Note: I'm sorry guys. I'm going to try and make this a short as I can. I'm really really sorry. Please don't stop reading because this is way far from the end of the story. .. Since people like this fic I've decided to extend it past senior year. Also, sorry I didn't update sooner.

Pacey walked back and forth on Joey's front lawn. He had scuffed his shoes a few times and was giving the corsage in his hands a death grip, but all of this was unnoticed because larger things were on the young man's mind.

"Joey, I think I love you…no, that sucked," Pacey said talking to himself as he paced around. "Jo, I love ya…too casual, Damn it, why is it so hard? You have done this before, Pacey!"

"Talking to your self? You know Witter, I always wondered what you did when you were alone," Joey said walking down the two steps of her house.

Pacey look Joey up and down. She wore her lavender prom dress.

"Jo, you look stunning," Pacey said with a wide grin and opened up the box with the corsage.

Joey looked at the flower on her wrist and smiled at Pacey. "You look good yourself, Pace."

"Only because you picked out my suit."

"Well, I couldn't let you pick it out."

Pacey shook his head and continued to slowly look Joey over from head to toe.

Joey rolled her eyes. "You can stop undressing me in your mind now, Pacey…thanks."

Pacey smirked and brought Joey close. "You know, we could skip the first hour and I could undress you for real," Pacey said with a suggestive twitch of the eyebrow.

Joey shook her head and gave him a small kiss. "It took me forever to get everything right so I don't think I'm going to take the dress off quite yet."

"The dress can stay on if you want it to," Pacey added.

"I can't believe I'm going to prom with the biggest perv on this side of the universe. Jen and Jack are here," Joey said moving away.

"You're the one who wanted to go to prom," Pacey said to Joey who had walked a few feet away.

"You didn't have to go with me," Joey responded.

"And who do you suggest I go with? I'm seeing you currently and going with another girl to a big high school dance doesn't rank high on the list of good dating manners."

Joey smiled. "Any one you wanted to go with. I mean, we're only sleeping together," she said before walking over to greet Jen and Jack.

Pacey lifted an eyebrow at her comment.

XXX

The four walked into the horrible building known as Capeside High School and felt even more disgusted at the decorations in the gym.

"I always thought since Capeside had a lot of rich people, Prom would be more…I don't know, better looking," Pacey said looking at the tacky decorations.

"I know what you mean. I was hoping that Prom would be on a boat," Jack said.

"Well I'm glad it's not because I do get sea sick," Jen said feeling a bit queasy thinking about a rocky boat.

"This is Capeside, not Boston. Rich and cheap always go hand in hand," Joey said.

"Speaking of cheap, I'm going to go get some Hawaiian punch that they dumped in a bowl," Jack said.

"I guess I will too," Jen said walking away with him.

Pacey and Joey stood next to each other, not sure of what to do.

"Do you want to dance?" Pacey asked with a shrug.

Joey shrugged back. "I guess we should," she said taking his hand and going out onto the dance floor.

They held each other close and caressed when ever they had the chance. Pacey ran his fingers down her arm and smiled. This was the time.

"Joey, I've been waiting for the right moment to do this but I figured that there really never is a right moment. So, I'm going to just spill it…" Pacey looked up to her face and noticed Joey wasn't paying attention. She was scanning the crowd with her eyes. Pacey brought his mouth up to her ear. "Joey," he said softly into it.

Joey jumped slightly and looked at him. "Um, yeah?" she said biting her lip.

Pacey scrunched his face with concern. "Are you okay?"

Joey smiled. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno. You just seemed distracted."

Joey took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm just uncomfortable here. You know, all the people. Anyone could be here and we might not know it?"

"Are you worried about Dawson?"

Joey was taken back. "What? Why would you think I was worried about Dawson?"

Pacey shook his head. "Because you are worried about him. Like it or not, Jo, I know more about you than just your anatomy."

Joey rubbed her head. "Alright, I am worried about Dawson. It's going to be so awkward seeing him tonight."

"Dawson is probably not here."

"I hope not."

The song ended and they separated. Pacey went to the bathroom while Joey went to get something to drink.

Joey scanned over the glasses until she found one that seemed somewhat good. She tilted the glass and closed her eyes as the liquid went down her throat.

"Hey Joey."

Joey opened her eyes and held the glass in her hand. She slowly looked to the person. "Hey Dawson."

Dawson smiled wide and looked Joey over. "You look great."

Joey felt uncomfortable under his gaze so she put down her glass. "Thanks. I'm going to get going," she said turning around.

"Wait," Dawson said putting his arm on her shoulder. "I just wanted to say I was sorry about the way that I acted. I didn't mean all of those things I said when we broke up. I still want to be your friend."

Joey felt her skin crawl under his touch. It's funny how a touch can feel so different with other people. Dawson's touches had always been rough, like he was petting Joey. At times, he had tried to rub her softly but he never succeeded. Dawson was an over thinker. He made sure that every time he ran a hand over her it had some softness yet kept his masculinity in tact. Pacey was so different. He never ran his palms over Joey, unless it was to keep her arms warm. Pacey had always been delicate with Joey. Whenever he caressed her skin, Pacey only used his finger tips to dance over her smooth skin. This gave Joey goose bumps every time. He had always been so soft…so loving.

Joey moved away from his touch. "It's too late for that," She said not facing Dawson and walking away.

XXX

Joey walked out of the big doors to Capeside High and smiled. "There you are," she said approaching Pacey.

Pacey leaned his body against a pillar and looked away from the school and Joey. "Here I am," he said slowly.

Joey walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "I was looking all over for you," she said lying her head down on his shoulder.

"I bet," Pacey said still looking away.

Joey let him go and moved next to him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Were you looking for me before or after you were with Dawson?"

"We were just talking, Pacey."

Pacey turned to Joey and frowned. "Why would you even talk to him, Joey? Do you still love him?"

Joey shook her head. "No, I don't love him. I came to you, didn't I?"

"Just like always!" Pacey said a louder. "Every time that Dawson hurts you, you come running to me."

"Well sorry for thinking you were here for me!"

"Jo, I am here for you and you know that. I'm not mad that you come to me, I'm mad that you keep putting yourself in a position to keep COMING back to me. It's like you're not happy with just me."

"Of course I'm happy with you, Pacey. I wouldn't be with you if I wasn't happy."

"Then why do I always find you with Dawson?"

Joey turned around and walked a few feet. "We're not having this argument."

"Why? Because it's true?" Pacey yelled moving closer.

Joey turned back towards him. "Because it's stupid!" she yelled back.

"So now I'm stupid?"

"No! I meant this argument is stupid. You just want to fight with me because you were jealous that I was talking with Dawson!"

Pacey crossed his arms and looked back out to the street. "Then maybe we should stop arguing."

Joey looked at Pacey and he didn't look back. He kept staring away from her. Joey rubbed her temples.

"So now you're not talking to me?"

Pacey didn't answer.

Joey yelled and pushed him to look at her. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, PACEY? I have tried so hard to please you. I had an affair with you and I slept with you. I broke up with Dawson so I could be with you and only you. What can I do to make you understand me?"

Pacey looked at her with sad eyes. "I want to be more to you than just the person you sleep with. Maybe we jumped into this relationship to fast or maybe we're too young but Joey, I don't think that we're truly together. You're not ready yet…and who knows, it could be better later on."

Joey licked her lips and rolled up her eyes to stop the tears that formed from falling. "So you want to breakup. Is this what you really want?"

Pacey watched as a tear escaped her eye. "I want to stay with you," he said.

Joey shook her head and wiped away the tears. "Its fine, you don't have to try and make me feel better. You're right, Pacey, maybe some time apart will be a good thing. I just wish it didn't hurt so much."

Joey crossed her arms around her body and started her walk home. She didn't even try to stop the tears, so they slide down her face and onto the top of her dress. Pacey watched as Joey walked away, her body trembling every so often. Pacey wanted to run up to Joey and scoop her up in his arms and tell her that everything was going to be okay. But he couldn't do that. He couldn't hold her tight against his body and feel the warmth from her skin because he told her that wasn't enough. He couldn't tell her that everything would be okay because he, himself wasn't sure if it would be.

All he could do was watch her walk away.