“A Cinderella Story,” Dawson Leery scoffed, “You’d think that the American public would get sick of this love story being constantly reproduced. If they don’t stop this soon, generations to come will be blatantly mislead that everything will turn out okay, that the prince will always get the girl, no matter what barricades are put in the way to prevent them.

“What?” Jen is obviously confused and perplexed. She absolutely hated it when Dawson went on with his movie talk and ranting about everything not being right. After all, she and Dawson had ended up together, hadn’t that been meant to be? She asked herself this question nearly everyday, images of Joey dancing in her head, making her cringe.

Dawson sighed impatiently, “Never mind,” He hated explaining things to Jen. It seemed like she never fully understood. She’d just nod and smile at him, making him even more frustrated.

“Umm..okay,” Jen said sitting down next to him and grabbing the remote control.

**********

Joey settled down comfortably into her seat on the Greyhound bus which was just taking off to Capeside. She breathed in deeply and started coughing, choking on the gas fumes and unpleasant smell.

Pacey looked concerned for a moment and then, realizing she wasn’t seriously injured, decided to lighten the mood.

“Jo, I told you to take a shower before we left!” Pacey joked, grinning.

“Bite me,” Joey replied, but she couldn’t help smiling.

“So, our buddy Dawson finally is getting his name in lights,” Pacey said, thoroughly glad that his friend had fulfilled one of his dreams, “Who would’ve guessed?”

“Yeah,” Joey said, somewhat wistfully, “And with little Miss New York, imagine that.”

“What is that Josephine...what’s that you say, oh your incredibly, obviously, deeply, jealous of our dear Ms. Lindley, are you?” Pacey asked.

Joey was silent, choosing tactfully not to answer Pacey’s bombardment of questions. She watched the passing scenery for awhile before turning to face Pacey.

Pacey watched Joey, pausing his persecution while waiting for and answer, he noticed how beautiful her eyes were, the delicate features on her face...What the hell are you thinking Pacey? he thought to himself She’s just your friend, my god, you know she’s been in love with Dawson for years.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Joey said, noticing that Pacey was deep into his own little world.

“Can you afford that, my thoughts can get pretty expensive!” Pacey exclaimed.

“Haha.” Joey gave a fake laugh.

“That’s right!” Pacey exclaimed.

“So...what’s up with Doug lately, last I heard he was working at McDonalds or something.” Joey said.

“He actually got promoted to head fryer!” Pacey smiled ,”Who would’ve imagined that he’d end up working at Mickey D’s and me at college on my way to becoming a Doctor.” He shook his head incredulously.

“I would’ve!” Joey replied earnestly, “I told you we’d both get out of Capeside!”

“Ohh, and I know how much you hate to say, I told you so!” Pacey grinned.

“Especially to you!” Joey said sarcastically.

“Funny,” Pacey mumbled, “You know, this could be the beginning of something!”

“Of what?” Joey queried.

“Of us actually managing to act civil towards each other!” Pacey said.

“Oh never, we wouldn’t want to ruin a tradition!” Joey said in mock horror.

“You’re right,” Pacey agreed, “It would’ve been a bitch trying to get along with you!”

“Ooh, ouch, dagger, right to the heart.” Joey pretended to faint.

“Great, time to celebrate!” Pacey laughed.

“Oh, thanks a lot!” Joey gave Pacey a little shove, but before she could he grabbed her hand and gave her a kiss.

**********

“Joey and Pacey are coming down from Boston U today,” Dawson told Jen while they were preparing dinner for their friends at the Leery household.

“Really?” Jen replied, feigning interest.

“Yup, I can’t wait, we haven’t seen those two for almost three years!” Dawson said, his voice filled with anticipation.

Truthfully, Dawson couldn’t wait to see Joey. He was anxiously awaiting their arrival so they could have one of their famed movie discussions, her responses were always well thought out, and she always understood everything he said, even if she disagreed.

“Hello? Earth to Dawson!” Jen looked quizzically at Dawson’s face.

“Hunh? Oh, sorry Jen,” Dawson looked at his girlfriend.

“Quite all right,” Jen replied, still puzzled.

“Hey, you hear the car outside, I think that’s them!” Dawson exclaimed.

The couple went outside, but to their dismay, it was just Dawson’s parents.

“Oh, its just you guys,” Dawson said disappointedly.

“Hello to you too, Dawson!” Gail Leery said, feeling rather rejected.

“Sorry Mom, we were just expecting Joey and Pacey, I didn’t mean it that way!” Dawson tried to save himself.

“Dawson, my friend, still getting yourself in sticky situations I see!” Came a voice from around the corner.

Dawson turned around, although he already knew who it was.

“Pacey, Joey, you guys are finally here!” Dawson gave each of them a hug, as did Jen.

“You look exactly the same Dawson!” Joey exclaimed while looking Dawson over.

“Likewise Jo,” Dawson said, he thought Joey looked stunning, but he was hesitant to say this in front of Jen. Their relationship was already rocky to say the least!

“Hey Mrs. Leery, Mr. Leery!” Joey waved to Dawson’s parents as they walked towards them.

“Joey!” Gail said, “Long time no see! We’ve missed you around here! Every time Dawson comes home he complains that he has no one to talk to. Now that you’re here we can all live in peace!”

“I’m glad I’m needed!” Joey laughed, while Dawson blushed a deep crimson.

“Hey you guys, let’s get your stuff inside!” Dawson said too quickly, picking up multiple pieces of luggage.

**********

“So, Dawson,” Joey said, “Where exactly are we sleeping?”

“Well, Jen is going to go back home and take care of her grandmother for the night, so you and Pace can sleep in the guest room if you guys don’t kill each other first or you can both drag some sleeping bags into my room.” Dawson replied.

“I’ll opt for Dawson’s room, I haven’t been here for so long!” Joey marveled, virtually nothing had changed, but it seemed like everything was different!

“Ditto that,” Pacey added.

“My room it is, but I’m warning you guys, it’s exactly the same, except for a few props missing here or there.” Dawson grinned.

“Dawson’s right, he hasn’t let his parents touch a thing since he left!” Jen interjected.

“That’s so like him!” Joey exclaimed, happy that things hadn’t changed so much after all.

“Hey! I’m offended!” Dawson said angrily.

“Just kidding, you’re still gullible aren’t you?” Joey laughed.

**********

“I’ll see you tomorrow Jen.” Dawson gave Jen a quick kiss and watched her walk across the driveway to the porch of her grandmother’s house.

Dawson waved and then sighed as he turned around. What am I doing? Dawson thought to himself Jen’s absolutely perfect in every way! I love her he thought, trying to quickly resolve the problem Don’t I?

**********

“Grams?” Jen called, “Where are you?”

“In the kitchen, Jennifer, dear.” Her Grandmother called back.

“Hey Grams,” Jen sat down at the kitchen table.

“Were you at the Dawson boy’s house, Jennifer, you know how I don’t like that.” Mrs. Ryan said.

“Grams, Dawson is my boyfriend, I still don’t understand what you have against him.”

“Oh!” Mrs. Ryan cried, “Honestly Jennifer, it’s nothing I have against him. It’s just that I know and everyone else that’s been in Capeside knows that he and that Potter girl have been eyeing each other for years.”

“Joey is just his friend , Grams!” Jen said, her voice filled with exasperation.

“All I know is what I see!” Mrs. Ryan said innocently enough.

“I guess so,” Jen replied.

**********

Joey and Pacey both settled down on Dawson’s bed, their luggage and sleeping bags littering the floor around them. Dawson sat at the foot of the bed staring critically at the screen. A commercial for Ever After: A Cinderella Story came on. Dawson decided to try his Cinderella speech again, hoping this time for better results.

“I swear, this is the third Cinderella Story. They can’t keep modernizing classics, it just does not work!” Dawson said slowly.

“Exactly!” Joey exclaimed, “They’ve milked this story way too many times!”

“I know, ruining fabulous classics for the sake of modernization!” Dawson was glad he finally had someone to converse with, “Meaning, they add a couple of famous at the moment actors and hire a couple of popular bands to write up a few songs. The movie stays in the theaters for a month, max.”

“I know!” Joey exclaimed, “Exactly what I was thinking, but Pacey here didn’t agree with me!”

“You guys, back at it again.” Pacey said.

“Shut up Pacey!” Dawson and Joey said simultaneously.

Pacey grinned at his two friends and said, “Now I know I’m back home!”

**********

Dawson popped a video into the VCR and pressed the play button.

“What are we going to watch?” Joey said suspiciously.

“Oh, just something, I want it to be a surprise.” Dawson replied.

Joey sighed and leaned back on Pacey’s arm while waiting for the video to begin. Dawson noticed that Joey and Pacey had gotten a lot closer while they had been away at college, but he paid no attention to it. After all, they had been the only two people that were from Capeside at the University.

A picture of Pacey in a cheaply made monster costume showed up on the screen. The three friends cracked up immediately.

“I can’t believe you kept this Dawson!” Pacey groaned.

“I know!” Joey covered her face with her hands.

“Purely for the purposes of blackmail.” Dawson said.

“Well...thanks,” Joey was still laughing.

**********

Joey, Dawson, and Pacey were all sitting in the kitchen eating their breakfast of cereal and fruit, all of them were laughing, practically choking on their food.

Personally Dawson thought that Joey looked stunning, she was wearing a pair of khakis and light blue tank top and sweater set, he stared down at his soggy cereal and stole occasional glances at his former best friend. It wasn’t like these feelings were alien to him, after all, he had been through the whole episode before Joey left for France, but they had never really worked everything out.

Jen slowly climbed the steps leading to the front door of the Leery household, she sighed, knowing that in all likelyhood she would be the odd one out. Jen heard some laughing coming from inside and walked in, the door had been left unlocked. She saw the three friends together, having a fabulous time and bit her lip, regretting ever coming back to Capeside.

Dawson looked up, “Hey Jen!” he said cheerfully.

“Hey Dawson!” Jen put on a smile as Dawson gave her a peck on the lips.

“So, what’s the game plan?” Jen asked.

“Yeah Dawson, what’s the big secret you’ve been keeping from us?” Joey asked curiously.

Dawson smiled mischievously and proceeded to pull out four identical squares of paper from his pockets.

“Four box seats to the performance of Les Miserábles on Broadway, the day after tomorrow.” Dawson said proudly.

“Your kidding!” Joey said, genuinely pleased with Dawson’s surprise.

“Remember when you sang that song that Eponine sings in the play?” Jen smiled.

“Don’t remind me..” Joey buried her face in her hands.

“You did a great job Jo, admit it!” Dawson carefully lifted Joey’s hands away from her face.

“Yeah.” Pacey chimed in, “But everyone knows my performance stole the show.”

“Pacey’s right.” Joey said, laughing.

“So, when are we leaving?” Jen asked.

“Tonight, we have plane, courtesy of my parents. So you guys have to pack a few formal clothes and we’ll have a ball, guaranteed.” Dawson said.

**********

Joey sat on the porch of her former residence, she heard a car tires on the newly paved driveway. Things had definitely changed for the better in Capeside, at the S.S. Icehouse business had been booming. The car stopped and a small brown-haired boy hopped out and ran towards Joey.

“Auntie Joey!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Hey kiddo,” Joey hugged her nephew, “Ooof, you’ve gotten heavy, what’s Bessie been feeding you?”

“Did I hear my name?” Bessie called from the car.

She got out and gave her younger sister a hug, while her son tugged on her long skirt, begging for a cookie.

“Hey, Jo, you look great!” Bessie exclaimed cheerfully.

“I haven’t changed at all since I visited you three weeks ago!” Joey groaned.

“You’re my sister, you look older every time I see you.” Bessie said matter of factly.

“Well, you look great too, and obviously Alex hasn’t changed at all.” Joey looked down at her nephew fondly.

“Nope!” Alex said loudly, chewing on a chocolate cookie.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way.” Bessie said, patting her son on the head affectionately.

Joey kneeled down until she was eye level with Alex.

“Do you have a girlfriend yet Alex?” Joey joked.

“Yup!” Alex yelled cheerfully, licking the chocolate from his fingertips.

“Who is she, is she nice?” Joey interrogated.

“Yeah, but she has cooties.” Alex said solemnly and walked away, he had lost interest in this conversation as soon as his cookie was gone.

Both Bessie and Joey broke out into peals of laughter as Alex calmly walked away.

“So I hear you guys are leaving for New York tonight.” Bessie said.

“Yeah..” Joey’s voice trailed off.

“I also heard that you and Pacey are a couple.” Bessie busied herself with the potted plants on the porch.

“That’s true.” Joey replied.

“C’mon Jo, spill. You’ve got to tell me these things, I’m your sister!” Bessie pleaded, “The only gossip I hear all day is what color Play-Doh Alex used.”

Joey grinned, “Well it kind of happened suddenly, I mean, we just started spending more time with each other and...it just happened.” Joey said thoughtfully.

“That’s it?” Bessie said.

“You sound disappointed.” Joey laughed.

“I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment!” she said sarcastically.

********** To be continued .....

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