It Takes Two
By: Kat
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Dawson's Creek. This is only for recreational purposes, people!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Andie and Jack have BOTH moved to Providence. Joey got back together with Dawson after realizing the error of her ways. Andie dumps Pacey for a new boyfriend.
Author's Note: Thought's are beetween * *s.
***
Pacey suddenly felt the urge to thank her again, but couldn't find the words. Instead he opted for a kiss. Joey was shocked at the softness of his mouth and found herself not wanting to pull away.
As they continued to kiss Joey was soon able to think again. She remembered Dawson and tried to pull away from Pacey. Her hand fluttered up to her mouth and she attempted to control her ragged breathing.
"Joey, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking," Pacey started. He was mentally kicking himself for putting Joey in a position like this. "Really, I am so sorry." Joey was still sitting quietly trying to figure out what had just happened. *Pacey just kissed me,* she thought. *And I liked it.*
"It's okay, Pace. You were, uh, we, um," she stuttered. "Just don't mention it, okay?" Pacey laughed.
"Okay." Joey looked at him and began to laugh, too. "Thanks for coming by, Jo. I'm going to try to clean up my act." She smiled and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Just keep in mind that you aren't alone."
"I know. Thanks."
***
Joey opened the front door to her tiny house with shaking hands. Her mind was still reeling from the explosive kiss that she had received from Pacey Witter less than an hour before. Before she even had time to step in the door and collect her thoughts, however, Bessie was already screaming her name.
"Josephine Potter, where the hell have you been?!" Bessie screamed, looking frantic. The Icehouse's emergency was worse than she thought. Each toilet in the restroom had been stuffed with paper towels and they had all overflowed. "I really needed your help today!" Joey shook her head.
"Yeah, you and everyone else. So what was this big 'emergency' at the Icehouse, if you don't mind my asking," Joey said, beginning to get more and more irritated by the minute. "See if it compares to trying to help a friend." Bessie sighed.
"Every toilet in the restaurant overflowed. I had to evacuate because it started to flood into the kitchen. Then, Julie and I had to clean everything up by ourselves. Now health inspectors are going to have to come by and check to make sure that the Icehouse isn't a health hazard," she explained. Joey's mouth dropped open.
"How could all of the toilets overflow at once?"
"Some pranksters stuffed them with paper towels." Joey groaned. "My thoughts exactly. From now on, if I need your help, please give it to me. Today was a complete disaster and I don't want to have to do everything by myself again. Dad's gone again, so we have to help each other out."
"I have to help my friends, too, Bess. Pacey really needed me."
"But Pacey isn't your sister, is he?" Joey laughed.
"Uh, no."
"You know what I meant, Josephine. Pacey isn't paying you nor is he paying our bills, so if the Icehouse calls you come running."
"Fine."
"Fine."
***
Jen knocked softly on Dawson's bedroom door. She was feeling terrible and desperately wanted a drink. Shifting from foot to foot nervously she considered ditching Dawson to go to a bar or Chris' house. Unfortunately, Dawson opened his door before she could escape.
"Jen, hi! Come on in," he greeted her cheerfully. She walked into the room and took a seat on his bed.
"Hey, Dawson. What movies did you rent?" she asked, trying to force the same enthusiasm into her voice. Clearly it didn't work, because Dawson frowned and studied her closely. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "What?"
"You seem unhappy. What's wrong?" He took a seat beside her and looked directly into her eyes. Jen couldn't help the feelings of lust that were creeping over her. He just looked so handsome and sweet that it took a lot of willpower for her to not jump him right there.
"Just lonely. Everywhere I see couples holding hands or making out. I just feel pathetic when I'm single," she explained. He gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Don't worry, Jen. There's somebody out there for you." She smiled.
"I know. And he's sitting right next to me." Dawson's grin faded. Jen moved closer to him. "I know that I tried this once before and it didn't work, but you know how the saying goes, Dawson." He furrowed his brow.
"Which saying is that?" She cupped his face in her hands and smiled sweetly.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Her eyes fell closed as she pressed her lips to his. Victory was upon her as Dawson did not attempt to move away. In fact, his hand rested on her waist and pulled her even closer.
***
"And where do you think you're going?" Bessie asked, clearly irritated by Joey's constant disappearances. It was the third time in four days that she had gone to visit Pacey. She was beginning to think it was a bad idea to have told him to call her every time he felt like drinking.
"To Pacey's," she answered quickly and tried to continue out. Bessie's hand shot out and grabbed a strong hold on Joey's upper-arm. She clicked her tongue and shook her head disapprovingly.
"No, you aren't. We need an extra hand down at the Icehouse." Bessie grabbed her purse and held open the door for Joey.
"Can I at least call him?" she asked. She didn't get an answer right away. Bessie was beyond annoyed with Pacey for taking up so much of her little sister's time.
"Why do you always have to go over there anyway?" Joey's eyes went wide. She knew her sister would never let her go to Pacey's ever again if she was aware of his problem.
"He's just lonely. Andie dumped him and he's not talking to Dawson, so..." She tried to let the subject drop. Maybe she would be able to sneak away to a pay-phone at the restaurant. "Come on, let's hit the road." Bessie stopped her again.
"I know you too well, Josephine. You're lying through your teeth. Now, let me try again." Bessie cleared her throat in a way that sent shivers down Joey's spine. "Why do you always go over there?"
Joey finally caved. She had never before been so terrified of her sister. "Because Pacey has a drinking problem. I told him to call me every time he felt like he needed a drink. It seems to be working. I'm just trying to help."
She knew she was grabbing at straws, but she desperately wanted Bessie to know that she was just trying to be a good friend. "You know, our lives are becoming more and more like a soap opera every day. I understand that you want to help him, Joey, but Pacey is not your responsibility. That is why he has parents."
"I know that. They just aren't very caring or understanding people." She frowned thinking of his parents. Bessie pulled her little sister into a hug.
"You are just too sweet for your own good, Joey. Tell Pacey that he can come by the Icehouse and help us out for a little while. Okay?"
"Thanks, Bess."
***
"Did I mention how grateful I am to be here, Jo?" Pacey asked for the tenth time that evening. Joey groaned and smacked his shoulder jokingly.
"Only a million times, Pacey. You can stop thanking me now." He grinned at her and she felt wonderful. How come she felt better around Pacey than she did when she was with Dawson? A dozen reasons came to mind, but Joey pushed them all away.
As Joey walked towards the kitchen to help Bessie, Pacey couldn't control the thoughts that crowded his brain. He couldn't stop thinking about the kiss that he and Joey had shared and it was taking every ounce of strength he possessed not to do it again.
He also couldn't stop the guilt. Dawson would kill him if he knew that Pacey had made a move on his girl and they weren't exactly on speaking terms as it was. This meant that Pacey would continue to take cold showers every morning and night. If Joey knew what was going on inside his head she'd never talk to him again.
Unbeknownst to Pacey, Joey had entered the room again and found him staring into space. She stood silently, admiring the adorable look of concentration on his face and tried to think of a witty remark.
"If I only had a brain, he thought sadly," she joked. Pacey seemed to come out of his trance when she said this and Joey began to laugh. He forced himself to laugh along with her, although he hadn't actually heard what she said. Pacey had been too busy fantasizing about what their next kiss would be like.
"That was a good one, right?" she asked. He shrugged.
"I didn't really hear it." She shook her head.
"Too bad, it was a good one." He smiled.
"Of course. It did come from the mouth of Miss Josephine Potter. Whatever it was." The comment's purpose was to break any underlying tension, but the word "mouth" just created even more.
"Joey, can I be honest with you?" She wasn't exactly certain if she wanted honesty at the moment, but she nodded dumbly anyway.
"I can't stop thinking about you. And I have a confession to make," he paused. "Some of the times that I called you, I only wanted to see your face." For some reason his words relieved her. She no longer felt stupid for anticipating his phone calls.
"This is so weird, Pacey. I can't stop thinking about you either. That kiss was..."
"Mind-blowing," he offered. She glared at him and couldn't stop the barb that flew from her lips.
"Don't flatter yourself." He laughed at her serious tone.
"Ouch," he replied, throwing his hands into the air. She punched his shoulder.
"I didn't mean that, Pace. Because it was, for lack of a better word, mind-blowing. That may have been the most intense kiss I've ever received." She frowned. "And the reason I can't get you out of my head is because I realized that my relationship with Dawson, while it has its moments, will never live up to that one kiss. And that..."
"Sucks." She nodded. They both stood in an awkward silence, neither knowing how to break it. "Well, would it suck if I did this?" he asked softly. Joey knew he was going to kiss her again and couldn't control her pounding heart. She closed her eyes and parted her lips. He moved closer and could feel the heat radiating from her. Their lips met just as Dawson walked in the door.
He stood in stunned silence, watching two of his best friends share a passionate kiss.
END OF PART 5
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