Beyond the Triangle
Part 14 - The Power of Geometry
Scene: At lunch table with Pacey, Joey and Jen. We come in the middle of an argument.
Joey: I don't understand these sudden doubts you're having about my feelings for you.
Pacey: We keep having these conversations where Dawson's name comes up.
Jen turns her head to Joey's direction.
Joey: Are you claiming that's my fault?
Jen turns head in Pacey's direction.
Pacey: You are perfectly aware that every little thing I do is compared to him. Thank God you two didn't (low voice) have sex (normal voice) or else I'd be royally screwed right now.
Jack and Ryan arrive and sit on either side of Jen.
Jack: (whispers) What's going on in paradise?
Jen: Here's what I've understood. They must have had a less-than-pleasurable night together this weekend. Joey tried to confide in Dawson but Pacey got pissed about that. I could be wrong since these two live in a world of their own.
Ryan: Interesting. Apparently, Cheryl and Dawson are having Joey problems. Of course, this is a very skewered source.
Jen: Why do I find that news amusing?
Jack: You two had better be careful. This trio has far-reaching destructive powers.
Ryan: Slightly melodramatic, eh Jack?
Jack: Consider that is less dramatic than they are.
The three exchange glances then all feel a chill up their spine at the same time. As if on cue, Drue Valentine shows up at the head of the table.
Drue: Why, I love coming in on an argument between Capeside's favorite couple.
Joey hears his voice and turns around to glare at him.
Joey: I thought vampires slept during the day.
Drue: (shakes his head) And the return of serve is in the bottom of the net.
Jen: I'm sorry, did you want something or just an excuse to be around us?
Drue: Why, hello Jen. My, you look lovely today. I just love how you accessorize yourself with guys who wouldn't touch you. Hey, wait, I just realized you had a pair. I must be out of the loop.
Jen: Because you insist on playing around with Joey's relationships?
Drue: She's a lot more fun than you are.
Joey stands up ready to punch him. Drue holds his hands up in surrender.
Drue: See, this is what I like. The possibility of physical violence. It's quite ravishing on most women. With you, Jenny, it's more of a sexual thing.
Ryan: I'm sorry, did you have a point in coming here?
Drue: Let's see, you're the guy that hangs out with Dawson's girlfriend, right? Oh, wait, that's wrong, that would be Pacey.
Pacey gets up ready to attack. Joey intercepts him.
Jen: (muttering to Ryan) Here's his mission.
Joey: Do you have anything better to do with your time than to meddle in other people's lives? I guess you're just not satisfied enough with the random girls anymore.
Drue: Oh, that's gonna leave a flesh wound. I can see that I'm not the only one who thinks you're still attached to your ex.
Jack: (mumbling) Usually he just laughs off Drue's comments.
Joey: What, exactly, was your goal in rigging the senior polls?
Jen: What senior poll?
Jack: I don't know but don't worry, you wouldn't have won anything anyway.
Joey: (turning to Jen) The poll for the yearbook. He joined staff just long enough to arrange it so Dawson and I were best couple.
Jen: I hope you've achieved your goal, Drue.
Drue: Let's see, El Toro separating me from the Hawaiian punch? Yeah, I'd say I'm closer to accomplishing my goal. (walks away)
* * * * *
Scene: That night, Joey is walking in the direction of Dawson's house.
Joey: (mutters) Damn that Pacey. How dare he accuse me of having feelings for Dawson. He is just so insecure about this whole situation.
Joey hears footsteps behind her. She turns around to find Jack heading in the same direction. Joey stands there, waiting for him to catch up.
Joey: Heading to Jen's?
Jack: Why else would I be around here at this hour? What about you?
Joey: Dawson's. Need someone in their right mind. (follows in step next to him)
Jack: And you thought Dawson would be the right person?
Joey: What the hell does that mean?
Jack: Pacey is annoyed that you're bringing up Dawson's name so what do you do? Head for Dawson. That makes sense.
Joey: Jack, I thought he would be the one to help me understand whether I'm making a mistake or not.
Jack: Are you telling me that the only people you'd even consider speaking to are Pacey and Dawson?
Joey: (defensively) I didn't mean it the way it came out. Of course, I know there is you and Jen. (reconsidering) Okay, there's you. But I never gathered that you were that interested in my relationship with Pacey.
Jack: (dismissively) Oh, yeah, it's hard not to notice you two.
Joey: Amusing. (shakes her head) I think almost everyone in this town knows we're a couple. They seem to have their opinions about how me and Dawson are a match as well.
Jack: I would hardly saw Drue Valentine counts as the opinions of this town.
Joey: Maybe not, but he certainly must have sources who believe that.
Jack: But you don't believe him, right?
Joey: Well, I don't, but I'm not so sure Pacey feels that way. See, that's what the fight was about. Pacey saying that other people see me and Dawson as the couple destined to be together.
Jack: He hasn't been hanging around Drue lately, has he?
Joey shakes her head. They end up in front of Jen's house, which is dark.
Joey: Are you certain she's supposed to be meeting you?
Jack: Actually, it was an unannounced visit. I guess she could have plans. Doesn't matter, I ran into you so it wasn't a total waste of a trip.
* * * * *
Scene: Pacey walks into the Coffee Cup looking around.
Ryan: This is odd. Usually, you come here with someone.
Pacey: (startled) Ryan, don't tell me Kent actually trusts you to work here again.
Ryan: That he does. Circumstances led me to move into his house. Kent and I came up with this arrangement to work a couple of nights a week here. He figures it is pretty quiet at night, so there are fewer opportunities to completely screw up the business.
Pacey: Actually, you wouldn't happen to know where Jen is, would you?
Ryan: Because naturally, here is the first place you'd think of?
Pacey: Well, no, her house is the first place I checked but nobody's home. Called Jack's place but nobody's home, as usual. Here was the last spot I could think of.
Ryan: Then I guess you're doomed.
Pacey: Eh, since I'm here anyway, I might as well get something to eat. I'll just get a chocolate chip muffin.
Ryan: For here or to go?
Pacey: I guess I'll stay here. (walks over to an empty table)
Ryan returns a couple of minutes later with the muffin. Pacey stares at it dazed.
Pacey: How much do you know about this situation?
Ryan: (confused) I don't think the muffin is trying to attack you.
Pacey: Huh? (shakes his head) I meant, about me, Joey and Dawson. Somewhere, I heard that Cheryl did a lot of supposed research on the subject.
Ryan: That is true and I suspect I'll be hearing every last detail about it now that we're roommates.
Pacey: (grins) I guess that's true. (as Ryan is walking away, blurts out) Do you think Dawson and Joey make the better couple?
Ryan: (turns around) Do you seriously think I'm going to answer that question?
Pacey: Of course not. It was so stupid to even say it out loud. It's just that those two have a history together. You know, every Dawson has a Joey, every Joey has a Dawson, blah blah blah.
Ryan: This sounds distinctly like the soulmates discussion.
Pacey: That it is. Jo doesn't want to admit that there is the possibility that Dawson is right.
Ryan: Dawson hasn't said that lately.
Pacey: He is still the person she turns to for help. She did this weekend.
Ryan: Of course she would. She didn't just throw away a lifelong friendship to be with you.
Pacey: If friendship was Dawson's only objective, I wouldn't mind.
Ryan: If you separated yourself from Joey for two seconds, you'd realize that Dawson isn't dwelling on Joey. From what I've heard, she sees him as a confidante in the same way that Cheryl sees me as a confidante. I think you should give Dawson a tiny bit of credit here. (goes back to work)
* * * * *
Scene: Living room of Leery house. Dawson is watching Saving Private Ryan when there is a knock at the door. He lets Jen in.
Jen: (eyes tv) Ah, a Speilberg movie.
Dawson: Come on. You say that as though I was watching E.T. Saving Private Ryan is much more mature.
Jen: Can't let the obsession go, I see. You know, I realized that the two of us haven't been hanging out lately.
Dawson: That's true, I guess we've been wrapped up in our own mini-dramas.
Jen: How are you and Cheryl doing?
Dawson: Pretty good (reconsiders) usually. I think she's a little bothered by the Joey connection.
Jen: I could relate to that problem. (Dawson looks at her questioningly) Or are you conveniently forgetting that we did date briefly.
Dawson: I know that. I thought you were referring to something else.
Jen tries to figure out what Dawson's talking about but is completely lost.
Jen: You'll have to enlighten me.
Dawson: (takes a deep sigh) Am I the only one around here who thinks that Cheryl and Ryan are this year's version of me and Joey?
Jen's eyes grow wide.
Dawson: (looks away from her) Apparently, yes.
Jen: Have you told Cheryl about this amusing little theory?
Dawson: Jen, don't belittle me. I'm being completely serious. To answer your question, yes I did.
Jen: (crossing her arms) What did she do? Slam the door in your face?
Dawson: Good call.
Jen: (coldly) I don't blame her.
Dawson is taken aback by Jen's reaction.
Dawson: What?
Jen: For as long as you and Cheryl have been together, there has been this undercurrent of resentment between you and Ryan. Completely unwarranted as far as I can see.
Dawson: He's living at her house!
Jen: A completely selfless act on the part of Kent Harding.
Dawson: Oh, so agree with that one too. You don't think this is a problem in his family.
Jen shakes her head and begins to laugh.
Jen: Have you ever met either of his parents?
Dawson: No, but..
Jen: (interrupts) Let me tell you something, Dawson Leery. Until the moment that you have to hear the crap spewed in that house, you will continue to say that. Frankly, I couldn't be happier for everyone involved.
Dawson: You've fallen for him, haven't you?
Jen: So what if I have?
Dawson: So if I was right, you'd be suffering for it as well. I just don't see the appeal here. The guy I see is someone who really doesn't give a damn about anyone, certainly not that Cheryl is worried about him. He's admitted to a moment in time when he thought of Cheryl in a romantic nature.
Jen: First part is completely untrue. He cares more than you could possibly imagine. The romantic moment means nothing because it was a moment in time.
Dawson: But he, for some mysterious reason, brought it up in front of me. He claims he's just looking out as a familial figure but I don't believe a word he says. Why should I - Cheryl even says that the guy is prone to lying.
Jen: I think you're about to get a door slammed in your face again. Just enjoy what you and Cheryl have. Leave whatever you think of Ryan out of it and you shouldn't have a problem with her. Now, as for me, oh yes, I see severe problems in your future.
Dawson: I'm sorry you fall for the wrong kinds of guys.
Jen: Leave the soulmates crap confined to the situation with Joey and Pacey. You'll be much better off than this current relationship comparing. The only parallel I see is the length of the friendship. Goodbye, Dawson. (heads out the door)
Dawson: Don't come crying to me when you discover Ryan Farrell is exactly the way I described him.
Jen: (sarcastically) I'll keep that in mind.
* * * * *
Scene: In school the next day. Ryan is at his locker, trying to find a textbook, when Jen shows up.
Ryan: Hey, how's your day been?
Jen: (coldly) I've had better.
Ryan: (distracted) Sorry to hear that. Can you see my math book?
Jen: Huh? Uh, no. (beat) What does Dawson know about you?
Ryan stops what he's doing and turns around to face her.
Jen: He basically called you a pathological liar.
Ryan: (takes a deep breath) What is he basing this on?
Jen: It was just an accusation. I don't want to repeat every word he said because some of it was over-the-line but I suspected he knew something regarding lies you told Cheryl. That worries me more than anything else.
Ryan: There's some truth to that but not recently. The only significant lies I ever told Cher were when it was a long-distance friendship. I kind of glossed up my life here. It wasn't meant out of hurt.
Jen: Well, I guess I can give you that one since I used to do that with my friends from New York. I told them I hated it in Capeside way longer than I actually did. It was hard to admit that I liked small-town life.
Ryan: (grins) It's hard for me to admit that and I've never lived anywhere else.
Jen laughs and wraps her arms around his waist.
Jen: How on earth have you survived this long? (gives him a quick kiss on the cheek)
Ryan: I have absolutely no idea. (whispers) I never pictured you as the type who liked PDAs.
Jen: It's weird. I mean, Henry was more than thrilled for everyone to know I was his girlfriend and I hated that. Meanwhile, you haven't mentioned that once and I love the idea of people knowing.
Ryan: (teasing) I guess that's the angle I should use, Jenner. Pretend I'm absolutely not interested so then you'll be swooning.
Jen: It's worked so far.
Drue pops up, leaning against the adjacent locker.
Drue: Good morning, Jenny.
Jen and Ryan break away, Jen faces Drue with a cold stare.
Jen: I'd say I was having a wonderful morning but then you appeared.
Drue: Still oh-so-cheerful, just as I remember.
Jen: I'm sorry, don't you usually annoy Joey at this time of day?
Drue: I ran into Joey talking to Dawson. She doesn't need my help at the moment to back herself into a mess. Besides, I've been neglecting you lately. We really need to catch up on the good times.
Jen: You'll have to pardon me. At my old age, I can't seem to remember any good times with you.
Drue: Oh, come on, how could you forget the parties I threw. Even the ones in Capeside have been better than the average sitting-around-the-campfire tales. You know, maybe it's time for another one. After all, the last party kind of ended on a sour note.
Jen: A sour note?! You call Andie nearly dying a sour note?!
Drue: Hence why I want to make it up to you. (eyeing Ryan) Or are you worried about another overdose occuring?
Jen is confused by the last remark, but tries not to let on.
Jen: I think I'll skip it.
Drue: Oh, I get it. You'd prefer a more intimate setting. Well, that can be arranged. We could get one of the boats and sail off into the sunset.
Ryan: I believe she's telling you she's not interested. (turns back to rummage around his locker)
Drue: How can you possibly date a guy that isn't the least bit concerned about what the competition is saying?
Ryan: I know Jen wouldn't give in. (picking up a book) Found it.
Drue: Are you aware that she and I were once an item? Therefore, you should worry. (gets no reaction)Anyway, I found better people to talk to. (walks away)
Jen: (sighs) I guess we're just not interesting enough for him.
Ryan: What a pity. (beat) How could you have possibly dated him?
Jen: We didn't exactly date.
Ryan: (slowly) I see.
Jen: One of those New York mistakes I'll never live down. I'm still trying to figure out what he meant by the 'another overdose' comment.
Ryan: (fumbling) I don't know and I hate to say this but we're going to be late for class.
Jen: Oh, yeah, you're right. See ya later.
Jen gives Ryan a quick hug, then leaves. As Ryan is about to leave, he spots Drue flirting with another girl.
Ryan: (muttering) I'm better off not knowing how he knows. (heads off to class)
* * * * *
Scene: Harding house that night.
Cheryl is working on homework when she realizes Ryan is standing in the doorway glaring at her.
Cheryl: Can I help you?
Ryan: Exactly what do you tell Dawson about me?
Cheryl: I'm sorry, is there a reason for this sudden attitude?
Ryan: Dawson told Jen that I was a pathological liar.
Cheryl: I have never called you that.
Ryan: Then why the hell would she say that?
Cheryl: (thinking it over) I might have said to Dawson once about our relationship back when I lived in New York.
Ryan: (sarcastically) Because it is so important that Dawson knows about that.
Cheryl: I was trying to defend you for being such an idiot on New Year's Eve!
Ryan: So, you felt that the best way to show that would be to recount disastrous moves of the past? That makes sense.
Cheryl: It was better than you blurting out to an already-jealous boyfriend that you and I kissed. What the hell was that about?
Ryan: That was me goofing on my lack of history with the opposite sex. Not me trying to rile up Dawson.
Cheryl: Why the hell do you care what I have to say anyway? You have basically turned your back on me ever since that day.
Ryan: (smirks) So, this is what you look like when you're jealous.
Cheryl gets up from the table and begins to clear her school work off the table.
Cheryl: I have to thank you for undermining my plan to fix Jack up with the Gay Coalition guy. Heading out to Boston with him and your sudden girlfriend was just the right thing to do.
Ryan: You have to stop planning everything. That trip was pure spontaneity, you would've hated it. But, back to the original topic, is there nothing in our friendship that is safe? How would you like it if I spilled some of your secrets?
Cheryl: First of all, by your definition, that would include most of your life because you hate outsiders knowing anything about you. You despise people talking about your father and everyone in town knows the truth about that without my big mouth interfering.
Ryan: (mutters) That's for completely different reasons.
Cheryl: (softly) I'm painfully aware of that. (normal tone) Second of all, my life is pretty much an open book.
Ryan: Not true. I could reveal some of that Joey-stalker situation.
Cheryl: (sneers) You wouldn't dare! You know that would ruin my relationship with Dawson.
Ryan: You're right, I wouldn't. Because that's not my secret to tell. Just like what went down at the end of freshman year isn't your secret to tell.
Cheryl: (snidely) Because I am such a terrible friend. Why don't you have Jen Lindley enlighten me?
Ryan: Jealousy doesn't look that pretty on you, princess.
Cheryl: Oh, so you actually remembered that stupid nickname.
Ryan: That's how you act when everything isn't turning out the way you expect. A spoiled princess.
* * * * *
Scene: McPhee house. Jack is on the computer when he hears a tapping on the window. He looks up and is surprised to see Pacey gesturing wildly. Jack opens the window.
Pacey: You are absolutely deaf, McPhee. I was knocking at the front door for five minutes.
Jack: Sorry, I got wrapped up in something.
Pacey eyes the computer screen.
Pacey: Another message to Andie? What a sense of deja vu.
Jack: Nothing incriminating this time.
Pacey walks over to read closer.
display - FROM: Amcphee
Just got back from my date with Gianluca. Sorry you just missed me earlier.
Pacey: You're right, purely innocent. It's funny that you're talking to Andie because that's actually what I came over about.
Jack: You and Andie? That brings back memories.
Pacey: Do you think I jumped to conclusions when I broke up with her?
Jack: I suspect I'm not gonna like where you're going with this.
Pacey: You're right, you're not. So?
Jack: I think both of you needed a break. Find other people.
Pacey: I take it that Andie's happy with Gianluca.
Jack: Very. (kiddingly) You're not trying to get back together with her now, are you?
Pacey: No, of course not. I'm just thinking that Joey and I need a break.
Jack: This Dawson issue won't suddenly disappear, Pace.
Pacey: Joey told me she talked to you. Funny thing, I was headed here last night. Probably at the same time, I bet.
Jack: (teasing) So you had nobody to turn to in your moment of need. Poor Pace.
Pacey: Jen was gone as well. Ended up getting some strange commentary from Ryan Farrell about how I dwell too much on this Dawson and Joey situation.
Jack: There are other people in the world.
Pacey: I was thinking of finding out more about that. That would involve trying to distance myself from both of them and figure out what I want in the future. Do you think this is a good idea? I know I said to her that I'd go wherever she goes to college, but I'm not so certain that's a wise move.
Jack: (slowly) I think you need to determine what you want.
Pacey: I thought you'd agree with me. Now, step two, breaking the news to the other parties.
* * * * *
Part 15 - Coffee and Other Addictions