True love was tied to the dock, she was rocking gently, a soothing comfortable swaying that lures you into sleep or makes you reflect upon your life. Pacey was thinking about the events that had transpired over the past few weeks that brought him to this point in his life.

He remembered staring at Joey's back as she ran after Dawson. They were going to tell Dawson about their relationship. Dawson gives his scathing opinion of their romance and Joey just runs after him. Off to the side he can hear Andie "Pacey, how you can be so stupid, he is her first love. She is never going to love you like she loves him."

Later that night Joey found him by his boat. After making small talk He asked Joey "Is it over?"

"Yes she replied, it has to be."

He watched her walk away. A day that started with so much promise ended as the worst day of his life.

His next thought was driving Will to the train station after the race. Thinking what a friggin mess that race was. He was also wondering about Dawson's sanity. The words Joey spoke also tore at him "I hate you for kissing me, and forcing me to figure it all out."

He shook hands with Will, and told him to take care and watch himself. He thought about what Will had said before he walked into the train station. "True love, it always wins in the end."

Then he thought about what he did when he returned to his boat. Ripping off the True Love plaque only to have Andie give it back to him. He will never for get the sight of Andie walking down the dock with his sign in her hands. The blowing wind and how her hair is being whipped across her face. She stops in front of him.

"Andie, go away I don't need your crap now."

"No Pacey I have something to tell you."

"I know Andie you hate me. I really don't need to hear that tonight."

"No Pacey, I don't hate you. Look, I don't hate you, okay? I have felt hurt and betrayed, and it would be really, really easy to turn all that anger into hate. I don't want to carry around that burden, okay? It's not the person that I want to be, and it's not the person I am, so I don't hate you."

"Thank you Andie."

"Look Pacey, hate is a pretty strong word so is Love." And with that said Andie hands the plaque to Pacey. She then turns and walks away silently.

Andie and he were friendly after that night. He remembered how he asked Andie to the prom. She made it clear to him she did not want a pity ask. He remembered telling her it would be an honor to take her. Then what did he do. Let his emotions run away and wind up dancing with Joey. He knew he should have said no, but he danced anyway. The look on Andie's face when she saw them dancing will stay with him forever. The walk home was what got him thinking.

"I mean, have you really told her, Pacey? You can't just leave without letting her know. I mean, that's not like you. You don't just stand and let things happen and you don't run away, either. You have to tell her that you love her. And you have to try to get her back. Because if you don't, I promise you, you will regret it. "

Andie was crying as she spoke to him. Every time Pacey thought about that night; he realized how much Andie was in love with him. Yet she still told him to go after Joey.

Pacey was thinking about Joey and talking to her about their relationship. Telling Joey she never said the one thing he needed to hear. Asking him to stay. Joey told him he was running away. And it was his decision. As he watched Joey and Dawson at the wedding Pacey, realized that his fantasy was most likely over.

Pacey was dejectedly walking back to his boat when he noticed the additional lines written on his wall. Under Ask me to stay was written ; No if you must sail away to find true love Go. What did she mean by that he wondered.

Pacey was walking slowly down the dock to his boat for some reason he looked up and noticed Joey standing by his boat. "What do you want Joey."

Joey leveled her gaze into Pacey's eyes. "I need to talk to you."

"About what? What you wrote on the wall?"

"I didn't write anything on the wall. Maybe some kids were messing around."

"No I don't think so Joey."

"Pacey I came here to tell you I think I love you."

"You think you love me; does Dawson know your here."

"Yes, he is the one who told me to go to you."

"Dawson told you to come to me? That really makes me feel wanted."

"What do you mean Pacey? And what was written on the wall?"

"You really don't know do you?"

"No. I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Joey, I am not going to be sailing today. I have some things I have to tend to."

"Does that mean your going to stay Pacey?"

"I don't know, Joey, Look I have to get some things done so please excuse me and I will talk to you later."

"Pacey does that mean we are together?" Joey then noticed she said that to Pacey's back as he was sprinting up the dock.

Pacey had to find out what was meant by the sentence on the wall and who wrote it. He had a good idea and he needed to make sure. He started to sprint down the street, the day was hot with the noon sun pounding down on his bare head. Pacey noticed Doug's squad car parked in front of Mary's diner. He looked in, "Ah Dougie, you are such a trusting soul." He said to himself. The keys were hanging in the ignition. With out hesitation he jumped in and drove the car to Windsor lane.

Pacey ran up the walkway of the large ornate house. Out of breath he knocked on the door. Jack opened the door and stood before him.

"Hi Jack, is Andie here?"

Jack looked at Pacey with a mixture of dislike and disgust. "Why Pacey, so you can hurt her again. Don't you think you have done enough damage to her?"

Pacey looked down. "Jack I am not here to hurt her. I have never meant to ever hurt her."

"Sure Pacey, ever since she made that mistake last summer, and hurt you, you have done nothing but stick a knife into her. I am her brother, and if you think I am some little fruity gay guy who you can push over, think again. I am a gay guy who can and will kick your miserable ass if you hurt her again."

Pacey spread his arms out in a pleading gesture, "Please Jack let me see her."

Jack looked at him, and swung from the heels and connected square on Pacey's jaw. Knocking him sprawling down the stairs. "That is for what happened at the prom. She told me she forgave you and understood. I didn't Andie is in her room." Jack turned and walked away.

Pacey picked himself up and ran up the stairs two at a time to Andie's room. The door was open so he knocked and walked in. Andie turned "What happened to you and why are you here?"

"Your brother took a swing at me."

Andie Giggled. "He said he was, I didn't think he would. I apologize for him. So why are you here?"

"Did you write on the wall where I said ask me to stay? You wrote No, If you must sail away to find true love Go?"

Andie hesitated and very softly spoke. "Yes I did. I knew that message was for Joey, but I had to answer it after I saw she didn't."

"What exactly did you mean by that Andie?"

"Pacey you were asking her to make up your mind for you, you were asking her to define the relationship and your life. And Pacey that is not how you find true love."

"How do you find it Andie?"

"Pacey you find it within yourself. You know it is almost as hard to accept love as to give it. If you have to sail to find and understand true love, you should go." Tears were falling from Andie's eyes.

"Is that why you told me to go after Joey ? You put a love for me ahead of your feelings?" Pacey walked over to her and cupped her face, "You do love me don't you?"

Andie violently knocked his hand from her face. "Pacey I am not a second choice."

"No Andie it's not like that."

"Yeah Pacey just like it was an honor to take me to the dance. I told you I was not a pity ask. You used me to get to Joey."

Andie I thought I apologized for that. I thought when you told me to tell her how I really felt and to go after her; you understood. I thought things were good between us now."

"They are Pacey, but you just remember I am no ones second choice. I may be a geeky nerdy chick, who can't get a date, but I demand I be first choice."

"God Andie you're beautiful. You're lovely I don't know what else to tell you."

"Pacey you can be noble and good. You need to find yourself." Andie stood up and put her arms around Pacey's neck and gave him a deep soulful lingering kiss. "Go on your boat and find true love.

Early the next morning Joey ran to the dock and sees that Pacey's boat is gone. Andie is standing motionless staring out past the breakwater. "Andie where did he go? Why is he gone. I thought he was going to stay?"

"He left early this morning Joey. Joey here is a note he left for you. I did not read it."

Joey opened the note and read. Joey I care for you deeply. This is a journey I must make alone. I need to figure out true love.

Joey looked over to Andie who was now leaning against a piling. "How did you know he was going to sail early this morning?"

Andie unbelted the long rain coat she had on, and turned toward Joey.

"Andie you're naked."

"I know. I spent the night with Pacey on the boat." Andie smiled at Joey and walked away with out another word.