Fact of the Matter

Two

'On Fire with the Things I Could've Told You'

She tied her boat to the dock as slowly as she could. The once enchanting experience of rowing down the creek to the boy she loved now seemed like a chore. There was no more fire, no more spark. There was nothing to want, nothing left to be unpredictable. Every night at this white house was the same. The days were starting to meld together, like some torturous run-on sentence, and she could never find a place to stick in a period or even a comma.

Finishing the knot she was tying, she heard the wood of the dock creak. Turning around swiftly, she was met with Pacey's approaching form. Joey smirked subtly when she saw that he still had his nametag on. He always was terrible at remembering to take it off after work.

"Planning on jumping in?" Joey asked awkwardly, rising from her crouched position. "That would certainly throw Dawson's movie night idea a curve ball." Rocking between the balls of her feet and her heels, she noticed a slight smile flash across Pacey's face. She bit her tongue between her teeth to keep herself from mirroring his expression.

"No," he returned somewhat flatly, "not jumping in. Last time I 'jumped', I seem to recall actually being pushed in by a certain brunette." At the memory, he laughed lightly. "I don't have any intention of reacquainting myself with the abnormally cold water. Unless I'm in that terrible monster suit Dawson's mom made, and I get to drag you into the water." Pacey smiled jokingly at her. The kind of smile that tempted trouble and elicited feeling.

"That was a onetime thing, Pace," Joey reminded him.

"I explicitly remember Dawson calling out 'Take 25'. I'd consider that the opposite of a onetime deal. But then again, apparently I've just learned what the word 'hyperbole' means, so maybe my definition is off." Pacey crossed his arms, flashing Joey a pointed look. She dropped his gaze, breathing heavily.

"Pacey, I'm sorry about that. Really, I am. I guess I took the banter a little too far."

"I'm not the one who needs the apology," Pacey said. "We pick on each other all the time. But Andie on the other hand…" his voice trailed off. She knew what he was getting at, and she couldn't stop the tense feeling that rose inside her.

"Pace," Joey said tiredly, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't know what it is you have against her, but could you keep the whole 'Hell Hath No Fury' thing to a minimum? She just wants to be your friend; she wants to get to know you and Dawson, and you're making that impossible for her." His blue eyes were pleading with her. Pacey Witter was not one to beg, but Joey noticed the desperation pass over his features. Deep down she knew she was being unreasonable. But she also didn't care.

"I'm making it impossible?" Tension was growing in her voice, and her lips pouted into a vague frown.

"It seems to be a trend, Jo. First you attack Jen, like you're about to rip her head off, and now you two have this almost friendship going on. All I'm trying to say here is that you might end up liking Andie. You two have more in common than you think."

"Last time I checked, I don't do the whole headband wearing, school spirit, bubbly outlook thing."

"Never said you did," Pacey returned. "But she likes school—loves it, actually. Reads every chance she can get, and even has the same insane obsession with Phil Collins that you do."

"I am not obsessed with Phil Collins," Joey defended, but she couldn't stop the smile that grew on her face. He noticed. "What would give you that ridiculous idea?"

"Please, Joey. Have you seen the CD collection in your room? Genesis thanks you for your business, but even they're telling you to cool it." Pacey laughed, as he put his hands in his pockets, and began to turn toward the house. Joey followed without as much as a thought.

"You're bordering on cruel," she joked, walking in stride with him now. Pacey turned to look at her, with a tinge of sadness in his eyes. Or was it disappointment.

"I could say the same about you," he said quietly. "Look. All I'm asking you to do is try to be civil with Andie. I'm not asking you to be best friends—just… not enemies. Okay? I know we've never really had the whole Chandler and Joey friendship going on, but for the happiness of everyone, just be nice to Andie. Or just don't talk to her at all. That might work better." The last bit was obviously supposed to be a joke, but Joey couldn't help but feel guilty. She was being selfish: she wanted Pacey, but was with Dawson; she wanted Dawson, but was still ready to fight Andie to the death for Pacey. Yet, she couldn't stop herself from being possessive of Pacey.

"The whole Chandler and Joey friendship?" Joey questioned, amusement lacing her voice.

"You know what I mean. We've never been friends, necessarily, but—"

"So you want to try the Chandler and Joey thing out?" Joey raised an eyebrow at him. Even in the dimming light, she swore she could see a blush creep up on his face.

"It wouldn't hurt," Pacey reasoned. "Maybe if we stopped this little feud we've mastered so well, then…" Pacey's voice trailed off, getting lost in the cool spring air.

"Then I might start to like Andie," Joey finished for him dryly. She knew what his aim was; understood that he wanted things to run smoothly in terms of Andie. But it killed her to realize that he was doing it all for Andie, and not for her. Nothing was for her.

"Something like that," Pacey returned with a casual shrug of the shoulders, as if not ready to commit to anything. They were almost to the steps of Dawson's house, and Joey couldn't help but feel her stomach tighten.

"Well, as your friend, Pacey, it would probably be nice of me to remind you that you're still wearing your nametag." Joey dropped her gaze to the left side of Pacey's chest, and he followed her eyes, nodding.

"Right. Knew I was forgetting something," he said jokingly, taking off the tag and shoving it in his pocket. He slowed his steps after a moment, and breathed deeply. "Hey Joey, I know we're both stubborn and difficult people, but I really do thank you for trying your best with Andie, here. I know it's not easy."

Joey shrugged, wishing they would just drop the subject. Just the sound of the blonde's name was making her sick. "Yeah, no problem. But don't thank me yet. I could still go back to mega bitch in .5 seconds." She smiled at him. She couldn't help it. Despite how much the whole situation hurt her, it felt like there was some secret between them now. Some mutual agreement only the two of them knew.

"Your threats are getting weak, Potter. You wouldn't dare mess up Dawson's sacred movie night," he returned. His voice was his usual distant sarcasm, yet he nudged Joey's shoulder lightly with his. She gave him a sideways glance, before rolling her eyes, and finally walking into Dawson's house.

"Dawson, my man, what cinematic greats do you have planned for us tonight?" Pacey greeted. Joey heard a slight tinge of boredom in his tone. When they were younger, movie nights at Dawson's were the best. Both she and Pacey looked forward to them—they gave them an escape from their reality, and the chance to feel like a normal child in a normal home. But now it was an obligation. They had seen all the movies dozens of times, and Dawson's mother had long since run out of new snacks to make.

"I was thinking Spielberg," Dawson replied eagerly, welcoming Pacey and Joey into the house.

"When aren't you thinking Spielberg," Pacey returned jokingly, and shaking his head with a smile. It was undeniable, the connection Dawson and Pacey shared, but Joey could sense it was becoming strained. Dawson took, Pacey gave. There wasn't much sense of equality anymore.

"You can't deny the man's a genius, Pace." Dawson looked toward the kitchen. "Andie is here, by the way. She's helping my mom with snacks, if you want to go and see her." He put a light hand on Pacey's shoulder, half guiding him, half pushing him towards the kitchen. Pacey only nodded, and walked away.

"Hey," Joey finally greeted, supplying a dutiful smile to her boyfriend.

"What was that out there, Jo?" Dawson's tone was level, but the look in his eyes was bordering on livid. Joey raised an eyebrow in confusion, and held her breath. He always overreacted to everything—especially when it involved Pacey. The competition between the two of them was rising exponentially.

"What do you mean?" Joey knew by now not to incriminate herself before she knew what she was being accused of.

"I mean," he started defensively, "you were out there for quite some time with Pacey. You two never talk. What made tonight different?" He crossed his arms. That meant this conversation was far from over.

"Not that it's any of your business, really, but I was apologizing for how I acted today, and what I said to him and Andie. Does that quell your possessiveness?" She was trying her best to keep her tone neutral and light. But the more she spoke the pricklier and annoyed she got. Being in a relationship with Dawson meant being under his thumb, and she was less than pleased.

"I was only curious, Joey," Dawson returned, his voice now small and sweet.

"No, you were some warped sort of jealous. Dawson, you're cornering me by the door demanding to know what I was talking to Pacey about. That's something more than curiosity."

Dawson nodded at her, and took his eyes off of her and focused them on the floor. They stood in silence for several moments, before Dawson finally looked back up at her. "Do you even want to be here, Joey?"

"I'm not sure what you're getting at," she replied slowly.

"Movie night. Here, with me," he specified. Joey bit her lip, trying to decide if she felt guilty or annoyed. Perhaps a mix of both.

"I do want to be with you, Dawson." It wasn't necessarily a lie, but it also wasn't entirely true.

"Then why is it you always seem so bored and sarcastic every time you're here?"

He was asking all the questions Joey didn't want to answer, and she was beginning to panic. By answering Dawson, she had to face how she felt, and that meant not being able to lie to herself.

"Because every single night here feels the same," she blurted out. The words had been on the tip of her tongue for some time, and in this moment, she snapped. She couldn't hold them in any longer. The weight of feeling it had become too great.

I am so sorry it's been so long! A lot has happened in the past couple months (school, my father passed away, life in general….), so I really do apologize at being so awful at updating. But, I'm finally updating! I know not much has happened in this chapter, but I think this is going to be the set up for the next few chapters and their drama/action. We'll see. But anyway, thank you so much to those of you who read this despite it being so late (and the chapter being relatively short). I really appreciate it!

Reviews are love!