Part 2
A Prelude To A Kiss
Disclaimer: Dawson, Joey, Pacey, Jen and all other Dawson's Creek characters are the proporty of Kevin Williamson and the WB. I don't own them, so please don't sue.
Rating: PG-13. If you can watch the show, you can read this.
Spoilers: You know what happened in season 1 of Dawson's Creek. Of how Dawson Leery was oblivious to the fact that his long-time best friend, Joey Potter, was in love with him. You know of how Dawson dated Jen Lindley, while his other friend Pacey pursued his English teacher, Tamara Jacobs. But what if some avents had happened differently? I am the Watcher(KIDDING…lol…sorry, in-joke, nevermind). Anyway, in this story, something happened at the end of the pilot episode to change the course of the entire series. What happened? Just wait and see.
Editors Note: I'm trying something different this time around. I usually write in script format, but I thought I'd try narrative this time. It's a little experiment for a fic I might co-write in the future. Hope you like it.
Dawson and Joey are watching "From Here to Eternity", a black and white, where a couple is lying on the sand, kissing passionately as the waves crash over them.
"This is it." Dawson exclaims "This is what we need."
"Hmmm...a black and white picture." Joey responds, mockingly "How retro."
"The first kiss has to be just like that." Dawson tells her.
He gets up and points to the screen. Joey starts to become surprised.
"Woah, wait a minute." She stops him "We're back to that again? Didn't we finish the whole 'kissing' thing last week."
"It's not about the kiss, Joey." He informs her "It's about the journey and creating the sustaining magic."
Joey gives him a doubtful look.
"On screen."
"It's old, Dawson." She tells him "We finished it...it's done? Take the elevator to the next floor and get off, because it's time."
"It's not that simple, Joey." Dawson tells her "It's about creating the perfect moment, and it has to be planned with the right music and dialogue."
"You can't storyboard a kiss, Dawson." Joey points out.
"Sure you can." He corrects her.
"It's not a reality, Dawson." She says "These movies that you're watching are all false images that don't even exist outside the city limits of Hollywood."
"That's not true." Dawson corrects "They are images grounded in the reality of imagination."
Joey gives him a disbelieving look.
"Did you just pull that one out of your butt or what?"
"Everybody thinks that movies are fantasy, but they don't have to be." Dawson starts to philosophize "'From Here to Eternity'. You can have that; you just have to create it. That moment on the beach could be yours. You could be Deborah Carr."
"Hmm... sand in my crotch." She says, sarcastically "Heaven."
"You know its attitudes like yours that prevent storyboard romances from happening." Dawson points out "You're too cynical."
"Right." She answers.
"And you are far too jaded for this conversation." He remarks
"I'm sorry Dawson." She tells him "But romance doesn't come with a John Williams score."
"It's called a stereo." Dawson quips.
"And it doesn't come with a sunset or a star lit summer night, either." She starts to rant. "I'm personally offended that this movie mentality that we're supposed to believe that Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock are going to magically drop down from the sky and will sweep us off our feet."
Dawson starts to become a little worried.
"I didn't know you had a thing for Brad Pitt." He says
"I don't, it was an analogy." She tells him
"Sandra Bullock?" he asks, confused.
"Dawson!" she continues "These movies are not real. They're not kissing with their tongues, it's Take 20. The girl is bored and the guy is gay. It's celluloid propaganda."
"Joey, Joey, Joey, Joey." He says, disappointed "You bitter and cynical jaded thing."
"You used to be bitter and cynical too, you were far more interesting." She comments.
"But now...I choose magic." He informs her.
"You know that this Peter Pan fantasy movie land you're living in?" the warns him "It will be your downfall."
"One day, you'll understand Joey." He tells her "You'll know what it's like to long for someone and the desire to want to kiss them and then you're going to come to me and say 'Dawson, you were right!' See Joey, all you have to do is believe."
Joey rolls her eyes and starts to leave through the window. She looks back at Dawson once before she ducks out.
"Clap hard Dawson because you might be Tinkerbell's last hope." She says, mockingly, then leaves.
*****
The next day in film class, Mr. Gold is leaning against his desk while the class is discussing movie ideas. Dawson sits in the back, disgusted by the mundane answers his classmates are giving.
Oh please he thinks These are supposed to be filmmakers?
"All right, kids." Mr. Gold begins "So let me hear some ideas."
"What about a big production number at the victory dance?" one of the students suggests "Right at the end of the second half?"
"Will someone please tell Tommy Tune back there that the discussion is limited to non-asinine ideas?" Nellie blurts out, disgusted.
"Let's try and keep this story meeting a little more upbeat and politically correct, Nellie." The teacher suggests.
"I got it!!" another student exclaims "The coach has a heart attack and drops right before the game?"
"It's the coach, nobody cares about him." Cliff informs them "It has to be something bigger."
"We start shooting tonight." Another student complains "Shouldn't we have the script locked?"
Dawson points to him, as if saying, 'That's a good point' sarcastically.
"Yes, but we need to solve the ending." Cliff informs him "There's something missing at the top of the act."
"What if we give the end some kind of a problem?" another student suggests "Like drugs, drinking...his girlfriend got knocked up."
"Kill someone!" Nellie blurts out, once again "An unexpected death always works."
Dawson is frustrated by the idiotic ideas surrounding him and ties to suggest something himself.
"Guys, guys! You need to create some kind of dramatic tension. There's a formula to it that's all. Anybody ever see 'Rocky' or 'The Karate Kid'? This film needs to be about the underdog and not the golden boy. He needs to overcome some internal conflict within himself and we, the audience, need to know why this game is so important to him. What is he going to prove to himself if he wins? We need to care about him."
Various students stare at Dawson, after he delivers that speech. Some students start to chuckle, like Dawson is an amateur.
And the crowd goes wild Dawson thinks, sarcastically
"Pathetic!" Nellie complains "Mr. Gold, as producer, I am going to have to insist that you shut him up."
*****
Pacey walks into Ms. Jacob's empty classroom and shuts the door behind him. Unfortunately, he doesn't notice Jen watching him from behind the door.
He just walks up to Tamara's desk.
"I noticed that you didn't hand my test back." Pacey remarks "Does that mean you need to see me after class?"
"It means that you racked up another prime number on a quiz." She informs him.
"Prime as in 'quality steak is prime'?" he asks.
"Prime as in '23 is prime'." She responds "Do you know anything about 'Ethan Frome'?"
"I know that he has a farm." Pacey jokes. "'And on that farm he has...'"
"Pacey, this is serious." She tells him "I heard the other teachers talking about your work... or lack thereof. This is across the board you're failing."
"Do you know how difficult it is to fail?" Pacey asks her "This has taken a considerable amount of work and energy, you know."
"This is deliberate?" Tamara asks, confused.
"Of course it is!" Pacey admits "This is pre meditated. You see, it was my hope that a certain teacher was going to bail me out with some private tutorial encounters."
"It's not a question of your intelligence Pacey." She tells him.
"You see, my problem is that I have a focus issue." Pacey informs her "I need a slave driver, somebody with a whip maybe?"
"Pacey we can't interact like this." She tells him.
"Oh no, of course not." Pacey agrees "This is deadly wrong, taboo. However, you can tutor me, that is completely acceptable within our 'student-teacher' relationship."
"I have a teacher meeting after class, but I will be working late." She informs him "Meet me here later, about 6-ish."
"Yeah." Pacey responds, smiles and walks out of the classroom.
Hiding behind a doorframe down the hall, Jen watches him leave, then goes the opposite direction.
*****
At the Icehouse restaurant, Joey, Bessie, and Bodie are talking.
"It feels as if this baby is tangled in my rib cage." Bessie complains.
"You're huge!" Joey informs her "Why didn't you stay home today?"
"Never tell a pregnant woman that she's fat." Bodie informs Joey.
"Sorry." Joey apologizes "You're not fat, Bessie. You're just monumentally gargentuous."
"Your sister reminds me of a beached whale." Bodie informs her.
"Bodie!" Joey exclaims to him.
"You're joking, right?" Bessie asks "That was a joke?"
*****
At a nearby table, Pacey and Dawson are waiting.
"This is my big break." Dawson tells him "Mr.Gold is going to let me in the class officially providing I prove myself."
"How?" Pacey asks.
"I'm on the crew for 'Helmets of Glory'." He tells him "I'm a P.A. for Nellie; it's just a test."
"Yeah, pure humiliation." Pacey complains.
"You see, that's the point, it's the winning attitude." Dawson says, proud of himself.
"So...any luck on the 'Joey' front?" Pacey asks, changing the subject.
Dawson gives him a 'watch it' look.
"I've already fowled things up with Jen. I've pretty much decided to put my love life on permanent hold for the time being."
Pacey grins at him.
"Where's the fun in that?" he asks.
"Before I can do anything, I have to find some way of making sure Joey doesn't get hurt by anything I..."
Dawson becomes silent when he sees Joey walk over to take their orders.
"Our serving wench is here!" Pacey exclaims.
Joey sits down beside Dawson.
"All I have to do now is finish up the filming with Jen ...
"We're still talking about Wonderbra?" Joey asks them "I thought we were finished filming now."
"Almost" Dawson informs them.
"What are you talking about man?" Pacey asks "It's done, and if you're planning to get me in that suit for another take--"
Dawson interrupts them.
"We're adding one final scene to the end of the movie. The monster is dead, beauty killed the beast. Penelope our heroine says her final good-byes to the beast. I was thinking of shooting it up at the Ruins."
"That's trespassing." Joey informs him "Don't get caught."
"It's the perfect monstrous haven, lush and romantic." Dawson philosophizes.
"And the perfect place to seduce the young and beautiful actress playing Penelope, you dog." Pacey adds "You are sly."
Dawson kicks him under the table, then motions towards Joey.
"I'm going to head out, okay?" he tells them. "See you guys later."
Dawson gets up and leaves.
Joey gets up, and attempts to take Pacey's order
"Do you want anything or did you come just to infect the place?"
"I got a maybe/sort of date this evening." Pacey informs her.
"Who's the lucky farm animal tonight?" Joey says, mockingly.
"What's that...what's that... that makes a woman horny?" Pacey says, mockingly.
"Your polar opposite?" Joey argues.
"Right." Pacey says, giving up "Oysters. A dozen oysters, Joey. Pack 'em up."
Joey starts to tune Pacey out as she notices a guy walk into the restaurant. He obviously has a lot of money by the way he dresses compared to the others. Joey can't stop staring at him while Pacey continues to talk.
"--And could you pack 'em up now, Joey. Hello? Joey, anybody home? Who's that?"
"Who's who?" Joey asks, confused.
"The guy that was breaking your neck." Pacey says, and points towards the newcomer.
Joey snaps out of her daze and shrugs her shoulders
"I've never seen him before, he's probably some rich kid who just stepped off his Mommy and Daddy's yacht, or something."
"Could it be that Joey is finally noticing the opposite sex?" Pacey suggests.
"Shut up!" Joey orders him.
A malicious smile appears on Pacey's face. He turns towards the guy Joey was staring at.
"Excuse me, young man??" Pacey yells, pointing at Joey. "This woman, she thinks you're very attractive!!!"
Joey's eyes go wide. She quickly covers Pacey's mouth with her hand and starts beating him.
"You butt plug!" Joey insults him.
"Forget it, Joey." Pacey informs her. "Guys off yachts don't go for waitresses."
"I'm going to kill you one night in your sleep." Joey informs him, madly. "A slit throat maybe or a screwdriver to your temple, be ready."
*****
Back at the school, the film class is taping 'Helmets of Glory', with Dawson standing by himself as crowds of students dressed as 'football players' walk by, talking.
Jen and a group of girls, who are supposed to be cheerleaders walk by, Jen has a faraway look on her face, almost seeming to be daydreaming. Dawson notices her and tries to get her attention.
"Hey, Jen!"
Jen looks up in surprise.
"Hey."
"What are you doing in here?" Dawson asks her.
Jen waves her pomp pomp smirking
"Just living a fantasy."
"No...seriously." Dawson asks again.
"Cliff gave me a part." Jen admits. "I've got 2 lines: 'Way to go!' and 'Those guys do look big.'"
"You're supposed to be in my movie, remember?" Dawson reminds her "Not this homage to headgear."
Cliff sees Jen, walks over to her, and greets her happily.
"Hey! I'm glad you made it."
"Hi!" Jen greets him.
"Just in time too." Cliff continues "We were just about to start."
"Rehearsal is up." Nellie announces from afar.
Cliff takes one of the helmets that Dawson was working on.
"Thanks, David." Cliff says.
"It's 'Dawson".' Jen corrects him.
*****
In Ms. Jacobs class, her and Pacey are studying. She is in the middle of quizzing him.
"Has Ethan made it to the county fair yet?"
"Yeah, yes, he has." Pacey answers "Yes, he has."
"Amazing because there was no county fair when I read it." Tamara informs him.
Pacey, defeated, puts his books on the desk and looks at Ms. Jacobs intently.
"What were you in high school?" Pacey asks her.
"What do you mean?" Tamara responds, confused.
"A jock, a brain or a cheerleader..." Pacey gives as examples.
"Why?" Tamara asks, still curious.
"I'm just curious." Pacey admits.
"Well, I was captain of the Dance Team and class Treasurer." She informs him. "I studied a lot."
"Did you have a boyfriend?" Pacey asks again.
"Yes." She admits.
"A jock?" he asks.
"Center fielder." She responds. "Why are you asking?"
"Would you have dated me?" he asks her.
Tamara begins to become scared.
"Pacey, we're in school, we are not alone. There are people in this building."
"If you and I had gone to school together, and if we were the same age, would you have dated me?" he asks her again.
"Probably not, but that was a long time ago." She admits "I've learned a lot; I'm smarter now. Well, I was until a few weeks ago."
She passes Pacey a few sheets of paper.
"What is this?" Pacey asks, picking up the papers.
"They are summary questions for the first 2 chapters." She informs him. "I'll tell you what, if you answer all of them, maybe I'll give you some positive reinforcement."
"Yeah?" Pacey asks, intrigued.
"Yeah." Tamara admits.
*****
Joey is walking down the dock from the Icehouse.
Grr-- she thinks I swear, if he wasn't a friend of Dawson's, I would beat him to within an inch of his life.
Dawson-- she becomes sad. What's he talk about when he comes here? Jen, that's what. I just have to face facts, the only reason he's not going out with her is because he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. I just wish that--
Suddenly, she hears a violin playing in the distance.
What is--? She thinks, and slowly walks towards a boat, the place where the music is seems to be coming from.
The guy from the Icehouse is playing. Joey stands there, admiring, when he finishes.
"No applause, just send money." He quips.
Joey turns to leave, but Anderson stops her.
"Wait, don't go. You know, you were the one spying on me."
"It's a public dock!" Joey informs him.
"No, it's okay!" he assures her "My name is Anderson, Anderson Crawford."
Joey isn't impressed.
"Congratulations."
"Do you come with a name or just an attitude?" he asks.
"Just with an attitude." She answers.
"And do people find this charming?" Anderson asks her.
"I haven't asked them." Joey admits.
Anderson reluctantly climbs off the boat and approaches Joey.
"So what brings you to Capeside?"
Joey looks down shyly and shrugs her shoulders, unsure what to say.
"Tough question, yeah, I know." Anderson admits "I know, you'll get back to me on that one."
"Well what brings you to Capeside?" she asks him.
"My parents, they're going to antique towns in search for some chair." Anderson informs her "Apparently Paul Revere once bought it."
"Well that explains your parents." She says "What about you?"
"I'm the crew, I used to go to boarding school." She tells her "You can only take that all male environment for so long. Tell me something about you."
"Well, I'm a Pisces." She tells him "I'm into body piercing. And men with tattoos."
"Are you here with your parents?" he asks "Are you guys on a boat?"
"Actually, we brought the chauffeur." Joey lies "Mother hates to sail; she doesn't like the sun because she burns easy."
"What about you?" he asks.
"I wear lotion." She admits.
"No, I mean...do you like to sail?" Anderson inquires, curious.
"Why do you ask?" Joey responds.
"I'm taking a survey." He answers, laughing at his own joke. "Because I want you to come sailing with me tomorrow."
"I can't." Joey answers him.
"Come on, I'll show you my tattoo." He begs.
"The Gap ad has a tattoo?" Joey asks, surprised.
"If you come sailing you'll find out." He tells her.
"Okay." Joey agrees "Maybe."
"I can live with maybe as long as you tell me your name." He asks.
"Deborah Carr....son." she lies again. "Deborah Carson."
Joey begins to walk away.
This is not happening--this is not happening!
*****
Back in the classroom, Pacey is still reading the book. He finally puts down the book triumphantly, and turns to Tamara.
"I'm done, quiz me." he tells her.
"Okay, let's start easy." She lets him know "What was the name of Ethan's wife?"
"Who is Zena?" Pacey answers.
"Correct." She responds
Strike one he thinks
"So, what do I win?" Pacey asks, curiously.
"Wait, there's more." Tamara informs him "What was the name of the town in which they lived in?"
"What is Starfield?" Pacey answers.
"Very good." She congratulates him.
Strike two he thinks again Boy, I'm good.
"Fine, I'm ready." Pacey admits.
"Only one more." She says "Why do you think Ethan had such a strong sense of duty?"
"Hmmm...." he wonders. I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmm out.
"You must cite some examples from your text when constructing your response." She instructs Pacey.
Oh well Pacey thinks Back to the drawing board.
*****
Back at the school, the drama class is still filming 'Helmets of Glory'. The camera pans on the monitor.
Why am I doing this? Dawson thinks I should be concentrating on my own movie, or worrying about what I'm going to do about Joey. I really need to get into this class, though. But this is just so--so--pathetic.
In the camera lens, Cliff starts off his performance.
"That is why we've got to give it 110%." He acts out.
"8 days a week." Dawson mutters sarcastically.
"Remember how hard we worked this summer?" Cliff continues "Now is when it all pays off."
"With communal showers." Dawson jokes.
"Let's do it for the coach!!" Cliff yells.
"He likes to watch." Dawson jokes again.
"Let's go out there and show them what we're made of." Cliff finishes
"Insert cliche here." Dawson complains.
"Let's lay it on the line." Cliff finishes.
"May I have another?" Dawson gumbles, then looks up to see Nellie staring him in the eye.
"My, my, my." Nellie tells him "Does someone have to have a talk with Mr. Gold about someone's attitude?"
"Go for it Nellie." Dawson dares her, having obviously lost interest.
"Oh I will." Nellie says with a smirk "Believe me, I will tell him exactly how you disrupted filming and delayed the entire production!"
"When did you start to hate me?" Dawson asks her, confused "I missed it, what did I ever do to you?"
"It's what you didn't do." Nellie informs him. "You haven't earned your place here, Dawson. I worked all summer on this script and I don't appreciate you walking in here and trashing it and I don't hate you Dawson. But this is business; it's strictly professional. In other words...you're off the film."
What? Dawson thinks.
"You can't do this" he argues.
"I just did" she responds without emotion.
"Let's go again." Cliff yells from across the set "All right everybody! Back to take 1."
Defeated, Dawson grabs his bag and leaves the set.
*****
Jen is walking through the hall when she hears voices from one of the classrooms.
I can't believe the nerve of that girl she thinks Dawson has more talent than that entire class put together, including her and Cliff. Wait a minute? What's that?
Jen looks through the window into the classroom, where Pacey and Ms. Jacobs are still studying. Pacey is in the middle of reading aloud his answers to the summary questions.
"....which explains her motivation and her desire to keep Ethan from seeing beyond the somewhat limited scope of the life with her on their farm."
"Well, well, well, well." Tamara says, proudly.
"And my reward will be...?" Pacey asks, curious.
"You got me Pacey, I never expected you to get this far." Tamara admits.
"So Ms. Jacobs, you were bluffing?" Pacey asks.
"Your 'reward' is your education." She admits to him.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no...." Pacey insists.
"I'll tell you what." She says "I'll owe you one."
"It's ok Tamara." He assures her.
"No it's not Pacey, this is my place of employment." Tamara insists to him.
"It's late, there's no janitors, no film crew." Pacey informs her "Everybody's gone home for the night, it's just you and me."
"Pacey!" she pleads.
"What, what's the matter?" Pacey asks.
"You know...you're right." Tamara admits "Let's do it, but where should we? I know how about my desk? Our first time should be on my desk! Strip, hurry up because we don't have that much time, you better drop them."
From the window, Jen finally discovers what is going on.
Oh...my...god! She thinks What is he thinking? They're going to...I've got to stop this.
"I know what you're doing...you're calling my bluff to see how far I'll go." Pacey says, nervously.
"No, no." Tamara insists "I'm deadly serious, take them off."
"I'm on to you, Tamara." Pacey informs her "You think I'm going to cave and that I won't go through with it."
"Do you have any condoms Pacey?" she asks "Because we are going to need some condoms. Well this is high school, I'm sure you can round some of them up."
"Ummm..." Pacey says, confused.
"What's wrong, Pacey?" she asks.
"Well this isn't exactly the most romantic place on Earth." He informs her.
"What?" she asks "Is this your first time, Pacey?"
"You know that it is." Pacey says, obviously frustrated.
"Go home, Pacey!" Tamara orders him "You need a girl your own age, not some insane middle aged woman."
"Please." Pacey begs "Tamara?"
"Please, no 'buts'." She asks him. "This can't go one second further. It's beyond wrong, you have to understand that."
"You keep saying how it's so wrong, and maybe it is." He admits "But just to set the record straight. I'm a firm believer that sometimes it's right to do the wrong thing. Good bye."
Pacey walks out of class, but then hears someone clear their throat behind him in the hallway.
"Must have been some 'study session', huh Pacey?" Jen asks him.
Pacey turns around to face her concerned look.
"Umm." He says. "Jen, right?"
"That's right" she answers.
"How much did you hear?" he asks her.
"Pretty much all of it." She admits. "What in gods name are you thinking, Pacey?"
"Look, just butt out, okay?" he tells her, then gets worried. "You're not going to tell anybody, are you?"
"No" Jen answers. "Could you just promise me one thing, Pacey?"
"What?" he asks.
"Don't do it" Jen tells him. "Because if you do, I can guarantee that you'll regret it."
And with that, Jen turns around and leaves.
*****
Joey, walking down the docks, is looking for Anderson. She's dressed a little differently, with lipstick on and her hair is out with the top pulled into a barrette. She's also wearing earrings.
What exactly am I doing here? Joey thinks I have got to be crazy to think I can actually pull this off. I'm not 'Deborah Carson', I'm 'Joey'. The too-tall girl from the wrong side of the creek hung up on her best friend, remember?
"Deborah." Anderson says, having just seen her "Deborah Carson."
"Anderson." Joey answers "Anderson Crawford."
"You look amazing." He tells her.
"Yeah?" Joey asks.
On second thought...maybe a break from Dawson Leery is exactly what I need she thinks with a smile.
*****
Dawson, having just left the school, is walking nearby, not even noticing Joey.
I can't believe this, he thinks. My one chance to get into the filmmaking class, and I blew it because of my ego. I'll probably be kept out of film class until junior year now.
Dawson sighs.
Only one thing to do. Find Joey, and see if we can't just put in an extra movie night to get my mind off of..
With that thought, he freezes. He sees Joey, talking to Anderson.
Who the heck is that? he thinks.
*****
"Yeah. Do you want to come aboard?" Anderson continues with a previous conversation "My parents met some Carsons in the winter at Palm Beach, any relation?"
"We're pretty much Manhattan bound." Joey tells him, continuing her lie.
Neither one notices Dawson starting to follow them from a distance.
Carson? he wonders Manhattan? What on earth is she talking about.
"Where do you go to school?" Anderson asks Joey.
"Shoate." She answers.
Whaaaaat? Dawson thinks Who is she trying to kid? That guy would never believe--
"It's a drag." Anderson asks "Isn't it?"
"What is?" she asks back.
"Boarding school." He responds.
--or not. Dawson thinks.
Still following them, Dawson starts to become worried.
What is with her? I mean, look at that guy. Forget the guy...look at her. She's dressed so...so...she hates clothes like that. Besides, she doesn't look like herself. She looks..
He starts to become mesmerized.
--beautiful.
He keeps walking, not paying attention...
...until he walks straight into a lamppost.
Owwww.
Dawson falls to the ground, then picks himself up. But he's lost them.
What the heck is wrong with me? He wonders.
On the beach, later on in the evening, Joey and Anderson are playing frisbee on the shore.
Dawson is standing a few feet away, listening in on their conversation. Fortunately for him, he's far enough away so that neither Joey nor Anderson can see him.
I can't believe I'm doing this. Dawson thinks Maybe I've just gotten too used to Joey having all her attention on me? This could actually be a good thing for me. If Jo falls for this guy, I don't have to worry about hurting her feelings anymore. I'd be free to see Jen again.
That's it, Leery. Think positive.
God, I hope he doesn't try to kiss her or anything.
"My father is in investments primarily, he doesn't really work." Anderson explains to Joey. "What does yours do?"
"He's a CEO of a huge conglomerate." Joey lies.
"Which one?" he asks, curious.
"One of the nation's best selling tampons." She says.
Ok, Joey thinks that was bad.
"So what's your boyfriend like?" Anderson asks, causing Joey to freeze.
What did he say? She thinks.
Ha, I knew that she'd.. Dawson thinks across the beach.
"Is that your backwards way of asking me if I have one?" Joey asks, a little insulted.
"I just assumed that you did." Anderson admits.
"What makes you think that?" she asks again.
Aw nuts. Dawson thinks Joey...what in god's name are you doing?
"Just the way you carry yourself, you're really hands off." Anderson informs her "It's like a clear radio signal, I guess if I was dating somebody I'd want them to give off the same vibe."
Damn right she's 'hands off', Dawson thinks. Wait a minute...what I'm I thinking?
"How would you feel if she sailed off to a deserted beach with some mystery man?" Joey asks Anderson.
"As long as she didn't keep it a secret, didn't lie about it." He tells her. "The truth doesn't hurt but it's the lies that will kill you. Honesty is the primary quality that I'm looking for in a girl."
He throws the frisbee again. Dawson, not paying attention, is too caught up in their conversation. He doesn't notice the frisbee until it hits him square in the head.
Luckily for him, he scrambles behind a nearby dock before either of them get there to retrieve it.
At the rate I'm going, I'll get a concussion within 2 hours, he thinks.
*****
Anderson begins to make a model in the sand of the JFK assassination. He's explaining it to Joey, using some really bad models in the sand.
"Here's the grassy nole and this is Dallas, now Oswald is here."
Crackpot, Dawson thinks.
"Do you actually buy into the UFO theory?" Joey asks Anderson.
"Are you saying everyone on the Warren commission lied?" Anderson asks her.
"All I'm saying is Kevin Costner was pretty convincing in JFK." She admits "I can't believe you actually read the report, isn't it like a million pages long?"
"I was just curious." He tells her.
Obsessive crackpot, Dawson thinks.
"There's curiosity and then there's sand models of Dallas." Joey explains to Anderson. "Have I told you about my UFO theories?"
"What?" he asks.
"My UFO theories." She says again. "How they swoop down, sometimes destroying entire cities?"
Joey eyes the frisbee laying on the sand and glances to the models again.
"No you don't." Anderson says, defending his creation.
"It's just Dallas." She informs him. "Home of Ross Perot and the Cowboys."
Anderson runs after Joey who has the frisbee and tackles her to the ground. He's laying on top of her and stares at her.
Over behind the dock, Dawson silently bites his lip.
Anderson leans forward to kiss her but she turns her head and glances at her watch.
"Look at the time." Joey says. "I've got to go."
"Is that the truth?" he asks "Or are you just trying to wiggle yourself out of a romantic situation?"
"I'm sorry." Joey apologizes.
"Let's get Cinderella home." He says, and starts to lead her away.
"Today was a lot of fun Anderson, but you should know the truth." She tells him.
"And that would be?" he asks.
"I'm not Cinderella, not even close." Joey admits, and they walk away.
Dawson pears out from behind the dock. His hand is solidified into a fist and gives Anderson an evil look.
*****
The next day, at the Icehouse, Dawson and Jen are sitting at the counter, waiting to be served by Joey. She eventually walks over to them.
"I can't she actually kicked you off." Jen complains to Dawson "I mean..."
"Tell me about it." He agrees. "Oh well, at least it gives me more time to work on my own movie."
"By the way, Dawson." She says, changing the subject. "There's something about Pacey that you should..."
Suddenly, Joey interrupts them.
"So, what can I get you guys this evening?" she asks.
"We'll have two turkey clubs, and two Cokes." Dawson says, carefully watching Joey.
"And no mayonnaise on mine." Jen adds.
"Can I suggest Bodie's own fat free herb sauce?" Joey says. "It goes great with the club."
"Sold." Jen agrees.
Joey leaves happily.
"What's gotten into Joey?" Jen asks.
"I don't know--" Dawson lies.
*****
A few minutes later, Joey comes back and sits down with Jen and Dawson.
"Mind if I join you?" Joey asks them. "I'm on my break."
Anderson walks in, sees Joey, and waves. She waves back.
"Who is that?" Jen asks.
"Nobody!" Joey tells her.
"He's a kind of cute nobody." Jen comments.
"No he's not." Dawson insists, causing Joey and Jen to look him strangely.
"Hi Deborah." Anderson says when he walks up to them.
"Hi." Joey greets him.
"What are you doing here?" he asks. "I thought you had to be with your parents?"
"Who is Deborah?" Dawson asks him, even though he knows the answer.
"She's Deborah." He answers.
"No, she's not." Dawson replies, with a angry gleam in his eye.
"She's not?" Anderson asks "Then who did I spend the afternoon with? An imposter?"
Suddenly, Jen speaks up.
"It's just that we don't call her 'Deborah', she's just 'Deb' to us."
"So you guys are from New York as well?" he asks them.
"Oh--yeah, right." Dawson says, sarcastically. "The 'Big Apple'."
"Yeah, Deb and I go to school together." Jen lies "And you are....?"
"Anderson, Anderson Crawford." He answers.
"Would you like to join us?" Dawson asks him. "Deb's friend whom we've never met, ever?"
Dawson, back off, Joey thinks. What is wrong with you?
"I'm just getting a take out." Anderson admits.
"Sandwiches up!" Bessie yells from the kitchen.
Jen and looks to Joey, who's supposed to get the order and serve Anderson. Dawson, on the other hand, just smiles to himself.
"You know, Anderson?" Dawson says. "The food's good here but the service is a little iffy. Of course, you're probably used to it. The butler's probably slow sometimes."
Joey gives Dawson a 'watch it' look. Anderson doesn't notice.
"You think your parents might let you free tonight?" Anderson asks Joey.
"I don't know." She answers. "It's a family scrabble tournament tonight."
"Hey Joey!" Bessie yells again.
Oh great, Joey thinks. There's my life calling again.
She starts to try and get Anderson to leave quickly.
"I might be able to sneak away later."
"You know where I'll be." He answers her.
"Planet Earth to Joey!" Bessie yells, obviously fed up.
"I'll stop by after the game?" Joey finished quickly.
"Charade is a good 7 letter word you can use in that game." Dawson mutters, bitterly.
Under the counter, Jen and Joey kick Dawson on either side of him at the same time.
"I must have come right in the middle of something." Anderson remarks.
Bodie walks in and hands Anderson his order.
"Here you go."
Bodie smiles at Joey and silently agrees to go along with it.
"That's $7:50." He says, and then looks over to Joey. "Miss? Would you like anything?"
"No." she answers. "Thank you."
"Anytime!" he responds.
"I ordered a take out." Anderson informs him.
"Right this way." Bodie answers, directing him elsewhere.
"It was nice meeting you." Jen says before he leaves.
"Yeah." He answers. "See you guys later."
Anderson leaves. When he's out of site, Joey pulls Dawson to the side.
"What was that about?" she asks him, clearly upset.
"Excuse me?" Dawson asks, feigning ignorance.
"Don't act dumb, Dawson." She orders him. "What was with the way you were badgering him?"
"I wasn't badgering--" Dawson tries to defend himself, but Joey interrupts him.
"Yes you were! Please, don't ruin this for me. I really like this guy, and--"
"Like him?" Dawson asks. "What? You play a few rounds of frisbee and suddenly..."
What...did...he...say...? Joey thinks.
Whoops, Dawson thinks. The cat's out of the bag.
"How did you know that?" she asks him.
"I, uh--" Dawson explains. "I followed the two of you last night."
He did what? She thinks.
"You did what? You were spying on us? I don't believe this."
"Well, excuse me for being concerned for the safety of a friend." Dawson says, trying to defend himself.
"My safety?" Joey asks, not believing her ears.
"For all we know, that guy could be some sort of--I don't know--serial killer." He warns her.
"Get real, Dawson." She responds. "There is nothing to be afraid of regarding Anderson."
"Just...be careful, okay?" he tells her, not able to hide the nervousness in his face.
Joey just rolls her eyes.
"I can't believe this."
With that, she leaves.
*****
Back in the empty school hallway, Pacey is heading towards Ms. Jacob's classroom but overhears a conversation she is having with Mr. Gold.
What the? He thinks.
"Are you kidding?" Mr. Gold says to her. "It's my favorite, isn't it yours?"
"No, my favorite scene is where Streisand meets up with Robert Redford years later on the street then he grabs her hand..." she explains.
"...And then she brushes his hair off his forehead like she did when they first met." Mr. Gold finishes for her.
"It's so bittersweet, they belong together." Tamara remarks.
"But they can never go back to the way things were." He admits.
"Stop it, or I'm going to cry right now." She tells him.
"Let's get out of here, I'll walk you home." He says. "We'll take the scenic route."
"Will you hold my hand like Katie?" she asks.
"Maybe more." He says.
You've gotta be kidding me? Pacey thinks. Why do I even bother?
Pacey storms out, but runs straight into Jen, who is standing in his way.
"Hi, Pacey." She greets him.
"Mr. Gold and Miss Jacobs are right around the corner!" he whispers, wondering what Mr. Gold would say if he found him there.
"I heard." Jen informs him. "He's walking her home."
"Don't remind me." He says bitterly.
"They're just friends, Pacey." Jen tells him.
"I know what she does with her students, so I know he's in for one heck of a ride." Pacey jokes.
"Look, you have got to stop dwelling on this, before it gets out of hand." Jen warns him.
"Newsflash, Lindley." He tells her. "This is already out of hand."
"Just what do you want from her, anyway?" Jen asks him.
"I want her." He answers with determination.
"She's your teacher." Jen says with a worried look in her face.
"So?" he asks.
"'So', haven't you considered that maybe she's right." She asks. "That maybe you should be looking for a girl your own age?"
"Listen, Lindley." He lectures her. "Girls my own age...they hate my guts. They want nothing to do with me--let alone 'date' me. So tell me, 'Jennifer', you think I should try a girl my own age? Like who?"
"Like me, maybe?" Jen responds, timidly.
With that, Pacey becomes speechless.
"I've got to get some air." Pacey says after a moment, and then leaves.
Jen follows him.
*****
At the Ruins, the same place where Dawson planned to finish his movie, Pacey is walks along, not noticing Jen following him.
Suddenly, she speaks up.
"Hey, isn't this where Dawson is supposed to film the last scenes?"
"Actually, no one's supposed to be here." Pacey informs her. "The dad's dead and the son's a real ass, so if we see anybody...we run like hell."
"So...we're trespassing?" she asks.
"Correction, I'm trespassing." He says. "You're just tagging along."
"What is this place?" she asks again.
"My secret haven." Pacey jokes.
"No, seriously." Jen says. "What is this place? It's incredible."
Pacey sits down, motioning Jen to do the same. He then starts to explain.
"It's part of some guy's estate he built for his dead wife. She had a thing for Greece, it was her favorite place in the entire world. She got sick and couldn't go there anymore so he brought Greece to her."
"That is so romantic." She remarks.
"I guess?" he says.
"I think so, this is absolutely beautiful." She remarks once again.
"About what you said back at the school?" Pacey asks, changing the subject.
"Yeah?" she asks.
"Do you--uhh--like me, or something?" he asks.
Jen blushes, slightly.
"Whoa boy." He exclaims, covering his head with his hands.
"So--uhh--any idea what we'll be doing." Jen says, changing the subject again. "I mean--this is the sight of our 'final scene', right?"
"Yeah, the monster,that's me, is dead, but in his death Penelope, that's you, finds understanding--at least that's how Dawson explained it." He informs her. "Then she comes here to her 'secret place' to say goodbye. Sort of Dawson's way of making the gore-fest a little sappy, isn't it."
"I see it." She tells him.
"You do?" Pacey asks, disbelievingly.
"Yeah." She says, and looks him deeply in the eyes.
She leans in to kiss him, but Pacey pulls away at the last second.
"What?"
*****
At that very moment, down at the docks, Joey is there to see Anderson. He's playing his violin for her again.
Dawson is there too, watching from afar.
Our hero, the passionate filmmaker, watches his star with the mysterious violinist. Dawson thinks. Wondering to himself, time and again--
"You're pretty good at that thing." Joey remarks to Anderson.
"Hi." Anderson greets her. "I was hoping you'd show up. Listen, we're leaving tomorrow. But I come to New York all the time, I'll take you out to dinner. The Rainbow Room? We can dance the night away!"
--why he can not return her feelings? Dawson thinks.
"I'm not a very good dancer, Anderson." Joey admits. "I prefer Bouley. I'm an East side girl."
"But Boulay isn't op-...." he starts to say, but changes his mind. "let me get you my number. Call me, would you?"
Anderson attempts to kiss Joey, but hesitates for a moment.
Forget this. Dawson thinks, runs up to them, interrupting the moment.
"Hold it!"
"Huh?" Anderson says, startled by Dawson's sudden presence.
"Dawson?" Joey says, also surprised.
Dawson faces Anderson, his face twisted into a very angry expression.
"Listen, I know what's going on, and I'm here to put a stop to it once and for all."
He turns to Joey.
"Lets just go home."
Joey completely looses her temper, forgetting Anderson's there for a moment, and starts to yell.
"HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?" Joey screams at him.
"But--" Dawson says, trying to defend himself, but Joey doesn't let him.
"I could slap you for this. What in god's name is your problem?"
"Listen, I can explain--" he says.
"Oh, I sincerely doubt that." she continues. "For once, I'm almost happy, and you...and you ruin it for me? What's wrong with you?"
"You want to know what my problem is?" Dawson says, angrily. "Fine."
I don't even know myself, he thinks.
"Yeah?" she says.
"When I saw you together...it made me angry." He says, not really knowing why. "I don't know why, but it did. For some inconceivable reason--it did."
"What possible reason could have to--" Joey starts, but he cuts her off.
"I'm jealous, okay?" Dawson blurts out, angrily.
With that, both Joey and Dawson freeze.
What...;did...he...say? Joey thinks, her face softening, and her eyes wide with surprise and shock, and her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Did I-- Dawson thinks. Did I just say I was--?
Dawson looks downwards, his voice almost a whisper.
"I am completely and undeniably jealous."
With that, Dawson slowly turns around and walks away.
Joey watches him leave, a perplexed look on her face.
*****
Back at the Ruins, Jen is sitting down, obviously surprised at the kiss that almost happened. Pacey's embarrassed, pacing around.
"Okay--what just happened?" he asks her.
"I think that's fairly obvious." Jen says. "Is that a problem."
"No." he replies. "Well, maybe a little problem."
"Like what" she asks.
"Dawson" he tells her.
"Dawson?" Jen asks. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but he told me he wasn't interested, remember?"
"Oh, he's interested." Pacey informs her. "It's just that he doesn't want Joey to be hurt."
"Why?" she asks. "Because she doesn't like me?"
"No, because she's got a crush on him." He replies.
Jen gasps and grins widely.
"You're kidding me?"
"I'm serious." He informs her. "The guy's been freaking out about it for weeks."
"Sounds to me like he made his choice." She tells him. "So what's stopping you, Pacey?"
Pacey starts to become nervous.
"Look." He says. "Granted I'm not 'Mr. Morals', but there's a certain rule that you're not supposed to get involved with someone your friend is interested in. Past or present. It's just plain wrong."
"I'm a firm believer that sometimes it's right to do the wrong thing, Pacey" she tells him, copying what he said to Tamara earlier. "How about you?"
Slowly, they move closer to one another.
Then they start kissing, having no idea of who was sitting just a dozen feet away.
*****
It's official, Dawson thinks. I have finally gone crazy.
Dawson walks into the ruins, carrying his video camera.
My whole life has revolved around movies. There've been films where the so-called 'best friends' got together. 'Some Kind Of Wonderful', 'Anne Of Green Gables'. But this is different. It's...it's Joey. I shouldn't even be thinking this way, but I can't seem to help myself.
Dawson sits down, looks into the camera lens, and starts filming himself.
"Hi, I'm Dawson Leery." He says into it. "The most screwed-up 15-year old in Capeside. I just--I just ruined a potential relationship for my best friend in the world, Joey Potter, and I have no idea why. No, wait, that's not true at all. I know exactly why. It's because I couldn't stand the fact of her being with someone...someone...who wasn't me."
Dawson puts the camera down, forgetting to turn it off. He sits there for a moment, thinking.
That's when he hears the footsteps.
"You know what, Dawson?" Joey asks him. "I don't know whether to jump for joy or break down and cry."
Dawson looks up at her and forces a smile.
"Do both." He tells her. "It works for me."
Joey sits down next to him.
"What happened today?" she asks.
"I freaked out." He informs her. "I completely lost control and I totally freaked out."
They both become silent for a moment.
"Did you mean what you said back there?" she asks.
"Honestly?" he responds. "I don't know. I wish I did."
Joey looks at him, her eyes searching his.
I wish I did too, she thinks. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening.
"Being a teenager sucks." Dawson tells her. "I mean, it used to be so simple, you know? You and me...Dawson and Joey...two friends against the world. You were my best friend in the world....the one person I could talk to without having to worry about what you would think, or feel, or do."
"And now?" she asks.
"And now you're a girl." He tells her.
"Dawson." She tells him. "When I told you...what I told you...a few weeks back, I didn't want this to happen. I didn't want to do this to you. Don't feel like you owe me or anything."
"'Owe you'?" he asks.
"I'm no one special." She says. "I'm just Joey. I'm not like Jen or anything. I'm not pretty--"
"Don't say that." Dawson tells her. "You're beautiful."
Joey's eyes start to water, and she's on the verge of crying.
"How can you say things like that, and expect me not to feel anything?" she pleads with him.
"I-I--don't cry, Jo." He says, wiping a tear from her eye. "I didn't mean to&--I just--"
Dawson gets up, causing Joey to get up as well.
"That's my problem, I think." Dawson tells her. "I analyze everything, up to a point. But logic and planning and scripting can only take a person so far. I can analyze someone else till the cows come home, but the second I turn all that energy on myself, I completely lose all connection...between my head and my heart."
"What are you so afraid of, Dawson?" she asks him, her voice almost a whisper.
"I'm afraid I might listen to my heart, and make the worst mistake of my life." He admits. "The problem is, half of me just wants to run, find Anderson, apologize, and let the two of you ride off into the sunset."
"And the other half?" Joey asks.
"Wants desperately to kiss you." He admits to her.
Joey gives him a nervous half-smile.
Suddenly, they hear noises a few feet away.
"Oh no." he exclaims.
"What?" Joey asks. "Did you hear that?"
Dawson hears footsteps nearby and realizes they are about to be caught for trespassing, thinking it's the owners.
"We've got to hide!" he exclaims.
"They're going to catch us." Joey tells him.
"This way." Dawson says, and directs Joey to a nearby shelter.
It looks like a small shed with one wall that isn't there. It has a small bench that they both sit on.
*****
Back at the Ruins, Pacey and Jen arrive at where Dawson and Joey were only a moment ago. They are still kissing, and don't even notice Dawson's camera on the bench.
*****
"Dawson, who is it?" she asks. "Do they see us?"
Dawson turns around and looks at her.
"Dawson?" she says. "You left your camera out there. If they find it--"
Dawson stops her by placing his hand at the side of her face. Joey becomes silent, closing her eyes as they move closer.
They kiss, slowly and hesitant at first, but eventually wrapping their arms around each other.
This is not happening...this is not happening! Joey thinks. This is another dream...it has to be another dream.
They continue kissing for several minutes.
Please god, don't ever let me wake up.
*****
A few feet away, Pacey and Jen are still kissing.
And neither one notices Dawson's video camera is still recording.
Coming soon: Part III…Carnal Knowledge
Dawson and Joey must deal with the newfound possiblity of being a couple. But will Mitch and Gale's upcoming anniversery force Joey to tell Dawson the secret that could shatter it before it even begins.
Plus, Jen reveals her mysterious past.
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