Hunter

By Leia

Interlude Four: Andie

Boy, do things ever change... and stay the same. Some things are so predictable... and predictable.

There I go, contradicting myself again.

Thanksgiving with most of the old gang was great. The only person who was missing was Dawson. Because of the divorce, I don’t think his name was mentioned once. Its kind of a relief, because then I wouldn’t have to answer the question of whether I had heard from him lately.

I have.

We’ve actually kept in touch since college. He and Joey had lost touch with everyone... except for me. Well, Joey didn’t really know that we kept in touch, but she never really thought to ask. I mean, for what reason would Dawson and I have to keep in touch? We weren’t close, really. I don’t know... maybe that’s why we stayed in touch.

He’s really upset. I feel for the poor guy. He really truly loves Joey Potter... but he lost her a long time ago. Maybe he never had her to begin with. Yes, there goes the Joey and Pacey can of worms... it never really got opened. I always suspected that it would open somewhere in between the time where they had grown attached to the hip and Joey and Dawson’s engagement.

Delayed reaction.

Dawson called me the night he had seen Joey and Pacey at the restaurant. The poor guy... he was torn up. At first, I thought he was over-reacting, but then, I came here for Thanksgiving. I’m watching them together, and there’s something more... Pacey’s girlfriend sometimes looks enviously at Joey. They seem to get along, but there’s some underlying tension. The way Pacey pays a mountain of attention to Joey... when his girlfriend is right there.

Its like “Oh look, its Joey, Joey, Joey... and oh, yeah. This is my girlfriend... she’s great, ain’t she?”

Boy, do I ever feel bad for poor Dawson. This is going to tear him apart even worse... his best friend and his wife. But really, he doesn’t have a right to be angry. Not because of the whole “they’re getting a divorce” thing... although, that’s a good reason... no, not because of that.

Because he slept with me about a year ago.

He and Joey were having problems... Joey didn’t come home at night... He and Joey hadn’t made love in months...

He was lonely... I was lonely. It happened. Only once, of course. But, still, it happened. I slept with my friend’s husband. I still have trouble looking her in the eye... even with the knowledge that she’s divorcing him. Even with the knowledge of the something between her and Pacey...

God, I feel so bad for Dawson. He’s not going to know what hit him.

Part 14

I could let you slip away,
Just wait for rainy days,
But wouldn't that be failing us,
Letting go too soon,
When everything I am still holds on to you, and

These souvenirs...keep you here
You're really somewhere down the road, I know
But I'm still stranded here, holding all these souvenirs

I could hide all somewhere, pretend I didn't care,
Fill my time with daily things, until I'm numb
But isn't all this feeling why we reach for love at all
Isn't it the reason that we hear the call...for more than all

These souvenirs...keep you here
You're really somewhere down the road, I know
But I'm still stranded here, holding all these souvenirs

*~*Souvenirs by Mary Beth*~*

Joey tapped her fingers on her desk. She had a client coming any minute now. The door suddenly burst open, reveiling her not-so-beloved husband, who was soon followed by her personal assistant.

“I’m sorry, Miss Potter, he just came in!” Ashley exclaimed.

Joey glared at Dawson who stood stubbornly by the door.

“That’s all right, Ashley,” she said, keeping her eyes on him. “Don’t bother. I’ll call security in a few moments, anyway. Run along and make sure the client doesn’t come in, yet.”

“Yes, Miss Potter,” Ashley replied, warily eyeing Dawson.

“Security, Joey?” Dawson asked incredulously.

“Yes, Dawson,” Joey replied through gritted teeth. “I’m going to call security if you don’t get the hell out of here!”

“Joey, we need to talk-”

“No, actually, we don’t. That’s what our lawyers are for... so I don’t have to make any direct contact with you.”

Joey picked up the phone and gave Dawson a warning look.

“Go ahead, Joey,” Dawson said cooly. “You know you won’t do it.”

Joey tried to keep her gaze steady as she looked at him. Her hands were shaking and tears welled up in her eyes. She slowly set down the phone.

“Get out, Dawson,” she whispered shakily.

He gave her a satisfied smirk.

“I’ll see you soon, Mrs. Leery,” he said before walking out the door, and closing it behind him.

Rage built up inside of her, and she clenced her hands into fists. She picked up her stapler and whipped it at her door as she broke into tears.

I could let you slip away,
Just wait for rainy days,
But wouldn't that be failing us,
Letting go too soon,
When everything I am still holds on to you

*~*~*~*~*

Joey fumbled with her keys, her own tears blurring her vision as she shakily unlocked her door. She got in, quickly closing the door behind her as her stray tears turned into sobs. As she walked towards the living room, she was met with a shock.

These souvenirs...keep you here
You're really somewhere down the road, I know
But I'm still stranded here, holding all these souvenirs

Pacey and Cici. Kissing. On the couch. She stood there, in shock. Pacey lay there on top of Cici, his hand wandering up and down her side. Cici’s hands slowly crept up to Pacey’s collar and began to undo his tie. He kissed her neck and her collarbone and...

Joey took off towards the hallway and into her room.

I could hide all somewhere, pretend I didn't care,
Fill my time with daily things, until I'm numb
But isn't all this feeling why we reach for love at all
Isn't it the reason that we hear the call...for more than all

Pacey and Cici stopped abruptly as they heard her footsteps leave and go into the hall.

“Crap,” Pacey muttered.

“Hey, why don’t you go and get ready, and I’ll talk to her?” Cici suggested.

Pacey gave her an unsure look.

“Listen, I’m not going to kill her, nor will I maim her,” Cici promised. “Remember? Joey and I like each other?”

“Okay,” Pacey said as he got up, holding his hand out to help Cici up as well. “But if I hear things being thrown, and find you guys wrestling on the bed...”

She rolled her eyes.

“No, Pacey, we wouldn’t let you join.”

*~*~*~*~*

There was a knock on the door, and Joey abruptly sat up, wiping her eyes.

“Come in,” she called.

Instead of Pacey being on the other side, like she had expected, Cici stood there.

“May I come in?” she asked.

“Sure,” Joey said hesitantly.

Cici carefully closed the door behind her and sat down on the bed next to Joey. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“Listen, Joey...” Cici began tentatively. “About what you just saw...”

“Oh, no,” Joey said, quickly. “Absolutely none of my business. I just... that’s not the reason I’m upset at all.”

“Oh, okay, good. I was afraid...”

They both laughed hesitantly.

“Joey... I know you heard the argument between Pacey and I-”

“Don’t worry, I’m not-”

“No, I really want to apologize. I’m usually not a jealous person. Its just that I really care about Pacey, and I get paranoid when he’s living with a beautiful woman that he’s known his entire life.”

Joey blushed profusely.

“I totally understand what you’re saying,” Joey reassured her. “If I were you... I mean, not that you have a reason to be jealous, but... yeah.”

“Yeah,” Cici echoed.

There was another moment of awkward silence.

“So, Pacey and I were just planning to go to dinner,” Cici said. “Care to join us?”

“Oh, no thanks,” Joey said. “I’d just be the proverbial third wheel. Don’t worry, I’ll find something to occupy myself with.”

*~*~*~*~*

“Jiffy popcorn is the best,” Jen declared as she barged in the door, carrying a grocery bag of what was assumed to be junk food.

“What are you doing here?” Joey mumbled from the couch as she cuddled underneath her blanket and watched some terrible TV movie.

“I’m your fairy Godmother, and I know exactly when you need cheering up,” Jen offered.

Joey gave her a skeptical look.

“Pacey called me on his cell and told me that he was worried about you,” Jen admitted.

Joey sighed.

“Make me some popcorn, and maybe I’ll tell you,” Joey relented.

Jen did her task, and within a few minutes, she had a bowl and the popcorn ready. She sat down on the couch next to Joey and looked at her expectantly.

“Well?” Jen asked, her mouth full of popcorn.

Joey looked down and sighed.

“Dawson came to my office today,” she said quietly.

“Crazy-ass stalker!” Jen exclaimed. “Jo, if that’s what’s upsetting you, then-”

“No, its not the fact that he showed up that upsets me. Its the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to call security on him.”

Jen narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean... God, okay, this is what happened. He came in, and I threatened to call security. He called my bluff, Jen. I couldn’t do it.”

Jen took a deep breath.

“And why is that, Jo?”

Joey shrugged as she wiped a few tears away.

“Why, Jo?” Jen persisted.

“Because I still care about him,” Joey said, her voice strained with tears.

Jen closed her eyes as Joey began to cry.

“C’mere,” she said as she pulled the confused woman into a hug.

As they shared their moment, they weren’t aware of the fact that Pacey had overheard the entire conversation from the doorway.

It made him wish he had never gone back to find his keys.

These souvenirs...keep you here
You're really somewhere down the road, I know
But I'm still stranded here, holding all these souvenirs