Thanks for the reviews guys. I thought I'd give you two chapters quickly to help you get into it. It all gets going by chapter 3:-)

Any questions on the premise of this, just ask. It's the only story with supernatural elements in it I've ever written, but it's fun - I promise!

Please keep reviewing!

Tab:-)

Chapter Two

I can't believe Dawson and Pacey. Anyone would think they'd never seen a girl before. Least of all one with blue eyes and blond hair. They've obviously seen a girl before, after all they hang out with me all the time, but I think I have it on pretty could authority when I say that I don't register as a girl on their rarefied palettes. They're such hormonal boys. Jen is the epitome of a Playboy centrefold and it seems they'd both love to get into her panties.

Jen Lindley leggy, blond, beautiful and buxom. In fact I think I could use alliteration to describe her and her impact down to a perfect t, or b as the case may be. Jen Lindley is a blond bombshell who has blown apart the bonded band of friends and blithely barged into the boys brains using her blond, buxom, brainless bleating. What I hate most about her is the fact that I know I'm being harsh because she is actually nice. She's nice to me and I hate it and I go out of my way to be nasty to her.

'So tell me Jen, in New York was what you're wearing considered fashion?' I ask blandly as we head out on yet another double date. Pacey and I dragged along by Dawson who's too fucking scared to be with Jen by himself. Note to self Dawson can be a real wet blanket. I mean where's his self-pride? Does he really need his two best friends to hold his hand?

'Yes Joey it is. I mean I'm not the most fashionable girl but...' she's nervous and I'm pleased with myself.

'Because you see Capeside is a small town and if you keep dressing that way you may have a few offers you weren't expecting,' I line each word with insinuation. She looks like a hooker in those tight jeans and that little top. I mean just because she has the perfect body does she have to flaunt it?

'Are you saying I look like I'm asking for it?' Jen's hands are on her hips as she glares at me. I'm actually kind of relieved to have finally broken through the nice girl routine. I note that Pacey is grinning at us both, clearly hoping for a cat fight, whilst Dawson is a picture of angst.

'I'm merely saying that the boys around here might read into your clothes,' I say coyly.

'Explain that?' Jen demands rooted to the spot.

'You might think the plunging neckline and the rising skirt line are sexy but the men around here are used to girls with a little more modesty. I would call the tight jeans and little tops a little trampy. I wouldn't say you look like a hooker yet, but lets just say the boys will have certain expectations,' I roll my eyes. God I hate her. I know I'm being childish but she's really pissed me off.

'Trampy? I'll have you know Joey that a girl shouldn't be judged by her clothes. I should be able to wear what I damn well please and the boys can make whatever assumptions they want about me because their assumptions don't amount to shit. As a woman I embrace the right to dress as I please and not be called to account for it. How would you like it if I judged you on your clothes?' Jens glaring at me and I hate it because I agree with everything she says. She continues,

'I could look at your little girl shorts and your childish vest tops and call you immature. I could take in your modest shirts and jumpers and your plain skirts and think you're boring. I could even assume you're a prude. I could take in your baggy jeans and plain sweaters and think you were about as sexual as a lump of cheese,' Jens words cut through me.

'And she wonders why I call her the Ice Queen?' Pacey asks rhetorically with a shake of his head. I am just about fuming now. God I'm so mad and something else. Something I don't understand.

'Firstly,' I turn to Jen, 'We're not all beautiful and so we don't all show ourselves off. Secondly, you're absolutely right and I just hate that. You should wear whatever you damn well want and I'd curse any man to judge you for it,' I tell her and Jen gulps in surprise, 'and thirdly, don't assume anything about me please. Fourthly,' I turn to Pacey and I knee him in the groin, 'thats for both of you describing me as a prude, likening my sexuality to a lump of cheese and for calling me Ice Queen one to many times,' I growl as Pacey falls to the floor with a satisfying bump.

'Jesus Joey,' he moans, 'Jen made the cheese comment.'

'I deserved it from Jen but you were just plain rude,' I inform him as Dawson takes my arm and leads me away whilst Jen helps Pacey to his feet.

'What the hell is wrong with you Joey?' Dawson asks and I give him a shrug. 'Look, just be nice,' Dawson orders me and so I am nice. The annoying thing is, as soon as I start being nice to Jen, the nicer she is and the more I like her.

'Why don't you just be yourself and stake your claim over Dawson?' Pacey chides me as we're walking home. He seems to have forgiven me for kneeing him and even gave me a sheepish apology. He knows exactly why it is I hate Jen so much despite thinking her so nice.

'I don't know what you're talking about,' I scowl at him crossing my arms defensively thanking the stars that he didnt tell me to do it only asked me why I didn't.

'You're jealous Potter. Jealous of our pure little Dawson lusting over the girl next door. You'd gotten used to being the girl next door and now you've been ousted by a girl worthy of Playboy. It's not sitting so good with you is it?' he's really enjoying my unhappiness and discomfort.

'At least I'm not lusting after a woman old enough to be my mother,' I taunt back using the secret Pacey told me against him. I know I shouldn't but he shouldn't tease me about Dawson like he does.

'Now don't go putting fantasies into my head Potter - you and Tamara together could really be something,' he warns flirtatiously so I hit him swiftly around the head. 'Ow,' he protests.

'Well it got rid of the fantasies didn't it?' I ask with a shrug and an evil smile.

'Wipe that smile off your face and kiss my head better,' he tells me pointing to his head. Rolling my eyes my hand goes to my face and I wipe at my smile which disappears and then much to Pacey's evident surprise I kiss him softly where moments earlier I hit him. We both stare at each other a little surprised but he quickly recovers,

'I didn't know you cared Potter,' he drawls, a cocky smile on that annoying face of his.

'I don't,' I try to walk off but he grabs at my hand.

'Na na,' he wags a finger at me pulling me back to his side. 'No interrupting Mr Leery's date. Now admit you care about me sweet stuff,' he's trying to embarrass me because of my impromptu kiss.

'I care,' I admit because I have no control and unfortunately I do care about the annoying, irritating, obnoxious, infuriating Pacey Witter.

'Now Joey that is just so nice to hear - what with all the sarcasm, biting remarks, the violence I could be excused for thinking that you didn't like me so much,' there's an evil glint in his eye. 'It sure is good to hear you care toots.'

'Bite me Pacey,' I throw at him and stalk off, catching up with Jen and Dawson.

'Don't tempt me,' I hear him call with a chuckle but I pretend I didn't.

'Hey Joey,' I hear Jen calling me, but feign deafness hurrying for the door. 'Joey, wait up.' Damnit, she had to tell me what to do. I halt immediately and wait for her.

'Hey Jen,' I say tucking my hair behind my ear because it's something to do. It's like sucking my thumb or something - it makes me feel safe.

'I thought maybe you'd like to come over to my house and work on that assignment for English?' Jen looks at me and I know she's nervous but somehow I don't care. I keep thinking of her and Dawson kissing and it makes me feel so jealous.

'Ooooh so we can bond,' I squeal in fake excitement, bitingly sarcastic. 'I don't think so,' I deadpan and she takes a step backwards clearly confused.

'Joey have I done something to offend you?' she asks me, her voice cracking slightly.

'No not at all,' I lie, my lie obvious by my sarcasm.

'Because you've been a real bitch to me ever since I got here and I only want to be your friend. Tell me why you hate me so much.'

Why the hell did she have to demand the truth? I know everything is about to spill from my lips, 'I resent you not hate you. Don't you get it? You come here from New York and you're everything I'm not. You have everything to offer as a friend and I have nothing. You come here and take Dawson away from me. He doesn't give me a second look or thought anymore because I just can't compete. You're interesting and sexy and I'm nothing, just boring and sexless and ordinary. You appear and my friends develop hormones. I wanted Dawson to notice me but he looks right through me to you. I feel left out in the cold.'

'Wow,' Jen whistles softly her expression shocked. 'That was pretty honest.'

'You wanted to know.'

'Look Joey we should be friends,' she says.

'Why?'

'Because were both lacking in female friendships and if you had a female friend you might know that I didn't mean to steal Dawson away from you. That's the last thing I'd do. I didn't know you liked him that way, but I can't help the way I feel about him either. I thought you and Pacey were, well I thought you were dating.'

'Pacey and me?'I laugh at the ludicrous suggestion.

'Yeah,' Jen shakes her head. 'Look, lets try at being friends Joey,' she suggests. 'If you hate it we can forget about it, but you might find it makes things easier. I can't promise to stay away from Dawson, but I am a good friend Joey.'

'I don't think so,' I shake my head but I feel slightly uncertain. Having a female friend does appeal.

'Come to tea at my house,' she maintains with authority sensing my uncertainty.

'Ok,' I agree instantly and she grins, not realising I'm following her to her house because I have to, not because I want to.

'Here try this on,' Jen chucks a dress at me and I put it on as told. It's not normally something I would wear. It's all flowery and floaty and it's pretty damn short on me but I'm an obedient girl and on the dress goes.

I was surprised to find the walk back to Jens quite fun. She chatted about this and that and asked me about my life. Not many people ask about me because they're either to embarrassed, they're worried they wont know how to react when I tell them or they've heard it on the grapevine and so don't bother. Not Jen. She asked why her Grams disapproves of us all and I told her. She told me a bit about why she left New York and I have to admit the Blond Bombshell from the Big Apple is growing on me. She's pretty experienced in the ways of the world, in a very different way to me, and I can't help but feel that I finally have someone to talk to about sex and stuff.

It was when we got to her house, Grams thankfully out, that she gave me hot chocolate and cookies and suggested I head to the dance with her at school tonight. I'd never normally go to the dance. Friday night is movie night, a tradition of Dawson, Pacey and I. But apparently Dawson is going to the dance, or so he told Jen when Jen told him she was going with Cliff. If Dawson is going then so is Pacey and I don't want to be watching movies by myself on a Friday night so I reluctantly agreed. Actually Jen said, You're coming to the dance Joey Potter and I had little choice, but part of me is actually looking forward to it.

'Now that dress is perfect for you,' Jen nods her head rapidly. I look in the mirror and I actually like what I see. Not that I can imagine being caught dead in such a dress at a school dance but its kind of nice to see what I can look like. I mean I look girly. This is definitely a different me to the jeans and t-shirts I normally wear.

'Oh I could never wear a dress like this,' I stutter because even though I know it looks ok on me it's totally out of character for me. I feel different in it though, in a way I can't quite describe. I imagine Dawson seeing me in the dress, seeing me differently to the way he always has and suddenly I'm not so sure I want to take the dress off.

'You're wearing that dress Joey and it's final,' Jen says and that solves my dilemma.

'Ok,' I acknowledge cursing the curse that makes me do as I'm told. I always do just what I'm told whether a demand or request, indirect or otherwise. I can't physically not do what I'm told. I would be physically unable to remove the dress if I tried.

'Now let me paint your nails and do your hair and make-up,' it's a demand from Jen and so I have to allow it although I point out,

'I'm not your doll you know,' with a roll of my eyes.

'Yeah, but you're my friend,' she tells me and I realise I might like having a female friend. I'm probably such a geek because Dawson and Pacey are boys and I have no girls to guide me. I mean I have Bessie but she's totally wrapped up in Bodie and being pregnant, not to mention the Icehouse. She doesn't have time to do more than smudge some lipstick on me.

We stand looking in the mirror together and I have to admit that Jens has done a good job on me. I look almost pretty. I know it's the make-up and the dress and the way she's put my hair up in a bun with little curls falling out of it, but I feel good. Looking at Jen I also feel a bit inadequate. I look like a giantess next to her delicate frame, with her cute little dress and blond curls. I'm worried we've over done it but Jen points out that we're actually dressed quite casually.

We're wearing dresses but they're not really tight, or really short, or really fancy. Jen calls them day dresses and I suppose she's right. They look like summer day dresses. The dress I'm wearing is green and pink and not overly floral. It's a soft floaty material and it feels really nice on my bare legs.

'You look gorgeous Joey,' she tells me.

'No I don't,' I feel only self-conscious now, not gorgeous.

'Tell me you look gorgeous and mean it,' Jen orders.

'I look gorgeous,' I say with conviction and Jen laughs, calling her Grams to take a photo and spraying some perfume on me before I can jump out the way.

As we arrive at the dance I can't help wondering if Dawson will notice me. Of course now Jen and I are friends I feel slightly torn. I know she likes him and so do I. It's just that I don't just like him, I love him. Dawson and I have been best friends for so long it's like fate or destiny for us to be together. Of course it's not a fate and destiny that Dawson himself is aware of. Dawson is so oblivious. Pacey calls him oblivious all the time and I always used to defend Dawson, but for once Pacey is right. I could slap Dawson with a wet fish and he'd look around with a slightly bewildered expression and ask me what was going on.

As we walk into the decorated hall Pacey and Dawson are leaning against the drinks table. Pacey is staring at Miss Jacobs as she talks to another teacher but Dawson sees us. He grins at us both but stares at Jen, clearly in utter jaw dropping infatuation and he barely glances in my direction. Obviously I'm still a tomboy to him. I should have known that nothing would make him see me as anything other than little Joey Potter from across the creek. He walks over looking Dawson like in a dodgy waistcoat.

'You look beautiful,' he says to Jen his eyes wide and shiny, practically panting like a puppy dog.

'Do you want me to get you a mop Dawson?' I ask sweetly.

'What?' he doesn't even glance at me.

'A mop? So you can mop up your drool,' I snap but Dawson only frowns at me before smiling at Jen again.

'Doesn't Joey look pretty?' she asks Dawson and in an instant I almost want her to have Dawson because she's so nice.

'Yeah, you look lovely Joey, though I'm a little surprised at the effort you've made for a school dance,' he gives me an amused smile as if my dress and make-up are some sort of joke. Typical Dawson. Jen is more dressed up than me but I've made the abnormal effort. He makes me feel like such an idiot.

'See you guys,' I say and stalk off to the drinks table where Pacey is still leaning, staring intently at Miss Jacobs. 'I hope you've spiked the punch,' I say to him as I pour myself a drink.

'I took the liberty of...' he begins but trails off as he turns to look at me, his jaw dropping slightly and his eyes almost popping out. Now that was the reaction I wanted from Dawson. Sodding Pacey and his hormonal predictability gives me just the boost I need.

'You what?' I prompt as Pacey looks me up and down his mouth still agape.

'I um, took the um,' he coughs. 'You look really beautiful Potter,' he tells me gruffly his blue eyes wide and I suddenly feel very special. It's a nice warm feeling that washes over me at his words.

'You spiked the punch?' I ask quickly because I feel embarrassed by his compliment.

'Mmmmm,' he nods still staring at me, his finger reaching out to touch one of the soft curls framing my face. The gesture makes my heart race.

'Good,' I rush the words and turn to fill a cup, passing one to him. 'Lets drink.'

'Yeah lets,' Pacey grins and seems almost normal although he keeps looking at me kind of distractedly. We drink our drinks watching the people dance. Pacey keeps making silly comments about the music, the dancing or the dresses worn and I can't stop laughing. He's such a doofus at times. I watch as Dawson and Jen glide onto the dance floor and my jealousy rears its head again. I narrow my eyes as I watch them slow dance the alcohol swirling pleasantly in my stomach.

'You want to dance Jo?' Pacey asks suddenly rather serious.

'With you?' I scorn because I don't want to dance. I don't want to have everyone watch and laugh at something else about me. I don't exactly have rhythm.

'Yeah with me,' he rolls his eyes and holds out a hand.

'I'd rather not,' I tell him meanly drinking more punch.

'Get off your high horse Potter and dance with me,' he bites out and I'm on my feet and in his arms as the DJ plays some Spanish dance track. 'Not so bad, eh?' he asks with a grin. I just shrug looking over his shoulder at Jen and Dawson.

'Look Jo, Dawson's never going to notice you if all you do is mope. Now put some flair into your dancing. I want you to twirl and act like you've got a rhythmical bone somewhere in that body - dance like you're a pro,' Pacey tells me firmly and suddenly I'm moving like I didn't know I could move. Pacey is twirling me and laughing as we spin back and forth across the dance floor, his strong arms around me.

As we whirl around the dance floor I forget about Dawson and Jen. It feels like I'm flying as Pacey lifts me and twirls me, at times our bodies far apart and other times our bodies pressed close together. I had no idea Pacey could dance like this and when I catch a look at his face I don't think he knew he could dance like this either. I realize I'm probably leading, my unknown talent coming from his earlier demands. He's grinning like a Cheshire cat and I love the smile plastered on his face. The song ends and he leans down and whispers in my ear,

'Time to stop girlie,' his voice is low and it makes my tummy feel funny, as does the strange way he keeps looking at me, but I nod. As we head back to the punch bowl he gives me a look, 'so where did that come from?'

'What?' I ask innocently.

'That dancing? I didn't know you could dance like that it was awesome Jo,' he's not teasing and I blush under his compliment.

'Joey! That was amazing,' Jen is grinning at me. 'You have to teach me how to dance like that.'

'Where did you learn to dance like that?' Dawson asks, the only one to not compliment and to give me a suspicious look.

'Oh you know,' I fluster downing my glass of punch.

'Tell us where you learnt to dance like that?' Dawson narrows his eyes at me and I know he's questioning my secrecy.

'Pacey,' the name falls from my lips before I can even help it.

'What?' all three of them say in unison looking at me.

'I mean Pacey told me to dance and I danced. I figured he was leading,' I shrug.

'Well I wasn't,' Pacey shakes his head at me, looking at me with this funny expression on his face - something like awe and fascination. I have to admit I like it even if it is Pacey.

'Natural talent,' Jen tells everyone wisely.