Author's Notes: Thinking of that Bee Gees song title… Just to clear the air of any doubts and confusion – Dawson is absent for the rest of the summer as he goes to Philadelphia for an internship at his mother's new place of work. I've been thinking about Season Two and how it got so involved in couplehood that it almost never conveyed any interaction between the various pairs of friends, such as Pacey and Jen, Jen and Joey and of course, Pacey and Joey. I don't wish to make those two jump into an unrealistic romance, so first, I have to establish a credible friendship. Be patient with me.

"Take care, man."

Pacey wrapped his friend in a tight embrace and gave him a pat on the back.

"I'll see you in ten weeks," Dawson replied.

They moved apart and he picked up his bags as the final call for his bus came over the loudspeakers once more. He looked around one last time as he searched in vain for a figure he hoped to see.

"She's not coming, is she?" he said quietly.

"I'm sorry," was all Pacey could say.

"Just watch out for her, okay?"

"I will."

Amidst their good-byes, they both missed the silhouette of a tall brunette, half-hidden behind a tree on the opposite side of the street as she struggled not to cry.

Pacey walked the hallway outside Mr. Milo's office for the umpteenth time as he awaited the eventual outcome of his sophomore year.

The door opened and Mr. Milo walked out.

"Mr. Witter, I will see you now."

*****

At the Potters' residence, Joey wasn't any less anxious.

"Joey, stop pacing! You're giving me a headache."

"Where is he?" She stretched over the kitchen sink to look out the window. "He should have been here by now."

"Calm down. He probably got caught up in traffic."

Joey gave her a look that said it all. "This is Capeside, Bessie."

She shrugged. "Just trying to help," she said as she resumed feeding Alexander who was sitting on her lap.

Joey pulled out a chair and tried to settle herself down but she was up and jumping when she heard a car pull up. "Did you hear that? He's here."

She ran out of the house before she had time to overanalyze the situation and conceal her anxiety and nervousness. Racing down the front steps, she met his eyes just as he got out of the truck.

Pacey was contemplating how he should break the news to her as he tried to keep a straight face but the minute he saw her running toward him enthusiastically, he broke into a smile.

She saw it in his eyes then. For the first time in the longest while, she squealed with delight and nearly tackled him to the ground as she jumped into his arms and hugged him. He started to laugh. Inside the house, Bessie heard her sister scream in joy and grinned.

Things were starting to look up.

"What's she saying? Let me talk to her."

Pacey watched Joey mouth "What's going on" as she tried to stay out of the way of the horde of shoppers on this busy Saturday afternoon in Boston.

"Andie wants to talk to you," he yelled over the noise of cars honking and the impatient man in queue for the pay phone they were using.

He handed her the phone and walked to the shop directly in front of them and started waving excitedly past the mannequins in the window display.

"Hi, Andie."

"Joey, thank you so much for helping him with the finals." Joey could hear the grin and Andie's usual perkiness on the other line and could not help but smile at the latter's optimism. "Thanks for taking care of him."

Joey watched Pacey as he made a funny face at a young boy, who was walking by, carrying a balloon. The child started to laugh and Joey smile's grew even broader.

"Err…I wouldn't say this to him, but really, he's been the one taking care of me."

He was soon joined by Jack, who began gesturing wildly to Joey that he wanted to speak to his sister, and Jen, whose hands were occupied with bags, coming out of the shop.

"I haven't spent that much in ages!" she remarked, lifting her purchases and beaming proudly. "And it was worth it."

"You go, Jen!" Pacey mocked in light humor.

And she curtsied. Jack was now on the phone with Andie and waved Jen over. Thrusting her bags at Pacey and Joey, who had just walked over to where they were standing, she said, "Help me with these for a moment, will you?"

Neither of them had the chance to object as they were instantly flooded with bags of clothes and shoes.

"Sure, why not?" Joey said.

Glancing over at her, he commented, "You're not regretting this, are you?"

"Asking Jack and Jen along?"

He nodded.

"No, she replied honestly, "not at all."

"That's good."

"Pacey, this trip was to celebrate your official promotion to junior year of high school. What matters is who you wanted to come along."

"It's been so long since we've actually gone out as a group. Even though some of us couldn't be here, I wanted today to be great," he said, observing Jack and Jen, taking turns to tell Andie about the summer so far and the man in the queue, who looked like he was about to pull his hair out.

She sobered as he had inadvertently brought up Dawson.

He saw her expression. "I miss him too," he continued. He hadn't the time to say more as Jack called out to him, "Pacey, she's got to go."

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what he was saying to his girlfriend before he bade her good-bye.

"I love you." Joey whispered those words as she felt the ache in her heart that had been left behind by those words gone missing and the boy from across the creek who used to say them, for far too long.

The streets got quieter as the hours went by. The four of them were exhausted from walking around the city and decided to find a nice place to have dinner.

Jen held on to Pacey's arm as she dragged her tired feet each step of the way. She was so fatigued, he practically had to lift her in order to move.

"Serves you right for going crazy with the summer sales," he teased. He turned back to look at Jack and Jen who were a few feet behind, shaking their heads and laughing at Jen.

It grew a little chillier and Joey snuggled closer to Jack as they kept walking. She felt happier being surrounded by her friends and was glad she hadn't chosen to coop herself up in the house in misery.

"Joey, I know we haven't really had the chance to talk but I want you to know I'm here anytime you need to."

She touched his arm in reassurance. 'I know, Jack."

He replied with a kiss to her forehead. "I'm glad you and Pacey haven't been left individually alone too much to dwell on matters."

"He's been a great help," she admitted. "But if you ever tell him that, I'll deny it," she added in a less serious tone.

He made the motion of zipping his lips. "Not a word, I promise. We all know how Joey Potter could never be seen losing an argument to Pacey Witter."

Joey poked him in the ribs and he yelped.

Pacey and Jen paused in their stride when they heard the noise.

"What's going on?" Jen called out.

"I stepped on his foot accidentally," was Joey's reply. "He'll be fine."

Jen turned her attention back to Pacey. "Where were we?"

"How's the new living arrangement been going?"

"Really well, actually. Jack's a terribly neat person."

"And the situation with your Grams?"

"Things feel different but they're definitely for the better," she assured him. "This trip was a great idea. I'm glad I got invited to come along."

"We're glad you could make it."

"We?"

"I came up with the idea but Joey was the first one to suggest we invite you and Jack."

Jen was genuinely surprised. "She actually said that?"

"Yeah, she did. Joey doesn't hate you, you know."

"I doubt she likes me either…but that's not what's on my mind. How is she and Dawson?"

"I just hate to see two people like them who deserve to be together, being pulled apart by circumstances like that."

"And how about you?" she cautiously asked. "How have you been?"

"I've had to adjust without Andie and it hasn't been easy." He sighed. "It feels different but I'm getting the hang of it," he honestly said. "She sounds so much better each time on the phone."

"I'm glad."

"So am I. She'll be home soon."

They stopped walking and found themselves in front of a simple yet elegantly decorated restaurant.

"Hey guys!" Pacey waited for Jack and Joey to catch up before asking, "How do you feel about Italian?"

"Joey, you can go sleep if you're tired."

"Someone's got to keep you awake with those two-", she gestured toward the sleeping figures in the back seats, "-completely knocked out." She continued to fiddle with the radio dial, trying to find a station that wasn't so dull.

"It's all right. If I get sleepy, I'll wake Jack up and he'll take over."

"Pacey, just drive," Joey said, ignoring his suggestion.

They were an hour's drive away from arriving back at Capeside and Pacey was at the wheel since Jack had driven most of the way to Boston.

"I need a sip of water, Joey."

She twisted the cap off a bottle of water and handed it to him. Taking his eyes off the road for a quick second, he gulped a mouthful of clear liquid and some of it dripped down his chin. He handed the bottle back.

"That was some sip," she commented. "You're a real klutz."

"Gee, thanks." Then, he wiped his chin with the back of his free hand and in turn, cleaned it on his shirt just to further irritate her.

"That was the Neanderthal way," he joked.

She wrinkled her nose at him.

He laughed but lowered his voice when he noticed Jen stirring in the rearview mirror. "Lighten up, Joey."

"What do you think I've been doing so far this summer? It takes a lot to tolerate you," she said sarcastically.

Pacey mockingly slapped the side of his head. "Oh! So that's what that was?" he exclaimed exaggeratedly.

Joey tried to stifle the breath of air that would surely turn into a snort of laughter if she let it out.

She failed.

"Gotcha," he said triumphantly.

"Just drive, Pacey. Just drive."

To be continued…

Please send all comments and suggestions to: pacey@hockeymail.com

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