Evil Willow's Favorite Fanfic

Repercussions


Part 1

Written By: Buffy Anne Harris
Rating: G
Summary: The monday after Joey sent her dad to jail.

Disclaimer: I am not in any way affilated with the show.
I don't not own any of the characters from the show. I do
own rights to any characters I have made up. No copy rght
infirgment intended.

It was Monday after the Icehouse had gotten burnt down as Joey Potter walked through the hallways of Capeside High School. She could feel everyone staring at her. Judging her as she walked past. All day long the feeling that everyone has talking about her was in the back of her mind. She just knew that everyone in school was gossiping about how the Icehouse had gotten burned down because her father was dealing drugs again. And right now she felt like the lowest creature on the face of the earth. And she thought that she deserved these feelings of guilt and shame. These and much worse for what she had done. What was worse was she was alone in dealing with it all. The one person she would normally talk to and pour her heart out to had been in part responsible for all the pain she was feeling, and she couldn't even bring herself to look at him much less talk to him. She had meant what she had told Dawson, she didn't even want to know him any more. How could she ever forgive him? He had taken away everything in her life. Joey continued to walk down the hall, she over heard her name in a conversation among strangers, the accusing stares were getting worse. And she still had half of the school day to look forward to. It was barley time for lunch. When she finally reached her locker she took a long deep breath and reached for the combination dial, slowly she opened her locker as she tried to maintain her composure. She placed her bag inside on the bottom and reached in for her English book. She had studying to do at lunch to get her mind off of things. As she gathered up her things Jack McPhee walked up behind her. "Hey Joey." Jack said greeting his friend he noticed Joey wasn't looking too good, he knew she had been through a lot, the memories of the fire were still in his mind too. But jack had no idea about what Joey would soon tell him. "You ok Jo?" Jack asked her concerned as he shifted his backpack from one shoulder to the other. And deep down he felt like she was probably not going to be happy that he asked such and obviously stupid question. Joey looked at Jack trying to hold back tears and anger, and not ones that he had caused, "Jack can I just not answer that question right now?" she asked as she shut her locker. "It has just not been the best past few days. " she turned and looked a Jack. "So to change the topic a little, how are you doing Jack? I haven't even seen you since the fire at the Icehouse." "Me? Oh I'm ok I guess." Jack said he was actually more worried about Joey then himself. "I moved in with Jen and her Grams the other day. When dad left with Andie and mom he told me I wouldn't have the house for very long. He's planing to sell it." Jack explained. Then gave Joey a concerned look, "Jo I know there is something bothering you. What happened?" "My dad. He got arrested again. He was trafficking again. And…." Joey paused, the guilt of her actions was so heavy she could hardly stand it, "And Dawson told me. And then he and his parents made me go talk to Pacey's dad." A tear ran down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly not wanting anyone passing by to see how much pain she was in. "Then they made me wear a wire." She told him. "Oh god Joey." Jack began and pulled her into a hug, "I'm so sorry. It must have been horrifying for you. But Dawson has been there for you I suppose." Jack said as they pulled out to the hug. Joey half laughed. That was so far from the truth that Joey had to laugh at it. "Dawson Leery is no longer a part of my life." She stated simply and directly. "Nor do I want him in it." Joey let out a small sigh and then gave Jack a please lets change the subject look. "Jack can we please just talk about something else." She paused briefly for a moment then added, "any thing else." "Sure Jo. If that's what you want." Jack said as they began to walk down the hall together "just name the topic." He added trying to comfort her as best he knew how. He hated to see her this way. After all her Jen and Pacey were just about the only people in this town that still talked to him after he had come out. Or at least the only ones that when they talked to him it without spray painting his locker and threatening him, Dawson did but well Jack and Dawson hadn't gotten along all that well. Since Jack had kissed Joey. And Jack knew Dawson blamed him for their first break up. But this time one thing was for sure was that Jack couldn't be implicated in the whole thing. "I don't know." Joey said letting out a small sigh. "I want to ask how Andie is but then I also don't want to make you have to dredge up painful issues on my account. Besides I don't want to talk about problems I have I'm sure you don't. So I'll go with how's Jen? Since you said you moved in with her and Grams." "She's good I think. She's talking about things. So I'm just trying to be there for her." Jack said and then grabbed Joey's arm bringing them both to a stop in the hallway. He gave her a look of worry. "And I'd like to be there for you too Jo. That is if you want a friend to talk to." He gave her a little smile. "If you ever need to talk, I'm right here Joey. Any time." He let go of her arm and they started to walk again. "Thank you Jack that means a lot to me. And right now I think I could really use a friend. If nothing else but to be near, just so I don't feel alone." Joey said and tried to put on a little smile in a near failing effort. Joey was starting to feel a little better it was lunchtime and she had managed to not see Dawson all day. She was actually hopeful to get though the day without an embarrassing overly dramatic episode. And she had someone who cared to talk to. She was so happy to have Jack to talk to. "So to change the subject from depressing to probably more depressing. Are you ready for your last three finals? Not that we got a lot of studying done. And I know I'm not." Jack said trying to lighten the teen drama of their lives by pointing out a normal teen problem that was a lot less complicated. "My last three were nightmares. I haven't studied hardly at all. And actually I'm not particularly caring that much about the whole thing." She admitted. Finals had pretty much been the last things on her mind. And she knew her GPA would show it. And so would the time she'd probably spend in summer school to make up the difference. Jack gave her an 'I'm so sorry I should have never asked how stupid of me' look, "I'm really sorry Joey. I guess I really stuck my foot in my mouth that time. Well at least I'm good at something." He said apologizing, as they turned the corner they were almost to the cafeteria now. "No Jack it's not your fault." Joey said in an understanding voice. "Besides as long as I don't' see 'him' today I'll be fine. I just want to finish finals and have this school year over. That way I don't have to worry about bumping into him, and so I can get over everything." Joey explained as they got within a few classrooms of the cafeteria and Dawson turned the corner at the end of the hall coming in to view just as she finished her statement. Dawson looked down the hall and noticed Joey and started to walk toward her and Jack. "Oh god Jack. I'm not sure I can do this." Joey said seeing Dawson heading in their direction. She turned her back wishing that she hadn't seen Dawson. And wishing even more that he hadn't seen her. "Well we could build a brick wall around you and hope he can get through." Jack offered and put an arm around her shoulder to comfort her, as Dawson got closer to the pair. Joey let out a sigh and turned back around "actually that's not an entirely bad plan. If you think you can build it fast enough go for it." She whispered to him as Dawson finally reached them. Dawson stood there in front of Joey and Jack for a moment without saying a word, he knew he was probably the last person Joey wanted to see right now. Even though he knew this, Dawson still felt like he had too at least said hello and see how she was. "Hey Jo. Hey Jack." He said to the both of them, then looked directly at Joey, "how are you Joey?" he asked with hope and worry in his voice. Joey looked down away from Dawson how could he have the nerve to ask her something like that. After what happened how did he think she was? She was in hell. Her face tightened, as she stood there not saying a word. She looked back up at Dawson. She wasn't about to dignify his question with and answer at least not yet. Jack noticed the expression on Joey's face, then stepped between her and Dawson and looked Dawson right in the eyes and said, "Dawson I think you better leave." Jack stood his ground in front of Joey. "I tend to agree with Jack." Joey said from behind Jack who had in a way become the brick wall he had suggested. He stood between the two in order to protect Joey. And she was grateful for it. Dawson ignored the attempts to have him leave and spoke, "Jo I'm sorry. I really am… not for what I did but for the pain I caused you." He said and tried to get past Jack in the process, "I hope in time you'll be able to forgive me and see that I did it for you. In order to protect you. I just didn't want to see you hurt Joey." "For me? You destroyed my whole world Dawson. I think that goes past hurt." Joey said just about to cry. But she held back the tears she wouldn't let him see her cry. She wouldn't give him the chance to try to comfort her. Dawson moved past Jack and tried to reach out for Joey. " I'm sorry Joey. Please believe me hurting you was the last thing I ever wanted to do." Jack moved and put his hands on Dawson's chest with just enough pressure to keep him away form Joey. "She doesn't want you here man. Just go. Let her be. Haven't you done enough to hurt her already? Give her time to heal." Jack said keeping himself between Dawson and Joey as a barrier. "Jack just stay out it. This is between me and my girlfriend." Dawson said and pushed Jack's hands away from himself. "So stay out of it. Or do you enjoy making our relationship harder?" Dawson said almost bordering on anger in his voice at this point. Hearing what Dawson said Joey gave Jack a nudge out of the way. "Girlfriend? Dawson I'm not your girlfriend. I thought I made that very clear the other day. I don't want to know you. Let alone date you. Or have any kind of relationship with you!"" Joey said she was a little angry. "Just leave Dawson. Leave me alone. Don't you understand I don't want you around me." Joey said and pushed past him and Jack walking away. Jack looked at Dawson, "if you really care about her man, just let her be right now. Having you around just reminds her and it hurts." He said then ran after Joey leaving Dawson standing alone in the hallway.