Lifting her cup of coffee, Joey blew across the rim and took a tentative sip. With a sigh, she glanced around the coffee shop, at least it was less crowded than the B&B. She flipped open her science book and began to read.

"Well, you�re studying. Why am I so not surprised?" Jen grinned at Joey as she slid into the chair opposite hers. "On a Friday night no less."

"Hey," she returned the smile faintly.

Jen glanced over her shoulder at Jack as he approached with two cups of coffee. "Look who I stumbled across."

"Hey, Jo." He smiled, handing Jen her coffee as he sat beside her. "Studying? On a Friday? Shouldn�t you have something better to do? Anything better?"

"So what are your enticing plans for the evening then?" Joey asked, leaning forward in her seat as she shut her book..

"Well, first we thought coffee," Jen held up her latte as evidence.

"And then we figured we'd walk around until something interesting caught our attention, or until we couldn't handle the cold."

"Maybe a movie?" Jen suggested.

"Because we don't do that enough," Joey said dryly.

"You have more enticing plans?" Jack arched an eyebrow.

"And I said maybe a movie...we can always see if we can find something else to do."

"Like?"

"How should I know?" Jen smirked, "You're the one who's lived here all your life."

"I think we're stuck with the movies."

Jack shrugged, "We could always hang out here for a while. People watch and what not."

Joey reached for her coffee. "Okay, this is really depressing."

"Less than two years," Jen said with a smile, "And then we can move on to bigger and better, right?"

Joey held out her cup of coffee with an amused smile. "To two years from now."

"Hey, look who's coming in," Jack gestured through the window, where Pacey and Shelly could be seen coming inside. He held the door open for her, his hand at the dip in her hip.

"I didn't realize he and Shelly were that close," Jen commented.

"She's a total moron," Joey said knowingly as she raised her cup to her lips.

Jack gave Jen a confused look, "She's a what?"

"I'm serious."

"A moron?" Jen repeated. "I didn't even know you knew her."

"Like the fact that she's dating Pacey isn't evidence enough."

"Ouch."

Jack looked less than amused, "Does that mean Andie was a moron?"

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?" Jen asked confused.

Joey bit her lip. "She could have done so much better."

"And Andie couldn't?" Jack pressed, feeling as though he should defend his sister, but not really understanding what had gotten in to Joey.

"Of course, Andie could have and she probably realized that."

Jen flinched, "So I take it we shouldn't invite him over?"

Joey shrugged. "I don't care."

"You seem kinda...mad at him."

"You know the way Pacey and I are."

"Well, they probably wouldn't stay long anyway..." Jack said, waving a hand to catch their attention. Joey took another sip of coffee, casting a glance in their direction.

Pacey noticed them and whispered something to Shelly. She looked over at the table and nodded, blessing him with a soft smile. Their turn came up and they ordered.

"Sure you don't mind, Jo?" Jack asked.

"Why would I mind?"

"Good," Jack smiled.

"Whatever."

Moments later, Pacey and Shelly approached the table. "So I see we're all suffering from the typical Friday evening boredom," Pacey commented, pulling out a chair for Shelly.

"One of the drawbacks of small town living," Jen supplied. "It's moments like these that I miss the city."

"Yeah? Where did you live?" Shelly asked, blowing over the top of her coffee, looking at the blond with genuine interest.

"New York...." Jen glanced at Joey. "City."

"Really?" Shelly perked up, "I've never been. I plan to move there right after grad. I need to get out of this hell hole. Tell us about it, maybe we can live vicariously for the night."

"Yeah, Jen," Joey said, setting her coffee down. "Tell us, I mean what could be more interesting?"

"I'm actually kinda curious," Pacey said sincerely. "I've been thinking about going there myself. I mean, if I'm gonna leave the smallest town on the East coast I might as well move to the largest."

"I think it's really something that needs to be experienced," Jen said with a smile.

"Well, as you can see, we're a few years from doing that yet."

"I'm not sure the circus still visits New York City, Pacey." Joey tilted her head thoughtfully. "Or maybe I'm wrong."

"What's the circus got to do with anything?" Shelly asked, looking between Pacey and Joey.

"Well, how else is Pacey ever going to get to New York?"

Shelly frowned, "That was rude."

"Yeah, well, truth hurts."

"Shel, don't," Pacey put his hand over hers. "It�s not worth it."

"What?" Shelly looked to Pacey, arching her eyebrow at him. "You think you deserve to be talked about like that?"

"Oh...this is not good," Jen whispered to Jack.

Joey shrugged, finishing off her coffee. "He knows its true."

"Really not good," Jack replied, leaning back in his chair, trying to keep out of this.

"Why?" Shelly demanded, "Because you say it, that makes it true? 'Cause he's more than proved himself to me."

"Shelly," Pacey put his hand over hers. "I don't need you to defend me."

"I don't have to say it," Joey retorted. "Everyone knows it."

Shelly glared at the brunette and turned to Pacey, "And you call her your best friend?"

"I did." He nodded, his eyes dark as he took a sip of his coffee.

Joey bit the inside of her cheek. "Just goes to show you how stupid he is."

"Why don't you tell her what else is wrong with me?" Pacey asked, his voice bland. "Might as well get it all out at once."

"Oh, God," Jen whispered, covering her eyes. "I can't look."

Joey bit her lip, and stared down into her coffee. "Whatever."

"No, really." Pacey shook his head, staring hard at her. "Obviously you have her best interests at heart. Seems like you've got plenty to say, sixteen years worth of hating me to fill her in on." No one said anything for a moment, "Would it help if I went over there," he gestured behind his shoulder. "Would it easier if you didn't have to say it to my face? Wait, no, you've been saying it to my face for years. So what's the problem, Jo?"

"I've already said everything I need to say."

"Wow, really? Nothing about how I tried to make a snail menage a trois when I was already failing out of biology? How I lied about sleeping with my English teacher? Why don't you really dig back into the past and tell her out I used to eat glue or chased the girls around the playground and threw worms down their shirts? Who can forget my less than stellar IQ? Or the fact that I wasn't man enough for my girlfriend so she cheated on me with a mental patient?" He took a drink of coffee, "Oh, then there's my sex drive, can't forget about that, huh? Why don't you tell her how I landed Saturday detention our Sophomore year?"

"I don't have to, you just did."

He cocked his lips into a humorless smile, "Nothing you'd like to add? You're the expert, after all."'

"No, I think it's covered."

"Great, now that that's settled," He pushed back his chair, "I think we'll be going. Shel?"

"You're a bitch, Joey Potter." Shelly said, standing up, her eyes narrowed on the other girl. "I don't even know how someone could treat a friend this way. Let alone someone as amazing as Pacey is." With that said, Shelly popped the top of her Iced Carmel Mocha and dumped it in the other girls lap. "There," she smiled. "I hope that cooled you off."

Joey glared, and rose to her feet. "Why don't you cool off?" She grabbed her cup and tossed the rest of her, now cold, coffee at Shelly's face.

Shelly blinked, the dark coffee dripping down her face, "Oh my God," she stared open mouthed at the other girl. "You're in love with him."

"Oh, my God," Joey repeated sarcastically. "You're crazy!"

"Shelly, let's go." Pacey grabbed his coat and put it around her shoulders. "She's right, you are crazy."

"Oh, no," Shelly shook her head, glaring at Joey. "I suspected before, but this just proves it."

"Shelly, you're wrong," Pacey insisted, putting an arm around her to direct her to the door. "She's already proven she hates me with a passion. Let's just go.

She sighed, "Fine. But first..." she curved a hand around Pacey's neck, and pulled his mouth down to hers, hardly hesitating before touching her tongue to his lips, begging entrance to his mouth. He complied without hesitation.

They parted several long moments later, the front of Pacey's shirt now stained with coffee where she'd pressed against him. "Have a nice night, Joey," she smiled smugly.

"Jack, Jen, I'll see you guys later," Pacey smiled at them. "And Jo, I hope I don't." Shelly took his hand and led him out the door.

Joey shook her head, and grabbed her coat. "I have to get out of here."

"You mean you're not going to explain what the hell just happened here?" Jack asked with disbelief.

"I'm sorry." Joey rushed for the door.

Jack looked over at Jen, "Should we go after her?"

"Later. I think she needs to be alone right now."

"Joey?" Dawson's eyes widened as Joey came through his window, dark stains on her shirt and pants. "What happened to you?" He lifted his eyes to her face, his confusion deepening at the desperate look in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Joey's eyes watered and she let her coat drop to the floor as she climbed onto the bed. "Can you not ask me any questions?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course," He nodded, and then paused. "Just one?"

She wiped at her eyes. "What?"

"Do you want something to change into?"

Joey smiled weakly. "Later. Can you just hold me?"

"You don't have to ask," he smiled softly at her and climbed onto the bed, opening his arms.

She crawled into his arms, burying her head against his chest. "Thanks." He rubbed her back smoothly, and sank into the mattress with her. Joey's shoulders shook as she finally broke down into tears. He did his best to comfort her without knowing what the problem was. Murmuring nonsense, he kissed the top of her head, feeling her tears soak into his shirt.

Her tears eventually died down, and she gazed up at him through her lashes, sniffling softly. "Thanks."

He smiled at her, "Let's get you into something that doesn't reek of coffee, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay."

He moved off the bed and pulled open one of his drawers and pulled out an old shirt and a pair of his boxers. "This is pretty much all I have for you. But it should do for the night." He handed them to her, "You hungry? Thirsty? I could go get some food while you change."

She shook her head as she climbed off the bed. "Nah, I'm fine."

"Okay, well, I'm gonna go get something to drink. I'll be right back." He made a quick exit, leaving her alone. Joey grabbed the clothes Dawson had set out for her and went into the bathroom to change.

Dawson returned to his room to find Joey sitting on the bed, and he handed her a can of soda and sat beside her. "So...you gonna tell me what happened?"

She shook her head, taking the soda from him. "No."

"A coffee machine blow up on you?"

"That's as good an excuse as any."

"Joey, you can tell me, ya know. Believe it or not, as much as I talk, I can actually be a pretty good listener. I wont pass judgement or anything."

"I just..." Her gaze dropped to the can in her hand. "Don't want to talk about it."

"Sign language then?"

She smiled faintly. "No."

"Telepathy it is." He smiled at her and closed his eyes, his brow wrinkling. "It's not the coffee machine blowing up...a fight with Bessie?"

She laughed, and shook her head, popping the can open. "Sorry."

"You usually don't cry over a fight with Bessie, but I figured I'd ask." He concentrated, "A collision in a cafe?"

"Sort of."

"Ahh, I'm getting somewhere." He smiled to himself, "With one of the waitresses?"

"Pacey's girlfriend."

"Shelly whats-her-face?" Dawson's eyes flew open.

Joey nodded slowly, taking a sip of soda. "Uh-huh."

"Accidental?" He asked, watching her face carefully.

"No."

"Oh."

"So how are things with you?"

"Not so hot."

Joey frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Well, I have this friend who came over and she started crying and wont tell me the reason. I'm worried about her."

Joey bit her lip, setting her can of soda down and drawing her knees to her chest. "Do you ever miss us?"

"That's--" Dawson straightened in surprise. "That's kind of a loaded question, don't you think?"

"Just curious."

"I miss our friendship, of course." He nodded, "And I'd be lying if I said I don't think about us as more than that sometimes..."

She rested her cheek against her knees, as she turned to look at him. "Can you save me, Dawson?"

He gave her a half smile, "I'd like to try."

She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I need you."

"Anything, Jo." He brushed away her tears, "Tell me what I can do." Slowly her eyes opened, and she gazed at him for a moment, drawing in a soft breath. "You want me to kiss you," he whispered.

She paused, before nodding silently. He nodded, studying her eyes, and leaned forward. He licked his lips before he closed the distance between them.

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