For Love or Power

Ch. 9

Disclaimer: We own nothing… but the story of course, is ours.

She was absolutely stir crazy. It'd been a week. Joey hadn't seen Pacey for an entire week. She hadn't seen him, kissed him, held him… nothing. And it was driving her crazy!

So there she sat, in Dawson's room, watching his completely ridiculous attempt at foreplay as he lightly brushed her arm with his fingertips. As he leaned in for the kiss, Joey felt the urge to get out of that room as fast as she possibly could.

"Dawson, I have to go," Joey said, standing up.

"Joey!" Dawson whined. He'd promised himself he would wait for Joey to be ready. He'd promised himself, and Jen, that he'd never cheat on her again, but Joey was making it increasingly difficult.

"Dawson, I'm sorry. I'm not ready to have sex with you, get over it!"

"This isn't about me, is it?" Dawson asked as Joey made her way to the ladder. She stopped short at his sentence, knowing the same argument they'd had all week was about to come up.

"What are you saying, Dawson?" Joey asked.

"You and Pacey were alone on an island for three days. What do you think I'm thinking?"

"You think I figured I'd never be rescued, so I just jumped Pacey the first chance I got?" Joey asked angrily. "You think I have no control of myself?" Joey realized the wording of that phrase was wrong the second she said it, but hey… it's the truth.

"What do you mean? You had to stop yourself from having sex with my worst enemy?"

"Dawson…" Joey replied trailing off.

"You did… didn't you? I thought I knew you, Joey! I thought you were an East side girl! You're my girl! You are supposed to want me!"

"Dawson, I'm tired of having this argument with you. I'm leaving before you say something else you'll regret," Joey replied, and with that Joey climbed out the window, down the ladder, and disappeared into the night.

Pacey and Jack were sitting in his back yard, seeing as there wasn't much else to do on the West side. They each had a beer in their hands, but Pacey was completely distant. He had been all week, and Jack really wanted to know why.

"So… what's up with you, man?" Jack asked.

"Nothing's up with me, ok? I'm fine," Pacey replied evenly, a blank expression played on his face.

"Man, you are not fine! All week you've been this way. And have you forgotten about our plan? You haven't seen the Potter girl at all."

"I've had a lot on my mind," Pacey answered, becoming angry with all the hassling.

"Well, you better get it off your mind, and fast. We have to bring the East side down, and soon."

Joey walked along the Creek, not paying attention at all to where she was going. She was tired of everything. She was tired of having to hide her true feelings, she was becoming increasingly afraid of her father, and she was afraid she'd never see Pacey again.

Ever since Joey had gotten back from the island, she and her father had been distant, to say the least. It was almost like Joey breathing annoyed Mike, so she was out of the house as often as possible. He'd begun yelling at her more now, too. He'd yell about anything, and their screaming fights normally ended with Joey running out of the house at all hours of the night, and sleeping under the Tree.

And that just happened to be where Joey ended up on this lovely Wednesday night. At the Tree. She sat down, and got herself comfortable for a long night, when she heard footsteps coming from behind her.

"I'm really glad you're here," came his gentle voice as he sat down beside her and took her hand. He seemed on the verge of tears when she threaded her hands through his and stared into his stormy eyes.

"I've never been so happy to see anyone in my whole life," Joey whispered as she sat up so she was eye to eye with Pacey.

"I've missed you," Pacey whispered into her ear. Slowly nibbling on her lobe affectionately, needing her… badly.

"Me, too," Joey replied breathlessly. Pacey pulled away and gazed into her eyes until he finally leaned in and their lips met in a wondrous reunion of sloppy kisses and groping hands. Pacey let his hands travel wherever they could, down the curve of her butt all the way to the bend in her perfect neck. Pacey was about to go farther but Joey stopped him by pulling away and peppering him with two sweet kisses before pulling away completely. Pacey looked into her eyes and in that moment she knew that he was trying to apologize for every moment they were apart.

"I can't keep doing this, Potter," Pacey told Joey sighing heavily. "I am going crazy back there!"

"I know what you mean. Dawson tried to have sex with me again tonight. I've never wanted anything less. I think he thinks we had sex on the island, though."

"Why's that?"

"Because I didn't choose my wording right, and told him I had to control myself when I was with you."

"Just like that?"

"Well, I didn't say it exactly like that, but he got the gist of it. He's pissed, too."

"I love you, Joey," Pacey whispered as she leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him ever closer to her.

"I love you, too, Pacey," Joey whispered before his lips met hers again in a heart stopping kiss filled with more passion than either had experienced in their entire lives. Tongues were exploring like no tomorrow and hands, they were just in a big mess around them as they continually fought for more of the other, knowing that nothing they ever gave would be enough… but giving it still because they had such a connection… they could never stop.

But from somewhere in the shadows, Dawson was watching. And let me tell you… he didn't like what he was seeing at all.

He had followed after Joey a few minutes after she'd left. And knowing Joey, he figured she'd go to the Tree. But when he got there, he was surprised to see Pacey walk up and take her hand, and he was beyond pissed when Pacey leaned in and kissed Joey.

Joey couldn't be with a West side-er. Especially not the king of them all. She was the queen of the East side. What could possibly be better than that?

Well, Dawson thought, Pacey can't have her. At least… not before I do. And with that, Dawson escaped from the shadows and made his way home… with each step a new part of his plan arising.