Welcome to my first ever Palex chapter story. For those of you out there who are angrily scratching their heads thinking "well wtf, she has like 3 other stories that she hasn't even updated in months, she has no business starting another!" I apologize. I fully intend on finishing my other stories (slowly but surely, whenever I get my mojo back for that particular fandom), but at this moment in time, the wonderful world of Degrassi has me bound to write nothing but it.

Paige flicked through the the pages of the book on her lap. Familiar faces from what seemed like a life time ago stared up at her from their paper confines. Every so often she would smile fondly, remembering the good ole' days of high school. There were few of her former classmates that the blond still kept in contact with; meaning that this old yearbook from her senior year was all she really had left of her Degrassi chums.

She had, however, just gotten off the phone with one of her closest and oldest friends, and the only one she still saw on a very regular basis-- Marco Delrossi. Less than a year ago, her brother Dylan had proposed to Marco. The wedding had been beautiful, and Paige had been the maid-of-honour. The newly weds had just returned from their honeymoon to Spain last week.

Now, he had called her sounding extremely excited, and Paige could almost see her best friend (and, now, her brother-in-law) jumping about his apartment, full of energy, like an adorable little puppy.

"Paige, have you gotten yours yet?" Marco had asked. Paige was confused.

"Gotten what, hun?" She'd just arrived home in her cozy one bedroom apartment from work.

For almost 6 years now, ever since her return to Toronto, Paige was and editor and consultant for a small, local fashion magazine. Well, at least it had been local. The company expanded almost 150% in subscription and overall popularity. Shine magazine was now becoming widespread, and although she would never say it outloud for fear of being thought conceited, Paige doubted it was a coincidence that it happened since her employment. Even the editor-in-chief, Simon, considered her a great asset to the team (or as he called it, the family), and always liked her fresh ideas. Ensembles that she had picked out, page layouts that she had created, were more often picked than not.

The job was perfect for Paige. It combined the two things that she cherished most; fashion, and being in control of things. It was such a better job than the one she'd had working for--what was her name? Anna? Andria? That damn fashion house that had overall caused Paige more harm than good. Back then, she was always exhausted from running around doing pointless errands, and mentally worn thin by all the ungrateful crap she got from everyone--from her employers, the models, her coworkers, even her friends. And although she was still grateful for the opportunities the fashonista job had given her, Paige had to admit she was relieved when her internship ended and she wasn't taken on for a permanent position.

And then there was the shamble in California...Paige refused to ever speak about the time in America where she had turned right back into the selfish bitch she had been in high school. Because of that, she had almost cost herself her best friend. Luckily, Marco had long since forgiven her, and it was understood among their circle of friends that it was forbidden to speak of that episode of her life, or the Emmy-nominated film Mewesical High, or anything else in regards to the travesty. Sure, it was in the past, but she was still sensitive about her nation wide embarrassment that had been the hot celebrity gossip for several weeks all across entire North America.

"Gotten your mail!" Marco said excitedly. "Go check, go check!"

Paige sighed in frustration, mostly at herself since she had realized that she'd forgotten to pick up the mail when she was downstairs. Marco refused to tell her what was so damn exciting as she returned to the bottom floor, emptied her mailbox, then made her way back to the fourth via elevator.

"Ok, I got the mail, now--hey, what's this?" Paige was impassively flipping through the envelopes. Bill, spam, spam, wrong address, bill. Then a heading on one unimpressive white envelope caught her eye.

"Degrassi Community School," Paige muttered. "What could they be sending me, I don't-- wait. God, it's been ten years already, hasn't it?"

She quickly opened the letter. Just as she suspected. Inside was an invitation to the class of 2006 ten year high school reunion.

"It's so exciting!" Marco practically squealed. "I havn't seen most of our class in years. I can't wait to see who's fabulous, who's a trainwreck, who married who, and who's done a complete 180."

Paige smiled at her friends' enthusiasm, and her own that was growing. She too was eager to see how her old classmates had turned out, how her old friends were. Jeez, it had been--7? 8?-- years since she had spoken to her one time BFF Hazel. Not since she traded frigid Toronto for sunny SoCal. Thinking back, she wondered if that was part of the reason Hazel had distanced herself from Paige. But that was old news, the kind that she didn't worry herself with these days.

That afternoon, Paige spent several hours flipping through old photo albums and yearbooks, reminiscing. The growing nostalgia it created was only making her anticipate the reunion more. June 18th. Three weeks from now. The event would be two days long; an initial reunion and banquet the first afternoon, commencing at 3:00, and a casual dinner party the next evening.

Paige was so caught up in old memories that she nearly jumped right off the sofa in surprise when the door opened.

"Hey babe. Jeez, you look like I caught you doing something red handed. What's up?" The man stepped inside and shut the door, shrugging off his coat. He had short dark hair, green eyes and a gorgeous rugby players build. Walking up to Paige, he gave her a small kiss before taking a seat next to her on the couch.

"Look, Tomas, at what came in the mail today." Paige handed him the letter, which he carefully read.

Paige had met Tomas about six months ago, at a cocktail bar downtown. She had gone out for drinks with some of the girls from work. All evening, she kept stealing glances at the attractive man who was keeping to himself near the bar. Finally, he walked over and introduced himself, insisting he buy Paige a drink. She accepted, and after spending what had to be hours chatting with him, gave Tomas her number. He called her the next day, explaining that he knew it seemed desperate, but he just HAD to take the blond out on a date.

"High school reunion, huh? Sounds like fun." He mused. "Are you going?"

She smacked him playfully with the yearbook in her hands. "Duh, silly, of course I'm going." Tomas smiled and slipped the book from her hands and began skimming through the pages.

"Is that Spinner guy in here?" Tomas asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Paige nodded. The only reason he knew about her high school boyfriend was because they had actually run into Spinner on the street only a few weeks ago. He was married now, Spinner told her, to a girl named Jane had graduated only a few years behind her at Degrassi. They had a little girl together, and Paige awwwed at the photo of the adorable toddler in pig tails. She introduced him to Tomas, and vice versa. Spinner gave her his phone number, and encouraged Paige to give him a call sometime so they could have lunch. When she and Tomas returned to her apartment later that night, Paige further explained the relationship she had once shared with Spinner. He had been less than thrilled for her to make plans for what could be considered by some to be a date (regardless of the mans' marital status), so Paige had put it off.

She turned to the page that displayed Spinners' school photo. What should have been his senior picture was that of a juniors'. "I don't think he'll be there, hun, since he didn't graduate until the year after me and Marco. Him, and my friend Jimmy." Flipping ahead, she pointed to the image of the young man in a wheelchair, stationed before the mural he had designed and painted.

"I can't say I'm sad Spinner won't be there," Tomas spoke, putting an arm around her. "I'd hate to kick his ass for trying to win back his sexy high school flame." He smirked at her.

"Oh the testosterone." Paige said, rolling her eyes. "And what makes you think I'm even bringing you along?"

"Well, if you had someone else in mind..." Tomas pouted, reminding Paige of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. She giggled and kissed his cheek.

"Oh, of course I'm taking you." She affirmed.

He hugged her tighter. "Good. Now, is there any other exes I'll have to be on the watch for?"

Paige hesitated. Yes, yes there was. Another ex, that is. Not anyone he needed to watch out for though.

"Well, I really didn't date much back then," She began. "Spin and I were together for about two years or so, not counting the times we hooked up after graduation." Tomas raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue. Paige picked up another yearbook that had been lying on the coffee table in front of her. This one was from her junior year.

"In eleventh grade, however, I, uh, did have a little romance involving my Media Immersion student teacher." She showed him the picture of Mr. Oleander, in the faculty section. The yearbook order had been placed already before Mr. O was 'let go'. "But of course, the school board found out and he was fired. We lasted for a while, but he took this job that made him leave-- I don't remember what it was-- and when he came back, he was totally different. And not in a good way." Paige made a face, remembering how uncaring Matt had been upon their reunion, and the little parting gift he'd given her. Which led her to the next subject...

Paige sighed. "And then there was Alex." She grabbed the first yearbook again, but left it unopened on her lap. "You've seen that movie, Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?, right? Well, it was filmed at Degrassi. I actually had a small part but it got cut. Anyway, Alex and I went to the premiere together, as friends, but ended up kissing later that night. We lasted a few months, but split right before graduation because we were headed in completely different directions in life. The breakup was really hard, especially since I wasn't the one who did it. I remember hooking up with Spinner right after, which in hindsight makes me look really skanky since it was the night right after Alex and I split." She opened the volume, and searched for the right page.

"Remember how I told you about my Banting flameout? Well, when I came home after that, Alex and I began getting close again. Things got really complicated for a while, but we ended up dating again. We actually lived together for a time. But once again, we proved to be too different to make it last." Paige looked at Tomas. "But despite everything we put each other through, I have to say that Alex was my first real love. I mean, I loved Spinner too, but not in the deep way I loved her."

"Wait, wait, did you say her?" Tomas asked, eyes growing wide. Paige only gave a tiny smile and pointed to the photo she'd been looking for.

"Alex Nunez. Until we started working together at the mall cinema, we absolutely hated each other. She was the slacker, the badass, the freak. And I was the popular cheerleader with perfect friends and perfect grades. But somehow, after getting to know her, we just clicked, you know?" Paige tried to explain.

Tomas opened and closed his mouth twice, then spoke. "Well that takes me by surprise. Why didn't you tell me you were bisexual?"

Paige felt her self blush self-consciously, the way she did every time she heard the word 'bisexual'. And she couldn't exactly read Tomas' expression either, which made her uneasy. Was he disgusted? Or maybe he was really one of those pervey guys that could only relate 'bi' with 'threesome'. Or maybe he was just truly surprised and curious.

"I'm not," she told him, looking down at the book again. In the picture, Alex was hardly smiling, just a near invisible upward twitch of the corners of her mouth. She was wearing her trademark hoop earrings. Paige chewed her lip. She hadn't looked at Alexs' photograph in a long time. "Alex is the only girl I've ever been in a relationship with. I mean, I've tried dating other girls, but none attracted me like Alex. I don't think any female ever will." Paige looked at Tomas, her face dead serious. She wanted to knock any blooming frat boy fantasies right out of his head before they could even take shape.

He raised his hands defensively. "Hey, that's cool, you know I don't judge. I just had no idea, that's all. I'm just glad to know now a little bit more about you." Tomas kissed the top of her head. Paige smiled at how sweet and understanding her boyfriend was. She gave him a proper kiss.

Pulling away, she said, "I doubt Alex will even show anyway. Besides opting to take another semester for better grades after we graduated, she was never the school loving type. She hated most of the kids in our class, so why would she reemerge from whatever hidden place she's disappeared to just to see them?" Paige was pondering this more to herself than to Tomas; Would Alex go to the reunion? Sure, she despised almost everyone, but wouldn't she be at least the teensiest bit curious about her former classmates as well?

"Hmm, maybe she'd want to see a certain blond?" Tomas guessed.

"Hardly. Our last encounter wasn't exactly on good terms," Paige said, thinking of the day when she had kicked Alex out. But then she remembered that those words weren't really true.

It had been almost four years ago...

"Thank you," Paige said, trading a five dollar bill for a steaming latte, insisting that the boy behind the counter keep the change. She gripped the cardboard slip and turned, right into the customer behind her. The two crashed into each other, the beverage flying from Paige's hand and right onto the woman's shirt.

"Fuck!"

"Shit, I am soooo soory!" Paige exclaimed. The woman had jumped back, clutching at the wet hot mess of fabric that was now her black zipped-half-way sweatshirt. The steaming brew no doubt seeped through to her skin, and she was obviously uncomfortable. Feeling horrible, Paige chewed her lip nervously and looked up at the woman's face. Paige's eyes widened, and she felt her heart give a jolt of surprise. Holy shit...

"A-alex?"

The dark haired woman had removed her sunglasses, and now there was no mistaking her.

It had been about five years since the last time she'd appeared in Paige's life. Her last glimpse of the girl she'd once loved had been her slowly walking out Paiges' door. Out of her life forever. Paige had been relieved at the time; being with Alex had been too hard, and caused them each more pain than happiness. They each deserved better. Paige liked to tell herself that she did Alex a favor by causing herself to be removed from the equation that was Alexs' life. It wasn't until months later, after hours of heavy reflection, that the blond realized she could have handled things between them far better. For all Paige knew, Alex had been on her way to the streets, not a relatives' house. Her pride wouldn't have let her admit to Paige how much she had, in fact, been relying on her. God, how Paige hated Alexs' fucking pride, which could only be matched by hers. She very well could have been off to the woman's shelter, the one where she'd spent a good part of her childhood in, the one Paige had once promised she'd never let Alex return to.

She removed the sweatshirt and looked at her. "Paige?" Something flashed in her eyes; confusion, recognition, and bewilderment, all in that order.

"Yeah...wow...um, how are you?" Paige managed to spill out. Her brain still hadn't been able to fully grasp who was standing before her. The situation was so unlikely. She had long ago convinced herself and come to terms with the fact that she would never see Alex again. They'd both moved on with their lives, even though it had hurt at first. Out of sight, out of mind, had proven itself true. And although she couldn't speak for Alex as of yet, Paige knew that both of them were far better off.

"Uh, I'm good, despite being scorched by processed coffee been product." She replied and Paige couldn't help but smirk. Ah, that Nunez wit. But it quickly turned into a frown, as she resumed feeling horrible for assaulting Alex with her drink.

"Jeez, yeah, I'm really sorry about that." Grabbing a handful of napkins from the counter behind her, Paige handed them to Alex and moved to the side so as to cease blocking the business area. She began mopping up the spilled latte at Alex's feet, careful not to touch her.

"It's fine," Alex said dismissively, blotting the spot on her front. She was wearing a black tanktop underneath her sweatshirt. Paige noticed that she'd traded wifebeaters for cami's. With it Alex also wore a pair of simple blue skinny jeans, and a pair of high tops.

After a moment, the two women stared at each other. It had been a long time, and their parting hadn't been on the best of terms. Alex threw the soiled napkins in the trash bin several feet away.

"Score," she muttered as the bundle swooped in. Paige giggled nervously.

"God, Alex, it's been forever." Despite herself, Paige wrapped her arms around her old friend in a brisk hug. Alex returned it with one arm, and the two quickly stepped back from each other. The dark haired woman crossed her arms, dirty sweatshirt folded over them.

"Do you wanna sit? Talk maybe?" Paige couldn't help asking.

Alex ran a hand through her hair thoughtfully. The blond couldn't read her expressionless face. She wouldn't blame her if Alex decided to tell her to fuck off and storm from the cafe. But instead Alex gave her the once over and shrugged.

"Sure why not. I'm in no rush. I just gotta get my coffee first though. Maybe you should buy another too, since I'm wearing yours." Alex smirked.

Paige frowned, only now just fully realizing that she had lost her latte. "Sadly I had only grabbed enough cash just for the one before I left for my coffee run."

"Ah." Alex remarked. The last person had just left so she was able to go straight back to the counter. While she waited, Paige grabbed a table near the front. She felt anxious and jittery. Alex didn't seem to hate her, but that didn't really mean much. The dark haired woman had always been the queen of masking her true emotions, for as long as Paige had known her. But Paige had never expected to even see Alex again, and now here she was. Paige wasn't prepared, wasn't ready, to actually talk to her ex about what had happened between them. Maybe she isn't either, Paige thought. She hoped that the two would be able to avoid the topic, focusing perhaps just on how their lives had been thus far since their separation. Because no matter what, despite what had happened, Paige had always considered Alex a friend more than anything. She even still considered her this. Sort of.

Regardless, when Alex sat down across from her, things were exceedingly awkward. The two sat in silence for several minutes. Alex rotated her mug of what was sure to be black coffee nervously. Paige took a deep breath, eager to end the suffocating quiet.

"So what have you been up to for the last, uh, five years?" She asked tentatively. Paige braced herself for the response. Even though Alex looked great, that didn't mean she wasn't still having troubles.

"Hmm, it really has been five years, hasn't it?" Alex mused, looking down at the table before meeting Paige's eyes. She took a sip of her coffee. "Well, about 2 and a half years ago I started working at my buddys' record store. I'm actually the manager now, and Geoff keeps threatening to make me co-owner, as if I had the cash." By the way her eyebrows suddenly furrowed, Alex seemed to regret that last statement. Paige doubted Alex had wanted to start off their ''reunion'' by letting her in on her financial status.

"Alex and music. Some things never change." Paige smiled, remembering all the CD's that had once cluttered Alexs' tiny bedroom all those years ago. While people had continuously let her down, music had been something Alex could always rely on. It never abandoned her, or hurt her like so many have.

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose your right. I'm even in a band now."

"Really? What do you do?" Paige asked, surprised. When she had known her, Alex hadn't played any instruments, and if she could sing, Paige had never been aware of it.

"I'm the bass player, and I've been working on my vocals." She said.

Paige raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Alex had once spoken about learning to play the bass, but Paige had thought it was more to irk her and get her to shut up about Alexs' future. Paige hadn't thought she was serious. Underestimating Alex seemed to be the only predictable thing Paige could do in regards to the dark haired woman.

"Yeah, really," Alex replied, obviously sensing Paiges' disbelief. "It's not very difficult. I've been playing for several years now. Jay got me a used one as a 'cheer up' gift a few months after we broke up, actually. Apparently, if I was going to be some sad emo kid, I had to put the energy towards something relatively productive." She spoke lightly, with a small grin on her face. Paige chewed her lip.

"Um, yeah, Alex, about that," Paige started hesitantly, trying to collect her thoughts. "The break up, I mean. I...well, I feel awful about what I did. Kicking you out, and all that. Just because we were over didn't mean I had to throw you out like a, a, piece of garbage or something. It was a good thing we broke up, but I shouldn't have been such a bitch about it. I mean, I should have-

"Paige." Alex interjected. "Don't worry about it." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair again, her signature nervous gesture. "It's in the past. I understand why you did what you did. It was for the best. We were killing each other slowly, I know that now. And yeah, you stomped on my heart like a baby mouse and I was a complete mess for a while, but I got over it. I got over you. Like Jay told me when I moved in with him, I had a life before Paige Michalchuk, and I'll sure as hell have one after. And he was right, I do."

Paige felt relieved by her words. She wouldn't have blamed Alex if she hated her and wished her dead, but she was glad that that wasn't the truth. Paige knew she had no right to still be in Alexs' good graces, and knew she didn't deserve it, but she was glad all the same.

"So you live with Jay?" Paige inquired, eager to move on from the current topic. The elephant in the room had been addressed at least, which was all she really wanted. She'd said what she'd felt she had ought to have said, and that was all Paige was up for at the moment.

Alex took another sip of coffee. ''Did. I, uh, never had a cousin in Ajax. But Jay felt he was partially to blame and blah de blah, so he let me crash with him for a few months. After I got my current job, I was able to get my own place. It's nice, being independent."

So Paige'd been right. Alex HADN"T gone to Ajax. "You've always been independent," Paige told her, smirking. "As if anyone has been able to tell you what to do."

"True, but that was more me being, er, pigheaded and proud, rather than me being free. But it's all good now. I don't have my mom or anyone controlling me anymore." Alex leaned back in her chair, looking out the window near her. Her always vigilant eyes surveyed the downtown city life.

"God, how is your mom, by the way? For the longest time I've wondered how she's been doing," Paige asked earnestly. It was the truth; since Alex left, she'd had no word on Emily's condition. She hoped Miss Nunez wasn't still with that scumbag Chad, the one who, thanks to his cons, lies and thievery, had forced Alex into a life of stripping.

Alex shrugged. "Better, I guess. I havn't talked to her in a few weeks."

"She's not still with Chad, is she?"

Alex scoffed bitterly. "Damn, I'd almost forgotten about him. No, he dipped a few months after my mom bailed him out. She wanted me to move back then, but I was already relatively settled with Jay. More settled than I would have been if I'd gone back to that apartment, anyway." The woman glanced back at Paige. ''For the last year or so she's been going to AA meetings off and on. It's been helping, I think, but I'd rather not get my hopes up."

Paige resisted the urge to give her once-friend a comforting pat on the arm. "Oh Alex. Well, I hope she keeps up the good work. I'd like to visit her sometime and find the clean, fabulous Emily Nunez that's been hiding in her all along."

Chuckling, Alex shook her head disbelievingly. She doubted that her mother could ever become Paige's definition of 'fabulous', and that the blond would ever step foot over her mother's thresh hold again. Paige didn't really believe her own words either.

''So, how was L.A.? I couldn't believe it when you were all over the tabloids for a while. Actually, I could believe it, but it was still surprising," Alex mused. Paige's face grew scarlet and she looked down at the chipping manicure that she needed to get redone.

"Ah, yes, good times, good times," she said, her voice thick with obvious sarcasm. "I'd honestly rather not talk about it. California itself was great, but if you saw the tabloids, you know how that turned out." Paige wrinkled her nose. "But like you said, the past is the past. I moved back to Toronto for, er, another, fresh start. And things have been great. I have this amazing job at a fashion magazine. I'm still pretty low on the hierarchy, but I have confidence that I'll rise in rank soon enough."

Alex smirked. "Cool. That's the spirit, use your Michalchuck stubbornness and determination."

"Exactly." Paige smiled back.

"Are you still in touch with Marco or Ellie or anyone from the old days?" Inquired Alex.

"Marco, yes, of course." Paige answered. "It's kind of hard not to. Ever since Dylan was traded to the Maple Leafs, he and Marco have been inseparable. We get together for drinks and hang out all the time still."

"Dylan and Marco are back together AGAIN?" Alex tutted. "Those two are either going to rip each other's hearts to shreds, ruining both of their chances at future happy relationships, or they'll be together forever."

"Well I'm hoping for the latter, because having to deal with two perpetually depressed gay men in my life will not be a parade. I have a good feeling about them this time. It's, what, the third time they've dated? And you know what they say about that."

"Third time's the charm," Both said together. Chuckling, Alex looked down at her watch.

"Shit, my break's almost done. We're getting a bunch of new releases today and I have to get back to fill out some paperwork I've put off." Alex got to her feet, and Paige followed suit.

"Well, here," Paige opened her purse and shuffled some things around. She took out a pen and a scrap of paper and scribbled something. "Take my email. It was really nice seeing you again, Lex, I mean it. We should get together for lunch or coffee some time." Paige handed Alex the paper, and she slowly took it, sliding it in her back pocket.

"Yeah, sure, definitely," Alex answered, nodding. "My email's still the same. Message me when you're free, or whatever."

Both women knew neither had any intention of doing such things. This one meeting, while gratifying and positive, had been too awkward for them, and they were in no rush for a repeat. They'd caught up a little bit, just enough so that each knew that the other was doing well for herself. Just enough to give them comfort that their choices HAD been good ones, especially for Paige, who had spent the last few years secretly worrying about Alex's fate.

The two women parted. Paige gave her another hug, promising to contact her soon. Alex waved goodbye over her shoulder as she walked out of the small coffee joint and down the street. The blond watched her, wondering for a moment where the record store she worked at was located, but knowing she'd never stop by.

That night, she called Marco and told him all about the encounter. He was glad Paige finally had the closure she'd been seeking. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her heart and conscience. For the first time in a long time, whenever the fleeting thought of Alex crossed her mind, it wasn't tinged with guilt and tendrils of remorse...

But Paige didn't tell Tomas this. Not of her semi-reunion with Alex all those years ago. She didn't know why. She figured it hardly mattered, and entirely irrelevant. Why would Tomas care? Like he would actually deem Alex competition, even if he knew that the two wern't on horrible terms and due to see each other again in the first time in ages.

At the thought of seeing Alex again made Paige's heart speed up. Only a few times since their chance meeting had she actually regretted not messaging her old friend and ex. Paige had forgotton how much fun hanging out and just being around Alex could be. The woman had this vibe, this aura of coolness that just drew you in and made you want to be friends. It's probably what attracted Paige to her in the first place. Not that she was interested in being attracted to her again, but Paige did sometimes miss all the fun times they'd had together, the ones even before they had been an "item".

Paige looked at the photo one last time. She sighed and closed the year book. ''I'll be shocked if she does come to the reunion, hun. But anyway, the past is the past." Paige seemed to live by those words a lot, she noticed. She gave her boyfriend another peck on the cheek before getting to her feet, taking up the armfuls of memorabilia. The reunion was three weeks away, but in her head, she was already picking out the perfect outfit. Paige had no intention of showing up in anything that reflected less than the success she'd created for herself. She smiled, excitement mounting in her chest. Three weeks were going to fly by.