Description: My version of how Pacey and Joey got together. It is a total rewrite, not set in season three rather season one.

Disclaimer: I own the story not the characters in it.

Author's Note: Lost count of how many Dawson's Creek stories I have wrote, hope you like this and will review.

Love and Banter

Chapter #2

(Joey's pov)

" Potter are you almost done here? My shift ended a half hour ago, I was hoping to call it a night.", complains Pacey while following me around the empty Ice House. Putting up the last of the chairs, I toss pacey the broom. No one told him that he had to stick around. I don't even know why he is still here. Pacey said it himself, his shift ended a half hour ago. Why is he even still here? What could he possibly be waiting for? There is no reason for Pacey to be sticking around the way he is.

" No one told you to stay Witter, the doors right there.", I point out before filling the mop with soap and water. Waiting for Pacey to finish sweeping, I start mopping the floors. Really have no clue why he is even still here. If I were off a half hour ago? I would be home right about now without so much as a second thought. Yet here Pacey is bothering me and complaining that he wants to leave. No body told him to stick around.

" I know where the door is Jo, I'm waiting for you.", admits Pacey much to my surprise. Glancing up at him, I wring out the mop one last time before putting it aside. He is waiting for me? Why? The only thing I plan on doing once I'm off is going home, washing up, climbing into bed and passing out. If Pacey was hoping to hangout he's out of luck because I am way too tired to put up with him for another few hours. Bad enough I dealt with him all day.

" Well, you're wasting your time then Witter. The only plans I have include a shower and my bed. You fit into neither of those equations.", I point out before tossing my apron aside and washing my hands. Sighing when Pacey follows me around the kitchen, I grab my coat and pull it on. Why is he still here? Can't Pacey take a hint and go home already? If he thinks that I am going to change my mind he is wrong. I'm pretty set on crawling into to bed and not lapsing into a coma.

" Look, Jo. I was thinking that you and I could have a movie night. Little pop corn, a scary movie, you crash on the bean bag chair while I lay on your bed. It will be fun, what do you say Potter?", questions Pacey with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. Why would I want to spend anymore time with Pacey then I need to? It is bad enough I have the misfortune of seeing him everyday now that he works at the Ice House. Why Bessie decided to hire him is beyond me."

" First of all, you're not laying on my bed. Second of all, what's the catch Witter?", I inquire with an arched eyebrow before folding my arms across my chest. Since when does Pacey suddenly want to spend time with me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we supposed to hate one another? Why is Pacey just not wanting to hangout with me? What is his angle? He has to be up to something, I don't trust him one bit.

" No catch, honest Potter. I just thought maybe you and I could watch a movie together is all.", remarks Pacey while holding his hands up in surrender. Something tells me to be wary. It's not like Pacey to want to spend time with me. Then again, Dawson has been non existent since he started dating Jen. Maybe Pacey just misses having someone to hangout with on a regular basis. can't say that I blame him if that is the case. Guess a movie night with Pacey won't be so bad.

" Guess a movie night wouldn't be the worse thing in the world.", I acknowledge with a smirk before giving Pacey a light shove. Laughing when he returns the gesture, I lock the Ice House door behind us as we walk out. Bessie and Bodie took off for the weekend some it's just me at the house anyway. Might be nice having Pacey stay the night as company. Lets just hope he can do so without me wanting to murder him in the middle of the night.

" Great, so it's a date then. ….Or uh, not. Whatever...sorry. I'll leave now.", mutters Pacey in embarrassment before turning to take off in the opposite direction. Shaking my head in confusion, I stare after him with a perplexed look on my face. Did Pacey actually say what I think he just said? Why would he think an innocent movie night between the two of us was a date? Did I somehow give him the impression I had hoped it were one? Was he hoping that it was? I am so confused right now. Jogging off after Pacey, I quickly catch up with him.

" Hey Pace, wait up.", I call after him before grasping hold of his hand gently. This seems to stop Pacey in his tracks. Startled when he turns to look at me, I take a cautious step back. There is a dejected expression on his face. Pacey just looks so...heart broken right now. Is there something that I should know about? What is wrong with him? He's making me feel bad and I didn't even do anything wrong. What is his deal right now?

" Just forget it, alright Jo?", pleads Pacey with a tired expression taking over his features. Not willing to let him walk off again, I block Pacey's path. What is his problem right now? One minute he wants to hangout and watch movies, the next he is acting like a total spaz. Sometimes I will never understand Pacey. Then again maybe that is a good thing. Either way, he's not leaving without an explanation. Plus, a movie night did sound kind of fun. Why is he trying to bail on me?

" Pacey, I thought we were supposed to hangout? You're seriously going to bail on me?", I question with an arched eyebrow. Here I was actually liking the idea of having a movie night with Pacey and now he is going to ditch me? What the hell is that all about? Grasping hold of Pacey's hand, I meet his gaze with a half smile. Does he really think that I don't want to spend time with him because of a stupid slip up? Please, he has got to be kidding me right now.

Staring at my hand in his, Pacey hesitantly asks," I just figured maybe you wouldn't want to anymore Potter."

Rolling my eyes at Pacey, I chuckle mostly to myself," Why because you called movie night a date? Why should that bother me? We both know its not."

(Pacey's pov)

" Right, why would it be? Your not into me Potter.", I remark with a frustrated breath while shaking my head. Man, I really am an idiot sometimes. Why, why would I call Potter and I hanging out a date? Clearly that's not what it is nor would it ever be? Sure, this past month or so I might have managed to fall for her slightly, that doesn't necessarily mean that the feeling in mutual on Joey's end. What the hell am I even still doing here beside making a fool out of myself? I never should have turned around, I should have just kept right on walking.

" I'm sensing maybe you wanted it to be one Witter?", acknowledges Joey while taking a cautious step toward me. Tensing at our close proximity, I avoid her eyes. The last thing I need is for Jo to see just how much I had all but hoped tonight could have been a date. This is not my fault though. How could I not gain feelings for Joey? Look at her, the girl is freaking beautiful. Just thinking about Potter is enough to send butterflies in my stomach. Never thought that I could be so into anyone person and yet I am. Just my luck that one person happens to be one miss Josephine Potter.

" Whether I did or not doesn't matter Jo.", I confide with a mere shrug of my shoulders. The last thing I'm going to do is allow Joey to see just how hurt I am. Her pity is not what I need right now. Truth be told, I'm not even all too sure how it is that I fell for Joey. Guess we have just been spending so much time together that it sort of happened without warning. More then a few times I have caught myself wondering what it would be like if I were to kiss Joey. Then I remind myself the likely hood of that actually happening is non existent.

" Look, Pacey. It's alright if you did, really.", assures Joey before taking my hand in hers. Not knowing what else to do, I stare down at her. This is not the reaction that I was expecting. A sarcastic remark, or a get real, laugh and 'in your dreams maybe Pace'. These are all the reactions I was prepared for. Not this one. Right now Potter has me all but baffled. I am not even sure what to do right now. More then anything I would love to kiss Joey but I am just not sure that is a smart move on my part.

" Here is the thing Potter...I'm into you. Have been for a while, I don't know how or when it happened. But I sort of...well, I fell for you. I'm not telling you this for any particular reason. Is just...thought you should know is all.", I confess much to both my and Joey's disbelief. Her jaw has all but dropped to the floor right about now. There is no going back, I just put myself out there for Joey. What the hell was I thinking? There is no way in hell she could ever feel the same way back.

"...I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say here Pacey.", confides Joey with an awkward smile before biting on her bottom lip. God this girl is killing me right now. Does she know how hard it is for me not to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless? Joey needs to just turn and walk away. I am losing my restraint not to do exactly that. She all but has me climbing the walls right now. Of all the girl I could have fell for, it had to be Potter? What the hell was I thinking?

" Look, just forget I ever said anything. We'll have a nice movie night, promise Jo.", I offer while leading Joey down the streets of Capeside towards her house. This doesn't have to be an awkward evening. Not if neither of us let it be. Fine so Potter knows I have a thing for her, why does it have to be such a big deal? it's not as though I had hoped Jo could ever actually feel the same way for me. The chances of that happening are all but slim to none.

With a silent nod of her head, Joey stares at her hands quietly," Sure, yeah. Whatever you say Pace."

Feeling the slightest bit guilty for acting like a jerk, I breath a heavy sigh," Look, Potter. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

" You didn't Pacey...I just didn't know you felt that way.", offers Joey in a quiet manner. Watching as Joey tucks a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, I follow her inside. Oh great, here is the start of an intensely awkward conversation. Knew that I should have just gone home once my shift was done. What did I do instead? Hung around waiting for Joey to get off work in hopes of spending some alone time with her. Sometimes I will just never learn.

" I don't expect you to feel the same way Jo, I know you're all but in love with our good friend Dawson.", I mutter with a sigh as I do my best not to tense at the last part. That idiot doesn't know how good he has it. Here he has Potter vying for his affection which he blatantly ignores because he's too busy chasing the blonde that lives next door. How does Dawson have the attention of two girls yet I have that of none? It just doesn't seem fair is all.

" Pace, I don't know how I feel. ...But I'm not in love with Dawson.", acknowledges Joey much to my surprise. Did I just hear her right? Joey isn't into Dawson? Could have fooled me. Maybe she got tired of waiting for him to notice her. Guess that I probably would have too if I were her. Dawson is not exactly the brightest guy around these days. He has been too preoccupied trying to win Jen over that he has all but completely overlooked Joey. The girl is a knockout though how could he miss her? …