I must admit that I have not really edited this so I apologise for the mistakes in possible spelling ;) I am currently trying to work on Least Traveled Road and I hope to have an update on that very soon, but in the mean time here is Chapter 2 of Chasing Fire please R&R as it does spur me on to write more. I will admit right now that I have no idea where I am going with this. I am adding songs to each chapter to give the overall theme of the chapter please check them out.

Chasing Fire

Chapter 2

Keep drinking coffee, stare me down across the table

While I look outside

So many things I'd say if only I were able

But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by

You've got opinions, man

We're all entitled to 'em, but I never asked

So let me thank you for your time,

And try not to waste anymore of mine

And get out of here fast

I hate to break it to you babe, but I'm not drowning

There's no one here to save

Who cares if you disagree?

You are not me

Who made you king of anything?

So you dare tell me who to be?

Who died and made you king of anything?

You sound so innocent, all full of good intent

Swear you know best

But you expect me to jump up on board with you

And ride off into your delusional sunset

I'm not the one who's lost with no direction

But you'll never see

You're so busy making masks with my name on them in all caps

You got the talking down, just not the listening

And who cares if you disagree?

You are not me

Who made you king of anything?

So you dare tell me who to be?

Who died and made you king of anything?

All my life I've tried to make everybody happy

While I just hurt and hide

Waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn to decide

Who cares if you disagree?

You are not me

Who made you king of anything?

So you dare tell me who to be?

Who died and made you king of anything?

Who cares if you disagree?

You are not me

Who made you king of anything?

So you dare tell me who to be?

Who died and made you king of anything?

Let me hold your crown, babe

King of Anything - Sara Bareilles

Pacey Witter slowly made his way into his two bedroom apartment early Saturday morning, the sun had barely begun to peek it's head over the horizon. Throwing his keys on the bench he kicked his shoes off, leaving them where they fell. Pacey trudged his way up the spiral staircase of his loft apartment, pulling his shirt off as he entered his bedroom. He yawned and threw himself onto the bed, a soft groan sounded from the other side, Pacey glanced over to see her asleep. He closed his eyes momentarily and silently cursed at her presence.

"Hey" She muttered sleepily. Pacey only frowned, not making any movement closer to her.

"What are you doing here Audrey?" He asked the blonde next to him.

"I haven't seen you much over the last couple of weeks Pace, I missed you." She pulled herself up to rest on her hand, looking down at him. The unmistakable look of desire clouded her perfectly clear blue eyes as she reached over to run her hand over Pacey's bare chest. He stilled her hand with his own and sighed.

"I've been working Audrey." He said with exhaustion.

"Well." She moved closer "You're here now." Audrey leant down to place her lips over Pacey's, he kissed her back without enthusiasm. She pulled back from him and frowned. "What's with you, why don't you want me?" Pacey rolled his eyes and gently ran his thumb across her cheek, dropping his hand down over his chest and yawned.

"It's not that babe. I just finished a sixteen hour shift, i'm tired." Audrey pouted and turned over with her back to him.

"Fine." She snapped, Pacey however had no energy to try and convince her his exhaustion was the only reason he was not in the mood for her advances. Truth was Audrey had begun to get too comfortable in Pacey's apartment, he was beginning to feel smothered.

He and Audrey had been dating for almost eight months, while it was fun at first and he enjoyed how they had a casual relationship Audrey appeared as though she was searching for something more. While she clung to him he was beginning to pull away, he could never see himself with her in a long term relationship. Eight months for him was entirely too long, he was pretty sure everytime he saw her she was humming here comes the bride.

Pacey looked over to her and rolled onto his side, their backs together.

Pacey woke to find Audrey pulling a comb through her damp hair. He glanced over to his alarm clock, it was just after eleven. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, waiting for her to turn after noticing he was awake yet at the same time desperately hoping she would simply leave without acknowledging him.

It was the former.

"It's her isn't it?" She asked him, it was an old argument even before her death. Audrey had never let the topic rest for long. Pacey groaned and sat up, he shook his head adamantly. "It is, it's always her." She told him.

Pacey stood and placed his hands on his hips. "Audrey, do we really have to get into this?" He was weary, this topic of conversation, he thought, was old and tired.

"Yes we do, you've been pulling away from me, not just in the last week Pacey." Audrey sighed, having no idea where to go from here. Pacey allowed his hands to drop to his sides, he smiled softly and moved to Audrey, taking the comb from her hand and setting it on the dresser. He drew her close to him, clasping his fingers at the small of her back while he spread his feet apart so he was at eye level with her.

"I'm sorry Audrey, it's a lot of things. Work, Jack and yes dealing with the death of a friend. Dealing with the guilt Audrey."

"Pacey." She whispered. "It's not your fault Andie killed herself." Pacey balked at her words and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath trying not to think about it. He simply nodded and released Audrey from his arms and stood up straight, moving away from her, nodding again hoping the affirmative gesture would help him to believe the words. Audrey looked at him helplessly, she reached for him but as he moved she realised more than ever he was still just out of her reach.

"I'm going to take a shower, i'm meeting Jen for lunch." He said, noting Audrey's face fall momentarily before she flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"Okay, well i'm off to go shopping" She said with nonchalance, albeit feigned. Pacey moved off towards the bathroom.

"Yeah, you go spend Daddy's money" He muttered as he closed the door behind him.

Audrey let out a defeated breath and made her way down the staircase, across the living room and out of the apartment, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Pacey sat in the small cafe, his mind played over the conversation with Audrey from earlier. While Andie certainly occupied his thoughts, given the recent events which had transpired over the last couple of weeks and the months before her death. He knew it was not for the reason Audrey always accused him of. Pacey had been in love with Andie for quite some time, they had made a go of it after her tryst with the mental patient and had lasted a few months during junior year until Pacey realised it didn't feel right, that he still harbored the bitterness left over from her being unfaithful.

After five months or so into senior year Pacey decided the whole education system was really just a 'crock of shit' so he left. Pacey was certainly not destined for academic glory and could care less that he didn't graduate high school, most people saw him as a loser anyway, why stick around to prove them right when he could do that from Boston. Pacey moved in with his sister; Gretchen, the one who only mildly thought he a loser. He decided he would go ahead and do the one thing he always seemed to be able to do and attempted to fulfill his overwhelming need to be the knight in shining armor.

Pacey used his brother's connections to find a job. With only his hero complex as a weak skill and his reckless behaviour and physical strength as his only attributes Pacey found his calling working for the Boston Fire Department. Gaining a full time position after six short months of being a candidate, Pacey fell into the routine of the job easily.

Against Pacey's better judgement, he and Andie found each other again and tried once more to give their relationship another try. It ended badly, very badly.

Not only had Andie been unfaithful to him, again but she did so with the worst possible person. His best friend.

Pacey had come home to their apartment to find her in bed with Dawson Leery.

He was gutted.

He tossed them both out on their bare asses, threw their clothes out into the hall with them. It was that night Pacey vowed to never get close enough to another woman ever again. To never allow real feelings cause his heart to break ever again.

This was why he pushed Audrey away. He cared for her but he didn't love her. Truth be told he didn't think he would ever love again.

"Hey Gorgeous" Pacey looked back from his thoughts at the window to the voice. He grinned and stood up to meet her.

"Hey Lindley" He pulled her close to him for a tight embrace, kissing her affectionately on the forehead. Pacey raised his eyebrows at the tall brunette standing behind Jen.

He recognised her from Andie's funeral. She was beautiful, it had been the first thing he'd noticed when he looked over at her from the opposite side of the graveside.

Their eyes had locked briefly, it was in that moment he had seen not just a beautiful woman but a woman of strength and torture. She was a woman who knew of loss. She had also caught his eye at Grams' after his argument with Dawson, there was something in her eyes, a familiarity he had no understanding of.

"This is Joey Potter, our housemate" Pacey extended his hand to her. He felt the instant jolt of electricity course through his body, a strange and overwhelming sensation he had never felt in his entire life.

He was in trouble. Big trouble.

Pacey decided it would be best to nip this in the bud while he currently had all of his faculties about him. He kicked in with the usual Witter defense mechanism.

"So, you're one of those?" He drawled as he sat back in his chair, arms across his chest. Joey raised a brow with mild curiosity.

"Those?" She questioned. Pacey shrugged.

"Yeah" He smirked, motioning to her Worthington College tee shirt. "Privileged, uptight Ivy league princess." Joey leaned forward, her elbows on the table. Where did this guy get off? He thought because he had beautiful eyes, a gorgeous smile and was in every way of the word; sexy as hell he could get away with being an asshole?

"I'm sure a man currently filling his dream of becoming the worlds greatest gas station attendant would know right?" A slow, easy smile crept it's way across Pacey's face and he shook his head with good humor, opening his mouth to respond Jen quickly cut him off.

"Okay, let's order shall we?"

A young blonde waitress stood waiting to take their orders, giving Pacey coy looks. Joey rolled her eyes.

"So what's good?" He gave the waitress one of his disarming smiles, his eyes sweeping over her body with appreciation. "Or can I just order off menu?" He cocked an eyebrow suggestively. The woman blushed furiously. Jen rolled her eyes while Joey snorted in disgust.

"You are a womanising bastard, you know that right?" Joey scoffed shaking her head at him. A smile tugged at Pacey's mouth.

"Thanks." He grinned.

Jen and Pacey spoke and Joey and Jen spoke. Joey and Pacey however traded vial abuse at one another, each remark getting decidedly nastier. Jen found herself interfereing on numerous occasions to diffuse the situation which had started to escalate between the two brunettes.

While at first she found it amusing it quickly began apparent it might soon turn to physical abuse. Pacey and Joey sat, their arms crossed across their chests, eyes locked with the other in contempt. Jen's phone rang and she jumped up to answer it. She slipped out onto the the footpath to take the call.

Pacey was now beginning to understand that he was truly beginning to dislike the stuck up princess who sat across from him and certainly hoped she would never be accompanying Jen to anymore lunches with him around. He stood abruptly, tossing down money to cover their lunches and the tip. Joey glanced down at the table.

"I can pay for my own lunch." She sneered. Pacey shrugged and pulled her share out and stuffed it back in his wallet.

"Suit yourself Princess." He turned to walk away. "Fucked if I care, use Daddy's credit card."

"Don't call me princess." Joey spat in anger. Pacey turned to her and rolled his eyes before letting them roam over her body, he smirked when he saw her physically squirm beneath his gaze. Joey's eyes narrowed, flickering in anger toward him.

"Don't do that either." She said. Pacey lifted an eyebrow at her.

"What?" He feigned innocence.

"Leer at me as though you are undressing me." Pacey snorted.

"Hey, you are beautiful. I'll give you that." Pacey lowered his voice and moved closer to her ear, speaking in an intimate tone. "But princess, so are a lot of women. Doesn't make you special." Pacey turned and made his way out of the cafe.

Jen said her goodbyes to look at Pacey standing before her, she offered him a small look of guilt. Joey stepped behind Pacey, a scowl on her face. Pacey smiled at Jen and shook his head.

"It's okay Jen, you don't have to hide it. I know you are friends with him." He shrugged, Jen nodded and moved to give him a hug. "I'll call you Lindley, maybe we can get together over the weekend for drinks?" She nodded.

"Say hello to Audrey for me" Jen spoke with mock sweetness, Pacey snorted.

"Yeah sure" He laughed. "Like you really care enough" He said. Jen shrugged.

"Yeah well, I don't. Just being polite." Pacey shook his head and began to move off down the street.

"You know, it really only counts if it's sincere." He spoke. "See ya Lindley."

"Bye, aren't you going to say bye to Joey?" Pacey's eyes narrowed and shrugged.

"I told you, only counts if it's sincere."

Pacey ambled his way along the busy streets toward his apartment, he'd taken a call from the Chief as he made his way between bustling bodies laden down with shopping bags. It was his night off, the first friday off in quite some time. When he took the call he had a feeling it wouldn't stay that way, he was right. Seemed they were going through a lot of employees lately, most looking to get out of the city but some were looking to get out of the work entirely.

The factory fire over in south Boston over a month ago had certainly rattled quite a few nerves, quite a few casualties and three deaths. Pacey still had vivid nightmares of that night, the heat of the fire, the smokes thickness almost suffocating. The worst of it was the chaos which ensued, the screaming and wails of agony. The one thing Pacey could not seem to shake was the smell of burning flesh, it was unlike anything he had ever encountered. That friday had been the worst he had endured in the three and a half years working for the Boston Fire Department, it had broken a few of his peers and he felt he was only hanging on by a thread the first couple of weeks after. The mandatory counseling afterward had helped, that and his unhealthy hero complex forced him to stay, besides there was nothing else he could do. Nothing he was good enough at to make a career out of and he liked what he did, despite the danger and the stress.

The Fire Chief informed him his company was down a member so he would need to get his ass into work pronto. Pacey made haste to get back to his apartment, change and be at the station within the hour ready to work.

There goes another Friday, he briefly called Audrey to break plans to meet up for drinks that night as he headed for his locker. He felt conflicted, part of him felt bad but also another part of him felt relieved.

Pacey threw himself into an empty chair in the common room next to his friend Matt Hastings, a blonde haired, browned eyed Australian man a couple years older who from his appearances should be on the surfing circuit instead of battling fires of inner city Boston.

"Hey Oz" Pacey yawned as he slumped further down in his chair, removing the lid from his bottle of water. Matt glanced over to Pacey.

"Hey mate, fire on Burnston?" He asked him, Pacey nodded, swallowing.

"Yup, abandoned building." Matt nodded, taking a drink from his own water. They sat in silence watching early morning infomercials with little interest and even less motivation to get up to change the channel. Seeing as the remote was lost to them three months previously, the television sat on one channel as no one person had the forethought, nor the inclination to actually work out how to change the channel without said tv remote.

"You working the weekend?" Matt cocked his head to Pacey. Taking a sip he looked to his friend and rubbed his chin in thought, his eyes squinting, trying to conjure up a virtual roster of his shifts and finally shook his head.

"Nah, but I wasn't supposed to be working this shift so who knows." Matt gave a knowing chuckle and stood up to slap Pacey on the back.

"I'm hearing ya mate." He grinned, turning back to him "Hey, we'll catch up over the weekend and throw a few beers back?" Pacey nodded. Pacey checked to clock on the wall, knowing he only had an hour left of his shift he closed his eyes and leant back in his chair waiting for the minutes to tick by.

Joey woke in the early hours of the morning, she had attempted to close her eyes and try to get back to sleep since she first woke, knowing it was hopeless, Joey threw the covers off her. The sun had begun to peek over the city buildings, many of Boston's inhabitants still deep in slumber. Joey sighed and dressed quickly into her running gear and quietly made her way out the front door. Joey began her morning jog at a slow pace at first, allowing her lungs to slowly expand before increasing her speed. She soon found her rhythm while her feet thumped down on the sidewalk below her. Deciding on running a few laps of Boston Common Joey pushed all thoughts aside, trying not to allow any thoughts to occupy her mind. The house at the moment felt cold and desperate and she didn't know what to do, Jen was better, but not. There was something which hadn't returned to her since Andie died, Jack wasn't there at all, he was in Capeside with his father and would not be returning to Boston Bay until the fall, she wasn't sure if that meant Boston as well. Dawson had shut down for the most part but Joey knew he still called Jen.

Pacey. She didn't know Pacey, only from the initial meeting in the cafe the day before and he was an arrogant prick.

She didn't want to know him. Sure he came to Andie's funeral, Joey doubted he and Andie were close. Joey doubted Pacey; the unfeeling, insensitive bastard was close to anyone but Jen. Joey made her way back along the early morning streets, the familiar sounds of the weekend stirred around her. Children laughed and ran about in the yard, somewhere someone had brought a lawnmower to life, now it was spring they could take it out of hibernation. The smell of freshly cut grass invaded Joey's senses, she slowed to a walk close to the house and let herself in quietly expecting Jen to still be asleep.

Jen's head lifted at the sound of the front door and footsteps upon the stairs. Jen guessed it was Joey returning from her morning jog. She sat at the kitchen counter, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She had arranged to meet up with Dawson for drinks later that night and couldn't help but feel some apprehension, she was friends with Dawson, not as close as she had over the years. Their friendship had changed half way through their first year of college when Dawson and Andie's betrayal had come to light. As much as Jen had wanted to stay neutral with the situation she found her loyalties lay with Pacey, not just because he had been the one betrayed but because she was closer to him to begin with.

Joey had finished showering and now made her way into the kitchen, she spied Jen staring off into space, clearing her throat to pull her away from her thoughts she smiled at her friend.

"So what's on the agenda today?" She asked her while she busied herself with pouring herself a glass of orange juice.

"Not much until tonight." She spoke. "Drinks with Dawson, you game?" Joey offered a weak smile and nodded.

"I'm working but not the closing shift." She said. "Where you going?"

Jen sighed, they usually drank at one of the larger city bars but Jen was beginning to think a smaller and quieter place would be better given recent events.

"Hell's Kitchen?" She offered. Joey raised her eyebrow to her friend. Joey had only been working at Hell's Kitchen for two weeks after quitting one of the bars in the city because of a handsy co worker. "I figured we should boycott 'sleaze palace' in light of recent events." Jen grinned, Joey laughed and shook her head. There was something in Jen's eye Joey caught, apprehension.

"What's wrong?" She asked her. Jen offered up a sighed and took a sip.

"It's Pacey's watering hole." She spoke. "He and Dawson in the same area might be difficult, possibly disastrous." She said. Joey shrugged.

"I've never seen him in there, thankfully." She said. Jen slowly nodded.

"He's been working a lot lately, mostly nightshift. He does have this weekend though so no doubt..."

"Great." Joey said bitterly. Jen laughed at her friend, knowing Joey didn't appear taken by Pacey at all. "He's a jerk Jen." Joey added, Jen simply shook her head.

"No. Believe it or not, Pace is one of the good ones." Joey snorted in disbelief.

Jen offered a small smile, knowing Joey knew nothing about their past and because of that she would see Pacey as nothing more than a heartless arrogant prick. The truth was Pacey was the complete opposite of that, Jen knew him to be the most sweet, understanding and affectionate man she had ever known. He was broken and guarded now, never allowing himself to wear his heart on his sleave like he had in the past.

Refusing to have his heart broken again.

It wasn't something she could explain to Joey, and while Jen had to admit, Pacey's behaviour toward Joey was far more hurtful and bitter than she had ever witnessed she couldn't help but wonder if there was something a little more than he trying to keep his distance from any one new.

"I doubt anything you say to me could convince me of that Jen." Joey drained the last of her juice and made her way back up to her bedroom.

Pacey was the most arrogant, nasty and cold man she had ever met. He reminded her of Adam; her best friend from back home she had fallen in love with and who had broken her heart, who had turned out to be everything she thought he would never be. She didn't need another one like that in her life.

Joey sighed into her pillow after throwing herself down, tonight was not going to be pleasant if Pacey did infact turn up at Hell's Kitchen later that night.

After a long shift Pacey had returned to an empty apartment, thankfully. He knew he was avoiding the issue with Audrey, while he knew she didn't deserve to be pushed away he felt himself doing it regardless. Pacey lay in bed trying to get much needed sleep before he met up with Matt and Jen later for drinks, happy they had decided to meet him at Hell's Kitchen so he only needed to venture over the road and not travel into the city.

Pacey's mind drifted to Andie, while he was beginning to allow himself to function without her he still couldn't shake the guilt. The argument with Dawson after the funeral played over in his head. How Dawson had accused Pacey of being the reason she took her own life, that she had still been in love with Pacey and couldn't live without him. Dawson had said he was always second best to Pacey, that she had Dawson as her consolation prize. Pacey didn't understand it at all, she had betrayed him, she already had him and then she screwed it up.

How could it be his fault?

Pacey sighed and rubbed his eyes, he quickly checked the clock on his side table and groaned. He had managed to get some sleep but not much, Pacey rolled himself out of bed in search of food. As he made his way down the spiral staircase he was aware of shuffling of feet on the floorboards.

A familiar blonde came into view as he finalised his descent.

"Hey Pace" She grinned, sashaying her way over to him, her hips swaying seductively as she did.

"Hey." He grumbled, rubbing his hand over his face. "What are you doing here?" He asked. Audrey's eyes narrowed briefly before slipping her arms around his waist.

"I wanted us to spend time with each other." She said. Pacey smiled and pulled her closer to him, happy for the comfort of another warm body if nothing else. His lips brushed over hers, allowing a soft kiss to pass between them. He pulled away before she could deepen it.

"Well Matt and I are going out, you want to come?" He asked. Audrey's eyes lit up at the offer, knowing he had been pulling away from her lately and she was ecstatic for the invitation.

"Yeah that would be great" She grinned, Pacey nodded unenthusiastically. She offered his a brilliant smile, it was contagious and he wondered if maybe he could let go and just simply be. She was beautiful and sexy, he wasn't in love with her but maybe in time he could. Maybe he could love her the way he loved Andie.

"Great." This time his smile was genuine. "We're going to Hell's Kitchen." He spoke. Audrey nodded reaching for her bag.

"Okay well i'll meet you back here in a little while then?" Pacey nodded, offering a less guarded kiss and walking her to the door, smiling as he closed the door.

His smile faded and he wondered if he was just kidding himself.

He had to at least try, right?

Pacey had just finished dressing and lacing his boots up when the door to his apartment was thrown open.

"Hey Witter, you done primping in the mirror?" Matt asked as he dropped on the couch. Pacey rolled his eyes at his friend and reached for his phone and wallet.

"This coming from the only guy I know who owns more hair product than a woman." He smirked, gesturing to the door. Matt stood up with a shrug.

"Hey I don't look this good without a little help" Pacey snorted and shook his head.

"Somehow the 'i just rolled out of bed' is not really a style Oz." Matt chuckled as they made their way out onto the street.

"So, where's the body?" Matt asked. Pacey cocked an eyebrow at his friend.

"She called to say she'll be late, she's going to meet us over there."

"You know Witter if I had that woman in my bed I wouldn't be getting out of it for anything every drinks with my best mates." Pacey laughed as they made their way over the road to Hell's Kitchen. Matt swung the door in and noticed Pacey's hesitation and then a groan.

"What's up?"

"My night has just gone to shit." He said, nodding to the leggy brunette leaning over the bar in conversation with a blonde he really didn't want to see for at least the rest of his life.

"Who's the glamour?" Matt asked, nodding to Joey as they made their way over to Jen.

"Ivy League princess?" Matt smirked at Pacey's description and nodded. "Joey." He answered.

Matt watched Pacey watching Joey and wondered what it was all about. While he said the words with bitterness he couldn't help but notice something else in his eyes that was decidedly less bitter. This was something he was going to have to look into a little more, he had spoken to Pacey numerous times about his life with Audrey and he had known Andie also as he and Pacey had become firm friends when Pacey was a candidate. He had seen how much Pacey had loved Andie, although he hadn't liked her very much, seeing her for the vindictive bitch she later proved herself to be. Matt and Pacey did have a falling out although briefly when he had gone to Pacey to tell him how she had hit on him at one of the station Christmas parties, their friendship had been repaired a month or so later when Pacey had found out about her betrayal with Dawson. Knowing all of this he knew what he was trying to do with Audrey, pushing her away and trying to have more of a casual relationship to guard his heart from anymore hurt.

Joey looked over to the two men who made their way into the bar and over to Jen, Joey groaned audibly catching Dawson's attention.

"What?" He asked her, Joey jutted her chin out toward the men, one in particular. "Great. You've met the asshole I see." Joey nodded. "Well come on, you're off now. Let's drink and hopefully his presence won't seem so bad." Dawson offered her a smile, Joey nodded and removed her apron, making her way around to the other side of the bar.

This night had definitely taken a deep plummet into the depths of hell.