Dawson dropped his book bag and jacket on his bed, he gave it a strange look when it looked a little less made than it did that morning but he shrugged it off. He watched his jacket fall to the floor and went to pick it up when his hand came across a small package. He picked it up and saw that it was an open condom wrapper and his mouth opened in surprise.

Pacey held Joey awkwardly in his arms as he tried in vain to lead them gracefully across the Starlight's dance floor. The fact that she was also trying to lead didn't help matters. He did his best to avoid the condescending eyes of Miss. Penny Pretty as they passed her.

Joey looked around the dance floor, trying not to look at any part of him, which was rather hard seeing as she was dancing with him. She let out a yelp of pain when he stepped on her toe.

"Sorry," he mumbled. He looked down to watch his feet more carefully and did his best to keep them as far away from hers as possible. Unfortunately, that just made them look even more awkward.

She let go of him suddenly, sick of her feet getting stepped on, sick of the prolonged awkwardness and sick of dancing.

"This is stupid," She said with a sigh, before leaving the dance floor and making her way to the coatroom.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before reluctantly going after her. He leaned against the doorway of the coatroom, his arms folded across his chest as he watched her put on her coat. He couldn't help but notice how graceful she was, even in doing something as simple as pulling her jacket on.

She didn't turn around, knowing he was behind her. Not really wanting to face it. But she spoke any ways, "What do you want Pacey?"

"Shouldn't we, I donno, talk?" he asked, walking into the room. "After all, isn't that what you're used to?"

She turned around and faced him. "Maybe I don't want to. Maybe I'm just a little sick of talking."

"Maybe so, but if you're going to continue to tutor me and I'm going to help you with these dance lessons, we're going to have to talk about it eventually, Potter."

"Says who?"

"You'd rather we continued to do this weird, insanely awkward and decidedly bad dance around the subject." He pointed back out to the main hall, "Did you notice how horrific we were out there, even for us?!"

She sank down to the floor, sitting and looked up at him. "You want to talk? So start talking, Pace."

He took a step back, slightly affronted. When he'd said they should talk, he hadn't really meant that he should talk. "Here?"

“Yes here," She told him, matter-of-factly. "You seem to be in such a rush to talk so do so, here and now."

He faltered before moving to sit next to her. "Are-are you okay?" he started randomly.

She shrugged, again not looking at him. "I've been better, but yeah I'm fine."

"You don't-" he grimaced as he spoke, looking away from her, "hurt or anything, do you?"

She couldn't help but let out a little laugh at the question. "No. Do you?"

He rolled his eyes. "Aside from the scratches, no."

She blushed slightly. "So anything else you want to say here?"

"Anything I want to say? No." He replied, looking at his hands.

She clapped her hands together, “Well, I’m glad that’s out in the open now; there should be no more awkward moments. So are you ready to go back to my place to do some of that math tutoring?”

He sighed, "So, it's just that easy for you?" He gave her a wary look.

"It's only as complicated as you make it," She told him matter-of-factly, "If there's one lesson I've learned- it's that."

"Right...well, why don't you tell me, Jo, how complicated you're going to make this. 'Cause right now, I don't know up from down."

She sighed, "Not complicated at all. Right now, all I want to do is soak in the tub and teach you math...not at the same time though."

He cracked a reluctant smile. "Fine." He rose from his seat on the ground and offered her a hand. "Since we're not really gonna get any dancing done tonight, why don't you go home, take that bath, and we'll meet tomorrow for more of that tutoring stuff?" He suggested, tired of trying to figure out what was going on in her mind.

"No," She told him. "We go to my place, I give you the problems, you work on them while I'm in the tub. Then I help you."

He looked at her warily, "Are you sure? Couldn't I just do the problems at home and you can check them tomorrow?"

She shook her head, "No. Tonight, please Pacey?"

He looked at her nervously, trying to avoid answering her. He already knew he wouldn't be able to deny her anything... and it wasn't like anything would happen, yesterday had been a one-time thing... hadn't it?

He sighed and took her coat from the rack, holding it open to help her into it. "Fine. You know, I'm beginning to think you enjoy torturing me with logarithms."

"Nah," She disagreed, "I just like torturing you in general."

"Oh...so that's it." He smiled, "I was close." He pulled his own coat on.

She smiled slightly at him, "So odd or even numbers tonight?" She asked as they walked out into the cool night air.

"Odd seems to be a running theme in my life right now. Might as well stick to those." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Or, maybe you could let me do like, every sixth problem or something?"

"I don't think so Pace," She told him. "Maybe if you get them all right, I'll let you do every third problem the next time."

He rolled his eyes, "I'm doomed."

"Not with me, I refuse to let any of the people I tutor fail, and you're no exception Pace."

"And who besides your's truly have you tutored?"

"Well no one," She admitted. "But you're still not failing."

"I have no intention of failing...I'm just saying I will.”

"No you're not," She insisted.

"We'll see." He told her, putting an end to that conversation.

She sighed as she pulled open the door to her house and allowed him to come in.

"So you can do the problems in the kitchen or the living room, doesn't matter--no one is home," She told him.

He nodded, trying not to think of the mounting possibilities of a repeat of the previous afternoon. "Okay," He slipped out of his backpack and set in next to the coffee table. He peeked into the kitchen and ran his eyes over the mess of the remodeling. "Living room."

She nodded slowly, chewing on her lower lip.

"You do math problems, I'll be in the tub."

"Can't we switch?" He whined plaintively as he flopped down onto the couch.

"Yeah sure Pace," she told him dryly, "Do I look that stupid?"

He pretended to scrutinize her, "Well..."

She rolled her eyes, "Careful Pace, never want to insult someone that can higher the amount of math you do in one night." She warned before making her way down the hall and locking herself in the bathroom.

"Wouldn't want to do a thing like that, now would I?" He mutter ed to himself, opening his math book to chapter five. He collected his pencil, paper and calculator and set to work on the first few problems.

She sighed as she stepped into the tub and sank down. The last twenty-four hours had been surreal...to say the least. She had slept with Pacey Witter, and it had been in Dawson's room of all the places...and of all the places to lose her virginity. She had always expected it to be in Dawson's room...just not with Pacey. And then, instead of keeping her distance, like a smart person would do, she had practically begged him to come to her empty house. What on earth was she thinking? She knew what she was thinking...she wanted him, plain and simple. And not just in a purely physical way, though she wished it was. She loved him, she had meant it, and she liked him. He was her best friend...but why did she suddenly want more? She stepped out of the tub, unclogged the drain before drying off and putting on a pair of men's flannel pants and a blue tank top. She looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Stay calm Potter," She scolded herself before leaving the bathroom.

Pacey idly flipped through the stations on the TV set as he reclined comfortably on the couch in the Potter living room. He didn't hear her leave the bathroom. His math book lay open, and his pencil lay across his paper, a mere eight problems completed.

She put her hands on her hips when she saw what he was doing.

"Pacey!"

He jumped slightly and clicked off on the remote, and attempted to look busy doing his work. He looked up a few moments later, "Oh, hey Jo. I, uh, didn't see you there."

He did is best innocent face.

She let out a little laugh as she sat next to him on the couch.

"Really? I saw you there; how many problems have you got completed?"

"Ummm...eight." He mumbled.

She groaned, and took the work away from him. "I suppose eight is better than none."

"See, now you're thinking like I do." He smiled.

She just raised an eyebrow, as she leaned forward to begin correcting his work.

"Sorry, about that, Jo. I kinda got a little distracted. I would have done more..."

She shrugged as she handed it back to him, "They're all correct any ways." She leaned back against the sofa and, without realizing it, rested her head on Pacey's shoulder.

"What's good on television?"

"They were?" He asked, taking the paper from her, he glanced back over the problems. "Um, not much."

She took the remote from him, and turned the television on and began to channel surf. "Yeah, congratulations. I'm proud of you, Pace."

"Who'd have thought?" He put the paper back down and relaxed as she flipped through the channels. He did his best to ignore the fact she was reclining against him.

She settled on a random sitcom before setting down the remote, and she closed her eyes as she snuggled into Pacey's arm further. Just relaxing.

After a good ten minutes of debate, Pacey gave into the urge to wrap his arm around her. He shifted slightly away from her then draped his arm around her shoulders. He waited for her to shrug away from him, or at least comment on it.

She opened her eyes to look up at him, and resisted a small smile. As much as she hated to admit it, she was liking this.

As the seconds passed and she remained silent he relaxed further and tried to concentrate on TV show. He ran his thumb absently up and down her arm, just enjoying the feel of her skin.

She watched his thumb, a sense of deja vu creeping over her. Didn't yesterday get started with a few simple caresses. She moved up slightly, straightening her back. She ran her hand down his face before turning his head towards her, and leaning in and kissing him.

The feel of her lips on his came as a shock. It only took him a few seconds to regain his composure and kissed her back, his mouth moving hotly against hers, his tongue sought entrance to her mouth as his hand cupped her face.

She shifted and leaned back into the cushions of the couch, pulling him down on top of her. She eagerly unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.

A few random thoughts that this was wrong and they were just friends ran through his mind, but as her cool hands met the warm skin of his chest, all thought seemed to float away into the night. His lips began to descend down her neck, tasting the sweet skin there.

She let him continue for a few more minutes, enjoying it but the full reality of the situation hitting her. She pushed him away a bit.

"Pacey...stop."

He froze instantly, but it took a few seconds for her words to sink in and him to pull his lips away from her. His eyes remained closed as he breathlessly moved as far away from her as he could, sitting on the far end of the couch.

"Thanks," she said softly, sitting up her self.

"What was that?" He asked her quietly, his eyes trained on the floor.

"A thank you?" She offered, playing dumb at his question.

He rolled his eyes, "Ehh, try again."

"I don't know," She admitted, burying her head in her hands.

"For someone who said this was only as complicated as we made it, you're doing a great job of complicating it."

"Thank you Pacey, you always know the right thing to say...dont you?"

"Enlighten me here, Jo, what would be the right thing to say? There's not a thought in my mind that doesn't have the potential to piss you off.”

"Not that," She snapped at him. Before shooting him an apologetic look, "Sorry. Just not a blaming thing."

"Yeah, sorry." He apologized.

She shrugged it off, "It's okay...so now what?"

"That all depends really," He shot her a look. "Are you willing to talk about this now?"

She sighed and nodded her head, "Yeah."

He looked at her warily, "I take it your silence means I start?"

"Yeah."

"OK," he took a deep breath, "I don't really know what to think about all this, Potter. It just kind of happened. One minute I'm teasing you and the next we're going at it like the worlds going to end."

“You pissed me off," She stated simply.

"So you decided to kiss me?" He asked her.

"No," She told him, "That's what got us in to the discussion that lead to...kissing you."

“This is insanely awkward." He mumbled.

She gave him a small smile, "Not to get off the subject, what are you doing the rest of the night?"

"Nothing really." He replied.

"Good," she muttered under her breath before turning back to him. "So, we're still friends, right?"

"Yeah," He said quickly, "I mean, if we can handle it after all this..."

"Okay, good," She told him. "I'd hate to think I lost my best friend."

"I'm you're best friend now?"

"Yeah," She said with a shrug, "It's not like I have a lot of friends to choose from any ways..."

"Sure there are." He said, "Jen, Andie, Jack..."

"And I so spend quality time with them," She said sarcastically. "I spend most of my time with you, it's rather disturbing, but true."

"We've come a long way in the last few months, Potter." He smiled slightly.

She bit back a smile, "A lot longer than I would have ever imagined."

"So...what are we gonna do about this?" He asked gesturing between them.

"Uh," She said, knowing the answer but not knowing his. "What do you think should happen?"

"Honestly?" He watched her carefully, "I want us both to be comfortable again. Because I hate this. And as reluctant as I am to admit it, you're my best friend too."

She gave him a small smile, "So to get comfortable again...we do friend things?"

"We did friend things, dancing, tutoring...didn't turn out to well."

"So what do you suggest we do?"

He didn't say anything for a moment, "You know, we never really discussed what happened yesterday, other than actually acknowledging it."

"We slept together," She stated. "That's acknowledging it. How do we discuss it?"

"God, I don't know." He threw up his hands and rose from the couch and began pacing. "It's not like I've ever done something like this before." He bit his thumbnail. "God, what if Dawson finds out?"

"Why? Does he have a camera in his room?"

He shrugged, "I donno, What if someone saw us leaving or something. He'd never forgive me."

"If he saw us leaving, I'd think he'd be over here right now and you'd be a little on the not living side Pacey," She told him.

"Don't remind me. What were we thinking?"

She chewed on her lower lip, "What were you?"

"I-" he started and thought for a moment, trying to remember exactly what was going through his mind. "It all happened so fast, Jo. I remember disbelief being a strong emotion, and I kept thinking it was dream, because there was no possible way you'd be- that we'd-"

She nodded, "Why'd you let it go on?"

"Because... " he trailed off, trying to decide just how much of the truth he was willing to share with her. He settled for the most ambiguous answer he could. "Forbidden fruit. What about you?"

"Oh, uh," She stuttered. "Um, Iwantedyou," She mumbled, her words purposefully tripping over each other at a rapid pace.

"You what?" he asked, trying to understand her jumbled words.

She blushed and looked down, "I'm not repeating it."

He approached her, "No, what?"

"No," She told him, "I refuse to."

"Why?"

"Cause I already said it once."

"And it sounded like you said you wanted me." he told her, "but I know that can't be right."

She shrugged, "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't."

"Joey."

She rolled her eyes, "Okay, I said it. Are you happy now?"

"No. Why?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I just did. I still do, and it's pissing me off."

"I never pictured myself as your type." He said thoughtfully, "What was it? My smile? My eyes? My amazing ass?"

She smacked him in the arm, "Shut up! This isn't funny, Pacey."

"No, you're right." he said seriously, "but if I can't at least laugh at some aspect of it, there's no way I can get through this conversation."

"It's everything, actually," She admitted with a reluctant sigh.

"That's news to me." He smiled thinly, "You hid it well."

"Well, I did act in Dawson's movies," She said. "So, are we done with the subject now?"

"I want to say yes..."

"But?"

"Is this gonna happen again?" He asked her nervously.

"Oh," She said. "I don't know, I didn't plan on it to happen the first time. And this second time when it started, I didn't plan on it...so I don't know."

"More to the point, do you want it to happen again?"

"Honestly?"

"Yes, honestly."

She sighed, “I don’t know. Logic, reasoning and friendships would argue a no on this subject...”

He nodded, "Okay, no then."

She nodded, "So we're in agreement?"

"Yeah, I guess we are." He said, a touch of disappointment in his voice.

She tried to mask her disappointment, "Oh, so you want to watch a movie or something?"

"Actually, if it's all the same to you, I think I'd better go. You said the math was fine, right?"

"Yeah, it was fine." She told him, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

He gather his books and bag together, "Yeah, g'night, Potter." He rose and headed for the front door.

"Night," She said with a sigh, before stretching out on the couch with a disappointed groan.

Pacey's hands were stuffed in his pockets as he made the journey home on foot. His mind was working on overdrive, trying to rationalize the events of the last two days. Joey had actually wanted him, not Dawson, but him. She'd even admitted it. That thought cheered him slightly, but the following one, that he was just a warm body to her, brought him down again. Regardless, it was over and done with. A one time deal. They'd be back to their usual banter tomorrow like nothing had happened. He tried to content himself with that thought as he approached his house, his eyes trained on the sidewalk.. He looked up as he reached the stairs, and felt the blood drain from his face when he saw none other than Dawson sitting on the top step, waiting for him.

Dawson stood up when he saw Pacey spot him. He walked down to where Pacey was.

"I've been waiting awhile," He told him. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, I was-" He cut himself off, before he remembered that they hadn't done anything wrong. They'd just been studying. "I was with Jo, she was tutoring me."

He nodded, automatically pieces being put together in his head.

"You remember the other day, when you were in my room?"

He gave Dawson a funny look, "Be a little more specific, I'm in your room all the time."

"During the school day," He told him, "You were on my floor, missing one shoe."

"Oh yes," He began to feel something similar to panic course through his veins. That was when he'd been there with Jen. Just two days ago...it seemed like forever. "I remember."

"I think you might have left something there," Dawson told him.

"Did I leave my science book there? Now that I think about it, I haven't seen it in a while."

"No," He reached into his pocket and pulled out the wrapper, "You forgot this."

He looked down at the small package and then up into his friends expectant eyes. "Um, yeah...Sorry about that, man." He took it and stuffed it into his pocket, "It must have fallen out of my wallet."

"You keep an empty condom wrapper in your wallet?"

"Um...yeah..." his eyes avoided Dawson's as he tried to think of some plausible excuse. "I--um, It's a memento. From when Andie and I first...well, you know." He shifted his weight from side to side, "Stupid, I know, in light of all that's happened. I guess I just kinda forgot it was there."

Dawson nodded, not really believing him. "Staying on and off the subject, what were you doing there? In my room?"

"Nothing, I had a test first period..." he spoke fast, "and of course I forgot about it and consequently didn't study, and of course, I couldn't let my parents know that. All roads lead to the Leery's. I just thought I'd hang out there until second period, I really didn't think you'd mind."

He nodded and he went to leave but instead he turned back to Pacey. "Hey Pace," He pulled out a scrunchie from his pocket. "This Andie's too?"

He shrugged, "I donno. It could be anybody's, it's probably Jo's."

"Yeah, but I cleared out my room before Philly, and it wasn't there, and since then the only girls to be in my room have been my mother and Eve, both of which don't tie their hair up."

He forced a smile, "OK, you got me, I cross dress on the weekends. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm sure to have a verbal beating awaiting me inside," he headed for the door, anxious to just get away from him and call Joey to fill her in.

She inwardly debated over picking up the phone when she heard it ring. She really didn’t feel like getting up or turning down her music or putting down the book she was reading, all which would be necessary for answering the phone. On the third ring, she turned down her Dido CD, and placed the book down, she got up and checked the caller ID they had gotten for when the B&B opened. It was Pacey, why was he calling her?

“Let me guess,” she answered dryly, “You lost your pair of handcuffs and you want me to bring them for a our next rendezvous.”

He laughed, "You read my mind."

"It's a skill I've tried to stop all my life, but what can I say- I finally gave into the gift," she told him. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call? You miss me?"

"Naw... what's to miss?" He teased. "Actually, we kinda have a problem."

"You have to push the buttons on the remote to actually change the channel," She teased.

"Ha ha," he said dryly. "After our study date, I happened upon Dawson waiting on my front steps."

"Oh." She said, her mood immediately crashing. "Why do I suddenly have a huge feeling of impending doom?"

"Because, there is impending doom. He found the condom wrapper and your ponytail holder."

She was silent, trying desperately to figure out what the hell to do. "So...uh, what'd you tell him?"

He laughed, "I actually told him the condom was from my first time with Andie and that I've been carrying it around or sentimental reasons."

"Oh. And the ponytail?"

"I just kinda brushed that one off... I couldn't come up with anything. He says you haven't been in his room since he got back from Philly and no one else with long hair has been there. But knowing Dawson, he's not just going to let this go. I think he's probably already got it in his head to be the next Colombo and figure out this non-mystery."

She forced a laugh. "Well, uh, thanks for the heads up Pace, but I-I should go now."

"Hold on there, Potter. This whole incident is soon to be common knowledge if we don't think of something to detour Dawson."

"Like what?"

"Like...I don't know. You're the one with brains here."

"Oh I know what we can do!" She said with sarcasm. "I'll go seduce Dawson, and then he can go and catch you with some long haired bimbo with a scrunchie in her hair. That'll throw him off good!"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Since you don't seem to care, why don't I just go tell him I fucked you in his bed. I'm sure he'd be just so relieved to hear the news."

"I dare you to Pace," She told him. "You always looked good with a smashed in face any ways."

"You once said any reconstructive surgery was an improvement." He paused, "He's gonna find out, Potter. Unless we do something, he's gonna know and we're gonna lose the best friend either of us ever had. Then we'll be left with nothing."

"What about each other?" The words slipped out before she could even stop her self from thinking them.

He didn't say anything it at first. He spoke softly, "And what exactly do we have in one another, Joey? We had sex. That doesn't equal a relationship." At least not for you, he added in his mind.

"Yeah I guess that little friendship thing we had going on for a while was just an act," She snapped.

"Look at us, Joey." He said frustrated, "We can barely hold a conversation. Great pair of friends we'd make."

"You know you're right," she told him. "Excuse me while I go back to hating you. Good night Pacey."

"Whatever, Potter."

She hung up the phone, and sank down on to the floor biting back a sob, and wiping away a few of the tears that had managed to escape. She couldn't call Dawson that much was obvious. She couldn't talk to Andie, especially after their conversation on Thanksgiving. Talking to Jack would run risk to Andie finding out. There was really only one person she could talk to, she sighed as she picked up the phone again and dialed the number.

"Hi. Jen?"

"Joey?" The book she'd been studying from fell closed as she sat up, hearing the tears in her quasi-friend's voice.

"Um," She began, not really knowing how to word what she wanted to say. "I know, I really haven't been that interested in the whole girl-bonding thing in the past, but I kind of need it right now. So do you think you could come over?"

"Well, I was goi- yeah," she made an instantaneous decision. "I can be there in ten minutes."

"Thanks," Joey told her.

"Okay, I'll see you then." Jen rose from her bed and pulled on her coat. "I'm leaving right now."

"See ya," Joey said, before hanging up the phone and going into the bathroom to try and wash away the tears she had been crying before.

With a frown, Jen put the receiver back on the stand. It had to be something big for Joey to reach out to her. Their friendship had been tentative to say the least. Both of them were far more comfortable around boys than other women.

"Grams, I'm going to Joey's for a while. I wont be back too late." She called into the living room as she made her way out the back door.

Joey chewed softly on her lower lip as she opened the door and let Jen come in.

"Hey."

"Hi, Jo." She greeted, stepping into the soon to be Potter Bed and Breakfast.

"So do you want anything to eat or drink? Or just the story?" Joey asked her.

"I'm good for now, so just the story."

She took a deep breath as she sat down on the couch and Jen sat next to her, she turned to face the girl.

"Well, you see, Pacey managed fail math, and he wanted me to help tutor him, and I needed a dancing partner for this scholarship over at the Starlight ball room place. It turns out Pacey and I are pretty horrible dancers together, and Pacey can not sit still at all while trying to teach him math. So we were in the Bio lab a few days ago, and we were talking. And then we were arguing and then..."

Jen listened with rapt attention, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sensed where this was going. "And then...?"

"I kind of kissed him," She said. "And that wasn't exactly the most shocking part of it...'cause we sort of ended up, um, doing it."

She shook her head in confusion, "Doing what?"

She sighed as she forced the words out, "Having sex."

Jen's eyes grew as wide as saucers, "I'm going to kill him." She said under her breath. She eyed the girl in front of her, first she stole Dawson's heart, now Pacey's. Did she have to get to all of them first? What exactly did she have that that she didn't? Why could she get Pacey aroused when she couldn't?

"Jen?" Joey asked her, not exactly getting the silence and whatever Jen had said under her breath.

She shook her head rapidly, "Sorry, I just- that's- I'm shocked."

Joey nodded, "Any ways, today we had another one of those stupid dance lessons...he wants me to talk about it. I refused. So we ended coming back here to study, only to end up making out again-, which I stopped once reality came back to me. We talked about it, didn't really get anywhere except that we're friends. Then he calls me to tell me Dawson found the condom and ponytail holder, and then we just ended up in another fight. I hung up on him, and called you."

"I- I don't know what to say." Jen stammered, her heart racing a mile a minute. She had a few choice things to say to Pacey Witter as soon as she got the chance.

"You don't have to, I just- just really needed to talk to somebody about it," She told her. "And with Pacey being a prick, per usual, you were the obvious choice."

"Yeah, I was the obvious choice," she echoed. She looked at her hands, then up at Joey. "So, why'd you do it?"

"Sleep with Pacey?" Joey asked, studying her hands. "I don't know. I was just overcome by this undeniable need and want for him, and for some reason I gave into it."

"So you were horny and he was there?"

"Not exactly, it was indescribable," She said. "I don't know really what it was, and I don't know where I want it to go."

"Do you love him?" Jen choked on the words as she said them.

"Love Pacey?" Joey asked with wide eyes. She tried to discard the idea immediately. "Nuh-uh, it could never happen."

"Why not? I- Andie did."

"Andie's different," Joey insisted, "You must remember her mental status."

"Which, he helped her through."

"And then she slept with somebody else."

"Details." Jen shrugged, "What do you want to talk about, Joey? How you feel about him, what happened, Dawson?"

"Well, we've already established that I'm dodging how I feel about him, the summary of what happened, and as for Dawson...well, he'll kill us both if he ever finds out," Joey said.

Jen snorted inwardly, she didn't really need to worry about that. Pacey was already going to die. "So, you're going to hide it from Dawson?"

"Unless I want to ruin a lifelong friendship, yes."

"How? This is a small town. People hear things."

"Like what?" She asked. "There are only three people that know the real story."

"I don't know. All I know is that nothing stays a secret in this town for very long."

“So you’re saying telling Dawson my--ourselves is the best,” She said. “Got that much. Uh, what exactly should I do about Pacey? I kind of just said I hated him and hung up on him.”

Jen shrugged, "Do what you have to do, Joey." She wasn't about to encourage the other girl. "I don't know why you care so much."

"Because Pacey's my friend, I don't want him mad at me," she attempted to rationalize, but it really didn't make all that much sense in her head either.

"Why'd you yell at him in the first place?" Jen asked, hardly listening to her reply as she plotted Pacey's painful castration.

That was an easy one to answer. "Because he was being a prick."

Jen gave her a 'so what' look, "You've been calling him that ever since I've known you.”

"But he was actually being one this time!"

Again, Jen shrugged, "And you care because...?"

She buried her head in hands, "I don't know."

Jen rolled her eyes, growing even more frustrated with Joey and even more so with Pacey. "Maybe you should figure that out before you try explaining anything to Dawson." Jen rose from the couch, suddenly needing fresh air. She grabbed her coat, "Look, Joey...I-I need to go. Grams didn't want me to stay out too long...so, I'm just going to go now. If you need to talk...just call okay?"

"I will," Joey said, also rising, "Um...thanks Jen, for coming down here and all."

"No problem," Jen said uncomfortably, heading for the door.

Joey nodded as she watched Jen leave before collapsing back on the couch.

Jen's eyes narrowed to slits as she stalked over to the car she and Grams shared. Pacey John Witter had a hell of a lot to answer for. She yanked open the door and slammed it shut behind her. She started the car, ignoring the angry tears that threatened behind her eyelids.

Jen assessed the side of the Witter house; she figured that she would just climb in the window..like Joey does, after all he seemed to like a lot of the things that Joey did these days. When she was at the window, she was surprised to see how easily it opened, you'd think a house full of policemen would have more security. She slithered in through the window and sat next to Pacey's sleeping form on his bed.

"Hey Witter, rise and shine."

"Go away," he grumbled, turning away from whoever it was trying to raise him from his stress induced slumber.

She twisted his body back to her, intent on talking to him tonight.

"That's not such a good idea, Pace."

He cracked his eyes open, and squinted up at her. "Jen? What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing here?"

"I know our agreement said anytime anywhere," he glanced over at his alarm clock, "but isn't 12:22 a little on the late side?"

She shrugged casually, "Yeah, it's late and I know you need your rest, seeing as Joey must have tired you out something wicked."

Pacey's eyes flew open, he opened his mouth to say something, but words failed as he saw the anger brewing behind her eyes.

She stood up and began pacing the room. "I mean it was the weirdest thing.. I mean, there I was studying and all of a sudden I get a phone call from Joey Potter. The person on the other line was surprise enough, but when she told me that she needed to talk to somebody, I knew I had entered some alternate reality. Just imagine the complete shock I felt when she told me what studying with you had turned into."

"Look, Jen, I can explain-" Pacey tried to interject.

"Go for it, explain how our agreement turned into you having sex with any available body," She told him. "Scratch that, how it turned into you having sex with Joey Potter."

Pacey inhaled a deep breath, "Having sex with her had nothing to do with our agreement, Jen. It's just...we were studying, like I said...and our little arrangement came up." He eyed her carefully, "I didn't use your name, and I didn't make it sound like it was a reality or anything...and one thing led to another..." He trailed off, looking down at the blanket.

"You talked to her about us?" She asked him. "Why?"

He looked uncomfortable, "I was- I donno... thinking about the whole thing."

"And felt the need to share it with Joey?" She crossed her arms and looked at him challengingly.

He frowned, "I wanted her opinion." He answered truthfully.

"Why hers?"

"I couldn't exactly go to Dawson or Andie or Jack, now could I?" He retorted.

“Why should Dawson care if it's me and you?"

"You dated, remember?"

"He's been over that for quite awhile," She pointed out.

Pacey just looked at her, silently.

"Funny how it seems that two of my relationships in this town has ended with this one question," She said, "Are you in love with her?"

His eyes shot up to hers, "I- of course not. That's ridiculous."

"Is it really?" She asked him. "I think I at least deserve the truth right now."

He bit the inside of his cheek. "That is the truth," he muttered.

She sighed, "Pacey..."

"What?" He groaned.

"Never mind," She said, rising, "You and Joey can go on living in your denial-filled world, but just don't include me in it, okay?"

"I know it'd be stupid to ask," He grabbed her hand before she could get very far. "Are you gonna be okay?"

She shrugged, "I'll get over it Pace."

"There's nothing to get over," He said vehemently, "It was sex. It happened once and only once. That's it."

"I meant us, Pacey." She told him. "And if it was only once then why did it almost happen again between you and Joey this afternoon?"

"It didn't almost happen again. We just kissed again, she threw me off her immediately after. It was a one time thing," his voice grew darker, "Believe me." He looked up to meet her eyes, "And as for us..." he shrugged, "Was there ever really an us, Lindley?"

She ignored the pain that surged through her as he said those words. "No, but Pace--" She took a deep breath before she said what she was going to say, no matter how much she wished they weren't true. "I don't believe what happened between you and Joey was a one time thing."

"Give me a break, Jen," he sighed in exasperation. "Joey Potter hates me! She always has and she always will."

"Then why did she sleep with you?" She asked him. "Joey Potter does not sleep with anybody she hates, she doesn't lose her virginity to them. She will not give something so precious to her to somebody she believes doesn't deserve it. You know that as well as me."

Pacey shook his head, "All I can tell you is what I know, and I know she hates me. Joey's human just like anyone else. Her hormones just got away with her."

She shook her head, sick of the conversation. "Fine, go away and throw away the good things in your life Pacey. Go dig your own grave." she told him, she moved towards the window, before making her exit.

"That limited time offer ran out, didn't it?" He asked softly, watching her try to maneuver her way back through the window.

She stopped and looked back at him, a sad look in her eyes, "Guess it did."

He sighed, "Bye, Lindley."

"Bye Pace," She said, before finally making her way out of the window.

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