Rating: PG

Summary: Joey finds out that AJ is a creep. It's up to Pacey to show her how much someone cares. But will she return his love?

Author's note: My fic for the CP Val Contest

In the midst of a cool, crisp wintery day a young man, height about six foot two, hair curly and brown, made his was down a tiny, seemingly desolate dirt beaten path. He was in one of his moods. Actually, he'd been in this particular funk for about three months now. For it was precisely ninety-four days ago, ninety four of the most excruciatingly wonderful days in his entire existence, that he'd finally admitted to himself that he was in love. And this time it was for real. It was crazy maddening, disturbing and most importantly... frustrating. Unfortunately for this young man the object of his affections knew nothing about what he'd kept bottled up inside of him for all of these months. And to his great fear, had no reason to care one way or the other. But, he believed himself to be of strong mind and will. He would just take pleasure in loving her from a far, for now anyway. He knew that eventually he would have to tell her. He owed it to himself to at least try, fear or no fear. He just needed to choose the perfect moment. 'Well, that sure as hell won't be anytime soon, Witter. Not with that AJ creep lurking around in every corner.'

Sighing heavily, Pacey Witter found himself coming up the walk of a now, very familiar little country inn. 'Well, at least I get to see her face... Damn it Witter, could you get any more pathetic,' he groaned, rolling his eyes in self irritation.

Just as he raised his fist to knock on the little red door of 'The Potter B & B', he heard a strange whimpering noise coming from the other side of the house. He turned curiously around and quietly stepped toward sad sounding noise. As he peeked around the corner of the house, he saw Joey Potter sitting on the top step of the side porch sobbing softly. He realized at that moment that her crying was barely audible... 'How the hell did I know?' he thought. He watched her sadly as her older sister Bessie hugged her close to her, attempting to comfort her.

Even though his heart beat had quickened at the sight of her in pain, and every instinct in him screamed for him to run to her, take her in his arms, and make it all go away, he decided that now was not the time intrude. Perhaps it was something to do with her mother, something that only Bessie would understand. But that didn't stop him from wondering what it was that had this beautiful creature so upset. He had to listen.

"Joey? Joey, honey, please listen to me, okay?"

He watched as Joey shook her head violently into her sister's shoulder.

"Please, Jo! Listen, I know you think that this is the end of the world, but it's not... it's not... they'll be plenty of other boys..."

'WHAT?! Plenty of other boys???! That college creep is the reason she's so upset!!!' Pacey's hand curled into a tight angry fist at the thought. He wanted to go right up to Joey and demand she tell him everything. Then he'd drive up to Boston and whoop is Ivy League ass from there all the way to Timbuktu! But as yet, he remained quiet, attempting to quell is mounting anger.

Joey pushed away from Bessie. "You don't understand Bessie!!! You just couldn't!!" Tears were pouring down her cheeks, while Pacey felt his own rising to the surface.

"What don't I understand, Joey?" Her sister pleaded, sympathetically.

"You... I... You think it's easy being me?! I mean, jeez, I didn't think I was all that horrible, but after this! What am I supposed to think?!"

"You're not making sense, Joey."

"Okay then let me clarify. It's not AJ that I'm so upset over. It's not the fact that he ditched me for Valentine's Day, and it's not the fact that I called up his dorm room and his obviously much better looking, and albeit smarter new girlfriend answered the phone!"

"I'm listening..."

Joey's voice dropped to a low murmur. "It's that I'm unlovable."

"Joey, I can barely..."

"I said, 'I'm not lovable!', okay?!"

Pacey gasped at the sound of her admission. 'How could she think that?! How could she even...?' Pacey's thoughts trailed off in disbelief.

"Joey, you don't believe that."

"Oh, yes I do."

"Bodie and I... Well, we..."

"I'm not talking about familial love, Bessie! I have finally figured out that I am just not the type of girl that a man dreams of at night. I'm not the type of girl to get flowers and candy from a secret admirer or a helplessly devoted lover. And I know that a lot of those romantic notions seem to be a little cliché, but it doesn't stop me from wanting them. It doesn't stop me from wanting ... not necessarily the stereo typical romantic valentine's day date, but the intentions... the effort that goes behind it."

"So, is this what it's all about? You've got the Valentine's Day Blues?"

"No, Bessie. It's really got nothing to do with Valentine's Day itself... It has to do with the fact that I've never known what it is like to have someone want you one hundred and ten percent. Someone with no hang ups, doubts, reservations, or dreams of ways of making me into that perfect someone that I almost am... I just... forge it..." Standing, Joey shook her head in defeat, and quickly disappeared into the house.

Pacey bowed his head sadly, he knew how Joey felt. He knew precisely, but he couldn't take the fact that she had it so wrong about herself. She was loved. He loved her. He loved her more than he could possibly ever explain to her, or even himself. He sighed a little too loudly, as he turned to make his hasty retreat from the Potter property.

"Pacey?" Bessie, who had remained in her position from earlier, had caught him red-handed. "Pacey, what are >you doing sneaking around my house?" Bessie smiled softly at the young man she'd grown to love like a little brother.

"Oh... I was just... I mean... I..." Pacey chuckled dismissively, "Well, you ruined the surprise, Bessie."

"What surprise?"

"Uh... the, uh..."

"Can it, Pacey. I know you heard everything."

Pacey let out a defeated breath of air and nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I heard."

Bessie nodded in kind, and turned back to face the view of the creek in front of her. "She's too hard on herself."

Pacey took a seat next to her, spying a look through the glass of the side door to make sure Joey didn't spot him. "How could she think those things about herself?" Pacey stared down at his folded fingers. "How could she not know how special she is?" Bessie looked over at Pacey, eyes wide for a fleeting moment, as a look of understanding crossed her face. "How could she even think that...?" Tears once again began dancing in his eyes, threatening to make their unwanted presence known.

Bessie grinned to herself. She should have known. 'How could I have been so stupid?! Pacey... Pacey is in love with my baby sister.'

All of a sudden, Pacey sprang to his feet and mumbled something about having to go home. He couldn't let Bessie see him getting so upset. He needed time to get himself together. He knew he had to do something... he simply couldn't stand the thought of Joey thinking those things about herself. He had to fix it, and fix it soon.

Friday afternoon - Feb, 11th

Candy grams, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals... it was enough to make Joey Potter want to puke. Valentine's Day was the following Monday, but interestingly enough a faculty in-service had fallen on that day...so no class for the Capeside kiddies.

Joey slumped down in her desk, uncharacteristically ignoring the lecture being given at the front of the room. She eyed a blonde cheerleader from the corner of her eye, clutching what looked like a little stuffed bear with the words 'Be Mine' scribbled across its red and white t-shirt. 'What makes that bimbess so damn desirable? I bet she's had a valentine, if not twenty, every year since the 7th grade and counting... Well, what do you expect Joey? I mean, you're the freakish tomboy charity case, there's nothing intriguing or sexual about you. Why would any guy go out of his way for you?'

"Miss Potter? Miss Potter?!" Mrs. Haley called for the fourth time, and just now snapping Joey out of her self hating haze.

"Hmm? What?... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't hear you."

"That's quite obvious," she said irritably. "There is a delivery for you."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes..." The teacher signaled her hand toward the door way of the class room. Joey stood up, and cautiously made her way to the student standing in the doorway. It was obviously the girl who worked in the office that period. She seemed to be hiding something behind her back.

Furrowing her brow in suspicion, Joey approached the girl and asked, "You have a package for me?"

"Yep. Sure do." The girl said keeping her hand behind her back, handing her a rectangular shaped package, wrapped in brown paper. Joey took the package away from her slowly, examining it on all sides.

"It's not a bomb, don't worry. At least I don't think it is." The girl giggled. Joey rolled her eyes.

"Why are you hiding your arm behind your back? Do you have something else for me too?" Joey reached her palm out for her to place the mysterious other object in.

"Nope." The girl said quickly. "I have face to face orders from a certain hottie, that you are NOT to get what I have behind my back until you open the gift."

"I'm supposed to open this now? I'm missing class."

Now, it was the girl's turn to roll her eyes. "Come on, just open the thing. I'm dying to see what it is."

"Fine." Joey tentatively began removing the brown wrapping from the box. Inside her heart was beating a mile a minute. The idea that this might be some sort of Valentine's gift was mind numbing.

"Come on open it already!"

"Alright alright! Jeez!" Joey ripped the rest of the paper off only to find that it was wrapped once again in even more paper... Red, pink and white paper to exact.... 'Oh my God, Oh my God... who could have sent this... AJ, maybe? Trying to make up for... but why would he? It doesn't make sense.' She looked up at the girl who seemed to be getting more and more impatient, and ripped off the remaining paper. It was a plain thick white box. She removed the top, gasping at what she saw inside.

"Well, what is it?"

"It's... it's a sketchbook."

"A sketchbook?"

"Look!" Joey was too happy to care that the annoying senior, standing about four inches below her, would see her acting so ... swoony. "It's beautiful! Isn't it beautiful?!" It was a fairly thick sketchbook, bound in leather, with her initials imprinted in gold at the corner.

"Oh, my goodness. That must have cost a fortune. Well, maybe not as much as jewelry, but still... And it's so personal."

"Yeah..." Joey's eyes slipped shut. She would never have imagined... But who?

"One more thing," the girl smiled sweetly. She actually seemed like a nice person. Probably just another hopeless romantic.

"Oh right."

"Here you are." She handed Joey a single red rose, then a tiny card. It was a typically Valentine's Day gesture, but Joey couldn't help but think there was something more to it. She inhaled the fragrance of the flower wistfully, before turning her attention to the little white card in her hand. She opened it carefully and read the inscription, 'This is only the beginning.'

'What the heck did that mean?' she wondered. Suddenly, something occurred to her. "Wait a minute! You said you had a face to face with the guy who sent me all of this?!"

"Uh huh... Well, don't you think you oughta be getting back to class?" The girl tried to get away before she let the truth spill.

"I have to know who he is!"

"He swore me to secrecy! I can't tell you!"

"Please! This could mean life or death for me!"

"How so?"

"Just tell me, already!"

"Sorry... I can't... I hafta go." The turned in the opposite direction practically running away from the pleading Potter girl.

"Please, just a little hint!"

The girl suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, slumped her shoulders. She was terrible at keeping secrets. She told the guy when he asked her not to say anything. But, dropping a little hint wouldn't be really blabbing. And, he'd never said anything about not giving hints. She turned back to face Joey. "Okay, one LITTLE hint."

Joey rushed over to her expectantly. "Well?"

"I'm thinking of a good hint. I don't want to give too much away... Okay, I got it... His eyes! His eyes are neither blue nor brown."

"That's it!? I'm supposed to go around staring into every guys' eyes I see?"

"That's all I'm going to tell you. I have to go! The bell is about to ring! See ya!" The girl dashed down the hallway, disappearing around the corner.

"Not blue, not brown?" she mumbled. As she re-entered the class room, she felt all eyes on her. But she chose to ignore them, instead reveling in the feel of finally having someone who thought she was special.

Pacey Witter stood by his locker, watching as Joey packed her books away with a dazed smile on her face. She looked happy. Mission accomplished, right? 'Go the whole nine yards Witter! No.. no she doesn't want that. She doesn't want her secret admirer to be me. Nah, it's better she think it's someone she really wants.' Pacey thought with a slight pang twinging his heart.

Sighing he closed his half opened locker and made his way over to his friend, Dawson Leery.

"Hey D."

"Oh, hey Pace... Do you have any idea what's with Joey today? I know she got some flower from some guy, but she won't tell me anything."

Pacey just shrugged his shoulders.

"You think it was that college guy?"

"Yeah, probably."

"Oh. Oh, well. So, what are you up to this weekend?"

"Uh, me?"

"Yeah, Pace, you." Dawson chuckled at his friends odd behavior.

"No... I..." Pacey thought for a moment. Did he really want to be tied up all weekend with plans with Dawson? Maybe he should... 'NO, man.. Don't even go there. Just tell Dawson you'll hang with him.' "Uh.. actually man. I think I'm just gonna hang out at home. Catch a few Z's."

"For the whole weekend?!"

"I don't know Dawson, we'll see. I'll call ya, okay?" He dismissively spoke, as he made his way down the hall and out of the building.

"Hey Jo! Wait up!"

Joey was momentarily snapped out of her trance by the sound of her friend's voice. She turned her body around to meet him.

"Hey, Pace. What's up?"

"What no vicious tongue lashing, for the Pace Man today? Must be my lucky day."

"Can it clown."

Pacey chuckled lightly, and draped his arm teasingly over her shoulder.

"So, what's with the red rose, Miss Josephine?"

"Nothing that you'd know anything about.." Joey said dryly, secretly wishing that Pacey really would do such a thing for her. She shook her head at the thought of such non sense and focused her attentions back on trying not to be so affected by his close proximity.

"That's why I asked, Potter. You really are out of it today, aren't you?" he teased.

"Bite me, Pacey! And please remove your arm from my shoulder. Your bodily odor resembles something close to that of toxic waste!"

Pacey moved away from her, hiding his disappointment with a winning smile. "So, uh, walk you home?"

Joey looked down at the rose in her hand, and thought about the sketch book she now had safely secured in her back pack, and smiled. 'If only it had been Pacey.' She looked over at him sideways, and nodded slightly. "Sure, Pace. I'd like that."

Pacey stopped himself from making another crack. He decided that it might be high time for Joey to start taking him a little more seriously. Especially if he was going to tell her who her secret admirer was by Monday. 'Oh, God. I hope I don't make a complete fool of myself.'

They walked the rest of the way to the inn in silence.

'This is only the beginning' 'This is only the beginning' Joey woke up Saturday morning from a fitful sleep, with those exact words running through her mind. "What the hell does that mean?" She mumbled to herself. She'd better get soon, or Bessie would have her head. The romantic weekend get-aways in the country were in full swing and the Potter B & B for the first time ever was completely book... with REAL and most importantly PAYING guests.

Pacey sat on the corner of his bed, a small stuffed puppy in his hand.

He had planned to have it sent to Joey's house along, with more flowers and some candy. He had planned to shower her with the gifts he could afford. But, all night long he had been thinking, thinking, thinking. Maybe this was his chance. Maybe it really was time to let her know, what he felt for her. He'd promised himself that he would do it one day... one day soon. 'It's one day soon, isn't it?'

He felt his heart beating rapidly at the notion of telling her. He knew that she could never feel the same way. Maybe he was being selfish. Maybe he would really be ruining everything for her if he told. 'That's a chance you are going to have to take, Pace.... But, I don't want to hurt her. I don't want her to be disappointed. I couldn't take that.... Just trying it... You never can tell.'

Pacey thumbed his way through the Valentine's cards at the local Hallmark. He still couldn't find anything suitable. His stomach felt like it was eating him alive with nervousness. 'There is nothing in this place that describes what she is to me,' he thought with annoyance. 'Damn it Witter, when did you become such a sap? Isn't that Dawson's expertise?' His thoughts were broken when he heard the sound of a familiar female voice.

"Uh, where are your Valentine's Day decorations?"

"All the way toward the back, right side."

"Thank you."

"Shit!" Pacey muttered. He did NOT want Joey seeing him there. He tried to turn his back and sneak his way up the aisle past her without her seeing him.

"Pacey?"

'Damn!' He was caught. Might as well face the music.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Ice Queen 1999. Better watch it Jo, if someone catches you in here amongst all of these hearts and flowers, they might recall you crown."

"And here I thought I was talking to a human being. Oh, my mistake." She smiled sourly. "And for your information troll boy, I am here getting decorations for this weekend."

"Romantic weekend planned, Jo?"

"As a matter of fact I might. But these decorations are for small party we a giving for our guests on Sunday night."

"And you didn't invite me? I'm hurt, Josephine."

Joey rolled her eyes. "So what are you doing here anyway?"

"Who me? I was.. uh.. just browsing."

"Oh, okay, Pace. Well, I gotta hurry up and get this stuff, talk to you later, okay?"

"See ya, Potter."

Sunday Afternoon

"Joey can you get the door, please?" Bessie stuck her head into Joey's room off of the kitchen flour all over her hands.

"Don't tell me you're cooking, Bess. I don't think poisoning our guests will make for good recommendations."

"Don't be cute. Just answer the door."

Joey sighed, once again rolled her eyes, then quickly made her way to the front door.

"Oh, wow! Looks like one of our guests is in for a surprise." Joey said admiring the beautiful bouquet of white and yellow roses. "Who are they for?"

"Uh, let me see. Sorry, I've had quite a few deliveries today... A Miss Josephine Potter?"

"Excuse me?"

"That's what is says right here."

"Um, I.. well, that's me."

"Oh, well then. Sign right here."

With shaky fingers, Joey scribbled her illegible signature and accepted the flowers. "Thank you."

The delivery man smiled, "Happy Valentine's Day."

Joey closed the door, and immediately began searching for a card. She found one. It read, "To a friend and an angel." 'No signature again!' "Could this be from AJ? Is he trying to get me to forgive him?... Maybe it's from Dawson..? But what about what that girl said not blue not brown... UGH!"

"Talking to yourself again, Jo?"

"Bodie, I'm gonna go crazy if I don't figure out who sent these! You've got to help me!"

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Track down the delivery man and threaten him until he gives?" He laughed, "And I doubt that would even work. He probably doesn't know either."

"Well, maybe they'd know at the florist."

"They aren't going to tell you, Joey. Maybe this guy is just waiting for the right moment to give himself up."

"But, what if he doesn't? I have to know, Bodie." Joey shook her head.

"Come on. Let's go get these in some water."

"Fine."

Pacey wore a whole in his carpet. This was it. He was finally going to let the cat out of the proverbial bag. He'd decided that Sunday would be the best time to let her know. She wouldn't be expecting it. Since they had Monday off, and that Monday was indeed Valentine's Day.

He would tell her that he did love her.. One hundred and ten percent... without any doubts or reservations.. just like she'd said. How could anyone not love her? Well, tonight she would know. Even if she didn't return said love, she'd know that she was indeed truly lovable.