Disclaimer: I don't own them, someone else does. (O.K., so I took a short cut with the disclaimer, so sue me.) No wait! Don't sue me, here is the long version: All the characters in this fanfiction and the places belong to Kevin Williamson, Columbia-Tristar Television, the WB network and some other people I don't know about (Sorry you guys). I am not connected in any way with Dawson's Creek, I am just writing this for fun, I am not making a profit at all.

Author's note: This story begins just after Dawson and Jen have broken up.

'So whose beach party is it that we're going to?' Joey asked.

'I don't know,' Jen replied. 'The guy next to me in English was talking about it. He said it was going to be the best party this town has ever seen this side of the new millennium.'

'Not very difficult to achieve,' Pacey mused, looking in the rearview mirror. He had "borrowed' his dad's car to take the four of them to a beach party Jen had heard about. He knew Joey was not that keen on going (when was she ever) but he wasn't so sure about Dawson. He figured this wasn't really Dawson's scene, Dawson would follow Jen anywhere though.

Pacey pulled the car over into the parking lot and everyone piled out.

'Geez!' Jen exclaimed. Dawson was also surprised at the number of people on the beach. They spread along the entire length of sand and right in the middle of the crowds, a huge bonfire was licking hungrily at the inky blue sky. Still, he was prepared to stick by Jen's side no matter what happened tonight. He was still working on his plans to get her back.

"Shall we go join the fun?' Pacey asked. Joey gritted her teeth. It was now or never she supposed, although never would have suited her much better.

*******

Joey sat alone on the wooden bench shivering. It was a chilly night but she couldn't bring herself to go up and dance like the others. She knew she could always go stand by the bonfire but then the temptation to throw herself in would be too great. The minute they had hit the beach Pacey had raced off to dance with a beautiful blond. Joey had had a laugh to herself watching Pacey be rejected by that girl. And the next girl. And the next. Still he was doing quite well with the current one. He had been with her for minutes.

God, get a grip girl, how sad am I ? Joey thought to herself shaking her head. She really was pathetic. Almost as pathetic as Dawson who had been chatting with Joey until he saw Jen with Cliff and ran off to make an uncomfortable threesome.

*******

"So, you wanna dance?' Cliff asked Jen.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, dancing, on the sand, I mean,' Dawson cut in.

"Why not? Everyone else is managing,' Cliff said, glaring at Dawson.

Dawson was about to make some lame retort when Jen said: "Dawson, I'm kinda thirsty, would you get me a drink please?'

"Sure Dawson,' said, delighted that Jen had noticed he was there. He ran to get three glasses of punch but when he returned, Jen and Cliff were gone. He went over to talk to Joey who was getting increasingly depressed as time went on.

*******

Pacey was having a great time dancing and lavishing the Witter charm upon unsuspecting girls. It was nearly midnight and he hadn't stopped dancing yet! The song ended and the girl he had been dancing with whirled out of his arms to move onto some new guy. So he grabbed the arm of the girl next to him and pulled her in for the next dance.

"Oh! It's you.' Pacey went rigid.

"None other.' Abby smiled coyly as they continued dancing. "So have you heard the rumor yet?'

"Nope but I am sure you are going to tell me aren't you Abby?'

"You betcha! Especially since it concerns a certain Miss Josephine Potter and a certain guy named Warren.'

Pacey sighed "Abby that is so old, everyone knows Warren just made that story up to boost his ego.'

"Please Pacey, you under estimate me. Obviously I'll have to update you. Today Warren told me that he's gonna have Joey tonight. Do you know what that means?'

"Yeah, Warren's a wishful thinker.'

"No!' Abby frowned. "Warren and Joey are going to do it! They're gonna have sex!'

"You are so full of it, Abby,' Pacey said.

Just then the dance ended and Abby disappeared

*******

Dawson was still whining to Joey about Jen and Cliff while scanning the crowd for any sign of the couple. At this point Warren approached the bench and grabbed a handful of potato chips from the refreshment table.

"Oh, hey,' he said noticing Joey and Dawson. "I've been looking for you all night Joey.'

Just then Dawson snapped out of his people gazing and offered Warren the third glass of punch he had been stuck with since Jen and Cliff did a runner. He and Joey had drunk the first two glasses.

"Actually , I wanted to have a word with Joey,' Warren replied

"Sure,' Joey said quickly getting up. Even Warren's company was better than Dawson's at that moment. Besides she wanted to show him what it was like to be abandoned at a party. Dawson, however, didn't seem to care.

*******

"So what did you want to talk to me about?' Joey asked as she and Warren drifted away from the party.

"Walk with me for a while? I need some air' Warren said leading them towards the woods that ran along the edge of the Creek. Joey followed obligingly.

"What I have to say isn't easy,' Warren began slowly. "I want to apologize for, ya know, the rumors and stuff. I know it was pathetic and I'm sorry.'

"Hey , it's OK. I just wanna forget that ever happened' Joey said, giving him her typical Joeyish half smile.

"Aha,' Warren said nervously, "there's more. I've been thinking a lot about you recently Joey and...' He leaned in and kissed her.

"What!' Joey was startled. She pulled away. "You know I don't feel that way about you Warren.' He kissed her again and Joey slapped him. "What part of "no' don't you understand?' she demanded.

"Oh come on, Joey. You know you want me,' Warren said impatiently, rolling his eyes.

"Where do you get off Warren?' Joey shouted angrily at him. "I wouldn't want you if you were the last guy on earth!' Joey's last statement stopped Warren in his tracks for a moment before he retaliated just as loudly: "Yeah, that reminds me. You told everyone at school that you wouldn't have sex with me if I was the last man alive. Do you know how that made me feel???!!! To be made a fool of by you???!!! Joey, you totally RUINED my reputation!'

"I wouldn't have had to have said that if YOU hadn't told everyone at school that I had had sex with you, which, incidentally was a blatant lie and completely ruined MY reputation!'

"I didn't ruin your reputation Joey!' Warren spit the words out. " I made you look good, I gave you credentials and you had to spoil it for everyone!'

Joey was about to scream back at him when Warren pressed her against a tree and pinned her there by her wrists. "How can you say that you wouldn't have sex with me if I was the last man alive if you don't even know what you are missing?' Warren sneered leaning towards her.

"Warren, let me go!' Joey gasped, trying to sound calm. She could feel the rough tree bark through her clothes and she was beginning to feel very, very claustrophobic.

"I don't think so Joey' Warren growled, throwing her down onto the ground.

*******

Pacey was beginning to get tired and he was suddenly aware of how hungry he was. He limped over to the refreshment table to get some food and to see how Joey was. He knew that she would not move from the bench until it was time to go. Joey, unlike Pacey, was not really an extrovert type of person. To Pacey's surprise though, it was Dawson he found sitting alone on the bench.

"A bit of a role reversal there,' he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?' Dawson asked looking up.

"Nothing,' Pacey replied hurriedly. "So, has everyone ditched you?'

"Uh huh. I don't suppose you've seen Jen and Cliff about have you?'

Pacey shook his head.

"Oh.' Dawson was thoroughly deflated. "Here Pacey, you can have this punch, I got it for Jen but she still hasn't showed'. Pacey was about to refuse, he was always slightly suspicious of party punch then he thought, what the hell. His dad was gonna go ape shit at him for taking the car and coming home at three in the morning anyway, so why not get out of his head on alcohol as well while he was at it?

"So,' Pacey asked Dawson even though he was sure a brick wall could be more attentive. "Where's Joey? Don't tell me she's decided to have some fun for once.'

Dawson shook his head absent mindedly. "Uh, I don't know. She went somewhere with Warren.'

"What?!' Pacey was alarmed as he remembered Abby's words. "How long ago did they leave? Where did they go?'

"Whoa, what is this? Twenty questions? Geez. I don't know....... they left about.....half an hour ago.....that way......into the woods.'

"Are you sure?' Dawson nodded. "I gotta go,' Pacey said.

Dawson only had time to be bewildered for a minute at Pacey's strange behavior when he spotted Jen and Cliff and ran off to join them.

*******

Pacey ran through the trees panting. He was exhausted but he knew he had to keep going. "Joey!' he called but he was breathing so hard that his voice was barely louder than the crackling and snapping of the leaves and twigs under his feet. He stopped for a moment to lean against a tree and get his breath back. That was when he heard it. A scream as sharp as the needle pointed stars pierced the night sky.

******

Joey struggled and kicked Warren who was tearing at her top. He slapped her face in an effort to subdue her but she kept on trying to get away from him.

"Stop trying to resist me' he grinded out from between clenched teeth and slapped her again several times until her arms went limp and she stopped trying to push him off her. Her cheekbones were scratched and so was her neck and shoulders from where he had been trying to rip her clothes off. Blood trickled down her temple from a cut made when she hit the ground. Now she felt dizzy and was finding it difficult to focus. She felt as though she had no strength left to live, let alone fight.

Then suddenly she could feel some unseen force drag Warren off her. A small wail escaped her lips. It felt like part of her soul was being dragged away too. "Pacey,' she murmured seeing his blurred figure.

Pacey heard her speak his name and turned to look at her. In that split-second, Warren wriggled out of Pacey's grasp - the pair had been wrestling on the ground next to Joey although she was not aware of this - and pulled himself on top of Joey again. This time, though, he had a knife which he had produced from his jacket pocket.

"Get back!' Warren hissed at Pacey, holding the knife close against Joey's throat. "Walk on by, pretend you never saw us, this never happened.'

"You know I can't do that Warren,' Pacey said trying not to show how scared he was. It was obvious that Warren too was scared and also completely out of it but the difference was, he had managed to get control of the situation.

"I said go! Or are you just going to stand there and watch like some sort of pervert?' Warren's voice was low and menacing.

"I think you know who the pervert is here,' Pacey said, his eyes flashing angrily.

Warren growled and turned his attention back to Joey. She now had no problem focusing and her eyes were wide and frightened. She hadn't fully grasped the situation but she could feel the cold hard line of metal against her neck. Warren's hand slowly slid up her side.

"Wait!' Pacey cried . "Let me speak to her first!'

Warren grunted and Pacey turned to her. "Joey, are you OK. Has he hurt you?.'

Joey didn't answer, she was painfully aware of her body but not of how to make it think or speak.

"Go on Joey, answer him,' Warren challenged, knowing what Pacey meant. He leaned towards her face and hissed: "Tell him what he wants to hear, tell him while it's still the truth!'

This was the breaking point. All the energy that Joey had in her rushed to her left hand. She grabbed Warren's right wrist which was clutching the knife and wrenched it away from her throat. Pacey kicked the knife away from Warren's hand giving Warren a nasty cut. Pacey took advantage of the sudden pain that seared through Warren to push him off Joey. Pacey held Warren against the ground with one hand round Warren's neck. He pulled back his fist to punch Warren then stopped. "Warren, your fly's down.'

Warren, gulped for breath and pulled his zipper up, confused at Pacey's sudden diversion. Then Pacey punched him, hard. Blood poured out Warren's mouth as he staggered to his feet. He grabbed his knife off the ground and ran.

Pacey knelt down at Joey's side. "Joey, can you hear me?'

*******

Dawson was beginning to get the distinct impression that he was not wanted. Jen was fine. She seemed oblivious to the tension between the two guys. Cliff, on the other hand, took every opportunity to direct a cutting remark Dawson's way. This bites, Dawson thought and then said aloud: "Jen, do you wanna see if we can find Pacey and Joey and head back home now, I'm beat.'

"Sure,' Jen replied. She turned apologetically to Cliff and said: "I still haven't done my History homework and grams is gonna be furious with me for staying out so late. I just hope she didn't wait up for me. I don't think I could handle that "reverting back to your old ways' lecture again.'

Cliff nodded as Dawson led Jen away but he was obviously pissed.

"So, did you have a good time?' Jen asked Dawson.

"Oh yeah,' he shrugged nonchalantly, "I danced with quite a few girls actually,' Dawson prayed that she didn't know he was lying.

Jen smiled, biting her lip. "That's great Dawson, I'm glad that you've moved on.' Dawson pasted a huge fake smile on his face.

"Ya know,' Jen said suddenly changing the subject just before Dawson was going to, he felt a little uncomfortable with the previous one. "Almost everyone has gone now and I don't see Joey or Pacey anywhere.'

"Well Pacey's car is still here,' Dawson said, relieved.

"I wonder how long we'll have to wait for them to show up. I'm kinda cold.'

"I could give you a lift if you like,' Cliff offered as he approached the parking lot where the pair stood.

"That'd be great, Cliff,' Jen gushed.

"Yeah thanks,' Dawson said reluctantly.

Cliff scowled. He hadn't meant to include Dawson but he wasn't going to retract the offer now and risk upsetting Jen.

*******

Joey opened her eyes. "Pacey,' she said meekly. He pushed her hair gently away from her face. "Aha?'

"I never thought I would hear myself say this to you but, thanks.'

Pacey smiled and gingerly touched the cut on her forehead. "He beat you up pretty bad. Do you feel dizzy or faint?'

Joey shook her head.

"It's starting to rain. Do you think you can stand up?'

Joey was about to answer him when a yellow torch beam engulfed them .

"Jesus Pacey, you've done it this time. Step away from her.'

Pacey recognized deputy Doug's voice instantly. "Wait, this isn't what it looks like!' he protested to the three police officers glaring down at him. Then he wondered, what did it look like? He was practically lying on top of a bleeding girl whose clothes were torn and, after his fight with Warren, he was looking pretty disheveled himself.

"It's OK,' Joey said, letting Pacey pull her to her feet, "We just, uh, we just......fell over'

"Are you sure?' Doug asked looking at her skeptically. "We had a phone call from a Mrs. Ryan saying she heard screams coming from the woods at the back of her yard.'

"Uh, well I maybe screamed a bit when I fell. Sorry,' Joey replied.

"Well, I guess we should get back to the station then, you guys OK to get home?'

"Yeah, we're fine,' Pacey told his brother.

After the three police officers had left, Pacey turned to Joey and asked her why she hadn't told them about Warren.

"I just don't wanna talk about it right now,' she said.

Pacey nodded. "I'll take you to Dawson's. I only realized how close we are to his house when Doug said that Jen's grams had heard you screaming.'

So for the second time that night, Joey allowed herself to be led through the woods.

To be Continued in Clouds Passed..... Write to the Author

On to "Clouds Passed", part 2 in the series

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