Capeside High School - Hallway

"Hey, Jo." Pacey approached her at her locker as she was transferring books into her backpack.

"Hey," she acknowledged him, zipping up her backpack and closing her locker.

"Haven't seen you in a while." She slid the strap of her bag onto her shoulder. "What have you been up to?"

They started down the hall together. "Nothing weren't mentioning. The highlight of my week has so far been waiting tables at the Icehouse."

"How's the new job going? Bessie says you've adapted to the routine pretty quickly."

"Well, it's not that hard to follow. A customer shows up, you flash your pearly whites as often as possible, hand them a menu, take their order, bring them the food and beverages, and pray like hell for a decent tip. How's the foot?" He gestured toward her bandaged ankle.

"Better. Dr. Brenner took away the crutches yesterday, so pretty soon the old, very capable Joey will be back."

"Which, I'm pretty sure, is what all of Capeside is afraid of."

"Wow, Pacey, you almost pulled off that witty remark. A vast improvement over your past attempts."

"Why, thank you," he grinned. "You know, that must be the first compliment you have ever given me."

"I wouldn't expect another any time soon."

They paused their conversation as Nellie Olsen's voice entered the halls through the school's PA system. "Good morning, Capeside High. As chairperson of the dance committee, it is my pleasure to announce that the Sadie Hawkin's dance will be held this Saturday. And yours truly able to convince our wonderful faculty to incorporate a theme...a luao! Hope to see you all there!

"You know, I almost miss that annoying voice pestering me during my moments of hell at ScreenPlay."

" 'Almost' being the operative word?"

"Nothing but," he smiled, the shifted the conversation. "So, the luao. You planning on accompanying Dawson to this fine school-sponsored event?"

"Hell, no." Joey frowned.

"C'mon, Jo. This is the perfect opportunity to begin to act on your side of the deal."

"But to a school dance? Yeah, an overcrowded, noisy gymnasium is exactly where I pictured Dawson to fall in love with me."

"Correction: Realize he's in love with you. And it's the perfect set-up," argued Pacey.

"No, it's not. If I ask Dawson to be my date to Sadie Hawkin's, he's going to be suspicious and/or confused. You know why? Because, if you recall, I have never shown the slightest interest in attending any social event this school offers before."

"Well, give it some consideration," he persisted.

"What's to consider? Dance. Me. Dawson. No."

"Just listen, all right?" Pacey said as they turned a corner. "Dawson's no Don Juan but there's a few girls out there who will consider and might even attempt asking him themselves. For example." He gestured further down the hallway, where Dawson stood, having a conversation with none other than his ex-girlfriend Jen Lindley.

Joey sighed, and turned back to Pacey. "I'll think about it."

12:42 p.m.

Capeside High School - Library

Dawson entered the library in hopes of getting a head start on an English research assignment. To his surprise, he spotted Pacey sitting at a table in a far-off corner of the library, flipping through a text book.

"Hey. Didn't expect to see you here," he approached him.

"Well, being that you've known me for quite a while, you should've figured out by now that I'm full of surprises," Pacey replied, closing his European history book.

"So, what are you studying?" he asked as he took a seat across from him.

"Well, I was studying about the Third Reich, but now that you're here to distract me with aimless chit-chat," he paused and smiled. "I happened to be wandering about the school this morning when I noticed a certain close friend of mine talking with a certain blonde New Yorker."

"And is there a certain point to your astute observation?"

"Being that I'm a naturally curious teenager, I was just wondering what the highlights of your conversation were."

"I was just asking how her grandfather was doing. Perfectly innocent," Dawson waved it off.

"Uh-huh. Right. I'm really supposed to believe that instead of directing your conversation to the upcoming dance, you were discussing your ex's grandfather's collapsed aorta? You're going to have to do better than that, Dawson."

"Listen, Pacey. I don't even plan on attending the dance."

"That doesn't mean you don't want to."

"It doesn't mean anything. I just don't want to go to some stupid social event where most likely I'd have the most unthrilling three hours of my life."

"Unless you go with Jen, right?" he persisted.

"You know, I have a feeling that this conversation is going absolutely nowhere..."

"Hey," Joey approached the two.

"Hey, Jo, my savior," Dawson greeted her, looking grateful. "Join us. Take a load off. And help us choose another subject to pick at."

As Joey pulled ot a chair, Pacey jumped up."You know what? I left my history notes in my locker. Be right back." He winked at Joey and ran off, as if to say,"This is your chance. Take it!"

"What was wrong with the subject at hand?" Joey asked as she sat down.

"Nothing, I guess," he shrugged. "Pacey just kept on pestering me about that dance...if I wanted to go, who did I want to take..."

"Do you?"

"Want to go to the dance? Joey, you know me. Waste three of what could-be- productive hours on the sidelines of a noisy, sweaty gym? I don't think so."

"Unless you waste them with Jen, right?"

"Deja vu." Dawson grinned. "Pacey said almost the exact same thing. Why do I get the distinct feeling that you two are plotting something against me?"

"Paranoia," Joey replied. "Look, we're not plotting anything," she reassured him. "We're just merely concerned about your stalker potential."

"My stalker potential?"

"Well, let's see...You stare at her house from your bedroom window, walk by a classroom she's in when you're not even heading in that direction, eat exactly two lunch tables away from hers in the cafeteria...Just ask her out again and save yourself hours of therapy!"

"Look...I'm not hoping that Jen will ask me. Because the way things are, she'll probably ask our school quaterback, Cliff, before she even thinks about asking me."

"But if she did ask you...would you say yes?"

Dawson sighed, and pulled out his English notes. "I plead the fifth."

1:51 p.m.

Capeside High School - Hallway

Joey exited the Spanish classroom in a huff, worrying about how she would make up the 83 she had received on the quiz. She turned as she heard a familiar voice call out.

"Joey, hey," Jen greeted with a polite smile. "How have you been?"

"Honestly? I've been better," she replied. "You?"

"Can't really complain."

Joey took the opportunity to ask her the question that had been on her brain since she saw her and Dawson talking earlier. "So,"she began slowly. "You planning on attending the festivities this Saturday?"

"The luao? Well, there's a slight chance it might actually be somewhat fun plus it gets me out of the house of God's most loyal disciple, so, yeah, most likely I'll be there."

"Who are you taking?"

"I really don't know, to tell you the truth. Why do you ask?"

"No reason...it's just that I saw you and Dawson talking before second bell. I just assumed..." she looked away uncomfortably.

"That I asked him? No, no. We're just friends now, and it's working out pretty well that way. Besides, aren't you the one planning on accompanying him?"

"I'm not exactly into the idea of school-sponsored social events," Joey told her.

"So, if not Dawson..."

"Like I said before, I really don't know."

"What about our favorite headgear-worshipping-quarterback?"

"Cliff? I guess. He's really sweet and all, definitely not a bad person to look at either..."

"But?"

"But...we don't exactly...there's no..."

"Chemistry? Fireworks? Sexual desires?"

"That basically sums it up."

"But he's expecting, no, wait, let me rephrase that....counting on you asking him, right?"

"Probably," she answered. "Joey, you're awfully inquisitive today."

Lightbulb. Major lightbulb. Glowing brightly and with enough radiation to give some unlucky person skin cancer.

"Joey?" Jen looked somewhat concerned when Joey had just unexpectedly stopped in her tracks.

"Look, Jen," she said, pulling her to the side of the hallway. "I need a favor..."

3:11 p.m.

S.S. Icehouse

"You did what?"

"I asked Jen to ask Dawson to the Sadie Hawkins ask a favor to me," Joey repeated to Pacey as she sat down across from him.

"Okay, correct me if I'm wrong here, but weren't you were supposed to prevent that from happening? I mean, I've doubted your intelligence when it comes to the romance department before, but this..."

"Just listen. I asked Jen to go with Dawson so they could double with us."

"Uh, excuse me...us? I don't exactly recall you asking me, or me even saying yes."

"Listen. Okay, the scenario is, you couldn't find a date for Sadie Hawkins, and you need someone to go with so you don't appear as a total loser at the dance. You ask me to go with you, as a favor returned from last week. I'm not exactly thrilled about going with you, so I ask Dawson to tag along. But a threesome would seem somewhat weird and possibly even more comfortable, so Jen comes with us, therefore diminishing her Cliff problem. At the dance, you distract Jen, leaving me with Dawson and an reasonable excuse to be there with him."

"I must say, well thought out. A little conniving and manipulating, but hey, whatever works to your benefit." Pacey smiled and lightly punched her shoulder. "You little Julia Roberts, you."

"Excuse me?"

"Julia Roberts. My Best Friend's Wedding. You're trying to make your male best friend, Dawson-slash-Dermott Mulroney, realize that you two were meant for each other, meanwhile getting rid of the blonde competition, Cameron Diaz, better known as Jen in this situation."

"And that would make you Ruperett Everett, the scene-stealing gay accomplice."

"I suppose it would," he said, smiling. "At least I get a dance in the end." He paused and his facial expression changed as he made a realization. "Whoa, wait a minute, how come you assume I don't have a date already, therefore ruining your Saturday plans?"

"Do you?" Joey asked incredulously.

"Well, no..."

"Then there's no problem."

Thursday, 8:54 a.m.

Capeside High School-Hallway

"Hey, Dawson," Jen said as they crossed each other's paths. "I need to talk to you."

"Sure," he replied, stopping. "What's up?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you were comfortable with this whole situation."

Confusion spread across his face. "What situation?"

9:01 a.m.

Capeside High School - Hallway

"You two. Now." Dawson pulled Joey and Pacey into a nearby empty classroom.

"Dawson, what--"Joey asked.

"How could you guys do this?" Dawson said angrily.

"Do what?" Joey asked, confused.

"Do what? Do what? Manipulate, scheme, plot, connive, lie...that's what! I knew you two were up to something..."

"I guess you're referring to our dance plans..." Pacey's voice drifted off.

"You guess right!"

"Dawson, why are you so mad?" Pacey questioned. "We find out a way to set you up with Jen without you having to do anything, and you're biting our heads off? Now that's gratitude..."

"What do I have to grateful for?" he continued to yell, but then calmed down and lowered his voice. "Look, I'll admit it. I am not over Jen. I still want her. But when she agrees to go on a date with me, I don't want here to do it as a favor but because she wants to. Otherwise, it makes me look pathetic and desperate."

Silence filled the room for a brief moment.

"Look, we're sorry, Dawson," Joey apologized, refusing to look him in the eye. "We obviously weren't seeing it from your point-of-view."

"Yeah, sorry, man," Pacey said. "We were just trying to help."

"You're forgiven," Dawson said sincerely, the irritated look still on his face. "But don't expect me to be a happy camper when Saturday comes around."

"You're still going?" Joey looked up hopefully.

"Yeah, I'm going. Because, frankly, it'd be easier than trying to explain this whole mess to Jen without completely demolishing my chances with her and totally losing my self-respect."

Pacey grinned and rubbed his hands together. "All right, kids, break out your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie down. Saturday Night Fever is heading our way."

"Oh, pure joy. John Travolta and disco music," Dawson groaned. "Why do I get the sinking feeling I'm going to regret this?"

"Well, it could be that the last time us four went out on a double-date all hell broke loose," Joey replied as the three went back out into the hallway.

Friday, 4:29 p.m.

Leery Household- Dawson's Room

Dawson dropped his backpack onto to the floor and collapsed onto his bed. He had just spent the last day-and-a-half making second, third, fourth and fifth thoughts about what he should do about the whole dance situation and trying to act civil toward Joey and Pacey. And at that moment, he was considering a sixth thought and trying to push back all urges of hunting down his two best friends and strangling them with his bare hands. Dawson let out a frustrated sigh, looked over at his clock, and decided to take a quick nap before he started to get ready for the luao.

5:13 p.m.

Potter Household- Bathroom

Joey stared at herself in the mirror, rigorously brushing her hair. She sighed in dissatisfaction at what she saw in her reflection and threw the brush down onto the floor. She opened the cabinet drawer and pulled out a curling iron and a bag of Bessie's make-up in desparation.

6:46 p.m.

Witter Household-Kitchen

Pacey bounded down the stairs and entered the kitchen, fully dressed and ready for the night ahead of him. He picked up his car keys from the dinner table and was about to open the door and exit the house when the phone rang. He quickly turned around and headed toward the ringng object. "Hello," he said into the receiver.

"Pacey!" Dawson's voice exclaimed. "Look, I took what I thought would be a short nap and overslept. I still need to take a shower and do all that pre-dance preparation stuff. You know, look decent enough to appear in public. Good enough to see Jen. And better than Cliff. In fifteen minutes. I don't know, maybe I should take this as an omen. You know, not go. Ah! It's too late to cancel--"

"Dawson. You said you were running late. So get to the point. Quickly."

"Right! Um, I'll meet you and Joey there. Jen's already at the school 'cause she's on the dance committee. You know, balloons, decorations--"

"Dawson. Running late," he reminded him.

"Yeah. Oh, wait, do you think that I look better in blue or brown?"

"I don't know. Brown. It'll will bring out your eyes. Chicks love it when you color-coordinate."

"My eyes are blue, Pacey. Thanks for noticing."

6:58 p.m.

Potter Household-Front Yard

Pacey swerved the car into the driveway in front of Joey's house. Before he thought to blow the horn, he noticed a beautiful woman leaning against the railing of the porch. It took a moment to realize that the woman who had just noticed his car and was now heading toward it was actually Joey Potter.

"Everything locked up?" he managed to say as Joey opened the passenger door and slid in.

"As if there's anyone desperate enough to break into our cozy little shack on the wrong side of the creek," she rolled her eyes. "But, yes, every door, window, and possible opening is locked securely. Where's Dawson?"

"Primping." Pacey took the car out of the driveway and onto the road. "The siesta he took earlier this afternoon lasted longer than planned so he's running a little late. He'll meet us there."

"Oh." Her voiced was tinged with disappointment.

"Don't worry, Jen's already there due to decoration duties. She's farther away from Dawson than we are right now. And if I play my role right tonight, that distance will remain just about the same throughout the entire evening. "

Joey smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Pacey."

"No problemo. I mean, this plan does have its up-sides. Not only do I get to arrive to the school luao with a pretty girl by my side but I have the freedom to check out the rest of Capeside's female prospects for the other 178 minutes meanwhile keeping an attractive blonde occupied."

"No, Pacey, thank you for everything else...for being my friend, I guess." She shrugged. "It's nice to have someone to talk to that isn't presently obsessed with the girl next door."

"It is pretty nice," he agreed, smiling as he glanced at her.

A comfortable silence settled, which Joey eventually broke. "Pacey..did you mean it when you said I was pretty?"

"Let's put it this way. If a guy happened to walk by you and his head didn't swivel around at least twice, I would consider that abnormal." He looked at Joey again, and they smiled at each other.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said suddenly. "Go look inside the glove compartment." Joey leaned forward and opened the compartment in front of her. She pulled out a plastic box containing a necklace of white butterfly orchids. "It's a lei."

"A high school education does pay off," Pacey grinned. "Put it on."

"It's for me?" she asked, somewhat surprised.

"No, I just want to see how it looks around your neck," he said with his usual sarcastic tone. "Of course it's for you. Put it on already!"

She opened the box and gently took the lei out, carefully placing it around her neck.

"So, what do you think?" Joey stuck a pose in a Vogue-like fashion.

He took his eyes away from the road for a moment and turned to her. "Perfect." He smiled, and focused again on driving. "A regular Hawaiian princess."

7: 11 p.m.

Capeside High School-Gym

Joey noticed Pacey's eyes were focused on something in the distance. "What? Spot the love of your life already?" She tried to find what he was looking at, expecting to see the current object of his affection.

"No, spotted yours." He nodded toward the entrance of the gym. "Dawson Leery, ten o'clock."

Joey's eyes found Dawson, who at the moment appeared to be looking for someone.

"Well, that's my cue to leave you to carry out the key part of your plan." He grinned and extended his right hand for a handshake. Their hands shook as he said,"The best of luck, Jo. Well, I'm off to distract Jen."

"Bye," she said to him as he disappeared into the crowd. She took a deep breath, put on a smile (which she hoped didn't appear as fake as it felt) and made her way toward. "Hey," Joey greeted him. "Just get here?"

"Yeah. My parents were going to the Rialto to catch a flick and dropped me off on their way. It was the least they could do, being my parents and all." He grinned. "Wow, you look great."

"As do you," she replied, her smile becoming genuine.

Dawson's eyes suddenly looked past her. Joey's head swerved around and she spotted an approaching Jen and Pacey. Pacey was giving Joey a remorseful look, as if to say "I tried to stop her. I really did."

"Hey, you guys," Dawson said to the two. "So, since we're all here, I guess now would be a good starting point for having fun." Dawson focused his eyes on Jen with a hopeful expression. "Jen... care to dance?"

"Uh, well..." Jen hesitated, glancing at Joey. "Sure," she shrugged.

Joey and Pacey watched as they walked toward the center of the gym.

"C'mon." Pacey pulling her to follow him.

"Pacey..." she complained.

"Look, just because things aren't going as planned doesn't mean you can't have a little fun. Now, what do you say? You can go accompany me to the dance floor and save me the embarrassment of dancing alone or you can keep the refreshment table company. Completely your choice." He extended his hand out to her again.

Joey sighed. "All right," she said as she placed her hand in his. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to enjoy it."

Pacey rolled his eyes. "Of course not. I would never expect you to do that."

7:23 p.m.

"You know, I bet if you stare over my shoulder long enough, Dawson will eventually notice you spying on him."

"I'm not spying...I'm merely observing," she corrected.

"Look, why don't I just drive you home," he offered as he pulled away from Joey. "You're obviously not having any fun. And watching you torture yourself isn't exactly my kind of a recreational activity."

She looked at Dawson and Jen again."What about them?"

"We'll figure out another plan. C'mon, let's get you home."

7: 35 p.m.

Potter Household-Front Yard

"To a dance and back after only a mere half-hour," Joey said as she exited the car. "That's gotta be some kind of World Guiness Book Record."

"You going to be all right?" Pacey asked, concerned, following her to the front door.

"I can take care of myself, Pacey," she replied.

"That doesn't answer my question."

Joey sighed. "I'll be okay. I'll live. Unfortunately." She turned away but he caught her arm.

"Hey..." Pacey pulled her toward him into a comforting embrace.

"I guess I was getting my hopes up," she mumbled. "Thinking I could actually have some fun and have a chance at a social life for once."

"Hey, it's not too late," he said, gently pulling away. "The night is still young." He ran over to his car and searched for a decent song on the radio. When he heard the beginning notes of Selena's soft ballad, he turned up the volume and headed back to Joey.

"May I have this dance, madam?" he asked gallantly.

A small smile appeared."It would be an honor, my liege," she accepted, curtsying before wrapping her arms around his neck.