(The lyrics to How's it going to be is borrowed Third Eye Blind and all the disclaimer stuff that usually goes along with it)
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When we last left off Dawson had just kissed Joey with negative results. Pacey was worried about losing Joey and Jenn was really tired of Cliff.
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Joey ran out of the cafeteria and into the hall, the headed directly in the girls' bathroom and locked herself in a stall. She cried "How could he, how dare he I just got over him and he wants to be with me now?" She couldn't help wondering if his feelings were geniune or just an act of a jealous friend. Either way she thought, there's no turning back she was with Pacey now and Dawson was just going to have to get over it. She was startled to hear a knock on the door she opened the stall door to Jenn who had a worried look on her face "What happened between you and Dawson I saw you running out of the cafeteria with Dawson on your heels did you have a fight?" "Dawson kissed me, the bastard and I slapped him because he waited so long for me he waited until I had moved on with Pacey to decided to notice me. I mean Jenn I really thought we had a chance awhile ago but he just never paid any attention to me so I moved on and I'm with Pacey and now I'm happy why can't he understand that?!!" Jenn simply asked "Did you tell him?" Joey looked shocked "No I didn't I was just so angry at him for even kissing me." Jenn said "Joey I have to tell you something, Dawson told me that he loved you and he was going to try and fight for you but I didn't have the heart to tell him he may be too late but you have to tell him because he deserves to know and, yes I agree that although kissing you was not a smart idea you can't blame him for trying." Joey smiled and said "Yea, I know you're right Jenn I just wondered something." Jenn looked puzzled and asked "Oh yea, what is that?" Joey picked up her stuff and started to walk out of the restroom when she turned back and over her shoulder said "Why is that we never miss what we always had until someone else has it? Bye Jenn I'll see ya at lunch." Jenn watched as Joey walked away and knew that Joey was talking about Dawson but she was also talking about herself.
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Pacey hadn't seen Joey since breakfast and the confrontation with Dawson, he had to admit he was a little apprehensive about seeing each other at lunch. He was walking directly for the cafeteria when Joey saw him she signaled him down and said "Pacey can we talk in private for a minute please." Pacey looked a little nervous but agreed and steered Joey for the stairwell and sat on the last step. Joey saw the nervous
look that crossed Pacey so she kissed him lightly on the lips and said "Hey, Pacey I'm not here to break up with you it's more of a don't get jealous kinda talk." Pacey looked relieved then confused "If you're not breaking up with me then what's going on?" Joey took a deep breath "Dawson tried to kiss me and I pulled away and now Jenn tells me that he's in love with me, and now I have to tell him that we don't have a chance together because I'm with you, but I don't want to break my best friend's heart..." Pacey was seething inside that Dawson had tried to kiss her but when he saw Joey starting to tear up he instantly pulled her in his arms "Listen to me, someone was bound to get hurt." Joey pulled away reluctantly, kissed him again and turned back after running her fingers through her hair and said "Yea, but I always thought I would be the one getting hurt. See you later Pacey." Pacey watched at what he now realized was the love of his life walk away to the cafeteria. He hoped silently that Dawson wouldn't in turn mess up the best friendship that he ever had.
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Dawson sat in the lunchroom whether happy with himself or the world in general he couldn't tell but he was happy, he knew that by that kiss Joey had felt something and now he knew that they had a future together he couldn't wait until she got here. He noticed Jenn coming in to the lunchroom and he flagged her over and smiled and said "Hey Jenn, how's things going" Jenn looked suspiciously at Dawson and said "What's going on did you talk to Joey yet?" "No, but I can't wait" Jenn looked sympthatically at Dawson "Dawson, I don't think that what you're hoping for is going to happen, Joey was pretty pissed when I talked to her last, she thinks that you're only with her because you suddenly realized that she wasn't always gonna be there at your beck and call." Dawson looked like he was about to protest when Jenn said "Let me finish, she thinks that back when you and I first got together...." Joey had walked up and said "That's enough Jenn I think I can handle it from here but thanks for trying." Jenn looked sympathetically at Dawson then at Joey and walked away.
She spotted Pacey sitting at a table by himself so she decided to go over and sit with him. Pacey was engrossed in his fries and ketchup and didn't notice that she had walked up until she asked "Pacey is this seat taking?" Pacey looked up and smiled and said "No of course not sit down." Jenn noticed he looked a little distracted "What's going on, is it you and Joey?" Pacey smiled and said "Actually, that's the only thing in my life that's going right for me it's just that Joey is walking over there and breaking her best friend's heart for me, Jenn for me and I feel so guilty because I knew how Dawson felt all along but he was too stupid and stubborn to realize his own feelings and I could've said something and didn't and now I feel like I'm about to lose a best friend too." Jenn smiled and said "You know, I'm going to tell you something Dawson had Joey for fifteen years and he never noticed her before, but I'm going to tell you the same thing Joey told me when Dawson and I were going out, Dawson is the victim of the classic only child syndrome he always had what he wanted at the moment he asked for it and although now he feels betrayed but when he comes to his senses, like when he needs Joey or you I promise this will be forgotten." Pacey smiled and said "I sure hope so Jenn"
Dawson looked Joey in the eyes and asked "Is what she said true? Do you think I put you on the backburner for Jenn? Do you think I only realized I loved you when someone else was with you?" Joey sat down where Jenn had been sitting and said sarcastically "Give Dawson a 100 points you hit the nail right on the head, Let me ask you a question Dawson and I want the truth when was the turning point when did you feel things between us were more than friends? Or more direct when did you realize that you loved me?" Dawson looked a little nervous but decided truth was the best avenue "When Pacey asked me permission to ask you out or even kiss you." Joey looked shocked at his answer then angry "So if Pacey hadn't asked me out where would we be? Would you still be pining for Jenn or would it have hit you in the face that maybe I was more than your friend?" Dawson looked a little uncomfortable and stayed silent so Joey started again "You see you don't even know, Dawson I felt love for you at one time but now I realize that all we can ever be is the best of friends because that's all you see me as and that's all I see you as and I think if you look inside yourself you realize I'm right too. Dawson you had a choice to be with me when you and Jenn first broke up but you didn't want to you still pined for her, Did you ever think about that? Why don't you ask yourself that question? Dawson I have to go but call me when you're ready to talk about the real situation between us." Dawson mustered up a smiled and said "Sure Jo." He watched Joey walk away and said in his mind You're wrong Joey wrong. He couldn't help but think of a song he heard on the radio this morning that fit his mood right now.
How's it going to be
When you don't know me anymore
How's it going to be
When you're sure I'm not there
How's it going to be
When there's no one to talk to between you and me.........
Dawson got up from the lunchroom table and walked away going in the direction of the library. Joey saw him and walked away sadly.
Joey spotted Jenn and Pacey at a table together and hurried over, she gave Pacey a kiss on the mouth first then sat down next to him and Jenn asked "How's Dawson?" Joey looked up and said "I think he's a little hurt right now but I know he'll get over it." Joey plucked a fry off Pacey's plate and popped it in her mouth without him noticing and continued talking "He was walking in the direction of the library if you wanted to talk to him." She picked up two more fries off his plate and popped them in her mouth and picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth. Jenn stood up and said "Yea, I'll think I will go and check on him he may be a little depressed right now." Joey smiled at Jenn and said "Oh by the way Jenn thanks for all your help I know we haven't been the best of friends but I hope that'll change with time." Jenn smiled back and said " Yea me too bye Pacey and Joey I'll see you later." Joey smiled and nodded and reached for another fry but her hand was caught by Pacey's and said "Uh, uh this one's mine." He took the fry that was in her fingers and brought it to his mouth and ate it out of her fingers and said "Thanks" Joey smiled at Pacey, put her arm around his neck and kissed him and said "Anytime." Pacey smiled thinking god was there ever a time when I didn't love this woman?
Dawson was in the library and didn't notice Jenn come up behind him "Dawson I know you're hurt but.." "Honestly Jenn, I don't think you know how I feel, I don't mean to be rude or anything but what I mean is that part of me is relieved that there is nothing between Joey and me and that Joey is over me and yet the other part is pissed that I wasn't told so that I could decide what to do about it and yet still another part..." Jenn said "What Dawson, the other part is what......" Just then out of the blue Cliff runs up "Jenn I've been looking for you everywhere I just wanted to talk to you, excuse us Dawson" Cliff pulls Jenn aside with Jenn looking at Dawson, Dawson gave Jenn a sad smile and walked out of the library and into the hall and said "The other part, Jenn, still misses you like crazy and wants you back."
Pacey looked at his watch again and then at his biology teacher who was still talking about extra credit assignments and Pacey was getting anxious, he had told Joey that he would walk her home and he couldn't wait to get that opportunity he wanted to ask her about going out somewhere tonight. He loved her and he planned to tell her but he wanted everything perfect first and his teacher wasn't helping. He looked at his watch once more and said "Excuse, me Sir I really have to go." He picked up his books stuffed him in his backpack and ran out of the room. He ran directly to her locker and was greeted by Joey's pretty face, she smiled at Pacey and said "What took you so long I was beginning to think you ditched me." Pacey looked at Joey for a moment as if memorizing her features and because it had been too long since he last held her in his arms he brought her lips to his and pulled her close. Joey caught off guard could do nothing but comply, she wrapped her arms around Pacey's neck as he pulled her closer. When he finally let her up for air she said "What was that for?" He gave her another kiss on the cheek and said "That was for being late and because it's been too long since I last kissed you. Are you ready to go?" Joey looked at Pacey again strangely and said "Yea let me get my bookbag out of my locker." He waited patiently while she opened her locker got her bookbag and closed it again. She started to walk down the hall when she felt Pacey's hand slip into hers she smiled and squeezed his hand as they started to walk out of the school when they ran into Dawson. Pacey looked nervous and smiled at Dawson not knowing what to expect.
