The Complication of Adulthood
Chapter 5: Fighting a Silent Argument
Late at night, Pacey was in the restaurant finishing his responsibilities such as storing the day's inventory, cleaning the kitchen, and stacking up the chairs. Then just as he was planning to leave, his boss, Craig Fitzgerald walked up to him.
Craig Fitzgerald wasn't the most accountable man. He wasn't much older than Pacey, but Craig always act as if he was wiser. The thing about Craig Fitzgerald was that he was always finding a way to slide between the cracks. Craig Fitzgerald was not the perfect role model for Pacey especially at a time like this.
"Hey where are you heading?" Craig wondered.
"Home with my family." Pacey responded.
"Don't you want to stay with the guys for a while?" Craig insisted.
"I can't. My wife doesn't like when I stay out too late." Pacey answered.
"Oh… Kid let me tell you something. You are lucky that you have a family and you are lucky that you graduated high school. But you're wife should no that it should be more than work and no play." Craig demanded.
"I don't know." Pacey was still a little shaky.
"Well, if you want to end up some guy who is in an uncomfortable relationship with his wife, then you can go out those doors and head to your family. But if you don't want to end up that guy, then what can twenty minutes hurt?" Craig persuaded.
Pacey thought about it, and even though he completely disagreed with Craig's argument, he did not see the negativity of twenty minutes of freedom. Joey would not know the difference.
"Sure." Pacey agreed.
They walked to the counter where there were six other guys (around their mid twenties to early thirties). They were watching a football game on a flat screen television.
"Hey guys, Pacey is going to join us tonight." Craig announced.
"Great!" They all shouted.
Pacey sat down and was excited that he was able to have a few minutes of fun. For these last couple of weeks, it has been nothing but hard work at the restaurant. When he did get home, it was tirades from Joey or long nights of crying from Joshua. He thought he deserved a few moments of enjoyment.
"So Pacey." Martin, the bartender, called.
"Yeah?" Pacey responded.
"You want a beer." He asked.
"No thanks. I'm only eighteen and I don't want to get the restaurant in trouble for selling alcohol to me." Pacey defended.
"He's not selling it to you; he's giving it to you for free. It'll be a friend-to-friend thing." Craig interfered.
"What would you like?" Martin asked.
"I don't know… what do you think?" Pacey gave in.
"For your sake, how about you have something light?" Martin suggested.
Unexpectedly, back at his home, Joey was waiting for Pacey. As she was waiting, she was looking at a college application she had filled out. Dawson's speech had inspired her. She had decided that if she wanted to go to college, she had to find out if colleges wanted her.
She was applying to the Boston University; the college Jack was attending. Even though it wasn't the Ivy League college she dreamed of attending, it was still a well suited college. In addition, Boston University was better than no college.
Without prior notice, it was almost midnight and the door opened. Joey saw Pacey walking in. Pacey then was surprised to find Joey still awake.
"You're home late." Joey labeled.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I got held up at the restaurant. Sorry." Pacey excused himself, "What about you? Why are you up so late?"
"I've just been thinking." She announced.
"Great!" He mumbled.
"What was that?" Joey snapped.
"Nothing." Pacey had lied.
"No. You complained because I was thinking. What? I am not aloud to have a mind of my own now. Is that it?" Joey tone started to become agitated.
"No, that is not it at all?" Pacey corrected.
"Then what is it… because you've been acting irrational lately." Joey said.
"I've been acting irrational. Every time I get home, you turn into the bitch of the year. Damn it Joey, I'm just tired, that's all." He provoked.
"That's just it. Don't you understand; I do not want you to be tired. Pacey I want to help with this household. I need to become something besides a stay-at-home mom." Joey reminded.
"I know you don't want to." Pacey repeated.
"No. Pacey, I don't want to. I need to be something than a stay-at-home mom." She shouted.
"Okay. We'll find a way." Pacey muttered.
"God! You keep saying that but I don't believe you anymore." She declared.
"Goodness." Pacey started to feel drowsy.
"You know what. I have a headache and you are the cause of it." Joey labeled.
"Sorry." Pacey argued.
"I'm going to bed… Just sleep on the couch for tonight." She ordered.
And just like that, the argument was silenced, but it was not over. Joey decided not to tell Pacey about her application to Boston University. She knew it wasn't the right time.
In Pacey's perspective, coming home seemed like a mistake. He now wished he stayed a few more minutes at the restaurant. Coming home was becoming a punishment rather than a reward.
One thing was for sure; their marriage was not heading in the right direction. More importantly, they were not acting like adults. If they were, their problems wouldn't be this deep.
Author's Note: The reason why I didn't post so fast was because I didn't recieve many reviews. And I understand that you might be busy and you're not at home that much. But if you have time, I would appreciate if you reviewed more often, because if you guys review more often, then I will update more story more often.
Next time on the fanfic: Joey and Pacey run into some old friends.