Part Four, "I Do"
Author: Karri, aka Bradley
Rating: PG, and DJ...would I write anything else??
Feedback welcomed!
Later that night
"If I have another bite to eat, I'm going to explode." Joey laid back against the bed. "And there will definitely have to be some major alterations to the wedding gown after this." Jen laughed. "Have another glass of wine, Joey," she said, pouring the remainder of the bottle into her glass. "After that, there will be no worries about the wedding gown." Pacey looked at her with a knowing smirk. "Keep drinking, Jo. Then there will be no worries at all."
It was such a surreal moment, sitting her on the floor with everyone, the remains of the hotel room service scattered around them. It reminded her of the movie night at Dawson's when everyone had joined them, and Dawson's bed had served as an oasis for them, their haven. She gave him a quick glance. He had always been that for her. And more, she thought.
He had seemed quiet during dinner, reflective in a sense, looking at her during odd moments with a quiet stare. She had missed him so much. She opened her mouth to say something to him, when Jack interrupted her. "Well, Joey, after food and liquor, I would say that it's time for you to give us the scoop on Doug, Mr. Joey-Potter-to-be."
Doug? She thought for a moment, and then she blushed. Dear God, she had just forgotten the man whom she was marrying tomorrow. She closed her eyes for a moment. That was probably not a good thing. "At the risk of being totally embarrassed, and being made fun of," she started, "let's just say that Doug and I met in a somewhat unpredictable fashion not long after I moved to Boston, and we have been together ever since." She studiously avoided Dawson's eyes, brushing imaginary lint off her skirt.
Andie laughed. "Ok, the whole story is that Joey ran over his bicycle, and then she gave him a ride to work because she felt so bad. There was not a salvageable scrap." Joey gave Andie a light punch on the arm. "Thanks, Andie. That's the last time I entrust any embarrassing facts to you." Jack chuckled, leaning back on his arms. "Poor Joey, does this mean that you are still a horrible driver, even after you graduated from the blue pickup?"
"Horrible, no. Terrified at my first day in Boston, yes. Doug was there for me during a tough time in my life when I needed someone. It was a good feeling." Her words hung in the air, and Joey could sense Dawson's discomfort. He hadn't been there for her, and it hurt them both. "Anyways," she continued awkwardly, "I figured the least I could do for him after destroying his bicycle was to marry him." She gave a sheepish laugh. "And that's how I got to this point."
"Good enough reason to marry someone, I suppose," Pacey interjected with a straight face. "Destroy his bike, shackle him for life." The room was silent for a moment before Jen and Andie burst out laughing, reaching for the pillows on the bed. Joey scrambled away with Jack as Andie threw the first blow at Pacey with the pillow. "Some people never grow up," Joey sighed, watching as Dawson picked up the dishes and carried them outside.
Joey stepped out onto the hotel balcony, holding her nearly empty wine glass in both hands, as she looked out onto the city. Boston was beautiful, especially at night. She had found herself here in so many ways, found the person she always wanted to be while she was in Capeside. Why, then, did something feel amiss? She drank the last of the wine in one quick motion. She knew the answer to that.
A voice behind her caused her to jump. "You know, Joey, too much of that wine will make it awfully hard to walk straight to the altar tomorrow." She gave Jack a wry grin. "Believe me, I know. It'll make it hard to even get up to go to the church tomorrow." The two sat together on the bench, staring up into the sky in silence.
It was Jack who finally spoke. "Joey, I know we haven't kept in touch after... Well, after everything that happened between us. I regret that. But I have also felt fortunate to count you as a friend." Joey nodded silently. She had always felt the same about Jack, as strange as things were after they dated. "So, what I'm saying here tonight is as a friend, discounting any romantic history or knowledge of teenage angst." He looked at her intently, and turned away before he spoke.
"I haven't met Doug, but I know from Andie he is a wonderful person. You deserve that, and that's what I want for you. But, Joey, I have seen tonight from the moment you walked into the hotel room that your mind and heart were with someone else. You've got to be fair to yourself, Jo. You've got to be fair to Doug. And you have to be fair..." Jack's voice trailed off.
Joey knew. "To Dawson." Jack only nodded. "Joey, I know there is something there between you two, and probably always will be. But is it enough for you to walk away from tomorrow? Can you finally make peace with your past? I don't know the answer to that. But I know you will regret it forever if you don't find out for yourself."
Joey wiped away a tear and silently cursed herself for crying. Jack was right, of course. She knew it before he even spoke. She simply didn't know what to do about it. "You know, Jack, I was going to speak to Dawson before tomorrow. There was something I needed to ask him." She shook her head at the irony. "You know my dad can't make it tomorrow, for more than obvious reasons. I wanted Dawson to take his place. I wanted him to give me away."