Joey Potter flipped through her notes from Global history. She carefully highlighted the dates of the Russian Revolution, biting her lip as she reread the words, committing them to memory.

She sighed and leaned against the couch, her eyes drifted to her nephew, Alex, sitting a few feet away watching Saturday morning cartoons. Her sister had left early that morning on errands, and Bodie was working at the Leery's restaurant this morning, for once, the Potter Bed and Breakfast had no guests this weekend. She was thankful for the break, but getting stuck with baby-sitting duty, wasn't quite what she had in mind.

"Alexander, I need a life.”

Pacey ambled up the steps to the Potter B&B two at a time. What could have been a good morning spent sleeping had been interrupted by not one phone call but two, both from Bessie who was obviously suffering from some kind of furnace mishap and a nice list from Gretchen of things that needed to be done. Like laundry, which she should have mentioned yesterday, then he wouldn’t have been forced to wear what he’d found stuffed in the back of his drawer, an old Green Bay Packers jersey, and an old pair of jeans. The jersey wouldn’t have been so bad if the Packers hadn’t completely sucked as of late.

Joey looked up hearing the front door open. "Hey Pacey." She smiled, seeing his tall frame in the doorway.

He raised a hand to his forehead in mock salute. “Handyman Witter reporting for duty.” He glanced around the room noticing Joey’s lackadaisical state, books and notes on the coffee table in front of her. “Where’s Bessie?”

"Bessie is somewhere between here and Boston." She replied easily, "Some hotel management conference. But that doesn't start until noon, so she's probably still in town doing errands." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“There any breakfast?” He turned his attention to distracting Alexander, who was sitting on the floor watching cartoons, by making faces at him. Alex giggled.

"Um, I don't think so. We have no guests so Bodie didn't make anything." She smiled at his interaction with her nephew. "If you get him worked up, I'm holding you accountable for chasing after him." She rose from her spot on the floor and headed for the kitchen. "We have cereal." She told him looking into the cupboard.

‘I’m holding you accountable,’ Pacey mouthed to Alex, mimicking Joey perfectly. He stuck his tongue out and Alex laughed. “Just like you Potter women to lure us poor schlubs under false pretenses. I was promised breakfast in exchange for my services,” Pacey called over his shoulder.

"You aren't worth your salt, Pace." She replied moving to the refrigerator. She pulled out the eggs, cheese, and milk and went to work on making some omelets.

“On the contrary, I’ll have you know that I never disappoint,” he said with just the right amount of lewd innuendo. He picked up Alex and walked over to the kitchen. He watched Joey as she busied herself at the counter. “God save us, Alex. Your aunt is attempting to cook and it’s a rather sad attempt at that, if I may add.”

"Alex, tell your Uncle Pacey that if he doesn't shut his big fat mouth, he's not gonna get any," she said sweetly to her nephew.

Pacey set Alex down on his high chair and raised an eyebrow at the little boy as he secured him in. “And how is that not doing me a favor?” He smiled sweetly and turned to Joey. “I do appreciate the fact that you’d go through all this trouble for little ol’ me but then again with your cooking skills this could be a veiled attempt at taking my life.”

"Or a not so veiled attempt." She replied, giving him a wicked smile. "I think it's pretty obvious. But then, you have always been pretty slow."

He grinned cockily. “God you’re sexy when you’re threatening a man’s life.”

"Man?" She asked confused, "There's a man around here?" She turned away from the stove, "Where?" She peered over Pacey's shoulder with an innocent smile.

“Of course it’s no surprise Potter that you wouldn’t recognize one when you see one,” Pacey commented sliding onto a stool behind the counter. He reached for an apple from the bowl on the counter and bit into it.

She rolled her eyes and returned to the stove. "Well, macho man. Bessie left a list of chores for you on the refrigerator." She smirked, "And I'd be nice to me if I were you, she left me with your pay check."

Pacey scoffed. “What is it with you women and your lists, like I have nothing better to do but follow out written orders at some god awful early hour on a Saturday morning. Don’t they get it? It’s Saturday. No school. If there’s no reason to get up why do it voluntarily? It’s crazy if you ask me. No day should start before noon. It’s just not natural.”

"Ask yourself, Pace. Do you *really* have anything better to do? I for a fact know you don’t." She shrugged, adding cheese into the pan on top of the eggs, "but hey, take off if you feel like it. I wouldn't mind taking your paycheck for myself."

He sat up indignantly. “Hey, sleeping late is a well perfected art, it’s taken me years of practice. Besides, I would gladly take the morning off, anything that would get me away from you and your acerbic tongue is okay in my book but I need the money. Got big plans tonight.”

"Art? Yeah, right." She carefully ignored his jab at her. "And what kind of "big plans" do you have?" she questioned disbelievingly.

“It is an art. Getting up at just the right time, making sure not to oversleep because then you’ll just wake up tired and not that it’s any of your business but I have a date.” He leaned forward in his seat resting his elbows on the counter and Alex let out surprised giggle smacking his hands against the high chair top as if calling Pacey on his lie.

"A date?" She frowned; glad her back was to him. "And who is the poor girl? I should send her a sympathy card."

“No one you know,” he said quickly taking a big bite out of his apple and chewing on it noisily.

"This is Capeside, Pace who don't I know?"

“Well you’re not exactly the social butterfly of Capeside now, are you?”

She scowled, "Maybe not. But I know the number of women who'd lower themselves to date you. And guess what? Andie, Jen and I know better than to try that again." She bit.

He held back a grin at her obvious discomfort. “Jealous?” He couldn’t help but taunt.

"Yeah right. What's to be jealous of?" She flipped the omelet in on itself. "The poor girl is going to have you slobbering all over her."

"And enjoy every minute of it."

She shook her head. "You are far too full of yourself. Do you actually think that cocky charm attracts women?"

"Hell yeah.”

"Hell wrong."

He slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead. “Oh yeah, what am I thinking? Andie, Jen, you, a certain teacher that shall remain nameless, of course none of you fell for that cocky charm, so it must be my ass that you all couldn’t resist.”

"Yup," she nodded. "It was your ass. It had absolutely nothing to do with your personality." She paused, "And, if I might add, your ass has fallen into sad disrepair. So I'm troubled to think some more innocent girl, with a few to little brain cells is going to be subjected to your company for an evening."

“My ass,” he stood up swiftly, thankful that Joey’s back was to him and placed his hands on his butt trying to see if there was any merit to Joey’s comment. Nope, still as great as ever. He sat back down slightly relieved. “Has not fallen into disrepair and furthermore, I wouldn’t worry about said innocent girl because I’ll have you know, she’s anything but.” Just dig that hole deeper, Pacey, he thought to himself.

"I'm beginning to think you made this all up, Pace. You still haven't told me her name." She smirked, turning off the stove and grabbing two plates from the cupboard.

"Because it's none of your business" he checked the watch on his wrist, "just like it wasn't your business five minutes ago, when you first asked."

"Whatever." She slid the biggest omelet on a plate and handed it to him. Then took the smaller one and sat beside Alexander's seat and began cutting it up for him.

He gingerly took his fork and cut a small piece off the omelet he brought it to his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. He nodded and swallowed, this time cutting off an even bigger piece. It was shockingly good, no way in hell he was going to let Joey know that though. He eyed her as she fed Alex. Was that jealousy he had had detected earlier or was it just wishful thinking on his part? He had a feeling that he didn’t want to know. “So Potter any interesting plans for this evening?” He shook his head in disbelief as he glanced down at his plate. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot who I was talking to.”

She gave him a withering look. "As a matter of fact..."

He raised an eyebrow. “What? Another rousing Saturday night spent with Mr. Barron and Mr. Cliff Notes?

"Ha ha. You know, Pace, you could stand to use some quality time with the books instead of some bimbo cheerleader who has miraculously managed to confuse 'yes' with 'no' when she had the misfortune of being asked on a date by you." She held the fork up to Alex's mouth. "Open up."

“There was no confusion and when books start to fill out a tight halter top as well as she did, I will gladly stay home,” he leered.

"You are such a pig." She muttered, concentrating on feeding her nephew.

“I try,” he responded his mouth full of food. He got off his seat and walked over to the refrigerator pulling out a container of orange juice. He grabbed a cup from the cupboard and turned to Joey observing her tense shoulders as he served himself some juice. “You know, Jo, and I’m only saying this as a concerned friend, you’re way too uptight. You need to loosen up a little.

She grit her teeth. "I'm perfectly loose, Pacey." She fed her nephew again. "At least when you're not around." She muttered to herself.

He nodded patronizingly bringing his glass to his lips nothing was more fun than goading Joey. “So remind me again, what were your plans for tonight?”

"I'm going out." She replied evenly.

“Bessie wants you to pick up some groceries?”

"Was that supposed to be funny? Cause it wasn't." She stuck her tongue out at Alex who did the same back to her, accompanied by a giggle. "I'm going out with Andie and Jen."

“My three favorite ladies spending the evening together just like Thelma and Louise and,” he paused thoughtfully. “Louise.” He set his glass down. “Any word on where this night of girl bonding is going to take place so I can make sure to be nowhere in the vicinity.”

"First of all, we don't bond. And second of all... we haven't decided yet." She fed Alex the last bite of his breakfast.

“Well since you’re as adventurous as a wet noodle, I’ll probably have nothing to worry about.” He set his glass down in the sink and rinsed it out before returning it to the cupboard.

"Oh yeah, and what kind of adventure are you and your lovebird going to embark on?”

“I’m going to sweep her off her feet of course. Dinner, dancing and a little romance.” The more he thought about it the more elaborate his plans grew.

"First of all, you can't dance. Believe me, I'd know." She unhooked the lock on the high chair and picked up Alexander. "And second of all. You? Romance?"

He grabbed his plate from the counter and tossed it in the sink. “I happen to be a very romantic guy.”

"Nope," she shook her head. "Sorry."

He shrugged carelessly putting the orange juice back in the fridge. “Not my fault that our little romantic entanglement didn’t last long enough for you to partake in the legendary Witter romance. Tough break.”

"Oh wah, too bad for me," she said sarcastically, putting Alex's plate in the dishwasher. She shifted the baby in her arms. "Don't you have work to do?"

“That I do and the sooner I get it done, the sooner I’ll be away from you and all will be right in the world,” he retorted comically and clapped his hands together. “So what exactly does Bessie need me to do?”

"It's right there." She pointed at the note on the refrigerator impatiently.

“Aha!” he exclaimed snatching it off the door without disturbing the magnet that was holding it. He scanned it quickly. “Let’s see number one, get Joey’s bolts tightened.” He raised an eyebrow.

"In some other fantasy." She glared at him, taking Alex into the other room.

He laughed to himself heading toward the furnace room and away from Joey Potter. The quicker he got this done the sooner he’d be able to leave. Not that he was in a real rush, not like he had anything better to do. This was a depressing thought in itself. He needed to get a life that didn’t involve Joey Potter or doing things for Joey Potter, which sounded nice in theory but the chances of it actually happening were slim to none.

Joey sighed and set Alex down on the floor with his toys. She frowned, thinking about her... her what? Friend? Ex? They hadn't been together long enough to be together. They'd had a fling. A short-lived one, because god knows, the ramifications of it had been far more than they'd expected. She sighed, and scanned the room for the portable phone. So why, then, had she felt something similar to jealousy hearing he had a date? She found the phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Jen... I need a favor." She walked down the hall to her bedroom to make sure Pacey wasn't within range to overhear her.

"Joey needs a favor from me? The blonde she loves to hate?"

"Je-en." She whined.

"Okay, so what is it?"

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Well, Jackers and I were-"

"So nothing?" She interrupted hopefully.

Jen chuckled. "I guess not. Why?"

"I need plans for tonight."

She closed the magazine on her forefinger marking the page she’d been reading, a very interesting article on the highs of single girl being friends with a gay guy. Already she thought of a million different ways she could’ve made the article so much more informative but Joey was on the phone and if Joey was calling her that meant that something interesting was going on in Capeside because no one ever called Jen to say hello. She was like some guru geisha or something. She wondered if she should start charging by the hour. Now there was a thought. She shook her head focusing her attention back on Joey. “So plans?”

"Yeah, I was kinda hoping to do, like, a girls night, with you and Andie." She crossed her fingers, as she waited for Jen's reply.

Jen raised an eyebrow setting her magazine down while cradling her phone between her shoulder and neck. “Joey are you feeling okay? Or is my hearing dying out with old age because I think you just voluntarily suggested to spend time with me and Andie. Together. As in a group thing. A group activity. Only females. No members of the human race with a certain appendage under their waist. Did I get that right?”

"Yes," she admitted through gritted teeth. "I kinda sort of already told Pacey I had plans with you guys tonight."

She smiled settling back against the headboard of her bed and folded her arm over her stomach. “Somehow I knew Pacey had something to do with this.”

"Jen, please keep your insightful little comments to yourself. Are you interested or not?"

She laughed lightly. “Okay since I have nothing better to do, I’ll bite. What do you have in mind?”

"I donno. I figured we could leave that up to Andie, she's full of girl-bonding ideas."

“Well then this should be interesting.” She sat up and brought her sock clad feet under her. “So what exactly happened with Pacey that made you lie about our non-existent plans?”

Joey debated whether she was comfortable telling Jen the whole story. She was likely to jump to the wrong conclusion, or was it the right one? She groaned inwardly. To hell with it. "He has a date tonight and chose to rub in the fact that I have no life. So I told him he was wrong, and I did indeed have plans tonight."

Jen couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow, you two are a regular Barbie and Ken only not,” she teased.

"No, we're not. I'm just so sick of him telling me I have no life. What right does he have to tell me what I should be doing, anyhow?"

“Is that your final answer?” Jen lowered her voice doing her best imitation of Regis Philbin.

"Yes, Final answer."

“Okay and now for the million dollar question,” she paused dramatically. “Why do you care so much about whether Pacey thinks you have a life or not?”

She paused, "I seem to recall telling you to keep your, however wrong, insights to yourself."

Jen pouted jokingly. “Darn, does this mean we can’t be bestest friends anymore?”

"Right, from now on. Andie's my best friend."

She sighed dramatically. “How will I ever go on?” she asked rhetorically. “Anyway, call me back with the final details. I need to weasel my way out from under Grams’ thumb tonight.”

"Um, you want to talk to Andie for me? I'm not exactly in the mood to handle her perkiness."

“Hey that’s your best friend not mine. You said it. Not me,” Jen remarked with a small grin giving Joey a hard time.

"You can be my best friend again..." Joey sing-songed temptingly.

“Sorry hon, but that’s just not going to cut it,” Jen smirked. “But out of the kindness of my heart, and the fact that I was about to call Jackers anyway, I’ll relay the message to the perky McPhee.”

"Thanks, Jen." Joey said relieved, opening her bedroom door and going back out to the living room.

“Yeah, yeah. Save it for someone who cares.” Jen smiled. “I’ll call you back with news on the war front. Later and oh, tell Pacey I said hi.”

"Okay. I will." She smiled. She and Jen were getting along better these days than they ever had before.

“Bye.” Jen clicked the phone off and fell onto her back glancing up at the ceiling before raising the phone back to eye level and dialing the McPhee’s number magazine article forgotten. This evening promised to be fun.

Joey peeked her head around the corner doorway to look in on Pacey. He was fiddling with something in the furnace. "Jen says hi."

“Is she here?” Pacey asked as he shut latch to the furnace. “Okay, there that should about do it.” He wiped his hands on his jeans as he stood up.

"Do you see her?"

“Funny. Let me go chop some extra wood per Bessie’s request and then I’m out of your hair,” he said pushing past her.

She stepped back, "Wouldn't want you to miss out on your last chance at a date, now would we?"

He wasn’t even angry with her more at himself and now she was angry with him, which was never a good thing. They’d say something they’d both regret in the end. “Potter, you’re delusional. This is just the first of many.”

"Must be a condition I picked up from you," she said saucily, heading back to the living room and her mound of homework.

He exhaled sharply opting to go out the back door instead of the front where’d he have to run into Joey again. He wasn’t interested in getting into another argument with her.