The sound of the city, drowned out by the music from the jukebox as it flowed from the continual swinging of the door from Hell's Kitchen, in waves of drums and guitar. Raucous laughter was the secondary sound heard through the din. Pacey leant against the side of the building in exhaustion. Back in Boston for three weeks and his first night off work in almost as many weeks. He was spending it at a venue which was not much different than his place of work. The crowd was scarcely younger and conceivably slightly less pretentious but by no means any less loud. Pacey wondered if his state of despair was because he was a man that worked with responsibilities, instead of studying and abusing his body with drugs and alcohol like most his age. Joey was right, he was the most grown up among his friends. Or maybe it was something entirely different.
The door to the bar swung open yet again, Joey emerged. Laughing as she stepped over the threshold. She stopped, her face fell as she caught sight of Pacey.
"Hey Potter." Pacey smiled, his eyes half closed as he turned to look out over the street to a woman dragging a set of drums through an apartment block doorway. The woman was yelling out in a distinct British accent to a woman down the street.
"Witter." Joey smiled, leaning her back against the wall beside Pacey. They stood in comfortable silence for a while before Joey spoke. "You okay? you seem a little perturbed this evening." Joey turned to face her friend, her expression questioning. Pacey inhaled, burdened with a large invisible weight on his shoulder. He glanced at Joey, she raised her eyebrows as she waited for him to speak. Pacey shrugged, looking back over the road to the loud British woman and her friend. He watched while they dragged their music equipment up the stairs. Realising Joey's question did not seem to be rhetorical, Pacey sighed.
"It's nothing, just me and my epic nature of feeling insecure and suspicious." Pacey attempted a smile laced with as much nonchalance as he could muster. The concerned frown which spread across Joey's face was unmistakable. She stood up straight, pushing her hands into the pockets of her jeans. Her eyes searched Pacey's for a sign of an explanation into his solemn demeanor. "Don't give me that look Joey."
"What look?" She smiled, knowing what he meant but feigning ignorance all the same. Pacey stood up away from the wall, mimicking her own stance with his hands in his cargo pants.
"The one where you know there is something on my mind i am not saying because you know me so well."
"Am I wrong Pace?" Joey chewed on her lower lip, waiting for Pacey to answer her. She knew with everything which transpired over the past year they were not as close as they once were. She also knew they could not have drifted so far apart she could not tell when he stood afflicted by something. Joey felt he were ready to open up, his shoulders dropped and his stature relaxed slightly as he opened his mouth to speak.
The door swung open again.
"Hey you two, wondered what happened to you. You can not possibly be bailing on us could you?" Audrey stuck her head through the doorway her glossy lips pouting at her roommate and boyfriend. Joey spun around, she shook her head grinning. Pacey forced a smile. He moved closer to Audrey and slipped his arms around her waist.
"Honey, I am beat. I think I might call it a night." He leant down to kiss her goodnight. Audrey moved expertly to avoid him, kissing him quickly on the cheek and grabbing Joey by the wrist as she pulled her toward the entrance.
"Fine then party pooper. I will talk to you tomorrow."
Joey noticed the look of disappointment on Pacey's face. She looked between Audrey and Pacey in confusion . Something appeared off, she wondered if whatever was going on was the cause for Pacey's mood. Normally the couple were all over each other to the point it made others uncomfortable to watch their public display of foreplay. Joey watched as Pacey stood outside for a few moments before pushing his hands in his pockets and walking off alone.

Pacey entered the house of Grams silently, trying to be careful not to wake Mrs Ryan. The kitchen light streamed down the hallway illuminating the path before him, he noted the sound of silver clinking on fine china. Grams must be awake he decided as he made his way towards the kitchen.
Evelyn Ryan sat peacefully at the kitchen bench, her back to Pacey as he entered. She appeared lost in thought as he approached. Her hands clasped around her tea cup and her elbows resting on the bench.
"Evening Mr. Witter." She smiled softly. Pacey grinned and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. She looked up at him, her brow furrowed at the sight of him.
"Heavy thoughts for such a late hour " Gram noted as Pacey reached into the cupboard for a glass. He stopped to look at her as he opened the fridge.
"What makes you think ..."
"I think that we can agree in my advanced age that I, dear boy am wiser and far more knowledgeable that you are." Pacey grinned and nodded in agreement. Grams sat and watched Pacey as he poured a glass of orange juice, fully aware of the eyes trained upon him as he moved. He shifted uneasily beneath her scrutiny. Certainly not something he wished to discuss, least of all with the God-fearing Evelyn Ryan. It wasn't because of her religious stance, more her age and the level of respect she commanded. Pacey did not feel comfortable with the topic of conversation which would be open up if her were to unload his quandary upon her. He simply shook his head and gave his best smile to help obscure what he was thinking and feeling. Enough so he could bluff to make it appear it were no big deal and he more than capable of tackling it himself. Pacey rinsed his glass and headed for the stairs.
"Goodnight Grams."
"Goodnight Pacey." She responded in kind with the smallest hint of a frown as she watched him disappear upstairs to the attic. Once upstairs to the safety of his room, Pacey let out a groan of exhaustion coupled with frustration. Things with Audrey had been getting decidedly worse as the weeks went on. She was distancing herself from him, slowly retreating by not talking to him and allowing them to exist together in periods of silence and conversations unspoken. More than anything Audrey had been shying away from the slightest of physical touch, she avoided being alone with him on most occasions and seemed disinterested in him intimately. Pacey knew there was a conversation which needed to transpire and soon.
Pacey lay awake for what seemed like hours, he heard as Jack and Jen stumbled home, whispering and giggling as they each retreated to their respective bedrooms. Silence lingered, almost deafening as Pacey lay in his bed alone to grapple with his thoughts.
Tomorrow. He would talk to Audrey tomorrow.

Joey had been up for hours and had already returned from her daily morning run. Audrey lay in bed, her pillow pulled across her face to ward off the morning sun through their dorm room window. Joey watched with amusement as she witnessed Audrey's protest to mornings. A dance she participated in every morning with a groan of disdain in her hungover state of self pity and queasiness. Joey smirked as she nudged her with the toe of her right runner.
"Hey sleepy, getting up before noon?" She grinned. Audrey groaned beneath the covers.
"Fuck off Joey. Spread that sickening cheer somewhere else and let me die in peace." Joey rolled her eyes ignoring her. She sat down on the bed and peeled the quilt down and flipped the pillow of her face. Audrey opened an eye and let out a sound of exasperation and annoyance. " Don't you have some professor's ass to kiss somewhere ?"
Joey smiled and shook her head. Audrey groaned at the realisation Joey was not going anywhere. Joey's face became stormy remembering the display the night before, she wanted to ask her friend about it as it had been bothering her all morning.
"Audrey, what's going on with you and Pacey?" Audrey's eyes opened, she appeared suddenly wide awake.
"What ever do you mean Bunny?" Audrey battered her eyelids in an attempt to evade the question, noting the strained expression on Audrey's face Joey knew she was hiding something.
"Audrey." Joey's eyes widened, her expression unforgiving. Audrey shifted uneasily beneath her friends gaze with the appearance of a young child who had spilt juice on the rug. She lowered her eyes. Joey sat a while in silence, waiting for Audrey to answer her. She was not prepared for what she had to say.
"I'm pregnant"
Lost for words Joey sat in a haze of stupor. Without knowing what to say or how to say it. She had no idea what she thought. empathetic, understanding. Completely fucking angry.
"What?" She hissed, she hadn't meant for it to come out as it had but she was angry. Why? because she had been reckless with her future and had thrown her whole life and college away or because she was pregnant and had clearly not told Pacey? No that was not it. She was furious, Audrey was pregnant, she was pregnant with Pacey's baby. It was Pacey's baby. "What the hell are you doing Audrey? So Pacey? he doesn't know?" Audrey shook her head. Joey could feel the blood in her body begin to rise in temperature to the point it felt as though she were burning from the inside out. "Why not Audrey, don't you think he deserves to know? I am pretty sure that on a scale of things to be included in on - impregnating one's girlfriend would be pretty fucking high on the list of things to -"
"It's not his!" Audrey snapped before burying her head in her hands and throwing herself back down on the bed sobbing. Joey felt the anger slip from her body and give way to sympathy. Relieved she leant over to rest a friendly hand on her friend.
"It's Okay Audrey, we'll work this out. I promise." Audrey pushed herself up with deliberation to face Joey.
"I can't have this baby Joey" She stated. Joey nodded by way of reply, allowing Audrey into her arms to be comforted. She spoke to her in a soft and hushed tone she used to comfort Alexander as a baby. Joey say with her an rubbed her back, her mind wandered to the news. She was certainly relieved that Audrey was not carrying Pacey's baby. She began to feel guilty that she was not being as supportive of her friend as she should have been. At least she hadn't been until she learned that Pacey was not going to be a father. After everything now what? Joey wondered what would happen next, the fact remained Audrey had been unfaithful and had betrayed Pacey. A betrayal he would not take lightly and may not forgive. Tears formed in Joey's eyes. This was going to kill him.

Pacey sat in the kitchen studying the rental listings for an apartment. Jack sat opposite, eating breakfast and reading the back of the cereal box. Pacey looked up at Jack with contemplation. Feeling his gaze Jack looked back at Pacey with curiosity while his spoon suspended mid mouthful.
"You know what Jackers, while my job at Equinox pays better than it did at Civilisation. I think it would be even more comfortable to be able to split the costs. I for one can not live the rest of my life shut up in Grams' attic." Jack raised an eyebrow.
"You mean a room mate?" Pacey nodded. Jack set his spoon back into the bowl and fell silent while he mulled the idea over in his head.
"You may be onto something Pace. It's getting a little awkward around here with the sneaking of guys upstairs and such. Although for me to be able to do so I would need a little extra cash" Pacey nodded in agreement. They sat together in silence for a while until Pacey's eyes lit up.
"Harry has asked for his shifts to be cut so he can spend more time with his girlfriend, so there's a bar tending position open at work."
"Yeah?"
"Interested?" Jack grinned, holding his hand out to shake Pacey's. "Great. I'm going to make some calls then." Pacey grabbed the classifieds and disappeared up the the stairs to his room. Jen entered the kitchen yawning. She sat at the stool beside Jack, groaning while her head fell into her folded arms on the bench.
"Big night" Jack grinned. Jen groaned pulling her hand up to swipe at him with minute energy and even less dexterity. The box of corn flakes catapulted through the air and showered the floor with it's contents. Jack and Jen moved together to peer over the edge at the mess before them. Jack looked at Jen.
"I am not cleaning that shit up."

Thankful for the end of the lunch rush Pacey cleaned off his station while Jack shook hands with his new employer; Gerald. Grinning from ear to ear Jack walked over to Pacey once he had finished. Pacey shook his friend's hand to congratulate him.
"I have lined up a couple of places to see in my lunch break. You free now?"
"Sure am Pace. Let's go"
Pacey and Jack left Equinox and entered the parking lot. Noting Pacey's quiet countenance, Jack cleared his throat.
"You alright Pace?" Pacey glanced at Jack, a flicker of uncertainly in his eye. He nodded and gave a weak smile. Jacks eyes narrowed, he had know Pacey long enough to know his false indifference a facade. Observing the unease across Jacks face Pacey managed a more convincing chuckle and nodded again.
"I'm fine Jack. It's nothing. Work stuff is all" He lied. Pacey tapped the steering wheel in beat with the soft rock that came through the stereo. Jack sat looking out the window noting the building numbers.
"Here, that's it. Right here Pace" Jack pointed a finger to an apartment block. A slightly overgrown garden hid most of the entrance to the building. Pacey found a car space on the other side of the street. A woman stood close by with a folder in her arms. Pacey noted she must be the realtor they were meeting.
"Hi, Beth is it?" Pacey smiled extending his hand "I'm Pacey, this is Jack"
"It's great to meet you, shall we go in?" The boys nodded in approval and followed the petite redhead through the entrance and into the foyer.
"I am told the elevator works on occasion but try not to rely on it as more often than not it is out of order."
"Well i guess it's a good thing we are both young and virile young men then" Jack spoke laughing. Beth smiled warmly at him as she headed for the stairs. The building was an older building but by no means completely in disarray. Mostly aged with time. They made their way to the third floor where Beth moved to the first door beside the staircase. She unlocked it, gave a shove on the door to open it. The smell that greeted them engulfed them in a blanket of staleness and mould. Pacey screwed his nose up in offence. As their eyes adjusted to the low light inside the apartment Pacey came to realise that despite the offending smell akin to a place that had been shut up for quite a time without ventilation, the place was reasonably kept. Jack wandered around peeking in a room off the hall. The living areas were open plan, Pacey noted the kitchen first. Appliances looked clean and more modern than he had expected. Jack moved out of Pacey's sight for a moment before returning. Pacey could tell he liked the new place, he grinned and nodded while listening to Beth talk about the apartment and surrounding area. After the last two apartments they had viewed this place was a veritable castle in comparison. Pacey checked his watch, having only fifteen minutes left of his lunch break before he needed to be back in the kitchen to prepare for the dinner shift he spoke up.
"Beth I think this is the best place we have seen" he looked over to Jack for his confirmation in to which he replied with an enthused nod of his head." It's close to our work and not too far from Boston Bay, I think this is perfect for us" Beth smiled.
"Great. I will give you a call once I have the lease ready for you to sign." They left the apartment descended, the stairs and thanked Beth for her time. Pacey pulled back out into the street, heading for Grams' to drop Jack off before heading back to the kitchen at Equinox.