Disclaimer: I do not own anything here, and this is just for fun.

Note: this is an alternative season 5...It's pretty much the same about season 4; the differences will come here, in Joey's memories....

Thanks: to Lali, who always reads them and asks for more

Pacey couldn't believe in his eyes...Joey Potter was late again, and arriving with that guy...what was his name? Eric, Eddie, no, Rick...She seemed really  happy lately, like he hadn't seen for a while, always singing and laughing...and with that guy always with her...What the hell was happening?

Joey found herself near exhaustion. School work and the rehearsals...she thought it would be much easier, but it wasn't only the singing part, she had to know where and how to stand there and sing. But she was loving every moment...She tried to remember the lyrics of the last song while closing her stuff on her locker at the restaurant when Pacey stopped her.

"Hey, Jo. Late again, huh?"

"I think I'm delusional, Pacey Witter is talking to me!"

"What do you mean, Joey? I talk to you almost every day!"

"Sure you talk to me...all those polite grunts that sound as good night and hey must be the usual pattern of conversation these days"

"Well, if you haven't noticed yet, we work here, Potter...This is not the place to social gathering"

"Well, Witter, you don't talk to me even when I go to your place to hang out with Jen and Jack...so why now?"

"I think that our boss won't be any happy if he finds out that you're late almost everyday now 'cause you're fooling around with some guy before work"

"What? So that's it. I knew it"

"What did you know?"

"You're talking to me 'because you saw me with Rick" How dare he? He had a girlfriend and she accepted Rick's rides to work and he got all that upset about it?

"Potter, you really are delusional...Why should..."

"Because you are jealous, Pacey" She interrupted before he could form the whole sentence.

"Me? Jealous? In your dreams, Potter...I don't know even why I'm fighting with you, or should I say, you are fighting with me...I'm just worried about you, Joey, you've been late this past week almost everyday and this guy does not seem a reliable person"

"Worried? Now you're worried about me? You left me last summer without a word, ignored me until I came to work here, and only God knows why you offered me this job and now you're worried? That's really funny!"

"I didn't leave you without a word. Aren't you forgetting that letter that you never had the decency to give me a proper answer?"

These words stunned Joey. What the hell was he talking about? What letter was that? Pacey noticed the confusion in her eyes, like she really didn't know what he was talking about...

"Pace, what letter?" her voice almost a whisper, confused tones in it

"Joey, I left a letter in your living room before graduation, over the telephone table"

"Pacey, I never got this letter..."

"Joey, you're lying, as you lied about other many things"

"Pacey, I really don't know what you're talking about..."

"Oh, poor innocent Ice Queen" Pacey replied with irony

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, Jailbait", the old nickname coming through her lips in a threatening tone

"Witter, Potter, don't you guys think that's time to work?"

Both of them turned to see their boss not at all pleased to see his employees discussing their personal affairs there.

Ok, boss" they said together, but as Danny left, Joey whispered "We're not over this conversation, Witter"

......................................................................................................................................

Friday night, the restaurant was crowded. Joey rolled her eyes when she noticed Pacey's girlfriend in a table with Jen, Jack and Audrey. All she needed for a perfect night...She almost dropped her tray when she saw Pacey leaning down and kissing Erin right in front of her for a long, long time. She noticed the looks of concern in her friends' eyes and felt even worse, being object of pity...

Pacey recognized the pain followed by pure fury in her eyes. Right now he wanted to hurt her, to infuriate her and he knew he was doing it fine by the furious way she was looking at him. She was getting the orders from table number four as he passed through her, whispering "so, who is jealous now?"

Joey took a deep breath; ignoring the looks Jen and Audrey were giving...She went to the kitchen to take her orders, just to meet Pacey...

"Anything wrong, Joey?" he asked with a grin

"You think that this is pure fun, don't you? Two can play this little dirty game of yours"

"I don't have any idea you're talking about, Jo"

"Pace, you're wrecking my head! But here is not the place or time to discuss events past"

The tension between them increased until the end of their shift, almost touchable, whenever they passed through each other the air gone heavier. Pacey was getting into his car when he noticed Joey standing right in front of it.

"I said we were not finished, Witter"

"Potter, I'm really tired, can't we leave this for tomorrow?"

"Pacey, I said two can play that little dirt game, didn't I?"

"Well, Jo, your boyfriend isn't here t..." He was interrupted by a very determined Joey jumping in his neck and kissing him.

She didn't know what made her kiss him...but feel his mouth on hers, first surprised, then kissing her back like there would never be tomorrow, his hands on her hair...That gave her the only certain she wanted to have: he missed her the same way she missed him.

The same impetuous ways she started the kiss she stopped, Pacey completely  stunned, she could even say dazzled by her impromptu act...she could never tell how long they just stared at each other, trying to find out what was going on in their minds and hearts.

"Well, Pacey, I think now it's your move again...Try to sleep after this and if you sleep, sweet dreams..." Joey whispered, leaving an even more confused Pacey alone.