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Part 5 ~ Beaches

At the same time that Dawson is going through dream hell. The girls are facing some of their own demons. But they don't get the condolence of know it is all just a dream.

"Do you love him? Don't lie Jen, I already know the answer, I just want to hear you say it."

"Yes I do, with all my heart."

"Then why did you break up with him? That's what I don't understand. Both of you are totally miserable without the other, yet you're not together."

"Well, I knew that you had feelings for Dawson and I couldn't be sure if he didn't want you. I couldn't just wait for him to wake up. I'm having enough trouble as it is, I would die if he broke up with me later. Besides, what I told him was true. I don't know who I am without a guy to tell me. I had to find myself."

"Did you?"

"Not really. I'm spending all my time trying to not think about Dawson, that I don't have time to think about myself."

"But what if we're nothing without him, Jen? What if we just stop without him to write the script?"

"He can't write our lives Joey."

Joey smiles. "I think you just answered your own question, Jen. You'd be the same person with him as without. Only happier."

"But what about you? I couldn't hurt you."

"It hurts me to see Dawson like this. It hurts me to see you like this. I think it hurts more than seeing you two together. Besides, I don't think I want Dawson like that. He was just a shield, as long as I held onto him I didn't have to face anything else, including my past. But I can't hold on to him any longer. I'm just hurting myself."

"I do love him, but I don't know in what way. I do know that you are the best girl for him right now. You need to be there when I'm not. Because right now I can't lean on him anymore and that is going to hurt him. He'll need you to pick up the pieces."

"Yeah, but what if he does want you? I can't go on wondering if he wants me, or if I'm just a replacement of you."

"Don't worry about that part, I'll take care of him."