Archive of Our Own

Joey slumped down in the chair next to Pacey and cast a baleful glance in his direction. “So, why are you out here all alone?”

Pacey shrugged and set down the book he’d been leafing through. “Question sixteen.”

“The older woman question.” Joey nodded.

He didn’t comment. “What about you?”

“Let’s just say that, as pure as I am, it shouldn’t hurt so damn much.”

“Dawson giving you a hard time?”

“Dawson always gives me a hard time these days.” She glanced around the patio, noting the luxurious lifestyle that Chris’ family took for granted. And yet it still didn’t manage to help Dina grow up any better.

“You sound like you expect our buddy Dawson to handle heartbreak maturely.” Pacey laughed. “Obviously forgetting that the boy stalked Jen post-breakup.”

“Well, not that you’re the font of romantic wisdom, but what would you suggest?”

Pacey shrugged, his gaze locked on Andie slowly rocking in the swing. “Sorry, Potter. I’ve got my own troubles.”

“You want me to talk to her?”

“And say what exactly?” Pacey’s amused expression held her in her chair. “You can’t deny it, because it happened. Besides, your personal distaste for my liaison isn’t a secret here, Jo.”

“You can’t choose who you love.”

“Yeah, well,” he didn’t speak for a moment, looking at her curiously. “That sucks.” He crossed his arms over his chest, thrusting his lower lip out in a pout.

“Ah,” Joey giggled. “Now there’s the mature, responsible Pacey I’m used to.”

“You think you know me so well, Potter...”

“I know enough.” She leaned forward and stared at the pool. “I know what happened and I know what you said happened. And I know what it cost you.”

“I didn’t cost me anything, Jo.” He gave her a self-deprecating grin. “The reputation was already in place. I just lived up to it. Or down to it, in this case.” She started to say something in response, but he shook his head. “Tamara’s over and done with. And, quite possibly, so is Andie."

“She’ll come around.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh sure.” Joey leaned back and gave him a sidelong glance. “How many times have you told me about the irresistibility of the Witter charm?”

He grinned his thanks as she slipped off her shoes and moved to the edge of the water. Following her, he sat beside her, knees drawn to his chest. “So, tell me about you and Dawson.”

“Nothing to tell.”

“Right. That’s why you’re both miserable and mopey. And why that purity test was so highly charged.”

“It’s not my fault you lusted after me.”

“Right. I wanted you bad, Potter.” He made a face. “C’mon. ‘Fess up.”

She was quiet for a moment before speaking. “It’s tough. I want space because, as we got closer, I realized I didn’t know who I was. When we were growing up, everything focused around Dawson.” She sensed his nod more than saw it, knew he knew what she meant. “We hung out at his house, watched movies he’d picked, made movies he wrote. And along the way, I stopped being Joey Potter and started being an extension of Dawson.” She shrugged, moving her feet to create ripples. “And when I decided that I wanted something for myself, Dawson couldn’t understand.”

“Couldn’t?” Pacey asked quietly, his voice knowing. “Or wouldn’t?”

“That’s part of what I have to figure out.” She pulled her feet from the water and turned away from him, stretching her legs out. Pacey copied her movements, their backs pressed together as they leaned on one another. “And I have to figure out if Dawson loves me or if he loves the Joey Potter he thinks I am.”

“None of which is very conducive to studying for an exam which is ranked up there with life-altering.”

“Exactly.”

“You want to study?” He asked the question shyly, almost as if afraid of how she’d answer. “Quiz each other? Or I could quiz you and we can both lament how amazingly stupid I am?”

“You’re not stupid, Pacey.”

“Right.” He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. “So, is that a yes?”

“I suppose.” Joey sat up as Pacey stood, offering her a hand. “Although I know you’re just using me in an effort to impress Andie.”

“Well yeah, Potter.” He linked his arm through hers as they walked back up to the porch. “What else are you good for? I mean, hell, your purity score was what?”

“You never did tell us what yours was, Pacey.”

His eyebrow shot up as his voice dropped. “You really want to know?”

She gave him a sly smile. “Yeah.” He leaned in, his breath warm on her neck. “I’ll tell you what, Jo. Whenever you decide you want to shave a few points off yours, you come see me, and I'll show you how low mine goes.”

“You’re a pig, Pacey.”

He grabbed the book he’d been looking through and headed into the living room. “Yeah.” He grinned at her, glad to see her smile back. “I’m pretty sure that’s what makes me so loveable.”