Description: My version of how Joey and Pacey got together set before season three.

Author's Note: reviews are appreciated, please leave some.

Disclaimer: I do not own the character's or show, just the original story line.

Crazy Love

Chapter #12

(Joey's pov)

" Yeah, sure. Whatever you want Joey.", agrees Ben with a quick nod of his head. Letting out a sigh in relief, I pick at the remainder of my plate. Discussing Pacey is sort of the last thing I want to do. It is bad enough I had the misfortune of seeing him tonight. Had no clue that Ben was his roommate let alone Jack. The hurt is most definitely still there. You would think after nearly three years it wouldn't be but that just is not the case. Funnily enough, Pacey is part of the reason me and my latest boyfriend didn't work out. Somehow going through my boxes that were packed away while visiting Capeside Peter found a bunch of old photos of Pacey and I. He asked only a million questions about the two of us. One of the last questions he asked was if I still loved Pacey. When I couldn't give him an answer Peter broke up with me. Kind of a big reason why I'm not a huge fan of talking about Pacey right now.

" Sorry Ben, it's just well...Pacey's and my break up...well it was messy and not at all mutual.", I acknowledge after an awkward silence. It is not much but at least I gave Ben some sort of an explanation. With hopes it will satisfy his curiosity and I won't have to worry about the topic of Pacey Witter and our past together coming up again anytime soon. Truth is I came over because I wanted to see Ben, he makes me laugh without trying and it is one of the things I like about him. I figured staying the night and goofing around with Ben was better then crying myself to sleep over another stupid boy.

" Say no more, I won't pry Jo. I promise. Lets watch a movie, I'll make pop corn.", offers Ben with a smile before placing both our plates in the sink and rinsing them off. Thankful for the change in topic, I follow him into the living room. A movie does sound nice. Maybe it will help me to get my mind off of Peter...and apparently now Pacey. Seeing him tonight brought back a lot of memories. While some of them were good, there's one that I would rather not relive. Some wounds never do heal completely. Why else would I have spent the better half of the last three years avoiding Pacey atall costs? Well, I can't run forever and seeing him tonight is proof of that.

" Sounds great Ben, but first? You think Jack would mind if I borrowed something of his for pajamas?", I ask while kicking out of my socks and shoes. If I am staying the night, I'm not about to sleep in my clothes. Somehow I doubt Jack would care if I wore something of his to bed, but I would rather just ask to be nice. Ben looked momentarily confused, guess maybe we hadn't talked much about my staying the night but I didn't think he would mind all that much. Besides it is not like we haven't shared a bed before. Once after having too much at a party Ben tucked me in and fell asleep beside me shortly after. There was no awkwardness between us that next morning. Why should there be now?

With a shake of his head, Ben tosses a bag of popcorn into the microwave," No, I doubt he will care Jo."

Disappearing down the hall toward Jack's room, I reappear a minute later in a t-shirt of his," I'm really glad that we're hanging out tonight Ben. This is what I need right now."

(Jack's pov)

..." What's your deal Pacey? We're suppose to have a good time.", I complain while ordering another drink. He has been staring at his beer for the last half hour. A girl hit on him before and he just completely shot her down. What the hell is up with Pacey? He is acting as though he does not want to be here. I blame Potter for this. If she hadn't walked through those front doors tonight Pacey wouldn't be sulking and heart broke. Three years and neither of them are over the other. It is a bit annoying considering they refuse to sit and work out their differences.

" I know we are Jack, I'm just not sure that I want to be out tonight. Think it's alright if I just head out man?", asks Pacey much to my disliking. He just wants to leave? Why? So he could go home and have Joey give him the cold shoulder when he tries to talk with her? Gee doesn't that sound like fun. Pacey needs to get himself together and figure out what he wants. If he wants to be with Joey, he needs make sure he puts it all out on the line for her. How else does he expect for Joey to let her guard down and talk about their messy history? Pacey has got to figure out exactly what he wants. The way he left things with Potter? She is not going to make it easy for him.

" Yeah, guess we should both leave. Maybe see how Jo is doing.", I relent while finishing the last of my drink. Paying off my tab, I hand Pacey the keys to the jeep. He hasn't had a drink all night so he is fine to drive us home. Poor Joey just does not seem to have any luck with guys. Ben mentioned how her latest boyfriend broke up with her. He didn't know the reason why at the time. This girl just cannot catch a break. First Pacey was dumb enough to let her go, now this guy? Hell, if I weren't gay Joey and I would still be together today. The girl is beautiful, I would be an idiot to let her go. Unfortunately, Witter realized his mistake not long after he had made it. By then it was too late, Potter wanted nothing to do with him. The guy has been kicking himself since. Pace has not had a steady relationship since Joey, he just sort of has short flings.

" That's your department Jack, Jo wants nothing to do with me remember?", reminds Pacey as we climb into the jeep. Well, he's not wrong. Something tells me with a little persuasion I could get Joey and Pacey into the same room together without an argument breaking out. She might not admit it, but I know there is a small part of Joey that misses Pacey. If there wasn't, she would have turned right back around the moment she saw him tonight. They both want to talk about things but are too stubborn to make the first move. This is where I come in. I'll figure out a way to get those two on speaking terms. It might take a while, but I know that it is possible.

Glancing over at Pacey, I only smile to myself," It's your own damn fault that she doesn't either Witter."

Parking outside of our apartment, Pacey hops out of the jeep and walks up the steps to our apartment," Thanks for the reminder Jack, kick a guy when he's down why don't you?"

(Pacey's pov)

" Look Pace, if you want Potter to give you the time of day...You're going to have to lay it all out on the line for her man.", suggests Jack while unlocking the front door. Following him inside, I take a quick look around. I don't see Joey anywhere in sight. Did she leave or is she in Ben's room with him? Tensing up at the thought, I bawl a fist up at my side. The thought of Joey lying next to him...lets just say it makes me want to rearrange Ben's face. He knows Potter is my ex, this should be enough reason for Ben not to make a move on her. Relieved when I notice Ben out cold on the couch, I breath a sigh of relief. Guess he knows how much Jo means to me.

" I know Jack, and I intend to if she will only hear me out man. While I don't know if it will change anything, at least Jo will know where I stand.",I confide in a gruff tone. Joey deserves to know what caused me to push her away that night at prom. Truth is, it was nothing she said or did. I am the only reason that I acted the way I did. Potter never did anything wrong to deserve such hurtful words from me. I knew the moment that I opened my mouth that I would come to regret every single word I spoke. By the time I was done, Jo had taken off crying and it was all I could do not to follow her and apologize for being a jerk. She has every right to hate me, I pushed her away.

" Get some sleep Pace, I'll help you figure out what needs to be said in the morning man.", promises Jack with a slap to my back. With a mere nod of my head, I kick my shoes aside. Whether Joey will listen to me is a whole other story. Jack will do his best to help make her though. He is good at things like that. Seeing Potter tonight really flipped my world upside down. All those old feelings managed to resurface within seconds and there is nothing I can do to make them go away. When I look at Jo, I remember how happy the two of us were together and it kills me knowing that we might never be like that again. Yet I can't help wondering if there's a part of Joey that still loves me, guess all I can do is hope there is.

" Thanks, Jack. I am going to owe you big time if she gives me a second chance.", I remark with a hopeful glimmer in my eyes. While I know the chances of Jo and I getting back together are slim to none, that does mean a guy can't dream. If only Joey could see how much I am still in love with her, maybe she would take pity on my stupidity and allow herself to be mine once more. Anything is worth a shot. There hasn't been anyone since Joey that makes me feel the way she did. Hell, I have not sustained one stable relationship since we parted ways three years ago, how messed up is that? From the sounds of it Potter didn't take long to move on, knowing this hurts like hell. …