"Figured I'd find you here." Joey stepped onto the deck of the boat and sat beside
him. "What's up?"

Pacey glanced at her, then turned to stare into the distance again, the way he'd
been doing when she saw him. "Nothing's up. Just felt like a little peace and quiet,
that's all." He looked at her again, starting to smile a little. "And the library didn't
cross my mind."

Joey bit her lip, resisting the urge to reply to his quip. "I spent the whole day looking
for you at school, Pacey. I wouldn't exactly qualify that as normal." She'd been
worried when she didn't see him after that morning, and had gone straight to Doug's
after school. He hadn't been there, either, which only served to make her worry
more.

Now that she'd found him, though, she realized she hadn't just been worried. She'd
missed him.

He chuckled. "You're right. Joey Potter looking for Pacey Witter would be a scene
right out of The Twilight Zone."

"Pacey," she said seriously, putting her hand over his. "Please talk to me?"

He finally pulled his eyes away from the water to look straight at her. "I'm fine, Jo."
He glanced down at their hands as he told the lie, hoping she'd believe it and drop
the subject. He was in school the whole day; he'd just spent it avoiding her. Avoiding
everybody. He hadn't felt like talking to anyone, and he'd come straight to the docks
after the last bell to be alone.

He'd decided not to tell her what his reaction had been when he saw her with
Dawson that morning. Telling her would only put her right back in the middle, and she
didn't deserve that.

"Good." Joey smiled brightly. "I thought you got tired of me already."

Pacey grinned. "Well, actually…"

She punched his side lightly. "Watch it, Witter."

"Ow!" He cried and clutched his side, closing his eyes and wincing in mock agony.
"Shrew."

Joey rolled her eyes. "Wimp."

He ruffled her hair. They smiled at each other, then sat in comfortable silence
watching the sun go down. Pacey put his arm around her and pulled her close to his
side as the air became cooler. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten any lunch.

She tilted her face up to look at him. "You hungry?"

"Yes," he whispered, just before catching her lips with his. The kiss was gentle, his
mouth nipping at her upper lip, then her lower, his tongue lightly playing in between.
Her hand came up to touch the side of his face, while the rumbling in her stomach
became a flutter that spread outward, until her whole body felt tingly, like a million
tiny jolts of electric current were running along her nerve endings.

"Pacey," she sighed, her breath mingling and merging with his.

He broke the kiss gently, touching her face as he remained only inches away, his
breath a warm whisper against her cheek.

Her eyes opened, quizzical. "Why'd you stop?"

He chuckled. "Because, Potter, you're probably starving, and something is definitely
up now."

She blushed, glancing down at his lap. "Sorry."

"Don't be," he said, standing up. "I'm a little hungry, myself. Wanna grab some
dinner?" He turned and held out his hand.

She took it, looking doubtfully at him. "You're going like that?"

"No, lame-o, I can have that under control in a few minutes," he replied, stepping off
the boat and helping her do the same. "Do you want to eat, or not?"

Joey smiled, remembering the last time he'd called her that. "Doesn't look 'under
control' to me," she teased, walking beside him, her hand still in his.

He stopped and shut his eyes.

"Pacey?" She stood in front of him, watching in fascination. "What are you doing?"

"I'm thinking… cold showers, 100-page essays… math… War and Peace…"

"Moby Dick?"

He looked at her with one eye. "Cute."

She grinned. "I always try to be helpful."

Pacey finally started to walk again, satisfied. She fell in step with him again and
reached for his hand.

"So…" she started as they headed toward Main Street. "Cold showers, huh?"

He nodded with a smile. "Yup, cold showers."

She was about to make a comment when they ran into Andie, who was just stepping
out of a grocery store. Joey froze. Neither of them had seen Andie since they got
back.

"Andie," Pacey greeted easily. "Didn't see you in school today. How are you?" Joey
tried to pull her hand away from his, but he held it tight and kept it where it was.

Andie smiled brightly and gestured at the paper bag she was carrying. "Fine, fine.
Had to stop by the store and pick up some stuff for dinner." She glanced at Joey,
but mostly kept her eyes on him. "I didn't see you at school, either! Just too busy, I
guess, senior year and all."

They smiled and nodded at her quickly-spoken words.

"So, um," Andie continued. "I think I better go. Jack's at home waiting for me, and
well, you know how football players are, they'll eat anything in sight!" She started
walking. "Bye!"

They turned to watch as she walked away and disappeared around a corner. "You
think she's okay?" Joey asked him.

"I don't know," he replied honestly.

"I think you should follow her, Pacey." She took her hand from his and hugged herself
around her stomach.

He looked at her. "What?"

"Go. Talk to her. See if she's okay."

Pacey continued to just look at her, a confused expression on his face.

"Pacey, go." She nudged him towards the direction Andie had taken. "You guys are
friends. You should see if she's okay."

He took a few steps. "Okay…" He nodded, then followed Andie.

Joey stood there with her arms around herself, watching as he walked away, hunger
forgotten.