A/N I thought I'd do this chapter from Marco's POV. I figured it would be a good idea to get someone else to recognize the "Signs" of a Palex beginning.

Media Immersion

Walking into MI first thing in the morning is never an easy thing to do. Especially as I am most definitely not a morning person. But I had made a stop at Tim Horton's and picked up a cup of coffee with just a touch of butter caramel. I waved at Jimmy as I sauntered in and spotted Paige. She seemed a little anxious for some reason.

"Hey." I nodded at her as I sat down.

"Can I ask you a teensy question?" She asked making the teensy motion with her fingers. At my nod she continued. "Do you ever think about girls?"

"Uh interesting question first thing in the morning. Now did you miss the years that I dated your brother?" I said after I pulled my eyebrows out of my hairline.

Paige sighed slightly. "But just because you're gay doesn't mean you can't think about girls every now and then, right?"

This was definitely an odd set of questions for Paige to be asking me. I decided to feel her out a bit.

"Are you trying to hook me up with someone?" Paige rolled her eyes but I pressed on. "Oh wicked. That mean there's a girl out there who likes me?" I asked grinning.

"No. The object of female affection's pretty much me."

I knew it! I knew Heather Sinclair had the hots for Paige. I just never thought she'd have the guts to act on it.

"You? Oh I know it! It's Heather Sinclair." The look on her face registered disgust. "Paige I've seen the way she looks at you and-"

"Ew. Double ew. No. It's not Heather Sinclair. Alex!" Paige stopped to greet out dark haired friend.

I turned to talk to Alex and noticed something off. What was she wearing? Were those- Paige's clothes?

"Hey." Alex returned with little enthusiasm.

"Hi."

"Hey pull up a chair." I invited even as I got the feeling that neither girl was paying a bit of attention to me.

Alex instead chose to walk over to a bank of computers behind us.

"Hey you two still need to tell me about that VIP party last night!" I turned in my chair to address both girls.

Then I noticed the look on Paige's face. It was an odd mixture of guilt and disappointment.

"I think I'm gonna sit over here today." Alex said sitting down and angling a look over at Paige.

"Woah. Oh. Paige it's Alex?" I hissed under my breath as things clicked into place.

Paige leaned over and whispered to me five words I never thought I'd hear regard these two.

"She kissed me last night."

I didn't have time to process it as the bell rang and Simpson walked into the room and filched my coffee from my hand.

"Morning class. As you know Kevin Smith will be visiting us today. I want you to take advantage of him being here. Prepare some smart media questions for him."

I paid no attention as I thought about what Paige had told me and what I had witnessed between two of my best friends. Alex kissed Paige. Paige asked me if I ever thought about girls even though my sexuality sort of deemed that that was not on the table for me.

I heard Paige's Dmail go off and peeked over her shoulder. I saw a message from Alex.

'Could you deal with lunch?'

I wasn't quite sure what that meant exactly but from Paige's expression it seemed to hit a nerve.

'SS practice. Sorry.'

I surreptitiously watched the exchange between the girls and I saw Alex's look of disappointment and Paige's that spoke of regret. I was beginning to get an even clearer picture of what was going on.

'2nd period spare—laneway?'

'Good Paige, you need to deal with this head on.' I thought as I snuck a glance at Alex.

She read the Dmail and I saw her smile in a way I'd never seen before. She started typing on the computer again as Paige turned back to her own screen. I reached over and took her hand in mine and squeezed gently.

Turning slightly to look at me Paige's mouth quirked to the side. I knew then what her question had actually been about. She wasn't asking me if I thought it was ok for me to think about girls even though I'm gay, or even if Alex's kiss last night indicated anything. No, what Paige had been asking was if it was okay for a beautiful, straight, seemingly boy-crazy cheerleader to be thinking romantically about another girl.

I exhaled slowly out of my mouth and rubbed my temples a bit. This could get really complicated really fast. But, short of sitting them both down and telling them- No scratch that. Short of sitting Paige down and telling her it was okay to feel that way, there really wasn't anything I could do. Not until I was asked directly anyway.

I sat and listened to Simpson drone on about something, I don't even know really. I was really paying attention to the blonde next to me and the brunette in the back of the room. Both of whom kept stealing awkward glances at each other. I had a feeling that if I asked Alex about it she'd own up to it. Paige on the other hand would shake her head and start stuttering like she always did when she was nervous and said nervousness would more than likely erupt into a vicious case of diarrhea of the mouth.

Yeah, this could definitely get complicated.

TBC