“Potter, I’m going to need your help,” Pacey said sliding into the seat across from Joey in the school library and ignoring the annoyed look the librarian gave him.

She gave him a skeptical look. "Two question's present themselves to me at the moment. One, What do you need my help with? And two, what have you done to earn my aid?"

“I need to buy a gift for Lindley.” He shrugged idly glancing at the spine of the book Joey was reading, nothing interesting, just some textbook. “And I have no clue about what to get her.”

A frown played on her lips, "What- why are you buying her a present?"

“Inside joke.”

She gave him a confused look before turning back to her book. "I don't see how I'd be much help then."

He shrugged. "I need something girly."

"Jen's not the...girly type." Joey shrugged, "that's Andie."

"See," Pacey said throwing his hands up as if it were obvious. "I do need your help. I know nothing about these things."

She shifted uncomfortably, "Can I just say no?"

“You can but you won’t because you’re just too nice a person, Josephine,” he said leaning forward and pinching her cheek.

She gave him a withering look, "No."

“What? You’re not going to help me out?”

"Nope," she shook her head. "I think I've told you, you don't know me."

“C’mon, Jo. Help me out here. Please?” He gave her his best pleading look.

"Uh-uh, nope." She shook her head. "I need a better reason than that."

“I’m not above making a scene,” he threatened lightly.

"And I'm not above walking away either."

“Puh-lease Joey. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please,” he paused. “I can go on.”

"I don't even know what you want. Getting Jen a present. Could you be more vague?" She scowled at him.

“It’s a long story. Wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.”

"Then no."

He rolled his eyes. “Fine. If you must know, it’s our anniversary. We were joking around last week...and anyway, we’re supposed to get each other gifts.”

She sat back, "Y-your anniversary?" She repeated her eyes wide.

He waved it off. “Yeah, it’s kind of stupid but it’s supposed to be Jen and Henry’s anniversary and she was worrying about it, so I suggested we do something else so she wouldn’t have to.”

"Oh."

“Yeah, whatever. You going to help me or not?”

"I dunno, Pace. I mean, if this is your thing with her."

“It’s just a gift. Jen’s your friend too.”

She shifted uncomfortably, "Why do you want my help?"

“Because you’re good at this kind of stuff.”

She looked down at her books and then back to his face. His dark eyes pleaded with her to help him. How could she have ignored how beautiful his eyes were? Just because of Dawson's feelings? It'd been days since she'd gotten the chance to see him for more then ten minutes. "You've been spending a lot of time with her lately, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess I have."

"Always there for your friends, right Pace?" She smiled softly at him.

“Ri-ight. At least someone around here appreciates me,” he kidded.

"Other's might appreciate you more if they saw you for more than ten minutes outside of school." She replied sweetly.

He brought a hand to his chest in surprise. “Why does this mean you miss me, Josephine?”

"Of course." She replied easily, "Who else is going to be my punching bag?"

He smiled. “Some very unlucky man.”

She blushed slightly, his smile sending a pang through her chest. She sank down in her seat and looked down at her book again.

He grinned. “So I’ll take it that you’ve agreed to help me on my little shopping excursion?”

"Against my better judgments."

“Good,” he stood up and grabbed his books. “I’ll meet you at your locker after the bell rings.”

"Yeah, sure." She replied, her eyes trained on him as he headed out the library doors.

He offered a short wave. “Later Potter.”

"Bye Pace." She mumbled after him. She tilted her head slightly; the back of his shirt was hung up on the rim of his jeans, offering her a perfect view of his ass. She groaned as he disappeared through the doors. She wasn't supposed to be admiring his body, or his smile, or his eyes... This was bad. This was very bad.

Joey rounded the corner of the new Wal*Mart just outside of town. It'd been built equidistant between Capeside and Daleman, catering to both small towns. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she scanned the aisles for Pacey. They'd been there for a total of ten minutes and already she'd lost him. She spotted a black and yellow sign hanging from the ceiling, she smiled, and followed the direction it pointed. She knew exactly where to find him.

She passed down the first few toy aisles before she found him. She stopped up short, seeing him looking at Barbies, a contemplative look on his face as he knelt beside a brown haired little girl in pigtails and compared the two Barbies with her.

Joey smiled softly as they talked in hush tones. The little girl, dressed in grubby overalls pointed up to a higher shelf at "Princess Bride Barbie" and whispered something in Pacey's ear. He smiled and put the other two Barbies back on the shelf. He stood up and lifted her by the waist so she could grab the large box all by herself. He put her down and graced her with one of his classic half-smiles. She hugged the box to her chest and looked up at Pacey adoringly. 'I know how ya feel, kid.' Joey thought.

Pacey smiled as he watched the little girl run off to her mother and turned around surprised to find Joey there. He quickly grabbed one of the Barbies off the shelf. “So what do you think? I’m debating on whether to go with Malibu Skipper or the really cool one that has her own car.”

She chuckled approaching him, "Skippers always such a rip off. Besides, you're an older man, you need a girl with her own set of wheels."

“Exactly what I thought,” he said setting the box down. “I like the way you think.”

She smiled, "I should have known I'd find you here." She tilted her head to the side. "Though, I haven't decided yet if it's because there was a damsel in distress or because you're just magically drawn to prepubescent entertainment."

“Oh yeah, cute girl about four foot three.” He nodded holding out his hand to show how tall she was with a smile. “Who am I to turn her down?”

She smirked, "Remind me to keep you away from my children."

“No problem,” he said shoving his hands into his pockets. “I will gladly stay away from any of your spawn, ‘specially if they’re anything like their mom.”

She looked down, "So, we're here for Jen right? I don't think a Barbie is what you're looking for."

“You sure?” He smiled and brought his hands together rubbing them together conspiratially as he glanced around the department store with its many aisles. “Okay, so where should we start?”

She shrugged, "How much do you have to spend?"

"About thirty bucks. I figure I could get her something nice."

Joey nodded, "Yeah, you will." She turned towards the main aisle and she paused thoughtfully, "What you get her, depends on the... message," she settled on the word and continued, "you want to convey."

He smiled. “So I’m guessing a package of condoms won’t go over well.”

She faltered, "If-if that's what you want to..." She trailed off and looked at his smirking face. She hit him on the shoulder, "You're a jerk."

He laughed and rubbed his shoulder where she’d hit him. “Oww, you really need to work on those violent tendencies of yours Jo, all that aggression cannot be good for you.” He raised an eyebrow a smile creeping its way onto his lips. “Of course if you want I can help you out there and we can find a much better use for it.”

"Like how, Pace?" She asked sweetly, batting her eyes at him.

“Oh you know, like you, me, a cozy little room at the B&B,” he said with a suggestive smirk.

"Pace, you couldn't lay me when we were dating. What makes you think you could now?" she replied scathingly.

“Yeah, like it’s my fault you’re a prude.”

"Is it so wrong to want to wait until marriage? Or at least to find the right guy?" She asked him, her brow knit. "What if I want someone I love instead of just someone I have lukewarm feelings for?"

He raised his fist in the air in mock. “More power to you.”

"Sure doesn't feel like it." She grumbled moving away from him. "What kind of present do you want for Jen? In addition to the condoms?"

“How about something of the Victoria Secret persuasion?” He jumped back with a grin just in case she tried to him again.

"Okay." She replied, her expression blank. "This way." She pointed down the aisle to a sign reading "Lingerie".

Pacey’s smile widened as he took in the large amount of skimpy underwear. “So for purely scientific reasons only, which one of these would you wear Potter?”

"That's privileged information, Pacey, and you haven't earned it." She walked straight to the skimpiest rack she saw. "Think Jen's more red lace or black?"

“Tell you what, why don’t you try them on and then I can choose.”

"Hmm, or you could try them on instead."

“Don’t have my size,” he answered easily. “Besides I go for the more au natural look.”

"More than I wanted to know." She said, averting her eyes to the wafts of silk and lace to keep from undressing him with her eyes. "If you want to buy her lingerie, you're just gonna have to picture her in them. Shouldn't be too hard."

He placed his hands on her shoulders and steered her away from the lingerie section. “Let’s get something that Jen won’t kick my butt for when I show up on her porch.”

She shrugged away from the warmth of his touch. "Wh-" She swallowed, "What exactly is this?" she asked him, walking towards the jewelry aisle. "Like a date? Or... are you, like, standing in for Henry or something?"

“Its just two friends spending time together much like what we’re doing.”

"And buying each other anniversary gifts..."

“Purely friendly,” he interjected as he surveyed the glass cases in front of him.

"Why not more?" She asked quietly. "Jen's pretty. She's nice. She's funny."

“She’s Jen and we’re friends. Don’t get me wrong, Lindley is all kinds of pretty and desirable but we’re only friends.”

"Why?" She pressed. "What makes her un-date worthy? You'd be lucky if a woman like her gave you the time of day, let alone let you throw her in the creek."

“Wow, thanks for that upstanding vote of confidence, Jo.”

"You know what I mean." She frowned.

“Yeah that I’m lucky a beautiful, intelligent and funny girl like Jen would actually want to spend time with me because I’m such a loser,” he said slightly annoyed.

"No," She shook her head, "Because anyone would be lucky to spend time with you. I just don't understand what you're doing with her."

“You’re not making sense, Joey.”

"That's unusual?" She sighed, "Forget I said anything." She pointed down at a silver chain with a locket on it. "She might like that."

“Hmm…You sure?” Pacey asked as he looked down at the delicate silver necklace.

"I don't know. A friend wouldn't buy it for her, but you might." She shrugged. "I'm sure she'd love it."

“Okay then.” He asked the sales lady behind the counter to wrap it up for him. “If she hates it I’m blaming you,” he said turning to Joey.

She smiled thinly. "She won’t."

He grinned handing sales lady his money and waited for his change as she gave him the bag with the necklace. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

"Hmm," She nodded to herself. "Yeah."

He threw an arm around her shoulder and swung the bag from his hand. “I still have money left, feel like getting some ice cream?”

She frowned, the heat if his touch making her uncomfortable. "Actually, I'm, uh, starting to feel a little... light headed." At least she wasn't lying. God, he smelled good. Of cologne and something purely raw and male. "Is it okay if you just take me home?" She tried weakly to move out from under his touch, not really wanting the innocent contact to cease.

He eyed her strangely dropping his arm back to his side. “O-kay. Home it is.”

She forced a smile, "Thanks."

“No problem, Potter.”

"Hey sexy," Jen said, sidling up to Pacey at his locker. "What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?"

“Waiting for a girl like you.” He grinned at her as he slid his books into his locker.

"Lucky you for finding me so soon." She hooked her arm through his, "Let's get out of here."

“Thought you’d never ask.” He smiled charmingly and slammed his locker shut before falling into step beside her.

"So, what are our plans for tonight?" She asked him, tugging the strap of her backpack tighter.

He scratched the back of his head. “Plans? We had plans?”

"Yeah, something to keep me from bemoaning the fact I was forced to kiss Henry Parker in the middle of the football field precisely a year ago today?"

“I think I’m vaguely recalling something of the sort,” he teased.

"So...care to impart our plans?"

“Wouldn’t you much rather be surprised?”

She looked thoughtful. "No," she shook her head. "I have a bad track record with surprises."

He brought a hand to his chest in mock hurt. “Don’t you trust me at all?”

"Hmmm," she made a face. "Nope."

“Lindley, you wound me with your words.”

"I'll wound you with more than words if you don't confess what we're doing. I mean, how will I know what to wear?"

He grinned. “Well if you’re not sure might I suggest the au natural look?”

"Try again." She smirked.

“Fine. Wear something comfortable. Something I can take off quickly if we’re overcome by a fit of passion.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

She rolled her eyes, a habit she'd picked up from Joey. "It's all about getting in my pants, isn't it?"

“Well, it’s more about getting them off you,” he said jokingly. “But on a serious note, wear something that you won’t mind getting dirty.”

She arched an eyebrow, "Dirty?"

"My lips are sealed." He pulled an imaginary zipper over his lips.

She gave him an uneasy look as they headed out the doors. "Why am I suddenly regretting this?"

“You’ve been hanging around Joey too much?”

She giggled. "Yeah. That must be it."

He smiled motioning to the truck his dad had finally given to him after months of taking it without permission. “Need a ride home?”

She smiled, "It'd be much appreciated."

He bowed. “The lady’s wish is my command.”

"When did you become all gentlemanly?" She teased.

“Hey, I’ll have you know that I’ve always been a gentleman,” he said opening the passenger side door for her.

"No," she shook her head. "You've always been a horn dog." She tilted her head to the side as he walked around and got into the drivers seat. "Not that that's a bad thing," she said, a lilt to her voice.

He smiled wryly sliding his key into the ignition. “Those rumors were never proven.”

"Oh damn." She pouted, "I was hopin'."

He chuckled as he shifted the truck into drive. “Who knows maybe tonight you’ll get lucky.”

"Don't tease me, Pacey." She warned.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he said as he pulled out of his parking space.

She gave him a surprised look, wondering if that was a promise or something else. Then she was left to wonder why she was hoping that it was.