Thanks to John and Sam for your reviews…and the party goes on.

Joey heard the cheering and the applause, she felt like on one of those teen films where the ugly duck turns into a beautiful swan, and she was the swan this night. After finishing the last song, she hurried back to her friends, being stopped by Jack, who took her in his arms, spinning around.

"I knew, it, Joey, I knew you had it in you!"

"Was it good, Jack?" She asked grinning.

"Bunny, you were so great!!!!" Audrey hugged her too..."I'm so proud of you…"

"We all are" Jen added, together with Charlie.

But there was only one person she wanted to know the opinion. She frowned when she noticed Erin and…Dawson. Joey grabbed Jen's arm and whispered:

"What the hell is Dawson doing here?"

"Don't ask me, Jo."

Pacey excused himself from Erin; she frowned, but she really couldn't do anything, after all she had broken up with him; he needed to talk to Joey. He was surprised, but he was proud to see that girl, that woman, finding her strength, her own way to face the world.

"Hey, Jo" were the only words he could say.

"Hey, Pace" She suddenly felt really shy. "Did you like it?"

"You were wonderful up there…and down here too" He felt he was grinning stupidly.

Dawson saw the exchange disgusted. She didn't even mention she had seen him, but she could be all blushing and grinning with the guy who broke her heart, who had left her alone and pregnant. And those clothes, what was she thinking? Where was his little Joey?

"You won't even say 'hello', Joey?" He interrupted the magic.

"Hello, Dawson" she answered coldly. Dawson here would certainly take half of the fun of the party. "I don't know why I thought you were safe and resting in LA…"

"Jo, you haven't seen me since June and is this the way you talk to me? I came 'cause I missed you, and I wanted to talk to you." He whined.

"Have you ever heard about that little thing called telephone, invented by Graham Bell in the 19th century? It makes wonders when you wanna just talk to people…" She replied sarcastically.

"Joey, you can't be serious…I wanna talk to you, you're not making sense…" Dawson couldn't believe on Joey's words.

"Dawson, in case you haven't noticed yet, this is a party and in parties we don't have the kind of conversation you always want to have. In parties we have fun, get drunk and even make out when the occasion appears, so, if you excuse me…Pacey, what is that you're drinking?" she decided to throw all the caution to the wind.

"Try for yourself." He was trying his best to not laugh in Dawson's face…He was loving this new wild side from Joey.

She drank all he had in his glass…It was strong, but sweet, just like him. She handled the empty recipient to him. "Wanna dance?"

"No, Potter, thanks…you know I suck on this…" He knew he wouldn't be able to resist to her charms if he did so.

"Tsc, tsc…shame on you, Mr. Witter…Jackers! Come dance with me!"

Pacey chuckled amused when he saw her grabbing something else to drink while dancing with Jack. She never could hold her alcohol; he just hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid. Dawson on his side never felt so angry, so humiliated, he turned to Pacey:

"Are you letting her do this?"

"Dawson, in case you haven't noticed, Joey is a big girl; she can take care of herself." He answered nonchalantly.

Dawson didn't answer. He went to where Joey was happily dancing with Jack and Rick, grabbed her arm, ignoring her protests, taking her to the quietest place he could find. Pacey went after them just to watch, and if Dawson did anything that would hurt Joey, then he would do something like introducing his big head to the nearest wall…

"Ouch, Dawson, that hurts, you know?'

"Joey, what the hell is wrong with you? You're drinking, wearing these clothes, all this make up…'

"Dawson, you can't be that oblivious…it's a Halloween party, this is a costume, ok? And yes, I'm drinking; I already told you people usually do that in parties…"She rolled her eyes.

"Joey, I don't understand what is going on…you never act like this…not the Joey Potter I grew up with and…"

"Dawson, I changed…when you grow up that happens. "

"You don't even talk to me, Joey."

"Dawson, do I need to take you down memory line? Did you forget everything that happened back in June?"

"So you can't forget what happened in June when it concerns to me, but you sure seemed to forget everything related to Pacey." He answered bitterly.

She rolled her eyes again…she looked at his angry face, getting red as he became more and more angry, his forehead looking some kind of alert sign. He could be so childish sometimes.

"Dawson, what happens or not happens between Pacey and I is my and Pacey's business, do you get that? Look, you came here all your way from LA, to talk to me, I really appreciate that, but it's not the time or place for this conversation."

"Joey, I don't understand why you're acting like this… how can't you forgive me? You know how much I love you…"

"Dawson Leery, don't even get me started. When will you put in this big head of yours that I don't love you like this? And I never will. Wanna know hwy? I, Josephine Potter, am head over heels in love with Pacey Witter…"

"How you can forgive him, love him? He left you alone and pregnant and he was with another girl while you were up there humiliating yourself for his attention, for God's sake."

"I know he was with a girl, but I can't help it, it's stronger than me, you know?"

Pacey heard what she said, he felt right the same way...what were they thinking when they decided to be just friends? Sure they had issues enough to let Freud busy for awhile, but how long would they be able to deny their feelings?

"This is not you, Joey. The Joey I know…"

"Dawson, I'm not some freaking character you can script what I am or am not. When you put your brains back to work, you can talk to me, as a friend, nothing more, do you get it? Now, if you excuse me, I have a party to attend."

She left him alone, wanting to get away from him as fast as she could. Dawson stood there all by himself, wondering when the world as he knew it had turned upside down.