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Title: The Manhattan Project
Author: Theresa G.
Background: This takes place after "On the Edge". Joey broke up with Dawson
after seeing a kiss between him and Jen, which she doesn't know Jen forced on
him. Last we saw our heroine, she'd caught sight of a familiar rich violin
player...
Disclaimer: I do not own DC or its characters (although you can send Josh and
Ian Bohen over anytime!). BTW, have I mentioned that this series is
completely unrealistic? I figured, what the heck, it's Fiction, so believe me,
I know this would never happen :)
"Anderson, Anderson Crawford," Joey smiled through her tears. "Deborah, Deborah Carson," Anderson smiled back. "I was wondering if I'd see you again." Joey frowned. "Hmm, the lady looks upset." He got closer and saw that she actually was crying. "Deborah, what's wrong?" "Anderson, I have something to tell you..." He waited patiently for her to continue. "My name is not Deborah Carson." "I kinda figured," he grinned. "You knew?" she asked in astonishment. "Well, one doesn't usually forget one's last name, Deborah Car ... son," he said, mimicking the halt in her words when she had first introduced herself. "And usually their friends know the person's name, too."
"I'm sorry for lying to you, Anderson. I just sort of ... needed an escape from myself, I guess. Can we start over?"
"Sure. Hi, I'm Anderson, Anderson Crawford. And on your birth certificate?" he asked with a smile.
"Josephine, Josephine Potter. But my friends and others who care about their well-being call me Joey." "Nice to meet you," he shook her hand. "Now, you are still crying, Joey. Care to talk about it?"
Joey looked at him for a moment. Would he understand everything? Did he really care or was he just being nice? She finally decided she didn't care, as long as she got it out, and she related the entire tale to Anderson. After she was done, Anderson shook his head in disbelief. "Wow, I'm really sorry, Joey. Anything I can do?" "No, nothing, just being here is good enough. I just wish I could get out of this town...even for just a little while, to pull myself back together. Here, the pieces are scattered all over." "Who says you can't leave?" Anderson asked, an idea forming in his mind. "Where would I go? How would I get there? Would my sister even let me go?"
"Well, I believe I have the answers to the first 2 questions. Number 1, New York.
Number 2, with me on my plane." "Would you mind repeating that? This time, with an explanation?" "See, my parents are going from here to California to look for some antique clock. I told them I didn't feel like tagging along to California, and persuaded them to let the pilot take me back to Manhattan. I can be a spoiled brat when I want to be," he grinned.
"Wow, I mean ... thanks a lot, Anderson, but I couldn't .."
"Don't worry about it, I'll explain it to the pilot. After the week is over and they're coming back, I'll give you money for a plane ride back." He could see Joey was still hesitant about going, so he put on a puppy-dog face. "Please say you'll come. You don't want me to stay in that big house all alone, do you?"
"Don't you have a bunch of servants to keep you company?" she joked. "You mean, talk to the HELP?" he feigned shock. Joey laughed. "OK...I'll come with you." "You won't regret it, Joey," he promised, as he kissed her cheek. "Go ask your sister, I'll go talk to the pilot." Joey ran off in excitement to the Icehouse. "Bessie?? Bessie!" she shouted for her sister.
"What is it, Jo?" Bessie called, as she came running out of the kitchen. "I'm going to New York!" "Excuse me?" After Joey explained the situation to her and answered all Bessie's questions, Bessie reluctantly agreed to let her go. She could see in her sister's eyes that she really needed this trip. Joey thanked her profusely and went home to pack.
The next day, Joey ran over to the docks to meet Anderson. On the way, Pacey stopped her. "Hold up, Jo! What's with the bags, you and Dawson running away together?"
"Don't ever use THAT name in my presence again." Pacey suddenly became concerned. "Jo, what happened?" "He wants to get back with Jen. I saw them kissing in her bedroom." "Wow, I'm sorry, Joey," Pacey said with genuine feeling. "Dawson may be my friend, but if he can't see what's right in front of him, he doesn't deserve you."
"Don't worry about it, Pacey," she looked down at the ground, smiling shyly. "Well, you still haven't answered my original question, Potter." "I'm going to New York for the week, Witter. Anderson came back to town and invited me to come back home with him for a little while. Oh, look at this, I think this is the best!" she said suddenly. She was obviously very excited about the trip. She took out a folded piece of paper that had some flight information on it for her return flight. "Anderson actually has his own stationery, a little letterhead with his address and everything. How pretentious!" Pacey glanced at the paper, reading the letterhead. They both laughed.
"So why are you going to New York?" Pacey asked. "Dawson?" Joey was serious again. "Not just him, this whole place. I just need to get out of this town for a while."
"You're telling me," Pacey mumbled. "Think Anderson would take me, too?" he joked.
Joey laughed. "I'll see you when I get back, jailbait." She turned to go find Anderson, then turned back and kissed Pacey on the cheek. "Thanks, Pace," she said quietly.
Joey was in awe of the size of Anderson's house. "My God, this is probably bigger than my school!"
"It's unnecessary, but very nice," Anderson agreed. "Come on, I'll show you to a guest room."
"Thanks again, Anderson, this is really nice of you." "Forget about it, it's a pleasure," he smiled as she put her bags down onto the guest bed. "So I was thinking we could go to this little concert tomorrow night in the park near here. It's going to be a bunch of local amateurs, doing famous songs."
"You mean like, karaoke?" Joey looked at him strangely. "Now that you mention it...but still, it'll be fun. I know a guy in one of the bands."
"OK, sure, why not?" Joey sat down on the bed, and began to unpack some things.
"Joey?" Anderson said as he sat down on the bed next to her. She looked up at him. "Why didn't you ever call me?" "Well...I sort of didn't think I should. I felt so bad about lying to you all that time." "I didn't like you for your name or your home, Joey. I liked you. Still do.." he said quietly, as he leaned closer and pressed his lips to hers. Joey was surprised, but didn't pull away. She didn't really kiss back either, though. A picture of Dawson flashed in her mind.
When they separated, Anderson looked at her, slightly confused. Then he changed his expression to something unreadable, and said he'd let her unpack. Joey exhaled loudly when he was out of the room. *What's wrong with me? I have this great guy kissing me, and I'm thinking about Dawson, that jerk! No more!* she resolved. She couldn't quite convince herself that she meant it though.
Back in Capeside, Dawson was running all over looking for Joey. On his way to the Icehouse, he ran into Pacey. "Well, if it isn't my oblivious friend Dawson."
"Pacey, I don't have time right now, I really have to talk to Joey," he said frantically.
"Oh, NOW it's Joey you're looking for. Make up your mind, Dawson!" "I take it she told you about Jen. Listen, it was all a misunderstanding. Jen was drunk. I didn't kiss her, she kissed me, and Joey just happened to come at that very inopportune moment."
"Well, D, you're not going to find Joey in Capeside."
"What are you talking about?" "It seems our mutual friend has been swept off her feet by a rich, intelligent, Manhattan man. She flew with him to New York."
"Come on, Pacey, tell me where she is."
"I'm not kidding, Dawson. She flew to Manhattan with that Anderson guy." "Oh my God, I can't believe this. One fight and she goes flying off to New York with another guy!" he exclaimed. After a moment, he said resolutely, "I'm going to Manhattan."
"Dawson, be serious."
"Oh, wait, how the hell am I going to find her, I have no idea where he lives!"
Pacey rocked back and forth on his feet and whistled conspicuously.
"Pacey?" Dawson narrowed his eyes. "Spill it."
"Spill what, Dawson? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Pacey, this is my life we're talking about!"
"You're so dramatic, Dawson. OK, well I just happened to see Anderson's address somewhere..." he trailed off, enjoying teasing his friend. Dawson grabbed Pacey by his shirt. "Tell me where she is!" "OK, OK, down boy!" Dawson let go and Pacey told him the address. "Thanks a lot, Pacey, I really appreciate it!" he said, running off. "You just better appreciate Joey from now on!" Pacey called after Dawson. "She deserves the best," Pacey whispered.
Dawson ran into his house and gathered up every cent he had. He packed an extra set of clothes, just in case, and ran downstairs. Gale and Mitch watched in confusion as he grabbed some food, and shoved it in a bag. "Um, son? What are you doing?" Mitch asked. "I'm going to New York. I have to find Joey." Dawson said, determination in his voice and eyes.
"Dawson, stop right there!" Mitch said, obviously angry. "Talk, now." "Dad, I have to go find Joey, she ran off to New York with some guy because she saw me kissing Jen, but I wasn't really kissing Jen, Jen was kissing me, and I never told Joey that I love her, and I do love her, and I have to go to New York and tell her, so you have to let me go before my entire life is ruined and I become extremely depressed, fall into a deep abyss inside myself, and you have a catatonic child," Dawson pleaded in one breath. Mitch sighed and looked at Gale.
Dawson got off the plane the next night (no sooner vacant flights) and prepared to set off on his mission. After he had answered all his parents' questions, they had agreed to let him go, as long as he had someone with him. "So, my friend, where do we start?" Pacey grinned.
To Be Continued
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