Hey ya'll. :-P Sorry this has taken so damn long. I'm lazy and I suck. I'll try to update daily from now on because there's only one chapter left on Pages of True Love and I'm really far behind with updates here. Please leave me some feedback! I live for it.
3 Maddie
Can I Take Your Order? Ch.6
When Joey had given her friends their food and they had paid their check, she headed to the back of the restaurant to put the money in the cash register and to see Pacey. There was just something about him. He was so funny, not to mention adorable and she loved talking to him, even if it was some meaningless conversation.
She walked through the swinging doors, leading into the kitchen.
"How's overreacter?" Pacey asked, grinning.
"Fine, thanks," Joey replied, smiling slightly, "That's going to get annoying."
"That's the plan," he said as he walked out of the kitchen. Joey followed him.
"Where you going?" Joey asked.
"To wait on tables," Pacey answered, "My job."
"Haha," she replied. Brian glanced up from the table and saw the two laughing together. He stood up and headed over to them.
"Jo, are you almost done here?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"My shift doesn't end till' 11," she replied, a little surprised at Brian's sudden appearance.
"Oh, well I was hoping we could leave now," Brian responded, taking her hand in his.
"Bri, I can't go now, I can't just leave," Joey told him, taken aback by his persistence.
"Hey, I can give her a ride home, if you don't want to wait around," Pacey offered.
"No, that won't be necessary," Brian replied, giving Pacey a look.
"He was just trying to be nice Brian," Joey reasoned with him.
"You know what?" Brian said through grit teeth, "I didn't even want you to have this job in the first place! God damn it Joey, can't you see he just wants to get in your pants?"
"Brian, stop it," Joey whispered.
"I hope you fucking lose this job, maybe I won't lose you," Brian told her as he turned as his foot and stormed out of the restaurant.
"Jo, do you need me to pick you up later?" Jack asked as he approached her, witnessing the entire scene between the couple.
"No, I can walk home," Joey told him softly, trying to conceal the tears in her voice.
"Are you sure?" Jack replied.
"Yeah," she answered, "Thanks Jack." Joey looked around the restaurant and then at Pacey. She met his eyes and embarrassment overwhelmed her. She hurried away from the tables and ran to the back room.
Pacey followed after her slowly, finding her facing the kitchen cabinets, leaning against the counter. She could sense he was behind her and quickly swiped the tears from her eyes, "Sorry about him," she apologized.
"Don't apologize, Jo," Pacey answered, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, "I don't know what gets into him sometimes."
"Yeah, maybe he was a little stressed," Pacey said, trying to sound reassuring.
"I know you think he's a dickhead. Just say it, Pacey," Joey replied, flatly.
"No, he seems like he takes care of you. He seems kind of insecure."
"He is. He thinks I'm going to fall for you," Joey said, turning around to face him, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Pacey laughed softly, "If it makes you feel any better, I'd probably be a tad protective if I was dating you."
"Why?" Joey asked, confused.
"Because you, Joey Potter, well you're absolutely gorgeous," he paused, "sassy, funny, smart and any guy would be lucky to have you," Pacey explained.
Joey blushed, "Thanks," she said softly. "He was such a jerk tonight though, I don't know, he's so different when he's freaking out," she said, tears brimming her eyelids, "God, if he ever acts like that again...." she drifted off, a tear unconsciously falling from her eye. Pacey's thumb reached out to brush her cheek, letting the tear hit his finger.
"Don't cry," Pacey told her softly.
"God, I'm so embarrassed."
"Don't be. Hardly any of the customers heard and it's not like I'm going to think any less of you," he said softly, brushing a piece of hair out of her face.
She shivered, noticeably.
Pacey knew the affect her had on her because she had the same one on him.
She continued looking into his eyes, trying to read them, trying to figure out this new emotion she was feeling. Before she could stop herself, her lips were on his cheek, and she pulled him into a hug. They stayed like that, his hands softly rubbing her back, her arms around his neck.
"Pacey," a voice interrupted, "Oh I'm sorry."
"No, what's up?" he said, pulling away from Joey.
"Table 8's order is ready," the other waiter told him.
"Okay, thanks," Pacey replied, looking at Joey once more, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, "You need a ride home tonight?"
"Is that okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's no problem," he told her as he walked out of the kitchen.
Joey sighed. There was no way she should not be having these feelings for another guy. She felt like her stomach was in knots.
The "what ifs" began playing in her head.
What if she wasn't dating Brian?
What if Pacey had never come into the picture?
What if she wound up falling in love with this stranger who she had met two days ago?
Brian's worst fear would be confirmed. She shook the thought out of her head and sniffled, going to wait on another table.
Finally eleven rolled around. Joey had never been more exhausted in her life. She had started feeling something, stronger than the crush she already had on him, for Pacey and she felt sick to her stomach at the prospect of being unfaithful in her thoughts and actions to Brian.
"You ready to go?" Pacey asked Joey.
"Yeah, let me grab my coat," she said as she pulled it off the counter quickly and headed back to him. Pacey opened the car door for her as she got in, "Thanks."
"Yep," he got in the driver's side and stared the engine, pulling out of the restaurant parking lot. "So long first day…."
"You could say that."
"It'll get better," Pacey told her, "Please don't quit, I would miss having you around." He said, his tone light, but honesty seeping through his words.
It was one day and he had already become attached to this girl. Not a good sign.
"I'm not planning on it."