I, Laura, agree that my story "Independence Day" may only be posted at the DC Fan Fic Forum under the topic of "Holidays" for the week of 7/26/98.

Independence Day by Laura

Pacey chases after Joey, the rain quickly drenching his clothes and soaking him straight to the bone. Joey just keeps going, not caring how wet she was getting or where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away from Dawson and Jen. Deep puddles of water bejeweled the sparkling pavement, the rain bounced off the street almost delicately even though it was pouring so hard that it stung Pacey's skin as he ran through it.

"Joey! Joey, come on! Wait!" He had been yelling to her desperately since they had left the Ice House, but she did not heed his calls. It was hard to keep up with her, since the water made the street slippery, but eventually he came close enough to grab the sleeve of her jacket. Joey spun around viciously as a crack of thunder resonated through the sky.

"Pacey!"

"Joey! God! What is the matter with you! Are you *flipped*?" Pacey yells at her, his voice straining as so she can hear him over the thunder and rain. She looks at him stunned. "Are you completely crazy? This is a storm! Places are actually *flooding*! You think that now was a good time to choose to go on a leisurely run through town?"

"Shut up, Pacey!" Joey screams back and pulls away from him. "I couldn't stay there!"

"And why the hell couldn't you? Cause Dawson was drooling over Jen?" Joey just starts to walk away because she doesn't want to answer. "You let Dawson's actions control you, Joey! I know you're in love with the guy-" Joey looks back at him.

"I am *not* in love with him!"

"Oh, come off it, Joey! I'm not an idiot! I'm not as oblivious as Dawson is-I see what's going on!" Pacey exclaims. Joey's face coils up in anger and she stalks back towards him.

"What would you understand about all this? You can't possibly understand what it's like to listen to your best friend obsess over some perfect, blond, knockout girl when you're sitting there secretly wishing he would talk about you that way, or *look* at you the way he looks at her, or anything like that at all!" Joey pounds against his chest to emphasize her words. "So don't give me all that crap about understanding, because you don't!"

She turns away from him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her wet hair clings to her face tightly. She stomps her feet against the pavement angrily and Pacey waits patiently for her to finish venting.

"I mean, God! Dawson is so...Ughhhh! He *pisses* me off! I'm *so* sick of waiting, and hoping for him to realize that I love him!" She stops, stunned as the words finally escape her mouth. Pacey stares back at her, surprised she finally admitted it out loud. Defeated, Joey sits down on the curb and buries her head in her hands. Pacey sits next to her-for once he's not sure what to say.

"I always knew ya loved him, Jo. It's not a shock to me," Pacey stammers. Joey looks at him.

"If you know I love Dawson, and apparently *everyone* else knows I love him, why hasn't he realized it yet?" Pacey shakes his head.

"I've told him outright the way you feel about him. He doesn't believe me-it's denial. I don't think he'd believe it from anyone other than you." Joey is silent as she ponders this for a moment. Then she sighs and looks up to the sky, rain pattering onto her face.

"Pacey...I have to admit it feels great to finally just say it...to just say exactly what I feel...to admit my feelings to myself."

"And what do you feel right now?"

"Anger. Resentment. I've been patiently waiting for Dawson forever and I am incredibly sick of lingering around, hoping someday he'll love me back. Cause he won't." Joey looks at Pacey sadly. Pacey takes a deep breath, as if summoning up the courage to say something.

"Well, Joey, as long as we're sitting here, catching colds, as we have a deep heart-to-heart discussions about telling people what we feel...I have something to tell you." Joey stares back at him, clueless as to what he's going to say. "Do you remember the night of the carnival when I tried to kiss you?" She blushes as Pacey mentions it, the faint pink of her cheeks barely visible in the dark night.

"Yeah...I remember that..."

"Let me just say...that since then, my feelings...well, they haven't changed...I'm still...I...oh *forget this*," Pacey gives up and pulls Joey to him. He kisses her passionately....she doesn't pull away this time. Afterward, he draws back and looks into her eyes, searching for her reaction. She looks stupefied. He immediately regrets his actions and turns away from her, embarrassed.

"I...Um..." he struggles for something to say. Joey lays her hand on his back and he glances back at her, and sees a change come over her face. Without a word Joey moves close to Pacey and kisses him.

"Happy Independence Day," she murmurs as she breaks away. He looks confused.

"Wha...4th of July was almost a month ago..." he manages to say before they kiss again.

"Personal independence, Pacey...for once I feel completely free of Dawson..." Pacey smiles. "I think it's about time I realized that my love is being wasted on the wrong person. It's time for me to move on."

"So this means..." Pacey eyes her questioningly. Joey smiles.

"It means that we're going back to the Ice House so Bessie won't freak, and you and I are going to forget about Dawson for the rest of the night, deal?" Pacey nods happily and stands up, offering her his strong hand. She takes it gladly.

"Deal."

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