Forget Me Not (Book II): Return to Capeside (12/4)

Oooooooh you're back, you're back, you're back..... and I found this just seconds before going to bed, so I can't read it right now, but I promise it is the FIRST thing on my list tomorrow when I get home from work..... back with comments then!

Ok, now I'M back

And can I start by saying how excited I am by how this is starting!

I'm glad Pacey's had the chance to grow up while he's been away and maybe realise that Joey's not too good for him after all - but I get the sneaking suspicion that it's not all going to go easily according to plan for him/them :eek

I'm guessing Joey Potter, if she's there, is going to be mighty mad at him for abandoning her. I'm just hoping she's not with Dawson, because I hate hate hate that creep

Loving psycho Andie and the ghost therapist - maybe it was Joey's dead grandad, back from the grave to help Paey sort out his feelings - hee!

You know I love your writing sweetie. I just can't wait for more of this.

Is it too soon for me to beg for a nice looooooong update? *flutters eyelashes*

Edited by: SnoozyC at: 12/1/03 1:51 pm

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EviePJlvr Founder of Operation True Love! Pacey & Joey Die Hard, Joshua Jackson Bad Ass Chick. Posts: 218 (11/30/03 3:36 pm) Reply	Forget Me Not (Book II): Return to Capeside (12/4) Thanks Tink for the fab banner! For Suzy, Book II Odd 1940s Slang Used Aces - the best Wheat - person not used to city ways. Adam's Ale - water (clever back then weren't they?) Other terms used are a bit more known. [/i] Forget Me Not Book II: Return to Capeside Prologue Los Angeles Times Friday, May 31, 1940 War in Europe Rages On Churchill travels to Paris today to speak with leaders regarding a surrender. Time is of the essence. France has been occupied since the start of the month. What will happen? Only time can tell…. Pacey folded the paper sharply, unable to stomach any more, and stuffed it under the handle of his suitcase. Just as he was about to get up and scour the train station for that man with the candy cart he'd heard jingling by a while ago, a gruff voice infiltrated his solitude. "Just you wait. It'll be us next." Only slightly startled, Pacey turned to see a man of about sixty with a short gray beard, staring at him with sharp black eyes. "I don't know. It's on the other side of the world," said Pacey. The older man huffed. "You remember the Great War don't ya?" Pacey shook his head. "Nah, you weren't even born then, were ya?" Again Pacey shook his head, oddly enough not feeling at all put out by this man's presence and his apparent need to chat with a young stranger. "Well, we went then didn't we? And before that, it was the Spanish-American war. I was stationed in the Philippines during that one. Oh, sonny, we'll go again. This is gonna be a bad one too. I can feel it in my bones." Just as Pacey was about to respond, the man shifted the conversation at the blink of an eye. "Running away?" he asked, gesturing a crooked finger at Pacey's large brown suitcase and duffle. "No, I'm uh, goin' home," Pacey explained. The man's slightly wrinkled brow grew even more lines as he narrowed his eyes and inspected Pacey's expression. "Hmm, looks to me like you're runnin'," he said finally. Pacey chuckled. "You could sorta say that, I guess." Was this guy some sort of mindreader or something? "Uh huh. That's what I thought. A girl is it?" Pacey scratched the back of his neck. He felt like talking to this old guy for some reason, but still he didn't like going on about his problems. Especially to strangers. "It's uh… complicated," he replied. The man shrugged. "What time does your train leave?" Pacey glanced at the large clock over head. "In a little over an hour." "Will it take longer than that?" Pacey frowned. There were plenty of other much more interesting people sitting there for this guy to talk to - the lady with the yapping poodle she had stuffed cruelly in a traveling bag made just for pets or that guy over there. For godsakes he was wearing a tuxedo. There had to be a story behind that one. Why would anyone want to talk to him? He was just boring old Pacey Witter, at least he looked boring. But if he thought about it, his life, well, that may not have been so boring, at least for a guy his age. "You don't have to tell me, young fella," said the man with the beard. "I just thought you looked like you needed a listener." Pacey was quiet for a moment. He looked around Union station. It was grand with clocks and high ceilings and statues of angels along the walls. It was filled with people - business travelers and vacationers, regular folk and some not so regular. He'd gotten used to this place – Los Angeles. He'd become a part of its soul, as shallow as that seemed to be sometimes. He had friends here, his only family and he'd learned so much about himself within its boundaries. It helped him to grow into a man. So, in a way, he was running away from home because he was definitely running away from this city. He was running away from this city and… He turned to the man, who'd gone back to his own paper, and cleared his throat. The man smiled warmly back at him and with a deep breath Pacey decided to tell him his story. "It all started with this girl, Joey Potter." ~~~ I was sixteen and came here with a broken heart. It was broken because of her. Not that it was her fault. It's just the way it was. My brother had a job at MGM as a scriptwriter, so we lived nicely. Got a little house a couple of blocks from the studio in Culver City. Doug, that's my brother, he spent most of days back and forth between the lot and most of his nights at swanky dinner clubs. He says it was necessary for work, meetings and such. Still, he was out while I was in. At first, I was a little bothered by it. Here I was stuck in school all day, and he was out living the good life. Of course, that all changed when Dougie me got an after school job at the studio commissary helping out the head chef. Of course, I was still thinking about her. But when I started working and meeting people, I started to do things to forget. Aside from learning how to cook like aces, this mainly included me drowning myself in the sweet smell of a lot of older women – for some reason they are drawn to me. So, it's one of these older gals you're runnin' from is it? Yes and no. Andrea McPhee. She's a contract player at the studio – a dancer actually. She's not one of the older women, but I guess you could say she is one of the reasons I decided to pack up and head back to a much unkinder climate. See, Andie, well, she was the first one I ever let get close to me. Her brother Jack McPhee is one of the…. Oh, think I've heard of the boy. Yeah, he's big star; all the girls love him. Funny thing is, he doesn't seem to pay much attention to them. Anyway, Jack invited Dougie and I over to his house in Beverly Hills one day. Let me tell you the place is amazing and the pool, well, I was impressed the first time I saw it. So, Jack and Doug went off to discuss the project they both were on and that was when I met her. I'd seen her bouncing in and out of the commissary from time to time. She had this sort of happy glow about her. I was attracted. But there were a lot of other pretty girls that worked there, I found attractive also. A lot of women, even more beautiful than her… have, uh, seen the inside of my bedroom if you know what I mean. But still, I felt pulled toward her. There was something about her. And that day, I met her beside her brother's pool… I thought I just might be able to mend my broken heart. She went to school at the studio. I went to Hamilton High nearby. We were together all of the time. During those months, for the first time in more than a year, I felt like my past was my past and that she might be my future. But, of course that wasn't the case. "I'm sorry, Pacey. I really am." Tears spilled down her cheeks as she grabbed the edge of my shirt sleeve, but I stepped back so quickly, she couldn't keep hold. "I don't want to hear it, Andie," I said roughly. At this, she snorted. "Oh, and I'm so sure you haven't been doing it too. I've seen the way women look at you, Pacey. All those girls. Damn it, I think I saw you flirting with Lana the other day in the commissary!" "She was complimenting my chicken soup." This was the truth of course. I didn't feel the need to explain further. "Ha!" was her reply, however. It irritated me to no end. Here she had cheated on me and she was going to go after me about some starlet in the commissary. "Lana Turner has nothing to do with this. I've barely spoken two words to the girl. So, don't try and turn this around on me, Andie." She began sniffling and crumpled to the floor on her knees, pulling on my pants legs. "I'm sorry, Pacey." "You said that." "I just…" "You're not who I thought you were." I stared down at her as she begged me with this wild look in her eyes. I felt sorry for her. I wanted to help her, but I couldn't. She'd betrayed me. I wasn't as hurt by it as I thought I would be. I was just tired and disappointed. "I am! I'll try to be," she pleaded, practically screaming. I crouched down beside her and brought her to her feet. It made me sick to see her cowering like that. "Andie, it's over." I told her finally and moved toward the front door. "But you love me." I placed my hand on the handle and pulled the door open. "I never said that." I turned back around to look at her. Her hair, which was died red at the moment, was stuck in sad loose curls to her face. Her eyes were pink and her skin was red and puffy. She looked desparate, but I couldn't lie to her. Not like she had to me. "I thought you were just afraid to," she muttered. "No, I wanted to love you, but…." I trailed off as my heart filled with an ache that I think is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. "It's not that girl, Pacey," she growled, stomping her foot. "Dammit, you've said it before! You were kids. It didn't mean anything." "It meant more than this ever did." "How can you say that?" "It's okay, Andie. Go be with your other guy." "But I don't want him." "Then I guess you're going to have to be alone because I don't want you. Not any more." And I left. I was telling her the truth that day. The light had gone out behind her eyes weeks before. I couldn't hide behind her anymore. Her sleeping with another guy, well, that just made it easier on me. Unfortunately, she made my life miserable after that. "Hey, what's your story, morning glory?" My buddy Frank. He did odd jobs around the studio. He approached me during a slow hour at the commissary after a particularly interesting incident with Andie about two weeks after our split. "McPhee," I clipped out. "Jack or Andie?" I was in no mood for jokes. "Who do you think, brainless?" "What did she do this time?" "She poured orange juice down Lana Turner's dress because she was talkin' to me again! They had to kick her out." And she didn't go quietly. "And that's not all. She keeps leaving me these crazy notes saying she loves me asking me to forgive her." "I told you she was whacko," he said, leaning against the counter I stood behind. "Can I get you anything?" "Yeah, just give me some Adam's ale." He was referring to a glass of water, so naturally I poured him one. "Thanks," he said as he took the glass from my hand. He downed the liquid in about ten seconds. I groaned. "And I've got Olive and Tamara calling me every other night to go out again." They were among the older women. "If I only had your problems." "It's just getting to be too much." It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it at first. It was just that I was starting to feel more and more overwhelmed with it all. I was starting to lose myself, ya know? Of course, Frank didn't see it this way. "Eh, I always said you were a wheat," he laughed, poking fun at my small town upbringing like he enjoyed doing so much. Normally, I would shake him off, but this time when he said it I sort of felt my heart jump a little. So, I said, "Maybe I am a wheat. Maybe I shouldn't be in the city." Frank laughed again. "Pace, you're all wet. Those dames are gorgeous. You gotta good thing goin' with all of 'em. I just say you play it right and have your cake and eat it too. Listen, I gotta run, my break's over. I'll see ya tomorrow?" After he left, I really thought about what he'd said. So, you were thinking about having your cake? Hmm? No, the other thing. The thing about me being a wheat. I really don't think that I hate being in the city. It's just the wrong place for me right now. That's why I'm going home. I talked to my boss. He called around and somehow got me job in a restaurant back in the Cape, that's where I'm from. It wasn't hard really. It's a big summer resort, and he's pretty close to Mrs. Mayer, the president of the studio's wife. Well, she's actually the one that found me the place. It's new. I've never seen it before. They built it after the hurricane we had in '38. That's when I left. I've got to be boring you with all of this. Not at all. Well, I hated telling my brother I was leaving. He didn't take it very well at first. "I don't know why you want to go back to that town, Pacey." But I explained to him that it was what I wanted. He said I was chasing rainbows. That's not true. I'm just trying to find out where I belong. And there's another reason you're going home? Yeah. I just want to see her again. Wow. That's the first time I've said that out loud. I do. It's crazy, but I know now that what I had with her was right. We might have been too young. Maybe our home lives were different, but Joey and I were the same. I was just too stupid and young to see that. I don't expect her to take me back. Hell, it's been almost two years since I left. But I do want to see her. I'm not going to make the mistake of coming home and not letting her know I'm there. ~~~ A voice boomed overhead, one Pacey had been hearing frequently over the last hour, signaling it was time to board. He rose to his feet. "Well, that's my train." Pacey picked up his suitcase after tossing his duffle over his shoulder, and then turned back toward the chairs. "Thanks for…." Pacey startled. The old man was gone. He'd been right there. How the hell could he have left that fast and be nowhere in sight now? An odd sensation washed over Pacey's body. That old man had actually made him articulate what had been all muddled in his heart about Joey. How the hell had he done that? He hadn't really let himself think those things he'd grown to know in his heart as of late, focusing on only the need to get the hell out of LA. But now, after that simple conversation, Pacey felt empowered, ready to face the world, ready to face Joey Potter again, ready to return to Capeside. ************************* Edited by: TrueLoveFic at: 12/4/03 5:40 pm
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 83 (11/30/03 5:19 pm) Reply	Re: Forget Me Not (Book II): Return to Capeside Oooooooh you're back, you're back, you're back..... and I found this just seconds before going to bed, so I can't read it right now, but I promise it is the FIRST thing on my list tomorrow when I get home from work..... back with comments then! Ok, now I'M back And can I start by saying how excited I am by how this is starting! I'm glad Pacey's had the chance to grow up while he's been away and maybe realise that Joey's not too good for him after all - but I get the sneaking suspicion that it's not all going to go easily according to plan for him/them I'm guessing Joey Potter, if she's there, is going to be mighty mad at him for abandoning her. I'm just hoping she's not with Dawson, because I hate hate hate that creep Loving psycho Andie and the ghost therapist - maybe it was Joey's dead grandad, back from the grave to help Paey sort out his feelings - hee! You know I love your writing sweetie. I just can't wait for more of this. Is it too soon for me to beg for a nice looooooong update? flutters eyelashes Edited by: SnoozyC at: 12/1/03 1:51 pm
EviePJlvr Founder of Operation True Love! Pacey & Joey Die Hard, Joshua Jackson Bad Ass Chick. Posts: 219 (12/4/03 2:31 pm) Reply	Chapter 2 Hey Suz, Very ghostly he was, but no way I'm killing more people on Joey right now. So, it's not her grampy. I'm quite happy you liked the psycho Andie! That was soooo much fun writing! hehe And oops... haha on that request about your favorite big headed blond. Well, read on to find out! Evie ::Has a feeling Suz will be steamed after this chapter:: Forget Me Not Book II: Return to Capeside Part I Unlike her days at Miss Porter's, Joey's time in Capeside felt a less than stimulating. She was under her grandparent's roof again, which meant, though near eighteen, her sense independence was cut in two. Sure, her grandmother had loosened the reign on her immensely since that summer, but she still kept a close eye on Joey's comings and goings. Then, of course, there was Dawson. He was a wonderful friend, a shoulder to cry on, when he was paying attention, and part of her past. She loved having him around, but lately, he'd been suffocating her. She almost felt as if he didn't want her to be who she was becoming as she grew up. It seemed sometimes as if he wanted to stifle her, keep her the little Joey Potter who moved in next door to him when he was a kid. Luckily, Joey had Jennifer Lindley, who now went permanently by the name Jen by everyone, around to keep her sane. “So she's coming too?" Jen asked, as the two young women walked down Main Street towards the new corner market called Stanley's. She and Jen were organizing a picnic and didn't want any outside help. No sending Winnie to the market when she has other things to do, Joey had told her grandmother firmly. Her grandmother had simply shaken her head, saying that she would never understand children. There weren't many people coming to this little affair, but Joey was still excited. Laura Chadwick, her very best friend from school, was staying with her mother and sister at their vacation house nearby in Hyannis, which meant she would be able to come. Though they had seen each other just days before at graduation, the thought of having her friend so close by made her happy. As for the rest of the guests, well Laura was bringing along her sister, Jeanne, now a star of stage and screen, and her sister, Jeanne, was bringing her new baby, Colin, the biggest star yet in the Chadwick family. Jen was surprised to find out who Laura's sister was just like everyone else. "And she actually went your school?" “Well, not when I was there. I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it before," said Joey. “You’re not exactly the star-struck type,” laughed Jen. “I guess not.” “For that matter," Jen went on, "neither am I, but I still think it’ll be interesting to see what she’s like off screen. Too bad she can’t bring along one of her leading men.” “I know.” Jen laughed. “Don’t tell me you’d stray from Dawson.” Joey shrugged. “I’m not married to him, Jen.” “He certainly would like to remedy that.” “Why, he hasn’t said anything about it to you. Has he?” Please no, thought Joey, feeling the invisible walls closing in on her by the second. She hated feeling this way about her own boyfriend. “No," said Jen finally, "but I can just tell with him. He sees you as his future.” Joey, as she did on many occasions, felt like stamping her foot. “Well, I’m not ready for that kind of future. I have other interests," she finished, her mind immediately jumping to her time spent working on the campus newspaper when she was in school. She'd been the editor her final year, which was unheard of for a girl who'd only spent two years in residence there. “Oh?” Jen raised an eyebrow. She couldn't believe it. Not even Jen understood. “You know I’m not ready for marriage! I’m not even eighteen!” “Relax, Joey. There’s no need to bite my head off,” she said, as they came to stand before the door of Stanley's Market. “Let’s just go inside and forget we ever discussed this.” "Fine by me," said Jen, reaching for the handle, and heading inside. Joey took things way too seriously. But she supposed her life had been pretty damn serious, so it made a whole lot of sense for her to be that way. The girls scanned the aisles for the items on Joey's neatly written list, which consisted of mostly fruit and pastries. The sandwiches and tons of lemonade were already on hand back at the Potter house. "Don't look now, Joey, but I think you have an admirer," said Jen, looking over Joey's shoulder at a tall blonde boy, who looked a little younger than they were. Joey turned around and grinned. "Henry Parker?" Henry raised a hand up a little shyly and blushed. "Hi, Joey." Oh, Laura would completely flip if she knew he was here. Remembering that neither Jen nor Henry knew each other, Joey shook her head and began apologizing for her rudeness before introducing them politely. "Jen, this is Henry Parker. He went to the boys' school just down the road from my school, and Henry, this is Jen, a neighbor and very good friend of mine." "Nice to meet you," Henry said politely, very much impressed by Jen's beauty. "What are you doing here, Henry?" Joey asked, snapping the boy out of his momentary trance. "Oh, my brother, Anthony, and I are in town visiting relatives." Joey knew Henry's brother had been two years ahead of her class in school, so she'd never met him. But he could very well know Jeanne. She'd graduated his year. "Well, if you're not busy," began Joey. "Maybe the two of you would like to stop by my house today. We're having a little picnic to celebrate graduation, the start of the summer, all that." Joey smiled. They'd taught her at school to always be hospitable whenever possible. Joey had always been polite, but she did have a bit of a snappy tongue when she was caught off guard. So, when her mood permitted, she tried to go out of her way to be as friendly as possible to people who deserved it. Not that Henry deserved it. He'd always ignored poor Laura, who'd had the biggest crush on the boy for years. God knew why. "That sounds like fun," he answered with a bright smile. "It should be. Come around in a few hours. Here's our address." Joey took a pen and small pad out of her pocket book and scribbled her house number and street down for him. She always had a pen and paper handy these days due to her work on the school paper. Henry collected the information from Joey and bid the two girls farewell. Both girls failed to notice the lingering look he gave Jen as he exited the store. A lopsided grin crept on to Joey's face, and she let out a short laugh. "Laura's going to flip." **** Pacey, standing in the middle of apartment # 3 across the lane from Warwick's Seaside Grille, tried not to looked stunned as the balding man beside him waved his arm in front of himself. “So, this should suit you just fine," said the man. “It’s more than fine," said Pacey, thinking just how gross an understatement that was. This was his place. Just his. He couldn't believe it. There was a kitchen, a whole kitchen not just a sink and a stove, that opened up into a living room that was already furnished with a sofa and two chairs, a deck that opened up into a small garden in back, and, of course, a bedroom and bathroom, he had yet to see. He didn't care what they looked like. He would have been happy with a mattress and a toilet in the corner. This was fantastic. "Thank you, Mr. Warwick." “I know you’re used to the fancy life out there in California, but this is what we've got. I bought the building a month after I opened the restaurant. I thought about renting it out, but I prefer to keep in the family. So, your neighbors include my wife's nephew Roger, and one of our chefs, Hamlet, who lives here with his wife and little boy.” “Hamlet?" "I know, but don't worry, the name doesn't suit him." Pacey laughed. "Thank you for everything. This is more than what I ever expected." “You’re welcome, young man," said Mr. Warwick, looking as if he was proud to have impressed him. It had to have been due to the man's conversation with Mrs. Mayer. Pacey was certainly not one people tried to impress. "So, did you say that you’re originally from Capeside?” he asked. “Yes, I lived here when I was a kid,” Pacey answered vaguely. Leaving out the orphanage and the town scandal might be wise for the moment. Mr. Warwick was a New Yorker, was new to Capeside, so what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. “Well, I’m sure you have people you want to give a hello. Like I said, you can start work tomorrow. Can’t wait to see all this talent I’ve been hearing about," he said with a happy wink and a clap of his hands. “Sure thing, sir.” “Well, I’ll leave you to it. I've gotta go tickle the wife.” Pacey's eyebrows gave a bit of a twist, and he held back a laugh. He really did not want to try to interpret what that meant. Pacey stared out of his window onto the road, wondering if he was ready to venture out just yet. He’d spent the better part of a week on a train. He was tired. He should just fall into bed and sleep until he had be at work the next day, but he wasn't going to. He had something to do. He'd made a promise to himself, and he wasn't going to break it. So, just minutes later, Pacey found himself in the middle of Main Street being smacked very hard with a heavy wave of nostalgia. Down the street, he noticed that several new shops had surfaced where old ones no longer stood. As always, but in greater numbers than he'd ever seen before, the streets were filled with summer dwellers, pushing their way anxiously toward their destination. It was so different, but still so much the same, the same old Capeside. His mind drifted to the day of the storm. That day with Joey in his arms. He'd been terrified he might lose her. It was funny. In the end, that was exactly what had happened. But he had been so young then. How could he have known he was giving away the best thing that had ever happened to him? Presently, ahead, he spotted a very familiar someone walking ever so gracefully down the road away from him, carrying a brown paper bag. Was it? Could it be her or was it just wishful thinking? His eyes fell onto a girl who looked very much like Joey's friend Jen, the one who'd helped him all those years ago. Should he go over and stop them, grace them with his presence and announce his arrival? He wasn't prepared for it just now. It didn't seem right, not in the middle of a crowded street. He then thought about what it would be like to show up at Joey's house. Suppose her grandmother answered the door and chucked him out before he even had time to say hello? Maybe this was his best opportunity. Maybe he should just suck up his courage and…. "Damn it!" he cursed, shocking a few of the passersby in the street. They were gone! Why did he have to be such a coward? He supposed he couldn't help it. Being back in Capeside made him feel sixteen all over again. But he was not going to allow those feelings to last. He wanted his life here to be different, stronger, full of whatever he'd been missing back when he'd been a boy at Miss Pinchley's. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Pacey turned back toward his new apartment, deciding that he'd wait an hour or so before heading over to Judge Potter's house to see Joey. He had to do it. He'd made a promise to himself. He just wished he hadn't been so damn stupid and let her get away from him a few minutes ago. No, Pacey Witter always had to take the hard road. ***** Two o'clock. Joey sat on her front porch with Dawson. Her guests had arrived a while ago, had eaten and were now enjoying relaxed conversation around the side of the house. The subject of the war in Europe had come up and Joey just couldn't keep on a painted smile throughout it and then stay to explain why. So, she asked Dawson to go on a walk with her, meaning she just wanted to get away for a minute. But instead of actually leaving her guests completely, Joey felt better simply sitting on the porch where they were out of sight, but still within relative earshot. "I just wish," she was saying, thinking about the very thing she did not want to think about minutes before, "I don't know what I wish. I guess I just wish she was here." She dropped her head into her hands. Bessie and her new baby had sent a wire to Joey when she'd still been at school three weeks ago, telling her that she was headed by steamer back to the United States. She and the baby had been living in England since January, while Bodie had stayed in Paris to take care of their little restaurant/boarding house in order to support them from afar. Both he and Bessie decided it was best that they head back home as soon as possible, however. They'd finally saved enough and Bessie told her and they were going to be returning home separately within days of each other. But that had been three weeks ago. Three weeks. "She's fine," Dawson said. "You don't know that! She could be anywhere. It takes less than a week for those steamers to make it here. It doesn't make sense. And Bodie! He could have still been in Paris when they bombed it." "They said they were leaving three weeks ago, Joey. That was just three days ago." "You don't care, do you Dawson? You'd like to see my sister blown up and forgotten about wouldn't you? That way your girlfriend would be rid of any embarrassing reminders of her imperfect past." "Don't twist my words around, Joey. You know I don't think that." "Then how can you be so…? Forget it!" Joey moved her arm away just as Dawson tried to reach for it in a forgiving gesture, and stalked back around the side of the house. She was so scared about Bessie. She tried her best not to think about it through her final exams. Then graduation came, and she was missing her mother, so she couldn't help but think of her sister. She should have been in New York long ago. They were going to stay with Bodie's family in Brooklyn. Joey had called and called, but always got the same answer. "We'll call you as soon as we hear anything." Most of the time, Joey did succeed in keeping her mind on other things. But it was those times when she couldn't, that she needed Dawson. They'd officially become a couple at Christmas, and Joey was still unsure as to why. The relationship didn't seem to fulfill what it should have, especially at times like these. Joey spotted Laura and Jen at the end of the yard, chatting. She marched over to them promptly and folded her arms beneath her chest. "I can't believe him sometimes." Though neither Jen nor Laura had heard any of the conversation Joey had just had with Dawson, they knew of the many that preceded it, and they were all very similar. "I say you should just drop him, Joey," announced Laura. Jen chuckled at the seemingly shy girl's candor and added her own opinion. "He's just a little selfish sometimes. He'll grow out of it." Joey frowned. This was possible, of course, but she didn't really care at the moment. She felt like being angry. Just then Henry Parker happened upon the trio, red-faced and holding a glass of lemonade, which he promptly finished with a healthy gulp. "Your sister is amazing," he said, coming to stand beside Laura. Laura did her best not to huff. "People seem to think so." She looked at her sister, who was sitting on a lawn chair, holding her baby, and chatting smartly with Henry's brother, Anthony, who had seen once before and found extremely handsome and way out of her league. Even Henry, a boy who was nearly two years younger than she was, was way out of her league. Or at least it used to seem that way. According to her friends and even her mother, Laura had blossomed into a beautiful young woman with striking almond shaped eyes and beautiful thick brown hair. Laura simply attributed this to her change in wardrobe. She had never been anything special, not like Jeanne. That was okay with her when she was at school and studying. Laura was the one with the brains, and that was worth something. But sometimes she wished boys would look at her the way they looked at her sister... or her friend Audrey or even Joey for that matter. "Don't you like your sister?" Henry asked. What a silly question. That simply was not the issue. "I love my sister!" she said. "I just… Never mind. You wouldn't understand." Men! Laura stalked away. "A lot of misunderstanding going on here today," said Jen with a laugh rolling off her tongue. Joey sighed, heavily, following Laura across the lawn. "I'll go talk to her." Henry frowned, not understanding what the big deal was, but was very happy to be alone with Jen for the first time all afternoon. "So, are you from here?" he asked, unable to think of anything else to say. Jen cleared her throat, avoiding the boy's eyes for some reason. His presence was a little unnerving. "My parents live in New York, but I live here in Capeside with my grandmother most of the year." "We're leaving," announced Laura, coming back to join them with Joey at her heels. "My sister's tired." "You can stay, Laura," Joey said. "No, I can't." Jeanne, after handing off her baby to a woman they'd introduced as Maxine, who hadn't said a word since arriving but was obviously the baby's nanny, came over stand beside her sister. "You stay right here, Laura. We have the car. We'll be fine." "And how am I supposed to get back to the house?" she asked. "Stay the night," offered Joey. To Joey's surprise Laura did not protest. She instead began bouncing a bit on the balls of her feet and said, "Could I?" Jeanne smiled genuinely and hugged her sister. "I'll tell mother," she said. "She won't mind. And if she does, well, then we'll come back and get you. I want you to have fun Laura. Promise me?" Laura looked at her sister strangely then nodded. "I promise." "Well, then I'm off everyone. Thank you for the lovely time, Joey dear." "Thank you for coming," Joey said politely. Jeanne was a nice person. Definitely not stuck up like a lot of people at school made her out to be. They'd obviously just been jealous of her so-called stardom. "You certainly gave the boys a thrill," Jen deadpanned, not caring that not only was Henry standing right beside her, but Anthony had just joined the group as well. Laura's sister laughed. "Comes with the job I guess." And with that Jeanne Chadwick swept away. After she departed, Anthony turned to Laura. "She's really –" "I know she's amazing," Laura supplied tiredly. Music suddenly began bop-bop-bopping over the lawn. Dawson had decided to liven the mood up with the record player they'd set up hours ago and had completely forgotten. Anthony cleared his throat. "You want to dance?" he asked, looking directly Laura in the eye. "Me?" The sandy-haired green-eyed young man chuckled at Laura's wide-eyed expression and answered smoothly, "Yes, you." Laura let him take her hand but stopped him before allowing him to pull her along with him. "Are you sure you're not just after my sister?" He laughed again, this time a little more heartily. "You're adorable Laura Chadwick. You know that don't you?" Blushing, Laura finally let him lead her to the middle of the lawn where they began to turn and bounce in time to the music. "May I have this dance?" Henry bowed in front of Jen. Jen shrugged. "Why not? Don't want them having all the fun." "Come on, Jo," said Dawson, unable to stand any more tension between he and Joey. "Let's cut a rug. Figuratively speaking, of course." He laughed. Joey rolled her eyes, but gave in despite herself. She was still mad at him, but what was the harm in having a little fun? ******** The Potter home, like many others on the street, was tall and stately and had probably been built just before the turn of the century. It had many windows, even one very high up top Pacey knew to be the attic where Joey told him she liked to sit and be alone. She'd said it was her favorite place. She'd never gotten a chance to show it to him, and every now and then he found himself conjuring up an image of what Joey's favorite place might look like. The house itself had been a constant in both his dreams and his nightmares over the past two years. He doubted, somehow, that would change very soon. Pacey still couldn't believe he was here. He'd planned on coming hours earlier, but he ran into Buzz, after his nap had taken up more of his day than he'd wanted it to, and took the kid for ice cream. Little Buzz, who wasn't so little any more, told him that Miss Pinchley had hired a larger staff and was thinking about expanding the place or moving to another facility in another town. Pacey had no idea what to say to that. He didn't want the boys to have to move, but, in a way, it would make things a little easier on him. That, of course, was a selfish way to think and he cursed himself for it, promising never to revisit such thoughts again. A peel of laughter, startled him out of his thoughts, and he realized it was coming from the Potter's backyard. For a moment, he wondered if he had the wrong house or if they'd moved. There had rarely been a sign of laughter, at least not the kind he was hearing, coming from the Potters' home. Still, time had allowed him to let go and evolve; maybe the Potter family had done the same. Intrigued, he carried his feet toward the sound of the continuous laughter. Only taking a few steps around the side of the round-bodied house, he stopped cold in his tracks at the sight before him. There she was, closer to him than she'd been in nearly two years, looking like the happiest woman on the planet. Her head was thrown back in jubilation as she was spun around by a grown-up Dawson Leery. His stomach twisted with something he didn't quite understand as he watched Dawson curl her close to his body then very slowly dip his head to kiss her. Bile rose in the back of his throat, and he had to fight the urge not to release it right in the middle of the Potters' property. He had not expected this. Sure, he thought Dawson might end up with Joey. That was what her grandmother had wanted for her, wasn't it? Someone perfect like Dawson for her perfect granddaughter? But in his heart he knew he did not want it to ever happen. Why the hell had he even come over here? To hurt himself? That was not what his return to Capeside was supposed to be about. So, he willed his feet to relieve themselves of the heavy bricks that seemed to be weighing him down, and took a step back. The air, however, was sucked straight from his lungs at the very next moment as her dark brown eyes met his for the first time in so long. Pacey stumbled backwards as he saw her pale and move back from Dawson's embrace. He had to get out of there. He wasn't supposed to be here. She had a new life now. He couldn't be a part of it. He'd been stupid to think otherwise.
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 84 (12/5/03 11:19 am) Reply	Re: Chapter 2 *Quote:* Has a feeling Suz will be steamed after this chapter See, 'steamed' to me means drunk... which I may be in 3 or 4 hours, but not right now - so I'm guessing it means angry, huh? Well yes. How could you leave it there?!!!!!!! You tease! Of course I hate the fact she's dating Dawson, but the one saving grace is that she seems already to be on the point of dumping his ass, even before Pacey shows up. So he'll be no match for her affections now Mr Witter is back on the scene methinks. I'm still dying to see her reaction to him, and I'm guessing it'll be more of an angry hello, until she's had a chance to calm down a bit and talk things through with Jen a bit. Yes, you were a cruel girl to cut me off there like that. Whatever will I read now? sniffle HURRY BACK!
Pacephine Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 44 (12/14/05 12:13 am) Reply	Re: Chapter 2 Miss this.

Operation True Love: Pacey and Joey > Pacey and Joey Fan Fic > Forget Me Not (Book II): Return to Capeside (12/4)
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