“So, how’d it go?”

Her thumb flipped to the floor even as the corner of her mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. Joey stared at her friend expectantly, smoothing down the sides of her wrinkled skirt. “What are we drinking?”

Danielle grinned and picked up the ladle, dipping it into the clear plastic bowl, dark burgundy liquid dripping over Joey’s hand and the cup held in it. “Don’t know. Kyle’s calling it mystery punch.”

“The only mystery being whether there’s rum or vodka in it?” Joey swallowed the mixture quickly, wincing as the alcohol made a hot trail down her throat. “Both.”

“Well then, mystery solved.” Danielle took a small sip out of her own cup, her nose wrinkling.

Joey surveyed the party around her in silence, rubbing her bare arms. She didn’t know what possessed her to be here. Still. She glanced up towards the stairs, wishing she hadn’t the moment she saw Ben above her, eyes predatory. “We broke up.”

“I figured.” Danielle followed her gaze. “He’s a dick, Jo.”

“Yeah.”

Ben stepped forward, leaning against the stair rail. Scanning the crowd below him, he momentarily locked eyes with Joey, smirked, and moved on to leer casually at the other women in the party. Danielle looked sideways at Joey, her eyes widening. “You fucked him.”

Joey bit her lip guiltily. She poured herself another cup of punch and quickly gulped it down.

“Joey Potter.” Danielle’s jaw dropped.

“There was an equal amount of fuckage between us.” She sighed and tugged at a loose strand of hair from her bun. “I thought he wouldn’t break up with me?”

“That’s a lie. He’s been humiliating you for weeks. This is a good thing, Joey.”

“He dumped me before I even...” She trailed off and smiled sadly.

“Oh, Hon,” Danielle whispered sympathetically, draping her arm over Joey’s shoulders.

Joey shrugged and dipped her cup into the punch bowl, forgoing the ladle completely. Another drink washed down her throat quickly. “Let us not speak of this again,” she demanded, licking the dripping sticky liquid off her palm.

“You know I can’t promise that.” Danielle laughed and broke into a wide grin. “It’ll be okay. But I think you better slow down on the punch, before you float away.”

“Shit.”

“Already hitting you, right? You’re a lightweight, Joey. Always remember to-”

“Oh fuck.”

“Jo?” Danielle watched her friend pale noticeably even in the dim flickering light of the busy frat house. She searched out Ben and found him in the opposite corner from where Joey’s wide eyes were trained. Craning her neck over Joey’s shoulder, all she saw was a small cluster of girls, a couple guys, and another one of Ben’s oafish buddies. “Are you okay?”

“Damn, damn, damn, damn,” she gritted through clenched teeth. It couldn’t be them. It just couldn’t. There was no way they would both be there, together, on the very night when she’d broken up with her latest disappointment. Shifting her eyes down to the punch bowl, she wondered if she could drink straight out of it. “Damn.”

Danielle waved a hand in front of Joey’s eyes. “What is it?”

“Pacey,” she managed, swallowing thickly, “and Dawson.”

“Where?” Danielle swiveled towards the entry way, raising up on her tip toes. When that didn’t work, she jumped in the air twice. “I don’t see-”

“Don’t do that.” Joey’s jaw dropped in horror. Pacey’s eyes locked on her leaping friend and followed her descent back to the ground flickering quickly when he caught Joey a step in front of Danielle. His lips parted and he licked them. “Oh God.”

“I think he saw me. Is that one Pacey?” Danielle tugged her sweatshirt back down over her hips, smiling curiously.

Nodding, she dropped her eyes to her feet, lurching forward at the sudden movement. Blinking rapidly, the room seemed too loud and suddenly very bright and hazy. The music pounded at her skull as she threw her head back, knocking down another cup of punch that dribbled down her chin and snaked a sticky trail along her neck. She tipped her hand towards the bathroom, brushing past Danielle without a second glance.

Finally making her way into the bathroom, she closed the door with a grateful sigh and slumped up against the wooden counter below the sink. The cool tiles stung her bare thighs and she brought her knees up to her chest, her arms looping around them. Resting her head back, she trembled against the tears welling in the back of her lids. “I’m so stupid.”

The quiet knock on the door brought only a lethargic glance from Joey. “Who’s it?” She slurred.

Instead of a response the brass knob turned slowly and there he was, smiling softly down at her. “Hey Jo.”

She scowled up at him, at a loss for words. Even a simple greeting. He shut the door behind him and sat down next to her, their knees barely brushing each other. “Pacey,” she murmured sulkily.

He smiled easily and cast a sidelong glance her way. She watched him, totalling up the differences she could make out through half closed eyes. His hair was short and slightly darker. The bright blue button down shirt was crisp and tailored. His jeans were old and faded. Pacey’s eyes were bluer than ever. Or maybe it was just the shirt. He caught her mid-appraisal and a blush colored his cheeks ever so slightly. “How you doing?”

She looked at her feet. “Fine.”

He nodded and stared at a nondescript spot on the wall opposite them. She yawned sleepily and then bit her lip at her actions, suddenly aware of him beside her. He chuckled low in his throat, the husky sound making her heart tighten. She sighed in defeat, letting her body slump lower against the counter, not bothering to tug at her skirt as it rode up her hips.

Pacey eyed the creamy expanse of her thigh with a measured breath. “You look good, Potter.”

“So do you,” she said, eyes downcast, worrying her lower lip between her teeth.

“Thank ya, kindly.” He grinned. “How’s school going?”

She shrugged, eying him warily. “Same old.”

Pacey was silent for a moment, as if waiting for her to say more. “I’m in school too. In Capeside.” He glanced down at Joey, only to see her examining her nails carefully. “Community college.”

“Okay.”

“That’s it?”

She sighed heavily, turning pained brown eyes upon him finally. “What did you come here for, Pacey?”

He stared at her, eyes wide and hurt. “I just wanted to see you, Jo.”

“You’ve seen me,” she said dully.

“I’m sorry?” His eyes flashed and he struggled to keep his tone even. “What did I do to deserve that?”

“Nothing.” She struggled to stand, holding her arms out to grasp the counter. Joey turned the sink faucet and scooped water up in her hands, splashing her face with the cool spray. "If you've come to hurt me, it's gonna be awhile. There's a line tonight."

He looked up at her in surprise. “I didn’t come to upset you.”

“Good, because I’ve already been dumped pretty brutally tonight. I was beginning to think you might be the teensiest bit jealous about being upstaged.”

“Upstaged?”

“Worst dumping ever.” She smiled self-deprecatingly. “I mean, no offense, the prom was bad. But tonight, my ass really feels kicked to the proverbial curb.”

“Your boyfriend dumped you,” Pacey said slowly, realization dawning, “You have a boyfriend.”

“Not anymore,” she muttered. Joey pulled out the elastic band that held her bun in place. Combing her fingers through the snarls in her hair, she winced at her image in the mirror. “Hell of a night.”

“I’m sorry.” Pacey stood and placed a gentle hand on the small of her back.

She pulled away from him as if burned. “Don’t be. Why are you here? With him?”

“Dawson wanted to visit an old friend. Just tagged along, myself.” He attempted to face her, slipping between Joey and the tiled counter, but she whipped around to face the opposite wall. “What’s with the jumpy evasive crap? You used to be a lot funner drunk.”

“Three of my very worst breakups are gathered in the same house. I’m drunk and dumped. Excuse me for not being perky.” She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. “Go find Andie. She’s the happy, peppy, pick-em-upper, ex.”

“Not in the mood for a reunion, huh? And damn, I was thinking I’d go all Jack McPhee.” Her eyebrow arched at him quizzically. “And come out of the closet.”

“That’s not funny.”

He held to a serious look for about ten seconds before the deep laughter rumbled through his chest. “No, but the look on your face was. Priceless, actually.”

She put her hands on her hips with a frown. She reached out to hit him and pitched forward when he ducked out of her way. “You jerk.”

“Don’t worry, Jo. Still straight as ever.” His voice was low and sexy, his mouth inches away from her neck as he spoke into her ear. Pacey rested a steadying hand on her hip.

He leaned in to brush his lips against her cheek and recoiled with a wrinkled nose and horror stricken eyes. “Jesus, Joey, you smell like-”

“Alcohol, I know,” she cut in crossly, “ I don’t need the ‘it never solves your problems’ speech tonight.”

“That’s not what I was going to say,” Pacey said softly. He caressed her cheek lightly with his calloused palm. “You smell like se-”

“Please don’t say it.”

He nodded. “Yeah well...”

“Yeah well,” she parroted, not unkindly. A rueful grin brightened her dark features fleetingly. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, bowing her head and watching him beneath hooded eyes. “So, what’ve you been doing?”

“Nothing much.” He cleared his throat. “School, work. Hanging out with Dawson.” He stared at her expectantly.

“Hmm.” She coughed and scratched her thigh. Ran her hands through her hair. “And what’s Dawson doing in Capeside?”

“He’s at home for quarter break. Just a couple weeks. It’s funny,” he said, tugging at the collar of his shirt, “how it’s been like old times. Me and Dawson. Movie night. Hanging out by the docks.”

“Old habits die hard,” Joey observed dryly. She rolled her neck back and her eyes fell on a discarded cup of punch from a previous visitor. Without reservation she grabbed it, holding the blue plastic cup in both hands and raising it to her lips. Pacey stared at her, his mouth opening a bit in surprise. Ignoring him, she downed it. “Must be a hoot playing sidekick again.”

“Bitter that he didn’t ask you to play soulmate first?” He tossed back, eyes narrowing.

“No,” she admitted honestly. He released a grateful sigh and she giggled in spite of herself. For a minute or so they simply stared, happy enough to be in each other’s company. Then Joey’s eyebrows furrowed critically, her lips turning down. “That’s not what he came here for, is it?”

Pacey looked at the ceiling. There was an odd purplish spot on it. “I don’t-no. I think that’s over, Jo.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She nodded a few times too many and laughed, her smile bright and silly. Joey moved her hand to cup Pacey’s chin. She giggled again. “Got your chin, Witter.”

“That you do.” He grinned, enjoying her touch despite the obviously drunken behavior. “What ya gonna do with it?”

“Don’t change the subject,” she wagged her finger at him, dropping her hand from his face.

“What’s the subject?” Pacey pulled the toilet seat down and sat on the edge of it, watching her with amusement.

“Sarah Jenkins.”

“Sarah Jenkins?” He stared at her blankly.

“My roommate,” she replied as if it was obvious. Joey turned in front of him, literally spinning in circles, her voice distant as she spoke. “Dawson came to visit me. Months ago,” she held her arms out wide, “and he lost his, his,” her forehead wrinkled as she tried to remember the word, “flower! His flower. With her.” She laughed loudly.

Pacey forced a chuckle uncomfortably. “I remember him saying something. To that effect.”

“Our Dawson is not so innocent anymore,” she murmured sadly. Joey laughed again and it grew into an almost hysterical fit of giggles that made her chest hurt more than her heart hurt that day. “Actually, he’s a sheep in wolf fur.” She giggled again uproariously. “He fucked Sarah. In my bed.”

Pacey’s eyes went to hers immediately. The bare pain in them made him want to cry. “Jo.”

She laughed and wiggled her fingers in front of his eyes. The laughter ended in a strangled sob and she shrugged her shoulders and flailed her arms about, backing away from him until she hit the door with a bleak thump. “Sarah’s sheets were in the wash. But Dawson Leery is so prepared. He’s a goddamn boy scout. Joey’s bed is free.”

“I can understand the ick factor,” he whispered, inching closer to her on the tile floor. “But was it about where he did it or...” He paused, watching her silently.

“Spit it out,” she said sullenly, sliding down the door into a crumpled ball.

“The absence of you in the bed.”

She bit her lip. And sighed. Beaten. “When are you gonna get it through your head that I don’t want Dawson anymore?”

“When you don’t care who his first is.”

“It’s not about that.” A tear fell down her cheek and she rubbed at it, her pout childlike.

“It’s not?” Pacey watched her, his expression dubious.

“No.” She shook her head and looked down at her feet. Her voice was quiet when she spoke again and Pacey leaned closer to hear her above the distant sounds of loud rock music from the party. “It’s just...he kept doing this thing where he comes back and acts like he’s in love with me. And he’s not. But he keeps convincing me and making me feel guilty and stuck and I wanted it to be over, but not...If he doesn’t want me, why can’t he just let me go?” Pacey smiled sadly and she laughed hollowly, her tone dismissive. “Why bother asking you, right? Nice that now you can travel in pairs to mess with my head. I wonder, do you circle the date in red with a heart? Or is it more of a whim thing? Let’s drag Joey through the mud today. Bitch deserves it.”

“I would never do that.” He rested his hand on her knee, rubbing slow circles around the bare skin.

“No?” She looked up into his eyes. “Isn’t that what you’re doing here?”

He shook his head and managed a strained, “No.”

“What then?” She climbed into his lap like a tired little girl and wrapped her arms around his neck, delighted when he pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head lovingly. “Pacey?”

“I came to tell you I love you. And I miss you. I wanted to know if you’d consider,” his voice cracked slightly, and he swallowed nervously, “if you’d go out with me, Potter.”

“You’re asking me out on a date?” Her voice was shyly sweet, uncertainty etched in every syllable, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck to hide her rising blush. “Really?”

“Really.” He grinned, pulling her back to hold her face in his hands. He kissed her forehead and dropped another butterfly kiss on the tip of her nose. “Would you say yes?”

She smiled lopsidely and pressed a sloppy kiss on the corner of Pacey’s mouth. “Yeah.”

Pacey swiftly brought Joey flush with his body and caught her lips in a dizzying kiss. When he finally pulled back to take a heaving breath he was met with a suspicious frown. “What?”

“You’re just sick of Dawson and want to piss him off, don’t you?”

He laughed loudly. “I am a little tired of movie night. But I miss you too. Thought I’d kill two birds with one stone, y’know. Are we still on?”

“Just so long as we can hide in the bathroom until he goes back to Capeside.” She grinned impishly and was rewarded with a soft kiss on the cheek and more laughter.

“It’s a deal, Potter.”