I never liked Jen during the series’ run but I really like her now. Jen is anything but a bad friend to Joey. Joey was horrific to her throughout the majority of their high school years. I get why Joey was this way but it does not make it right. There are several moments throughout their high school years where Jen goes out of her way to be a very good friend to Joey when it comes to guys: Anderson Cooper, that weirdo football player (Warren Goring or whatever) and most importantly, Pacey. Joey was never there for Jen because she always saw her as a threat to what she thought was her “ideal world.”

As for Jen’s behavior in S2, she was grieving the loss of her grandfather so she was in an highly emotional state and reverted to her high risk behavior. She was also being egged on by Abby Morgan. That was shady of Jen to go after Dawson though.

As for Dawson and Jen being together in S5, Joey was not with Dawson just as Dawson could not be angry when Joey and Pacey got together in S3-4. These two make it seem like they always have “dibs” on each other.