Disclaimer:  They're not mine, they never will be.  You know the drill.

"But I Thought....?"

By Lady (part one)

Joey Potter sat on her bed in her room, drawing tiny hearts
 in her diary with the name Dawson inside them.  She
 sighed, for what was about the millionth time that day.
  The last three pages of the secret book had "I Luv
 Dawson" (or something to that effect) written on them.
  Drawing a final heart and sighing once again, she 
closed the book and capped the pen.  

"Why am I doing this to mysel?" she asked aloud.  
Flopping down on the bed, she lay in a state of
 complete, utter, and total despair and confusion. 
 Just then, her sister Bessie called from downstairs.

"Joey!  Your little friend has come to play!"

Oh great, Joey thought, The guy I love has come
 to complain and moan about his lost love, Miss I'm - 
so - perfect - look - at - me - and - love - me!  Well, 
better just get this over with.

She padded down the stairs.  To her surprise, it was
 Pacey who was in the living room, and not Dawson.

"Hey, Joey," Pacey greeted her.  Joey made a face.

"Bessie, I thought I told you not to let creatures
 from other planets into the house!  They could be 
a danger to Alexander!"  Joey whined.  Bessie gave 
her "the look" and took her baby into the kitchen.

"Save it Joey," Pacey said, and beckoned her closer
 to him, until she was sitting next to him on the couch.

"Look, I'm REALLY not in the mood today for you're-" 
 She didn't get to finish.

"Hmm... Let's play Wheel of Fortune.  I have three
 letters for you to complete the puzzle: P, M, and S," 
Pacey joked, and smirked.

"Don't even TRY with me, you slimeball.  And you are 
SO wrong.  But what do you want, so I can make this
 quick and get you out of here before you contaminate
 the house?"  Joey said in one breath.

"Well," Pacey said with mock sadness, "If you're going
 to be THAT way about it..."  Then he saw the look on
 Joey's face.  And he got a little nervous.

Just get it over with, man, he told himself, She'll say yes, 
she'll say yes!

"I wanted to know if you'd like to go to the docks
 tonight and have dinner with me," he mumbled.



Part Two 

Joey stared at him in shock, amazement, and yes, a
 little shyness.  Pacey was asking her out!  

But wait! she thought Just a minute ago I was drawing 
hearts all over my diary in tribute to Dawson... But it's
 not like he'll ever notice me, so what the hell?

"Joey?" Pacey urged in excitement and fear.  Joey
 looked up at him, smiled slowly, and said,

"Yeah, sure.  Why not?"

Pacey jumped up, his mind screaming, OH YES!  
OH YES!  OH YES!

But he said, "Great!  I'll pick you up here at seven
, okay?"

"Fine," Joey answered, "But one question... What
 in the world posessed you to do this?"

Pacey smiled a knowing smile, and went over to the 
door to let himself out.

"Maybe the fact that I was around this beautiful woman
 all my life, and despite contrary ideas, I was too scared
 to do anything about it," he said and left.

Joey stared at the door which closed with a thud, and 
grinned widely.  Strange how your feelings for a person
 can change in a matter of minutes.  Just then Bessie
 walked in holding Alexander.

"So... what are you going to wear?" she asked, smiling.  
Joey stared down at what she had on.

"What's wrong with this?"

Bessie clucked her tongue and shook her head.

"No, no, no, Joey.  Pacey asked you to go to dinner
 at the docks.  So you've got to look nice," she said.

"Well, what do you have in mind?" Joey inquired with
 a snotty attitude.  Bessie looked thoughtful for a 
moment, then began a trek up the stairs.

"Come with me," she beckoned and Joey followed. 
 Once in Bessie and Bodie's room, Bessie set Alexander
 down in his crib and began to go through her closet.  
Joey stood impatiently behind her and watched as her
 sister pulled out a pair of black pants and a tight white
 tank top.  She set those on the bed and began 
rummaging through the closet again.  A minute later 
she found what she was looking for:  a black jean 
long-sleeved shirt.  

"Go put this on and see what you think," she commanded
.  Joey took the clothes, sighed, and went to the bathroom
 to change.

Joey stared into the full-length mirror on the back of Bessie's
 door.  She actually did look quite good.

"I like it," she said with a small smile as Bessie looked 
over her shoulder.

"You look great.  What time is it?"

Joey took a glance at her watch.

"5:02, so I have about two hours," she answered. 
 Bessie turned her around.

"That's all???  We have to hurry!  Change out of those
 and shower, fast!"  She slapped Joey lightly on her butt
 and Joey jumped to obey her older sister.

************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, Pacey was at home asking his sister Maggie
 what to cook.

"Pacey, you've gotta be romantic.  Girls like that.  So
 make something like... fruit salad and bring Italian
 bread.  I'll run and get some in a minute," Maggie answered.

"All right, I'll take your word for it.  But that means you've
 gotta buy fruit too.  So what else?" Pacey said, writing
 everything down as they sat discussing the date at the
 Witter family's kitchen table.

Maggie thought for a minute.

"Bring Kool-Aid in an empty wine bottle, and bring two 
of Mom's wine glasses.  Just don't break them," she 
added, "And of course, you'll want to bring that box 
of chocolates hidden under your bed, and napkins and
 plates and stuff like that.  You'll need a bag of ice.. 
Hmm, this is going to cost me... But anyway, to make
 it really special, stuff all of it into a wicker picnic basket
 with a big quilt.  So it really looks sweet.  She'll think
 the world of you just for that!"

Pacey finished writing Maggie's words down and looked
 over the list. 

"Okay, I'll give you the money for the stuff, but what am
 I supposed to say to her?  How do I act?" he asked nervously.

"Just don't come on too strong," his sister advised, "And 
don't start mouthing off.  Just... be a gentleman.  And
 remember: No means no."

Pacey smiled at the last comment.  He could do that. 
 No problem.

"Thanks Naggie Maggie, I owe you one," he said and
 patted his sister on the shoulder.  He began up the 
stairs to look for a picnic basket and a quilt.

"Pacey?"  Maggie called after him.  He turned and
 looked at her.

"What?"

"Tell me everything when you get home," she said, 
grabbed her purse, and left the house.  Pacey just
 smiled after her.  

************************************************************************************************

"Hi, is Jen available?" Dawson Leery asked into
 the phone.  His palms were sweating and he wiped 
them on his bed cover.

"I'm sorry, she's out with someone right now.  Can I 
please take a message?" Mrs. Lindley, Jen's 
grandmother, answered.

Dawson sighed.  

"Just tell her her ex called, and he wants to... talk... 
to her," he said and hung up without saying goodbye.

There was a knock at his door.

"Nobody in here but the world's most UN-wanted," 
he called out, flopping down on the bed.  The door
 opened and to his surpirse, Jen walked in.

"You're not unwanted, Dawson.  I know for certain,"
 she said and smiled weakly.

"I just called you, Jen, what's up?" Dawson asked, 
sitting up and motioning for her to sit down on the 
bed with him.

"Um, I wanted to talk to you about our... argument 
at the docks a couple weeks ago," she answered 
and continued, just looking down at her hands, "I... I
 think that I made a mistake, Dawson.  A big one. 
 Because there's nothing that doesn't remind me of 
you, and nothing else I can think about all day... so
 if you think that you can forgive me for what I've 
done, I'd certainly like to start over."

She waited for a moment until Dawson lifted her
 chin up to his eyes.

"How's this for an answer?" he whispered, and his
 mouth claimed her's.  She gasped slightly at the feel
 of his lips against her lips again, but soon gave into
 it and kissed back.  After a few miuntes, they broke 
apart.

"But I thought...?" Jen asked breathlessly.

"You think way too much, Jen," Dawson smiled and
 began to kiss her again.  It was only when Jen took
 a look at the clock when she realized her grandmother
 would want her home.  With a final kiss and a
 whispered "Good bye", she retreated to her "prison".
  Dawson watched her go and sighed to himself. 
 Life couldn't get any better.

"Dawson, my man, you have got it all..." he said into
 the air.  Everything was going perfect.  He got his
 girlfriend back, his parents were getting along again,
 Pacey had finally gotten over Ms. Jacobs, and Joey-

"Hey Dawson."

He looked over to his window to see his best friend
 climbing through.

"Hey Jo, what's up?"

Joey smiled and spun around in her new clothes,
 hair, and makeup.  Dawson's jaw droppped a full 
four inches as he saw "his" Joey all made-up.

"Do you like it?" she asked timidly. 

"I'm speechless as to how to describe how you look, 
Joey, but yeah, I like it.  A LOT," he answered truthfully.

Joey blushed.

"I'm going to meet Pacey tonight at the docks to have
 dinner, and I wanted to ask you some stuff before I l
eft," she said.  Dawson's head snapped up from looking you-know-where, and stared at her strangely.

"You're going out with Pacey?  You two are mortal 
enemies!" Dawson exclaimed.

"Well," Joey said and sat down on the bed, "I guess so. 
 But things change, Dawson, people evolve.  And that's
 what Pacey and I are doing."

"Oh," Dawson said, "Oh.  Well... uh... I guess that's
 good... Um.. I really don't know what to say... So what
 is it you wanted to ask me?"

Joey sighed and turned a little red.

"How do guys like girls to act around them?  I mean,
 what should I say?  What do I compliment him on, or 
do I?  I need help, Dawson."

Dawson was laughing hysterically inside, but he knew 
that he had to answer seriously for Joey's sake.

"Look, Jo, you're a great girl, and any guy who asked 
you out should know that whatever you do or say comes
 from the heart.  Guys are really stupid, I know from
 experience.  Just don't come on too strong.. like don't
 act really flirtatious or be a prima donna.  And don't 
mouth off.  Guys like a girl who can stand her ground,
 but not someone who's going to insult their every 
move.  Just stick with that.  You'll be fine."

Joey ran it over again in her head.  Then she smiled.

"Thanks, Dawson, I owe you one.  But I've gotta go
 now, he'll be waiting for me if I don't get going.  I'll see 
ya later, okay?"

"Sure," Dawson answered, "Have a great time.  And
 remember: don't let him get fresh.  He should know
 that no means no."  

Joey giggled, and made her way out of the window
 and down the ladder.  She was bouncing with excitement.

************************************************************************************************

Pacey stood at Joey's door with a boquet of tiger lilies,
 rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet an his
 heels.  He was just about ready to ring the beel when
 Joey came running up the path.  He smiled when he saw her.

"Hey Joey," he greeted her and thrust out the boquet of 
flowers.  Joey took them and breathed in their scent.

"They're beautiful.  Let me tell Bessie we're leaving and 
I'll be right there," she said and ran inside.  Pacey sighed 
to himself.

That wasn't so bad.

Joey came out still holding the flowers and went towards
 the truck.

"Are you coming?" she asked, smiling at Pacey who was
 watching her from the front porch.  The question registered
 in his head and he ran to the driver's side, got in, started 
the car, and drove off.
Pacey pulled up on the docks so that the back of the
 pick up was facing the water.  The moon was already
 shining brightly in the sky, making the mood incredibly romantic.  

He opened the door for his date, and Joey stepped out
 looking exquisite in the glittering light.  She smiled shyly
at him and walked with him to the edge of the docks. 
 Pacey began to set up the picnic, and when he lighted
 the two white candles, Joey was just about ready to cry.
  He had gone through with all of this for her?  

"Sit down," Pacey said softly, and began pouring her a 
glass of Kool-Aide.  She accepted with with a small smile,
 and closed her eyes as she took a sip.  Pacey just 
watched her, and didn't look away when she put her glass
 down.

"So..." Joey began, "What've you brought to eat?"

Without word, Pacey pulled out a bowl of fruit salad and
 a fresh loaf of Italian bread and butter.

"I hope you like this, because I really don't know how to
 do much else..." he said and blushed.

"It's wonderful," Joey answered as she bit into a small
 piece of pineapple.  

Thank God for big sisters, thought Pacey.  He joined her
 in eating the fruit, and then cut them both a thick slice of
 bread.  Not once during the dinner did Joey have to do 
anything - Pacey did it all for her.

"No, let me," he would say, and flash her this sexy grin 
that would make her heart flutter.  It was amazing that only
 a few hours before, she was telling him to get out of her
 house before he contaminated it, and now she was
 having the most romantic dinner of her life with the 
same guy.  

"No, it's not the same guy," she said softly, not really
 knowing that she had spoken aloud.

"What?" Pacey asked, and finished picking up all of
 the stuff except for the wine glasses which still had
 Kool-Aide in them.  He stuffed the picnic basket in the
 middle seat, and then helped Joey up from the wooden
 docks.  They stood there, incredibly close to one 
another, her hands still wrapped in his.

"I... I was just thinking how you're not the same guy I was
 ready to throw out of my house a few hours ago," she 
whispered and blushed a deep crimson, though it was 
dark so he didn't see.  She looked down, but Pacey
 tipped her chin up.  His eyes had turned dark.

"You're not the same girl I'm going to kiss right now..." 
he whispered back and pressed his lips against hers.  She immediately kissed back, and put her arms around his neck.  

About a hundred feet away, Dawson stood staring in 
shock at them, while Jen hung on his arm, oblivious to 
everything that was going on....


Part four

WARNING:  This section could be rated PG-13 for a few
 "adult" refrences.

As Dawson watched his two best friend's kiss, something
 welled up inside of him that he had always tried to push
 down before.  Jealousy.  Jen was still hanging on his arm, 
oblivious to reality, and sighing with contentment.

I'm not seeing this, this is not happening, I am not seeing this,
 this is not happening... Dawson repeated over and over
 in his head.  But in his heart, he knew it to be true.

************************************************************************************************

Pacey and Joey let go of each other, and she looked down
 with nervous eyes.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said softly, "Take me home, Pacey."

Pacey was taken aback, that she should say something 
like this, but complied with her wishes.  He opened the
 door for her and she climbed in.  He started the engine, 
and they drove off, leaving a beautiful moon-lit night
 behind, and a very jealous Dawson Leery to ponder his
 feelings for his best friend.

************************************************************************************************

They reached the front step, and she began to unlock
 the door.  Not looking at him, she waved slightly and
 walked into the living room.  She closed the screen 
door and finally looked at his mournful eyes through 
the meshed wire.

"Thanks for a nice dinner, Pacey. Good night," she said
 calmly, then turned to shut the wooden door.  He closed
 his eyes in defeat, nodding his head and turning toward
 the truck on the dirt path.  

When he reached the front door, he turned and watched
 the light go on in her bedroom window, then a minute
 later, go off.  Pacey was about to get in the truck
 when Joey came rushing out of the house.  She did
 not hesitate a moment before kissing him fully on the lips. 
 After a while, she let go.  Pacey looked at her face,
 which was as white as her lips were swollen red.

"Is that what you came to tell me?" he asked quietly,
 half joking.  Joey ran her hands up and down his arms.

"Not all.." she whispered.  "Stay with me tonight."

"What?" Pacey was completely surprised.  He had
 to make sure that he had heard right...

Part five

WARNING:  This part could contain stuff that 
would be labeled as PG-13 in the movies.  Nothing
 graphic, just watch out.

Had she really said that?

"Jo, are you saying what I think you're saying?" 
Pacey asked incredulously.

"Yes," she breathed, "I want you to spend the night... 
with me."

Pacey looked at her to make sure he was hearing correctly. 
 He didn't know what to do.  A part of him wanted to stay with
 her, and the other part told him that it wasn't right - not so 
soon after Tamara, and because she was JOEY.  And what
 about Dawson?  But his teenage hormones took over, and
 he took her hand and led her into the house.  

Joey looked around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness, 
and then beckoned him upstairs.  They tip-toed into Joey's
 room and locked the door behind them.  The lights were 
off as Pacey crushed his mouth to hers and they fell onto
 the bed.  She pulled at his shirt and it was off in seconds. 
 Hers was the next to go.  Soon, the rest of their clothes
 (except for underwear) were on the floor, and Pacey was
 ready to pull those off, too.  

But then he thought of how Joey was always thinking of
 her and Dawson being together like this, and he 
restrained himself.  

"Jo, wait-" he said.  She opened her eyes and looked
 into his, which were both dark with passion and dark
 with seriousness.

"What?"

"This isn't right..." Pacey answered, and rolled onto 
his side, "You'll - we'll both - regret this if we go any further."

Joey turned to face him.

"But Pacey-"

"No buts.  Don't forget... you almost kicked me out
 of the house a few hours ago," he said and smiled,
"And when I kiss you... I know that you're thinking
 of someone besides myself.  Don't lie to me."

Joey sighed, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I guess I did.  But now... I don't know.  Maybe you're
 right.  But I don't want - I mean I do... I don't know
 what I want!" Tears began to fall down her face.

"Shh," Pacey comforted, "You don't have to say 
anything.  Let's just get some sleep, and we can
 figure this out in the morning.  Okay?"

She nodded.  He opened his arms for her, and
 she lay against him with her back to his chest. 
 Soon, sleep enveloped them both.  


************************************************************************************************

(The Next Morning)

"Hey, Bessie, is Joey awake?" Dawson asked.  
It was 10:00 A.M., and Joey hadn't come by yet 
to help finish the script for Dawson's new movie.  

"I don't think so," Bessie answered as she set a 
plate full of pancakes down in front of Dawson, w
ho began to shovel them down.  "She got in kind 
of late with Pacey.  Why?"

"Sha wa thupothed ta come ova an hel me wit ma
 skipt," he answered through a mouthful of pancakes,
 butter, and syrup.  Bessie laughed quietly at his 
deformed words.

"After you finish those, you can go check her room. 
 It was locked when I went up there, but I'm sure 
she'll let you in... And I see you're finished," she said, 
and took the plate away.  Just then, Alexander began
 to cry in his bassonet in the living room, and she went
 away top take care of her baby.

Dawson poured himself a glass of milk, gulped it down,
 and then started up the stairs to look for Joey.

When he reached her room, he heard the shower 
running, and then shut off in his friend's bathroom. 
 He tried the knob on the door, and found it was 
open.  He heard the shower door open and shut.  
Then Dawson walked in... on Joey getting dressed
 and Pacey coming out of the shower in only a
 piece of white terrycloth.

Joey's head snapped around when she saw
 Dawson, and Pacey nearly dropped the towel 
around his waist.  Joey's face had a horrified look
 on it, and she staggered back onto the unmade
 bed, pulling her shirt over her head.

"Jo?  Pace?"  Dawson squeaked.

"Dawson, man, this isn't what it looks like," Pacey
 tried, and then looked at the situation, "Well, maybe
 it is, but really-"

"No, Pacey, save it.  I don't want to hear about your
 romping and rolling last night," Dawson said with a
 hurt smile, "You two obviously want some time 
alone, so I'll just leave now..."  He turned around 
and left the room.  Joey still sat on her bed, speechless
 as to what to say or do.

"Be right back, Jo," Pacey said as he pulled on cotton
 boxers and a white tee-shirt.  He kissed Joey lightly on
 her cheek, and then dashed down the stairs.  Then he 
realized that Bessie was probably up, and made a mad
 dash for the door just as Bessie came into the kitchen.

"Dawson!" he called, "Wait up, man!"  He ran to catch
 up to Dawson who was just leaning down to untie the
 little boat that would take him back home.

"Wait for a sec, man, gimme a moment to explain 
myself," Pacey said, trying to catch his breath.

"There's nothing that needs explaining, Pacey,"
 Dawson said calmly, but there were tears welling
 up in his eyes, "You and Joey had... had..." He
 couldn't even get the words out before the silen
t tears began to run down his cheeks.  He brushed
 them away, and then sat down on the bank of the river.

"Dawson, we didn't have sex," Pacey answered
 quietly, "We were going to, but we just slept
 together.  Nothing more."

"You really expect me to believe that?  I'm not
 that dumb Pacey, or blind.  You would also say
 that Joey wanted to do it, and you stopped it!"

"Well," Pacey said in amusement, "That's actually
 how it DID happen."

Dawson looked at him with cold eyes.

"Dawson, when I was kissing her, it was amazing. 
 But I realized after a while that she wanted it to be
 you kissing her, your tongue in her mouth, your
 hands on her-" Pacey was interrupted.

"You don't have to go any further, Pacey, I get
 the idea.  But you're wrong.  Joey doesn't think
of me like that.  She thinks of me as a big brother
 or something, not a boyfriend," Dawson said,
 looking down into the cool water.

"And how do you think of her?" Pacey asked.  

It was silent for a full three minutes before Dawson
 answered.

"If I lied, you'd know," he said and sighed.  "I saw
 you two down at the docks last night.  Jen and I 
were there.  I thought we were getting back together
.  But then I saw you two kissing, and I got incredibly
 jealous.  When I walked in her room, I wanted it to 
be me stepping out of her shower."

"In other words..." Pacey urged him on.

"I love her.  I really love her.  Not like I thought I liked 
Jen.  But real love," Dawson admitted.

An audience applauded in Pacey's head... but his
 heart was breaking.  He had been trying for months
 to get Dawson and Joey to realize how much they
 loved each other, but when Pacey finally got up the
 nerve to ask her out, they were realizing it.  It just
 wasn't fair.

"Well," he said, getting up, "Tell her.  But don't
 come running to tell me how great everything is 
for you, or how perfect you are together."  He
 began to walk to the truck, still parked on the
 dirt path.

"Pacey, wait a sec!" Dawson said and went afte
r him.  He caught up and Pacey turned around.

"Look, Dawson, just do what you want.  But remember,
 I was the one in there this morning.  Maybe I wanted
 a chance with Joey, too."  He got in the truck and 
took off, leaving a troubled and confused Dawson behind.

Next part coming soon!!!!

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