Description: this is a story I have been working on for a while. This is my first Dawson's Creek story so take it easy on me, I'm rusty on my characters.

Disclaimer: I may not own the characters but this story is original and from my imagination.

Author's note: this is my first try at a Dawson's creek story, be nice to me please. This is a Pacey/Joey fic, my version of how they got together. Enjoy and review thanks :)

Chapter #6

(Previously)

" I'm sorry Joe. I...I'm really sorry.", offers Pacey in a soft voice before taking hold of my hands. Why is he apologizing to me? Its only making things worse. I'm so confused right now. I don't know whether I'm angry with Pacey or myself. He's been nothing but sweet to me and this is how I repay him? By acting like a bitch? Pacey doesn't deserve to be yelled at, its not him I'm upset with, its me.

" No Pace, I'm sorry. I don't know why I overreacted the way I did.", I confess with a hint of guilt in my voice. If it was really just a harmless kiss, why did I act the way that I did? Could it be possible that maybe I like Pacey? ….No, no that's ridiculous. Pacey and I are only friends, nothing else. I don't know why he kissed me. But I know that its not because he has feelings for me. If that were the case he would have said something to me...

(Continued)

(Pacey's pov)

" Did it ever occur to you that maybe you reacted the way you did because you like me?", I inquire as I wait for any kind of indications that I might be onto something. Seeing none, I sigh to myself inwardly. Why do I get the feeling I'm only getting my hopes up just to be let down? Damn Dougie for putting the idea that there was a possibility Joey liked me in my head.

" Don't be ridiculous Pacey, you and I are just friends.", responds Joey much to my disliking. Yeah, we're just friends Joe. Only I don't want to be your friend anymore. I want Joey to see me as more than a friend, I want her to see me as her everything. I'd never admit it to anyone else, but that's how I've come to see her. Why can't Joey see how much her words are killing me right now?

Hurt by Joey's rejection, I do my best to hide it," That's all you see me as Joe?"

Biting her bottom lip, Joey shoves her hands into her pockets," What else am I supposed to see you as Pacey?"

" I don't know. Someone you trust, can talk to or run to, someone who will protect and...just forget it Joe.", I mutter before lowering my head in defeat. Who the hell was I kidding? Joey will never look at me the way I've come to look at her. To try and convince myself otherwise is useless. At the end of the day, I'm not the guy Joey wants to be with. I might as well just quit while I'm ahead before I seriously get hurt.

" Pacey, for the last few months you have been all of those thing to me. Crazy as it sounds, I need you.", confesses Joey much to my surprise. Did I just hear her correctly? Did Joey just say she needs me? Man, I can not catch a break with this girl. Just when I start to think that I have absolutely no chance in hell with her, she gives me the slightest indication otherwise. (End Pacey's pov)

(Joey's pov)

" Do you need me like you need Dawson?", questions Pacey as he takes a small step toward me. Stumbling backwards, I nearly trip. What the hell kind of a question is that? What does Pacey want me to say? How does he expect me to answer? I need Pacey to do what he's always done. I need him to be my friend, to make me laugh when all I want to do is cry, and to lend a hand whenever I need help. Why is he asking me to compare whether I need him like I do Dawson? Why does that even matter?

" Pacey, that's not fair an you know it.", I accuse with a frown as I fold my arms across my chest. He can't honestly expect me to answer him. Truth is, these days I've founding myself needing Pacey more and more. He's one of the only things that keeps me from buckling under all the pressure of school, helping Bessie take care of Alexander and running the B&B. If Pacey weren't there to help me along the way and remind me to laugh? I'd have gone out of my mind long ago.

With a shake of his head, Pacey turns to walk away," Guess I just got my answer didn't I?"

Taking off after Pacey, I reach for his hand," Pace, wait. Why do you care so much?"

" Its not obvious? I like you, Joey. That day in the car when you said I was one of two people that knew you, I thought maybe you felt the same. Apparently I was wrong.", remarks Pacey with a shake of his head and a sigh. Dropping hold of Pacey's head, I stare at him with a look of confusion. Unable to form any kind of response, I merely watch in silence as Pacey walks off in the opposite direction. I want nothing more than to go after him. There's only one problem though, I can't seem to bring myself to move. Pacey likes me? Since when? I'm not even sure what to think or feel right now. Do I like Pacey back? Is that the real reason I reacted the way I did when he kissed me? I don't know how I feel about Pacey these days. Lately I've myself angry with him. If I were to be honest, I'm really just angry with myself. When Pacey kissed me, it forced me to figure out how I feel about him. Unfortunately that's still a question I'm not able to face, let alone answer. (End Joey's pov)

(Authors note)

Thanks for the reviews, I'm not gonna discontinue this story so long as people continue leaving a review or two. its nice to know my stories getting read and that people like it. thanks for those who were kind enough to let me know they're reading.