Joey walked into the lounge and waited a minute for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. Sitting along in a table to the right of the doorway was Pacey, his back facing her again. Joey walked up to the table, wishing Dawson had beat her downstairs. Pacey looked up from his half full beer as she slid into the seat across from him.

"I ordered us a pitcher of Killians, but if beer isn't your style I can get you something else," Pacey offered.

"No, beer sounds good."

Pacey filled the frosty mug in front of Joey, tilting the glass to keep the foam to a minimum. Joey smiled and played with the napkin the glass was sitting on.

"Look, Pace-"

Pacey interrupted, "So what have you been up to, Joey, you can catch me up before Dawson gets here. I'd assume he already knows what's going on with you, hell, it's probably his life too."

"What do you-," Joey started, then it hit her that Pacey probably thought she and Dawson were together, that's what he thought when he left, "No, I think you have the wrong idea. Dawson and I aren't together. He lives in California and I live in Chicago."

"That's just geography, besides, you're here together aren't you? You may have been the smart one in high school but I have learned a few things in the past ten years."

"Yes, we're here now but only because the person I was supposed to come with bailed on me and Dawson happened to be in town and could come. I haven't even seen him in a couple years and that he is engaged to a wonderful woman named Andrea. Dawson ran into my boss at a conference and they set up a meeting between the two of us as a surprise. This is all coincidence, nothing more. Dawson and I have been over for years and that is for the best."

"I see," Pacey shrugged, "So, what happened with you guys, when I left you were well on your way to getting back together."

"When you left, yeah, let's talk about that, Pacey. One day you are in Capeside and the next you are gone and no one hears from you again. What's that about?" Joey glared across the table at Pacey, her unrealized anger overpowering every other emotion she was feeling. "I don't know what I was supposed to think about that, but you didn't give me a chance to do anything."

"I knew what you were going to do even if you didn't," Pacey spat back at her, "You had wanted Dawson forever and I thought I would just clear the pathway back to him. It's funny that when I see you again, after all this time, you are with him."

Joey chose her words carefully, wanting to make sure her point came through loud and clear, "Pacey, you obviously did not know my heart then and you are wrong about it now. Get over it–I have. I am not in love with Dawson and I haven't been since I was 16." Joey lifted her glass and closed her eyes as the beer slid down her throat. Putting the glass down and returning Pacey's icy glare, she smiled and said, "Now let's play nice and catch up like normal people."

As Pacey opened his mouth to reply, Dawson walked up smiling, "Hey you two, I haven't missed anything good, have I?"

"Dawson, I was just telling Pacey about your fiancé, but you should probably take over considering you are the one marrying the lucky lady," Joey smiled sweetly, not letting on that she was the slightest bit upset.

Dawson started chattering on about Andrea and Pacey looked convinced that he was in love and that Dawson and Joey were a thing of the past. Joey told the men a couple anecdotes about finicky clients and about Maxine, trusted assistant. Even Pacey laughed at Maxine's fixation on men and their interaction with Joey. Pacey told them that he had indeed joined the Peace Corp for a few years and had lived in a former Soviet Republic country. It was during that time that his writing started, he had kept a journal and would write about Capeside and the people he had left behind there. He had moved to Michigan three years ago and had been living there writing and enjoying life. When Dawson pressed him about why he never let anyone know where he was, Pacey shrugged off the question by saying that because of the writer thing he tended to keep to himself and didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

All in all the night went well and had Joey not been a participant in the earlier conversation she would have thought everything was perfectly normal. They were just three old friends catching up on life and where it had taken them since high school. And that is what they were, even if Pacey wouldn't look her in the eye.

"Pace, you are going to love this, I know how you liked picking on Joey in your heyday. Ask Joey about her current boyfriend, Kevin, they are just too cute, in a dull, yuppie sort of way." Dawson smirked has Joey's jaw dropped.

"Gee, tell me what you really think, Dawson," Joey narrowed her eyes and looked at her blond friend.

"Jo, do tell, this sounds like something I might enjoy," Pacey said, finally looking her in the eye and smiling.

"I will not stoop to your level. The arrangement we have is fine."

"What was that you said? Arrangement? Sounds super to me," Dawson mimicked while Pacey laughed. "But, I'll drop it, for now. I hate to say it, but I am beat and sleep sounds so good, especially if we're skiing tomorrow. Hey, why don't you join us, Pace, we can torture Joey some more. What do you say, it will be just like old times."

"I'm sure that Pacey has some writer things to do tomorrow, you have that seminar right?"

"I do, but until the afternoon. I would love to ski in the morning with you two," Pacey said sweetly, "Why don't we meet by the first lift at 9:30? The lifts don't normally open until 10 but I know people and we can make the first runs down."

"Great," Dawson grinned, "Works for me, how 'bout you, Jo?"

"Sure, great, whatever."

"Ever the ambassador of enthusiasm, that's our Jo." Dawson laughed and playfully punched Joey in the arm as he stood up. "I'll take care of our tab if you two want to hit the sack."

"Don't worry about it, it's taken care of, just another perk of being a local and slightly famous writer." Pacey rolled his eyes and rose from his seat.

Joey joined the two standing men and stuck a smile on her face. Dawson was already heading out the door when Pacey turned on her. "We will finish our conversation some other time, you can count on it. I've got some more things to say that I didn't get a chance to since you were set on putting me in my place."

"Fine by me, Pacey," Joey replied, trying not to let her newfound anger get the best of her, "I've got more to say myself."

Dawson was waiting on the elevator with the door open. "Going up?"

"Penthouse," Pacey said.

"Six." Joey said as she walked on. Dawson punched their numbers and '3' for himself. The elevator doors closed and before she knew it Dawson was saying goodnight and she and Pacey were alone in the elevator. Pacey reached in front of Joey, his arm brushing hers and sending a current down her spine, and pushed the 'Close' button.

Joey turned towards him and sighed, "Look, I don't know why I am so angry with you. Until I saw you tonight I have only ever felt regret. But everything I said was what I meant, though I do need to keep my temper in check. I should also say that I'm sorry."

"That's funny, because I've been mad for so long and now I'm not feeling it as much. Maybe a good night's sleep will clear our heads."

The elevator had stopped and the doors were open at Joey's floor. They started to close and Pacey leaned behind Joey to hit the button to keep the doors open. Joey's heart jumped as she felt Pacey's breath on the back of her neck.

Joey turned again so she was facing Pacey and smiled, "You look good, Pace, you look good."

"I know," Pacey smirked as the elevator doors closed.