Dawson turned to Pacey. "Pacey?"

"Can't. Plans," Pacey said simply.

"Any faculty member we know?" Joey asked, smiling.

"Ha, ha, Jo, very funny, and before I refuse to answer your meant-to-be-rheatorical question with an equally-witty remark, let me remind you that--"

"You know, as much as I enjoy watching you two trade insults," Dawson interrupted." I have to run some errands."

The three said their good-byes and Dawson made his way to the grocery store, leaving Joey and Pacey behind to walk home together.

"Don't worry, Jo, I'm sure we can find someone to referee our verbal wrestling matches on late-notice." Pacey grinned. "Someone not as dreamy and captivating as the man of your dreams, a.k.a. Dawson, but someone capable..." She turned to Pacey with a look that could kill, literally. "You know, one of these days--"

It was then she tripped over a small part of the sidewalk that jutted out before her.

Pacey stooped down. "Joey, you okay?" he asked in alarm.

"Just fine," she groaned, as she rubbed her left ankle. "Luckily, the pavement broke my fall."

"You know what,"Pacey said suddenly, letting the hand that was supporting Joey drop. "To hell with this." With that, he made a motion as if he was going to scoop Joey into his arms and carry her. "Carrying you will get us to the clinic faster."

Joey flinched and backed away as fast she could. "No way in hell am I letting you carry me."

"Please, will you lay off the drama-queen act just for few minutes? I'm trying to help here."

"And wind up with something worse than a broken foot when you purposely drop me into the Atlantic Ocean? I don't think so."

"Okay, then how about piggy-back ride? Or is that too inferior for thy royal highness?"

"Bite me," she replied with a death-stare.

"You know, one of these days I'm going to have to take you up on that offer."

"That's fine with me, because I'm pretty sure Buffy will come to my rescue." Pacey again sighed frustratedly and knelt down with his back facing her. "Just get on already."

"Well, fortunately, it looks like it's only a slightly sprained ankle, Josephine,"Dr. Brenner said, examining Joey's naked foot.

She corrected the doctor,"It's Joey, actually."

"You know, like a baby kangaroo?" Pacey joked. Dr. Brenner smiled while Joey gave Pacey another death-stare.

"Hey, hey, off your feet,"Pacey said as he gently pushed Joey back into her perch on the stool inside the S.S. Icehouse.

"Pacey--"Joey began to protest.

"No," he interrupted with a shake of his head.

"But--" she started again.

"No,"he said again,"Doctor's orders, remember?"

"How could I forget?"she said miserably."Look, as much as you must enjoy seeing as me as an invalid--"

"May I remind you is filling in for you at this lovely establishment while I'm at risk of losing my job at my other place of employment by doing so?"

"You volunteered,"Joey reminded him.

Pacey sighed and shook his head again, "You know, the next time I do a favor for you, try to talk me out of it first? Or at least act a little more grateful."

"Look, it's just a sprained ankle--" she tried again.

"Bo-die?" Pacey looked for back-up.

"Off your feet, Joey,"Bodie and Bessie said simultaneously, not even bothering to turn away from their work.

It was then that she gave up and tried to find a comfortable posistion in the wooden stool as Pacey, satisfied with his small victory, made his way toward some new customers.

Bessie walked over to her carrying baby Alex on her shoulder. "You know, he's doing a lot for you, Joey. It wouldn't hurt to show a little gratitude."

"I'm sorry, but I'm uncapable of any positve emotions right now. Please leave a message at the beep," Joey said, opening her Spanish book.

Bessie sighed, and turned to her son. "I tried. I really did."

"Hey, what's with the Kerri Strug look?" Jen said, coming up to Joey, whose leg was propped up on the stool next to her.

Joey proceeded to tell her the lovely "How I Sprained My Ankle and Lived to Tell the Tale" story.

"Well, at least you can goof off for a couple of days," Jen said after Joey had finished. "But on the other hand, you pretty much owe Pacey a favor or two." "Please." Joey rolled her eyes. "Pacey did the whole 'I'm-carrying-you-to-the-hospital' thing just to better his image and score brownie points with the girls who like the heroic types."

"Whatever you say,"Jen replied. "But I always thought that despite the utter-and-complete-hatred-vibe you guys seem to give off whenever put in the same zip code, he really seems tocares about you."

"And how's that?" Joey questioned, unconvinced.

"Well, there's the time he punched the guy who provided you with alcohol at Cliff's barbecue."

A confused look spread across Joey's face. "I thought that was Dawson."

"Well, you were pretty out of it," she said. "But to set the record straight once and for all, itwas Pacey who did the swinging, not Dawson." Jen paused, then continued. "I guess you owe him a lot more than you originally thought."

~*~

She saw him on the docks behind the restaurant, sitting quietly and snacking on some ofBodie's chili cheese fries. She watched him for a moment, leaning on her crutches. Shepaused, then made her way slowly toward him, being careful not to make a sound.

"Hey," she acknowledged him, and he quickly turned around in surprise and stood up quickly. "Joey, you're not supposed to--"

"Be on my feet, yeah, yeah, I know,"she rolled her eyes and smiled."But I live for danger."

"Spoken like a true Bondgirl," he grinned. "Here let me help,"he offered, as he took the crutches away from her.

"Thanks,"she said as she slowly sat down and he placed the crutches at next to her spot on the dock.

"Fry?" He held out the container to her as he sat down again.

"Sure," she said, taking one,"I haven't had heartburn or an uneasy stomach in a while." She glanced at him sideways as she chewed."Sorry about the way I've been acting. I mean, you've done god-knows-how-much for me, all I've done in return is whine and complain."

"Apology accepted. God knows I'm used to your whining and complaining,"he said, then smiled mischieviously as he put on a Don Corleone accent. "But, of course, there will come a time when I am in need of a favor...I mean, you are indebted to me after all. I carried you to the hospital, stayed by your side throughout the painful examination..."

She splashed some water toward him with her good foot.

"Hey, watch it," he said in his normal voice, his arm shielded against his face."This is what I get for being your knight-and-shining-armor?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm no damsel-in-distress, even with a bad ankle. But thanks for your help. I owe you one."

"That's okay. This can be a freebie. I prefer my sex to be two-sided."

She splashed some more water toward him. "As if any sex you've ever had has been ever done with more than one person."

"Ouch," he feigned hurt at her comment."That's gonna leave a scar."

She laughed."No, really, I do owe you one."

"Like I said before, no problem. That's what friends are for. Besides, waitressing is definitelya lot more fun than working with the lovely Nellie Olsen at our local video rental store."

"Why, is Nellie giving you a hard time?"

"I can handle Nellie. But it'd be a lot easier for me and half of Capeside if Nellie'd just shut her trap a little more often."

"You know," she began slowly," we always could use some extra help around here. I couldtalk to Bessie. Most likely there's gonna be something available with the upcoming tourist season. I mean, waitressing does have its low points, but at least it would mean you wouldn't have to breathe the same air as Nellie unless painfully necessary."

"Sounds like a dream come true," he said to himself, and turned to her again.

"You'd really talk to Bessie for me?" He seemed somewhat astonished at her generosity.

She shrugged casually."That's what friends are for. Besides, I have a couple of favors to return."

"I don't know," he said thoughtfully."I can't just abandon ship like that, leave poor Dawson behind with Jaws treading the waters."

"Dawson can take care of himself. He's a big boy now."

"They grow up so fast, those Oompa-Loompas," he feigned sadness and wiped away an imaginary tear, which caused a small smile from Joey. He then went back to the original topic they were discussing. "About working here...there's also the fact that ninety-nine percent of the time we can't stand to be in each other's company, and I'm sure bickering waiters isn't somethingpaying customers are willing to see,"he continued.

"I can handle you. I have for almost sixteen years,"she replied with a coy smile. "Hey, it wasn't always like this," he said defensively. "We used to be close. We could talk to to each other about anything. Whatever happened to that?" "I don't know. Puberty, I guess," she said.

"Hmmm...so the fact that we now find the opposite sex attractive means that we can't be as close as we used to be?"

"Me and Dawson have pondered that question many times in the past months,"she said quietly, looking away.

"And?" he asked.

"And...nothing,"she replied honestly, turning to look at him again. He sighed. "Hey, look, just because Dawson is oblivious to the fact that a beautiful, intelligent, yet painfully modest woman is standing in front of him with open arms doesn't mean that we can't have a better friendship, does it?" "It has nothing to do with it."

"And?"

"And?"

"Let's give it a try. Make an effort not to get at each other's throats more than once a day. Hmmm? For old time's sake?" He gently nudged her shoulder. "Remember when we were ten, and I was playing hockey--"

"Not a wise choice for someone as athletically-challenged as yourself," she interrupted.

He let out a frustrated sigh. "It was the day after you, me, and Dawson saw The Mighty Ducks, and I was a little inspired by it, all right? Now, will you please let me finish telling you about a childhood memory?"

Joey made a motion across her lips as if she was zipping up her mouth.

"Anywho," he continued, "as I was saying, we were both eight, and I had broken my arm playing hockey. I remember that the day after, you came over to my house with this improvised doctor's kit and refused to leave my bedside until my arm was healed."

Joey nodded, smiling. "I remember that. We watched Disney movies all day and ate all the junk food in your house." She paused, and laughed. "Remember when I prescribed red jelly beans as your medication and we ended up eating the entire jar?"

He grinned. "My mom was so pissed, those were supposed to for my sister's art project. But she took one look at the doctor and the patient, and found us another package to eat while you tried to find my heartbeat with that can-and-string contraption that you made first as telephone the week before." They laughed at the memory, and when the laughter had died down, Pacey continued. "The point I'm trying to make is...don't you miss those Pacey-Joey moments? Let's give it a try. Ditch the Jerry-Springer material for a while. If it doesn't work out, hey, we can always go back to the way things are now. The kicking, the screaming...we have nothing at all to lose."

"Except our sanity," she joked. "But I guess I can make an effort...," her voice drifted off. "You still want me to talk to Bessie about a job opening?"

He thought for a while, and slowly nodded. "Yeah. It beats handing out videos while Nellie breathes down my neck."

"I thought you could handle Nellie."

"I can. But it's so much more fun with you breathing down my neck," he grinned. She scoffed and splashed more water toward Pacey, and continued to kick the water in his direction. He defended himself by throwing water back at her. "Hey, no fair, I'm injured!"

"So now you use that excuse against me? I don't think so!" he laughed and continued the water fight.

"Hey, you guys!" A familiar voice intervened. "Having fun without me?"

They stopped mid-splash, and both turned to look at the intruder.

"Fun?" Pacey stood up, squeezing the cold liquid out of his shirt. "Without you, Dawson, fun is just a word."

"Glad to know I'm needed around here,"Dawson grinned, and he it was then he noticed the wet bandage around her right foot and his face was filled with concern. He stooped down. "Joey, what happened to your foot?!"

"It's just a a sprained ankle. Nothing major,"she explained.

"I'll go get you a dry bandage," Pacey said, making his way toward the stairs while Dawson began to unwrap the damp one. He mouthed the words "Go for it" toward Joey and pointed at Dawson with both index fingers, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

She rolled her eyes, and silently laughed.

"So what happened?"

Joey was confused by his question. "With...?"

"Your foot, Joey....What happened to your foot?" he repeated, a small smile on his face. "You sure that your head wasn't injured, too?"

"Very funny, Dawson," she replied, and then looked down at her ankle. "I tripped walkng home. It's just a small sprain. Nothing Doogie Howser couldn't fix."

"How long do you need the crutches?"

"A week at the most. But I still have to take it easy for a while...maybe another week," she answered.

"Just in time for a certain someone's birthday,"he grinned.

She gave him another bewildered look, and once again he laughed at her confused state."Your birthday. You sure it wasn't your head, not your ankle, that got hurt?"

"My head's just fine, thank you. An the fact that you're even asking makes me question if you're concerned or just insulting my intelligence."

"Concerned. I am merely concerned about your state-of-being, Joey,"he answered in his defense. "So, is there anything special you want for your sweet sixteen?"

"Not really," Joey said honestly.

"C'mon, Jo, there must be something,"he probed. "Something you want, crave for, desire..."

Look in the mirror, Dawson, she thought to herself. "There's not much of anything I want, crave for, or desire," she lied.

"Look, just think about it, and tell me as soon as possible. It will save me many hours wandering in and out of the many gift shops Capeside and browsing the home-shopping networks---"he stopped mid-sentence and his face took on one of terror.

"Dawson, what?" she asked, alarmed.

He looked at his watch and jumped up. "I was supposed be home fifteen minutes ago. Joey, I'm sorry but I have to bail. My mom's been planning this family dinner for--"

"Go. Stop apologizing. Go."

"Thanks. Talk to you later," he rushed off, nearly colliding with Pacey who had almost dropped the towel and first-aid kit he had brought back.

"Put the moves on him a little too strong?" he questioned her, half-kidding, as he draped the dry towel around her shoulders.

"He had to get home to dinner," she explained. "You know, the one his mom has been planning?"

"Oh, the one that their therapist suggested?" He sat down next to her, in the same spot as before.

She nodded, and rolled her eyes. "As if one dinner is going to magically bring the Leery family together again...like nothing ever happened."

"We all wish it could," he said sadly.

"For Dawson's sake?"

"For the sake of everyone."

"Why do say that?"

He sighed, and looked out toward the water. "Because...well, it would give us all hope again...that the 'perfect relationship' did exist. We all thought that the Leery's were one of the few, if not only, people who had that, and well, look what happened."

"There is no perfect relationship, Pacey. Nothing's perfect."

"Not 'perfect' meaning 'without flaws', because flaws are what makes a relationship moderately interesting. But 'perfect' meaning...'perfect' meaning that 'there will be one person, and one person only, guaranteed, now and forever.' "

"Forever's a pretty long time, Pacey," Joey commented."People get bored, change, mature, evolve, grow up--"

"And give up," he interceded. "That plays a role in the diminishment of long-lasting relationships also." He turned to look at her again. "Don't give up on Dawson, Joey. It's just a matter of time before he realizes he has a good thing going...with you."

She sighed. "I can't wait around forever, Pacey...like I said before, forever's a pretty long time."

"Then, I guess, you're going to have to make the first move."

"I have made the first move."

"Then you'll have to be more aggressive."

"I don't want to push him, Pacey... what if I fall? What then? I would have destroyed my chance with him as well as our friendship. I don't want to lose what we already have."

"You're scared. Don't deny it. You are, and I don't blame you. But are you saying you can have Dawson only as a friend, and nothing more, and you won't regret that you didn't try to get something beyond that friendship boundary? That you can be completely happy and content and satisfied with Dawson only as a male companion? Sometimes, you have to take risks. It's how you live and survive life."

She shook her head. "You are such a hypocrite, Pacey."

"A hypocrite?"

Joey nodded. "You want to get out of Capeside. Everyone in this town does, no matter how hard they deny it. But you're not even trying, Pacey, you're not even making an effort. The truth is, you've given up on yourself and you are scared as hell about exiting Capeside and leaving behind a safety net that you always seem and want to fall back on whenever there's a sign of trouble."

"That's not true," he argued.

She nodded again. "Yes, it is. All your life, you've been told that you are a screw-up and that you won't amount up to much of anything. That you're bound to be nothing more than the chief-of-police's son. And the scary part, Pacey, is that you've accepted that," she told him. "I'll make you a deal. I won't give up on Dawson if you won't give on yourself. If you at least make some sort of effort to prove to this town that we were wrong all along." She stuck out her hand.

"Deal?"

He looked at her hand, and asked, "What kind of effort are you suggesting?" "To actually try getting past a C in a class or two."

"We'll help each other along the way?"

"Yeah," she answered, hand still outstreched. "That's what friends are for."

He paused, then took her hand and shook it. "Deal," he confirmed.