Dawson returns to Boston after working as an assistant director in Los Angeles over the summer and reunites with Joey who has spent a relatively angst-free summer in Capeside. Audrey and Pacey return from L.A. with a surprise passenger, Audrey's childhood friend Jack Osborne.

Dawson & Joey's reunion leads to an evening of truth and intimacy, which is ruined when Dawson receives a phone call from another woman. Pacey gets a job interview that could change his life. Sparks fly between Jen and CJ, a handsome new peer counselor she meets at school.

Joey's worst nightmare comes true when she accidentally sends a very personal e-mail she wrote for Dawson to the entire student body. The next morning, Joey's e-mail is the topic of virtually all campus discussions when Professor Hetson decides to debate it with his students. Meanwhile, Jack makes an attempt to get to know his cultural professor, Mark Freeman, who pays no attention to Jack, a little better. Pacey, while struggling to survive the first days on his new job, closes a very important deal for the firm, which his wheeling-dealing mentor Rich Rinaldi takes full credit for. Eddie, a student in Joey's reading class, whom also works as the bartender at Helle's Kitchen, persuades Joey to confront any challenge that Hetson throws and not show any weakness since Hetson thrives on it.

Dawson finds himself in an awkward situation when he is put between Joey and the intoxicated leading lady of his film. Audrey allows herself to be taken in by another man's charm.

Dawson's manages to 'get the girl' when a producer visits the "Wicked Dead" movie set to fire Natasha and close down production. Audrey is excited when asked to be the lead singer of Emma's band but is crushed when Pacey misses the gig. Joey demands the truth from Eddie.

When Dawson assists Todd in throwing a blow-out Halloween party, Todd and Natasha have Dawson believing he is seeing the ghost of a legendary film actress. Jen becomes suspicious about C.J., and Joey gets stuck taking Professor Heston's daughter to a haunted house with Eddie.

Audrey gets drunk before her band performs and worries her friends, especially CJ who suspects a deeper problem. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joey agree to go on a real date; Pacey hits it off with a beautiful woman while on a business trip to New Orleans, and is shocked to discover that she's a call girl; and when Professor Freeman announces that he's leaving he and Jack have a heart-to-heart talk about their future.

Dawson comes through with No Doubt concert tickets, but he and Natasha's first public date ends in a brush with the law. Joey and Eddie have to sneak into the concert, while Pacey come to blows with CJ at the concert when it is revealed that he slept with Audrey.

Natasha is drawn to a handsome new actor who arrives to the set. Meanwhile, Joey spends the night at Eddie's apartment but misses Professor Heston's final exam. Pacey invites Emma to his office party and sparks between the two turn to passion.

Dawson and Gail invite everyone back to Capeside for Christmas, but Dawson confronts Natasha about her one-night stand; Joey's happiness with Eddie turns sour when her father expresses his disapproval; Jen spends her time consoling a dumped Grams and Audrey gets loaded.

Joey follows Eddie to his family home where they face up to their true emotions and the obstacles they must overcome to be together. Back in Boston, Pacey is invited to an exclusive party where he receives a promotion and is recruited to be part of a special project but is tipped off that the project maybe not be ethical. Audrey returns from Los Angeles and is welcomed back into the band, but blows her chances by getting drunk just before taking the stage. (The WB)

In Los Angeles, while directing re-shoots on "Wicked Dead", Dawson finds his authority questioned by Heather Tracey and the other producers when Natasha refuses to do a nude scene. As a result, Dawson adopts an aggressive take-no-prisoners attitude, similar to the one that Todd has, to take control of the situation. In Boston, Joey is unable to say good-bye to Eddie who is moving to California to register at a college when she convinces him to help her take Audrey to a rehab clinic in Los Angeles, and the three of them, plus a guy Audrey picks up, drive cross country where the four constantly quarrel with each other. Also, Jen and C.J. set a lonely Grams up with C.J.'s Uncle Bill, who turns out to be quite randy.

Joey agrees to be Pacey's temporary assistant but their mutual jealousy leads to disaster in the office. Dawson sells his idea for a coming-of-age movie, but when the studio wants to change it to a teen sex film, he must decide whether to stick with his original concept.

Jen's seemingly happy world comes crashing down when she learns that Grams has breast cancer. Meanwhile, Joey's tumultuous love life continues when Eddie reveals his true reasons for returning to Boston, and Pacey agrees to join Joey as she chaperones for Harley's school dance, but what should be a magical night doesn't feel right for Joey. Although he is at first reluctant, Pacey agrees to invest Dawson's life savings to finance his new film project.(the WB)

Joey and Eddie's emotional and sexual relationship is played out on stage during a counseling center benefit. At the same event, Jack and David deal with the insecurities in their relationship, a sober Audrey returns to Boston, and Jen opens up to C.J. about Grams' cancer.

Pacey learns he has lost Dawson's money in the stock market. Back at school, Eddie surprises Joey with a trip to Europe for the summer, but a fiery conversation about how differently they live their lives leaves both of them questioning their future together.