A/N: Getting near the end! Please review, I've loved getting them so far!

I disclaim

Chapter 8

Dean sat quietly on the hill at the party, waiting, wondering if Julie and Joey were going to show up. He sipped on a beer quietly. He wondered if she'd really stayed home to practice tonight, or if Joey was really working late.

"Hi," a girl walked over. She was wearing a barely there jean skirt and a smaller tank top. "I bet you don't remember me."

"I bet I would if you reminded me," he shrugged, channeling Joey as best he could. She laughed.

"Alyssa," she said, her voice soft. "We were in junior high together." He nodded. "You're here alone?" He nodded again. "Do you want to leave that way?" He smiled.

"I don't know how I want to leave," he said, "why don't you sit down?" She nodded and sat down. "When did you start hanging out here?"

"When did you start coming without your brother and that blonde girl?" She asked.

"Fair enough." He said quietly. "Since they fell in love, and sort of left me on my own." She nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't remember you."

"You kind of fell off the face of the earth after eighth grade," she shrugged. He nodded. "But do you remember this?" She kissed him softly.

"There was a closet involved back then," he smiled. She laughed. "And a time limit, but yeah, I remember." They kissed again. She pulled on top of him. He slid his hands under her tank top.

"Mm," she whispered. "I'm glad those are both gone."

"Me too," he laughed.

Julie slowly got dressed and Joey sat up and kissed her. She smiled.

"Joey, I do actually have to practice," she said. He kissed her again.

"I think we should always get high before we have sex," he said quietly.

"I think you should be quiet," she kissed him. He looked at her. "It was fun, losing control like that." He smiled.

"I wish you wouldn't get dressed," he said, gently tugging at her shirt. She laughed. "Julie, um, listen, this afternoon was,"

"Don't worry about it," she kissed him. "I was crazy, I mean, Dean showed up at Northwestern and gave me this speech about how he's in love with me or something." Joey nodded.

"Right," he said. "Yeah, that." She looked at him. "What is it?"

"Did you know?" She whispered. He closed his eyes. "Joey?"

"Look, Julie, I really," he kissed her softly. "I mean, I didn't before we," she pulled away. "Julie, I love you!"

"But you knew," she said. He nodded. "You knew how Dean felt about me and you still," she closed her eyes. He put his arms around her. "Don't touch me!" She stood up and pulled her jeans on. "I have to go."

"Julie, where are you gonna go?" He asked.

"I don't know," she said, "I just can't be here." She stopped in the door. "You're not who I thought you were." He stood up.

"Yeah," he said. "Well, right back at you." She walked out

"You're sure your brother won't mind?" Alyssa giggled as she and Dean walked towards Chuck's place.

"Nah," he said kissing her. "Joey brings girls here all the time." They kissed again. "Alyssa, look, nothing has to happen tonight."

"God, do you ever shut up?" She kissed him. He laughed.

"I'll try to," he said.

"Thanks," Julie whispered as Chuck handed her a glass of water and she wiped her eyes. "I didn't know where else to go." He nodded. "I feel really really stupid."

"You shouldn't," he said. She looked at him. "Julie, you are not the first girl to fall for Joey's bullshit. This happens all the time." She nodded. "I doubt that makes you feel better."

"No," she said. "I should have listened to Dean."

"No," Chuck shook his head. "Because listening to Dean would have given you whiplash." She laughed.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Probably." She sipped the water. "This isn't why I came here. I mean, not here, here, this is why I came here. I didn't come to Chicago to," she sighed. "If I was thinking that would happen at all I thought it would be with Dean."

"He cares about you," Chuck said. "He always has." She nodded.

"I pretty sure I blew it," she laughed. He smiled. "Thanks for listening."

"No problem," he smiled. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"I'm OK," she shook her head. They sat quietly for a minute and then the door opened, Dean and Alyssa bursting in.

"Julie," Dean said. "What are you doing here? Is Joey here?"

"Hi," Alyssa said.

"Hi," Julie whispered. "Chuck, can I use your bathroom?" He nodded and Julie got up and walked out.

"What's she doing here?" Dean said.

"Who is she?" Alyssa asked.

"Who are you?" Chuck smirked, clearly amused.

"Alyssa, this is my brother," Dean said. She waved. "Why is Julie here?"

"She and Joey broke up," Chuck said, "she just needed to cool down, she didn't know where else to go."

"Should I leave?" Alyssa asked.

"That's probably a good idea," Chuck said. She nodded and left. Julie walked back out. "I'll let you two talk." He walked quietly into his room.

"You and Joey broke up?" Dean said. She nodded. "Why?"

"I didn't know," she said, "that he knew how you felt about me. If I did, I don't think I would have, I don't think I could have," he nodded.

"Sure," he said. "So you broke up with him?" She nodded.

"Yeah," she said. They sat down. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I don't know," he said softly. "I guess I had to think I lost you for it to be worth it." She nodded. "Did I lose you?"

"I can't be with you," she said. "I just can't, not after this. I do love Joey, or I think I do and you're his brother."

"I get that," he said. "I do."

"Can we be friends again?" She asked. He looked at her. "I mean, we were really good friends and I miss that, or I've missed it for the past few weeks."

"I think I can manage friends," he nodded. She smiled softly as his arm wrapped around her and she snuggled close. "I totally could have still hooked up with Alyssa."

"I'm glad you didn't," she said. He smiled. "I wanted to fall in love with you. I wish I had."

"I wish you had too," he said softly.

2 Months Later

Julie quietly unpacked in her room back at Eden Hall. Since the experience in Chicago she'd become remarkably introverted. She and Joey hadn't said anything to each other since the night she walked out on him and she hadn't told any of the Ducks, not even Connie, the whole story. She tried not to think about it. She was happy to keep it known that Julie Gaffney was a virgin and had no desire to change that. She hadn't seen Dean yet. She wondered what would happen when she did. She heard a knock on the doorframe.

"Come in," she said before turning around and seeing Joey standing there.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she said losing her breath. He looked amazing, casually slumped against her door, if a little out of place in the stark old fashioned dorm building. "What are you doing here?"

"I um, drove Dean up," he said. "I was hoping to see you."

"Oh," she said. "Why?" He smirked at her. "Joey," she sighed, and half laughed. He walked over and kissed her. "You really shouldn't be in here, boys aren't allowed." She whispered. He kissed her again.

"I miss you," he said. "We didn't really get to say goodbye, did we?"

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