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He sighed. He thought it would be easier once he heard her say it but instead it only aroused more questions. �Okay look I know that I have no right to ask you this and please feel free to tell me to shut-up at any time but� why?�

�Why what?�

�Why did you choose him over the chance of a lifetime?�

�Because he asked me to.� It was a simple answer.

He exhaled with a short humorless laugh. �That�s it? Because he asked you to?�

She exhaled deeply and stood up and walked over to the railing of the pier. �Yeah. It�s not that complicated, Pacey. Dawson asked me to stay and I said yes. That�s it. I don�t know what else you�re looking for here. I don�t know what kind of justification you want from me.� Placing her elbows onto the metal bar she took in a deep breath of the fall fresh air.

He closed his eyes for a moment trying to think of a better way to approach this topic. �I�m not trying to overstep some theoretical barrier line that is obviously between us and the last thing I�m trying to do is interrogate you on your motives or feelings because the last thing that I want to do is push you away or alienate you it�s just�� He rubbed his hands together looking down at the cement. �I don�t even know how to say this without sounding� like an egotistical jerk but� It�s just that I used to be the most important person in your life you know? I was there for some of the most arduous obstacles that you faced and I helped you through them as best I could. I mean I did my best and somehow that made me believe that I was the best man for the job. And disregarding of whether or not that statement is true��

�You were the best man, Pacey.� She assured him looking over at his still form.

He looked up and blue eyes held brown for a second. He stood up and took a stand beside her. �Yeah well� I guess what I�m trying to say is that, I used to be the person that you believed could save you� I could pull you back when you were too far gone or when you needed someone to just tell you that you were okay and to assure you everything was all right. And I don�t know when that changed. Because that night when we had that good-bye dinner, a part of me still believed that I was that person.� He exhaled a deep breath before he continued. �So I guess what I�m asking you is� if I had come to that airport and asked you stay, would you?�

She swallowed hard. �I wish that I could tell you yes, Pacey. I wish to whatever supreme being that dwells above us that I could turn to you and assure you that all I needed was just to hear someone ask me, no matter who it was. But the honest truth is that� I don�t know. I can�t tell you whether it was just the mere fact that someone had taken it upon themselves to come and ask me or if it was because it was a particular individual, that I made the decision to stay. All I do know is that� Dawson was the only one who did ask. He didn�t care that he was putting me on the spot with a very difficult decision. And the fact that he was making me decide on what was more important to me, our friendship or a chance of a lifetime, didn�t stop him even though the odds were against him. I mean we all know how I am once I make up my mind about something.� She smirked at him and he laughed softly. �By him coming to that airport and asking me to stay was a huge leap of faith on his part. And I won�t ever be able to forget that. But would I have made the same decision if it had been you or Jack, or Jen.� She shrugged. �I don�t know.� She remarked softly.

Pacey sighed. He continued to fidget with his fingers absently. �You know that I�m glad that you stayed. Either way, it doesn�t matter. It�s good to have you here, McPhee.� He remarked.

She nodded with a small smile. �Yeah. I�m glad too.� She took a moment before shaking her head. �I hope you realize that with me still here in Capeside, I�m only going to make you work harder to keep those grades up. I plan on having you on the honor roll by the end of our senior year!� She remarked pointing her finger at him.

He laughed. �There you go again, shooting for the impossible. Why can�t you just be happy with my mediocre academic status?�

She sighed exasperated with him. �Because you are a lot of things Pacey, but mediocre isn�t one of them! In fact I have it on good authority that you are way beyond mediocrity.� She said jabbing him in the chest with her index finger.

�Okay, okay! I get it. No need to get rough with me, General McPhee.� He saluted mockingly.

She rolled her eyes but relaxed and shook her head. �Just so you know, I�m proud of you either way. If you get an �A� on your next report or a �C�, the grade isn�t nearly as important to me as knowing that you tried. You putting forth effort always makes me proud of you.�

He stood there with a small shy smile. She always had a way of making him blush like he was a kid. And yet the feeling made him stronger in so many ways. He had forgotten just how much strength she had provided in him in the year that they had been together. �Thanks� you know� just thanks.� He whispered.

She nodded about to say something else when Dawson and Gretchen walked up. �Andie! Hey!� Dawson greeted spotting his two friends by the pier. They stopped to say their hellos.

�Hey you guys what�s going on?� Gretchen asked looking at her brother who seemed a little agitated. Looking as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Andie on the other hand seemed a little less aware of his emotional state as she stared bright eyed and innocent; perhaps because she was.

�Nothing! Pacey and I just ran into one another on the docks and were just catching up.� Andie replied.

Dawson furrowed his brow. �Catching up? It�s been what; two days since you�ve seen one another! How much catching up could you two need to do?� He questioned, attempting to keep his voice light.

Andie shrugged. �Well you know� just some school stuff here, and weekend plans there. It�s nothing really.� She remarked.

�Yeah and you know it�s hard to see Andie because she�s so busy these days.�

Dawson shook his head in confusion. �That�s weird. Andie and I always hang out. She doesn�t seem anymore occupied then usual.� He stated absently.

�Maybe her schedule is a little more crammed with you cast into it so habitually these last two days, you know or something.� Pacey threw out trying to remain nonchalant.