A/N – I'm doing a practice run for NaNoWriMo this month by trying to finish up all of my fanfics. This means that yes, I will indeed finish that damned Practice What You Preach, as well as another untitled Palex fic, so yay.
The plot of this little gem is stolen from a wonderfully amazing short film called Gillery's Little Secret. Here's my version, starring Paige and Alex, and I beg the writer of GLS to understand that I write this in homage, not to plagiarize her brilliant story.
Alex came home from work, collapsing on the couch in an exhibit of mock exaggeration. Gina, her wife, was soon curled up at her side, smiling brightly.
"What's up?" asked Alex, catching some of Gina's contagious smile herself, but narrowing her eyes cautiously.
"You thought I wouldn't find out about your reunion, didn't you?"
"I'd hoped," said Alex, dropping the smile and closing her eyes.
"Well, the good news is, someone from the reunion committee called today to remind you, and the better news – I bought us tickets."
"Tell me you're kidding."
"Nope. We're going."
"You're going to have to go alone."
"Uh-uh. We're going together. Besides, you owe me for not taking me to your tenth."
"I believe we were too busy planning a wedding that summer. But I can see that wasn't terribly memorable for you."
Gina laughed and playfully slapped Alex's thigh. "Don't be so cross. You know, sometimes I wonder if you purposely scheduled the wedding to coincide with your reunion."
Alex smiled, eyes still closed, but didn't respond.
"So, it's Saturday, at the school. I already talked to Roz – she said she'd spend the evening at Mallory's."
Alex groaned.
"Quit whining. It won't be as bad as you think."
"Oh, it could be."
"What are you so afraid of? Old enemies?" Gina sighed. "Paige?" Alex tensed up. "I thought so. Still scared of the ex, 15 years later… surely she wasn't that bad."
"Ha," said Alex, opening her eyes finally. "If you'd known Paige Michalchuk in high school, you might have a different opinion."
Gina snuggled up to her. "If she gives you any shit, you know I'll protect you."
There was little more Alex could do, besides smile sadly and kiss her forehead, letting her continue to think just what she'd been lead to believe.
When talking about the breakup with her first girlfriend, Alex often insinuated that the whole affair had been messy, complicated, and painful. And she might have mentioned more than once that Paige had been a complete bitch about it.
The truth of the matter, though, was that while the breakup had indeed been painful, Paige had been far from bitchy. No, it had been far worse than that. The very next day, while Alex sat morosely by herself, her last few hours of high school were being made pure torture thanks to Paige. Cheery and bubbly, she treated Alex as if they'd never dated… or known each other at all, for that matter. And to have jumped into bed with Spin the very next day – that still gave her grief.
And then, of course, there was Roz…