Why is it that shopping trolleys are always broken? Jen wondered as she watched with mild irritation as her shopping cart veered off to the right yet again, slamming hard into a display of frozen peas. Sighing, she manoeuvred her cart away from the just barely intact display and steered it down aisle number nine of Capeside’s one and only supermarket.

Well, it seems my life has come to a new low, she thought dismally as she compared the prices of ready-made lasagne. I can’t believe this is the most exciting thing I have to do on a Friday night. If Prada shoes weren’t involved, shopping justdidn’t hold the same attraction.

Tossing a bag of Doritos into her trolley, she continued on her merry way. True to form, her cart chose that moment to swing lazily to the right, colliding squarely with anotherperson.

“Damn it!” Jen exclaimed in annoyance, as she looked up to see who her trolley’s latestvictim was.

“Jen?” Pacey asked, a half-smile already forming on his lips. “You know, you really shouldlearn to control your trolley rage.”

“Trolley rage?” Jen replied sceptically.

“Yup, road rage is, like, so 5 minutes ago. Trolley rage is the latest thing.” His tone wasso earnest that Jen started laughing, in spite of herself.

“Pacey,” she pronounced warmly, once her laughter had subsided. “I’ve missed you.”

Giving her a quick hug, Pacey stepped back, his gaze giving her the once over.

“What are you doing here, anyway? The big city life got too much for you?”

The accuracy of his statement caused a lump to form in her throat. Swallowing past it,she forced a smile.

“Something like that,” she said dismissively.

“So, have you seen Dawson and Joey, yet?” he asked conversationally. Jen was too preoccupied to notice the shadow which crossed his face at the mention of Joey.

“Yeah, they were as sickeningly in love as ever -- what with the baby on the way andall.”

Pacey frowned. “Baby?”

“Oh, haven’t you heard? Barbie and Ken are expecting,” Jen couldn’t prevent the note ofbitterness from creeping into her voice.

“Expecting?” Pacey echoed, his voice unusually low and rasping.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, shooting him a quizzical look. Pacey didn’t appear to belistening, though.

“I’ve gotta go,” he murmured distractedly. Abandoning his half-full trolley, he beganjogging towards the nearest exit.

Now that was strange, Jen decided, shaking her head in bewilderment asshe shoved her unruly trolley toward the checkout.

The full implications of Jen’s carelessly revealed truth, still hadn’t fully sunk in. All he knew was that he needed to see her. Pacey barely remembered a thought entering hishead as he sat there, waiting. His hands gripped the arms of the chair so tightly, hisknuckles turned white.

He felt a lump forming in his throat as he watched her struggle through the door, laden with bags and paperwork. Depositing her cumbersome files on the kitchen table, sheslipped off her shoes and padded through to the living room.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Pacey asked in a low voice, not moving from the chair heoccupied. Joey whirled around, placing a hand over her heart.

“God, you scared me!” she exclaimed.

“I said, why didn’t you tell me?” he repeated with growing intensity and forcefulness.Rising from the chair, he moved closer to her.

“What are you talking about?” she replied haltingly.

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” His face twisted into a hurt, resentful scowl. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Did you really think you could just go ondeceiving me?” he demanded, his voice cracking with emotion.

“I--I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she claimed unconvincingly, hereyes betraying the truth.

“Damn it, Joey, stop lying to me!” he yelled, slamming his fist down on the table. Joeyshrank back in horror

Silence descended over them as Joey turned away, her quiet sobs tearing at Pacey’sheart.

“I just didn’t know how to tell you . . .” she said at last, “I didn’t want to believe it myself. . .”

“Is it mine?” he whispered, averting his gaze.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. It could be . . .”

Pacey could feel the world begin to spin around him, his surroundings reduced to anobfuscate blur. As his hands reached out to touch her, he forced his vision to focus. Joey clung to him for what seemed like dear life, tears still streaming down her face.

“It’ll be all right,” he murmured. “Everything will work out.” But he could sense that his empty promises did nothing to comfort Joey, because in all honesty, could either of them be sure whether anything would ever be all right again?

“Well, well, well,” she marvelled softly, once she was a safe distance away.“Who would’ve thought? It seems little miss white as snow isn’t so white as snow any more.”

Joey and Pacey. Now there was a revelation and a half. Although, it really wasn’t all that inconceivable once you thought about it. A fine line between love and hate and all. Evidently, Joey and Pacey had crossed over the line -- way over. They’d always appeared sworn enemies as teenagers, but at the same time, Jen hadn’t failed to notice the sparksof attraction which flew between them.

Jen smiled slyly to herself. She had a feeling this morsel of information might just come inhandy sooner or later. Emphasis on the sooner.