Love Gives, Love Takes By Becci Wooster

Love Gives, Love Takes By Becci Wooster
Part 2 in the series


Disclaimer - I am in no way connected with the show. This is only a fanfic, and I am making no profits. Yadda Yadda Yadda! The title comes from an excellent song by the Corrs. They don’t belong to me either.

Spoilers - I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you’ve seen the episodes. There may be references to any of them here.

Summary - Read Part one for the background to this story. Joey and Dawson have realised that they love each other, but will they tell? Oh yeah, there’s Jen who’s pregnant and Pacey, who…I don’t know about Pacey. Maybe I’ll throw Andie in later! And Jack too… Again, the song words are at the bottom. This one is not so well known, so you might wanna take a look!

Dawson smiled to himself as he chose a video for that afternoon. It was 11 am, and the reunion was at 7 that evening. In between, he planned on having a video afternoon with his best friends. The only problem was what video to choose. Something old? Something new? An action to please Pacey, or a romantic comedy to please Jen? Suddenly, he hit upon the answer. Armageddon was an action and had romance. Plus, it was Joey’s favourite movie. Perfect. He went up to the cash till, and rented it, happy with his choice.

Joey followed the noise to the living room when she returned to the Leery house. She found Jen, Dawson and Pacey there, arguing over who was the best actor - Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks or Ben Affleck. She smiled.

“No way! Tom is the best of his generation!” Dawson argued. It was his dream to direct what he thought was the best actor of all time.

“Sorry, but Ben Affleck is the most popular of them all,” Pacey said knowingly.

“You are so wrong! What about Brad Pitt?” Jen asked, frustrated.

“Hey guys!” Joey called, breaking up the fight. She sat down in an empty seat, smiling.

“OK, you’re happy. What’s up?” Pacey joked.

“Nothing. I’ve just seen Bessie and the kids. On the way back, I stopped off at the new mall, where I brought the perfect dress for tonight, and phoned David to dump him. Now I’m gonna spend the afternoon with my closest friends. Nothing’s up at all!” She looked at her friends, perfectly happy.

“You split up with David?” Dawson asked, hiding his joy.

“Yup. So what movie have you chosen?” Joey said.

“Armageddon,” Pacey groaned.

“Great!” Joey cried. “Play it!”

By the time the movie was finished, it was 2. Dawson ejected the movie, and sat back down on the couch. A moment of silence followed.

“”Wait here,” Jen broke in. “I’ve not gone for a few hours, and I really have to now!” She struggled up, and went into the bathroom. The others smiled at each other.

“Thanks for renting that movie, Dawson,” Joey said, beaming.

“It was one that fitted the bill,” Dawson explained. “Romance, action and great direction.”

“Can you remember when we saw the movie when it first came out?” Pacey asked. Joey nodded.

“Yeah, I spent most of it crying into Dawson’s shoulder,” she remembered.

“It feels like a lifetime ago,” Dawson mused. Silence again covered the trio.

“It does,” Joey agreed. “I didn’t think that our reunion would bring up all these memories. I’m exhausted. I left my life behind when we went to Uni. This just brings it all back up!”

“It wasn’t all bad, Jo,” Dawson argued. “As I remember, despite our best efforts, high school was fun. I seem to remember great dances and proms. And great dates…and a lot of visits to the cinema when I didn’t see the films!” He smiled at Joey knowingly. She blushed, and Pacey laughed.

“I wonder if Andie’s gonna be there tonight?” he questioned as Jen entered the room.

“Yup. I spoke to her last week,” Jen explained. “Jack’s coming too. He wanted to see us, so Andie’s bringing him as her date.”

“Sound like Andie,” Pacey reflected.

“What’s the time?” Joey asked, keen to move the subject from Jack Mc Phee.

“Just gone two,” Dawson read off the VCR.

“OK. I’d better start getting ready about three,” Joey rambled.

“It’s never taken you more than a few minutes to get ready before, Joey!” Dawson exclaimed.

“Well, tonight’s special,” Joey justified.

“Ok, guys. Here it comes. I know it sounds really stupid, but I have a quiz.” Jen smiled at the group. “I found it in a magazine, and thought it might be interesting to do. It’s another purity quiz!”

“Oh no!” Joey groaned. “I beg you, don’t do this!”

“Come on, Joey. It’s fun. Unless you’ve lost your purity?” Pacey asked jokingly. Joey looked at the floor.

“OK,” she reluctantly agreed.

“Here it is!” Jen called.

The four moved into the dining room as they could sit round the table. Jen opened the magazine, and found the right page.

“Verbal answers, guys. I’ll answer too. Please be truthful. I’ll keep a track of your scores here, and read them at the end.”

“I’m not sure that we all want to hear these,” Joey said.

“Come on! You guys live together. You know each other almost completely. And I feel left out!” Joey reluctantly gave in.

“K,” she replied.

“Question one…Are you, married, single, divorced or part of a couple? Easy for me, single.” Jen read.

“Single,” Pacey said, smiling.

“Same here,” Dawson answered.

“As of four hours ago, single,” Joey answered.

“Question two…Have you ever been engaged? Yep,” Jen answered.

“No,” Pacey answered.

“No,” Dawson and Joey both said simultaneously.

“Question three…have you ever been proposed to? Yes.”

“No.”

“No,” Dawson replied. <<>>

“Yes,” Joey uttered. Dawson and Pacey both stared at her. Jen was shocked, but carried on.

“OK, Jo. One point for every time. How many points?”

“Three,” Joey said, blushing.

“You never told me!” Dawson exclaimed. Joey shrugged.

“Question four…How many sexual partners have you had? God! 5…6…7… 8.”

“6,” Pacey answered proudly.

“1,” Dawson said, looking at Joey and smiling.

“Only one?” Pacey asked incredulously. “how is that possible?” Dawson shrugged. “Joey? How many for you?”

“Three,” Joey answered.

“OK, that’s obviously Dawson and David. Who’s the third?” Pacey asked, interested. He had realised his roommates didn’t bring home as many people as he had, but these numbers were ridiculous!

“Doesn’t matter,” Joey said. This was one of her most private secrets. Dawson hadn’t been her first, and no one knew who was apart from her.

“Come on, Joey. You can tell us, we’re your best friends,” Dawson prompted. Joey debated it in her head. After all, her and Dawson would never be a couple, and he it didn’t matter that there was one before him.

“OK, but no fights, OK?” she checked. Dawson nodded earnestly. “It was Jack.” Pacey’s chin dropped.

“Jack Mc Phee?” Jen asked. Joey nodded.

“In high school?” Dawson questioned. Again, Joey nodded.

“Wow!” Pacey said. “Who’d have thought it? The Ice Queen with Jack!”

“It was the summer before junior year,” Joey explained. “We’d been dating on and off since Dawson and I split up. One night, we just went a little bit further than we had before. You’re not upset, are you?” she asked Dawson.

“No! Why should I be? We got back after school started again. Besides, it’s not really that important,” Dawson said. Inside, his head was reeling. His Joey and Jack? As if she could read his thoughts, Joey spoke up.

“It didn’t mean as much to me as that night with you, Dawson,” she comforted. He looked into her eyes, and saw she was telling the truth. He smiled at her.

“Thanks,” he replied.

“Look, I’m gonna go get ready now. Jen, can you help me?” she asked. Jen nodded, and the two left the room. Pacey watched Dawson as he ran his hands through his hair, and his head sank onto the table.

Jen gasped as Joey entered the room. The full effect was breath taking. Jen had helped her with her hair, and then gone to get ready herself. Joey had got dressed and put on her make up. Now, she stood there in a short black dress, that was both low cut and very short. Her legs were bare, finished off with black heeled shoes and painted toe nails. Her hair was in a French plait, with wisps falling loose from it. She wore a deep red lipstick, and had used smoky colours on her eyes.

“Wow!” she exclaimed. Joey smiled.

“Thanks,” she replied. “You look great, Jen.” It was true. Jen was wearing a cotton dress that flowed gently over her bump. Her makeup was basic, and in neutral tones. It suited her.

“Shall we go down?” Jen asked. It was time for the group to leave. Joey nodded.

“Girls! We’re gonna be late!” Dawson called from downstairs. Jen and Joey walked to the top of the stairs. Jen walked down first, making her big entrance.

“Wow, Jen. You look wonderful!” Pacey said.

“You two don’t look so bad either,” she teased. They guys were wearing their best tuxedos. The invitations had warned that it was a ‘posh’ occasion, so all four had gone to their best.

“Joey? Are you ready?” Dawson called. Joey made her way down the stairs.

“Sorry. I realised that I’d left my notes in your room,” she apologised. She got no response. Both her roommates were staring at her, practically drooling. “Hello?” she said patiently. “I’m up here, guys?” Both snapped out of their fantasies.

“You’re gonna have to wear that about the apartment,” Pacey warned. Joey laughed.

“Well, we’ve got to show them what they missed out on by being horrible to us, haven’t we?” Joey explained. Dawson was still silent. “So, who’s gonna drive?”

Joey stared out of the window as Dawson pulled the car into the now unfamiliar car lot. Pacey and Jen were in the back, and it was still warm from the heat of the June day. Almost immediately, Dawson and Pacey jumped out of the car, and opened the doors for the girls. As Pacey was sat on Joey’s side, he got to open the door for her, much to Dawson’s frustration. Each man offered their arm to the woman, and they entered the school hall. As they walked into the corridor, they stopped at a desk to collect their badges with their names on. Manning the desk was a girl that Joey recognised from her history class. After the obligatory hellos, the gang entered the hall. The decorations up were similar to those used for proms and other dances. Pacey grinned despite himself. The four went over to the nearest table, and sat down. Looking round, quite a few people had already arrived. The Jocks and Cheerleaders were dancing to the music played by the disk jockey. Not much had changed.

Pacey looked up, and towards the table where the refreshments were. He was shocked to see the two people stood looking back at the group.

“Jo? Could I possibly engage you for the next two dances?” he asked suddenly. Joey looked surprised, and glanced towards Dawson, who was looking around the room.

“Sure. Why not?” Pacey led her onto the dance floor. The music changed to a fast tune that had been popular when they were at high school. Pacey and Joey fell into a natural pattern. Both were incredibly good considering their lack of enthusiasm in the past. Pacey spun Joey round, and they made quite a couple.

“Wow. You’re good,” Pacey said breathlessly.

“Thanks. So why the sudden urge to dance with me?” Joey asked. The two had become better friends over the years, but Joey was always a little wary.

“Look, but don’t look at the refreshment table,” Pacey instructed. He span Joey so she had a clear view of Jack and Andie Mc Phee. They were watching them dance.

“Oh my God!” Joey exclaimed.

“I thought it might be better for both of us to be dancing whilst the McPhees find Dawson.”

“Yeah…Oh God. I really wish he hadn’t come.” The music came to an end, and a slow song started up. Pacey and Joey recognised it as a song that had been played during their graduation party. Joey stepped closer to Pacey, and his arms wrapped around Joey’s waist. It was remarkably comfortable. They fell into step.

Joey looked over Pacey’s shoulder at Jack and Andie, who were walking over to Jen and Dawson. Jen stood up as quickly as she could, and hugged them both. Dawson hugged Andie, and shook hands with Jack, but even from this distance, Joey could tell he was being cold to him.

“What happened between you and Andie?” she asked. Pacey stiffened slightly.

“She told me she didn’t want a boyfriend during senior year,” Pacey explained simply. “She said she needed to concentrate on school. A year and a half together, and it just disappeared! She broke my heart. That’s why I didn’t want to be there when she walked up.” Joey felt a pang of sympathy, and brought Pacey closer to her. She rested her head on his shoulder, supporting him emotionally.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s OK. It was a long time ago. Unlike you and Dawson!” Joey’s eyes flew open, and she pulled away from Pacey.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.

“Come on. It’s clear you love him, Joey. Maybe it’s being back here, but I don’t think you ever stopped.”

“No, I didn’t. Am I that transparent?”

“No. You’re that human. Why did you two break up? In college, I mean.”

“Long story. Short version is that he got possessive and jealous. I made loads of new friends, and he didn’t like them. He made me choose between him or them…”

“And you chose them?” Pacey added.

“Yeah. Eventually, we became friends again, and then the three of us moved in together. It’s been hard, being so close yet so far away,” Joey said.

“Well, he feels the same way, so why not make your move tonight?” Pacey asked. Joey shook her head sadly.

“I can’t.” The music stopped, and Joey and Pacey reluctantly went back to the group.

Dawson smiled as Joey and Pacey rejoined him and Jen. He had watched as his two best friends had danced together. Joey had laughed as Pacey span her out. She had looked beautiful. Then, the slow dance had come on, and Dawson’s little green monster had grown. He had been worried to see them talking seriously, and then Joey rested her head on Pacey’s shoulders. He hadn’t listened to Andie and Jack. Now, thankfully, Joey was back with him.

“Wanna let me have a dance?” he asked her immediately.

“Dawson, I’m exhausted. Later, OK?” she answered, smiling kindly at him. She looked back to the group. “Andie! Oh my God!” she squealed, hugging her friend. “You look wonderful!” Andie smiled ruefully, and looked at Joey.

“Have you seen yourself? I look like a country girl compared to you, Jo!”

“Thanks, but I know you’re lying.” Joey blushed under her makeup.

“Come on, Joey. You know you always look beautiful,” Jack said. Joey looked at him, and hugged him to.

“Thanks, Jack. How are you?” she asked.

“OK. Work on Wall Street. Single. Happy…some of the time,” he filled in. They pulled apart. Joey stood awkwardly between Dawson and Jack.

“Hey, Andie,” Pacey said shyly. Andie had been talking with Jen, and turned to face him. Her face lit up in a radiant smile.

“Pacey! God! How are you?” she said, hugging him briefly.

“You know.” The six adults stood awkwardly, then one by one, they took a seat.

An hour later, Dawson stared out onto the dance floor. There was his Joey, dancing with Jack. She had been dancing with practically every guy in the hall, apart from Dawson.

“Cheer up, for Christ’s sake!” Jen ordered. She had been too tired to dance much, and was now watching Dawson drown his problems in a cup of punch.

“Why?”

“Look, it’s obvious you still love her. And she loves you too, Dawson. So why not just go up there and ask her for a dance? What could go wrong?” Dawson looked at Jen, and raised his eyebrows. She remembered the time he’d tried to get a dance off her when she first arrived in Capeside. “OK, but this is different. She’s your best friend. And if she says no, or you do something stupid, you can blame it on the punch you’ve been drinking.” Dawson snapped out of his day dreams. She was right. Now was his chance. He stood up, feeling brave, and walked across the hall towards Joey and Jack. The song had just stopped, and they were talking.

“Joey? Could I possibly have the next dance?” he asked politely. Jack and Joey turned to face him. Joey’s face broke into a smile.

“Of course you can. I thought you’d never ask,” she replied. “Thanks, Jack,” she tossed in Jack’s direction. Jack nodded, and went back to the table. The music started up again. It was s low dance, and Dawson pressed his body against hers. They began to move to the music, everything seeming so perfect.

“Thanks for last night,” Joey breathed.

“That’s OK,” Dawson replied. They danced the rest of the song in perfect tandem and silence.

When the song ended, Joey and Dawson walked back to the table arm in arm. Dawson pulled a chair out for Joey to sit in, and she obeyed thankfully.

“My feet are killing me! I guess that’s what I get for wearing heels, eh?” she laughed.

“How long are you staying in Capeside?” Andie asked, aiming the question at her brother and her friends.

“A week,” Pacey replied. “Well, five days now.”

“Me too,” Jen answered. “Then it’s back to New York for me. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Joey asked.

“Well, I was thinking, I could move to Boston. I’ve got nothing to keep me in New York, plus I could do with some help with the baby, and who better than my best friend who shared a house with a baby?” Jen smiled.

“That’d be great!” Joey exclaimed.

“Well, it’s just an idea,” Jen pointed out.

“You should do it,” Dawson agreed.

“Well, I’m stuck in California,” Andie announced. “Could I be any further from home?”

“I thought that was the idea,” Jack said smiling. Andie punched him playfully.

Another hour later, the lights had been dimmed, and the music stopped. A light swung onto the stage, and the principal of the high school walked out.

“Welcome back, Class of 2000!” he said. “I hope that the past ten years have been full of success and tribulations. Before I get stuck into all my speeches, I’ve invited a few of your classmates to share with us the experiences they gained at Capeside High and tell us what they’re doing now. First, may I present Ms Josephine Potter, your valedictorian. Ms. Potter?” Joey stood up, and made her way up onto the stage. She placed her papers on the table there, and looked into the audience, She was nervous, and looked at Dawson. He smiled encouragingly. She took a deep breath, and began…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just when I thought I was safe
You found me in my hiding place
I’d promised never again
I wouldn’t give my heart but then
Closer, closer I moved near you
The way I want you makes me fear you

Love breaks and Love divides
Love laughs and Love can make you cry
I can’t believe the ways
That love can give
And love can take away

I find it hard to explain
It’s crazy, but it’s happening
And I’m falling again
Much further than I’ve ever been
I’m falling deeper than the ocean
I am lost in this emotion

Love breaks and Love divides
Love laughs and Love can make you cry
I can’t believe the ways
That love can give
And love can take away

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So? You like? I’d like to thank Angie for beta reading. If you want to have any fanfic beta read, feel free to send it to me. I’m listed on Lisa’s Fanfic site. Becci.Wooster@btinternet.com

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