I Love You Came Too Late by Heather

I Love You Came Too Late
by Heather

Disclaimer: Ya know, I really don't like these. But if I disclaim it, doesn't that mean that I claimed it once? Hmm...well, even though I don't remember claiming it, on with the show...I don't own, Pacey, Joey, Dawson, Jen, etc. They are all products of the brilliant mind of Kevin Williamson, even though the new writers have given most of them total personality 180s. Oh yeah, and I don't own Joey McIntyre, this song, his CD, or anything else remotely related to him.(Except maybe a NKOTB doll I "borrowed" when I was a little kid..)

Summary: Pacey and Joey have been dating for a year, and they're about to graduate high school. They're gonna be in the class of 2001, just because it's convenient for me. That's really all I can say!

Author's Note: If you've heard the song, cool. It doesn't really matter, 'cuz I typed the lyrics in here anyway. If you've seen the video, don't let it affect your reading, because you never know when the plot might twist...

Props: Laura, who reminisced with me about the good ol' New Kids days when I told her the idea for this story. The people reading this right now, because I don't write just for the health of it :o) And all my buddies who don't harass me for being online 24/7 :o)

Baby listen to me
If I had the chance, I'd say the words.
C'mon

The bluest of blue
That's what her eyes are
That's what I am today
And if I had it all to do all over again
I wouldn't have waited so long to say
I can't live without you
Don't want nobody else
Baby listen very closely
I love you

I couldn't lie
She couldn't wait
I love you came too late
I'd give my life for yesterday
I love you came too late

I should have seen the signs
Paid more attention
But I pushed her love away
I pushed your love away
So she found someone to give her what she needed
Somebody else
Somebody else not afraid to say
Not afraid to say

I can't live without you
Don't want nobody else
Baby listen very closely
I love you

I couldn't lie
I couldn't lie
She couldn't wait
She couldn't wait for me
I love you came too late
I'd give my life for yesterday
I love you came too late

I can't live without you
Don't want nobody else
My heart is in my hand
Took a good look at myself
If I had another chance
I'd shout it out to the world
I swear I would
I love you

I couldn't lie
She couldn't wait
I love you came too late
I'd give my life for yesterday
I love you came too late

"I love you," Joey quietly said into the phone. She'd been talking on the phone with her boyfriend for about two hours, and she had to go to bed so she could work the early shift at The Crab Hut.(Note: The name sucks. Humor me. Just pretend she worked there after the Icehouse burned down.)

"Bye," he said quietly into the phone. Then she heard it. The inevitable click. Shouldn't she have just expected it by now though? She picked up a pen from the coffee table and grabbed her notebook from under her pillow.

May 4, 2001-

It's Friday, and Pacey and I went out to dinner at--you guessed it--The Crab Hut. Then we went to the semi-new Multiplex and watched yet another highly predictable movie with an overused plot. Dawson would have died. But this isn't about Dawson. This is about me and Pacey, and the soon-to-be catastrophe that we call a relationship. Why can't he just say it? I've been saying it to him for a few months, and felt it even longer, but he'll always change the subject, or he'll have to go. Doesn't he love me? I love him with all my heart, and I don't know what to do. Should I dump him? I'd be miserable without him, but if he doesn't want to put in his half of the bargain then I guess I'll have to.

She stuffed the notebook back under the pillow and switched off the lamp. Curling up under the covers on her fold-up bed, she went to sleep, not having the slightest idea as to what she was going to do about her biggest problem: the love of her life.

Pacey sat on his bed, staring intently at the phone. Her last words echoed in his mind. I love you. Did he love her? He liked her...a lot. And he most definitely lusted for her. But could he call it love? Yes, he definitely could. But was he IN love?

'I'm only 18 years old. I shouldn't have to worry about this yet!' he thought to himself as he got off the bed and stormed over to turn off the light. He groaned, rather loudly, as he got back into bed and lied there restlessly before dozing off.

The Crab House, 10:56 A.M.

"Hi, Pacey, what can I do for ya today?" Joey's boss, he always assumed, said as he sat down at the counter.

"Is Joey here?" he responded, looking back into the kitchen.

"Ah, I shoulda known. She's over there." she pointed to a table on the middle of the patio where Joey was handing over two plates of food.

"Thanks."

He slowly walked towards her, nervous about if she would say anything to him, or if it would go unmentioned as it often did. She met him halfway.

"Hi, Pacey."

"Hey." he said softly, giving her a light kiss on the lips.

"Helen, I'm taking my break!" Joey yelled towards the kitchen.

"Jo, you took your break at 9:30!"

"Well can you give me a few minutes? Please?"

"Fine."

Joey and Pacey walked away from the restaurant, holding hands. They stopped in the parking lot by Pacey's truck. He pulled the hatch down and they sat on it.

"Pacey, I think we need to talk..." she didn't even look at him. There was no way she was backing down this time.

'Oh shit,' he thought, as his stomach turned into knots.

"Yeah." He looked at the sky. There was a long pause.

"Do you...love me?" She finally looked at him, and he looked back.

"Of course."

"Tell me."

"I can't."

"Why the HELL not?"

"Because I don't know if I'm *in* love with you."

"We've been dating for a year and we've known eachother forever, but you don't know?" She was pissed.

"No." He almost whispered; she was intimidating.

"Well, Pacey then I only have on thing to say to you. Goodbye." She jumped up and started stalking away.

"Joey!"

"We're through, Pacey! Don't you understand? Love is a two sided, mutual, relationship. One of us isn't pulling their weight, and it sure as hell isn't me!" She went inside and back to work as Pacey sat there, upset and literally about to cry.

"DAMNIT!" he yelled as he got up, kicking the hatch of the truck closed. 'Ow.' he thought, getting into the truck and slowly driving home.

What will happen to Pacey and Joey? Will she go running into the arms of another guy, or will Pacey come to the rescue? Where the hell are Dawson and Jen? Is this story going to follow the path of the song, or am I a sucker for happy endings? Stick around for part two of 'I Love you Came Too Late'!