Description: My version of Joey and Pacey's break up at Prom and the after math.
Author's Note: This story with be updated regularly
Disclaimer: I only own the story not the characters besides Steven.
Chapter #3
(Pacey's pov)
" Not exactly helpful Steven.", warns Joey in an agitated manner. She looks as though she wants to kill someone right about now. Going to take a wild guess and say I am the last person Joey wants to see right now. What I can't figure out is what Steven is even doing over here with her. Were they seriously about to leave together? Oh I swear if Steven was trying to make a move on Joey I'm going to pound his face into the pavement. I told him to just leave Joey alone and he couldn't listen. He had to come over and strike up a conversation with her didn't he? Just could not leave well enough alone.
" Sorry Jo. Look Pacey, I know that you told me to leave her alone. But I had to meet the girl you let slip through your finger tips. I was not hitting on Joey, you know I wouldn't do that. Not when I know how you feel about her man.", exclaims Steven before taking a few steps back once my gaze falls on him. Really man, you had to bring that up? Way to throw me under the bus. One glance at Joey tells me she could definitely care less about how I feel about her. If I were going to be down right honest, I knew letting Joey going was a horrible mistake as I was doing it. By the time I had started my rant though there was just no stopping me. Did I what to break up with Joey? No, I didn't but with the two of us graduating I just didn't know where I fit into Potter's life anymore and that scared the crap out of me.
" If this uncomfortable reunion is over now, I have to get home before eleven because I am not paying the baby sitter another ten dollars.", remarks Joey with a tired sigh before glancing down at her watch. Whoa, hold up. Potter has a kid? Since when? No one ever mentioned this to me. Hell, I didn't even know she was seeing anyone. What about Worthington? Does she still go to school? How could she with a baby to take care of? Is the father even in the kids life? Joey's not hear with anyone and there's not a ring on her finger. Unless she has a boyfriend, I am only to assume she is taking care of this kid by herself. That must be tiring, guess I could see why she would need a night out for once.
" Pacey and I could give you a lift Joey, he hasn't been drinking. He is alright to drive.", offers Steven not even giving me an option to say otherwise. Perfect, now I have the pleasure of driving Potter home? That is exactly what I want to do tonight, thanks a lot Steven. While I don't mind, I'm just not sure that I could handle having Jo in such close proximity. Five minutes have passed and already all the memories and old feelings I once held for her are starting to flood back. Joey and I did not part ways on the best of terms. Since then, neither of us has spoken a word to the other. It is killing me to see her right now, she is still as beautiful as ever.
" Normally, I would rather take my chances walking. But since its nearly eleven, I'm not left with much of a choice.", allows Joey before climbing into the front seat of my jeep. Hopping into the drivers side, I wait for Steven to shut the rear door before taking off down the road. Glancing down at the address Joey wrote for me, I laugh when I realize how close the two of us live. She is literally a block or two from where I live. How after all this time have we not run into one another sooner? There is so much that I need to tell Jo, but I doubt she wants to hear any of it. Why would she? I completely wrecked her. Far as she knew we were happy together, I shattered that dream in front of everyone at prom.
" Look, Joey...I was hoping the two of us could talk sometime?", I ponder after a minute or so of tension filled silence. It is a long shot but I need to try. There is so much I left unsaid with Potter. She needs to know how much I regret ending things with her. Hell, I knew when I was ripping her heart out that I was making the worst mistake ever. Joey chose me that summer and I have no idea why. We both know Dawson had so much more to offer her then I ever could. Yet for whatever reason, I was the one Joey wanted to be with. Part of me just could not figure out why. Eventually I had begun waiting for the other shoe to fall, for Jo to realize the mistake she had made. Thing is, in her eyes choosing me was never a mistake. Unfortunately, I realized this just a little bit too late.
" Talk about what Pacey? Correct me if I am wrong but I was fairly certain you and I had said all we needed to say to one another three years ago at prom. No offense, but I have no interest in hearing anything that you have to say.", enlightens Joey in an almost bitter tone. Ouch. Should have saw that one coming from a mile away. Potter is not going to make it easy for me one bit. Then again why should she? In a perfect world, the two of us would be engaged right now maybe even with a kid on the way. This just isn't the case though. God, part of me wishes that Steven would have just listened and stayed away from Joey. It is pure torture to have her so close and not be able to touch her. This girl is sending my senses into over drive and has absolutely no idea.
" Forget I ever brought it up Jo.", I mutter in a low defeated voice. Stopping in front of her apartment building, I put the jeep in park. Running an exhausted hand through my hair, I silently curse at my own stupidity. Should have known that would be her answer. Joey is never going to want to hear anything that I have to say. Why the hell would she? To her I am just another guy who let her down. That is precisely what I did too, I let Potter down. I alone am the only reason neither of us got a chance at our happily ever after.
" Come on, Joey. While I know you barely know me, what would the harm be in hearing Pacey out?", pipes in Steven coming to my defense. That was kind of him but I seriously doubt Joey could give a rats ass about hearing me out. Pretty sure nothing I or anyone else says is going to convince Jo to listen to anything I have to say. I am actually surprised she has been this civil. Truth is, Joey has every right to hate my guts. I am the sole reason we aren't together anymore. I am the one who made the decision to breaks things off with Joey. My insecurities alone are the reason we're not together right now.
Opening the passenger side door, Joey steps out with an exhausted sigh," You're right, I do barely know you. You seem like a cool guy Steven, don't ruin it by giving me advice on something you know nothing about."
Following Joey from my car, I walk her up the front steps to her apartment," Will I at least see you around Potter?"
" Don't take this the wrong way Pace, but I hope not.", remarks Joey in a bitter manner. One look is all it took to notice the un-shed tears in her eyes. Damn, after all these years Jo still hasn't gotten over our break up. It is not as though I expected her to or anything. Guess I just never knew how deeply I had wounded her. Being in my mere presence looks like it caused her so much pain and heart ache. This is the last thing I want. If only I could take back all of the hate filled and hurtful words I spoke to Joey that night. There are some mistakes in life you just can't undo though.
" Some how figured you would say that. I know it means nothing to you now Jo, but I honestly am sorry for every single word I said that night.", I reveal in a low voice, my gaze cast downward the entire time. It is the truth too. Joey did not deserve nor do anything to provoke all the hurtful words I spat at her that night. For reasons I cannot explain, I was a complete jerk and there was no real reason for me to go off on Potter the way that I had. She never did anything to deserve my anger filled and resentful words. If I could I would taken every single hurtful word back. If I were to be honest, I would tell Jo that I am still in love with her. Hell, who am I kidding...I never stopped loving that girl. Somehow doubt it would make any bit of a difference to her though.
" You know what Pacey, I would rather just leave the past in the past where it belongs.", remarks Joey while tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Well, at least she hasn't told me to go screw myself or go to hell. Suppose I could take this for a good sign. What I wouldn't give to kiss her right about now. Not sure that is an option though. I have it on fairly good authority that Joey all but hates my guts still. It is my own damn fault the two of us aren't together right now. I just had to let my stupid insecurities about Joey, Dawson and our future get the best of me. Maybe if I had just confided in Potter about what was going on with me, we would have worked things out and prom never would have happened.
" If that what you want, I'm alright with that Jo. I just...miss you is all.", I confess in a low voice as my eyes meet hers once more. At this point Joey has more then a few stray tears running down her cheeks. Not sure if this means she misses me too but it is killing me to see her this way. Especially knowing I am the one whose yet again caused her pain. All I want is for things to go back to the way they were between Potter and I. Back when we were together, she loved me and we were both happy together. That is what I miss the most. If I hadn't been so stupid we would still be together today.
"...I should probably get inside Pace, the baby sitter is waiting.", manages Joey in a soft tone before lowering her gaze from mine. There is just so much that I have to say to her right now but I know she does not want to hear any of it. I will just have to accept the fact that Joey has moved on with her life and is more then likely happier without me. There will never be an us again and it is all my fault. The only one I have to blame here is myself. I am the one who let Joey get away. Much as I would love to blame Dawson, it was my stupidity that ended what Joey and I had not him. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life.
" Good night Josephine Potter.", I call softly as she turns and unlocks her front door. Watching as it closes behind her, I stand quietly on her front steps. What the hell was I thinking when I let her walk away from me three years ago. I must have been some kind of moron. Joey was the best thing that ever happened to me and I just gave her up. She will never know how much I have grown to regret that decision over the years. Not a day goes past that I don't wish things had turned out differently for the two of us. Had I only been able to get over my uncertainty about the two of us maybe everything would be different right now. Unfortunately, I couldn't and now a life without Josephine Potter by my side has become my reality. …
