Joey:

That storm was about the scariest thing that's ever happened to me.  I don't know why I felt this boat was invulnerable... or that nothing bad could happen as long as Pacey and I were together.  But I got the proverbial wakeup call yesterday that "True Love" does not conquer all... at least, not Mother Nature.  At one point, I really did think we were going to die.  I just felt so vulnerable, so suddenly aware of my surroundings, aware that this was reality and not just some fantasy dream cruise or a movie that Dawson's shooting in his backyard.  It was real and it was scary and it was nothing like anything I've ever experienced and to be quite honest I hope I never do again.  The boat's okay.  Considering the shape it could have been in.  But it's going to need a few small repairs... and I finally convinced Pacey to quite his inane stubbornness and email Doug about sending his money already since he is being inexplicably reluctant to do that.  In the mean time, we're relatively safe at shore here in a place called Chincoteague Island, Virginia.  I don't know how to pronounce that either.

(E-mail)
From: JLindley
To: JPotter
Subject: Here's the situation

Joey,

I only have a second - I'm with Dawson at a cyber cafe in Philadelphia and he already thinks it's extremely odd that I insisted we stop here.  But here's the situation.  there's a couple of Capesiders who won't admit it but are scared to death that you and Pacey are swimming witht the fishes in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean right about now in light of the recent storm.  I'm pretty convinced that two dead seafaring teenagers would have at least been noticed by the Coast Guard and would likely have made local, if not national news - but if you wouldn't mind shooting word my way that you and Pacey survived the first big storm of the debatable millenium, it would be much appreciated.  Thanks.  Now I must email Grams since that is what I told Dawson I had to do...

Jen

P.S.  I know I told you I wouldn't say anything and I haven't... yet.  But I don't think I can take a whole summer of Dawson and Andie hedging around the "Do you think they're okay?" question.  And since they have absolutely no idea that you guys are even checking your email on this little honeymoon of yours... please let me pass on some good news.  That is, assuming you're alive and reading this... JL

I guess I'll have to email Jen back.  To be honest, I didn't realize how bad this storm really was that it would generate such a glut of concern... Bessie sent this freaked out email too, just as I was about to send her the a-ok email.  But once Dawson knows I'm okay... will he be angry at me for telling Jen and not him?  Should I send him an email as well?  I can't exactly spam everyone with an "I'm okay" at this point... it would come across as impersonal and hurtful and not at all what I intended it to be.  Why is it that whenever I try to leave Capeside behind me in the near but distant past, it keeps coming back to haunt me?  Uh-oh.  Pacey just saw Jen's email...

Pacey:

Well, take my word for it, friends, the Bruce Willis role in an action adventure movie is NOT as engaging as it appears.  So if your dream is to narrowly avert disaster, I want to say for the record that I do NOT recommend it.  Yeah, sure it give you a new appreciation of dry land, human life, and dry clothing, but in the long term I think I could have gone my whole life without having experienced that particular scenario.  At least I had my own personal Sandra Bullock on hand.  It scares me to think what would have happened if she hadn't come with me... if I was out there alone... let's just say I would have ended up exactly where Mr. Willis ended up at the end of "Armageddon" - oblivion!

I was so pissed when I found out Joey was emailing Jen.  I mean, call me crazy but I thought being honest with each other meant NOT leaving out significant details like, oh, I don't know, talking to the gang back home.  I didn't even want to call my brother for the money I left home... which was mainly because I didn't want a lecture how stupid and irresponsible I am in spite of the fact that I've made it halfway down the coast with nary a scratch.  Well... a few scratches.  But hey, it was a freaking hurricane, right??  Anyway, I can't stay mad at Joey for long.  Those eyes... those lips... they always draw me back in.  But why the hell was she talking to Jen anyway?  Those two aren't exactly Buffy and Willow, if you know what I mean.  They only reason she could have for contacting her would be to find out about Dawson.  And we didn't travel 600 miles from Capeside so she could think about Dawson.