happier

be careful what you wish for

"Let's go over this one more time." Pacey, Mark, and Cola had gone over to the Icebox to plan out Dawson's surprise birthday party. They had roped Joey into it, knowing that they wanted to set the two back up again. They also wanted to check on her after Jack had come out to her as gay. Dawson had told Pacey, who of course told Cola, that Joey had gone to his house crying after it. Another thing that Cola found out was that Abby had decided to break whatever she and Mark had, saying that she had feelings for someone else. That's why he was crying at her house the other night. She felt for him, seeing that he liked her a lot.

"Okay, Cola and I invite Dawson out to dinner with Andie tonight, we'll keep him occupied till about 9:00, at which point we make up some lame-ass excuse as to why we have to call it an early night. Then, we drive him back to his place, where-" Pacey explains, before pointing at Mark and Joey.

"Mark and I will have set up the most fabulous surprise party ever. I hope." She says, her nerves creeping up as Pacey goes behind the counter to pour himself some more water.

"I'm sure it'll be fantastic, Joey. A testimonial to true friendship, the party to end all parties. From here on out, the Leery household will be known as the Delta House of Capeside." Mark said, playfully winking at the girl, making her laugh.

"Thanks. I don't know why I'm so nervous. I've never organised a party before." Jack walks into the room, making everyone go silent. Cola and Pacey share a look, while Mark greets the boy, not knowing. Cola looks up at her friend, seeing that she had gone quiet too, trying not to seem awkward. The boy looks around, seeing that everyone had gone quiet, making eye contact with Joey, before leaving. Cola motions for Pacey to take Mark away, which he does. Cola hops up on the counter, sitting next to the girl.

"Listen Joey, I don't mean to pry, but Pacey told me about what happened with Jack. I just wanted to make sure you're okay, y'know, since you've had some time to process everything." Joey rolls her eyes, smiling at the girl.

"Everyone keeps asking me that in solemn tones, like I've just come down with a terminal disease or something. Cola, the fact is that Jack's going through something, not me. I mean, since Pacey probably told you the whole story from Dawson, I will admit that I was a bit in shock and hurt at first, but I'm fine." She said, smiling awkwardly before walking away. Cola didn't believe her, but she also didn't want to push.

—

That night, Pacey had picked Cola up from her house at around 6:00. She was wearing a light blue tank top, white jeans, and a heavy sweater that she had borrowed from Pacey's closet. She sat in the front seat, getting annoyed with Andie's sudden impulsiveness. She had been seeing a doctor lately, and the doctor told her that tonight she had to be impulsive. She couldn't stop talking about every impulsive thing she wanted to do, while Dawson was depressed because Joey had rejected him.

"I have always wanted to sit in the backseat of a cop car. Hey, I know! Let's turn on the sirens." Andie said, making Cola and Dawson share a look, resisting the urge to roll their eyes at her eccentricity.

"I don't think that's the best idea, sweetie." Pacey said, looking at her through the mirror. She gives him a look, before making siren noises with her mouth. Cola rolled her eyes, opening the window in hopes that the noise from outside would drone out the noise coming from Andie.

"So, this is what it's like when they cart you off to prison, huh?" Andie asks, rattling the cage.

"Depends, there's more than one kind of prison. There are the state-regulated ones, then ones you get trapped in when your life is going nowhere and everyone else around you seems to be moving forward." Dawson said, making Cola look at Pacey, who had a smirk on his face. This was her prison. Being in this car.