Chapter 4

"So, what do you think?"

"Dawson can't make it, his holiday ends soon", Joey sighed.

"Forget Dawson. Can YOU make it?"

"You know I can, Jen, after all I am my own boss. But I can't go without Dawson…"

"Oh come on, he'll be here when you get back. When's the last time you went on a trip without him?"

"Before we got married…" Joey babbled.

"See? You need to get away from each other a little. That way when you get back you'll want him more and have some hot sex"

"Jen…" Joey blushed a little. She wasn't sure that 'hot' was the exact word to describe the sex she was having with Dawson. Tender, yeah. Attentive, yeah. But not really that hot…

"Oh come on, Joey, you're a married woman now, you know what sex is, don't give me that blush…"

Joey smirked and said nothing.

"So… "

"So…"

"So, a week in Florida, great sun, good looking guys and me…"

"…and Jack who will no doubt keep you inside which means I'll be stuck with…"

"Drue, Audrey, Ollie, Sarah and Pacey… all good people…"

"All couples, Jen! Don't you see some weirdness in me going with them?"

"No, not really…" Jen pondered. "Pacey's not a couple"

"Oh so I'm stuck with Pacey. That's so much better" Joey rolled her eyes.

"Don't tell me you actually don't like Pacey" Jen raised her browes.

"I actually don't like Pacey"

"But everyone likes Pacey! He's like the definition of a fun, good-looking guy who's also a great friend on top of that…"

"He's a doofus"

"A what?! Is that English you're speaking there?"

"A doofus. A goofball. A loser. A cocky bastard. Does that give you a pretty good impression of what I think of him?"

Jen seemed a bit surprised. "Uhm, yeah, a pretty good one… but you're wrong Jo… I mean, he is cocky and all but behind that façade there's a great guy just waiting to be discovered. I can't believe you of all people can't see that."

"What do you mean I of all people?"

"Well when I think about it you two are quite alike. You both have been through a lot and are hiding all your pain behind a wall. His wall is painted yellow, yours is white, but that's just a minor detail…"

"What do you mean been through a lot?"

"Forget it. Forget I ever said anything. Come to Florida, please…! This is not just an excuse for me and Jack to have sex, I prommise… I can do that here and it wouldn't be much of a difference cause he's really hot whether he's in Florida or Boston" Jen smirked.

"Oh here we go again. Don't forget to give me all the details about your juicy sex life"

"Well as a matter of fact, just last night…"

"I don't wanna hear it!" Joey covered her ears.

"Ok, uhm… let's just go back to Florida for a second."

Dawson came in. "Florida?"

"Yeah Florida. You know, beach and stuff" Jen greeted him with a half-smile.

"What about Florida?"

"Well, the whole gang is going up there, cause Audrey's got a house on the beach… And we decided to go stay there next week."

"Next week? But I can't go. School is starting."

"Can Joey come?"

Dawson seemed surprised at the question. Joey? Without him?

"Uh, I'm not sure Jo would have fun with you guys…"

"What do you mean by that? You know I have fun with them!" Jo was irritated at his superior tone.

"No, I mean they're all couples and all…"

"It's not like we're going there to do solely couple stuff. And I hate to repeat myself but Pacey is not a couple"

Dawson barely stopped an ironic smile and Joey saw it. That irritated her even more, she had thought this whole theory of his was just for amusement, but he seemed to actually believe it. She just hoped Jen hadn't caught that too.

"I actually decided I wanted to go" she said decisevely. Jen and Dawson both looked as surprised.

"You did?"

"Yeah, I could use some time off from the city. And what better place than Florida, a lovely beach and everything?"

Dawson seemed hurt but somehow Joey decided she was going to do this. Jen was right, she needed time alone. She's never gonna appreciate Dawson if he's in her face all the time.

-------------------------------------------

Florida was really warm compared to Boston. Really really warm. And Joey felt like she was dreaming away from reality. This was heaven.

She sat on the beach and enjoyed how the sun touched her with its rays. She missed that feeling of warmth. Winter was a cool thing occasionally but nothing could beat the sun.

Jen and Jack were playing in the water. They really were great together, she couldn't help thinking. First, when Jen found out that she was pregnant and refused to talk about the father, Joey had thought that was because she hated the father. Probably a one night stand, but she hated to admit that the thought of rape had crossed her mind. When Jack turned up he seemed so nice she was utterly confused. He couldn't possibly be Amy's father, why would anyone hate a guy like that?

Then she saw him and Jen together and realized that it wasn't hate. It was fear. Fear of actually feeling something. And once that fear left them, once they knew each other over again, there was nothing in the way.

"Good morning", Pacey said enthusiastically and lounged next to her. He was wearing a pair of blue boxers. Joey hated to think that but they kinda brought out his eyes. Ok, that's silly, how can a pair of boxers bring out your eyes? 'I stayed in the sun too long'.

He did have a beautiful pair of eyes. Nevermind the hot body, nevermind the beautiful face, if he was totally ugly and fat and had that pair of eyes, he would be beautiful. Joey wasn't sure that made sense, but that's what she felt. Dawson's eyes were blue too… and they weren't bad.

"Hello…" he grinned at her. "Are you going to talk to me?"

"I was hoping that if I ignore you and wish really hard, you'll just go away", she muttered.

"I see. Well, you realize that once you pointed that out, I'm never gonna go, don't you?"

Joey rolled her eyes. Nevermind the eyes, nevermind the body or the face. He was annoying.

"Well then, I'll go", she just stood up and entered the water. But after such a long time in the sun the water was really cold. And it didn't help when she was splashed from head to toes. She looked back and Pacey wore a satisfied grin on his face.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist that" he said and laughed. Joey had never heard anyone laugh like that.

She was numb. There was nothing she could do, she just stood there numb just looking at him. His laughter dried out and his face showed surprise for a second before melting into a softer look. They ended up just looking at each other and that's when she knew she wanted him really bad. And the look on his face was all about reciprocity.