So I wrote this a long time ago - but something about this one still needs to be finished. I've been rewriting it over - adding things I felt like it was missing. Would love some feedback. This is a pretty dark one...

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Now

She'd wanted to make him mad. But she was unprepared for the hatred she saw in his eyes.

"I loved you," she said softly.

He pulled her close to inhale the scent of her hair one last time.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Still?"

"Forever."

As he pulled away from her, she raised her eyes to meet his. And that's when she knew.

Silence filled the air for a moment. Two shots were fired. And then her screaming filled the silence.

Then

May 1999

"Pacey, what are you doing here? With... Are those books?" Joey asked as he handed him his menu.

"Begging you for some help? My dad said if I don't get above a C on the science final he's sending me to military school"

Joey shook her head "I don't know Pace, between working here and school I don't have a whole lot of extra time "

"I forgot to mention my dad is willing to pay 20$ an hour for your tutoring services." He said grinning at her.

"We'll that's a different story. It's a little late in the school year for him to threaten military school isn't it?"

"Well" Pacey said sheepishly "he came home early to yell at me about a call from Mr poison and caught me having sex... And drinking his beer."

"Haha wow Pacey, you don't know how to screw up like a normal person do you?"

He grabbed her hands "Please Jo, can you help me?"

She sighed. "Yes, but keep those hands off me! I just found out where they've been!" He let go of her, winking as he did.

"Pacey don't make me regret agreeing to this. My shift is over in an hour. I can sit with you for an hour if you drive me home after"

"Deal"

"So am I dropping you at Dawson's or your house?" Pacey asked as they turned onto her street.

"Dawson's. My dad has disappeared again which means he's broken parole and only a matter of time before he's back in jail. The Learys have temporary custody again"

He pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. "Why didn't you say anything Jo?"

She shrugged awkwardly. "That's not really the friendship you and I have anymore. It used to be the 3 of us were always together. Then you discovered girls. Pacey this has been the first time we've really talked in months"

"Shit Joey, I'm sorry. I guess I have been a little distracted lately."

"It's okay," she said opening the car door. He opened his and walked around back and pulled her bike out of his trunk.

"So what else is going on? You still got the hots for our boy Dawson? You guys married with two kids yet?"

Joey laughed as he placed her bike against the side of Dawson's house. "Yes still have the hots. Still trapped in the friend zone. Any tips, since you are obviously more skilled at this than me?"

He hesitated for a moment and then reached out and touched her arm. His hand was warm and the warmth radiated the length of her arm. "Don't take this the wrong way, but Jo, you gotta quit dressing like a dude. This," he said tugging on her shirt for a moment before he placed his hand back on her arm. "The baggy tshirts, jeans that are 2 sizes too big for you. They are doing nothing for your sex appeal. You used to dress in those cute tank tops and skirts. Now, you see, I have an imagination," he paused as he dramatically scanned the length of her body "so I know what you have under there, but our man Dawson may need a bit of help."

"Pacey!" Joey laughed as she swatted his hand away. Aware of how much she'd enjoyed having that hand on her. "So I need to slut it up a bit? That's your advice?"

"Remind the guy you are a woman and let him know you are interested. He'd be crazy to not be interested. And Joey?"

She looked up at him as he slowly reached out and touched her face. And then even slower he leaned in to kiss her. Just as his lips brushed hers she gasped and took a step back.

"Pacey?" She studied his eyes carefully, trying to interpret what just happened.

"Gosh Jo, for a second there I thought you weren't going to stop me!"

"What?" Joey asked, her voice suddenly several octaves higher.

"Dawson is watching from his window. If this doesn't light a fire under his ass I don't know what will. You might want to slap me for dramatic effect" he said grinning at her.

Joey struggled to process the information as she raised her hand and lightly slapped him. "That wasn't quite as much fun as I thought it would be. Thanks I guess," she said slowly.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked as he studied her. Her eyes looked hurt.

She shook her head. "See you tomorrow for our study date. I expect you to have done all of your tasks. And Pacey," she paused for a moment as she turned towards the door. "I almost didn't stop you."

Joey entered the room the Learys had designated as her room, despite the fact that she slept in Dawson's bed every night. It's something they had done since they were kids. The Learys had been her temporary guardians half her sophomore year after her father was arrested. And for the past month since her father disappeared they has resumed custody again.

Joey scanned her closet looking for something pacey would deem appropriate for seducing Dawson. Just the thought of Pacey made her heart race. She couldn't believe he tried to kiss her. Or even worse that she almost let him!

She settled on a tank top and shorts. Nothing sexy but considerably more skin than she normally showed. She felt a little shy and nervous as she entered Dawson's room.

She felt his eyes on her as she hopped on his bed. "Hey!"

"Late night at the Icehouse huh?" Dawson asked as she reclined next to him.

"I stayed late to tutor Pacey" she said keeping her eyes focused on the tv.

"Yeah um... Speaking of pacey... Did I see him just try to kiss you?" Dawson asked, attempting to keep his tone light.

"I think it was a piss poor attempt at making you jealous" she said softly as she turned to face him.

"Leave it to Pacey. It worked," he said shaking his head as he smiled.

"What do you mean?" She asked as he moved closer to her on the bed.

"I know that you've had... Feelings as of late. And I just, I mean I want to marry you some day. You are everything I want in my future. I just don't want to start things too soon." He reached out and took her hands. "When I saw Pacey out there with his hands on you, something in me just snapped. Like that is my Joey, you can't have her"

And then Dawson leaned in and kissed her. Hesitantly at first and then as he relaxed he began to sloppily probe her mouth with his tongue. She felt panic rising as he deepened his kiss. Something didn't feel right. She pushed those feelings away and continued kissing him.