Pacey POV
As I walk into my office I find her sitting at my desk. I decided the best thing for her to do is catch up on my paper work. I ask, �How�s everything going?� which doesn�t even phase her.
�Do you ever check these books?� Katie asks me, not even looking up.
�Well no, why?� I ask.
�Because they involve money and inventory,� She says, finally looking at me.
�Well I�m really good at the cooking part and not so good at the math and money part. Andie always-� I stop abruptly as I say her name.
�Who�s Andie?� Katie asks.
�It doesn�t matter,� I say suddenly, trying to drop the subject. This was the first time I�ve thought about her since Katie arrived.
�I�m sorry, I didn�t mean anything by it. I was just wondering,� Katie says.
�No, its okay, I just don�t feel like talking about it,� I state firmly. Then I continue, saying, �I�ve got to get back to work, lunch rush.�
�Oh, okay,� Katie says as she goes back to the books as I walk out the door. I�m really not ready to have that conversation, especially not with her.
* * *
I buried myself in the dinner rush but it didn�t take my mind off Andie or the way I treated Katie when she asked about it.
We rode in silence on the way home until Katie spoke up. �I�m sorry about earlier. I didn�t mean to upset you.�
�I�m not mad, it�s just�� I pause a moment then continue, �It�s kind of a sore subject.�
�So you�re not going to kick me out?� Katie says with a worried look on her face.
�No,� I reply with a slight chuckle, �I�m not going to kick you out. I couldn�t do that, you don�t even know your name.�
�What, I�m just some charity case?� Katie asks defensively.
�No, I never said that,� I start, �I just�I guess I�m just kind of selfish.�
�What?� She asks, obviously shocked.
�I�ve just been�lonely. And with you around it doesn�t seem so bad.� I state honestly. She�s just kind of staring at me, sadly. I continue, trying to clarify. �I thought I�d dealt with it. Ok, that�s a lie, I haven�t and I know that. I just thought that if I could forget about Andie everything would be okay. But it hasn�t been.�
�I wish there was something I could say,� Katie replies. We are at my apartment- well, actually, we have been for the past ten minutes- so I decide to get out of the car.
We enter the apartment and I head to the fridge for a beer as Katie heads to the stairs.
�Night,� she says as she walks up the stairs. I just sit down on the couch to nurse my beer.
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