I know, I know. I've got three stories In-Prgress and I don't even update them on a regular basic, so why am I starting a new story? BECAUSE I CAN DAMNIT! And it'll end in a different kind of Palex, so what's there to be angry about! I'm going to try for more updates, but knowing me it might be a little while. In the meantime, enjoy my newest Palex story.

Disclaimer- I do not own Degrassi. If I did, the show would be renamed Palex: The Next Generation and everyone would be kicked off the show execpt for Paige and Alex. Degrassi who?

Warnings- Yes, later (much later) I will once again try myhand at a sex scence. Little children can fuck off. If you know me, you know what I'm capable of. Try to focus on less of that and more of the plot please. Enjoy!

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Chapter 1: Good Morning, New Day

She sat on the floor… alone. That's how things were these days. Just another day in the life of a closed up empty shell. They tried to open her back up… god knows they tried, but things would never be the same again. After tasting perfection, one can never go back to the life they once held. That's how things were for her.

"Alex?" She had pushed them all away. They deserved better then her. She wouldn't cry… she DOESN'T cry. She couldn't hear them… she refused to listen. What was her name again?

"Alex?" Her name was strange. What is her name? Does it start with A? B? C? Was it dull or exotic? There are so many to choose from, but what is HER name?

"Alex?" A ringing… it rings through her ears. A voice… familiar in so many ways. Caring, yet stern.

"Alex?" Alex? That name sounds so… natural. Is it her name? Is her name Alex?

"ALEX!"

Alex's POV

"I'm up already! God!" I sat, now fully awake, glaring at my roommate of seven months who held in a giggle in my doorway.

"God yourself, Alex. I had to call you about a million times. You'd better hurry up or you'll be late." I groaned.

"It's Sunday. Why the fuck did you even wake me up? What time is up?" She giggled again.

"First off, it's not Sunday, it's Monday. You were drunk for the majority of Sunday. Second, you have a job and you've got to be there in fifteen minutes. Third… go by yourself a god damn clock." MONDAY! WHAT THE FUCK! I jumped out of bed, only to find myself staring face-to-face with that ugly carpet I was going to get rid of months of go. Like when we first moved in.

"Thirteen minutes. Do you need a ride?" I quickly changed in that ugly grey uniform that I was given and grabbed my wallet. It was old and torn, but held the little money that I made and a few pictures that were all that was left of my memory.

"Alex? Do-you-need-a-ride? Do you need me to ask again?"

"ALRIGHT!" I stormed out of my room to see my roommate already standing by the door, keys in hand.

"Well hurry and get your ass down to the car. The school is five minutes away and you'll probably end up being late, again!" I followed her down to the car, the smell of her strawberry shampoo throwing off my senses. Her old beaten up red rusty truck sat in the parking lot of the apartment building. The piece of shit was all that she could afford, although I can't even get a car, so I shouldn't be the one to talk.

"Hey, are the kids at school giving you any shit? You've been acting really out of it lately." Concern. That's all I get after the accident.

"I'm fine. Let's just get there as soon as we can so my lame ass day can start." As I jumped in the crappy truck, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. I ignored it as the engine roared to life and the truck sputtered and bumped along the freshly paved roads. It was the time of year that all construction started and the overpowering smell of cement spread throughout the city. Before I knew it, Degrassi came into view. A year ago I had graduated, but here I am, working the halls.

"Want me to pick you up after work? I'm getting out early today." I nodded as I jumped out of the truck, which groaned from the lack of weight. I didn't weigh much, but the truck could barely handle the weight of one person.

"That'd be nice. See ya tonight, Ellie." And the redhead drove off as the sun peaked over the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, but it was to early and I didn't give a shit at this point.

"Miss Nunez! You're late!" The life of a janitor… oh how I love thee. Although, it's slightly better than the job I once had at the movie theater. Ellie took my place after I got fired for bitching out a customer. I don't remember why though… Ellie won't tell me.

"Sorry, Miss Hatzilakos. I'll get to work right away." So my day began. Life consisted of moping floors, running errands, cleaning toilets, and then there was the occasional pile of vomit that had my name on it. Yeah… but the pay was good and I had health insurance.

"Hey Alex. How's the life of a janitor going?" I glared as my two least favorite people in the school came up to me. Greenpeace and attention whore.

"What the hell do you want from me?" Before they could response, none other than Toby Isaacs butted it.

"Ladies, ladies. You do realize you can get into a lot of trouble for harassing our school's janitor. Besides, the year is almost over and you can cut her a bit of slack, can't you?" Neither bitch said a word as they left. I never thought I'd like this kid, but he's okay.

"Thanks, kid." He grinned and walked off. It was pity. The smile was fake and he did it because he felt bad. Screw him… screw them all. The day drug on slower than usual and I found myself bored. I was on my shift until seven and that was still four hours away. Students were leaving the school and I found myself remembering myself leaving the school with a cigarette in my hand looking tough and cool.

"Alex?" Maybe I should consider changing my name or something.

"How may I… Hazel?" Before me stood the girl who I had somewhat befriended from school.

"How are you doing?" She was caring and nice once she warmed up to you. Maturity had taken a toll on her, and she was no longer the peer pressure annoying bitch I had come to know her as from stories I had heard.

"As good as a poor janitor can be. You?" Hazel smiled.

"College has been good to me. Anyway, I came here to invite you to a party next Saturday. It's going to be a reunion of sorts." When Hazel noticed my not so excited look, she took a seat next to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"You don't remember most of them, do you?" I shook my head.

"I know you, Ellie, Marco, and Dylan, but I just can't seem to remember anyone else. There's Jimmy, Jay, and Spinner, but I only see them around school."

"I understand, hun. If you don't want to come, I understand."

"No, I didn't say that. I'll come, but I don't know how long I'll stay."

"It's probably for the best. Maybe you'd like to go see a movie Friday night. With all the shit I'm sure these kids are giving you, I bet you could use it." How could I ever have hated this girl? I'm glad I can't remember all of what happened here at Degrassi.

"Friday sounds good. I'll see ya round then." She left me there, in the cold school with the faint chatter of a meeting in the library. I finished my job at seven, just as Ellie pulled up to the school.

"Hey Alex. How was work?" I snorted as we drove off to the apartment. Routines were a bitch, but something I didn't feel like stepping out of. We got home, ate dinner, and I walked to the ravine.

"Lexi, it's nice to see you again. Still gay?" That stupid insensitive prick!

"You realize that the restraining order is still up. Do you want to get into trouble with the police AGAIN?" That shut him up seeing as he walked away to go into the van with Greenpeace. They did this every night and I sat there, drunk, and watched. Wonder what her filmmaker boyfriend would say if he saw this? Why the hell do I even care?

"Oh Lexi!" There was Sam, my drinking buddy. There was nothing sexual between us, but I kissed her when she approached. This was my life. Wake up, go to work, go home with Ellie and eat, then party til I'm so shit-faced, that Sam walks me home. Then I do it all over again. On weekends, I never leave the ravine.

"I'm going to a reunion party this Saturday. Hazel invited me." Sam nodded and passed me a beer.

"Hazel… the black girl, right?"

"Yeah. I'm nervous about going though."

"I would be too. You only remember a handful of the people that are going right?" A nod, a drink.

"Yeah, but I'm curious too. Ellie said that they were all at the hospital. When I woke up and they heard the news I was fine, they all left. I don't think I know that I have…"

"ALEX!" Surprisingly, Ellie was rushing up to me. She was here... in the ravine.

"What's up, El?" She runs up, out of breathed and flustered. She looks worried.

"I have bad news. A phone call came in for you… about your mother…" Before she could say another word, I ran. I was still sober and a pretty fast runner even when I'm drunk, but I ran across town to the shit hole neighborhood I used to live in. As I approached my old apartment, I found ambulances and police cars all around the building.

"Excuse me, miss. Can I help you?" A tall muscular officer with board shoulders and the cheapest look I ever saw walked up to me.

"Yeah, my mother lives in that building. Emily Nunez… what happened?"

"Please, follow me, miss." The officer led me to one of the police cars where a man who looked as if he was in his 60's looked up.

"Who's this?"

"Emily Nunez's daughter."

"Oh good, we were about to call for you again. Please, have a seat here." The old geezer pulled out a foldable chair and stuck it next to the car. I did as I was instructed to and sat.

"What happened to my mother?" I whispered out. I couldn't speak… fear for my mother's life was taking over me.

"I'm afraid that her boyfriend did some serious damage here tonight. As painful as this is to hear, he beat her, raped her, and stole everything she had, then left her for dead. Unknowingly, while your mother was unconscious, there was some soup cooking on the stove, which led to the whole apartment catching fire. Your mother… dead in that fire, along with five other people." No… no… NO!

"Y-You're l-lying!" As I looked at the building, it was indeed burnt. The smell of smoke filled my nose and just now did I notice the fleeting firetrucks. It was true… she was dead.

"The good news is that we were able to catch Chad and get everything he stole from you." He passed me a bag. Without thinking, I took the bag and held it close. Suddenly, the sputtering of Ellie's truck could be heard over all the commotion.

"Alex!" I didn't try to fight being swept into a hug and maneuvered into the truck. At that moment, I didn't care. It didn't take long to get home and Ellie led me to the bathroom. I didn't try to fight as she striped me down and helped me into the shower, where she followed. I didn't try to fight as she washed my hair and the rest of me. I didn't try to fight her drying me off and dressing me for bed. She laid me down and left for a minute, to call me out from work for a few days. When she came in and laid down next to me, I curled up next to her. I needed a friend right now… my mother was dead. It was her fault that my life was hell… that I couldn't remember most of my life, but I loved her all the same. My hate for Chad had grown so large that the urge to harm something… anything… had become so intense that I had wanted to harm myself.

"Alex… go to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up, I promise." Being in Ellie's arms was comforting… and before I knew it, I had drifted into a dreamless sleep.

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New story... what do you think? Review please... it's early in the morning and when I wake up around noon and continue this story, I'd like to hear some opinions! Please?