Joey woke up the next morning with a terrible hangover. She quickly took some asprin and was about to go back to bed when she spotted a familer figure on her dock. Joey got dressed and quickly went outside.

''Hey Pace.'' she said, slowly approching the boy on the dock.

''Hey Jo.'' he said.

''You ok? You only come to my dock when you're misriable.'' Joey said, sitting down next to him.

Knowing Dawson and Pacey her whole life had helped Joey learn their moods. She could read their eyes and know exactly what they were feelings. When Pacey turned to her, she could read every ounce of pain in his eyes.

''What happened?'' she asked.

''Jen dumped me.'' Pacey said, quietly.

Joey was silent, she didn't know what to say.

''Why?'' she finally asked.

''Apparently, she needs space from any guy. She decided this before she moved here and met me. I wish she would have told me the truth.'' Pacey said, standing up.

Joey jumped and hugged him, hoping to take away the pain. He started to cry.

''I thought cared about me. She made me feel loved for the first time in my life.'' Pacey said.

Joey just held him as he cried.

The next day in school, Dawson, Andie, Jack, and Jen were all hanging out on the steps when Pacey and Joey walked up. Jen took one look at him before excusing herself and leaving. The rest figured Pacey would go after her so they could make out, but everyone was shocked when he sat down next to Dawson. Joey went inside and grabbed Andie's arm, making her follow.

''Why aren't you going inside?'' Dawson asked.

''Jen and I broke up.'' Pacey said.

''I'm sorry man.'' Jack said.

''You guys up for a little road trip to Boston?'' Pacey asked.

''Right now?'' Dawson asked.

''Yeah.'' Pacey said standing up. ''We can take the Witter Wagoneer.''

''I'm gain. Anything to get away from school.'' Jack said, standing up.

''Come on Dawson.'' Pacey said.

Dawson stood up.

''Ok I'll go.'' he said.

They boys walked over to the station wagon and sped off.

Joey and Andie looked all over for Jen, finally going into the girls bathroom.

''Jen are you in here?'' Joey asked.

A stall opened and Jen stepped out.

''You don't hate me for dumping Pacey?'' Jen asked.

''No, I'm a little angry and kind of surprised but you're my friend Jen.'' Joey said.

''Why did you dump him?'' Andie asked.

''I don't wanna talk about it, espically here.'' Jen said.

''Then lets leave.'' Joey said standing up.

''Yeah right, where can we go?'' Jen asked.

''Dawson's house. Both his parents are at work and Dawson is here at school. We'd have it all to ourselves.'' Joey said.

''Come on Jen.'' Andie said.

''Alright, let's go.'' Jen said.

The girls left the bathroom and the school.

The boys were heading toward Boston.

''So did everyone enjoy the beach party?'' Pacey asked.

''I did.'' Jack said smiling.

''I didn't.'' Dawson said.

''Why didn't you?'' Jack asked.

''Well before I could meet anyone, I found your drunk sister and had to take her home.'' Dawson said. ''She threw up in my parents car and then told me she liked she or something.''

''Andie said that?'' Pacey asked.

''Yeah. Speaking of Andie, why weren't you watching her Jack?'' Dawson asked.

''I don't need to babysit my sister ok. I had to take care of Joey.'' Jack said.

''What about Joey?'' Pacey asked.

''Some guy was hitting on her, she was drunk. So I punched the guy and took her home.'' Jack said. ''How about you Pacey?''

''Well I found out Jen kissed her ex-boyfriend.'' Pacey said.

''So how did everyone enjoy the beach party?'' Andie asked.

''I remember getting drunk and Jack punching out some guy.'' Joey said.

''I remember Pacey finding out Billy kissed me and I let him.

''Well I remember getting wasted and Dawson helping home.'' Andie said.

''Sounds like we all had a blast.'' Joey said, sarcasticly. ''I'm gonna put in a movie and make popcorn.''

Joey chose E.T. and as is rewround, went to make popcorn.

The boys parked outside a pool hall and went inside. Pacey ordered some drinks while Dawson and Jack went to find a pool table. Pacey arrived with the drinks.

''So Jackers, I need to ask you something.'' Pacey said.

''Go for it.'' Jack said, taking the first shot.

''How do you feel about Potter?'' he asked.

''Why do you wanna know?'' Jack asked.

Pacey chuckled.

''I like you Jack, don't get me wrong here. You and I are good friends. But should you, in any way, shape, or form, hurt Joey, I will have to kick your ass. Now how do you feel about Jo?'' Pacey asked again.

''I like her ok. I like her sarcastic ways, I like her smile and I love to get on her nerves. I would love to ask her out.'' Jack said.

''So why don't you?'' Dawson asked, taking a shot.

''I don't want to get rejected. I wasn't completly honest with you guys earlier.'' Jack said.

''Joey can I ask you something?'' Andie questioned.

The movie was over and the girls were just hanging around.

''Sure.'' Joey said.

''How do you feel about Jack?'' Andie asked. ''As his sister, I have a right to know.''

Joey blushed.

''I really like him Andie. I've never really like a guy like him before.'' Joey said.

''Doy ou want him to ask you out?'' Andie asked.

''Yes,but don't tell him to please. Don't tell him anything I just told you.'' Joey pleaded.

''I won't I swear.'' Andie said. ''Can I ask you guys something?''

''What weren't you completly honest about?'' Pacey asked.

''When I brought Joey home last night, she kinda, in a drunken state, kissed me.'' Jack said.

Pacey looked up from where he was taking his shot.

''You're serious? Potter kissed you?'' he asked.

Jack nodded.

''Does she remember?'' Dawson asked.

''I don't know. She hasn't said anything to me if she has.'' Jack sighed.

''Well Dawson, you and I will need to solve this thing.'' Pacey said.

''Yea we will Pacey.'' Dawson agreed. ''Do you guys think Andie likes me?''

''Sure Andie, ask away.'' Jen said.

''Do you think Dawson likes me?'' Andie asked.

''Why, do you like him?'' Joey asked.

''A little. He's cute and sweet and funny and I just really like him.'' Andie admitted. ''You're his best friend Joey, do you think he likes me?'' Andie asked.

''I'm not really sure Andie.'' Joey said. ''But he'd be really stupid not to. I'll try to find out without being to obvious, I promsise.''

''Thanks Joey. Jen why did you break up with Pacey?'' Andie asked.

''Do you like her?'' Pacey asked.

''I don't know, maybe.'' Dawson said.

''Aww Dawson and Andie sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.'' Pacey sang.

''Shut up.'' Dawson said, tossing a straw at him.

''Dawson, if you hurt her in anyway, I will be forced to kill you, you know that right?'' Jack asked, laying is poolstick down, the game completly forgotten.

''Yeah I know. I don't even know if I really like her. I like her as a friend but maybe not anything more.'' Dawson said.

''Hey Pacey, why did Jen dump you?'' Jack asked.

''I just need some time being by myself ya know. I need to be able to survive without a boyfriend be my side. I feel horrible that I hurt him but, I just needed to be alone.'' Jen said.

''That's crap. Give us the real reason Jen.'' Joey said.

''That is the real reason.'' Jen said.

''So we're supposed to believe that after all you guys have been through, you just now realize you wanna be alone?'' Joey asked.

''Yea Joey. God what's your problem?'' Jen asked.

''You're lying to us.'' Joey said.

''Jen give us the real reason. We won't tell Pacey.'' Andie said.

''I got scared ok. I've never felt so safe or so perfect with anyone before. Any time I've ever fallen in love, it ends horribly. I just can't let that happen between me and him ok!'' Jen shouted.

''You already hurt him Jen.'' Joey said.

''Yeah but at least it was just an in like relationship. If we had deeper feelings, then who knows that would have happened.'' Jen said. ''Please don't tell him guys.''

''We won't. I promise.'' Andie said.

''I promise too.'' Joey said.

Jeb smilied at them

''She told me she needed to be by herself without a boyfriend.'' Pacey said, shrugging. ''You guys want to head back home?'' Pacey asked.

''Sure.'' Jack said.

''Yeah.'' Dawson said.

They put their pool sticks away and left.

''All the Leery's will be home soon. We'd better split.'' Joey said, standing up.

The girls followed suit and all left through the window.

''This was fun. We should do it again.'' Andie said, once they were all back on the ground.

''Yeah, we should.'' Jen agreed.

Joey nodded.

''See you guys.'' Joey said, as Andie and Jen left. She climbed back up the ladder, waiting for Dawson to come home so they could talk. She hid in the closet.

After dropping Jack ff, Pacey drove him and Dawson to Dawson's house. They entered his room and sat down, Dawson on the bed, Pacey in the chair.

''Well Boston was fun.'' Dawson said.

''Yeah it was.'' Pacey said.

''You guys went to Boston!'' Joey exclaimed, jumping out of the closet, scaring the boys so much, Pacey fell out of his chair.

''Jesus, Potter, trying to give me a heart attack?'' Pacey asked.

''Sorry, but you guys went to Boston?'' Joey asked.

''Yeah, what about you Joey. Where were you?'' Dawson aksed holding up a piece of popcorn that was still fresh.

''Me, Jen, and Andie ditched to hang out here. We bonded.'' Joey said.

''Well so did we boys and we found out you and Jackers shared a little kiss.'' Pacey said.

''What are you talking about?'' Joey asked.

''Jack brought you home from the beach party drunk and you kissed him.'' Dawosn said.

''Oh My God! Oh My God!'' Joey exclaimed sitting down on the bed.

''What's the problem Potrer, you like him. Why are you so worried about a kiss?'' Pacey asked.

''I just am ok!'' Joey snapped.

''Whoa chill out Jo.'' Dawson said.

''Sorry.'' she mumbled.

''It's ok. I'll look past this.'' Pacey said.

Joey smirked and through a pillow at him.

Joey and Pacey left Dawson's together.

''You didn't happen to mention to anyone my break down did you?'' Pacey asked.

''No, that stays between you and me Pace. I wouldn't do that.'' Joey said.

''Thanks. Do you really like Jack?'' Pacey asked.

Joey blushed, giving him his answer.

''Aww Joey and Jack sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g.'' Pacey sang.

''Don't make me push you in the creek.'' Joey said.

AN- I wanted to show people the close friendship Pacey and Joey shared in this story. They kid and banter but when it matters they are there for each other. If Pacey and Joey aren't going to be a couple in my stories, they are at least going to be best friends.