603 - Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
You think I'm no good, well I know I've been bad
Took you to a place, now you can't get back
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
(…)
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad
I'm not complaining, baby I'm glad
you call it a compromise, well what's that
two shots of happy, one shot of sad
Two shots of happy, one shot of sad – U2
Pacey blinked in the semi darkness of his room, trying to wash away sleep from his eyes. That had become one of his favorite moments of his day. Waking up beside Joey, watching her as her eyelids fluttered, and she snuggled closer to him, trying to retard the inevitable moment she would have to wake up. He rolled over, his arm trying to reach her, only to find an empty space. He raised his head, surprised and amused to see she had showered and was getting dressed, totally unconscious he was staring at her, a smile creeping into his lips as he watched her naked form. That was a sight he would never get tired of. He heard her deep sigh. It seemed that the cloud formed last night was still hanging over them.
"I hope you weren't walking like that all over the place." He said, yawning, making Joey turn her face in his direction, smiling shyly. She zipped her jeans, sitting on the bed to put her shoes.
"Actually I'm just sneaking off Drue's room." She said matter-of-factly, shrugging, leaning in for a kiss. "Morning, Pace."
He wrapped his arms around her, effortlessly bringing her to join him in bed, nuzzling her neck, burying his face on her damp hair, reveling in the fresh scent of her shower. "Hmmm…you smell good." He whispered against her skin, letting his lips linger there for a while.
"And you don't." She replied, wrinkling her nose, a smile playing on her lips. "You should consider taking a shower."
"Are you insinuating that I stink, woman?" Pacey asked, nibbling the silky skin, blowing cool air on the sensitive spot, earning a moan of pleasure in response.
"Let's say a shower wouldn't hurt." Joey teased, smiling playfully.
"You asked for this, Potter." He growled, initiating a tickling attack that rendered them both laughing, breathless.
"Pacey, stop it, please!" Joey begged, grabbing his hands, between fists of laughter.
"Not until you say I don't stink."
"I give, I give." She pleaded, still laughing.
"That easy?" He wiggled his brows inquisitively, rolling over on the mattress, supporting his face with a hand to look at her.
"Anything to get your butt out of this bed." She smiled her tongue showing between her teeth.
He was partially happy that she was in such good mood after last night's events, but he knew better, she was using her happy mask, pretending everything was all right, when deep inside she was overanalyzing and refusing to talk, slowly eating her alive. And Pacey refused to let it happen again, not talking about important things.
"Jo, are you ok?" He asked seriously, brushing her tousled her.
Joey nodded, she was fine, although feeling sad, but she had spared Dawson's feeling enough times for this lifetime. She noticed Pacey's old insecurities surfacing in his eyes, and not talking about it did not seem the best option.
"Pacey, there's no need to worry, I know I made quite a scene last night, but I was only sad because Dawson managed to ruin my birthday." She sighed. "I'm also worried about my friendship with Audrey, but I also know it's less damaged than my friendship with Dawson."
"He's going to forgive you, Jo, he always does that."
"The thing is, Pace, I don't need him to forgive me, and neither do you."
"Jo…" He started, but she put a finger on his lips to stop him.
"Pacey, I know much you miss his friendship, how much it hurts you when he says you're nothing but a loser."
"It's hard to hear your once best friend telling you how much of a waste you are."
"You're not, and if anyone is wrong here, it's him, who's unable to see the wonderful man you've become."
"Wonderful, huh?" The warmth in her eyes, the honesty he saw there, amazed him. Little Joey Potter had been definitely left behind.
Joey rolled her eyes, but ended up laughing, happy to see the clouds gone from his eyes, at least for now. They had a long road ahead, to get past all their baggage, but she knew the day would come, and the past would be left to where it belonged. Behind them.
"No need to get too enthusiastic about that, because I might change it to jerk pretty fast." She joked.
"Not if I do this." He replied, lowering his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue through her parted lips, in a kiss that left them both panting.
"Pace…you …need...to get ready…job interview…,"she murmured between kisses.
Pacey lifted his face, resting his forehead against hers, smiling.
"You certainly know how to ruin the moment." He pecked her nose's tip. "I'll be right back." He left the bed, not a bit worried as he walked naked to the door.
"Hey, Pace." Joey called out, and he spun around to face her. "Don't you need this?" she asked, his boxers hanging from her fingers.
"Nah, I thought you could appreciate the sight." He shut the door moments before being hit by a pillow.
"Potter, you do know you don't live here, right?" Drue asked while he looked for his juice inside the fridge.
"You should thank me; you wouldn't have a decent breakfast if I wasn't here." Joey replied, the last pancake done.
"I do live with a former chef." Drue retorted, pouring himself some coffee.
"Who hates to get up early enough to make this."
"And what is taking him so long to get ready? I told him the job is his, my father is a bastard, but a word bastard, if he said the job is Pacey's, it is."
A hurried Pacey entered the small kitchen, his shirt opened, and two different ties in each hand.
"Jo? Which one?"
"What did you do to your face?" she asked him, not happy at his half-shaved face.
"I thought it looked better than the full beard thing."
"You thought? Pacey, this goatee is hideous, even more than your ties."
"Ok, look. You'll have plenty of time for fashion critiques once I actually get the job, but for right now, I just don't want to be late for the interview. Ok?"
Joey smiled at his anxiety, and took one of the ties from his hands, buttoning up his shirt, and tying the red tie around his neck, finishing with a soft kiss on his lips, that soon turned into a passionate one.
"Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt, but there's a guy trying to eat here." Drue yelled his mouth full of pancakes. "And Witter, about, the interview I'm sure that it is just a technicality. Trust me. When my dad pulls strings, they stay pulled."
"I don't know if I'm going to do this right, I mean, what did your father see on me anyway?" Pacey rambled while he got his coffee mug.
"Potential." Joey answered. "You, Mr. Witter, has lots of potential, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise." She straightened an imaginary wrinkle on his jacket.
"Thanks, Jo. I do feel like a cheap whore now." Pacey kissed her forehead, chuckling.
"And that would make me Julia Roberts?"
"You're prettier." He leaned in; kissing her once more, both laughing at Drue's exasperated groan.
"I'm leaving. Joey, need a lift?" Drue offered, tired of the ever-kissing couple.
"If it's no trouble for you." She grabbed her purse. "I need to stop by the dorms first to change and pick my books. Good luck, sweetheart." She kissed Pacey once more, before leaving.
"I'll call you later." He said drinking his last sip of coffee, as he watched her waving from the doorway. He breathed deeply. He was determined to believe in himself.
Joey fumbled with her keys in front of her door, while she mumbled to herself about the books she needed, entering the room distracted, her eyes wide with surprise at the scene before her. Her roommate, who had stomped out Hell's Kitchen with such dramatic effort, was now lying comfortably immersed in deep slumber in a man's arms, who had his face hidden by her hair, and by the looks of it or better, their lack of clothes, they did more than just sleeping. Joey chuckled to herself, Audrey had a pretty fast recover after all. She closed her drawer with a loud thud, not worried if they would wake up or not, and went to the bathroom to change her clothes.
Audrey was the first to wake up, disturbed by the noise. She raised her head, groaning at the thumping in her head. She wondered how much she had to drink last night; a muffled sound of disgust escaped her lips when she noticed the man asleep beside her. Definitely, she had way too much. Like it wasn't enough sleeping with Joey's ex-boyfriend, she had to go and do the deed with her soul mate.
Dawson opened his eyes wondering how his hotel bed had become so comfortable and warm. However, that marching band inside his head…not so good. He raised his head, groaning when he recognized the place. Joey and Audrey's room. He lifted the blanket to be sure...yep, suspicions confirmed. He covered his head with the blanket trying to deny the reality of what he did. He heard footsteps and Joey's voice while she rummaged the room in search of one of her books, and sighed aloud when she finally left the room.
"Tell me we didn't do this." Audrey whined; her face buried in her pillow.
"It looks like we did." His answer was muffled by the blanket.
Audrey turned around to face him, pulling the fabric covering him.
"It's not the time to play ghost, Dawson. Do you think she saw us?"
"I don't think so." He yawned. "What time is it?"
Audrey squinted her eyes, trying to focus on the task at hand, which was really difficult, to read her watch's hands to answer Dawson's question. Alcohol should come with a warning label about dumb decision making and devastating after effects.
"Eight-thirty." She replied, still trying to figure out how to move without making her head throb.
"Shit!" Dawson mumbled and left the bed, hastily putting his clothes back, cursing. "Todd is gonna have my head for breakfast."
"He can serve it to the whole crew and it would still have some leftovers." She thought, smiling for the first time that day. Wonderful how your brain can work even in pain.
"I have to go to class too. I'm not sure which one, however." Safer reply.
"Hmmm…Audrey, can we talk about… huh…this later? Can I call you?" Dawson asked, almost at the door already.
"Yeah, sure, I'll probably be lying here, wallowing in self pity and recrimination, promising to never drink anymore."
"Bye, Aud." Dawson called from the door, shaking his head. Not the best thing to hear after having sex with someone.
"Bye" She closed her eyes, wishing that it had all been a bad dream. Maybe if she wished really hard, it would become real. Audrey opened her nightstand drawer, pulling a box of pills from it. Who knew those would come so in hand now? She thought, taking two of them, swallowing with some water. Yeah, screw classes; she was off to dream land.
Pacey looked around to check if anyone else in that conference room was really paying attention to the talkative suit dressed with too much hair product standing before them. He fought the urge to start tapping on the large table, as a pretend bongo. Not the best idea, but he didn't have anything to do with his hands, and being unable to move always got to his nerves.
"It's 8:35 on a Saturday morning. The phone rings. Who is it? Cable company, phone company, debt consolidators. Why do they keep calling back? Because it works. Now, if you don't think you can do that, if you don't think you can commit to becoming the lowest form of life, the kind that lives by his wits, the kind that doesn't take no for an answer, then I suggest you leave. No. You know what? In fact, I insist you leave. Right now!"
Pacey side glanced around him. Right, no one left, and why was that guy talking so much? Wouldn't a simple you got the job be enough?
"All right, then. To clarify: The hours are long, the pay is crap, when you're not working, you will be studying for your series 7 stockbroker exam. There are no second chances here. If you do not pass this test on your first try, you will be let go from the training program and replaced by one of a zillion other guys who would kill to have this job. Questions?" The guy was pure arrogance and a hell of a jerk.
Unable to stand still anymore, and irritated at the guy who would become his boss, Pacey raised his hand.
"Well, given how completely and historically screwed the market is right now, why would any sane person want this job?"
The guy turned to him with annoyance all written on his face. One of those smart-asses it seemed.
"Same reason people play the lottery" was his contained answer.
"You mean money?" Pacey furrowed his brows.
"No. Not that there's anything wrong with money. I mean hope. That tiny surge of adrenaline that courses through your veins right before you check the winning numbers. That's what we're selling here. That's what every stockbroker sells, and you all wouldn't be here if you didn't want some of it. So, those of you who want it bad enough, I'll see you Monday morning. Otherwise, disperse."
Everyone left, except Pacey. That guy annoyed him, but he wanted that job bad enough, he wanted a chance to prove the world wrong, that he, Pacey Witter, could do greater and better things. The guy was finishing some paperwork, ignoring the leaving trainees.
"I actually do have one more question."
"Shoot." Definitely a smart-ass one. He turned to face him, not so pleased.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Rich Rinaldi." The man had guts, he had to admit, he thought as he offered his hand.
"Pacey Witter." Pacey replied, shaking his hand. "And, Mr. Rinaldi, I don't need till Monday morning. I'm in right now."
"Look forward to working with you, Pacey."
"Ok" He replied, with a small grin, turning to leave, but Rich called him.
"And, uh... you might want to rethink that suit. Seems a little gay."
"It's my brother's." Pacey shrugged in explanation, making his boss laugh. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad working with him.
Jen sank further on her seat. Her late night at the radio station, combined with her lack of coffee (just one cup in the morning could never be enough) and her usual class-in-the-morning boredom were making her yawn no stop. She looked at Jack, who was staring at their professor with dreamy eyes. If she had a cup with her, she would place it under his chin to collect the drool. She scanned the room searching for Drue, to spot him sleeping at the last row of chairs, without a worry in the world. If she hadn't sit beside Jack on the front row, she could be dozing off, dreaming about something like sun, frozen marguerites, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney. She rested her chin on her hand for a moment. Yeah, Tom Cruise could be there too. Definitely.
"Jen, do you think he's gay?" Jack asked in a low voice, bringing her back from fantasyland.
"Who?" she asked back, suppressing a yawn.
"Mr. Freeman." He replied, looking at her with his best do-you-have-to ask face.
"I don't know, Jimbo." She shot back.
"I told you not to call me Jimbo. I shouldn't have let you watch that movie." He growled.
"You told me there were hot guys and there were." She chuckled. "It's not my fault that they had also a good looking gay cowboy."
"Could we come back to the matter at hands?"
"Jack, don't you think you're a bit too old to have a crush on your teacher?"
"Could you speak louder, please? Just to inform all Boston area?"
The teacher turned to the class once more, making them shut up for a second.
"Before we get started, I just wanted to inform those among you who are truly enamored with our twisted culture. That there's a little extra credit assignment today. Now, my heart be broken if nobody shows up. I will, however, silently judge you for the rest of the semester. There's a theater downtown that's showing' a double-feature which exemplifies our culture's obsession with the beautiful girl who plays ugly. The plain Janes who go on to grace the covers of Cosmo the same month their makeover movies come out."
"Oh, no. Scholarly Jack is gonna make me watch Miss Congeniality again." Jen complained.
"I love that movie." He declared. "Do you think we could watch She's all that too? As an extra assignment?" He pleaded, in a pout voice, making Jen laugh as they watched their teacher leave.
"Well, Jack, I understand why you're so fascinated…he has a nice butt." She said gazing the man's behind.
"Bad Jenny…checking out a teacher." Drue's voice came from right behind her. Jen turned around to see a still sleepy Drue, a light red pressure mark on his forehead.
Jen rolled her eyes. She knew there was nothing she would say that would convince him otherwise, so she didn't bother to try. Jack excused himself for a moment and went after Mr. Freeman to know more about their assignment. She would get him later for leaving like that.
"I thought you were in deep concentration back there."
"Haven't you heard the best way to learn is through sleep?" He asked, sitting beside her.
"And this class is already finished, so if you excuse me." She stood up ready to leave, but Drue put a hand on her arm to stop her.
"Why the hostility, Jen? I mean, I didn't do anything wrong, as far as I know. I'm just trying to be friendly here. I'm the new guy around, I thought we were friends, but if you don't feel this way…"
Jen looked at him and she saw in his eyes that he was sincere, which was odd enough. He couldn't be blamed by her cranky state of mind.
"Sorry, Drue, it's just…"she stammered.
"You're running out of caffeine." He chuckled wryly. "How about you, me, and schoolboy Jack go to the cafeteria refill your good mood? My treat."
Jen nodded, gathering her things to go, watching Jack still talking to Mr. Freeman, almost glowing with happiness. He needed to get laid…soon. And please, not with the teacher. One friend with a past indiscretion with the educational system was enough.
"So, are we talking about large cappuccinos or what?" She asked Drue, as they started walking off the room, waiting for Jack outside.
"It depends on how you're going to help me with this assignment." He replied, circling her shoulders with an arm.
"You never do anything innocently, without second intentions, do you?" She accused, taking his arm off her.
"I love how you know me, Jenny." He winked. "Like me asking you and Jack here to go to my place tonight."
"Where are we going?" Jack asked; finally back from his educational enlightening moment. "I'm getting kinda hungry."
"Now, we're gonna grab a coffee and tonight, a meeting at my place to discuss Freeman's homework." Drue explained.
"Fine. Tell Pacey to cook and count me in." Jack said, almost tasting Pacey's food.
"If we're lucky, he won't be there tonight."
"Tired of Pacey and Joey's public displays of affection, Drue?" Jen teased.
"And the not so public." He groaned. "What about that coffee now?"
The trio headed for the cafeteria, Jen and Jack teased Drue all along. If Joey and Pacey could hang out with him, they could at least try it.
"I take the guy's a jerk then." Joey said, while she and Pacey reached her room.
"He is, but I think I can handle him." Pacey shrugged, following her in. Joey had been acting strangely around him since he came to pick her up to have dinner, as if she was hiding something from him. Maybe her conversation with Audrey before going to class this morning.
Joey sat on the edge of her bed, patting the mattress beside her. He sat beside her, taking her hand and biting her fingers softly.
"What's bugging you, Jo?" He asked, noticing that she dropped her chin. "Difficult talk with Audrey?"
Joey sighed. How could she tell him that she didn't talk to Audrey because she was in sex-induced slumber with a random guy? Althoguh her heart told her Pacey wouldn't care less, deep down she was afraid he would care.
"I didn't talk to her." She started.
"Why not? She didn't want to talk to you?"
"She was sleeping." It wasn't a lie. She was indeed sleeping, just not alone.
Joey was hiding something, he was sure now; the nervous way she tucked her hair behind her ear, and the chewing on her lower lip. What could it be?
"Jo, what's wrong, baby?" He asked, putting a finger under her chin to gaze into her eyes.
"Nothing."
"You're lying. I know there's something wrong. "What did Audrey say?"
"I told you , Pacey. She was sleeping." She sighed, not telling would end up causing a fight between them. "The thing is…she wasn't alone." She waited for his reaction, surprised when he started laughing. "Pacey?"
"It was unexpected, but…that means she will be out of our case." He caressed her face. "Why were you worried to tell me that?"
"I was worried that you would be…jealous." She whispered, a little embarrassed, causing him to laugh harder. "Good to know my discomfort about the situation amuses you like this." She said, a little angry with him.
"The only reason would be if you were the one sleeping with her." He laughed, then furrowed his brows like in deep thought. "Maybe I'd even like to see that."
"Pacey, you jerk." She pushed him, what made him embrace her, falling on bed together.
"You can't blame a guy for fantasize some times." He teased.
"Perv" She saw his eyes shining with mischief, and got lost on that deep blue again.
"At your service, Ms. Potter." Pacey leaned to drop a kiss on the hollow of her throat.
An insistent ringing interrupted them. Clearly a muffled sound of a cell phone.
"Is that your phone, Pace?"
"No. It seems it's coming from under your bed." He ducked to pick it. "Looks like it was kicked there during the night." He inspected it, finding it familiar. Perhaps because all cell phones looked the same. "Probably, random guy kicked it while he left."
Joey looked at it surprised. She recognized the silver phone, and suddenly random guy wasn't so random anymore.
"Huh, Pace?" she called, pale. "This is not Audrey's phone."
"No?" he asked, Joey's paleness worrying him. This was a bad sign.
"It's Dawson's," she muttered, avoiding his eyes.
Definitely, a hundred percent bad.
