The next day at school Dawson, Pacey and Joey aren't speaking to each other. Joey and Andie aren't speaking either. Andie finds it too awkward to talk to Joey, and Joey wants an apology. The only ones on good terms with everybody are Jen and Jack. Right now, Jen is currently in the process of trying to convince Pacey to talk to Joey. "No Jen! Joey made her choice with Dawson. They probably already made up." Pacey snaps.

"They haven't Pacey. I talked to Dawson this morning, and he is still pissed at both of you. Wouldn't it be better to take Dawson's heat together?" Jen says.

"Just stop, Jen. I saw the look on Joey's face when I left. There's no going back." Pacey runs his hand over his face into his hair. The teacher walks in, and starts class. Pacey can't concentrate on anything he is saying. All he can picture is the heartbroken look on Joey's face when he drove away.


Joey is sitting next to Dawson, both determinately avoiding each other's eyes. Last night, Dawson had been sure that Joey would have come over, and apologized. But she hadn't come. He couldn't get the picture of Pacey and Joey together on the couch, laughing at him. The teacher is talking, but Dawson isn't listening. He glances at Joey, and she is bent over her notebook scribbling away. He looks around the room, and realizes he is the only one not making notes. "Mr. Leery?" Dawson jerks his head towards the teacher. "Penny for your thoughts?" Scattered laughter rings around the room.

"Um…" Dawson stutters. He sees Joey, a little smile on her face as she continues to write in her book. That makes him angry. "Can you repeat the question, please?"
"As I was saying, Mr. Leery, we have a test tomorrow. Remember to listen next time."

"Sorry." Dawson mumbles. He pulls out his notebook, but before he can copy the board, the bell rings.


Joey gives her head a little shake at Dawson. She bets he'll ask her to copy her notes. She has just left the classroom when Dawson touches her shoulder. She shrugs him off, and continues to walk. She is on a mission. She has to talk to Pacey. "Wait, Joey. I just want to talk." Dawson says.

She slows down. "Fine, Dawson. You have two minutes."

"I'm sorry, Joey. For everything. For the way I acted, for the things I said about Pacey. I never meant to hurt you."

Joey feels like a weight has been lifted off of her shoulders. "So we're good?"

"Of course. Bring it in?"

Joey shrugs. "Sure." Joey goes in for a hug, but Dawson has other ideas. He kisses her, and Pacey rounds the corner. The wind is knocked out of him, and his heart actually hurts. He turns away, and pushes past Jen, who follows him. "Dawson, what the hell was that?" Joey says angrily.

"I thought you said we were good!" Dawson exclaims.

"Yeah, to be friends! I told you, I don't want to date you!"

"Why not, Joey? We're meant to be together, you know that!" Dawson pleads. People are staring at them, and people are whispering.

"No! I can't Dawson! I can't put myself through that again!" A tear slides down Joey's cheek. "I have to go." Joey leaves, and Dawson is left standing there, with everyone staring at him. Pacey strides out of the door. He has to get out of there.

"Wait, Pacey!" Jen runs after him.

"Leave me alone, Jen!" He hurled over his shoulder.

"Pacey stop! Please!" Jen hurried after him. "I just want to talk."
Pacey turns abruptly around, making Jen almost slam into him. "Talk about what, Jen? That the girl who told me she's in love with me, who I'm in love with, is kissing another guy? Another guy, who is her ex-boyfriend, her best friend, and her first love. Talk about what? The fact that my heart was just ripped out of my body?" Pacey's eyes are wet.
"I'm so sorry. I really thought that Dawson was still mad at her." Jen cries.

"It's not your fault, Jen." Pacey sighs. Suddenly Joey bursts out of the door. She doesn't see Pacey because her eyes are full of tears. But Pacey sees her. He turns and walks as fast as he can away from her. Jen doesn't follow him. Instead she goes over to Joey.

"I can't believe you, Joey!" Jen says.

"What?" Joey wipes her eyes. "Do you know where Pacey is?"

Jen lets out a scathing laugh. "Yeah, I know where Pacey is. I can't believe that you would do that to him."

"What did I do?" Joey asks tearfully.

"What did you do? You kissed Dawson! He saw you."

Joey's body feels like it's filling with ice. "He what?"
"He saw you. Kissing Dawson."

"No! But… Did he see me push him away?" Joey asks, holding on to one last hope.

"What? No. Neither did I. You pushed him away?"

Joey sits down heavily. "God! I can't believe he saw that!" She cries. "I wanted to find Pacey, and tell him that Dawson kissed me, and that it meant nothing, and that it made me more sure that I wanted to be with him!"

"I'm sorry Joey." Jen gives her a one armed hug.

"I need to find him. Do you know where he went?" Joey asks her.

"No. He left the school I think. He went that way." Jen points in the direction Pacey went.
Joey gives her a nervous smile. "Thanks." She walks in the direction where Jen was pointing.


Pacey can't think of anything except Dawson and Joey kissing. Sure, he'd seen them kiss before, but not when he liked Joey. This was completely different. And worse, Joey had told him that she loved him, and then she went and kissed Dawson. Pacey is walking aimlessly, and realizes he's ended up on the dock in front of Joey's house, where they had sat before everything went to hell. Not knowing where else to go, Pacey sits at the end of the dock, and puts his head in his hands. Right now he just wants to leave. He wishes that the True Love was finished so he could leave. He feels horrible. Somehow his heart was actually hurting. It was physically in pain. He feels like he is going to vomit, but he pushes it down. He's never felt this way before, not even when Andie cheated on him. He gives in and starts to cry.


Joey has been walking around Capeside for what seems like hours, and she can't find Pacey anywhere. She hasn't been to his house yet, but if he isn't there, she doesn't want to talk to his parents. She searches for another half hour, but she can't find him anywhere. She gives up, and starts home. She walks slowly home, taking a detour, hoping that she might see Pacey. She doesn't. She walks up her driveway, and freezes. There is a familiar figure, legs hanging over the dock, head in hands. Shoulders shaking gently. Joey suddenly finds it very difficult to swallow. She starts towards the figure slowly. She stops ten feet behind him. "Pacey?"

His head shoots up, and whips towards Joey. His eyes are bloodshot, and his cheeks are tear-stained. Joey's heart melts, and she takes two steps towards him before she freezes. The look he is giving her is pure betrayal. "I'm so sorry Pacey. It all came out of nowhere. He asked if we were good, I said we were, then he kissed me. I was so shocked it didn't even register. I'm sorry Pacey." Joey says, all without taking a breath.

"You didn't… kiss him back?" Pacey's voice is gravelly, and he sounds like he'd been tortured, which in hindsight, Joey realizes that he probably was tortured.

"No. I love you, Pacey. I would never kiss Dawson. After today, I don't even want to be his friend."

Pacey stands, staring at Joey. "So… what now?"

Joey makes a decision to do what she woke up this morning to do. She closes the distance between them, and kisses him. She feels him respond, and he almost lifts her off her feet. They pull away from each other, and Joey can't stop smiling.

"I love you, Joe." Pacey smiles.

"I love you too." Joey says. Joey can't keep the smile off of her face. Little do the happy pair know that a figure is staring at them, with tears running down their face.

Sorry about the really long wait. I've been busy with school, which sucks, but here we are. I've already started writing the next chapter, so hopefully it'll be faster than the last one. I also only have two classes this "quadmester" (instead of semester), so hopefully I'll have more time. Reviews are always welcome!