Okay, first I want to say thank you the reviews…I love them! I know I said that I would answer any questions but the questions you asked I can't answer without giving up the story! I will tell you this…everything that you asked about WILL happen, just can't say how/when, probably not for a while. So, I've changed my plans again. Before you freak out no, Dawson is not coming back. I've noticed that EVERYONE doesn't want Audrey in the story so I'll minimize the Pacey- gross Audrey thing and I'll up the Pacey-Joey! On to the story…

Joey wiped down her forehead for the eighth time tonight. The restaurant was completely packed and people still waited to eat. She lifted up her hair and wiped at the back of her neck.

"Hot?" Franks asked taking a napkin and wiping his face down.

"This place feels like hell now," Joey said dumping her napkin. "I'm going outside."

Joey opened the door to the porch when she saw Pacey standing by the railing.

"Oh, sorry," Joey said about to go back in.

"No, it's fine. We have to face each other sometime," Pacey said still looking away.

Joey nodded and moved next to him by the railing. "I guess you're right."

Pacey nodded while he took a puff from his cigarette. "It's been a week, Joey."

Joey watched as the smoke escaped his mouth. "That it has."

Pacey flicked the cigarette with his thumb to loose some ashes. "I don't like this tension between us," he said still looking away.

"I think it's never going to go away but I don't want to be your enemy, Pacey."

"Neither do I."

Joey watched him take another puff. The smoke left his mouth in a wisp of air and vanished. "When did you start smoking?" she asked.

Pacey looked at the cigarette in his hand before taking another puff. "Since summer started."

"Do you smoke a lot?"

"No, just when I get bummed out."

"Why are you bummed?"

Pacey finally turned to her and smiled. "If I told you, I'd have to kill ya."

Joey side smiled back. "There's the Pacey I remember. I was getting worried because you didn't make one joke the whole time we were talking."

Pacey smirked slightly. He never really knew how much he missed that smile until now. "You look good. I didn't say that before."

Joey tucked some hair behind her ears. She could feel a small blush come on. He still made her blush so easily. "Thanks. You look good yourself."

Pacey shook his head and looked away before taking another puff. "Na, I look like shit."

Joey just stood there. How do you respond to that comment?

"You know I'm coming tonight," Pacey said.

"I know. Jack told me," Joey responded.

Pacey flicked at his cigarette. "I'm bringing Audrey."

Joey swallowed hard. "The more the merrier," she said softly.

Pacey chuckled and took a puff. "Not when it comes to her. I don't even want to bring her tonight but she insists we spend tonight together. She never leaves me alone."

"Then why are you bringing her?"

"She's my girlfriend," was all he said.

Joey nodded. It still hurt her when she thought about Pacey having another girlfriend. She still wasn't completely over him but then again, would she ever be?

"I'm going to go back inside," Joey said squeezing Pacey on the shoulder. The short touch gave them both shocks.

Once inside, Joey spotted just who she wanted. "Frank, have any plans tonight?"

XXX

Jack's party went well. A lot of people showed up and the party was non-stop. Joey and Frank showed up a little after nine and Pacey and Audrey didn't show up till after ten. Audrey, who had gotten drunk shortly after they arrived, was all over Pacey who seemed less than interested. After a few good hours of dancing and drinking, it was time to die down. Joey and Frank had sat down by one of the tables and were talking when a noticeably drunk Audrey stumbled over.

"Hey guys, having fun?" Audrey asked with a bug slur.

Joey giggled a bit. "How much did you have to drink?"

Audrey lifted her shoulders. "I don't know, a few. It helps to clear my head. Today is Pacey and mine's one month anniversary and he didn't even remember. The boy never wants to touch me. There is something wrong with him."

Frank smiled at her. "Alcohol isn't the answer, Audrey."

Audrey laughed. "But it's sure a hell lot of fun!" she said before leaning back far.

Frank quickly grabbed her before she fell. "Joey, I'm going to get her some water to try and clear out the booze," he said slowly walking away with Audrey.

Joey smiled. Frank was such a sweetheart. If only she was ready to move on. She took another drink.

"Hey, Potter," Pacey said placing a cup next to her and smiling.

Joey smiled back. "Hey, Witter. You want another drink?"

Pacey shook his head. "No, thanks. Do you know where I can get away for a while?"

Joey nodded and stood up. "I know just the place."

XXX

Pacey leaned his head back against his chair and smiled up at the starry sky. "It's gorgeous. I didn't know the stars were visible from Boston."

Joey looked up and smiled as well. "Yeah, only in certain spots."

Pacey looked down and smiled at Joey. "This is like last year when you and I would lay and just watch the stars. I was so happy then, so content, so…"

"Alive," Joey finished with a slight smirk. "I wouldn't trade last year for the world."

"I don't know about the whole year but I wouldn't give up what I had with you for anything. You were the only good thing."

Joey bit her lip. "Pacey…"

"It's true, Joey," he cut in. "What we had was the only thing that felt right. I never wanted it to end."

Joey was so confused. She wanted to yell and scream and make him explain why he left her without saying a word but at the same time she wanted to be in his arms. "But you're with Audrey now," was all she said.

Pacey nodded. "That I am. The girl just doesn't understand that I don't want her."

"Then why don't you break up with her?"

Pacey looked at Joey. "The same reason you never broke up with Dawson: this is easier."

Joey felt like Pacey just threw a knife at her. She stood up. "Speaking of Audrey, we should get back down stairs. Audrey is pretty trashed."

Pacey rolled his eyes and walked to the stairs. "What else is new?"

XXX

Joey and Pacey went back down the stairs from the roof and climbed back through the window into the apartment.

Frank spotted Joey right away. "Hey, where'd you go?" he asked putting his arm over her shoulder.

Joey smiled wide and moved into his arm. "I was talking with Pacey. I'm back now."

Frank smiled a wide smile. "Good because I missed you."

Neither Frank nor Joey was aware of the glare that Pacey was giving.

"There you are!" Audrey said to Pacey with a drink in her hand.

Pacey took the drink from her hands. "You drink too much, you know that?"

Audrey rolled her eyes. "You're an ass, did you know that?"

Pacey chuckled and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. "You're not great to be around either."

"How so?" Audrey asked putting her hands in her hips.

Pacey put the cigarette away. "Audrey, look at your self. You're drunk at a party where you don't know anyone. You always get drunk. It's embarrassing."

"I'm leaving and don't try to stop me," Audrey said turning up her nose.

"I won't," Pacey responded.

Audrey shook her head and stormed out. Pacey just watched her as she left, not really caring. He looked around and everyone was looking at him, including Joey and Frank. "Okay, okay, I'll go," Pacey said before slowly following Audrey out.

Joey turned to Frank. "We should get going. It's late."

Frank smiled. "Okay, let me just get the coats and then we can go," he said before walking away.

Joey nodded. She made her way to the window and looked out. A short way down the block there stood Audrey and Pacey, kissing. The sight made Joey shiver. Why would that hurt her so much? Clearly she was over Pacey and things were over between them…right?

"You okay?" Frank said with a look of concern as he handed Joey her coat.

Joey ran her hands across her face to make sure no tears had escaped. "Yeah," was all she said. How can you tell the guy you're with that you're heart is breaking all over again from an ex?

Frank moved his arm out so he could hold it. "Ready?"

Joey smirked and grabbed his hand instead. "Let's go," she said before leaving with him.

Back outside, the kiss ended suddenly between Pacey and Audrey before they started to walk again.

"That was nice," Audrey said with a smile.

Pacey finally lit his cigarette. "Yeah, just peachy."

"Why do you always smoke when you're with just me?" she asked.

"You make me want to smoke," he said taking a puff.

Audrey tried to stay in step with him. "Pacey, it's been a month now and we still haven't…you know."

"Haven't what?" he said flicking some ashes off his cigarette.

"We haven't had sex yet."

Pacey chuckled with the cigarette in his mouth. "Is that a long time for you?"

"Well, yeah. Isn't it for you?"

"No, I waited four months with my last girlfriend."

"Yeah and how long did that last?" Audrey said with a laugh.

"Seven months we were together," Pacey said with a smirk.

"So she was a prude," Audrey said trying to get that smirk off his face.

Pacey puffed again. "No, actually. She was far from a prude. We didn't have sex right away because she isn't a whore."

Audrey felt some anger build up. "Wow, could you be any blunter? Thanks for calling me a whore."

"I didn't say that," he said even though he was agreeing with her in his mind. He heard about Audrey Liddell. She was one of the easiest girls around. Some how, Pacey ended up dating her. He didn't even like her, he just felt bad for her.

"I guess you're right," Audrey said before stopping in front of a cab. "Do you want to spend the night?"

Pacey looked at her smiling face and stuck the cigarette in his mouth. "No, thanks. I'll see you around," he said before walking away from her.

Audrey wasn't the girl he wanted.

(Okay, how long do you guys want me to have P/J apart? Because it's killing me to write chapters like this1 I mean, they're good, just so painful. Did you pick up in the cigarette thing? So, give me some feedback. Any questions, that won't reveal anything, I'll answer next chapter.)