TITLE: By The Moonlight
AUTHOR: Theresa Gallo
E-MAIL ADDRESS: Peace126@aol.com
SPOILER: nothing really, maybe a little "Modern Romance" and "Pretty Woman"
RATING: PG
SERIES: Ok, pretend the finale NEVER happened. Pacey is still very attracted
to Joey, and everything happens at a school dance
DISCLAIMER: I obviously don't own Dawson's Creek or its characters, or else I
would be in Heaven! they belong to the WB or whoever, and I'm just screwing
around with them for a while. And the song "Lady In Red" belongs to Chris
DeBurgh or his label (at least the version I got
) "The heart wants what the heart wants.." -- Walk In The Clouds

Joey, Dawson, and Pacey all sat in Joey's bedroom --- or more accurately, the
Potter family living room. They were discussing the semi-formal dance at
school this Friday and whether or not to go.
"I think it would be good for you to go, Dawson. It'll help you get this
whole Jen situation off your mind," Pacey offered.
"For your information, Pacey, there is no 'Jen situation'. She wanted to get
back together, but I told her straight out, it's not really a good time,"
Dawson defended himself.

"Guys," Joey interjected, "I really don't think I want to go to this dance. I
really.. well, let's just say I didn't have a lot of fun at the last one."
Dawson nodded in agreement. "We could have a movie night, instead."
Pacey groaned. "Will you people please get out and live in the real world for
once?! Come on! Dawson, there are gonna be plenty of girls there 1000 times
better than Jen, and you need to meet some of them. And Jo .. well ... there
will be other guys there, but I'm sure they won't be of any interest to you."
He concluded with a wicked smile.

"Very funny, Pacey. Dawson, come on, let's just have a movie night."
Dawson, however, was staring intently at the floor, lost in his own spinning
thoughts. Suddenly, he lifted his head and said, "OK, Pace, I'll go. You're
completely right, it's about time I met some new girls. Let's all go."
Joey sighed. Well, she had no choice now, did she?

Friday afternoon, Pacey rang the Potter family doorbell. Joey ran to answer
the door in the towel she had just wrapped around herself after a shower,
since no one else was home.
"Jo, hey, I..." His voice trailed off, as he saw what she was wearing...or
more accurately, what she wasn't wearing.
"What is it, Pacey?"

"I...I came to see what time I should pick you guys up tonight," he
stuttered.

"7:00, remember? Why didn't you just use the phone, Pace?"
He hadn't anticipated that question. He couldn't tell Joey that he had just
wanted to see her. "Our phone is, um, malfunctioning," he lied.
"Alright, well, I really gotta go get ready..." Joey started to close the
door.

Pacey couldn't stand it anymore. He was going to do something totally stupid,
but he didn't care. Just another one to add to the ever-growing list.
"Jo, wait," he held the door open. Joey looked at him questioningly. That's
when he took her by the shoulders and kissed her. At first, Joey was too
shocked to push him away...and she didn't really want to. Pacey was a *really*
good kisser, and after all the stuff that had happened with Dawson after the
pageant... Pacey continued to kiss her passionately, wrapping his arms around
her. Joey felt his hands touch her back...and that's when she remembered she
was in a towel. She pushed him away, and stared into his eyes. A mixture of hurt,
curiosity, and ...no, she must be seeing things.
"Pacey," she started.
"

Jo, I am SO sorry about that. I just...I really..." He couldn't find the
words. "I'm just really sorry. I'll see you tonight." And he ran out the door.
Joey closed the door and leaned against it in shock. She touched her lips,
remembering. *What am I doing, that was Pacey Witter!* But she couldn't deny
that she had felt something when Pacey kissed her...and had been feeling
something ever since they'd been paired up on that biology project. Joey
brushed the thoughts aside and started to get ready for the dance.

Pacey stood in front of his mirror that night, reassuring himself that he
looked great in his suit. He had to look perfect. Tonight was the big night.
Tonight he would tell Joey Potter that he was falling in love with her.
Pacey thought about how she would look in the dress she had bought. All he
knew was that it was red, and he pictured her coming into the dance, looking
beautiful. He'd ask her to dance, she'd smile that cute half-smile he loved so
much, and accept. They'd walk out onto the dance floor, his arms around her
waist, her arms around his neck. He would whisper in her ear that he was
really enjoying this, and then she'd lift her gaze to stare .... at Dawson
Leery.

Pacey fell back on his bed, frustrated. Why was he torturing himself like
this? Of course Joey wouldn't want him, she was madly in love with Dawson. But
he knew why he was torturing himself. He couldn't give up without being
completely sure, she was way too important to him. That kiss this afternoon..
she hadn't pushed him away, and it had felt so right to finally Really kiss
her. He'd been attracted to her for while now, and it was just something that
he had to do at that
moment. Maybe they could sort this all out at the dance. He checked himself
one last time and then headed out the door.

Dawson sat in the passenger seat of Pacey's Jeep (that wasn't really
Pacey's), staring at his driving friend. Pacey seemed oddly silent...as a
matter of fact, so did Joey. What was going on? He was about to ask when Pacey
announced their arrival at Capeside High. Dawson noticed that Joey practically
ran out of the car. *Maybe I'm just imagining things..*
The three friends walked into the dance, chatted with some people and got
some drinks. Some dance songs played, but Dawson and Joey weren't really into
dancing, which left Pacey, who was nervously cracking his knuckles. *OK,
Witter, the next slow song that comes on.* He noticed again that Joey looked
even more beautiful than she had in his daydream. She had on a deep red dress
with spaghetti straps and a hem that came right above her knee.
"I Want You" ended and Pacey heard the first chords of a rather appropriate
song. He walked cautiously over to Joey. Dawson had gone to get another drink.
"Joey, would you...would you like to dance?" he asked.
Joey looked up into Pacey's eyes...beautiful deep eyes that were conveying
thousands of emotions this very second. "Sure," she smiled. They stepped out
onto the dance floor and clung to each other.
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away

"Joey, we have to talk about this afternoon. That kiss...I mean. Well, it's
something I've wanted to do for a really long time." He saw Joey smile shyly
at his flattery.
And I have never had such a feeling, such a feeling
Of complete and utter love, as I do tonight
Lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek

"Pacey, when I was kissing you...well, it felt really nice. It .. it
surprised me. A lot."
"A good surprise or a bad surprise?" Pacey questioned, looking at her
intently.

"What's happening, Pacey?" she asked, really needing an answer. He leaned
down close to her, and whispered in her ear...
"I'm falling in love with you, Joey."
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
And I hardly know this beauty by my side
I never will forget the way you look tonight

Joey was taken aback. She hadn't expected that at all. Pacey watched her open
her mouth to respond. *Please, please...* he prayed.
"Hey, mind if I cut in?" Pacey and Joey jumped apart.
"Dawson! My man, how the hell are ya?" Pacey put on a fake smile. Joey stared
at the floor, not wanting to meet Dawson's eyes. Suddenly, she was in Dawson's
arms.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you do tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright

"Joey, have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?"
Joey's head shot up at his words. "Th..thankyou, Dawson."
"You know, I've been thinking a lot about us," he continued.
"What about us?"
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
And I've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes
I've been blind

"Jo, what you said after the pageant, about it being all hair spray and
lipstick. That's not true, Jo. I was thinking about this way before that. Jo,
we have this long, tortured subtext together. And I've been starting to
realize...what I'm trying to say.." he stalled.
Lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek
There's nobody here, it's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side

"Realized what, Dawson?" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pacey watching
the dancing couple. She turned her eyes back to Dawson just as his lips
touched hers. This was what she had wanted for so long...but she wasn't
thinking of Dawson now. She was thinking about Pacey. She pulled away from
Dawson and turned to look for Pacey. His face contorted into a thousand
different waves of hurt, and he ran out of the dance. She turned back to
Dawson.

"Dawson, no."
"What's wrong, Joey?" Dawson looked confused. "Please don't tell me that I
just totally ruined everything by doing that."
"No, Dawson, it's ok ... I just hope I didn't ruin everything," she said, as
she hurried from the dance.

"Pacey! Pacey!" Joey yelled for him. *Oh, please, let me explain, Pacey* she
thought as she searched for him. She finally found him sitting on the school
lawn in the darkness, noticeable only because of the moonlight. She sat down
next to him.

"Pacey, please, I have to talk to you, it's not..."
"It's not what? It's not you and Dawson finally getting together? That's what
you always wanted, right, Jo? Why am I so upset, it's not like we were
together or anything. My God, I can't believe I actually thought.." he laughed
to himself, thinking how stupid he was. Joey saw a single tear drop down his
cheek.

"Pacey, Dawson and I are not a couple... and we're not going to be. I'm in
love with someone else." She touched his face. He turned sadly toward her,
hoping in spite of himself.

"Who are you in love with?" he asked softly. She smiled.
"Well, let me put it to you this way.." And she kissed him, all the newfound
love she had for him evident in that kiss. And afterwards, they sat together,
content to hold each other by the moonlight.
I never will forget the way you look tonight
Next installment: "Just The Two Of Us" (not written yet)

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