just keep being friends like we always have been. We're both just lonely. I think friendship is probably the best bet though."

"Yeah, me too," she says.

"Okay, great," he smiles at her. He's not sure he really believes he only wants to be her friend though. For about two seconds in that video store today he definitely wanted to be more. But, Pacey knows now is not the time for this conversation. "There they are," he says as he looks up to see Dawson and Jen approaching. "We'd better go." He holds his hand out to Joey to help her up.

"Hey guys," Jen says as they walk closer.

"Hey, how's it going?" Pacey asks.

"It's going. And we'd better get going if we're going to make that seven o'clock showing," Dawson replies as he glances at his watch. The others nod and they all walk together towards the center of town.

When they reach the theatre, Dawson and Pacey stand in line to get the tickets and Jen and Joey stand to the side to wait for them. "So," Jen says, "you and Pacey seem to be getting along well lately."

"We're just friends," Joey says quickly, maybe a bit too quickly.

"I never said anything," Jen says.

"I know . . . I . . . never mind. Yeah, Pacey's a nice guy."

"Yeah, he is," Jen agrees. "You know," she continues, "he's jealous of you two."

"Who?" Joey asks, looking up quickly at Jen.

"Dawson," she says quietly. "He doesn't like you having someone to lean on besides him."

"What? No, Dawson's fine with it. He's got you. Besides, Pacey and I have always been friends. It's not like it's new or something," Joey says, but it is obvious she is trying hard to convince herself of all of this, too.

"Okay," Jen says, very clearly not convinced. Joey gives her a skeptical look and starts to say something else but Dawson and Pacey arrive with the tickets and she decides to save this conversation for later.

The theatre is dark and quiet as the couple in the movie move closer to one another. The whole movie they've been dancing around their feelings for each other and now they are finally starting to see what was there all along. Dawson is sitting in the aisle seat with Jen beside him. His arm is draped across her shoulder but his eyes aren't on the screen. They are where they have been for most of the last hour and a half: on Joey and Pacey. Pacey is sitting beside Jen and Joey is beside him. Pacey's arm is perched atop her seat but Dawson continues to check and see if it has moved down any further.

Pacey whispers something to Joey and she giggles quietly. Jen looks over at Dawson and follows his eyes. He's been watching them all night. She turns back towards the screen, trying to ignore it. 'He's just worried about Joey getting hurt,' she tells herself. 'They're just friends.' If only it was so easy convince herself of this.

"So, where to now?" Pacey asks when they walk out of the theatre together.

"I think we'll just head home," Dawson says.

"Home? At barely nine o'clock on a Friday night?" Pacey replies.

"Excuse me for not being a party animal," Dawson quips.

"Hey, it's okay. He and Jen want to go. We can go see if Bessie and Bodi need some help at the restaurant," Joey tells Pacey.

"Yeah, okay," Pacey says. "Well, see you guys," he says and starts walking in the direction of the Icehouse with Joey.

Dawson stands with Jen and watches them walk away. "Ready?" Jen asks to break his trance.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," he says and they start to walk off the other way.

"Dawson . . ." she starts as they walk.

"Hmm?"

"You know, you can't not have her but still keep her from everyone else."

"What?" he stops her and looks at her. "Jen, you think I . . . No, it's nothing like that," he says.

"You mean you weren't watching Joey and Pacey like a hawk the whole time we were in the theatre tonight? You aren't even the least bit jealous? Come on, don't fool yourself Dawson," she replies.

"Jen . . . I don't want Joey. I want you. Joey's just . . . she's my best friend. And I know Pacey. I know he and Joey aren't right for each other. I just have to watch out for her. She's like my sister or something. I feel responsible."

Jen looks at him skeptically but finally nods. "Okay, if you say so," she says.

"I do," he smiles as they start walking again. He laces his fingers through hers and says, "Hey, what do you say we make a detour before going home?"

"Detour?" she asks.

"Yeah, you want to?"

"Sure, I'm up for some adventure," she says. Dawson smiles, leans down to kiss her gently, and walks her towards his intended destination.