Once again, sorry about the delay. I had a wonderful writers' block, which I'm sure you've all dealt with before. But, luckly, it's gone and I have a better of idea of where this story is going to lead off to. So, sit back, relax, and, please, enjoy the next part:-)


TOP TEN REASONS WHY I WOULD BE A BETTER GIRLFRIEND FOR PAIGE

By Alex

10. We have more in common than most of the boyfriends she dated.

9. We both are adventurous. For instance, we didn't care what the others thought at the premiere and snuck into the real party.

8. Opposites attract.

7. I'm not as hardcore as she thinks I am.

6. We both had our bad share of boyfriends…

5. I'll ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be there for her, no matter what.

4. I like her for who she is, not who she can be.

3. I respect her with all my heart.

2. I'll listen to her problems. Not matter what they are.

1. I love her.

---

When Alex handed this piece of paper to Jay after third period, he gave her a strange look.

"What's this?" He asked. Alex shrugged.

"Read it and you'll find out…" She paused momentarily while Jay's eyes flew over the paper, occasionally pausing for a thoughtful (if possible, considering it's Jay) moment. "You-you told me to prove it to you someway…prove it to you that I'm crazy about Paige…and this is the only way I can think of it…" Alex said hesitantly. Jay slowly looked up.

"Alex…this works." Alex raised her eyebrows, surprised.

"What do you mean?" She asked. He smiled and stuffed the paper into his pocket.

"Come on, we have a lot of work to do." He walked off into the opposite direction of his class. Alex chased after him, completely baffled.

"Wha--? Jay? Where are you going? We have class, retard!" She called after him, her voice nearly drowning in the crowded hall. Jay chuckled as he pushed into the cramped student body. He turned his head and smirked at Alex over his bulky shoulder.

"Like that's ever stopped you before!" He pointed out. Alex wasn't able to answer due to the fact that her toe was smashed into the ground by a pointed heel.

"Watch it!" She snarled into the person's face and immediately froze. It was Paige. Paige glanced back at her, her nose curled up and her painted lips frowning disgustedly. Alex regretted what she uttered, wished she could snatch it back with her shaking hands.

"Sorry, Paige…didn't know it was you…" She whispered, attempting to redeem herself. Paige shook her head and merely turned away, her long blonde hair bouncing lightly with each step she took. Alex cursed to herself continuously, her lips sore from her teeth drilling themselves into her tender lips.

"Alex! Come on!" She heard Jay called her and, with one last look at Paige's back, she hurried after her old friend.

"So where exactly are we going?" Alex asked as they strode out of school. The side door banged against the wall when they burst forward, escaping the chaotic halls of Degrassi. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining at her fullest; her beams reaching forward to grasp the two skippers into her clutches out of pure joy. Birds were chirping; squirrels wrestling each other flirtatiously. The trees were standing tall, their green leaves giggling in the slight wind. Alex reached into her bag and pulled out her sunglasses, nearly tripping from the bright rays of the sun.

"Just around." Jay replied nonchalantly as he flipped on his own pair of sunglasses. They made their way over to his car, unaware that someone from inside was watching their every move furiously.

"Come on, Alex, let's go for a ride." Jay grinned at his best friend and Alex, though wary as she was, couldn't help but to smile back. She opened the car door and leaned on it slightly, savoring the moment with relish. It had been awhile since she and Jay had darted about outside of schools between classes.

"So, where exactly are we going?" She repeated, a playful look upon her lips.

"You'll see," Jay said mysteriously. Alex frowned slightly.

"Do you have a plan?" As grateful as she was to Jay and his helpfulness, a feeling of suspicion crept over her like a cat about to pounce. Jay's plans never really bloom correctly; a fault usually poisons the dream, causing it to crumple and wither like a dying flower. But much quicker.

"Oh, you'll see. I'll tell you eventually." Jay said nonchalantly. He cringed when he saw Alex's eyes narrow.

"Jay, do you even HAVE a plan?" Alex demanded. He hesitated and she pounced upon him verbally. "You're kidding me, right? You dragged me out of school with the punishment of In-School Suspension if we get caught and you don't even have a PLAN on catching Paige?" She glared at him with disgust. "You're pathetic." She slammed the car door shut and began to stomp back to school while Jay scrambled out of the car.

"Alex! Wait!" She paused and slowly turned around and waited impatiently while Jay caught up with her. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? I'm just, well, excited that you're actually talking to me again…" Jay confessed as he stood before her, aware of her glowering emotions blaring into his face like a neon sign. "I just--I just want to make you happy again."

"Yeah, well, Jay, LYING to me is not going to make me happy! Especially with you!" She shouted, pulling the strap of her messenger bag up on her shoulder, crushing its attempts to slide down. "I mean, you're just leading me on. God," She rubbed her right eyed with frustration. "My hopes of being with Paige are…" She paused for a moment, then a sigh whispered from her. "Why even bother? I'm never going to get her anyway, especially with Hazel watching and following her every move." Alex felt tears creeping up to her lids. Stop it! She scolded herself, ashamed of her sensitiveness. Stop crying, you baby! Stop crying, you stupid BITCH!

Jay, on the other hand, had a look upon his face that you might discover upon Albert Einstein's when he figured out the formula "EMC2," or Ulysses' S. Grant when he came up with the perfect plan to sabotage the Confederates. His eyes were bright and sparkling, his large lips parted and slowly twisting upward in a brilliant smile, his cheeks flushing slightly in glee.

"Holy shit…" he murmured, "That's it. That's what we need to do." He looked back at Alex and grabbed her arm, completely oblivious to the painful voice that was thrashing her inside her head. "Alex, I've got a plan. Honestly. And this time, you NEED to listen to me." Alex merely blinked in surprise, taken back by his sudden rush of excitement, the excitement that was shooting off of him like a firework. He was bouncing up in down on the balls of his feet, like an animated child on the eve of Christmas.

"Don't ask questions. Just COME." He demanded when Alex's mouth opened to protest. He dragged her off back in the direction of the school. Alex warily lifted her head and grimaced as their pounding footsteps approached the looming building. Dread flooded her insides; she would have to pass by Paige again, the girl who despises her and doesn't give a damn about her.

The chilled air conditioning nipped at their flesh as Jay flew open the door.

"Jay," Alex hissed. "They're still in class. Let's just wait in the car until the next bell—" Jay shook his head, peering around the empty corridor. Alex felt as if she were walking in a museum, so still was the hallway. Her eyes fell upon a loose paper that was motionless upon the floor. It reminded Alex of a corpse—dead.

"We'll just hide out in the washrooms until the next bell. C'mon." Jay whispered to Alex and he crept along the hall, his black sneaker brushing against the dead paper. As if awoken, the paper leaped into the air and pranced in front of Jay, reminding Alex of a ballerina in Swan Lake. It dove and spun until it fell against a polished dress shoe that stood merely feet away from the returning skippers.

Alex and Jay looked up into the withering face of Mr. Radditch.

"So." He growled, a sneer stamped on his bearded face, the facial hair the color of dirt. "Decided to come back?"