Standard Disclaimer applied.

Sorry again for the delay. But with graduation, prom and so much other Senior fun things to do, I haven't found the time to write. And then with that said, I had a mean old case of writers block. So this is yet another part of the rave chapter that I still have not finished, but it was getting rather long once again so I decided to post this part. Hope you enjoy, and have a little bit more patience with me.

Chapter Eleven: The Rave Part Two

Dawson looked over the selection of glow necklaces and none of them seemed to jump out and say Gretchen would love it. Though he did find one red one that he was sure would go perfectly with Olivia's attire. But he had quickly put it back in its place. Not really wanting to go anywhere near Olivia Bolivar. Especially since her father's business was taking a whole lot of clientele from his parent's restaurant.

Seeing that he wasn't going to find the perfect glow necklace for Gretchen he picked the nearest one he could find, which happened to be a single colored one.

When Dawson descended the stairs he saw Gretchen's figure watching the dancing teens.

"Glow necklace?" Dawson said offering it to Gretchen. "It seems that all the cool kids are wearing them. They're pretty popular in places like these."

Gretchen looks at it but doesn't take it. Dawson frowns, "What you don't like the color? Cause if that's the problem I can go back up and get you a better one."

"No that's not it." Gretchen takes the necklace and puts it around her neck. "Thanks."

Dawson didn't know what was wrong. Last time he checked they were having a great time. Especially since no one seemed to want to hang out with them. Or more like they didn't' seem to find the rest of the gang.

But he didn't really want to go thinking about where the rest of them went off to. Or more like were Joey and Pacey went off to.

"Is something the matter, cause you seem a bit distracted?"

Gretchen sighed, what Joey had told her earlier was taking a lot of her concentration. She had been having a great time, even with Dawson. But he seemed to be over attentive towards her so far that night. That or he was always this attentive, she just never noticed it.

"There is really no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to put it out there. Is it possible, even in the vaguest way, you're here because you think there's a chance that something is happening between us?" Gretchen asked, hoping the answer would be no.

Dawson was taken aback from her question. A long time ago he would say he had a huge crush on Gretchen. But now, he wasn't into her in that way. He found her attractive, and in a way if he could have a chance with her he'd take it. Just to bind his time until Joey finally fell out of love with Pacey. But he knew it would never become anything serious. He also knew he probably wouldn't have the guts to pursue anything with Gretchen seeing as he knew she didn't' see him that way. All in all he could say something was going on between them, but only friendship.

"Yeah there is something going on between us, its called friendship." Dawson answered.

"And that's all you expect?" Gretchen asked, hoping again that, that was the only thing he expect.

"I mean yeah I would want to have something with you, I mean who wouldn't, but friendship is really all I want from you Gretchen. Why have I done anything to give you that idea?" Dawson asked.

"No, no you haven't done anything. I'm sorry. I know it was out of the blue and ridiculous to even think it."

"Don't worry, I mean theirs no secret that at one point in my life I would have wanted something with you, but that was a long time ago. But I'm not there anymore, I kind of moved on since I was twelve." Dawson assured Gretchen.

Gretchen was relieved, "See I knew I was right. But Joey just said that maybe you might be harboring feelings for me."

"Wait Joey brought this up?" Dawson asked, not believing Joey would even care about who he liked.

"Yeah she asked if their was anything going on between us, but I put her at ease." Gretchen explained.

"Really? I still can't believe she would ask, let alone care. I mean unless. . ." Dawson tailed off.

Gretchen frowned at what he was saying. What is he going on about? Why is he so happy about Joey asking me about whether their was something going between the both of us? Unless. . . oh no.

"Dawson wait don't jump into conclusions. She was just asking because she was concerned you might get hurt again. Seeing as I would never even consider dating you."

"Why wouldn't you consider dating me?" Dawson had to ask.

Gretchen stared at him in disbelief, "Because I'm three years older than you. Also I only see you as my baby brother's best friend."

"Ex-best friend." Dawson corrected her.

Gretchen rolled her eyes, "Yeah how I could I forget."

"You know I'm sick and tired of everyone taking Pacey's side. I'm the victim here. I'm the one who got betrayed by his two best friends. Pacey went after Joey knowing full well that she was my soul mate. That I loved her. She's supposed to be with me." Dawson said furiously.

"I've tried to maintain a neutral front here Dawson. But just listening to you I've noticed you're not the same boy I once knew. Whether you grew up or not, you were never like this. No one is choosing sides Dawson. Your friends want the best for you three. And so far Joey and Pacey together seems to be what they think is best for them."

"And what's best for me? Why don't they think about that?"

"They do Dawson. The best thing for you is Joey's friendship. You two had a bond that was greater than anything in this world. You two had a friendship that people envied."

"You're saying everything in past tense." Dawson pointed out.

"Yeah well what you two had is really in the past. Because you have to admit you two haven't been that close since you guys were fourteen." Gretchen simply said.

Dawson tried to block out what Gretchen was telling him. Their was no way what he and Joey had was over. They were still close.

Gretchen noticed Dawson thinking things over. And knowing him she probably didn't get through to him.

"I think I see Pacey over there, I'm going to go talk to him. I'll see you later Dawson." Gretchen started walking away. But she paused, thinking about what her English professor had told her once during one of their lectures. "Hey Dawson before I leave, let me tell you something a professor once told me."

Dawson raised his head and looked at Gretchen ready to listen to what she had to say.

"Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing."

Dawson stood there watching Gretchen walk into the dancing crowd. Her words repeating themselves in his mind over and over again.

o0o0o0o

Olivia was bored to death. She was now regretting ever coming to the rave. She knew she wasn't going to have any fun. But she had that silly notion that she might have fun, if Pacey went with her.

But he was no where in sight. And she didn't blame him, especially since she wasn't making any sense anymore.

He was right, she wasn't acting herself. But Olivia had to admit she had not been acting herself ever since she entered her teens.

She was fully aware that people change over time, especially when they enter their teenage years.

But her, Jen and Drue had changed drastically. They entered the fast life, the party life rather quickly and rather young.

And now after years of enduring all that crap they had nothing to show for it. Just sad stories, horrible experiences, and regrets. Olivia didn't know if any person could truly regret their whole life. All she did know was that she was regretting a part of her life.

All these thoughts kept coming to her, thanks to the rave. Her past mistakes, her past horrors, her past in general was coming to her full blast. She could still remember that night as if happened yesterday. She tried not think about it, and in most cases she succeeded. But when she entered parties such as raves and flyer parties, to her it was like returning to the scene of the crime.

Olivia shuddered at the mere thought of going back to the actual scene of the crime. She wished Drue was there or even Jen, they were the only ones who knew about that day and the only ones she felt comfortable talking to.

But Drue was no were in sight, though she knew were he might be, she wasn't in the mood to go looking for him.

Olivia looked ahead and spotted a tall, built brown haired boy. But one look at his face she knew it wasn't Pacey. She tried to clench that burning feeling of disappointment in the pit of her heart. She wouldn't let herself feel this way over a boy. Whether that boy was Pacey Witter or just some stranger. But Olivia knew better than to assume Pacey was just a mere boy she had a crush on. He was meant so much more to her. And that scared her the most. Because normally she would have made her move on him by now, and she wouldn't give a rats ass about whether he liked her or not. Now she was taking her time to get to know him, to let him get to know her. She wasn't acting like her usual self. But she knew she was acting herself, she just hadn't been herself for a long time. And the fact that Pacey was the one who was making her come back, was even more terrifying.

And if that wasn't something that would make her run the other direction, the fact that he was madly in love with Joey Potter should. But that wasn't something she liked to think about. Though she wasn't oblivious to that fact.

Olivia was deep in thought that she wasn't looking where she was going that she accidentally bumped into someone. She was about to apologize to the total stranger, until she noticed who he was. None other than Dawson Leery.

"Do you just lack manners?" Dawson asked incredulously.

"No, I just don't see the point of being polite to you." Olivia smirked.

"Yeah well I don't see why Pacey would ever be friends with you." Dawson said.

Olivia's smirk faded, "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, really. I just don't see what he sees in you. Then again maybe he sees you as yet another damsel in distress he must rescue." Dawson said snidely.

Olivia glared at him, "If we're going there, I might as well comment on what he ever saw in you. Because so far Leery you've only proven to me that you're a lousy friend and a lousy soul mate."

Dawson rolled his eyes at her, "Please you think I haven't heard that before. Your not the first one to tell me. But I bet you that Pacey was the one to put that crap in your head."

"No Pacey isn't a manipulating ass, such as yourself." Olivia said passionately.

"See that's what you think. But only a true manipulator could possibly make a girl like Joey fall for him." Dawson went on.

Olivia had to laugh at that, "Did you just hear yourself right now? Because last time I checked, Potter seemed to be in love with you at one point. And I don't think it was because of your dashing good looks, or your gracious charm."

"Haha. . . aren't you a comedian." Dawson said dryly, "Though I doubt Pacey would ever fall for your icy bitch personality."

"See I would take that to offense, but I wont, seeing as its coming from you." Olivia said.

Dawson clenched his jaw, he was getting irritated by the minute. And Olivia loved the fact that she could press his buttons.

"To be completely honest with you Olivia, I doubt you and Pacey will ever hook up. He likes going for the girls he can't seem to have. You've made it rather clear to the whole population of Capeside that you're into him. He'll figure it out sooner or later, just give him time." Dawson said.

"Pacey goes after the girls he can't have, is that's so? Because if your referring to Potter, I'm quite positive she seems to have a thing for him." Olivia smirked rather sweetly.

Dawson shook his head, "You would think I was only talking about Joey, but no. He's gone after the his English teacher, he's gone after the rich girl from the Country club, he's even gone as far as to go after Jen."

"Jen? As in Jennifer Lindley?" Olivia asked, hoping he wasn't talking about her once best friend.

Dawson seemed pleased he finally hit a button, "None other than Jen. You see they had a sex pact together. Whether they both went through it, I wouldn't know."

Olivia's mind was going a million miles per hour. She couldn't seem to believe Pacey would do a sex pact. And neither would Jen for that matter. But Dawson seemed quite sure of himself.

"You know I could believe you Dawson but I wont. Because if this were true you wouldn't be telling me in the first place. You may be a crappy friend to Pacey, but I know you are not one to Jen." Olivia said, hoping she sounded confident in what she was saying.

Dawson's smile faltered, she seemed to know him rather well. "Pacey's been telling you things about me, hasn't he? That's why you know how to push my buttons and know when I'm bluffing."

Olivia shook her head in disbelief, "First off Leery, Pacey has better things to do than to talk to me about you. Second off, I have more important things to do than to listen to anyone talk about you. Thirdly, the only way I know how to push you're buttons is because you make it so easy to read you. You're not a complex person to figure out Leery. You don't have layers and layers to go through. You wear your heart on your sleeve, which is considered a good thing and a bad thing. And finally, you need to stop assuming the worst in Pacey. He use to be your best friend, the person who knew you just as well as you knew him. You befriended him for a reason and you trusted him at one point for a reason. I doubt he's changed much."

Dawson shook his head, not wanting to listen to Olivia. "You're just saying that because you're on his side. Everyone is on his side. And I'm sick and tired of it."

"No one is choosing sides Leery. Your friends may be in favor with Pacey, because he's the one being wronged here. Not you. You have what you wanted, you have Potter." Olivia said simply.

Dawson scoffed at that, "See that's what you think Olivia. I haven't had Joey since the day I made her rat out her dad. And maybe if I really think about it, I hadn't had her since the day I pretty much made her give up Paris. You see Pacey was her Paris this past summer, I made sure she didn't leave me to go to him."

Olivia, to her surprise placed her hand on his shoulder, "You may have given her ultimatums, but she didn't' have to take them. She was scared. And when you're scared you do things you wouldn't normally do, even if they make you feel horrible inside, to make sure you don't feel that. She built this hard cover around her heart, to make sure you didn't get hurt, but at the same time hurting the one her heart longed for."

Dawson stared at her, not believing what he was hearing, "You can read Joey?"

"Of course not. I tried, and that's what I came up with. Whether is right or wrong, I really don't know, or care for that matter. I'm just good at reading people, Leery, I've been doing it since I was eleven. Jen is by far much better than me, but she actually gives advice to help the people out, I'm more of person who uses their problems to torment them." Olivia explained it simply to him, like it wasn't important.

Dawson still couldn't believe it, "I just can't seem to know how would you at such a young age, master such a thing."

"Simple really, just pay close attention and you'll see how people react to certain things. That and common sense is a key factor. If I was really good at reading people, I could possibly know how to manipulate them, but I'm not that sinister. That and probably because I have a life I chose not to waste it, on stupid things such as that." Olivia said, already getting bored of that conversation.

"If you're so good, why don't you use your mad reading people skills on Pacey and get him to fall for you?" Dawson asked.

"In other words your asking me why don't I make him fall in love with me?" Olivia asked, trying to make sure that's what he was actually saying, since she couldn't believe he would ask that in the first place.

"Well not as much as force him to love you, but make him love you." Dawson amended his prior question.

Olivia, who had been so far rather serious through out this whole conversation, started laughing, rather hard.

Not knowing what was so funny Dawson looked around trying to spot anything remotely funny.

Not finding anything he turned back his attention to a still laughing Olivia, "I don't get it, what's so funny?"

"You Leery, you're funny. You do know that trying to make someone fall in love with you is about as pointless as trying to control who you fall in love with?" Olivia said casually.

"No I don't know. I just don't get why you can't possibly go all out to try to keep the one person you connect with, who knows you the best, who is your soul mate, all to yourself?" Dawson asked.

Olivia wanted to pull at her hair, or more like Dawson's. The blond boy in front of her wasn't getting anything she was saying.

"Leery I'll leave you with this piece of advise, or more like a question for you think about. If you find someone that you think is your soul-mate, someone who you can connect with, someone who knows you best. Why ruin it by forcing her to stay with you?" Olivia asked, retreating back up the stairs.

Dawson ran his hands through his long blond locks. That was the second piece of advice someone gave him that day.

But this advice wasn't coming from a close friend of his, it was coming from someone he considered his rival.

"Hold up Olivia, why are you telling me all this? You and I aren't friends, as of yesterday you hated me." Dawson asked her.

Olivia smirked at him, "Who said we were friends Leery? But then again who said I hated you?"

Dawson had to smile at that. He turned to stare at the dancing teens right in front of him, when he heard her yell out something.

"By the way Dawson, if you hadn't noticed, this is a rave, why don't you go out and join them and dance instead of watching them!" Olivia yelled from above.

Dawson shrugged, "I'm not the dancing type. Pacey sure is, why don't you go look for him!"

"Maybe I will!" she shouted back.

Dawson's smile faltered once again, and his mood faltered as well when he heard her say that.

It seemed to Dawson that Pacey wasn't the only one going after girls he knew he couldn't possibly ever have.

o0o0o0o

Jen looked frantically around. She couldn't spot Andie anywhere. And when she had asked Jack if he had seen her, after telling him off for not watching over her, he had told her he saw her go somewhere with Drue.

And to Jen, that didn't sound at all good. Drue knew everything you could possibly know about E. He was an expert on having a great time under the effects of E. Of the things Jen could remember, she knew Drue was the one responsible for most of the things her and Olivia did.

After all they trusted him back then. Or more like Olivia trusted him back then. Jen had always kept a close watch on him, especially when he started warming up to her.

Jen would never admit it to anyone, but at one point in time she had a thing for Drue Valentine. Though her crush on him only lasted for a month, it had some horrible affects when she was under the influence. If her memory served her right, they had a brief fling, whether they had sex neither of them knew, seeing as most of their making out sessions were done while they were under the influence.

Jen had never told anyone, and neither had Drue, seeing as Olivia had never mentioned or showed any signs that she knew what was going on behind her back.

Not that she would mind, Olivia had a habit at making fun of her when it came down to Drue liking her. If she had known she in a way liked him back, she wouldn't have heard the end of it.

To busy trying to spot Andie over the crowd of dancing teenagers, she bumped into someone, who seemed to be in a rush as well.

When Jen looked at the person to apologize, she was surprised to find Olivia there.

"Seriously this whole bumping into people at this thing is getting old." Olivia said more to herself than to Jen.

Still not recovering from her outer shock at seeing her there, Olivia snapped her fingers in to snap her out of it.

"What is wrong with you? Did you take any X?" Olivia asked.

Jen composed herself rather quickly and glared at her, "No I've quit that shit a long time ago. I'm just a bit surprised to find you here. I mean a long time ago you swore of raves."

Olivia shrugged, "Well if this town had some entertaining activities, besides driving to the mall and going to the movies, I probably wouldn't have been here in the first place."

"Not use to the quiet life, yet?" Jen asked trying to be civil to her old friend. Knowing full well what might be going with her, seeing as she swore off raves for a reason.

"Have you?" Olivia reverted the question back to her.

Jen shook her head, "Nope, I asked the question first."

"If you really must know, I'm actually quite use to the quiet life. I just want to have fun from time to time. Like the song says, Girls just want to have fun." Olivia asked.

Jen smiled at that. After all the song by Cyndi Lauper was their favorite song while they were growing up.

"I remember we use to sing to that song every time it was played on the radio." Jen said smiling at the fun times they use to have.

Olivia smiled too, after all those days when it was just the two of them with no problems, just typical girl issues, were probably the only good times they had.

"What I remember is that I use to sing, and you would try to sing along with me. You were always off key." Olivia corrected her.

"Oh please, that's a total lie. I could so stay on key with that song."

"Sure Jen, keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better."

"Yeah well you're the one to talk, seeing as you also suck at singing." Jen said laughing.

Olivia's smile faded, after realizing what she and Jen were doing. They were getting along like old times.

Jen's laugh also faded, realizing the same thing.

"So who were you looking for before we ran into each other?" Olivia asked in her usual indifferent tone.

"I um. . was looking for no one." Jen lied not sure if she would like Olivia to know about Andie at that moment.

Olivia caught that right away, but she didn't say anything, not sure if she would like Jen to know that she still knew her in some way.

"If you say so." Olivia shrugged.

Jen frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, it means nothing. If you say you aren't looking for anyone then your not looking for anyone. That's your business not mine." Olivia said, "But lets just pretend for a moment that you are looking for someone, who would you be looking for and why?"

"Okay lets say I was looking for someone, why would you give a rat ass of who I am looking for and what for?" Jen asked, mildly curious as to why Olivia cared.

"I'm not at all interested in your friends Jen, but I do know you. And when your anxious is either when you're on drugs or when something doesn't feel right." Olivia stated.

"You think you still know me, after all these years apart?" Jen asked, steering the prior conversation to a much more safer ground.

"No I don't think I still know you. Not this new Jen anyways. But I do know the old one. And right now you're acting like your old self. You're guilty, and your worried, about what I really don't know. But when you feel this way I know how you tend to act." Olivia said, trying to mask how worried she was for Jen.

"Oh do tell me how I tend to act Olivia, seeing as you can read me so well." Jen said defensively.

"You tend to get a bit defensive when you're asked about what's wrong with you. Then you push yourself to the limit to do what's right, but it never works out in your favor. After your failure you sidetrack back to your lonesome self and push everyone you care about away from you. And then come the drugs or the alcohol, depends on which one of those our available at the moment." Olivia finished rather calmly.

Jen didn't know what to say, all she did know was that Olivia was right. Yet in some way that didn't surprise her one bit.

When they were younger and growing up, Olivia was someone she had always gone for advice, whether she took that advice or not it didn't matter. She valued what Olivia said and she took everything she would always tell her to heart.

Olivia was someone that would never judge anyone, unless they had done something that could potentially cause harm to someone else. Not physical harm, but emotional. She was a great listener and she would always find a way to help you out.

That was the old Olivia to Jen. And right now, she didn't know whether she was talking to the old one or the new one. Because Olivia may still know her, but Jen didn't' know Olivia one bit.

But she through caution to the wind and decided that she needed Olivia's help.

"I'm looking for Andie. You see she took one of my E tablets while I wasn't looking. And well she's not the person you would think would ever try these type of things. But she did, and now I can't seem to find her." Jen said, feeling a bit of relief to get that out.

Olivia stared at her, not sure if she could believe what she had just said. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Andie McPhee? As in your best friend's sister?"

"That's the one." Jen answered.

"I could tell you so many things Jen, but right now I doubt they'll make a difference. But I need to know why, after almost three years of being clean would you even have E in your house, in your possession?" Olivia asked.

"I don't know okay. All I do know is that Jack is never going to forgive for this. I gave Andie drugs for crying out loud, I don't think I'll ever forgive myself." Jen cried out in distress.

Olivia frowned at Jen's predicament, or more like Andie's. "Jen did you really give her drugs? Because I may not know you as well as I did a couple of years back, but even then you wouldn't ever offer nor give anyone drugs."

"Okay Andie took them on her own accord, but if I hadn't you know had them or have taken them out she would have never thought about taking them." Jen explained.

"Then its not your fault. She took them because she wanted to. You didn't' force E down her throat. And yes you brought out the drugs but not for her, but for yourself, I presume." Olivia stated.

"I wasn't going to take them. I was going to throw them away." Jen said defensively.

"And I'm not implying that you were going to take them. All I'm saying is that you took them out for yourself and not for her to take. Whether you were going to take them is not my business. Though I would hope you weren't seeing as you've been telling Drue how much you've changed and so on." Olivia said bluntly.

Jen glared at her, "I have changed. I wouldn't be saying that if it wasn't true."

"Again no need to explain to me. I'm not your friend anymore. I don't care whether you fall down that path again or not. Its your decision, its always been your decision."

"If you don't give a shit about me, then why are you still standing here? You, the cold hearted bitch that you're claiming to be, should have been gone the very moment we bumped into one another." Jen needed to know.

Olivia looked at her, and for a brief moment she wanted to turn around and prove that she was the cold hearted bitch that she played out to be. But unfortunately, her heart wouldn't let her. She knew that Jen needed her help, whether she was asking for it or not, she just knew.

I can't believe I'm even doing this.

"Because at one point in my life I did give a shit about you. And because of that I'm willing to help you out."

"And who says I need your help?"

Olivia took a deep calming breath. She knew Jen would be difficult about this, but she really didn't' want to deal with her at that very moment, "Look just take my offer. It doesn't matter whether you need my help or not. It will be a whole lot easier on you if you had another person to help you look for her. Seeing as you can go up to McPhee and tell him his sister is loaded on E."

Jen silently contemplated her choices that very moment. She could either take up Olivia's offer to help. Or she could do it on her own, or she could even go as far as telling Jack that indeed his sister was loaded up on drugs, she possessed.

"Okay I need your help. But I'm warning you if you use this against me I'll kick your ass."

Olivia rolled her eyes, "You've always giving me that sorry ass of a threat since we where in middle school, and not once have you followed through. I doubt you'll do it now."

"Well you do have a point there. But I've changed, just as much as you have. I could have learned some new kick ass moves that you wouldn't be aware off." Jen said.

"Okay are we seriously going to be having this conversation right now?"

"You're right, we need to focus, I need to focus. Jack said that Andie had headed off with Drue somewhere."

"That's just great. Drue will know she's high, that's probably why he took her to have some fun." Olivia groaned in frustration.

"If we were Drue where would we go?" Jen asked walking down the stairs, Olivia following closely behind her.

"Either the dance floor or the jumper." Olivia answered rather quickly, knowing full well what Drue liked going during raves.

"Of course I've forgotten how much he's always like those stupid jumpers."

"If I remembered correctly you were quite fond of them too." Olivia pointed out.

"That was a log time ago. A different Jen Lindley." Jen said firmly.

"If you say so." Olivia uttered under her breath.

Jen pretended not to hear her. But she was starting to regret ever accepting Olivia's help. This is going to be one hell of a long night.

o0o0o0o

Pacey had looked around the rave trying to find Joey. He wanted to, no he needed to tell her that he loved her, and that he was scared shitless about the fact that indeed she too was in love with him.

He wanted her to understand that he was also frighten about the whole possibility of them together, like she had stated earlier. But not scared of starting a relationship with her, no he was scared of finally having her and then her coming to the realization that he had come to a long time ago, that he wasn't good enough for her.

Checking the parking lot one last time, Pacey headed back inside. When he reached the entrance, he spotted Joey.

As soon as he spotted her he ran towards her, "JO! Joey!"

When she turned around to see who was calling her, Pacey was taken aback by the sheer beauty she possessed.

Pacey was always aware of the fact that Joey Potter was going to grow up to be a very beautiful girl, gorgeous even. After all he had the perfect examples in front of him Mrs. Potter and Bessie. Unlike Dawson who had taken him years and the beauty pageant during their sophomore year to come to terms with her beauty.

But Pacey always lied to himself, telling himself that he had only found her attractive that day when she had taken her clothes off on the side of the truck. If he was telling the truth he had noticed this probably the first time he met her. Of course at age five, Pacey knew you shouldn't, couldn't go to a girl and say such things, especially when you didn't know what they meant. So he did the only thing he did know, and he pulled one of her pigtails. He loved the feel of her brown soft hair, never feeling something that soft in his life. She shoved him to the ground, causing their parents to laugh at them, and Dawson to look at them strangely. But their laughter and Dawson's strange expression was all they heard and saw, before Pacey went after her.

"What?" She had asked him once the day before they started freshman year. They had both been sitting on Dawson's dock, waiting for their blond friend to come home from his day out with Mitch.

Pacey had been looking at her staring off into the calm waters of the creek. Though he wasn't in love with her at that time, Pacey knew if he were to fall for her it would be a stupid mistake on his part, seeing as she would never look at him the way she had and would always look at Dawson.

"Nothing, just curious as to when you're going to tell Dawson how much you love him." He had answered her.

She had gave him the famous Potter glare and then she had shoved him, like she did years ago. Though she stood up and ran towards the Leery house after seeing Mitch and Dawson pull into the driveway, he hadn't gotten up and chased after her nor did he stand up and run for Dawson's arrival. He knew that it would be a loss cause, because when it had come to those two, Pacey was just the third wheel.

Three years later, he had made the stupid mistake of falling for her, and started chasing after her. He had lost so much more than he had imagined, but gained something most people took forever to find. He found love, and the real kind of love, not the teenage version of love. Whether it was the real thing just to him, he didn't care. The simple act of loving Joey and being loved by her was the only true thing that mattered to him.

"What?" She had asked him again, in the present time.

When he finally reached her, he looked into her eyes and smiled, she too returned his smile.

"I just wanted to tell you that you were right."

Joey looked back at him with the same intense gaze he was giving her, "Right about what?"

"Well besides you being right about everything?" Pacey asked, his smile growing even wider when she in return playfully shoved him. He took hold of her hand, knowing that this time no chasing had to be done, "About earlier. You were right, I was scared. . correction, I am scared about what this means for the both of us. I'm terrified that I wont be able to meet up to your standards of the perfect boyfriend."

Joey shook her head, "No Pacey you got it all wrong. I don't want a perfect boyfriend that doesn't exist, I want you."

"Yeah well I think you deserve the perfect boyfriend. Not someone as screwed up as me."

"If you believe that, than I believe that you deserve the perfect girlfriend." Joey countered.

Pacey smirked at her, knowing that the Potter stubbornness was kicking in to her system, "Hmm. . .you don't say? But you see unlike you I see that said perfect girlfriend right in front of me."

Joey playfully looked behind her shoulder, "Are you sure, because I only seem to see myself standing next to you."

Pacey chuckled at her joke, "Very funny Potter." He pulled her closer to him.

"I may be funny Witter, but at least I'm not delusional like yourself. Thinking I'm perfect. . .that's ridiculous. I have a whole list of imperfections." Joey leaned into his embrace, loving how both their bodies fit perfectly together.

"You can tell me you have three lists full of imperfections, and I'll still consider you perfect." Pacey said gently, leaning closer to her, craving the touch of her lips against his.

As there lips were a mere centimeter from touching, they were interrupted by a very cheerful voice behind them.

"Hey Pacey! Hey Joey!" Andie greeted them, Drue closely behind her.

Both Pacey and Joey pulled themselves away from their embrace to stare at Andie. Pacey couldn't place it, but he knew something wasn't right, especially when Andie was with Drue Valentine.

But the smile on Andie's face made Pacey a bit relieved, apparently she had gotten her good mood back.

"Um. . .hey Andie." Pacey heard Joey quietly greet her too.

Though Andie was smiling once again, and seemed like she was having a great time, the feeling that something wasn't right, was coming to him full force. There was once a time in which Pacey could read her so perfectly, knowing when something wasn't right with her. He had the familiar feeling now, but it was rather faint.

"Andie are you okay?" Pacey asked, concern for her was quite evident in the way he addressed her. And it didn't go unnoticed by Joey nor Drue.

Andie giggled at Pacey's question, though there was nothing amusing about it, and moved closer to him, placing her hand on the wall of his chest, "Of course I am. Don't be silly, that kiss that you and Joey almost shared right now didn't hurt me as much as did last spring."

Pacey tensed up at the mention of that night, seeing the pain in her eyes, when Dawson had told her. That part hurt him, not as much as it did when Joey ran back inside the Leery household, after Dawson, or as much as when Joey told him it had to end between the both of them.

But Andie didn't notice anything, and continued addressing what she said to Drue, but loud enough for Pacey and Joey to hear. "You know I love Olivia has been doing to Pacey over here. Changing him to be the man we all know he can be. You see I tried to change him a long time ago, didn't work. But then again Pacey Witter didn't need any changing at all, he is perfect just as he is. He's the perfect boyfriend, Joey here lucked out. To have such a guy like Pacey going after her. Extremely lucky. She has nothing to worry about with him, always the faithful one." Andie frowned at that, "Though I wish I could have been that faithful, than may be you and I could have been together."

Pacey glanced at Joey from his side to see her not at all enjoying where the conversation was leading. He wasn't too comfortable with the conversation, either.

Andie shrugged after no one said anything, "But hey theirs nothing I can do. Though I do know that I love you guys!"

To Pacey's surprise Andie brought him into a hug that would put all mothers and grandmothers to shame.

Drue smirked at Joey, enjoying the look of pure jealously on the brunet's face. "Seems like she only loves one person."

Andie pulled away and laughed at Drue's comment. "Now Drue what did I say? No telling any of my secrets to anyone."

Pacey frowned at the two of them, especially at Andie's behavior.

"Oh well sorry Blondie, I wont tell Witter that you still have a thang for him."

Andie smiled at Pacey and Joey, "Don't worry about it guys, I mean we are all friends, right? So it wasn't such of a big shocker, to know that I still have feelings for you Pace. I have to say you are one hard guy to get over. Though I have to admit you two look great together." She turned to look directly at Joey, "You are so nice Joey. Well, except when the time you dumped Dawson for Pacey. That was pretty cold. But really, who can blame you? It was Pacey."

Pacey shook his head, not really wanting to deal with this right now. "Alright Andie are you sure you're okay?"

"Okay? As in okay with my head? Or as in okay with you two? Because I have to be honest I pretend not to care, but I do, it bothers me more than I show. But like I said before we are all to good of friends for this not to be a secret."

Joey frowned at her, "Well its news to me."

"Don't worry Joey, its okay Pacey is completely over me, so no competition from me. Plus you know as well as I do that he's such a faithful type."

"What did you do to her?" Pacey asked Drue angrily, sick and tired of seeing his smirk.

"I didn't do nothing to her." Drue said innocently, far to innocently for Pacey's liking.

"Relax Pacey, we are in a rave! Have some fun! Celebrate for me, I got into Harvard! WE are going to bounce, want to come?" Andie yelled excitingly.

"No thanks." Joey said, a bit to cold for her usual attitude.

"No, you guys go ahead."

"Okay! Okay lets go!" She grabs Drue's hand and leads him into the rave.

Pacey looks at her retreating form with concern, "Something is not right with her Jo, I can feel it."

Though Pacey's gut never stirred him wrong, he was hoping that at that very moment he was wrong.