Beyond the Triangle
Part 18 - Good afternoon, good evening and good night
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Scene: Harding house that night.
There is a knock at the door. Cheryl lets Dawson in and they sit on the living room couch wordlessly.
Cheryl: How’s your day been? I heard there was a movie matinee.
Dawson: I wasn’t there. I was helping Joey at the B&B. Probably a good thing I didn’t go because she wouldn’t have been up to it.
Cheryl: Why, who’s she avoiding? (grabs the glass on the end table)
Dawson: She and Pacey broke up yesterday.
Cheryl: (sets the glass back on the table) That was certainly not what I expected you to say.
Dawson: I didn’t expect her to say it either. She didn’t expect him to say it.
Cheryl: Reason?
Dawson: (doing quote marks) Needs some time.
Cheryl: No complex discussion?
Dawson: None of that. All that occurred was a short discussion then he left the house without really allowing Joey an opportunity to counter it.
He stops as he hears a conversation in the kitchen.
Dawson: What’s going on?
Cheryl: My dad and Ryan are having a discussion regarding everything that went down this weekend. I know Peter was arrested and just got bailed out. I know about Ryan being suicidal. (impatiently) Dammit, I just want them to stop their meaningful conversation.
Dawson: Cheryl, I’m sorry about what happened.
Cheryl: Dawson, if I tell you this, you must promise not to repeat it. I don’t need a recurrence of the pathological liar argument.
Dawson: Um, sure...
Cheryl: (sighs) I’m such a terrible friend. I know he and I have been distant lately but this isn’t even something new. This was three years in the making. My closest friend couldn’t tell me the most significant of problems. That is devastating.
Dawson: This isn’t the first time something like this has ensued.
Cheryl: I know, which only makes the issue worse. How can I possibly be so blind?
Dawson pulls her into a hug.
Dawson: You can’t do this when you talk to him. I’m sure he’s already aware of how much this hurts you. He’ll need you to be the strong one.
Cheryl: I know. That is exactly why you promised not to say a word to anyone. (suddenly begins to laugh) We are apparently two of a kind.
Dawson: (pulls away) What makes you say that?
Cheryl: You didn’t see any warning about their impending break-up yet they are supposed to be your closest friends? Since Joey didn’t foresee it either, I’d surmise that something is clearly bothering Pacey.
Dawson: I was just trying to stay out of their way. Pacey despised my role in their relationship as Joey’s advisor. Besides, you didn’t exactly approve either.
Cheryl: (shakes her head) You’re going to base this problem on a girlfriend who was slightly jealous at the time?! (shouts) Wake up, Dawson. (normal tone) What about as his advisor? The past week, whenever I saw him alone, he seemed completely lost.
Dawson: If you thought that…
Cheryl: Didn’t seem right for me to intervene. I thought whatever the situation, those two would work it out.
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Scene: Later that night. Ryan is unfolding a blanket on the couch, getting ready to sleep on it, when Cheryl sneaks in and watches from the doorway.
Ryan: (still with his back toward her) Whatever you're trying to do, stop.
Cheryl: Just wondering about your talk with my dad. Anything new?
Ryan: My dad claims he's heading to AA.
Cheryl: You don't sound convinced.
Ryan: Twice at work, he's gotten into alcohol-related trouble. Both times, he attended one meeting then got a friend to sign him in every other time he was required to attend.
Cheryl: Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
Cheryl sits down on the couch to get him to face her. Ryan tries to work around her, then gives up and bundles the blanket into a ball. He sits down next to her.
Ryan: I know what you really want to know. (Cheryl pretends she doesn't know what he's talking about) Why didn't I tell you?
Cheryl: (gives up the act) It's that obvious?
Ryan: (slowly) Let me see how I can explain this. (pauses) I know most of what we say is in the form of fights and arguments.
Cheryl: (smiles) I prefer to think of it as banter.
Ryan: Fine, whatever, ban-ter. (hesistantly) I know we've said some harsh things in the past about our various faults.
Cheryl: I know usually that's a set-up for a wisecrack but I'll let you continue anyway.
Ryan: You know there were times when you were the only person really in my life. Which meant that you get all the perks and the crap. Sometimes at the same time.
Cheryl grins at the remark.
Ryan: Well, what happens when other people are added to the mix? You haven't exactly hidden the fact that you're jealous of Jen.
Cheryl: Or that you were jealous of Dawson.
Ryan: If that gets you through the day, I'll agree with that. (Cheryl punches him in the arm hard) That was not necessary.
Ryan rubs the spot where she hit him, then begins to laugh.
Ryan: I'm trying to be serious and you're more interested in playing games. What a role reversal.
Cheryl: (grins) I know what you meant, Farrell. I didn't hang around you so much because you make me look good. Well, sometimes, but that's another matter. I can sometimes tell what's going on. But then there are other times, like this weekend, that leave me completely baffled.
Ryan: You make it sound like I told everyone else in the world except you, which is inaccurate. Yeah, people know about the first attempt, or they at least know rumors to that effect. The only reason I told Jen was because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She ran into me in the middle of an attempt, if you recall.
Cheryl: You weren't intending to tell anyone then?
Ryan: Not really. (suddenly) I don't completely hate Dawson.
Cheryl: (laughs at his odd timing) You have a very funny way of expressing that.
Ryan: I dislike him a lot less than your other boyfriends. (gives her a slightly-wicked smile)
Cheryl: (moans) I hate when you paraphrase Jim Carrey movies. You know I can't stand his comedies.
Ryan: I pity you for that. You can't enjoy decent movies. That's not even one of the gross-out ones, either. It's a family comedy, Cher.
Cheryl: Weren't we trying to have a real conversation? Okay, now we're back to the original position of me being serious and you goofing around.
Ryan: Right. There could be a time when we drift apart. That was my point.
Cheryl: Ryan, I don't think..
Ryan: Just hear me out. I heard you in here with Dawson earlier. Not much but during a lull in your dad's master plan, I overheard you two talking about Pacey. Now, those two were the best of friends.
Cheryl: Until Joey.
Ryan: Past that. The two don't confide in each other even though the bitterness over who saw her first dissipated. Did you ever think that they have moved on?
Cheryl: Pacey was with you guys at the movie matinee. (teasingly) He told you something, didn't he?
Ryan: No, he didn't.
Cheryl: You're lying. See, I could read you clearly that time. Spill.
Ryan: I don't think so. Pacey didn't actually tell me anything. Besides, the theory is pretty stupid and probably not true.
Cheryl: You don't think I can keep a secret? Besides, I know all about your 'stupid theories'. (pouts)
Ryan: Good night, Cher. (gets up and gets back to the blanket)
Cheryl lays out on the couch, making it impossible for Ryan to sit down.
Cheryl: I have all night.
Ryan: (trying to keep a straight face) Cheryl, I really don't want to sleep with you. Now please get off my bed before you jinx the couch and it breaks up.
Cheryl gets up, disgusted.
Cheryl: Ugh, you had to pull out the Adam Sandler card. (storms out)
Ryan: Good night, spoiled princess.
Cheryl: (calls out) 'Night, meeger servant.
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Part 19 - ..and ended at a crossroads - Coming Soon