Dawson swiveled in his desk chair when he heard the clang of feet on the ladder by his window. "Jo?" He questioned, just as he saw Pacey's familiar brown hair peek through the window, followed by the rest of his friend's tall frame.

"Sorry to disappoint you, man," Pacey said straightening himself out.

"You're not a disappointment." He assured his friend, turning back to his computer. "How's it going?"

"It's not." Pacey sighed dropping onto Dawson's bed.

"That bad?" He asked, hitting save on the project he was turning in the next day. It was a month after New Years and school was back in full swing. Dawson turned his full attention to his friend who'd been fighting back a state of melancholy ever since January first.

"Where'd all the Spielburg go?" Pacey asked as he went through Dawson's video case.

He chuckled and smiled softly, "They've been banned."

He looked at Dawson curiously. "I'm waiting for you to reveal your true form and admit you have the real Dawson locked in a closet somewhere."

"No," he shook his head. "Andie just wont tolerate Spielburg, so she hid the temptation."

"Ah yes, Andie. Cute blonde that could convince you nuclear war is truly a good thing."

"Yeah, well," Dawson looked away uncomfortably.

"Speaking from a non-jealous, indifferent, ex-boyfriend point of view," Pacey added.

Dawson let out a long breath, "I was kinda hoping to avoid this conversation. I suppose that was just wishful thinking, right?" He'd been worried about this ever since he'd kissed Andie a month ago on New Years Eve.

"Okay fine. Then we'll just sit here and...not have this conversation."

"We can have another conversation." Dawson pointed out, "Involving cheating girlfriends and their infantile ex's. It's been a month, Pace. You should be over it."

"You know what? In this day and age, silence is really under-appreciated." He raised an eyebrow and sat back on Dawson's bed.

"One or the other, Pace...which is it gonna be?"

"It's like asking if I want to lose an arm or a leg. Neither sounds too appealing."

"Sorry, Pace. But...it could get ugly if we don't talk about Andie. And Jen...you need to talk about it. Joey's the only other female in our little circle to talk about, and as far as I know, she's perfectly fine. So you're stuck with Andie or Jen."

"Andie it is then."

Dawson blanched slightly and pursed his lips. "Okay. Andie."

He looked at Dawson expectantly and folded his arms across his chest. "Whenever you're ready."

"Okay, so...I like her." He admitted.

"Uh-huh."

"And...I'm pretty sure she likes me."

"Uh-huh."

He nodded reluctantly. "Um...we're not really...together yet."

"Uh-huh..."

"I'd like to be..."

He raised an eyebrow trying to contain a smirk and tried his best to appear serious. "You'd like to be?"

Dawson sighed and rose from his chair, "Yes. I'd like to be," he started pacing. "I like her, Pacey. I really, really like her. I mean...I feel like, for the first time since Joey, that I'm not so hopeless. She gives me that. And I know...after how I treated you last spring, I don't even deserve your friendship, let alone your blessing on this. But..." he sighed again, "I want you to be okay with this. With us."

"I mean, I really need to think about this. You do realize what you're asking me here, right? The idea of you and Andie..."

"Yeah, Pacey. I know. I know what it was like for me when you and Joey had your...fling." Dawson chose is words carefully. "So I can imagine, easily, what this would be like for you. But I promise, I wont aban-" he cut himself off. "She and I have a fut-" He cut himself off again, he had the sinking feeling he was digging himself into a hole. "We're gonna last." He finished weakly.

Pacey nodded solemnly. "That's what they all say."

"I know...relationships come and go. And college is coming soon. But," Dawson looked at his friend sincerely, "I think I could love her, Pace. Really love her."

"Really?"

Dawson finally stopped pacing. "Yeah."

Pacey looked at Dawson sympathetically. "Well, I'm sorry to say this man but..." Dawson nodded his head morosely and swallowed with difficulty. Pacey smiled in amusement at Dawson's nervousness. "I hope the two of you are happy...Just keep all details sexual and otherwise to yourself."

He did a double take, "W-what?"

"I don't think I stuttered, pretty sure I was speaking English too."

"Yeah, but you were acting like..." Dawson shook his head, "So seriously? We're okay?"

"I was just giving you a hard time, D. We're okay."

Dawson smiled for the first time since he'd begun the conversation. "You're a better man than I was, Pace."

"And you're just realizing that now?"

"No," he chuckled, "I'm just realizing how much better."

"It's about time."

"Moving on..." Dawson sat down at his desk. "How are you feeling?"

"Trying not to."

"I'm sorry, Pacey, but I just don't get it," Dawson gave him a confused look, "Even after Andie cheated on you...a month later, you weren't this upset. And it's not like Jen slept with someone else. I don't think this is healthy."

"What's not healthy is your concern over my love life."

"I just don't like seeing you this way," Dawson defended himself.

"I'm fine."

"If you say so."

Pacey rolled his eyes and climbed off the bed. "I think I'm gonna go."

"Okay, but at least tell me you're talking to Joey about whatever is bothering you."

"I wouldn't worry about it."

"Of course you wouldn't. That's what I'm here for."

"For claiming to be my friend you really don't listen when I talk do you?"

"That's because you don't tell me the truth when you talk to me."

"So you claim."

"So are you talking to Joey?"

"We've been busy."

"Who's been busy?" A voice asked from outside Dawson's window. Joey straightened once she was inside and found both Dawson and Pacey's eyes on her.

"You," Pacey said quickly clearing his throat. "The both of us actually..."

"Oh," she nodded at Dawson. "Yeah, I have been pretty busy lately." Involuntarily, her eyes turned back to Pacey. They'd been very careful at avoiding each other. It had been pretty easy at school when the semester changed and they only had lunch together. With the rest of their friends present then, there was no need for them to really communicate. Group activities were the same way.

Pacey gave Dawson a pointed look now that his point was proven before heading for the door. "Anyway, I was just leaving. I'll see you around."

"Later Pacey," Dawson sighed.

"Bye Pace," Joey said softly, sitting down on the edge of Dawson's bed she watched him go.


The next day, Joey joined Dawson, Andie and Jack at their usual lunch table with a thump. "I hate Monday's." She grumbled, rubbing her temples.

"Hello to you, too." Jack greeted her with an amused smile. "We're only half way done."

"Don't remind me." She scowled, pulling her lunch from her back pack.

"Bad morning?" Andie asked.

"You could say that," she sighed. "So, what about you guys?"

Andie smiled cheerfully pulling out the sandwich she had brought for lunch. "I had a pop quiz that I totally aced."

"And I probably failed," Jack groaned shooting Andie a look. "Some of us don't spend all our free time making flash cards."

"Oh, come on it's just one test." Andie reached into her lunch bag and pulled out a container of cookies. "I made cookies. I figured everyone could use some cheering up."

"Just one test?" Jack smirked. "Says the girl that thought her chances for Harvard were ruined because of an A- paper she got in eighth grade."

"I deserved an A+. Mrs. Fielding was unfair." She stuffed a cookie into her brother's mouth before he could say anything else. She smiled sweetly at Dawson offering him the container. "Cookie?"

"Don't mind if I do," Dawson said helping himself to a handful, he grinned.

Joey shot a knowing smile to Jack at the interaction between the two blondes and reached into the container for one. "I'm sure you did fine, Jack."

Jen frowned as she came off the lunch line watching the four of them regretfully. She had a feeling that she wouldn't exactly be welcomed with open arms, especially not from Joey or Andie and maybe Dawson but only because he was still in new territory with Andie. She sighed and she didn't want to put Jack in the middle. She smiled faintly as she noticed Henry at a corner table and made her way over to him, ignoring the eyes of the rest of them on her. She hoped it would be getting better soon. As happy as she was with Henry, she missed her friends.

Andie frowned, watching the short blond make her way to her boyfriend. Turning back to her friends, she sighed, they'd all seen Jen too. "I suppose it's inevitable that we talk about...them."

Jack frowned, "What's to talk about? It's been a month. Jen did wrong."

"What do you mean, what's to talk about?" Dawson asked, "There's plenty to talk about," he pinned Jack with his gaze, "You're her best friend, Jack. She betrayed and hurt your other friend. We know your loyalties lie with Jen--"

"Dawson, lay off." Andie said, laying a restricting hand on Dawson's forearm.

"Do you see me over there?" Jack challenged, anger tingeing his words as he gestured behind him were Jen and Henry sat close together.

"Okay, look, we should've all learned our lesson from last year," Andie said warningly casting a look at each of them over the table. "We'll just stay out of it and not choose sides."

"You would say that," Joey grumbled under breath.

Andie narrowed her eyes at the brunette, catching her words. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you'd side with Jen because, low and behold, you cheated on him too." She faced the other girl her eyes darkened, "And you got off easy for it. Still had your friends by your side making it easy for you. Well, Jen's got Henry to make things easy for her now."

"You know you really have some nerve Joey, considering Pacey almost didn't have any of his friends because of you." Her jaw tightened. "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

Jack and Dawson exchanged nervous looks. Joey shook her head adamantly, "You don't know what you're talking about, Andie." Her voice wavered slightly.

"But I do know how little Pacey's very real feelings meant to you last year." She pierced the brunette with a steady gaze. "I don't think you know what you're talking about."

"No." Joey glared, shaking her head, "He means everyth-"

She was interrupted by Dawson, "Guys, that's in the past. Can't we just leave it there? The problem is the here and now."

"He's right," Jack agreed, looking back and forth between the two girls. "You can't change the fact you both hurt him.

Andie pursed her lips together and dropped her gaze to the table. "Fine."

Dawson put a comforting arm around her. "He's gotten over you both," he said tiredly. "He just needs us to be there for him now. Even though it's been a month." He shot a pointed look to Jack, "All of us."

Jack let out a low whistle, his eyes just above Dawson's head as he gazed at the cafeteria door. "I don't think we're really going to have to worry about that."

They followed his gaze back to the door to find Pacey and a junior, Joey recognized from her art class as Ashley Vincent. She'd snottily introduced herself to Joey as Ash the first day of the year and hadn't spoken a word to her since. The natural brunette had put artistic streaks of back and red through her hair, which she tossed over her shoulder as she leaned in against Pacey, her arm curved through his as she whispered something in his ear. Something he apparently liked, because he grinned down at her.

"What's he doing with her?" Joey blurted without thinking.

Jack raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk on his face as he watched the two of them try to devour each other with a kiss. "I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count."

"Welcome, to wild mating habits of the animal kingdom," Dawson said under his breath. Andie discreetly elbowed him in the ribs for the comment.

Joey watched them a moment longer, it was like a car crash she just couldn't look away from. The pain that overcame her were unbearable. Could she have just been the first in a long line of rebounds? Numbly, she turned back to her friends. "Well, That was fast."

"And it looks like we're not the only ones that noticed," Dawson commented as he noticed Jen's flushed face.

"Serves her right," Andie said quietly. She moved her gaze to Henry, who was trying to distract Jen. "I never liked him."

Dawson impulsively wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Andie smiled before turning her attention to her brother and Joey. "So do we call him over? Ignore them? Pretend we never saw it?"

"He's our friend," Jack said slowly, "if he's got a new girlfriend, however suddenly, shouldn't we introduce ourselves?" Andie nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, sure." Dawson turned in his seat, "Hey, Pacey!" He called across the lunchroom, getting his friend's attention.

Jen couldn't help but raise her eyes again at the sound of Pacey's name and watched as Dawson waved him over to the table he was sitting at. The corner of her mouth curved up slightly as the girl he was with eyed the four of them at the table with thinly veiled disdain. She watched as the girl used the well perfected 'I'm-going-to-get-what-I-want' pout and pulled Pacey out of the cafeteria, only allowing him enough time to give an apologetic wave before they disappeared. Jen just rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Henry, who was looking at her curiously. "I'm not jealous."

"I never said you were." She leaned over and kissed him.


Dawson pulled Andie into his lap a week later, giving her a sound kiss on the lips as his friend's watched with amusement from around the lunch table.

"What was that for?" Andie asked, a bemused but happy look on her face.

"Do I need a reason?" He asked, ignoring Jack, Pacey and Ash.

"No, I guess not." She smiled and kissed him lightly before scooting off his lap and into a chair. "And how are we all this fine Monday afternoon?" She asked perkily.

Jack yawned. "Tired. I stayed up all night trying to get my paper done for Psych."

"I told you not to put it off," Andie warned. Jack just rolled his eyes at his sister.

"I'm fine now that you're here," Dawson answered her question quietly. Apparently not quietly enough, Ash rolled her eyes and gave Pacey a bored look.

Jack looked at his sister and Dawson seriously. "I mean, really, you guys need to get a room." He laughed. Andie stuck her tongue out at him in reply.

Bored, she was. Pacey's friends were so…nauseatingly uninteresting. This was surprising, considering they were some of the most controversial people in the school. She sighed and rested her head against Pacey's shoulder, her hand disappearing under the table to stroke his thigh. She couldn't understand how Andie could go from someone like Pacey, to Dawson. The girl really was crazy.

Joey approached the table, ten minutes into the lunch period, a funny smile on her face. She carefully avoided the stranger amongst her friends. "What do you guys think about Kyle Harper?" She asked, sitting down beside Andie.

"Kyle? Kyle..." Andie racked her brain trying to remember where she knew the name from. She smiled. "He seems nice. He's in my English class."

"Yeah, we've been going to school with him for years, Jo. You know he's a nice enough guy. Not exactly the top of the class, but still..." Dawson threw in.

"When I was playing football with him, I got to know him a little. He's an okay guy. Isn't the best football player, but he sent the baseball team to state last year." Jack added.

Ash broke into the conversation, "What are you talking about? Kyle's gorgeous!"

Pacey rolled his eyes, ignored everyone else's comments and looked at Joey. "Why?"

"I think he just asked me out," she smiled shyly.

"You think?" He raised an eyebrow. "Either he did or he didn't."

"Okay, so...he did." She admitted.

Pacey paused thoughtfully. "So should we warn him about Joey's issues now or let the poor guy find out the hard way?"

"I haven't exactly given him an answer yet," Joey told them, ignoring Pacey's remarks. "I wanted to know what you guys thought of him. I trust your judgment." Her eyes fell to Pacey, "Well, most of you."

Ash made a point of distracting Pacey from the conversation, by kissing him soundly on the lips.

It was Andie's turn to roll her eyes before focusing on Joey. "Well, what are you waiting for? Say yes. You already know we approve. Not that it matters because you can feel free to be with anyone you want, it's not like we're suddenly going to exclude you."

Joey smiled, turning her face away from Pacey and Ash, "I know that. I just...I donno, want your approval." She shrugged, "I guess I will then."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, because if we were about to kick people out of the group because of who they were dating, Pacey would've been gone weeks ago," he joked.

Joey laughed along with them, letting her eyes slide to where he and his girlfriend were in their own little world. "Well said, Jack."

"I have my moments." He shrugged standing up and grabbing his books. "Now, I need to get to the guidance counselor. Wants to see me about college plans. I'll catch you all later."

"Bye Jack." Dawson waved before turning back to Joey. "So, do you like this guy?"

"Dawson!" Andie gave him a chastising look.

"What? It's a legitimate question."

"Yeah," she shrugged, "I've been working on a Spanish project with him. And she was right," she pointed at Ash, "He is cute." He's exactly what I need to get over Pacey, she added in her mind.

Andie grinned. "Sounds great. I can come over and help you get ready."

Joey laughed nervously, "Thanks Andie...but I think I'll be okay on my own."

"Oh, c'mon. It'll be fun."

"I'll think about it," she smiled at her friend. "I think you're more excited than I am."

She shrugged and smiled at Dawson. "I guess I just want everyone to be as happy as I am."

Joey rolled her eyes. "I guess I should go tell him." Her eyes drifted to Pacey involuntarily.

"Of course you should," Andie said encouragingly.

She shook herself inwardly, "Right." She rose, "See you guys later."

Andie smiled. "Later. Let me know how it goes."

"Like you'd let me forget," she smiled wryly. "Bye guys." She hefted her bag over her shoulder and headed to the main hall, where Kyle had told her he could be found.

Kyle smiled as he noticed Joey Potter heading his way and shifted the strap to his bookbag on his shoulder. "Hey Joey."

"Hi," She greeted him. Ash was certainly right, Kyle was definitely a good looking man. He was just a tad shorter than her and slim, built more for baseball that football. His eyes were an expressive blue. His dark blond hair was spiked wildly, and complimented his relaxed sense of style. Blue is definitely his color, she thought absently.

"So you think you'll be able to make the movie on Friday?" he asked just a bit nervous that she'd say no.

"Yeah," she nodded with a small smile. "I will."

"Great." His grin widened. "That's great. Pick you up at seven?"

"Seven it is. Do you know where I live?" She asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, thinking how cute he looked when he smiled like that.

He nodded. "I think I can manage to find it."

"Okay, well, it's a date."

He nodded enthusiastically. "It's a date." He motioned behind him. "I have to get to the gym now. Coach wants to see me." He began to walk backwards watching her with a goofy grin. "I'll see you around."

She smiled in amusement, "Bye Kyle."

"Later Joey."


"Andie, calm down." Joey demanded tiredly, as the blond flitted around her vanity. "You're worse than Alex on Christmas morning."

Andie looked at her friend curiously as she gathered her long brown hair in her hands and held it up so she could survey the look. "I just…I think this could be really good for you. You've been kind of down lately. Speaking of down, you should wear your hair down," she said letting Joey's hair drop to her shoulders.

"It's just a movie," Joey replied, using her fingers to comb through her hair.

She shrugged. "I know...but I think you should have fun."

"Well, I certainly going to try and have fun. But I don't exactly want to get my hopes up." She fiddled with a make up brush Andie had brought over with her, "Romance and I don't have the best track record."

The corner of Andie's mouth turned down slightly as she returned some of the make up she took out back into the bag she brought with her. "Well, you don't really like to give it a chance, do you?"

Joey watched Andie in the mirror, "Maybe, maybe not."

Andie sighed sitting down at the edge of Joey's bed. "Joey, you're one of my best friends and I want you to be happy but that's not going to happen if you're just going to run away every time it gets scary."

"Andie..." Joey turned in her seat so she could face her friend. "I haven't always run. You weren't here when Dawson and I broke up that last time, but Pacey told you about it, right? He forced me to turn my father in to the police. And Jack? I didn't run when he needed me. And Pacey..." she trailed off sadly. "I know I did him wrong, Andie. Believe me when I say I'd do anything to go back in time and follow my heart."

She smiled faintly. "Joey, you forgave Dawson. Do you know why? Because he's your best friend and you know he's safe and there's no doubt in my mind or yours, that he'll always be there for you and Jack is the same way, you didn't have to worry about falling in love with him. But Pacey…Pacey was different. Just like Kyle is different and I'd hate for you to ruin something that has the potential to be great because you don't want to take a risk."

She nodded, taking Andie's words to heart. Then she laughed, "You do realize, I haven't even gone on a date with him right? We're planning way ahead of ourselves."

"Yeah, but you know me." She giggled. "As long as the guy doesn't know this conversation took place, then we're in the clear."

"So," Joey stood up and turned in a circle, "How do I look?"

A slow grin crept over her face as she took in Joey's ankle length floral skirt and light blue sweater, the top of her white tank top barely visible under it. "You look great, Joey." Her eyes fell to the locket around Joey's neck. "The necklace is a nice touch. Simple but not too simple. You're going to knock him off his feet."

The corner of her mouth lifted up in a half smile as she looked into her mirror, "Ya think?" She asked doubtfully.

"Yes. I think. He's going to love you." She grinned crookedly.

"Yeah, well, I'm not looking for love." She smirked comically, "Just a little action."

"Oh, you'll definitely see some."

"Yeah, but I'm not interested in seeing another couple making out in the movie theater."

Andie crinkled her nose. "Haha. Well, I wouldn't worry about that. You'll probably be that couple."

"I'm not sure I want that either," she sighed.

"Joey..."

"What? I barely now him. Just because Pacey gets laid the day Ash shows interest in him doesn't mean I want some guy's hand up my skirt." She said bitterly, overexaggerating.

Andie clicked her tongue behind her teeth. "I'm not saying sleep with him. I'm just saying to have some fun." She reached for her bag. "Speaking of Pacey, rumors about Ash run rampant in the girls' locker room. It's disturbing. "

"Yeah, I know." She sighed, adjusting her skirt needlessly. "Doesn't he care?"

"It doesn't look like he does."

"It just...it's not like him to date someone like that. She's just so..."

"Trampy?" Andie finished for her.

"I was going to say slutty, but sure. Trampy fits."

Andie sighed. "I'm worried about him."

"You could try talking to him," Joey suggested quietly. "I know Dawson has...but maybe he needs a female ear to talk to."

She looked at Joey curiously. "What about you, Joey? I thought you guys were close. Pretty much inseperable for a while..."

"Yeah, well. That time has come and gone." She brushed it off. "You know us, we go back and forth between friendship and hatred."

"What happened?"

"Hmm? Nothing happened. We got in a fight over something trivial. I don't even remember anymore." She lied.

"Talk to him, Joey. He could probably really use your friendship now," Andie said sincerely.

"Maybe." She knew the chance of approaching him was slim to none, she couldn't be close to him and not be reminded of what happened on New Year's Eve. It just hurt too much. "He could use your friendship too."

"I know..." She sighed again grabbing her bag off the bed. "I should probably get going."

"Plans with Dawson?"

She smiled. "I'm trying to get him out of that room."

"Good luck." Joey laughed. "And thank you, Andie."

"No problem." She stopped at the door. "I'll be expecting a phone call with full details."

Joey made a face, "Do I have to?"

"Yes," Andie replied smiling sweetly. "It'll be theraputic."

"Fine," she groaned. "Get out of here before Kyle shows up, will ya?"

"Fine. Fine," Andie said holding her hands up innocently. "I'm gone."

Joey smiled until Andie had backed out of the room. The nervous butterflies in her stomach seemed to kick back into action the moment the door closed. She fell back on her bed, her hair fanning out around her. Andie was right, she had to quit running. As reluctant as she was to open up, she had to give Kyle a chance.