“So how is everything? You an Audrey doing alright?” Joey Potter asked her long time friend Pacey Witter. She had just gotten back from Paris and after watching movies on end and lounging around, she decided to call Pacey.

“Her parents are horrible Joe.” Pacey sighed.

“Yeah I met her mom. Not too pretty.”

“They make my family look like the Brady Bunch minus Alice.” Joey laughed at Pacey’s comparison.

“And the scary thing Pace, is that I believe that’s true.” Pacey chuckled.

“I saw Andie.” Joey decided to change the subject.

“Really? How is good ol’ Andie doing?” Joey could hear the nostalgia in his voice.

“She’s great Pace. She’s living with her boyfriend right now and he’s so sweet.”

“Oh wow, good for her.” there was a pause.

“Thinking about Audrey?” Joey asked.

“Huh? No…Yeah. She went out with an old friend tonight. Derek something. I didn’t like him.” Pacey grumbled.

“Pacey if Audrey was going out a pumpkin you wouldn’t like it.”

“That is not true.” Pacey argued.

“Oh really?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t be jealous of a pumpkin. A squash maybe, but not a pumpkin.” Joey laughed and rolled her eyes at Pacey’s jealous antics.

“I really care about her joe…” Pacey’s voice trailed off.

“That’s great Pacey.” Joey told him.

“But…”

“Wait, there’s a but??” Joey said worriedly.

“Yeah.”

“Well what is it?”

“Uh…well, see that’s when it gets complicated.” Pacey’s voice was strained. Joey sat down in a chair and set the phone on her shoulder.

“Pacey you can tell me anything. You know that. I’m here for you.”

“I know Joe, and thanks. But I’m not sure I can bring this out into the open yet. It’s been in the back of my mind this whole damn time.”

“Well when you’re ready to talk about it I’m here.”

“Ok. Thanks again. I should go, Audrey should be home soon and I wanted to light some candles and stuff, ya know, make her forget that other guy.” Pacey cleared his throat. Joey laughed and rolled her eyes at him.

“Ok Pace, Oh wait, when are you gonna be back here in Capeside?”

“Next week.”

“Ok, we should get together.”

“Of course.”

“Ok, well I’ll call you tomorrow Pace.”

“Alrighty. Love ya Joe.”

“I love you too, Pace.”

The Next Week

Joey awoke to a knocking on her door. She opened one eye and looked at her clock, 7:45??

“Oh go away.” Joey put her head back under the covers. But the next thing she knew her door was being opened.

“I said-” But once she saw that it was Pacey she went quiet. Her lips curved up into a smile and she got out of bed.

“You couldn’t have called first?” Joey yawned.

“I thought I’d come and surprise ya.” Pacey grinned.

“Yeah? Well you did a good job. Come here.” Joey opened her arms and Pacey wrapped his own arms around her in a warm hug.

“So how was your trip?” Joey asked sitting back down on her bed. She patted an area beside her allowing Pacey to sit next to her.

“Long. Long and hot.” Pacey fell back on Joey’s bed and she lifted an eyebrow.

“When did you get in?”

“Three hours ago.”

“what?! Pacey you should be home in bed!”

“See that’s what I think too. But mom and dad took a vacation and left all of the doors locked. And Dougie is nowhere to be found. So I came here.” Pacey showed a grin and Joey sighed, but smiled.

“Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll make us some breakfast.” Joey stretched.

“Sounds great. Where’s Bessy?”

“She and Bodie and Alexander went to the grand canyon.” Joey shrugged.

“What? Why? It’s a big hole n the ground. Not to mention it’s blistering hot out there.”

“It’s supposed to be fun.”

“Fun?”

“Fun.”

“Whatever.” Pacey got up and took his shirt off.

“Hello!” Joey cried out.

“What? It isn’t like you’ve never seen me with my shirt off.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to see you with your shirt off.”

“Ouch.” Pacey said coyly and began to unbutton his jeans.

“Pacey!”

“I’m just kidding Joe.” Pacey laughed. “I’ll be out in 15.”

“Ok.” Joey laughed and made her way to the kitchen.