Note: I am so sorry it took me so long to update…like almost a year. This chapter isn't that long but I tried. I swear I will update as soon as I can. I have been so busy lately that I have no time to think let alone write. Please review!

"Why are you here? Pacey said still not believing that Joey Potter was in Chicago.

Joey took in a deep breath and smiled. "I…I live out here now."

Pacey's eyes got wider. "You what?"

"I live in Chicago. I'm a staff writer for the Chicago Tribune and it paid more than my job in New York so I decided to move here and…Maria, you remember Maria right? Redhead? I'm sure you do, she found a job at a local school and we're living together so…" Joey said rambling on.

"O, well welcome to Chicago," Pacey said.

There was an awkward silence. Pacey nervously chuckled. "How uh, how've you been?" Pacey asked.

Joey looked at him and lost her smile. "Could be better."

"Me too," Pacey replied.

Joey felt herself growing sad so she looked away. "Um, I'm gonna get going. Maria and Lucky are waiting," Joey started to walk away.

When she was in the doorframe she turned around. "Pacey?"

Pacey turned around and looked at her. "Yeah?" he said.

Joey gave a crooked smile. "It was nice seeing you again."

Pacey smiled back. "Same here."

Joey smiled before walking away.

XXX

Joey walked back into the restaurant. Lucky and Maria were looking at Joey as she walked out of the coat room with the coats.

"We thought you died," Maria said with a fake angry face.

Joey rolled her eyes and handed them their coats. "Sorry, PACEY took up some of my time."

Lucky's eyes grew big. "He's here? He was supposed to be at home."

Joey started walking away. "Apparently he's not. Lucky, why didn't you tell me he was here?"

"I didn't know…honestly. I just talked ta him a while ago. He called me from home lookin' for his jeans."

Joey crossed her arms. "I'm going to go," she said before walking away.

"Joey, don't be mad. I didn't know," Lucky called after her.

Joey did a slight wave and went outside. Maria smiled at Lucky. "Call me," she said before following her cousin.

XXX

Lucky opened the door to the house. Pacey was waiting for him.

"Why didn't you tell me Joey moved to Chicago?" Pacey asked.

Lucky rolled his eyes and took off his coat. "I didn't know, man. She called on my cell an' she said she had some news. A minute later she's walkin' inta Harry Carry's tellin' me how she moved out here."

"So you really didn't know she moved out here?"

"Like I said, I jus found out tonight."

Pacey sat down on the nearest object. "What am I supposed to do? I thought I would never see Joey again and here she is, living in Chicago," he said more to himself than to Lucky.

"You need to talk ta her, Pacey. Ya can't ignore her."

Pacey nodded his head. "You're right Luck. I need to just face it that Joey Potter is probably always going to be in my life one way or another."

Lucky smiled wide. "Great! Because Maria and I are gonna go out on Saturday so Joey is all alone. I heard that there is this great art exhibit down town that she really wants to go to."

"You want me to take Joey out?"

Lucky handed Pacey the phone. "Why not?"

XXX

Saturday…

Joey frowned into the mirror. "Are you sure this outfit looks okay?" she said to Maria.

Maria rolled her eyes. "Jo, you're outfit looks great. Why are you so worried?"

Joey bit her lip. "I don't know. I just…want to look good."

Maria smiled. "Pacey is going to think you look good no matter what you wear."

Joey turned to her cousin. "I don't care what Pacey thinks. Don't give me that look. Okay, so maybe I care what he thinks a little but that's it."

The doorbell rang. Joey jumped at the sound and walked down the hallway unevenly. She opened the door and there stood Pacey. He was wearing a button down red shirt with his brown winter coat over it and a pair of dark blue jeans.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she replied.

Pacey smiled. "Are you ready to go?"

Joey nodded and followed him to the car. The whole ride was filled with awkward meaningless conversation. Once they arrived at the exhibit, they were out of things to say to one another. They walked around the exhibit just looking at the paintings.

Joey stopped in front of a painting. "What do you think about this one?" she asked.

Pacey looked at the painting of a sailboat and smiled. "I like it. Who painted it?"

Joey smiled. "I did…a while back."

"Is it the true love?"

Joey nodded her head. "Yeah. I was thinking about the first summer we spent together and all the little trips we took on the boat so I decided to paint from memory."

Pacey smiled and they locked eyes for a few moments. Joey felt herself blushing so she moved her eyes.

"Pacey, I'm ready to go," she said.

Pacey nodded and they left. The ride back to her apartment was silent. Once they reached Joey's place, Pacey put the car in park and they just sat there in silence for a few seconds.

Joey took a deep breath and looked at Pacey. "Is it always going to be this awkward between us?"

Pacey looked back at her and sighed. "I don't know."

Joey nodded and opened the car door. Before she closed it Pacey cleared his throat.

"Hey Joey?" he said softly.

Joey turned back to Pacey who was in the car. "Yeah?"

"I enjoyed going out with you tonight. Maybe we can hang out sometime and get over this awkwardness," he ended with a slight chuckle.

Joey gave a crooked smirk. "I'd really like that, Pacey," she said before closing the door and walking to her building.

Pacey waved and then drove home with a smile on.