Sibling Rivalry


By Claire


Note: None of these characters are mine. So don’t sue me for anything or do anything else to me.
Summary: Read Almost and Fireworks. Almost takes place after Jen and Dawson break up.


Pacey and Dawson stared at the beautiful girl in front of them in shock. Joey had a sister? No that couldn’t be. Dawson exchanged a glance with Pacey before addressing the girl named Allison.
“No Joey doesn’t have a sister. You must have the wrong girl.”
Allison shook her head. “No I don’t think that I do.”
Pacey stared suspiciously at the girl. “But Jo doesn’t have a sister ..well except for Bessie but she definitely doesn’t have a younger sister or the same age or ...”
“Joey doesn’t have another sister that she knows about.” Allison interrupted Pacey’s rambling. “I didn’t know about her until a few weeks ago when my mom died and told me about her.”
“So how are you Joey’s sister then?” questioned Dawson.
Allison smiled. “Well I guess I’m really only her half sister. WE have the same father.”
Pacey and Dawson listened as Allison talked about her mother’s and Joey’s father affair and how she thought he had died a long time ago.
“My mom just wanted me to think that my father was someone more important than a one night stand. She didn’t tell me until she was dying that he was alive and in jail and that I had two half sisters.”
“Whoo” Pacey whistled under his breath. “Joey is in for quite a shock.”
“Yea Allison maybe we better explain things to her first. See Joey already has deep resentments against her father and this might not improve things a whole lot.” explained Dawson.
“Okay so you guys tell her and then we’ll meet. All I want is to get to know her. She’s all the family I have left.”
Dawson smiled sympathetically. “Its a deal.”
“Guys I don’t think that plan will work.” cautioned Pacey.
“Why?”
Pacey pointed behind Dawson. “Because Joey just came out of that movie theater.”
Dawson turned around and sure enough there was Joey walking with Jen and laughing. She saw the boys and started to approach them. As she saw Allison she stopped dead in her tracks and the smile vanished.


“Joey wait up” cried Pacey as he walked her home.
Joey turned and tapped her foot impatiently. “What?”
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Joey rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Pacey placed his arms around her small waist and pulled her close. “I don’t know. Maybe because you ran out of the theater so quickly you could have qualified for the Olympic team.”
Joey pulled away from Pacey’s embrace. “I said I didn’t feel to well, remember?”
Pacey did indeed remember and it was anything but pretty. After the initial introductions, Allison retold her tale to Jen and Joey while Joey listened expressionless. At the end she had politely but curtly excused herself saying she didn’t feel to well. She never mentioned Allison or even talked to her once. Pacey had followed her out the door in hopes to get her to open up. “Yea I remember but I don’t believe you for a minute.”
Joey sighed and her eyes filled with tears. Pacey grabbed her hand and started walking her home. They had nearly reached the door before Pacey spoke again. “Look Jo I think you should talk about this. Come on open up to me. Let me help you with this,” Pacey pleaded.
Joey looked into his eyes for what felt like an eternity before speaking. “I can’t right now. I just don’t want to talk about it at all.
Okay?” and without waiting for an answer walked inside and shut the door.
Pacey groaned and ran his hands through his hair. When was she going to open up to him? He realized that she needed some time but he wanted to be there for her. He walked down to the pier at the end of Joey’s yard and sat looking out at the water. Hidden in the shadows, he saw Joey come out of the house and jump in the boat undoubtedly heading for Dawson’s as he had known she would.


“Hey Dawson.”
Dawson opened his eyes and saw Joey coming through the window. “Joe what are you doing here? Are you okay?”
“Yea I’m fine. Don’t tell me that your going to sleep Dawson. Its only 12:00 and I haven’t seen the new movie, The Ice Storm. I hear the acting is remarkable.”
Dawson sat up and stared dubiously at Joey. She was acting like there wasn’t a thing wrong in the world when a few hours ago she had run away like the world was over. “Yea its okay but we’re not watching it until you talk to me about Allison.”
Joey grabbed the remote control and began flipping through the channels.
“Allison who?” She replied nonchalantly.
“Don’t play games with me Jo. Allison, the girl that caused you to run away from us as if we had the black plague.”
“I told you I had a headache and I ...”
“And I’m telling you that is a bunch of crap.”
Joey glared at Dawson. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“Well where’s you headache now? Hmmm? Did it disappear with the presence of Allison?”
“Look Dawson, I hate to break this to you but there are this little things called pills that magically make a headache go away. I must say I’ve gotten used to taking them with all you nagging.”
“Don’t get smart with me Joey. I’m only trying to be a friend and help you through this difficult time in your life.”
Joey smiled and shook her head in disbelief. “Dawson you sound like radio shrink. Should I pay you when I leave.”
Dawson smiled to in spite of himself. He had sounded a bit stuffy. “Okay Okay Jo. But I know that things are not peachy keen. Come on talk to me about Allison.”
“Okay Dawson you want the truth. In my head there is no Allison. She doesn’t exist to me.”
“Now there’s a mature way to handle things. Ignore them.”
“I don’t care Dawson. I hate her.”
“How can you hate her? You don’t even know her and its not exactly her fault that your dad slept with...”
“LOOK Dawson you wanted me to tell you how I feel so I did. Don’t try and change it. That’s how I feel.”
Dawson reached over and grabbed Joey’s hand. “Jo, she came all this way to get to know you. You’re the only family she has left.”
Joey looked up at Dawson and very calmly said, “Then she came a long way for nothing because I don’t want anything to do with Allison whatever her name is.”
“But Jo...”
“No Dawson, discussion is over. Now can we watch the movie or am I going home?”
Dawson sighed in resignation. “Fine we’ll watch the movie Jo.” He slipped the movie into the VCR and leaned back against the pillows. He turned his head to look at Joey who was already intently watching the film. She had won tonight but Dawson wasn’t going to give up. He thought that Allison deserved a chance with Joey and that Joey might actually be glad to have more family if she would just give Allison a chance. Besides he wouldn’t mind if Allison stuck around for awhile.
Joey walked home early the next morning. She had spent the night at Dawson’s since the movie ended late and rowing home at 3:00 in the morning just didn’t seem like a good idea. Last night she had been terrified that things would be different since all the changes in their lives but everything seemed normal and there had been no great feelings of discomfort. That was a relief since they hadn’t really spent time together since the her and Pacey started going out. She walked into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. There sitting next to Bessie holding Alexander in her arms was Allison. “What are you doing here?”
Allison looked up and smiled. “I came over last night to meet Bessie and she let me stay the night.”
Joey folded her arms across her chest. “Okay so you met her now you can go.”
Allison and Bessie both looked shocked. “Joey,” Bessie cried, “whats gotten into you?”
“Nothing”
“Then why were you so rude to your sister?”
“She’s not my sister. That’s why.” Joey turned and walked up the stairs and slammed the door.
“I’m sorry Allison. Joey sometimes loses her brain and can’t think straight.”
Allison smiled softly. “Its all right. I know how I would feel if someone waltzed into my life out of the blue.”
Bessie turned around and gave Allison a hug. “Its so nice to met you.”


“I swear if Grams doesn’t lighten up I’m going to commit murder,” Jen murmured as she walked down the street.
“Come on Jen you’d never get away with it. You’re the prime suspect.”
Jen turned around to see Pacey following her down the street. She smiled. “Hey Pacey.”
“Hey. So what did your Grandmother do this time? Make you clean the attic, no, won’t let you out tonight, no wait I’ve got it. Horror of all horrors, she bought you a ...... BIBLE.”
“Very funny Pacey. What now that you can’t insult Joey since she has you whipped you turn to me?”
Pacey placed his hand on his heart. “Ouch! She got me. Seriously though, that was pretty good. I know now where to turn if I’m in desperate need to insult someone.”
“I’m flattered.”
“SO what really happened?”
Jen sighed and stopped walking. “I didn’t do anything! It was another one of those remember-what-happened-in-New-York-dear speeches. I don’t know what the point of coming out here was if I still hear the same thing all the time. Sometimes I think I might as well have fun as long as I’m still getting blamed for it.”
“No Jen. You stopped for yourself. Not for them. Coming from an expert on family dilemmas, let me tell you that your the important one..not them.”
Jen sighed once again. “Thanks I wish I could believe that.”
“No problem. So anyways I have an idea to cheer you up. Come with us to that beach party tonight. It should be fun.”
“Cool! Who’s all going?”
“Well right now...its you and me. But I’m going to convince Joey to come. She needs a break after today.”
“Yea. How is she holding up anyways?”
Pacey looked out at the ocean. “I have no idea.”


There she was walking down the street. Her brown hair flowing behind her. Her smile brightening up the day even though the sun was out. Her eyes shining like diamonds....diamonds? Man I sound like a cheesy Hallmark card, Dawson thought. “Hey Allison” he called out.
She stopped and smiled in his direction. “Hey Dawson its great to see you. Finally a familiar face.”
“Well In a town as small as Capeside it won’t take you long to find one.”
“”But I only know a few people.”
“My point exactly”
Allison broke out in a fit of laughter. “Oh Dawson you are so funny.”
“So I hear you met Bessie today.”
Allison’s face light up at the mention of her half-sister. “Oh I did and she is the best. I feel so close to her and I only met her yesterday.”
“Well Bessie’s usually nice. So are you going to be staying there permanently.”
Allison shook her head. “I don’t think so. First there isn’t enough room. Joey was gone last night so I slept in her room. And second Joey doesn’t want me anywhere near her or her sister.”
Dawson listened sympathetically. “Joey will come around she just needs to get used to the idea. And she can stay at my house if she needs to so you can stay there.”
“At your house? Are you two dating?”
“No she’s going out with Pacey.”
“Pacey? Doesn’t he mind that his girlfriend is sleeping at another guys house?”
“No. Its a long story. But hey I wanted to know if you liked to attend a beach party tonight?”
Allison smiled coyly. “Like a date?”
Blushing Dawson replied, “No its a big group thing. Me, Pacey, Jen, Joey...”
Allison’s smile faded. “Maybe I better not go if Joey’s going to be there. I don’t want to upset her.”
“No I think this is the perfect chance for her to get to know you.”
“Well okay I’m in. Now tell me more about you and Joey and Pacey. I love a good scandal.”
“Dawson laughed. “Well it all started out.....”


“I still can’t believe you talked me into this.” Joey complained
Pacey pulled at her hand to get her moving. “Come on it will be fun. Besides it’ll give us a chance to spend some time together.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Joey looked up into Pacey’s gentle green eyes and melted. “Okay lets go.” But the couple had only walked a few more feet when Joey stopped again. “Who invited her, “she hissed.”
Pacey looked across the deck to see Dawson and Jen....and Allison. Great he thought. “Look we’ll go over say hi and then go for a long quiet walk by ourselves. You can be pleasant to her for a few moments, okay?”
“Fine”
Pacey dragged her over to the gang. “Hey guys.”
“Hey guys” Dawson said and then turned to see Allison smiling at Joey while Joey gave Allison a look to freeze glass.
“Hi Joey”
“Hello Allison,” came the cool reply.”
Everyone stood in silence until Pacey spoke. “Well we’re going for a walk down the beach so see you guys later.”
Joey and Pacey walked hand in hand down to the shore. “See now that wasn’t so hard.”
“Yea I guess after dating you anything is easier.”
“What?”
Joey giggled and ran off down the beach with Pacey at her heels. He caught up to her and pined her to the ground. He slowly kissed her and Joey felt happier than she had all day.


“Want a beer?”
Jen looked up to see one of the senior football players offering her a drink. “No thanks”
“Are you sure?”
Jen looked around to try and find some of her friends. Pacey and Joey were still not back and Dawson and Allison were sitting very privately on the beach. There was nobody else around to talk to. But that didn’t mean that she had to drink. Drinking had started all her trouble in New York. That was why she had come out here. Of course she still was being hounded about her past from everyone it seemed. What was trying to be good doing for her? Her grandmother nagged her all the time, Dawson didn’t love her anymore if he ever did, she still didn’t feel like she had any good friends, and she was still miserable. Maybe It was time to have a little fun. Start living up to all the expectations of everyone. They expected her to resort back to her old ways. Why shouldn’t she? Besides it was only one harmless drink.
“Sure. Why not?”


Several hours later it was apparent that Jen had more than ONE harmless drink. It was starting to look like SEVEN harmless drinks. Dawson began to notice a wild crowd gathering over by the volleyball net. He walked over to investigate and was stunned to see Jen dancing around wildly with a bunch of football players. It was obvious she was wasted and had no idea what was going on or what could happen if she didn’t get out of there right away. He ran over to Allison and informed her that he would be right back. He spotted Pacey and Joey walking back toward the house.
“Hey guys come on. I need your help with Jen.”
Joey ran over. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s completely wasted and is about to make a big mistake if we don’t get her out of here.”
The trio ran over to the group and much to their amazement saw Jen in the middle of a strip dance. Her blouse was laying on the ground and she was fast undoing the rest of her clothes. Dawson stepped in a began pushing the people...well guys.. back. “Okay guys move on nothing here to see.”
Joey grabbed Jen’s arms and began pulling her out of the circle but she was too heavy. “Pacey help me with her.”
“No can do. I’m kinda busy over here.”
Joey looked up to see Pacey trying to convince the football team that it was a good thing to let their entertainment go for the evening. Dawson was busy trying to push back the other onlookers and Jen had just passed out. “Great,” she muttered.
“Here I’ll help.”
Joey looked up to see Allison grab Jen’s legs. She managed a small smile. “Okay on three. One Two Three.” The two girls lifted Jen out of the circle and into Pacey’s car which was parked nearby. The were joined shortly by Dawson and Pacey.
Dawson looked at Jen who was collapsed on the floor of the back seat.
“We can’t take her home. Her Grandmother will freak.”
Joey spoke. “We can take her to my house. I’ll call her from there and tell her that Jen fell asleep over here while watching a movie.”
Pacey started the car and drove off to Joey’s. “What a night, “ he murmured to himself.


“PLOP” Jen fell like a ton of bricks onto Joey’s bed.
Dawson looked sadly down at the wreckage that was Jen. “Man whatever made her do this.”
Pacey shook his head. “I don’t know. But I do know that I’m getting the strangest sense of deja vu.” He smiled smugly at Joey.
Joey gave him a blank look. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you remember when you got drunk as skunk. Dawson and I had to carry you home and you passed out on your bed.” Joey gave him another blank look. “You mean you don’t remember waking up giving Dawson a . . .”
Dawson interrupted. “Don’t listen to him Jo. He’s trying to confuse you.” Dawson gave Pacey a look that said be-quiet-you-idiot.
Pacey thought this was very interesting. Dawson hadn’t told Joey about her moment of blind passion. Did that mean something? Did he have to worry about what would happen if Joey did find out? His thoughts were stopped when Dawson spoke again.
“Well I better go home. My parents might be worried... Then again they’ve been a little busy lately to notice me. Its really getting disgusting.” He notice Allison who had remained quiet during this whole thing. “Do you need a place to crash?” He offered.
“No she can stay here.”
Allison turned in surprise to Joey. “”Are you sure?”
“Yea. I think that we need to talk anyway.”
Dawson realized that it was indeed time for him to go. “Later guys.” He turned and walked down the path to the dock. Pacey gave Joey a quick kiss, smiled at Allison, and ran off to catch up with Dawson.
“So” Allison started and the same time Joey did. They both laughed which was followed by a simultaneous “You go first.”
Finally Joey spoke. “Listen Allison I’m really sorry about the way “I’ve been treating you. I wasn’t mad at you. I was mad at my dad..I mean our dad and I took it out on you. I wasn’t fair and I’m sorry.”
“No its okay. I was mad for soooo long before I finally realized that I can stay mad and let him keep on hurting me or I can let go and see the positive sides of this. I now have two sisters.”
Joey leaned over and hugged Allison who was crying. “I guess you’re right.”
The girls hugged for a long time before Allison spoke again. “Even though he hurt me so much. I would really liked to have known him more.
I don’t even know what he looks like.”
Joey smiled and walked out of the room. She came back with a picture and handed it to Allison. “Here. Its a picture of our dad just before he got put in jail. I only have two pictures with him left and I want you to have this one.”
“No I couldn’t take this.”
“I insist. Besides if I want it back I’ll come and ask my sister for it.”
The two girls smiled at their new found friendship. Joey got up and stretched her arms. “Well you can sleep on the couch and I’ll sleep with
our drunken friend Jen.” Joey walked up the stairs laving Allison along in the living room.
The smile that was pasted on Allison’s face disappeared and her hand crumpled the picture in her hand. She throw it down on the ground and stomped on it. “Yea Joey just one big happy family. Yeah right. You can bet on one thing. When I’m done with you, you’ll be just as miserable as I’ve been these last 16 years. Look out Joey its going to be a rough life.” Allison laughed and sank into the cough and feel into a sleep.

Part two coming soon.

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