Disclaimer: All the characters contained withing this story are owned by Kevin Williamson, the WB network and affiliates. I am making no profit from writing this story blah blah blah... Note:Please send all suggestions and comments to JoeyPacey@hotmail.com. Thanks!

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Watching his two best friends kiss so passionately made Dawson feel sick. When they were young they gagged at situationgs like this that were on TV.

Pacey and Joey slowly pulled away from eachother, suprised at what had happenned. Neither of them saw or heard Dawson quietly slip away, intending to stay in his room and think.

"Whoa," Pacey said.

"Yeah," Joey replied.

"Listen Jo.."

"Pacey.."

"Go ahead, really."

"Well, I'm not sure how you felt about what just happened. I guess it was just spur of the moment. That was the first time I hadn't thought of Dawson all week, and well.. I kinda enjoyed it."

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that Jo."

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Dawson reached the porch of his large white house in time to see his parents Jeep rushing down the road. All the better, Dawson thought, I really don't need my parents bothering me today. He opened the front door and then slammed it behind him. This wasn't as satisfying as it seemed before Dawson thought. He flopped down on his bed and stared aimlessly at the ceiling. Looking sideways he saw a picture of the three of them, Joey, Pacey, and himself. It was taken a couple of summers ago. Before our hormones went on overdrive Dawson thought. He turned his head the other way and saw the clock, it was 11, just about time for lunch at school Thank god I'm not there, Dawson thought, I really could not stand film class after lunch. Lunch. Jen. Dawson sat up, he had forgotten that he was supposed to meet Jen today.

"Great," Dawson said aloud,"She'll never forgive me for this one."

Dawson flopped back down on his bed and then ultimately decided to return to school. Ditching half a day wasn't too bad.

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"So, what to do, what to do." Pacey contemplated.

"We already missed half a day, you know we're getting Saturday detention." Joey replied.

"Do you think they even notice we're gone?"

"I bet they do, the gossip mill doesn't have anything to grind without us!" Joey said sarcastically.

"Really." Pacey agreed.

"Well, we have many options in spending our last two hours of freedom." Joey said happily.

"How about we just go to the beach, it'll be like last summer!"

"Last summer..." Joey said and trailed off. That was when all three of them had spent the summer together, before Jen had come. Joey snapped back into reality when she heard Pacey say something.

"What?" Joey asked.

"I said, you were thinking about Dawson, weren't you."

"No..." Joey said,"Let's go, we can stop by house and get some towels." Joey ran down the path, Pacey trying to catch up to her.

Joey was very fast, but Pacey was faster, he caught up to her and wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.

"You can't run away from everything Jo." Pacey whispered into her ear before kissing her on the cheek and then releasing her from his grasp.

"What are you talking about?" Joey demanded.

"Nothing, c'mon, we'd better get going."

"Alright, race you there!"

"Your on!"

"On your marks...." Joey said," Get set..." and Joey took off.

"Cheater!" Pacey yelled, laughing.

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"Pull yourself together," Dawson mumbled to himself before entering the cafeteria. He smoothed back his hair and pasted on a fake smile before entering the room filled with Capeside students. Stepping through the two large doors he scanned the room and saw Jen sitting in the far corner, alone. Dawson rushed over, he hoped she wasn't furious and prayed that she didn't know where he had gone.

"Hey Jen," Dawson said and cleared his throat in hopes of getting her attention.

"Oh!" Jen looked up, surprised,"Hey Dawson, nice to see you."

That's weird Dawson thought That sounded a little sarcastic, does she know?

"Uh..yeah, so how's your day been?"

"Pretty good," Jen replied,"And yours?"

Dawson sat down she's being polite, a little bit too polite Dawson thought.

"Fine."

"Fine as in, I ditched my girlfriend and school to go look for my best friend who obviously has the priority around here, or another fine?" Jen said coldly.

"What? How'd you... I mean... I didn't mean to leave you here like that, I would've told you, Jen, really...It was just one of those spur of the moment things!"

"Really.."Jen's voice was full of bitter disappointment,"really..." she repeated more softly.

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"Admit it Pace," Joey said with a carefree laugh,"you never would have guessed that Mr. Gold was gay."

"Alright, you've got me there," Pacey finally gave into the argument.

The large rolling waves crashed upon the sandy shore in Capeside. Joey and Pacey were both having the time of their lives while Dawson stumbled through a conversation with Jen.

Pacey leaned over and gave Joey a soft kiss on the cheek. Surprised, Joey looked at Pacey, waiting for an explanation.

"What was that for?" Joey inquired.

"For being you." Pacey said.

Joey blushed, she wasn't used to someone complimenting her. When she had been smaller her mother had to take care of two kids by herself, not a lot of time for worrying about fiery little Joey. And dad dad Joey thought angrily he had been...well...preoccupied. The serene look on her face quickly turned to hatred. Pacey looked oddly at her before putting his arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze.

"Sometimes you just have to forgive and forget." Pacey offered.

"Yeah" Joey's voice trailed off.

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Brriinnnnggg!

The final bell rang, sounding the end of school. A steady stream of students flowed out the the double doors and each headed their own way. Slowly the amount of students leaving lessened until it was just Dawson and Jen sitting on the steps, arguing.

"Admit it Dawson," Jen was frustrated,"You love her, you know it, yet you ignore your feelings! She will always be first in your mind!"

"Joey is just a friend." Dawson said calmly although his face was flushed, a sure sign he was lying," I don't ignore my feelings, and you will always be first in my mind, Jen. Your my girlfriend for god's sake!"

"You don't have to lie for me, Dawson"

"I'm not!"

"Whatever"

"Don't walk away Jen!"

"Who's going to stop me?"

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Joey was on cloud nine by the time she and Pacey had separated. The day had been absolutely wonderful, even with the mediocre start. Pacey made her feel special, he always put her first, like Dawson. Dammit! Joey thought, why does Dawson always pop into my mind.

She walked past the school's tennis courts while on her way to the Icehouse for her evening shift when she heard the steady Whap! Whap! of a tennis ball. Curious, Joey looked through the green mesh and to her surprise saw Dawson. Quietly Joey entered the court and watched Dawson for a while, he was furious, she could tell. Dawson swung his racket, the ball hit the wall, and bounced back before Dawson could hit it again. It slowly rolled until it was at Joey's feet, she picked it up and walked over to him.

"So," Joey said apprehensively,"who's winning, you or the wall?"

"No sarcasm today Joey, I'm really not in the mood." Dawson said sullenly.

"Oh, sorry, I'll leave you alone.." Joey said.

"That's okay Jo, you mind if I unload on you?"

"That's why I'm here."

"Nothing," Dawson collapsed into a sitting position with his back against the wall," Absolutely nothing is going right for me."

"Mr. Perfect's life isn't going right? It boggles the mind. What are you talking about Dawson?"

"Jen and I got in a major argument."

Joey looked up, this conversation might proove interesting afterall.

"We got in an argument over you Jo. Our relationship." Dawson said gravely, "What's happening to us? We would've been laughing at the two characters if this was a movie..."

"That's it Dawson, this isn't a movie, this is life."

To Be Continued......