Title: Palex the Musical

Author: blueskyhawk

Fandom: Degrassi The Next Generation

Pairing: Paige and Alex (Palex)

Rating: T (PG)

Spoilers: Love is a Battlefield and anything prior to it.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Degrassi, only the characters I have made up. I also do not own, nor did I write any of the songs contained in the fiction - I will list the titles and singers of each song I have used at the end of each scene/chapter. Please don't sue me, I have no money - I just love the songs, and the characters.

Author's Notes: This takes place right after Love is a Battlefield, and this story was inspired by the last song I will be using in the story. And yes, as the title implies, it is a musical - if you don't like musicals and/or two women in love (yes, with each other) please do not read any further. I happen to love both, and wanted to combine them.

Also, any sentences in italics are the inner thoughts of the characters, but not to be confused with the individual words in italics meant for inflection.

Prologue

"You're beggin' me to go
You're makin' me stay
Why do you hurt me so bad?
Would it help me to go?
Do I stand in your way?
Or am I the best thing you've had?
Believe me, believe me, I can't tell you why
But I'm trapped by your love
And I'm chained to your side"

Alex walked slowly through the first floor of the Toronto Coach Terminal, her belongings hanging heavy in the blue bag thrown over her shoulder as she made her way through the crowd. The depot was bustling with people from all walks of life, all with a purpose unknown to the rest, and all looking for where they needed to go for the bus that would take them to their destinations. Off to her left she spotted a sign for Kramden's Café creating a small growl in her stomach. I guess I should pick up something to eat before I get on the bus even though I don't know how I could be hungry. I hurt so much inside it's making me feel sick, Alex thought while she headed in the direction of the small restaurant.

She kept her head down, feeling defeated once again by heartache. Though she knew it wasn't at all logical, she felt as though everyone was watching her and able to see the humiliation and pain she was holding inside her. More than a few times she nearly ran face first into her fellow travelers, several telling her in no certain terms to watch where she was going. The bright lights of the terminal shone down on her like a spotlight, burning her shoulders as the radio overhead screeched at her with its mocking lyrics. Any time her eyes ventured up, it seemed as though time slowed down and everyone was staring point blank at her.

"Look at her, it's so obvious! She just got thrown out by her girlfriend!"

"What a loser!"

"Can't she get her act together, even for the girl she claims she loves?"

All those eyes! All those penetrating, judging eyes! Alex could hear their thoughts screaming at her, making fun of her. Mocking her.

"Attention, attention. The 1710 bus to Brantford will now be departing from Platform B, and if you look towards the center of the terminal you'll see a young woman who was just dumped by her girlfriend."

Alex looked in horror towards the booth that the announcement had just been made from. An older woman with graying hair and yellow teeth smirked back at her, "Yes sweetie, I'm talkin' 'bout you" she said while pointing a stubby finger towards her and throwing out a throaty laugh.

Feeling completely humiliated, the raven haired girl urgently pushed through the ever growing crowd trying desperately to reach the ticket office. She just wanted to get her ticket, and get out of town as quickly as possible.

"We're losing control
Will you turn me away?
Or touch me deep inside?
And before this gets old, will it still feel the same?
There's no way this will die
But if we get much closer, I could lose control
And if your heart surrenders
You'll need me to hold"

She ran desperately down the hall, shoving people out of the way as she went, publicly fighting her inner war. Pat Benatar was right, Alex thought to herself, love is a battlefield.

Song used in this scene:

Love is a Battlefield recorded by Pat Benatar, written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman