Chapter 3

 

Still at the Icehouse

 

 “Well, five years ago, I moved to LA, trying to sell a movie I had made, it turned out into a series pilot, and now I own my own production company...And I guess you have already heard about The Creek?” Dawson asks smugly, he couldn’t help showing off how successful he’d become.

 

“Oh, stop it, Dawson...everyone here knows about your success, but someday you’re getting sued for what you show there “Jen points to her friend.

 

“So, Jen, as you interrupted me,” he retorts smiling. “I think now it’s your turn. I didn’t know you had a baby.”

 

“Yes, I did. Right before junior year in college, I moved to New York with Jack, graduated form NYU, and now I work at an art gallery at  SoHo.  Two  years ago I got pregnant, a drunk night with consequences...end of story...single lonely mother Jen,”  she makes fun of herself.

 

“Oh, Lindley, you’re not that lonely, every time I check you’re at my place gossiping with Jo,” Pacey teases.

 

“Shut up, Pace...I don’t gossip,” Joey complains.

 

“Yes, you do, Mrs. Witter.”

 

“God, are they still this way?” Andie laughs to see that time never changed Pacey and Joey.

 

“Yep...and getting worse everyday,” Jack agrees, taking a sip of his beer to hide his laughter.

 

“Hey, Jackers, that’s not fair, you are family. Hey,  that’s the point, he is family,” Pacey can’t help joking about Jack and his brother Doug.

 

Dawson is feeling less angry as time ticks, after all, he was to blame too, he didn’t even try to contact Joey the past year and half, and it felt good to be near the people he’d grown up with.

 

“What’s this family talk, Jack?” he asked.

 

“Well, I’m dating his brother Doug for 6 months now, Dawson.”

 

“Oh, oh, oh. So, Pacey, all that jokes you used to...”

 

“Well, Dawson, behind a joke there’s always some truth.”

 

Joey sighs in pure relief, at least they were talking with no resentments now.

 

“Pacey, why don’t you tell them about your last five years?” she asks her husband.

 

“Potter, we both have lots to tell. So what about Andie goes first? Mc Phee?”

 

“OK, I’ll do it,” Andie smiles. “I gave up on Harvard, graduated in Psychology from University of Rome about 3 years ago. There I met this amazing guy, Gianni, and we got engaged a month ago, and that’s why I’m here, back home, Gianni wants to meet my family and friends before we get married. Now I want to hear everything you two, tell us everything,” she demands.

 

Joey looks to her husband, smiling, tightening her grip on his hand.

 

“You go first, Pace?”

 

“As you wish, Jo,” he smiles back to her, trying to put his thoughts in line. “Five years ago I was stuck here in Capeside, but I felt like I was missing something here. I decided to go to New York, you, know, a fresh start. Worked in some odd jobs for two months, even tried again the cooking thing. One day, I was just walking in Central Park, enjoying a free Sunday and suddenly I heard my name being called. It was a guy that had worked with me in Boston, and was working there. Michael is a nice guy, not that shark type like Rick, and when I told him everything that happened, he offered me a job, and I was back to business. I never worked so hard in my life; I can tell you that; two years later they offered me to be a partner. Of course, I gladly accepted it, honored. Sometimes I still feel like I’m living in some kind of alternative reality; that I’m not this whole business man, and I will wake up the old class clown.”

 

“You are a clown, honey, you know that...don’t even try to deny it,” Joey teases, grinning.

 

“Oh, no, Joey, stop the whole bickering thing. We want to hear the rest of it. When did you get back together?” Andie interrupts them impatiently.

 

“Wait, wait, Andie. We’ll tell you all,” Joey answers. “I don’t know where I start, maybe from three years ago, my graduation party from Worthington.”