"Hmm … maybe we should both try something new," Joey suggested stopping the tuner on a country station. Pacey looked at her skeptically from the driver's seat. Joey grimaced as the sounds of Hank Williams, Jr., filled the Witter Wagoneer.

Well my name is Bocephus I drink whiskey by the gallon

And I never back down and I love a good challenge

What I do now is what I did then

I like to get down with all my rowdy friends.

"Yikes, never mind. We should probably just stick with what we know," Joey retreated as she reached for the dial.

"Hold on a second, Potter," Pacey interjected. "This may just be my theme song. I mean, I'm quite sure that I 'was born to boogie,'" he said seriously.

"No, Pacey. You were definitely not born to boogie," Joey concluded shaking her head emphatically.

Despite not knowing the words, Pacey began to sing. "Get … you baby, no I'm not a rookie. I said I was put here to party, and … I was born to boogie!"

"No, Pacey. This is not OK. Not in any definition of the word," she protested trying to maintain a straight face. "It's my day to pick the music, and I refuse to spend it listening to you wail away."

"Tsk tsk, Potter. I guess not all of us can be born to boogie. It's too bad really. You made such a breakthrough this weekend," Pacey quipped.

"Hanging out with you all weekend? I must've been delusional," she fought back. "Don't worry, it won't last. Yep, I sense it leaving now."

"Yeah?" Pacey asked. "Well, in that case …" he stated as he turned the wheel pulling to the side of the road.

"You wouldn't dare," Joey challenged.

"Oh, I would," he remarked putting the car in park. "It was fun spending time with you this weekend, Jo. It's too bad you've come to your senses, as you say."

Joey's mouth set tightly and her eyes narrowed. "Pacey Witter, you better put this hunk of junk into drive and get us to school on time or I swear I will do you bodily harm."

Pacey lowered his eyes, and leaned across the middle of the car. "You promise?" he asked with his voice barely above a whisper.

Unable to resist the ever-present sexual tension between them, Joey joined him in a kiss. She then purposely closed her teeth on his bottom lip, and growled, "Drive, Witter." Pacey slowly opened his eyes to see her still biting his lip. He chuckled, enjoying her newfound boldness, and did as he was instructed.

"Did something happen between you guys?" Jen asked knowingly. Joey and Pacey had walked into school together, but Jen quickly joined Joey at her locker after Pacey left to retrieve a book from his.

"Good morning to you too, Jen," Joey said unimpressed with Jen's question. "Why would you ask me that?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because you're both … giddy. Like you know something the rest of us don't," Jen responded honestly.

"Listen, Jen," Joey began.

"Is she telling you about her drunken exploits?" Dawson interrupted from behind an unsuspecting Joey.

"What? No, but she should be!" Jen responded.

Joey laughed at Jen's enthusiasm. "Pacey and I went to a Matt Caulfield party on Friday," she said simply. "Despite Dawson's inappropriate judgments, it was a lot of fun actually. I've learned that I'm terrible at beer pong, but quite talented at flip cup." Pacey rejoined the group in time to hear Joey assess her drinking game talents.

"That does not surprise me actually. That you're good at flip cup, I mean," Jen clarified. "I'm bummed I missed it though. I bet Drunk Joey is a blast."

"Oh she is," Pacey agreed. "Still as competitive as Sober Joey, but a lack of inhibition suits her nicely," he added mischeviously.

"Of course you would say that," Dawson huffed.

Taken aback by Dawson's comment, Pacey prepared to respond. However, it quickly became unnecessary as Joey stepped in to shut his remarks bar. "Dawson, you are way out of line here," she started. "None of this is any of your business. I invited him to the party. I chose to drink. All of these were my decisions. You are not going to take that away from me because it doesn't fit your preconceived, one-dimensional vision of me. Or maybe it's because for some reason you are determined to think the worst of your supposed best friend," she said without taking a breath. "Pacey was nothing but a perfect gentleman the entire night. He even walked me home in the morning."

"In the morning?" Dawson asked looking almost ill.

Joey immediately glared at him. "Of all the things I just said that's what you want to follow-up with?! When you're ready to apologize you know how to find us. Until then, we are done here." she said before slamming her locker shut. Joey then stormed off without bothering to see if Pacey was following her.

Seconds later, Pacey caught up to her. "So that went well," he said with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up," Joey replied. "Don't make me mad at you too."

"Joey, you're amazing," he observed.

"What? Pacey, don't patronize me. I'm not in the mood," Joey warned.

"Stop talking for a second, and listen to me, Potter," he demanded. Joey reluctantly obliged. "You are amazing because you don't take any crap from anyone. Not Dawson, and certainly not me. I am in awe of your ability to speak your mind." Then giving her his million-dollar smile he added, "If I'm honest, I'm also honored that you felt compelled to stick up for me, and to Dawson of all people."

Joey's demeanor softened slightly. "Pacey, I'm glad you think I'm amazing, but here's the thing, you're amazing too. If anyone said anything negative about any of your friends, Dawson included, you would speak up for them. The problem is that you don't stick up for yourself enough. Now, I know I didn't really give you the chance to there … I couldn't help it, he made me so mad … but what he was saying was not OK. My hope is that you wouldn't let him get away with saying those things, if I hadn't been there."

Pacey listened intently to Joey before admitting she was correct. "You're right, I definitely would not have let him say anything about you," he said resisting the urge to take her in his arms. "I'm not so sure about me. I guess I'm just so used to hearing it, but I'll try. OK? I'll work on it."

"Good," she said with a small smile that diminished upon hearing the bell ring signaling they were both late for class.

"Need me to talk to Dr. Rand again?" Pacey asked.

Joey giggled slightly at his offer. "No, I got it, thanks. I'll see you later, OK?"

"Count on it," he responded.

"It's my turn to go first," Joey stated. She was sitting on Pacey's hammock below deck of True Love. "Let's see what we're dealing with today," she said before selecting a question from the jar, "What one possession would you save from a house fire?" she asked reading the slip of paper. "Oh, that's an easy one. My mother's copy of Little Women. It was her favorite book. She actually named me after her favorite character, Josephine March."

Pacey smiled and nodded, "I know."

"What do you mean you know?" she asked caught off guard. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I told you that before. I guess I just really like talking about her. To you, at least."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Jo. I meant it when I said you could talk to me about your mother any time. It's just she already told me about your name," Pacey explained.

Joey's eyes grew wide, "She did?"

"Yes. She overheard me teasing you about your name one day while we were playing outside your house. Then you and Dawson decided to go off by yourselves somewhere … I always hated when you did that by the way … anyway, your mom invited me to sit on the swing with her. She offered me a Flintstone push-up, so of course there was no refusing her. I still can't say no to orange sherbet," he began. "Your mom sat me down with my push-up, and said, 'You know, Pacey, Joey was named after a famous literary character. Do you know why?' Of course I said no because she lost me at literary character. She said, 'it's because she's intelligent, outspoken, and independent. So even if you keep making fun of her, it won't stop her from telling you what she thinks or how she feels.'"

Joey had never heard any story involving her mother and Pacey. "That really happened?" she questioned. "I didn't think you guys ever really talked."

"We didn't talk often, but your mom was a smart woman because every time she did want to speak with me about something she always brought snacks," Pacey remember with a smile. "I always liked your name," he added.

"Then why did you always mock it so badly?" Joey asked.

Pacey smirked, "Because it always got such a rise out of you." He paused before adding, "It still does, Josephine."

"You are such a child," Joey remarked.

"I don't disagree. It's part of my charm, remember?"

"I think it's time for you to answer the question before I vomit."

Pacey laughed. "Fine, fine …"

"Oh wait … I think I already know the answer to this one. Your most prized possession is that black velvet painting of the baby Elvis," Joey declared.

Pacey laughed. "That is correct, Potter, but do you know why?"

"Hmm …" she considered. "I always thought because it was the tackiest thing you could find, but I guess I don't know."

"I'm choosing to ignore your dig at my most prized possession especially since the point of this exercise is emotional growth," Pacey noted.

"I'm sorry, Pace. I didn't mean anything by it," Joey apologized until she noticed the smirk on his face. She punched him playfully in the chest, "You punk, just tell me!"

"Well, as you can imagine, the Witters did not go on many family vacations. The ones we did go on were generally torturous for me. I was always squished in the way back with the luggage, and we never stopped where I wanted. You know, the usual Pacey is a loser treatment. The exception to the rule finally came during Spring Break in 5th grade. My Grandpop decided to take me cod fishing. Just the two of us. It was the best trip of my entire childhood," Pacey relayed. Joey sat further into the hammock as she listened intently to Pacey's story. "On our way home I saw this really quirky store, 'Wiley's Wonderful World of Stuff,' so I asked him if we could stop. For the first time ever, we stopped. Not because Doug suggested it or Carrie had to pee, but simply because I asked him to. That painting was there, and 5th grade Pacey loved it, so my Grandpop bought it for me," Pacey explained with a smile.

Joey remained quiet for a moment, not wanting to disrupt the moment. "Wow, and you still have it. That's awesome, Pacey."

"Grandpop died the following summer before we were able to go fishing again," he said solemnly.

Joey shifted off the hammock to stand next to Pacey. "I'm sorry you didn't get to go fishing with him again. I'm really glad you have that memory though, and that you shared it with me."

Pacey reached for her hand. "I've actually never told anyone that before. My family of course harassed me mercilessly about how stupid baby Elvis was. I discovered it was easier just to let people think it was my most prized possession because it was so wonderfully … eccentric. If they knew the truth, and still made fun of it, then it hurt more," he said honestly.

"I'm sorry I made fun of it, Pace," Joey apologized sincerely.

"You did hurt my feelings, you know," he said pushing out his bottom lip.

Joey, noticing his pout, decided to play along. "I hope you'll let me make it up to you," she said leaning into him.

"I think that can be arranged." Joey wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'm feeling a little bit better," he agreed. "But you did say it was the tackiest thing you've ever seen," Pacey pouted. Joey kissed him again pressing her lips harder against his. His lips parted allowing her tongue to graze his. She continued kissing him until she found herself hoping that his hands would roam more freely. Joey had never before wanted someone to touch her so completely. She finally understood what all the fuss was about.