Beyond the Triangle
Part 9 - Another Fine Mess.. and I do mean Fine
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Scene: Back to the cafeteria. Still Pacey, Joey, Cheryl and Jack at the table. Let's say that Dawson was working on a project or something.
Joey: What was that, sweetie? (kisses Pacey on the cheek)
Pacey: A delivery that should bring Cheryl's favorite couple together.
Cheryl: Oh, Jen and Ryan, pure bliss.
Joey: What happened between those two?
Pacey: Where have you been, woman? Didn't you know about their little rift?
Joey: (sighing) Sorry. I'm not exactly close friends with Lindley.
Jack: You don't need to worry about it. This should mean there's a truce.
Cheryl: Hopefully, they'll kiss and make-up. Emphasis on the kiss.
Joey: Do you mind me saying you seem a little obsessed with this?
Pacey: Jo, you really don't know.
Joey: You can blame Mrs. Valentine for making me work so much over the break. I've been trying, trying so hard to deal with being away from you. (wrapping her arms around Pacey)
Jack: There really should be an advisory called, 'Warning: Mushyness Level Exceeded'.
Cheryl: So if Dawson was here, there would be an overload?
Jack: No offense but you two are nothing like them.
Pacey pulls Joey toward him and kisses her.
Cheryl: Not even if Jen and Ryan came walking through that door ala 'An Officer and a Gentleman'? Not that Ryan would ever try a Richard Gere manuever, but.. not even then?
Joey reciprocates the kiss as they engage in a 'study session' of each other's mouths.
Jack: (laughs) That advisory pertains to one couple in particular joined at the lips. (Cheryl joins him in the laughter)
Pacey and Joey break away, trying to figure out what's so funny. When neither Cheryl or Jack can get a response out, they shrug and resume their activity.
Cheryl: Seriously, you sound slightly bitter about romance. Maybe someone needs a guy in their life to make it all better.
Jack: Don't get me wrong, I love playing matchmaker. I know pretty well how to give advice to people. But it just doesn't seem to work the same way in my own personal life. Since the selection is quite limited around here..
Cheryl: That is true. It's a pretty small pond in Capeside. I will think of something, unless, of course, Jen beats me to it.
Jack: I don't need your help.
Cheryl: Who are you trying to kid? Yes, you do.
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Scene: After school in Jen's bedroom. Jack and Jen are listening to CDs.
Jack: Should I be concerned that you're not telling me what you two talked about?
Jen: I think I discovered that Cheryl likes being overdramatic.
Jack: I prefer to think of it as reorganizing other people's lives. What happened?
Jen: She made it seem like Ryan was avoiding me because I broke his heart when the truth was a mix of confusion over the kiss plus family chaos in a way that can only happen in his family.
Jack: So, what does this mean?
Jen: It means we're pretty much back to the way things were before that fateful Friday night.
Jack: What? I would've thought there would be a grander gesture.
Jen: I'm not pushing that right now. Right now, I'm thrilled that we're back to being truthful with each other.
There was a knock at the door, followed a couple of moments later by Ryan standing in the doorway.
Ryan: Well, if it isn't my favorite non-couple sitting on a bed listening to the lovely, er, I believe it's 'Stellar' I hear playing in the background.
Jen throws a pillow at him.
Ryan: Where's the love, Jenner? (picks up the pillow and tosses it back in her direction) Anyway, I trekked over to the Coffee Cup on my way here and I really got an earful. It seems that my mom called Kent about her new location and Cher was furious that I didn't tell her. (aside to Jack) My mom moved to Boston while I was away.
Jen: What did Kent say?
Ryan: Usual song and dance about the door always being open if anything goes wrong, the typical Kent Harding response whenever he hears a Farrell tale. Let that mood dissipate, then princess let me in on her new harebrained scheme.
Jen: Oh boy, what, that you and I should go to the school play together or something? Please, I'm not setting foot in the auditorium.
Ryan: No, actually, this one has (looking at Jack) nothing to do with you and me being an item.
Jen catches Ryan's gaze.
Jack: Okay, it's true. Cheryl was dropping hints earlier.
Jen: What did she have in mind?
Ryan: Actually, she was slightly confused. She intended to convince her dad to hold a meeting of the Gay/Straight Teen Coalition at the Coffee Cup, then realized she didn't know actual members. Moreover, doesn't, quote, have a clue on how to get hot-looking guys there, unquote.
Jen: (tries to hold back a laugh) That's a shame. (Jack glares at her)
Ryan: I would have gotten a kick out of seeing Cheryl try. I wasn't about to tell her how wrong she was.
Jack: Okay, I've gotta ask. Who do you know?
Ryan: A friend of Kurt's I met over the summer. Cher completely freaked out when that person thought she was gay. When I went to the campus during break, Marty was there and became the only person there I can honestly tolerate without being drunk.
Jen: So you reveal yourself to be a closet matchmaker, huh?
Jack: I don't need you fixing me up on a blind date.
Ryan: This is, I'm sorry to say, not a date. Marty is living with a lovely pre-med gal named Arielle.
Jack: (completely confused) I don't see how a guy who's in love with a woman would exactly help this situation.
Ryan: (realizing Jack's error) Marty is short for Martina. (holding his hands up) I just meant for you to get to know other gay people where romance would not be on the agenda. Because I can truthfully say that I don't know a damn thing about fixing up guys.
Jen: I'm enjoying this.
Ryan: I'm going back up to Boston at some point this weekend because of my mom. Dad's letting me use his old jeep. BU is right nearby so we could swing over to the dorms and hang out. (looking at Jen) Could even make it a gang outing.
Jen: Sounds like a plan. Jack?
Jack: (throws hands up in defeat) Sure. Why not?
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Scene: The Coffee Cup. Dawson arrives to find Cheryl at a table doodling on a flier while holding a cell phone.
Dawson: (kisses Cheryl) Hey, sweetie.
Cheryl: (dismissively) Hey.
Dawson pulls the paper from her.
Dawson: (reads aloud) Meeting of the Gay/Straight Teen Coalition? Cheryl, is there something I should be aware of?
Cheryl: Shh. I'm trying to get through to them. (holds her finger to her mouth) Hello? Yes, I'm a representative from the Coffee Cup, the newest cafe in Capeside and was.. yes, Capeside does have a cafe.. anyway, I heard a rumor that you were having trouble staying at the place in Province town and wanted put the offer out there.. of course, Tobey, it's something you need to discuss.. my name is Cheryl Harding. You can call me back at 555-2352.. Thanks. (shuts off phone)
Dawson: What was that about?
Cheryl: Trying to draw new business. Anyway, he said he'd think about the possibility, which I guess is good.
Dawson: Was this your dad's idea?
Cheryl: No, but he's not against it or anything.
Dawson tries to read the expression on her face, but is confused.
Cheryl: Okay, so it's part of a plan, Dawson. But it's a pretty good service I'm providing.
Dawson: A scheme?
Cheryl: Yeah, unfortunately, most of my supposedly clever ideas take a lot of work. So, I'm trying to help out Jack. Nothing wrong in that.
Dawson: I didn't think he was that interested in looking.
Cheryl: That's what he says but I don't believe him. You're his friend, you should be aware of that. He sees his friends in relationships, although I still can't decipher what exactly Jen and Ryan have right now, so it's only natural he'd want the same.
Dawson: And you think he'd go?
Cheryl: I think Jen would help here. Ryan said this was a lousy idea because he thinks I have no clue what to do here. I know Jack is only a friend of a friend so I don't know him but it seems pretty clear. All it probably takes is one call and that's all I have to do.
Dawson: Sure, but I don't know..
Cheryl: The guy in charge told me that he'll stop by over the weekend. Maybe I can even arrange for Jack to be here at that moment. Tobey could probably help. Then the coalition meeting could just be icing.
Dawson: What makes you think that putting two gay guys in the same room equates a hookup?
Cheryl: Dawson, that is not what I said. But if it happens..
Dawson: (shakes his head) I don't know.
Cheryl: Either way, it would be a positive to have the meetings in Capeside.
Part 10 - Just Another Manic Friday