Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, lines from the episodes, storylines or settings. I have no affiliation with the WB network. So don't sue me 'cause you won't get anything!

A/N: Hello everyone! Now… if u STILL don't know who it is that is the man of Joey's dreams then shame on you! It was PERFECTLY obvious! I even did that 'Potter…' thing for ya'll. Truthfully, I wasn't even sure if I was even gonna TELL u last chapter… so be grateful. Anyway… enjoy ch.9! PLZ PLZ READ AND REVIEW!

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Chapter 9 – Why Is This So Hard?

Joey's head shot up when she heard him speak to her. Did he hear me this whole time?

Joey felt her body tense when she had realized she was caught. But at the same time she was also a little relieved.

They were just looking at each other… peering into one another's souls until he leaned his head over to hers and kissed her. It was just a peck but when he moved away from her Joey's hands quickly made their way around his neck and pulled him back down to her.

They were kissing for who knows how long… they just couldn't get enough of it. Finally Joey backed away from him… she had to get a word out… besides… she wasn't ready for that next step yet.

"Hey…"

She looked at him and smiled slightly. He smiled back at her and added…

"Hey…"

They just looked at each other really not knowing what to do next.

"Joey… what you said about loving me…"

He was trying to be as careful and cautious as possible…

"Did you mean it?"

Joey could hear the doubt in his voice… like he really had been dreaming… but Joey would put that uncertainty aside.

He looked away from her… not wanting her to see the tears that could fall from his eyes at any moment…

"Hey…"

She said this forcefully before taking his chin in her hand and turning his head so he was now looking at her… letting her see everything… everything…

"I love you."

She says this and hesitates a bit unsure if he still feels the same towards her… Stupid I know… but still…

He looks at her and falls in love all over again… how could he not? The women that he loved with his whole being just confessed her love for him. Wow…

"I… I love you too."

His eyes were so watery that he could barely make out Joey's expression change as a huge grin made it's way to her lips. He could tell that she was just like him… on the verge of tears.

Without another word they were again pressed tightly to each other… kissing the tears away. The kiss was so passionate and so filled with love that it was almost too much for them to bare.

Before things could really progress onto the next level Joey put her hand on her hip where his hand resided.

"Wait…"

With that one word he backed away from her… looking deeply into her eyes… just wondering what he would find there.

"I can't do this… even though I love you… I'm not ready for this… besides… I don't think the setting is right if you ask me."

Joey smirked as she gestured her hand around the room where Pacey's eyes quickly followed.

"Yeah… I guess you're right."

He looked at her again before he continued…

"Besides… I'm in no hurry for that. We'll do that when you're ready."

She smiled at him… god… this was too good to be true… she was falling in love with him more by the second.

"I love you."

She just could never get enough of saying that… it was like a drug… once you start you can never really stop.

"You better. You know I'm putting a lot at stake for you."

He meant this to be playful but once it passed his mouth he realized that was the wrong thing to say.

"I'm so sorry Joey… I didn't mean it like that. You have to believe me… I-"

Before he could finish Joey had put her finger on his mouth so she could get a word in.

"It's okay… I know that you didn't mean it. Besides… how do you think I feel?"

Now that hit a hot spot for him… she still could love him… yes… him the other man that was in love with this goddess.

Joey felt him tense up and immediately hit herself in the head for her actions.

"Sorry about that."

Pacey could hear the sincerity in her voice so he just shrugged, indicating that she was forgiven and it was no big deal… even though it was a huge deal that could potentially drive them apart.

They were just laying on the bed for awhile… Joey looking down at his chest playing with the zipper of his jacket while he looked up around the room just wondering if this could really work.

Suddenly Joey's head shot up and he looked at her alarmed.

"What's wrong?"

Joey looked into his eyes and knew that this wasn't the right time to bring it up… all the reasons why they couldn't be together. They had just confessed their love and already she wanted it to all go to pieces. She didn't want to prolong the inevitable but decided that it would be better to just enjoy this moment with him while she still could.

"Nothing… nothing at all."

She gave him a small smile before placing a small kiss on the edge of his lips bordering the cheek. She backed away and smiled again before she went back to her spot in his chest with that same worried expression she had… she couldn't stop thinking about it… the irony of it all was killing her.

He didn't believe her… she couldn't give that look and honestly mean that nothing was wrong. It was impossible… she just wasn't capable of making that look if nothing was truly wrong. But he let it slip so he could just enjoy this moment with her. If anything at all… just to lay here with her for a while longer.

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Bessie said that she hadn't seen her ever since she stormed off. How could he be so stupid to not doing anything sooner? He wanted her… and if he didn't go now he might lose her forever… the only problem was… he already had lost her. He searched everywhere for her… but with no luck whatsoever.

He was in the road that traveled through the woods just calling out for her.

"JOEY! Joey are you here! Where are you? Please come out! I love you!"

He knew it was no use so he decided to call it a night… he was so far away from home that he decided to crash at the motel down the street from him… maybe he could get some answers there.

He looked around the room… it was cold… he was so cold… but there was no one there to warm him up… no one there to ease his heart.

He fell asleep and when he woke up he felt worse than he did before… if that was even possible. He needed to get out of this place… it was just too depressing for him… somehow this place made him feel that he had lost Joey forever… but that wasn't true… he knew that she loved him… he knew that they were meant to be. He just knew.

After a few hours of just laying there feeling alone he decided that it was time to leave. He walked out of the room and heard a couple walk out of their room. He didn't turn around afraid that the disgusted look on his face might still be there when he did. He was so angry… how could they be happy when he was suffering?

"I love you…"

He listened… he recognized that voice… but it couldn't be… could it? He turned around and almost had a heart attack. It was her… it was Joey… with him… they were kissing each other in the hall not even recognizing his presence. He couldn't believe it.

He slammed his door shut witch made the two come apart from each other and look at where the sound came from. They were stunned… how could he be here?

He looked at them repulsed… he looked from one to the other… his gaze landed on Joey awhile before it moved its way to him… he hated him more and more with each growing second… I hate him… he IS my enemy…

He finally managed to speak…

"Pacey…"

"Dawson…"

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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 on weekends. Thank you for reading my fic!

So… what did you think? I think that was an AWESOME CHAPTER! So… just please read and review now and I would REALLY appreciate it.

Also… if you're also one of my don't wanna let go readers don't fret… even though I ALWAYS update these two together I'm not going to today… but I will this weekend… I might be able to write and update it today but I don't know… I will definitely have it by Monday. ENJOY LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

ALSO! Thanks to all of my reviewers. I really appreciate that you like my work SO much that you had to review it!

BUT! I also want to thank my readers as well… without you I wouldn't be writing this now… so thank you ALL!