“So, what’s up with you and Blondie?” Joey asks Dawson snidely, biting into her sandwich as we sit at our usual table in the school cafeteria. I roll my eyes at her obvious jealousy and Dawson’s utter obliviousness.

“I’m not sure…We’re friends…I think. It’s…it’s complicated. But we are on speaking terms, so that’s a good thing.”

“Pleasantries?” Joey asks. Dawson nods solemnly.

“Chin up pal, it won’t be long before she comes running back.” I say, not believing it in the slightest but curious to see how Joey will react. Her face falls and she rubs her forehead in irritation.

“I hope so Pacey. I don’t know how long I can keep up with this ‘friends’ act. How can you be so helplessly in love with someone and keep from letting them know it?” Joey and I both take a bite of our sandwich in unison, mumbling incoherently. She, obviously thinking about Dawson…and my mind wandering to her. Wondering how on earth I can study with her this afternoon and not completely buckle. How can I watch her roll those eyes, hear her call me names and not take her in my arms and kiss her? No, you know what I really want to know? How on earth Dawson can lie in the same bed as this beautiful specimen every night and not go completely insane with wanting her. I tell ya, it’s hard enough sleeping alone with the thoughts of her plaguing my mind.

“So what about you Pacey?” Dawson asks as he takes a sip of his pepsi.

“What about me?”

“Any hot faculty members on the horizon?” he laughs. I glare at him contemptuously. “Sorry Pace.” He laughs. “Couldn’t help myself. So…is there anyone? Fielding any date offers?” Joey stifles a laugh, obviously finding the very notion of anyone wanting to go out with me to be ludicrous. God, I wish it didn’t hurt so much.

“Nothing at the moment D.” I tell him. “But I’m sure things will change.”

“Sure, when hell freezes over.” Joey smirks.

“Well Potter, I would take offence if you had any prospects yourself.” I smirk, unaware of the irony of my comment. Joey, however, is not.

“Yeah well, when someone who isn’t a loser like yourself knocks on my door, you’ll be the first to know.” She smiles innocently, reminding me of the very real fact that she knows how I feel.

“Well, both of you will find someone very soon, I’m sure of it.” Dawson says, trying to lift our spirits.

“And hey, when that happens, maybe you could find someone who likes you back.” Joey quips at Dawson.

“Down Potter, you’d know a little about that yourself now wouldn’t you?” She gives me a death stare before quickly finishing off her sandwich.

“I long for the day when we can sit and have lunch without the barbs flying.” Dawson sighs.

“Since when do you care what I think?” she shrugs.

“I was just wondering is all.”

“Well, I don’t have the faintest idea Potter. What I do know is though, is that it’s about darn time you give up on our friend Dawson. Stop searching for something that isn’t there.”

“It is there Pacey, he just hasn’t seen it yet.”

“Ah hah! You know this is the very first time you’ve flat out admitted that my theory was right. You are in love with him!” I boast triumphantly, while inside I’m dying, as always.

“I didn’t admit anything! I just…ugh whatever Pacey.” She sighs.

“Have you ever even been kissed before Potter?” I ask.

“Yes I’ve been kissed!” she exclaims, angry at my prying question.

“I don’t mean Truth or Dare kisses Jo.” I laugh, remembering our little soirees in detention.

“For your information Pacey, not that it’s any of your business mind you, but I have been kissed.”

“By who?” I ask, trying to sound condescending while curiosity gets the better of me.

“Anderson Crawford.” She smirks triumphantly.

“Ahh…the prissy tourist guy.” I say, remembering the day early in the school year. “You know, I don’t think he counts Jo, he didn’t even know your real name.”

“It counts Pacey. Besides, what does it matter anyway.” I shrug my shoulders, for the life of me not knowing the answer to her question. Why did I even begin this interrogation?

“What about you? Kissed anyone under 40?”

“Tamara was not 40!” I exclaim, utterly offended.

“Right…right.” Joey says, less than convinced. “So? Have you?”

“If I have I don’t remember it. Of course I’m leaving out Dawson’s movie and Truth or Dare of course. And that little spin the bottle incident at John’s 14th birthday.” Joey winces.

“Ew…I was still repressing that memory!” she says, hitting me lightly on the arm.

“C’mon, admit it Jo…that was the best kiss you’ve ever had, far better than rich boy. And it was curtesy of yours truly.” I joke, as I remember that gentle sweet kiss. Even though Joey wiped her mouth violently with her sleave afterwards, it still counted to mean something to me. After all, I’d had a crush on the girl since I was 5! But things change I guess. Either that or they go around full circle.

“Trust me Pacey, you ranked a very low 2.” She tells me seriously.

“I thoroughly doubt that Potter.”

“Would I lie to you?”

“Yes you would. Besides, I was fourteen at the time, that’s not a good age to be judged on anything.”

“So what? You saying you’ve improved?” She laughs.

“There’s gotta be a reason Tamara kept coming back.”

“Mid life crisis?” I ignore her comment, and without properly thinking it through, put forward a possibly life ending proposition.

“I say we set the record straight right here and now.”

“Huh?” she asks, dumbfounded.

“You heard me Ice-Queen. Let’s reply that fateful night and we’ll just see who’s scoring a two.”

“I’d rather have spiders run rampant on my face.”

“That could be arranged.” I say, inching ever closer to her.

“Pacey.” She protests.

“What have you got to lose?” I whisper lightly before my lips brush hers. She remains frozen for a moment, but then responds to the kiss. It turns from gentle exploration to heated passion very quickly. Her hands run up and down my neck, violently gripping at my hair, as mine explore the curves of her back. I’m half way between shocked and elated when her lips part slightly, allowing my tongue entrance to explore her mouth. I’m so enraptured in this one kiss that I barely notice her hands slide down my chest, giving me one hell of a shock when she uses them, with all of her brutal force, to push me away. I watch her apprehensively as her flushed face clearly thinks through what just happened. She smoothes down her dishevelled hair and tries to catch her breath. I wait in anxious anticipation for her composure.

That certainly went beyond making a point, on her part too. She was kissing me back. Joey Potter was kissing me back!

She rises from her chair and gathers her books, as I wait nervously for her to say something. She heads to the door and before leaving, turns to me abruptly, “two.” She states matter-of-factly before walking down the hall.

“Sure Potter, sure!” I yell as she leaves me to replay that beautiful moment over and over again in my mind. She kissed me back.