Sorry for the wait! Enjoy!

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Chapter 4 – Still A Chance

The next day at school things were very awkward between Pacey and Joey. They were avoiding each other all day.

"Joey are you ever going to talk to Pacey? I mean what went wrong?" Dawson was very happy that they weren't together but also felt bad for Joey because she was obviously hurting.

"Nothing went wrong. We just needed to put some space between us. I'll talk to him when the time comes. But not yet."

Just at that moment Pacey had walked out of a classroom and began to walk down the hall obviously zoned out or he would've noticed Joey Potter and Dawson Leery approaching him before he rammed into Joey, making them fall to ground. Pacey landed on top of her; noses touching eyes gazing. Joey quickly snapped out of her trans.

"Pacey! What the hell is wrong with you?" Joey sounded mad but didn't seem that way because she made no attempt to get Pacey off of her.

"Sorry Potter, you know me, clumsy as hell." He chuckled as he whispered, like it was a secret message that only she was supposed to hear.

Joey was now hooked. She wanted to kiss him so badly. She just wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and pull him close, but there she was, speechless, just peering into his eyes.

"My God she's beautiful." Pacey said over and over in his head until Joey began to speak.

"Pacey, do you mind easing off me a bit, it's getting hard to breathe." She said nervously. They both knew that it wasn't because Pacey was on top of her, there was plenty room for her to breathe.

"Sorry Jo." He said obliging to her request, easing off a bit.

The whole time Dawson was watching on in disgust. He couldn't see them together. He wanted to be Pacey; he wanted Joey.

He cleared his throat to try to get their attention, but to no avail. They were in their own world now and there was nothing he could do about it. Just before Dawson was going to get their attention in a more elaborate manor the bell rang signaling that lunch was over. It didn't seem to reach their ears though, because there they were, lying on the floor, staring, thinking.

"Guys, I'm going to class now. See ya." He couldn't be there anymore, plus he didn't want to late for class, one more tardy and it was detention for him.

"Bye Dawson." Joey said, her voice barely making it's way to Pacey's ears.

"About last night Jo…" Pacey decided that now was the best time to bring it up because she was obviously in a good mood.

"What about it?" She was so wrapped up in 'Pacey Land' that she didn't even know what happened last night.

"Well, you said that we should just be friends and I was just wondering…"

"Yes…" Joey was anxious to see what he would say.

"I was just wondering if we could still be more. I really like you Jo, and by the looks of it I'm guessing you like me just as much." Pacey was very nervous, he was making himself vulnerable and it scared him, he didn't want to be hurt.

Joey lay, gleaming into his big blue eyes, unable to find an answer, she didn't want to speak because she knew she would say something she didn't mean. So she did the only thing she could think to do.

She pulled her hands up from her sides and began to roam his hair and ears, just feeling. Then she put them on his cheeks and pulled him down the extra inches to reach her mouth in a very passionate kiss. Joey's hands pushed his face more onto hers as his tongue entered her mouth.

She was enjoying this. She wanted to be with Pacey so badly but was so afraid of getting hurt. She had never been in a real relationship and the thought of it being with Pacey made it worse. Not only was she putting herself out there, she was doing it with one of her best friends, she was so afraid that their friendship would get ruined, but God how she wanted him.

Joey yanked Pacey's face back abruptly bringing him back to reality. He was wondering why she had pulled away, from where everything couldn't be more perfect.

Joey looked up at him, tears threatening to come.

"I'm sorry Pacey, I can't. Not yet." And with that she attempted to push him off of her. But she couldn't, she wasn't strong enough and Pacey wouldn't let her.

"Why not Jo? Are you afraid of getting hurt? Because believe me, you're not the only one in that boat."

"Partly… but also…" she was hesitant of telling him, she didn't know if he would understand.

"Also what?" Pacey wanted to know. He wanted a good reason of why they shouldn't be together. He looked her strait in the eyes, with such trust and honesty that it killed Joey. She couldn't just lie to him, she would have to tell the truth.

"Also… I'm afraid of… I'm afraid of losing my friendship with you. I mean… what if we do this and we're not good together? I don't want to lose one of my best friends Pacey. I need you to be so much more than a boyfriend… I need you to be friend, a big brother, a dad… everything… forever."

"Wow." Pacey's voice cracked a bit. That was a lot to digest. This was serious to him too but hadn't really thought through that far.

"So that's how you really feel Jo? You're afraid that if you let me in that we could lose our friendship if it doesn't work?" He knew that he was right but he had to make sure that she meant it.

"Yes Pacey, that's how I really feel. The thought of not having you as my best friend, it kills me. I need you. Without your friendship I would be so lost." Joey was now letting her tears fall to the floor, unable to hold back.

Pacey was having mixed emotions. He felt so unbelievably good that Joey needed him, she needed him. Not Dawson, him. But at the same time he felt so unbelievably bad that this was the only thing that was keeping him from being with her. Yes, he knew that if they broke up it would never be the same between them, but he also knew that if they worked at it they would last… and last and last and last.

"I feel the same way Jo. I need your friendship too, but I also need to be more than that to you. I don't think we can even be the same now, I mean, I have such strong feelings for you. And just because you reject me doesn't mean that the feelings are gone."

"I know Pace. I'm just so scared of losing you."

"You won't… promise."

"How can you promise that? You don't know what the future holds."

"But I do know one thing Jo. I want my future to be with you."

Joey was now speechless. What was she supposed to say? She had been painted into a corner. If she said 'no' then things would never be the same again. She would always have to feel the guilt of hurting him and also the question of what could've been. But if she said 'yes', it would all be on the line, one false move, everything would be gone. She couldn't choose not now at least.

"Pacey, this is too hard, I can't choose now. Please, can I have some time?" She looked up into his eyes and she could see the understanding staring back at her.

"Of course you can Jo. Just, don't make me wait too long, I don't know how much I can take of not knowing, just waiting for the inedible. So yes, I will, just hurry, for me. Okay?"

"Okay." She smiled at him before giving a kiss on the forehead.

And with that he got off of her and they made their way to their classes going separate ways but not forgetting about the other, not for a second.

Reviews are very much appreciated. This is the first story that I've posted so I would love some constructive criticism. I will be updating it in a day or so. Thank you for reading my fic!