Road Trip
Synopsis: going on a road trip, a road trip.
Spoilers: Somewhere around mid Season 4, though it takes place after graduation.
Feedback: Send to theclaire81@hotmail.com
~*~
Jack looked dismally at the masses of students making their way to their various examinations. This was it, this was the day when it all meant something. That disturbing feeling that their future was controlled by what they wrote on those pieces of paper-
Jen interrupted his thoughts;
“How long to go now?” She asked, fanning herself with the revision sheet “I’m melting”
“You and the wicked witch of the east” Jack smiled
“Yeah well, anyone wanting to throw a bucket of water at me right now would be doing me a huge favour” Jen replied
Jack shifted his seating postion slightly “Its not that hot”
“No, Jack frost, It really is” Jen replied, wiping melodramaticly a her brow “Im hot and I have an exam in, how long is it anyway?”
Jack looked at his watch “forty-seven minutes Jennifer, our last exam…just think after this -it’s all over…Sayonara school!”
“Oh Thank you God” Jen said lying back on the grass “Finishing your final year is extremely overrated”
“You said it” Jack replied, a grin appeared on his face “Although….”
Jen looked up from under her large sun hat “Although what?”
“Wellll, -you have been spending a lot of time this year with a certain young man” Jack teased
“I know, Grams tells me you’re becoming a bad influence on me” Jen retorted
Jack smiled dryly “HA Ha ha. I was talking about the certain young man whose initials are DL, who has bad hair and a severely unhealthy obsession with Steven Speilburg??”
“Don’t make fun” Jen said warningly “Dawson’s amazing, and perfect for me…”
Jack raised an eyebrow “Perfect for you? He’s the total opposite, you’re a complete cynic, and Dorken…he’s like, he ‘s like the equivilent of Bobby Brady on speed..”
Jen laughed and whacked Jack hard on the arm “Stop it Jack! Your walking on notably thin ice here!” Jen paused, smiling to herself “He’s absolutely adorable…and anyway opposites attract okay? - I could do with a little innocence in my life”
Jack feigned ineptitude “I’m not innocent enough for you?”
Jen chuckled
Jack said nothing
“You’re not serious” Jen said incredulously
“I AM innocent!” Jack protested
Jen giggled “Okkayy…”
“What?” Jack said, sitting up properly “What?”
Jen shook her head, laughing “I’m sorry Jack, but we’ve been friends way too long…I mean you’re not bad-ass New York material…but you are not innocent”
“How do you know?” Jack said, trying to hide a smile
Jen shrugged “Women’s Intuition”
“Okay okay!” Jack said, exasperated, but grinning “I’m not innocent, I’m a cynic like you…and were made for each other
Jen raised an eyebrow “Oh really?”
Jack nodded precisely “Oh yes baby “ he grinned evilly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to him “What do you say we go at it right now, here, on the grass…you know like a quickie before the exam?”
Jen chuckled “That’s sound’s great Jack, but I’d say our significant others, namely Tobey and Dawson might be a little upset by it”
“Oh yeah!…that’s right..” Jack smiled dropping Jen back onto the ground “Maybe next time then”
Jen nodded “How is he going?”
“Nowhere…you said no remember” Jack replied smartly
Jen smirked “No my deliciously innocent friend, I meant Tobey”
Jack chuckled “He’s okay I think, you should probably ask him”
Jen rolled her eyes “Do I have to hurt you to get any information? – How is the relationship between you and Tobey going?”
“Its good” Jack replied casually
“You know, I just realized what a big annoying thing you really are” Jen huffed
“Ouch” Jack smiled, then pretending to look hurt “you’re onto me aren’t you?”
“I just want a few little details” Jen said coyly, poking him in the ribs “We are supposed to be best friends here you know…”
“No guilt trips Jen” Jack replied “you’ll give me a complex”
“I tell you the not-so innocent stuff about me and Dawson” Jen said demurely
Jack grinned “To tell you the truth I wish you wouldn’t, I don’t like picturing Dawson naked at all”
“I said don’t make fun of him!” Jen exclaimed, hitting him harder this time
“Its my job” Jack joked, but seeing the hurt look on Jen’s face he softened “What do you want to know” He asked gently
“Forget it…its none of my business” Jen said quickly, making a dismissive gesture with her hand “I don’t mean to pry..”
Jack smiled “Its not prying Jen, you just wanna know how I’m going right? So ask away!”
Jen grinned mischeviously “He’s a good kisser right?”
Jack nodded “Yeah, he is, But I must have told you that like a hundred times, what do you really want to know?”
Jen smiled “Have you two..you know, had the sex?”
Jack looked down at his school work, embarassed “No”
“Not even gone down-“
“No!” Jack said quickly, his cheeks scarlett
Jen sat back, nodding “Well that was enlightening”
“Would you like me to write you a poem?” Jack said, rather harshly “I’m not good with words…you know that”
Jen put her arm around his shoulder “That was fine, Im sorry Jack….I’m not usually like this, I get so damn sisterly when I’m around you…”
“He...uhm.. wants to go further…like take it to the next level…” Jack said softly
“Oh…well… I uh…you guys have been together for almost three months now Jack” Jen replied gently “Its only natural that he’s thinking about it…”
“I know” Jack replied sombrely “But I’m not ready…I really care about him, but I’m not ready for that, not yet”
Jen kissed his shoulder “And if he cares about you, he’ll understand…you shouldn't do anything until you are ready…”
Jack smiled “Thankyou, you do the sisterly thing very well…”
“I know, Andie’s been giving me tips via email” Jen replied
“…you two are like the mob” Jack chuckled, then looked at his watch “We better head over to the exam”
“Do we have to?” Jen asked, half heartedly
“Its our last exam Jen” Jack smiled, grabbing her arm “I’m making sure you go…and plus there always the stuff after school finishes…”
“Graduation?” Jen said dryly “whooppee! Ugly gowns, and hats that make sure you have no possible way of having a good hair day”
“After that” Jack said dragging her along
“College?” Jen asked “Jack, that’s just a glorified reproduction of school”
“I was thinking more along the lines of a Road Trip” Jack answered
Jen laughed “Oh yeah, well I saw that movie and it sucked…”
~*~
Jack had barely made it out of the school yard when someone crept up behind him and covered his eyes with their hands.
"Guess who?" asked the voice that Jack recognised immediately
"It's Tom Cruise isn't it?" Jack teased "That's it, i always knew he was gay - and that it was only a matter of time before he found me"
"You're such a comedian Jack" Tobey said sarcastically, moving up next to him and giving him a discreet kiss on the cheek "How'd the final exam go?"
"It was okay...I mean, it was passable" Jack said doubtfully "In that I think I passed...I hope I passed.."
"You've been studying constantly for weeks Jack...you passed" Tobey assured him, taking his hand in his
Jack smiled, and gave Tobey's hand a quick squeeze "I had good help..."
"Well that was definately my pleasure" Tobey grinned "Why don't you come over to my house and we'll celebrate?"
Jack chuckled and gave Tobey a playful shove "As tempting as that sounds, I'll have to take a raincheck...I have to go round to Jen's, we're organising something..."
Tobey raised an eyebrow, hiding his dissapointment "Something like??"
"Like what would you think of a road trip?" Jack asked
"Road Trip?" Tobey laughed "Are you serious?"
"Completely" Jack nodded "I thought the four of us could do with a little adolescent fun before we head off to college, and Jen, after a little coersion, agreed"
Tobey thought seriously for a minute "The four of us...that would include Dawson?"
Jack nodded
Tobey groaned "Do we have to?"
"Yes" Jack laughed "I know he's abit of a-"
"nostril flaring opinionated geek, who tries to pull himself off as a movie buff?" Tobey grumbled
"-but Jen really likes him" Jack continued, unable to keep the wry grin off his face "And he's always been really decent to her, and us.."
Tobey rolled his eyes "Oh great, go the guilt trip.."
Jack turned to face Tobey, smiling broadly "So are you gonna go on our Road trip?"
"I dunno" Tobey taunted "I have a hair appointment that week..."
"There will be heaps of hours on the road together" Jack continued, coyly "Late nights, hotel rooms-"
"Count me in" Tobey replied quickly
"Excellent" Jack smiled, leaning in and kissing Tobey softly on the lips, and then pulling away "I better go" he said huskily
"Um hmm" Tobey nodded
"Ill see you later" Jack yelled as he began to jog away
"See ya Jack" Tobey smiled
~*~
~*~
"You are such a dorkus Jack, honestly only you could come up with something as strangely endearing as this"
"We could pick you up from the station" Jack replied patiently into the mobile phone, deliberatly ignoring the comment "It would be like old times... kinda nostalgic"
"I think it would be closer to reliving a nightmare" Andie said dryly "without the black and white"
"Do you have to be so unbelievably pessimistic?" Jack said, somewhat annoyed "Don't you want to have one last free expression on youth...catch up on old times with old friends?"
"Yeah sure Jack, I can just imagine" Andie laughed bitterly "Hey Dawson! -remember the time we got totally drunk, ruined your birthday party and humilated ourselves?...OR...Hey Jen! - remember the time I stole your ecstacy and ended up in hospital? ..OR...and this is my personal favourite..Hey Pacey! - remember the time I totally lost my mind and started talking to my dead brother Tim? not to mention, at the aformentioned ecstasy rave I professed my love for you and called your current girlfriend Joey "cold" for choosing you over Dawson.
Jack, you are so right, catching up will be a barrel of laughs..."
"Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" Jack replied
"Im serious Jack" Andie whined "I have nothing to say to most of these people any more"
"And I'm serious Andie" Jack said, concerned "You're sounding way too much like Jen...Have you been taking your medication?"
There was silence on the other end, when Andie eventually answered her voice was strained "Of course I have Jack, that was so uncalled for - I'm not your baby sister anymore..."
Jack sighed "I'm sorry Andie, You've just become this total cynic all of a sudden, What are they feeding you over there anyway? -my dependably happy-go-lucky sister has disappeared"
"She's grown up Jack" Andie replied
"Well I don't like it" Jack said stubbornly "un-grow up"
"Good grief, its Peter Pan" Andie joked, then turning serious she continued "Look Jack, I just dont know if I'd feel comfortable seeing everyone again...I wouldn't know what to say..."
Jack chuckled "Andie, I don't think I've ever known you to be short for words...EVER"
"I get the point-"
"-and besides It's just gonna be me and Jen and Tobey and Dawson...Pacey and Joey aren't invited"
"Why not?" Andie asked casually
"Because" Jack replied
"Way to be articulate Jack" Andie snorted
"Well you know what they're like" Jack grumbled "There is a new life altering drama every week, who really wants to put up with the endless trivial relationship problems for the entire trip?"
"Okaaayyyyy...And the non-spiteful reason?" Andie asked skeptically
"There's only room for one more person in the car, I thought you could ask one of your friends" Jack explained
"I dunno..."
"Would you stop procrastinating?" Jack exclaimed "Look, I'll ring you later on in the week to find out who you are bringing...deal?"
Andie groaned "Deal"
"Then I'll seeya later Andie" Jack said
"Wait a second!" Andie said quickly "Jack?"
"Yeah?"
Andie hesitated "A Road Trip does sound kinda, maybe..fun.."
Jack smiled "I knew the real Andie was in there somewhere"
~*~
Jen's bedroom;
"Just take one moment to reflect Jen" Dawson said excitedly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her onto his lap "Our entire primitive school life is over! - next year is college, we'll be free to learn whatever intrests us most, taking one more step towards our life ambitions and future occupations..."
Jen nodded, smiling "That's one way of putting it I guess, but you make it sound kinda daunting.."
"Its not daunting, its liberating.." Dawson insisted "It's a reminder of how in charge we all are of our destiny, how we are so fortunate to live in a country where we are free to follow our dreams"
"Ahhh, the eternal optimist" Jen teased "With speeches like that I'm beginning to think you would make a better politician than film director.."
"A politician?" Dawson asked, somewhat discusted "That sounds a little mundane"
Jen grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck "Politics can be very sexy..."
"Really?" Dawson chuckled, kissing her lightly on the nose "I never really thought of George Bush as your type.."
Jen laughed and kissed his chin "I was thinking of you more as a John F Kennedy"
"And I would so be okay with that if he hadn't been shot in the head" Dawson replied, smiling broadly
Jen shrugged, standing up "yeah, thats too bad..." she teased
Dawson grabbed her arm before she could move away further, and pulled her close to him, kissing her softly on the lips "You are so evil sometimes" he grinned "But I really like you for some unknown reason"
"I like you too" Jen whispered
"And I like you both" Jack interrupted, walking in and throwing his bag on the floor
"Hey Jack" Dawson said, half smiling, and leaning back against Jen's floral pillows
"Hey Dawson" Jack grinned cheekily, looked innocently at the both of them "I didn't interrupt anything did I?"
Jen glared at him "Not at all Jack.."
"Good" Jack smiled winningly "Because we have work to do Jen Lindley"
Jen shook her head "No, If I remember correctly, which I'm fairly sure I do - school finished today"
"Nope" Jack replied "I'm talking about organising our little adventure into the unknown.."
"Well actually Jack most of its known, its the US, not Indonesia" Jen said
Dawson butted in, confused "Can someone fill me in here?"
"A Road Trip" Jack beamed
"Jack thinks it would be a great idea for us to throw away all inhibitions for a week and indulge in adolecent behaviour in the form of a road trip" Jen explained
"Sounds like fun" Dawson nodded
Jack pointed at Dawson "The man is a genius" he said simply "I've always said that"
Jen rolled her eyes "You boys just wanna get laid"
Dawson laughed
Jack frowned "Jennifer Lindley, this has nothing to do with sex"
"Oh please, everythings about sex...and Road trips are like teenage orgys" Jen said drly
"Not this one" Jack said "this one is entirely for fun, and if you continue to embarass me and my innocent mind with a the aformentioned sex talk, Im telling Grams"
Jen and Dawson laughed
"So is Tobey coming with us on our little road trip?" Jen asked, still giggling
Jack started to say "yes-" when Pacey walked in Jen's bedroom door
"Hey Guys!" He grinned "Did we all ace our last exam today?"
"hmmmfghhhh" Jack grumbled
"Hey Pace" Dawson said
"I went exceptionally well" Jen grinned, half serious "and you?"
"OH you know me" Pacey nodded false modestly "I'm always top of the class, but thats not important...whats this I hear about a road trip??"
"We're going after graduation" Jen explained cheerfully "You and Joey wanna join us?"
"Sounds great" Pacey grinned "I'll have to check with Jo, but I'd say count us in"
"Uh guys?" Jack interrupted "I already asked Andie and her friend to come along, and there is no more room in the car" He looked at Pacey "No offence"
"No, actually it's okay" Dawson said quickly "One of my Dad's friends has an old van that seats at least eight people - We could definately borrow it.."
Pacey smiled "Its a deal then"
Jen nodded, smiling "yeah, thats a great idea Dawson" she looked pointedly at Jack "Don't you think Jack?"
Jack smiled thinly "Brilliant Dawson, you're a great guy..Ive always said that"
>
A week
later; Outside the Leery house; in front of the old van
vehicle...
"Where are they?" Jack said, tapping his foot
dramatically and checking his watch every couple of seconds "We have
to pick up Andie from the station in twenty minutes....if they
aren't here soon we're leaving without them"
"Yeah like you
wouldn't love that much would you?" Jen teased, throwing a bag into
the back of the van
"What are you talking about?" Jack said
shortly
Dawson snorted, bemused "Oh please Jack, your disdain
for Pacey and Joey is hardly well disguised..."
"I like them"
Jack snapped "I just..I just.."
"You just don't like
them" Jen finished for him
Jack shook his head "I like them
just fine Jen, I just resent the fact that they are all over each
other like St Bernards on heat"
Jack threw his suitcase into
the van and got into the passenger seat, slamming the door loudly
behind him.
Jen mouthed at Dawson to "stay here" as she got
into the drivers seat next to Jack
"I look good up here don't I"
she said proudly, gripping the steering wheel with both hands "I
always thought I would make a great truckie"
Jack didn't
answer, his face red and flushed, he wiped madly at a smudge on the
window.
"Is this about Tobey not coming with us?" Jen asked
gently
Jack leant his head back against the seat "Its not my
fault he didn't want to go" he said annoyedly "It was his
decision....its obvious he doesnt care about me anymore"
Jen
rolled her eyes slightly "Don't be stupid Jack, it was a once in a
lifetime experience, he has been wanting to do work experience at
the Gallery for ages, you more than anyone should know that"
"I do know" Jack grumbled resignedly "I just wanted this to
be his trip too, and now I have too spend an entire fortnight with
Dawson..Ouch!" Jack exclaimed as Jen hit him upside the
head
"You dislike everyone Snarky McPhee" Jen complained,
leaning over and kissing his head better "And anyway, its going to
be the best road trip..ever! and think of all the time you'll beable
to spend catching up with Andie when you would have been macking
with Tobey in the back seat"
It was Jack's turn to hit Jen,
and he smiled sarcastically as he saw Pacey and Joey trundling up
the driveway, arms filled with luggage "I think those two will do
enough macking for all of us"
"Too true" Jen acknowleged
"You have to think with people who are that physical all the time
there has to be something unsatisfactory in the
relationship"
>
~*~
A LeAnn
Rimes song bleated on the radio, Dawson was driving, while Jack,
still in the passenger stared distractedly out the window. Pacey and
Joey sat kissing and talking softly in the back seat, while Jen sat
idly next to them, her eyebrows narrowed in miod
disgust.
“There’s something definately wrong with this
picture” Jen remarked
Pacey laughed “What are you talking
about Lindley?”
“Seating arrangements” Jen said grumpily,
raising her voice so Jack could hear “I should be the one sitting up
the front with MY boyfriend” she looked dismally at Pacey and Joey
“Instead I get to sit next to these two who haven’t quit canoodling
the entire trip”
“We’ve been on the road for five minutes
Jen” Jack chortled, “and besides, I have to keep an eye out for
Andie when we get to the station”
“And you couldn’t keep an
eye out from this window?” Jen asked
“Nope” Jack
replied
“Big spaz” Jen snorted “sit with MY boyfriend, talk
to MY boyfriend”
“Okay! okay its true! Jen, I’m trying to
steal Dawson off you” Jack teased “ We’re having intense stimulating
conversation over here, and besides, I always thought he had nice
legs…”
Dawson smiled, winking at Jen in the rear view
mirror
“Yeah, I should have known” Jen nodded wryly “You are
always saying how much you like him…the signs were all
there…”
“What’s wrong with us canoodling anyway?” Joey
grinned, giving Pacey a quick peck “I quite like it, and I’m sure
you and Dawson enjoy a little canoodle every now and
then…”
“Not when he’s sitting next to Jack, we don’t” Jen
complained, blowing a somewhat tired kiss at Dawson’s mirrored
reflection.
“All so grumpy” Pacey remarked “I mean, cmon
guys, this trip is supposed to be all about fun right?”
“Oh
they’re having fun:” Dawson said from the front seat “this is the
way they talk to each other all the time”
“It is not!” Jack
and Jen said in unison
“Dawson has a point” Joey nodded
“There’s so much bickering going on between you two, If Jack wasn’t
gay, you’d so be a
couple”
“Yeah right” Jack laughed
“No way” Jen said
almost at the same time throwing a bit of paper in Joey’s face “you
guys are weird”
“ANDIE!!!!” Jack yelled
“See!? –
completely weird” Jen laughed
“No! Stop the car!” Jack
exclaimed “Its Andie!”
Sure enough Andie and another guy were
ambling down the pathway, loaded down with suitcases.
Dawson
put his foot down and the tyres squealed to a stop. Jack jumped out
of the car waving frantically “Andie! …Andrea McPhee!”
Andie
stopped and looked around at the noise, a smile spreading across her
face “Jack!” she yelled, dropping her things and embracing her
brother in a bear hug “Long time no see big brother!”
Jack
beamed “I’ve missed you sis”
“Sure you have…” Andie teased
“Okay I missed beating you up” Jack chuckled, giving her
another quick hug
By that stage Jen and Dawson had managed to
catch up and attacked Andie from either side in a massive group hug,
the laughter “Hi’s” and “How are you’s” and “I haven’t heard from
you in ages you cow” flew in every direction.
“Hi Andie” Joey
smiled, as her and Pacey walked casually up to them, Joey moved
forward and gave Andie an awkward hug “It’s nice to see you
again”
Andie smiled weakly “You too Joey, I see you and Pacey
are still together…how long is that now?”
“Almost a year”
Joey said softly
“Wow that’s really really great…” Andie
trailed off
Pacey smiled at her “Hey remember
me?”
Andie grinned, but then shook her head “No, what’s your
name again?”
Pacey chuckled, leaning in and giving her a hug
“It’s great to see you McPhee”
There was an awkward silence,
then all eyes turned to the boy with messy brown hair and blue eyes
standing forlornly amongst the luggage
“And who’s this?” Jack
asked finally
~~*~~
The boy
smiled awkwardly, brushing his hair away from his eyes.
"Oh!!
OH yeah!!" Andie said quickly, smiling "This is Hamilton, he's from
Providence, i mean - he is now. His parents transferred from this
other school called Rawley Academy in New Rawley, to my new school -
St Monica's and us guys, both being kinda new - became...kinda...
friends.. yeah friends, anyway as Jack told me I should bring a
friend and I thought it would be a great idea if I brought
Hamilton"
Hamilton raised his hand in a waving gesture "Hey"
he said "Nice to meet you all"
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