Sand In My Shoes

Part Seven

Hangover

Pacey sat behind the desk at the video store with his feet up on the counter, closing his eyes, hoping for a mid-day rest. It was a Tuesday and things were slow so he was hopeful of some mild slumber. The loud shrill of the bell on the door as it opened awoke him with a start.

"Hi," Joey said as she walked towards him slowly.

"You look like shit," he told her, watching her between his tired eyelids.

"Morning to you too," she laughed.

"What can I do for you?" he asked her, sitting up and leaning on the desk.

"Two things," she told him. "The first one is… do you by any chance remember what happened last night?" she questioned him, hoping he had forgotten. She hadn't been able to remember it herself until she hit the shower and sobered up a little.

"Yeah, I remember," he said, diverting his eyes from hers, he was kind of hoping she had forgotten. It wasn't that it was a bad kiss, it was a very, very good kiss, but they were both very drunk.

"I'm sorry," she said, cringing. "I was so drunk and you were so drunk and we were just…"

"So drunk?" he finished her sentence for her. "It's okay, really,"

"I just feel so bad I mean… there's Andie and I am meant to be her friend and the minute her back is turned I go and give her boyfriend the tongue kissing of his life, y'know?" she asked him, covering her thumping head with her hand.

"we drank way too much last night, and I was just as much at fault as you were," he told her, getting up and putting some boxes back on the shelves.

"So are we okay?" she asked him.

"Sure," Pacey smiled, turning around and looking at her. "We're fine," he reassured her.

"Really?" She asked unsure. "Because the very last thing that I want is for this summer to be awkward between us,"

"It's not awkward," he told her and she gave him a look, he knew the look. "Ok, so it's a teeny tiny bit awkward and maybe I'm just a tad embarrassed by the whole 'tongue in mouth' thing, but we are fine," he told her offering his arms to her in a hug which she accepted.

"Thanks," She smiled, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly.

"Just as long as you know that once Pacey's lips have graced yours in an unforgettable kiss you will never be the same," he joked and she pulled away, slapping him arm roughly. "Really! I mean your baseline standard has just risen, you will crave for a kiss as passionate and unforgettable as the one we shared but you will never find it. You will spend the rest of your life searching in vain for a kiss as wonderful and passionate,"

"You're amazing Pace, you know that?" she smiled lightly, walking towards him slowly, swaying her hips and licking her ruby lips.

"I am huh?" he asked smirking.

"Yeah," she whispered softly. "Amazing you can get your head through doorways!" she told him, her tone retuning to normal.

"So," Pacey changed the subject, his hangover was too severe for banter this morning, especially with Joey Potter. "What was the other thing?" he asked after a minute of silence.

"Are you sill looking to fill the job in the window?" she asked hopefully

"Yeah. Why? Do you know someone who's interested?"

"Me,"

"You?" Pacey scoffed, almost laughing out loud "excuse me whilst I scoff,"

"What's so funny?" she asked him slapping his arm. "in case you don't remember, I quit my job yesterday and I still haven't told Bessie yet,"

"I thought you said this job was the least inspiring job on earth and that you would rather rip both of your arms off and eat them rather than working here?"

"It's a girl's prerogative to change her mind when she has no money to feed her family,"

"Okay," Pacey said sighing. "It's your funeral," he handed her a clipboard with an application form and a pen. "Fill this out,"

"Thanks," she smiled, leaning on the desk, swiping some hair behind her ear.

"So you really haven't told Bessie yet?" he questioned and she shook her head. "She is so going to kill you when she finds out,"

"Don't remind me," she said, handing him back the application form. "When will I find out about the job?"

"I'll call you when I hear anything. The boss is in today and seen as you are the only applicant I cant see anyone beating you to it,"

"Won't he want to interview me?" she asked him.

"Joey? The work force here is basically me, myself and I right now, so no… I don't think so,"

"You're right," Joey said shaking her head. "I mean if he'll employ you he'll employ anyone, right?" she joked,

"Get the hell out," he said, stalking her towards the door

"Excuse me?" she asked,

"Out my store, go on, shoo," he told her, rushing her out the store.

"Pacey!"

"Nope, if you want me to pass on this application I suggest you stop insulting me and go, go on, shoo," he joked, pushing her gently out the door, leaning against the doorframe.

"Movies tonight?" she asked.

"Sure, nothing else going on in this god forsaken hellhole right?"

"Yeah. Unless you want to do the whole sex, drugs and rock and roll thing," she joked.

"I don't really think that sex, drugs and rock and roll is the Capeside way to be honest. So how about dinner, a hotdog and a walk through the park instead. Huh?" he suggested.

"Sure," Joey smiled. "So I'll see you later then,"

"What?" he asked she turned her back. "No goodbye kisses?"

"Goodbye Pacey," she said, turning her back and walking away shaking her head at him. She was starting to see a different side to Pacey Witter, she was starting to find his childish quips 'cute' instead of 'irritating'; she was starting to find his newly tanned body eye-catching and suddenly felt happy about spending time with him. Life without Dawson seemed so different, and the scary thing was that it wasn't bad, it wasn't bad at all.