ÿþ Still Chasing Echoes Series: Reaching for the Stars (Prologue) Author: Kristin W. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from "Dawson's Creek". I'm not trying to break any copywrites.. They belong to Kevin Williamson, producers, the WB, ect. Song lyrics are from the band "Human Drama", which also inspires the titles.(Johnny Indovina is a god!) Fandom: Dawson's Creek Rating: PG, pre-slash Pairing: Pacey/Jack Spoilers: "True Love" and all that came before... Summary: Dawson didn't have a huge epiphany in the Season Finale.(I didn't buy that-complete contradiction of earlier episodes) He never told Joey to go to Pacey..so she didn't. But after the Ethan fiasco Jack needed a friend, and Pacey decided to stay and be there for him. Author's Note: I pick up as Jack is coming back to Boston, so the scene with his dad never happened. Sorry, I loved that scene too..but this worked out better for my story. And for the opening scene that I altered, I used the episode transcript from "Pacey's Pond". ~I didn't fall. I jumped and I will jump again Because I heard, I understood what was there to see If it hit me in the head, I'd duck a second time I saw the world change through my eyes~ -Human Drama ~~Still Chasing Echos~~ Dawson took a deep breath, let it out, and began. "The first time my parents got married, they were young. They were just out of college. And umm, I remember looking at the photo album as a kid and wondering why I wasn't in any of the pictures. It's hard when you love someone that much to imagine them having this entire life that you weren't even there for. And I have to say that being here today, experiencing this first hand, finally getting to be in all the pictures, I wouldn't trade this for anything. 'Cause I'd much rather be apart of what you have now than what you had then. That point where everything is forgiven. And I think that that's really what love means. That you can forgive anything. So, to my parents, who taught me that love does not conquer all. That loves ends and begins again. Cheers." * * * * * * * * * "Hey, your speech was beautiful." "Thanks" "What you said, did you mean it Dawson?" "Every word, which is why I can't let you go." "What?" "I know you're not my girlfriend anymore-you haven't been for a long time-but in the end I know that we're destined to be together. We're soulmates Joey. Last year you had the opportunity to go to Paris to study, and because of me you didn't. Because our love was worth giving up the world for. I'd just like to find that again..this summer...with you. Stay with me?" Tears slid down cheeks, and reddened eyes looked into pleading ones. "Dawson... I don't quite know what I feel for Pacey...but it's something..." "Is it what _we_ had? Be honest with me Jo." "I...I don't... no, it's not." He reached out his arms, drawing her into a gentle kiss. * * * * * * * * * The car sped down the highway with a speed that surprised its passengers, considering the age of the driver. A window had been left open to combat the heat, and wind whipped through their hair. Jack stared at the blur outside his window. The passing cars were barely discernable-it was all a mixture of reds and blues and blacks. When a familiar sign caught his eye he breathed a sigh of relief. "Welcome to Capeside". They were back. He could get out of the car, and start trying to forget this trip ever happened. Maybe if he concentrated hard enough he could wipe out the memory of Ethan's eyes-the shame and pity. As they pulled into town he visably relaxed. This was safe. This was home. He could just go to his room, crawl into bed, and- Large sloppy red letters glared out at him from Joey's wall: "Ask me to stay". Jack's mind entered a panicked loop and then came to a screeching hault. "Grams!!" "Jack?" The old woman slammed on the breaks and turned around in her seat, while Jen and Andie stared at him in confusion. "Let me out here." "What in the world?" Grams looked the boy over worriedly. She knew that he had taken a big risk earlier...and to have it blow up all in your face.... "Pacey's leaving, and I'm going to stop him." Jack set his face with determination, making it clear that there would be no argument. He opened a door and took off running without looking back, leaving his sister and friends to simply watch his retreating form, still not all together clear on what had just happened. Andie was the first to speak up. "But we already knew that Pacey was leaving. His goodbye party is what started this whole thing...." The car was silent for a moment, as the inhabitants turned the unspoken question over in their minds. Grams tapped her fingers on the steering wheel and the two girls looked at their hands. Concern for Jack had steadily increased on the drive home, multiplying with each clench of his jaw and every quiet sigh of breath. Then to have just taken off... It finally became evident, however, that they weren't accomplishing anything sitting in the car and waiting for enlightenment to strike. And he obviously wasn't coming back.... "He'll be alright, you children walk around this town all the time by yourselves. If we leave now we might catch the end of that wedding" Grams pulled away from the curb and resumed their journey, but the red letters seemed to follow them...treading lightly on their minds all the way to the Leery's. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ End Prologue.