I, Talbot Brady, agree that my short story, ‘You Have Mail’ can be posted only on the DC Fan Fic Forum under the topic of Computers for the week August 16, 1998.

This story is a work of fan fiction. The characters, locations and situations are inspired by the television show "Dawson's Creek" and as such belong to creators and producers of the show (Kevin Williamson, Columbia Tri-star Television, Warner Brothers Television et al), not in any way to me. This fan fiction is written purely for personal entertainment, and is in no way to be construed as connected with the actual show "Dawson's Creek". There is no intent on my part to make money or infringe on any copyrights by writing this fan fiction.

You Have Mail By Talbot Brady


[Subject: Arrived
[Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 22:42:55
[From: Joey16Potter@aol.com
[To: Dawson41Leery@aol.com

Dear Dawson,

Surprise! The family I’m staying with has a computer with e-mail. They’re really nice people, and it’s okay with them if I use it, so I’ll be writing to you this way, mostly. It’s much faster and cheaper too, so I can write more often. I can hardly believe that I’m really here in Paris. It’s been a very long day. First there was the long drive to and wait at the Boston airport. Then the flight over took hours, and you can’t get very comfortable in the cheap seats. Besides, they showed some awful teen horror film called ‘Disturbing Behavior’ during half the flight. It had lots of flashing lights and was hard to ignore. So I’m beat and I’m going to sleep. Maybe I’ll dream about last night.

Love,
Joey

……………………….

[Subject: Re: Arrived
[Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 16:32:05
[From: Dawson41Leery@aol.com
[To: Joey16Potter@aol.com

Dear Jo,

You really surprised me. I didn’t expect e-mail from Paris, or anything so soon. It’s great. Glad you like the family you’re staying with. I heard about that film. The review said that the writing was poor, the acting pretty good, and that it has a hot new lead actress. It must have been a real treat for you. I know how much you love horror films. I hope you get a good sleep tonight. You were already tired when you left. It’s just evening here as I write, and I expect that I will already have dreamed about last night by the time you read this. I’m missing you terribly already. Everyone says hi.

Love
Dawson

……………………..

[Subject: Paris
[Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 17:50:45
[From: Joey16Potter@aol.com
[To: Dawson41Leery@aol.com

Dear Dawson,

I’m really missing you too, although I see you in my dreams. I really do like the people I’m staying with. They’re trying very hard to make me feel comfortable. I’m sharing a room with my new ‘sister’, Jacque (pronounced Jackie) which is short for Jacquelyn. She’s our age and we share several classes at school. She introduced me around to her friends after school yesterday. She looks a little like Jen with dark hair, but she’s easier to like somehow. She doesn’t make me feel so awkward.

I started school yesterday. I’m in a total immersion program here. Except for an extra class to jack up my French, all my classes are regular track and taught in French. The students and teachers speak English quite well though, which is good because they can help me when I get stuck. Two weeks of Berlitz is just not enough, but thank your mom for the tapes anyway. My French teacher tells me that I should be doing fine in a month or so. I hope so. Jacque’s friends are pretty cool, and almost everyone can speak to me in English, but they speak to each other in French, so I’m feeling a little isolated.

I got my wish though. Paris is a million miles from Capeside. Everything is really different. Paris is a big city. I’m learning that it’s never quiet, and always full of crowds of people in a hurry. It’s too bright at night to see the stars, and too smoggy during the day to see the clouds. But it’s also beautiful, exciting and alive. Sunday, we went to the Eiffel Tower. It’s right next to the River Seine on a kind of height, so you get a good view of the city. You can see the Arc de Triumph and the Champs-Elysees from the observation platform. I looked down at the river and remembered the last time I rowed home from your house, early in the morning last week. It already seems a long time. There’s a million wonderful things to see and do here. Please, please talk your parents into letting you come over during summer vacation so we can see them together. Oh well, I gotta go, it’s time for dinner. Did you know they serve wine to the whole family with dinner here? It’s weird, but pretty good.

Love
Joey

………………………..

[Subject: Re Paris
[Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 17:47:22
[From: Dawson41Leery@aol.com
[To: Joey16Potter@aol.com

Dear Joey,

Yes, I remember the pageant and that interview. I guess Paris is about as far as you can get from Capeside, and a sort of romantic adventure too. I’m working on Mom and Dad about letting me fly over this summer. I told them, it’s what I want for Christmas. So pick out some good places to go. It would be nice to tour with someone who speaks the language. A romantic adventure would be fine too. I do wish my girlfriend could be here for Christmas, though. I really miss her.

Jen was over for movie night and talked some about her grandfather. You were right, he was the one person she could talk to. I think it’s helps her some to talk to me and we’re better friends now. She says to remind you to use that camera I gave you for early Christmas. She wants you to send pictures of your ‘family’, their house, your friends at the school, and any cool places that you go to. She really envies you spending six months in France. Pacey, predictably says send him pictures of any hot girls. But also he said to tell you he’s bored without your nasty cracks. I think he misses you almost as much as I do. Oh well, it gave me more time to edit our film. Jen and Pacey helped and now it’s on its way to Boston.

Yeah, I’ve heard that they handle alcohol differently there. Take it easy with the wine though. Remember what happened the last time you had a couple of drinks. I don’t want you to get carried away with some French boy and elope, thinking that he’s Brad Pitt.

Love
Dawson

………………………….

[Subject: Bon Noel
[Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 02:32:15
[From: Joey16Potter@aol.com
[To: Dawson41Leery@aol.com

Dawson!!!!,

Are you guys ever going to let me live that down? I told you, I knew that it was you. Anyway, it’s early Christmas Eve morning, and I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Please pass that on to everyone. I’m just back from a Christmas dance at a café on the Boul’ Mich’ in the student quarter. I was sort of down, missing you and Bessie, Bodie, and even Alex, so Jacque got some friends together and they dragged me off to a dance. I think it was good for me. Eventually I forgot that this was my first time away from home at Christmas and had some fun. The kids here seem both older and younger to me. They dress flashier, they drink a lot more, and they’re pretty casual about sex, but they’re more carefree and more self-absorbed. Jacque’s friend Anton was sort of my escort, but I danced with a lot of boys, some from the colleges around there. I think an American girl is sort of a novelty. Several of them managed, with some difficulty, to let me know that they were available if I was interested, but somehow with the impression that it was no big deal, if I wasn’t. It was almost flattering in a weird way. I did learn some new techniques in kissing which I can’t wait to try out on you. After all it was a Christmas dance, and the French did invent that mistletoe thing. We’ll need a bottle of good champagne for one of them.

I’m so pleased that you finished the film and got it sent. I was worried that you wouldn’t. Let me know when they tell you you’ve won. I guess I’ll miss the awards though. Tell Jen that the pictures are on the way. Give her a big hug from me and tell her I said Christmas is the hardest and then it gets a little easier. Also, tell her she was right about French boys. I think it’s because they pay more attention to you. Tell Pacey that if he wants pictures of French women, he’ll have to buy Mademoiselle. I do have a picture of a sheep for him though.

Well, I have to get to bed. The family’s doing a big traditional Christmas in my honor and I think we’ll be cooking and decorating all day. We’re even having a Yule Log. Wishing you were here.

Love
Joey

……………………………..

[Subject: Re: Bon Noel
[Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 17:02:34
[From: Dawson41Leery@aol.com
[To: Joey16Potter@aol.com

Dear Joey,

I think we all miss you and wish you were here for Christmas. I know I do. Sounds like you’re having a pretty fancy Christmas there. That’s good. We’re doing our usual gathering a little bigger than usual this year. Bessie, Bodie, Andrew, and Jen and her grandmother are coming. Pacey thinks he’ll probably show up too. A big crowd, but it already felt funny when you weren’t here to help decorate the tree. Everything looks nice though. We may even get a little snow. It’s going to be a nice Christmas, just a little sad.

I wish you could come to the film award banquet too. When I dreamed about going, you were always there with me. Jen won’t tell me what she was ‘right’ about. What are you guys up to. She says thanks for the pictures. She hopes they arrive before New Year’s. Did you really go out dancing till all hours and then make out with some of those flashier French guys or are you trying to make me jealous. Whatever, it’s working, I’m jealous. Please be careful and don’t get your heart, or my heart broken. I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad are giving me (us) a summer in France for Christmas, so pick out some nice romantic places to visit. Meanwhile, I’ll spend movie nights watching films like ‘Until September’ and driving myself crazy.

I love you, Joey.
Dawson

Dawson had just started the mail program on his computer when he heard someone at his window. He turned and a big grin broke out on his face as he got up and moved toward the window.

“Joey,” he said delighted, “So did my idea work?”

“Hi Dawson,” Joey said looking at the floor. “Yeah, I think so. I started to think about what I’d be missing if I were in Paris at Christmas instead of what I’m missing by being here in Capeside. Even in the school library, just reading and writing a few notes, I started to miss Bessie, and Bodie, and Andrew, and even Pacey and Jen.” She still sounded sad.

Dawson moved to her, ran a hand gently down her cheek and lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. “Jo?”

She looked into his eyes and smiled. “And you Dawson. I decided that I’m really glad I’m in Capeside with my boyfriend, so I can do this.” She pushed him on to the bed and fell on top of him, raining quick little kisses on his forehead, eyes and chin, before joining her lips with his in a long lingering kiss.

She lifted her head for a second and said, “I think it’s going to be a good Christmas, Dawson. Have you got any champagne?"

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