Footnote 6/?

Summary: Starts in freshmen year, Pacey is tired of being a third wheel

Disclaimer: I only own the plot.

Rating: R

-break-

"She gets under my skin man." Pacey groaned plopping back on his friend's bed.

"What happened?" Jack asked with a smirk, he had seen Pacey like this once before, with his sister.

"She came back…wanted to talk. We talked but she kept pressing closer…and she asked me the oddest question."

"What question is that?"

Pacey cringed he was trying to avoid bringing up Andie, but it was Joey that had kind of brought her up. "She asked if your sister and I were still an item."

Jack shook his head in confusion leaning against his pillows. "You told her about Andie?"

"Only a little bit. She asked who I was staying with out here. I told her your name and that I met you and Andie at school then she asked if we were a thing."

Jack frowned leaning forward on the bed, his fingers playing with the fraying edge of the blanket. "Has she liked you before?"

Pacey nearly fell off the bed as laughter overtook him. "Joey? Like me? No, she's despised ne since we were kids."

"Maybe since you left, she's changed her tune?" Jack suggested with a shrug another smile coming to his lips seeing Pacey shove his head into his hands.

"I don't know man."

-break-

The next day.

It happened again; she came walking up the small dock as he was stripping wood off a small boat Mr. McPhee had gifted him the previous day.

Pacey had been so engrossed in his work he barely noticed the gasp behind him. Turning around he was shocked to find Joey, her hand covering her mouth and eyes wide. "Jo…what are you doing here?"

Her eyes raked over his sweat covered wifebeater, her pulse racing and breathing labored. "I uhh…was coming…to see…if you wanted…to do something."

Pacey quirked his eye rubbing a hand across his brow to catch the sweat. "Like what?"

Licking her lips Joey tried to calm her rapidly beating heart before answering. "I don't know. The Ruins…the Rialto…anything."

Picking up the towel that lay across the side of the boat he rubbed it across his forehead and down the side of his neck, sighing. "What is this, Jo? I've been back three days…and you've been here every one of those three days."

Joey chew on her lower lip taking a few shy steps forward. "I missed you Pace."

Pacey snorted incredulously throwing the towel back over the side of the boat. "I'm sure its just Dawson withdrawal."

She cringed, taking a few more steps closer, bringing them within a few feet of each other. "Dawson has nothing to do with this." Gnawing on her lip again Joey leaned against the boat bringing them even closer. "I realized once you left that I had been holding onto a mirage. You and I, we grew up together." Pacey turned to her in confusion rubbing a hand across his neck. "Pace…we've always teased and bantered but you've always been there…you always cared."

"Yeah…and look where that got me." Pacey hissed sarcastically leaning against the boat himself.

"If I'd known that I could have been there for you."

"Would you have though?" He questioned turning on her crossing his arms in front of his chest making the muscles in his arms stick out deliciously. "You said yourself you were only thinking of Dawson."

"Oh my god! Would you stop talking about Dawson." Joey growled turning on him, the Potter scowl back on her lips. "Do you honestly think he's better than you?"

Eyes dropping to the ground Pacey added. "Yes."

Stepping up to him she placed a hand on his shoulder, her heart picking up feeling his warm bare skin. "Pace…Dawson is not better than you…if anything you are better than him…"

Pacey shook his head backing up slightly. "…no…"

She stepped back into him squeezing his shoulder and nearly mingling their breaths. "Yes…you are. I've seen it with my own eyes."

Their eyes locked at her words, their faces drifting closer until Jack called from the house. "Hey Pacey? You hungry?"

Shaking off the tension Pacey took a giant step back, turning to Jack. "Yeah sure." Turning back to Joey, he found her flush hiding her lips beneath her palm. "I should get inside…"

Nodding Joey chuckled trying to hide a deeper blush. "Ok."

Pacey watched in shock and confusion as Joey nearly floated to her boat. They almost kissed. It couldn't be possible. He had the night to process because he knew she'd be back the next day.

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