Chapter 14

A/N – Wow. So it's over. The story, the Palex, and now the season (well, I've still got a few hours before I can watch HF2.) Sadness all around. At least I've got two more fics in the wings and my smutty fic to finish up. I'd trade it all in for a functional Palex relationship on the show though.

And before you begin reading, I'd just like to thank everyone for the reviews. It's been a pleasure sharing my story with you all!

Paige had saved Alex a seat, but she was a no show. All through class she flipped back and forth between worry and annoyance. After class, she headed to the cafeteria, figuring Alex would surely show up for lunch.

But after a few minutes, she tossed out her untouched lunch and set off in search of her girlfriend. She passed Nick Leary in the hall, holding an ice pack to his face.

"Have you been fighting?" she asked in a motherly tone. "You know Armstrong's not going to like that."

Nick ignored her and continued on by.

"What's your problem?" she asked. He so did not have the right to ignore her.

"Your girlfriend's my problem."

"Alex did that to you?" Paige laughed.

"Fucking queer," he snapped, storming off.

Paige knew where to go. She headed to Ms. Hatzilakos' office, but was redirected to Ms. Sauve's. Listening at the door, she heard the soft murmur of voices, one in particular that made her smile with relief, and so she sat on the bench outside and waited.

Alex emerged as the bell rang for fourth period.

"Remember," said Ms. Sauve, "Use your words, not violence." She smiled warmly at Alex whose attention was already focused elsewhere. Ms. Sauve followed her gaze. "Oh, hello, Paige. Did you need to see me?"

"No, I was just waiting for Alex."

"I see. I know that things are pretty difficult for the two of you right now. If you ever need to talk, together or separately, I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Ms. Sauve."

Alex was standoffish as they walked to class, her arms crossed and her mood sour.

"I saw Nick," Paige said, finally breaking the silence. "Did you do that to him?"

"Yeah."

"Did he hurt you?"

"Not as bad as I hurt him. I've got a killer headache, though, which is just another thing to add to the list of reasons why this day sucks."

Paige tilted her head in the direction of the girls' washroom, indicating that they should continue their conversation in there. "What happened?"

"Nick said a few things he shouldn't have."

"Hon, everyone's been saying things they shouldn't. You mind telling me what's really going on?"

Alex slumped down to the floor, resting her aching head on her arms. Paige looked down, concerned, a million worries fluttering through her head.

"Are we ok?" she asked.

Alex looked up. "I don't know. Are we?"

"You're throwing the question back at me? I'm not the one skipping class and getting into fights."

Alex studied her face for a while, summoning up the courage to ask her the question that had been bugging her all morning. "Did you like me before all this started?"

Paige sat down beside Alex, even though she wasn't too keen about sitting on the floor of the washroom. "Of course I liked you. We were friends, right?"

"That's not what I mean. You know it."

Paige swallowed. She'd been fearing this question. She didn't know how to answer it. Hell, she didn't even have an answer.

"I don't know," she responded truthfully.

Alex didn't like what she heard and looked away disappointed.

"I mean, I know I definitely started to fall for you Wednesday night. When you pushed back my hair at the theatre, my heart stopped for a moment, in a good way. When we were dancing, things started to get confusing in my head but I tried to ignore them. And the cowboy hat, and the way you were looking at me, and talking with you at your place. And then, well, you know."

"No, I don't know. I don't understand. Why are you with me?"

"Because I like you. Like you, like you."

"But – "

"Alex, I like you. You like me. When it comes down to it, that's all that really matters, right?"

"Is it?"

Paige could think of nothing more to say and instead moved in to kiss her, but Alex turned her head away. Paige's shoulders dropped. "You really are having a bad day. I think maybe it's time you told me what happened. Everything." Alex stared at her. "Start talking."

Alex put her head in her hands and knitted her brow. "You didn't have time to talk to me last night. You didn't even tell me why."

"Delicate situation. I was with Hazel, trying to sweeten up Manny with tons of apologies and a promise to leave her with the title of head cheerleader next year if she'd just join the squad again. I think that will be enough to keep the girls happy."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, though. And I did call you later, when you should have been home."

"I called you to tell you I wasn't home, but I just got your voicemail, and I was already in a bad mood at that point."

"Hm…maybe you called when I was talking to Marco. You should be glad that I didn't subject you to the play-by-play of the negotiations. I'm sure Marco wishes he'd gotten out of it."

"I would have listened."

Paige rested her head on Alex's shoulder, placing her hand on her thigh. "Would it help you to know that I spent all day yesterday and most of today thinking about Saturday night?"

"You're not trying to forget that?"

"No. What would make you think that?"

"Jay. Hazel. Johnny Depp."

Paige smirked and shook her head in amusement. "I don't know if those three names should ever be said with the same breath. Something happen with Jay?"

"I really don't want to talk about that. Let's just say he was there when I opened my door this morning."

"Jay is such an ass. Hazel, though, she's just trying to get under your skin. She'll do that until she gets used to the situation. And Johnny Depp, come on, don't you think he's hot?"

"No."

"Oh. Well, I suppose it's not a universally held opinion."

"I didn't think any of them were hot."

"They're not the only four guys in the world."

"That's what Ms. Sauve said."

Paige looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. Alex had to turn away. "Is that what's worrying you, hon?" Silence. "Alex," said Paige, her voice soft and caring, "it's ok, you know, if you don't like guys."

Alex shifted her body slightly, and then proceeded to stare at the closest sink for a few moments before looking back at Paige. Her eyes were red and glistening with unshed tears. "I don't know," she finally said, her voice cracking. "I can't make sense of it and I'm so sick of trying to figure it out. I just want it to go away. I wish it was only about you and me right now."

"It can be. It should be. I don't care about your sexuality. All that matters is that we're together. As a couple. Ok?" She leaned over, kissing her on the cheek. "You know what you need? Some good news. And maybe a bad-mood destroying story to preface it." She opened up her bag. "I brought you your physics test. And before you ask about your grade, you should ask how I convinced Mr. Reynolds to actually let me pick it up for you."

"How?"

"I told him in front of the whole class that you're my girlfriend, that we're dating. See what you missed? Although, I guess if you'd been there I wouldn't have had to be so vocal about it. Oh, but, the good news – you did better than me on the test. 81 trumps 79. Congrats. And just so you know, being my girlfriend automatically makes you my study buddy."

Alex did feel better after that. But she was pretty sure it had more to do with the prospect of studying with Paige than her actual grade.

"I knew that would be smile inducing. We should maybe think about getting to history. We're so late already."

"We could just skip it. Basement was empty last I checked. I wouldn't mind some more cheering up."

"How about we save the cheering up for after school. Oh, wait, you're not going to be sitting in detention for the next few weeks, are you?"

"Nope. I just have to start meeting with Sauve again every week."

"Again?"

"Yeah…I saw her for a while after the shooting last year."

"Oh." They'd never discussed it and weren't about to start now. Paige stood up and offered Alex her hand. "Come on. Let's get to class before we really do get detention."

Alex accepted her hand and didn't let go. "Paige," she said as they left the washroom, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For the fight."

"I think Nick probably needs the apology more than me."

"Nick deserved what he got. You deserve better."

"It's ok. I know you've been having a bad day."

"It's not ok. I really do want to be a better person. And not just for you, but for me too. But sometimes I lose myself. When I'm around you, I feel like the whole world could blow up in my face and I wouldn't bat an eye. And when you're gone, I just…feel so lost."

Paige stopped her. "Close your eyes," she said, "and hold our your hand."

When Alex opened her eyes again, Paige's P necklace was resting in her palm.

"That way I'm always with you."

Alex didn't know what to say, but she could feel tears in her eyes and it was suddenly difficult to breathe. She stared at the P pendant, unable to look at Paige.

"Here, hon, let me put that on for you. Hold your hair up."

Paige stood behind her, every touch of her fingers to Alex's neck sent shivers down her spine. "There," she said, turning Alex around. She adjusted it before placing her palm over Alex's chest. "Does that help?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah," she said, managing to produce a smile. "Kissing you might help too."

Paige smirked and met Alex's lips. "Better?" she asked.

"A little."

"What about a date tonight? My treat this time."

Alex smiled again. "And where will that date end up?"

"Well, if you're still having a crappy day, maybe in my bedroom for a little above the waistline entertainment. No sleepovers though. It's a school night."

"And if my day is no longer craptastic?"

"Maybe we'll have to celebrate with a make-out session anyway." Paige took her hand. "Come on, let's get to class."

Alex played with her new necklace, stealing glances at her girlfriend. Paige really was turning out to be her lucky charm. Her mood had done a 180, her worries were now insignificant, and even her headache seemed to have subsided. Could her day possibly get any better?

Paige slowed down to a stop outside of their history classroom, looking at the door and then back at Alex with mischief in her eyes. "You know, there's this great little storage closet nearby, and we've already missed the first half of class…"

Oh yeah, her day was definitely on an upswing. "Lead the way, you rebel, you."

"Don't get used to this." Paige warned. "Special circumstances take precedence over class discussions of the election of '93."

She was getting used to this, though. Very used to it. As the two stealthily made their way through the halls, Alex felt a calm come over her…a sense of relief and acceptance. Everything was falling into place for the first time in her life, making her realize just how jumbled and wrong it had been before. And as she pressed her body against Paige's in the dimly lit room, amid paint cans and mops, she realized that Paige was right – the only thing that mattered right now was that they were together. This was how it was meant to be.