Hey everybody, now this is only half of chapter 7 (because when I originally posted this story chapter 7 turned out to be the start of some pretty long chapters!) but I'm going to post the second half after I get a review or two (which btw Felicia, thanks so much for your great reviews ) This chapter is a bit of a cliffhanger though... Anyways, I have some lyrics from a couple of different songs in here, and all the information for those will be at the bottom of my post Now, to continue with the story, Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Glory Fades

The day progressed slowly for both Paige & Jay as they began thinking about things between each other, and resenting the "forces" that have created this "disaster". Each one continued with their planned schedules: Paige with shopping and decorating, Jay with recklessly driving… At 6 o'clock sharp Paige was back in her basement answering calls and preparing herself for the party, and Jay decided that it wouldn't kill him to show up to her house a little early. He pulled up next to the curb at Paige's house and walked over to her basement window.

Paige: Yea, I'll be there soon. Ok. Bye.

Jay leaned on the wall next to the window once he was inside and smirked as he watched Paige throw her phone onto the couch and triple check her outfit.

Jay: A little insecure aren't we Princess? Or is that just your way of showing yourself how good you look?

(Jay's POV) Paige jumped back a little realizing that I was inside and rolled her eyes at me. I placed my foot back onto the ground and started walking towards her.

Paige: I'm not insecure! I just want to make sure that this is the right shirt to be wearing to the party.
Jay: Whatever you say.
Paige: What? It's the truth! Ugh, I don't even know why I bother with you!
Jay: Well I think it's because you want me.
Paige: Oh please, I wouldn't even want you if I had a brain tumor and thought you were Justin Timberlake.

I grinned a bit at the comment just because I knew from Spinner that Malibu Barbie is the biggest Timberlake fan… maybe that's her subconscious telling her to go out with me. Anyways, she turned back to her dresser and started to apply more pink lip gloss as I sat down on the couch she had thrown her phone onto. As soon as I saw it, it started ringing again, and before Paige could get to the couch I answered it.

Jay: Paige Michalchuk's answering service how may I help you? Party? Oh yes, there is still going to be a party tonight, in fact Ms. Michalchuk is already in attendance. Yes. Ok. Alright. I'll be sure to let her know. Thank you, and have a safe party.

I hung up the phone and set it down on the table as Paige started with that one of a kind laugh again.

Paige: What the hell was that? Are you practicing to be a game show host or something?
Jay: A game show host? Where do you get game show host from?
Paige: From that 'you've just won a million dollars' voice you were using.
Jay: Well I do have television charisma.
Paige: Don't flatter yourself. Now who was on the phone?
Jay: Don't know.
Paige: Well what did they say?
Jay: Don't care.
Paige: Um Hon, hello! You answer my phone and when you hang up you don't even tell me who it was? Were you raised on a farm or something?
Jay: Actually, I was raised right here in this fair city, and before you get your panties in a bunch, there wasn't anybody on the phone. You're alarm went off.

I raised my eyebrows at Queen-bee and watched as she looked from me to the table and snatched up her phone.

Paige: Very funny Hogart.
Jay: I know; I'm hysterical aren't I?
Paige: If by hysterical you mean crazy, then yes, you are.

Princess Paige tilted her head to the side a bit as she let out one of her famous "you'd better stop talking" smiles and then started towards the stairs.

Paige: Now if it's not too much to ask, get off of my couch and into your car! Unless of course you'd like me to drive us to the party?
Jay: Correct me if I'm wrong Princess, but didn't you get your license revoked?
Paige: That was back when I was young and naïve.

I stopped mid-stairs and turned to face her.

Paige: And last week when I got it back I stopped being young and naïve. Now move junkyard boy.
Jay: Whatever you say dumpster girl.

Princess slugged me on the shoulder as she passed me on the stairs and we both proceeded to my car. The drive over to Jimmy's was like all the other drives she and I have taken, only this time we actually had conversation. Talking about music, movies, school… I could hardly believe it when she and I ended up having a whole lot in common. When I pulled onto the street where Jimmy's apartment building was, we could see cars parked everywhere. I found a place across the street and turned off the engine. I was about to get out of the car when I noticed Paige still sitting in her seat.

Jay: You know, you seem to have a habit of becoming glued to your chair. I think our continued drives to everywhere in town prove that the passenger seat ain't goin' anywhere.
Paige: We're not friends.
Jay: Now there's a conversation jump. What brought that up?
Paige: No, I mean maybe we are, but we aren't. Friends I mean.
Jay: Ok, I know you already think I have the IQ of a raisin, but I'm really not following you here.
Paige: At school you're the bad-boy and I'm the cheerleader; we're not supposed to interact like we've been doing… The second we step foot into that penthouse… all eyes are on us. And the second after that, we're torn apart and berated with questions… or at least I am.
Jay: Did I hold a gun to your head?
Paige: Excuse me?
Jay: To make you get into this car? Did I hold a gun to your head?
Paige: No…
Jay: Did I threaten you?
Paige: No…
Jay: Weren't you the one who asked for the ride?
Paige: Yea, but-
Jay: But that's all that matters. If anybody has a problem with you and me screw 'em. You're as normal as the rest of us. You choose who your 'friends' are.

Princess sat and thought for a second and then let out her world famous grin.

Paige: Let's go.
I could hear the music blaring from the hallway leading to Brookes' place… hell I could hear the music from inside of the elevator. Paige was a couple of steps ahead of me and once she reached the door she stopped. There were random people, probably not even students at Degrassi, making out in the hallway. I stopped a few feet away from Malibu Barbie and the door and waited for her to open it. Normally I would have waited for the person to knock, but the music was so loud that knocking would be as pointless as buying a car stereo system when you didn't even have a car. Paige looked up at me one last time, took in a breath, and plastered on her fake smile. I had always noticed (and usually made fun of) the way that the Paige Michalchuks of the world never seemed to really be happy. It wasn't until today that my suspicions were confirmed… after seeing the real smile that Princess lets out, it'll be hard to ever think she's happy again when she's around her swarm of brainwashed followers. Anyways, Paige opened the door and both of us stepped into the room as soon as Spinner was running by with a can a whipped cream and Hazel & Jimmy stepped out of the giant dance crowd. Immediately all of them stopped, including Michalchuk. A few of the hundreds who were in the room turned and took notice too, but the only people who Paige was actually concerned with were starring at the two of us, almost in shock. The girl that Spinner had been chasing with the whipped cream was long gone, and Jimmy & Hazel had put down their drinks and moved closer to Princess and me. You know, people always say that if looks could kill… well, you know the rest. Right now, I'm sure that Paige is sending out death glares to her close friends whereas I on the other hand am noticing the way that Spinner is redder than a tomato. Hazel looks a bit shocked, and a small portion upset, and Jimmy just looks like he's watching a banana dance. It seemed like an eternity was going by silently, and so I smiled the biggest grin I could and put my arm around Princess's shoulder. God if I could have had a camera then! I swear Hazel's mouth nearly dropped to the ground, Spinner looked as if he was going to explode, and Jimmy practically passed out from suppressed laughter! The one expression I'll never forget though was Paige's. She had the most amazing look on her face. You know how before I said that she got a look that combined every girl I've ever cared about? Well right now, she was the only girl who actually mattered. Every emotion I've ever seen Princess Prissy show was in a compilation on her face, and nobody else in the world mattered. After a split second, the look of complete shock that was most present faded and was replaced by a smile… one of her genuine, one of a kind, smiles. Princess shook her head a bit and walked out of my grip over to Hazel. She said something that will probably forever be a mystery to me and got Hazel to smile and hug her before walking off with a still grinning Jimmy. Spinner on the other hand stood exactly where he had been, looking like he was ready to kill somebody. Paige and I both walked over to him simultaneously and stood next to one another.

Jay: You ok buddy? You look like some random guy just walked in with your ex.

I let out a slight chuckle as Paige moved her hand and hit me in the stomach. She smiled a bit amused and then turned her attention back to Spin.

Paige: Look Spinner, there's nothing going on-
Spinner: There's nothing going on with you and Jay? Is that what you were going to say? Yea, right, like I believe that!
Jay: Hey-
Paige: Excuse me, but what exactly is that supposed to mean?
Spinner: You never did waste your time Paige. One minute it was me, the next your little driving crush… I should have expected this all along.
Paige: What are you talking about! And since when did you start dredging up stupid crushes from grade 10?
Spinner: You know Paige, I should have figured that it would only be a matter of time before you tried to make me jealous. I gotta say, you really did do a stand up job thinking up this one! I mean Jay Hogart? That's classic!
Jay: What's wrong with me?
Spinner: Oh, it's nothing, it's just that you'd better watch out. You see, Paige cares more about her social order than she does people's emotions.
Paige: Ok, that is so not true and you know it! If I really cared more about social order then I would have broken it off with you back when you were the class clown that everybody felt sorry for! If I really cared about more about social order then I wouldn't have confessed to wrecking your car! If I really cared more about social order then I wouldn't do this!

Before Princess even finished with her sentence she and I were out on the dance floor with Spinner flaring on the side-line. Damn she's good. I looked from Paige's face, which was looking amazing under the dance light, to Spinner who grabbed one of his whipped-cream girls and started dancing.

Show me,
Who you are
Stop me,
Before I go too far
Cause it hurts,
To hold back,
So hold me or I might crack

Gasoline, you're the match,
I'm not sure if we could handle that,
It might explode,
Could be a mess
I say we take the chance

Jay: Gotta admit Princess, you know how to hurt 'em.
Paige: It's not hurting them if they've already hurt you; this is when it's called revenge. Now dance Hogart.

I'm all mixed up,
Confused,
I don't know what to do,
Cause I'd want to,
I'd love to,
If I knew you'd want me to,

(If you're getting any closer then I'm gunna have to say...)

I know what I feel, and you feel it too
I dream of the first kiss
And who'll make the first move
Who's gunna put their heart on the line
It could be me, it could be you
Tonight

The song switched from a fast paced rock song to a slower ballad and Paige placed her arms around my neck. I stood shocked for a minute. This girl really knows how to pull out all the stops. Spin had stopped dancing for a second to watch me and his "honey-bee", and so I locked my arms around her waist and started whispering stupid jokes and song lyrics into her ear. Once we rotated a bit I could see that Mason had started dancing again, but that his eyes were glued on Paige.

Paige: He won't stop starring.
Jay: Can't say I blame him.

Crap! Did I just say that out loud?

Paige: Pardon?
Jay: It's all just a game to him...

Paige nodded her head and continued dancing. After about a minute Spinner started getting closer to us, and so Paige leaned her head against my chest. I don't know why I keep being caught off guard by the things that she does… I kinda like it though. It keeps everything between us unpredictable and uncontrollable; almost compulsive…

And I don't want to be the first to call
To show that I still care
'Cause every time we speak I fall apart
You know you've got me there

But time will make it all feel better
Like suave upon a wound you soon won't see
Time will erase the scars I've weathered
But as for now it only hurts when I breathe

Paige took a deep breath and centered her head a bit more on my chest. The song continued to play, but the words seemed like a foreign language right now. The only thing I could focus on was Paige. The way her arms felt against my neck, how she seemed to be floating like an angel, the way her eye shadow sparkled like millions of tiny diamonds. Hell if I were Spinner I'd be exploding about now too… instead I rested my chin on the top of Princess's head. You know, I've never been the 'talk about your emotions' type, but for some reason Paige brought out the mushy side of me… not that I'd ever admit to having a mushy side. All I'm saying is that when I'm with her, I don't think about ways to get her into bed, but instead I think about what she's saying, and how hot she looks, and how she gets her hair to smell like cotton candy. That last one is the thing that drives me nuts though… It's not just a familiar scent or something that reminds me of it; no, her hair has the exact fragrance of cotton candy. I took in a deep breath like Paige had done moments earlier and closed my eyes. For a split second everything faded and all that was left in the world was us…

And I don't want to be the one you love
'Cause no one else is there
I was never good as runner-up
In races that aren't fair

But time will make it all feel better
Like suave upon a wound you soon won't see
Time will erase the scars I've weathered
But as for now it only hurts

Tarnished as this coin I found
Now how am I going to make it through
In the economy of pain
A flowing currency of grace anew

The chaos popped back into my vision though once the slow song ended and another loud beating one began. I was preparing for Michalchuk to continue making the furby jealous, but when I looked down to her face she had her eyes closed and was still floating to the slow song. You know, no matter what my previous thoughts of her, she looks like a porcelain doll with her eyes closed… almost like if you touch her she'll break. I think that she finally realized that the song was over because she moved her head from my chest and looked straight into my eyes. God those eyes of hers and dangerous. Wait a minute, am I actually about to kiss Paige Michalchuk? Again… today is beyond unnatural. Well, what the hell, I told her to forget about everyone right? We both leaned in, never unlocking eyes, and when we were about two inches apart I felt a tap on my shoulder. I snarled at the type of idiot who would interrupt something like this and started to turn around.

Jay: Look punk-

Before I finished my sentence I saw Spinner standing in front of me, and before I could even think he punched me in the eye. Taken off guard I fell to the ground, but got up before he had a chance to kick me or try worse. Immediately I lunged for him and we both began brawling on the ground with everybody crowding around. Furby might be good at blind-sighting people, but when it comes to defending yourself I'm the king. I had Spinner pinned down on the floor and was about to punch him to where something would be broken once I moved my hand, but I felt two small hands holding my arm back. I turned around, my arm still in the air, and saw Paige standing above me looking completely terrified.

Jay: Go away Princess!
Paige: Leave him alone!
Jay: Why?
Paige: Because this won't solve anything!

Paige was still tugging on my arm trying to lift me off of Spinner while he was squirming on the floor trying to get up.

Paige: Jay! Please!

I looked quickly from Spinner with a bloody nose and wrinkled clothes to Paige who had pre-crying mist in her eyes… her eyes that were pleading with me to listen to her.

You only want me when I'm...
Gone,
It's over, all over, so over
You'll never know
What does it take to make you believe?
How did we ever start?
You deserve a broken heart
Cry me a river we're so through

I lowered my arm a bit as I stopped making a fist with my hand. Paige's grip lessened some, but she left her hands where they were to help me up. I pushed Spinner about an inch back and onto the ground while Michalchuk pushed past the people in the crowd and dragged me into an empty bedroom.

It's over, all over, so over
You'll never know
What does it take to make you believe?
How did we ever start?
I don't deserve my broken heart
Cry me a river we're so through
Cry me a river we're so through
Cry me a river we're so through
I cried and now I'm over you

To be continued...

Song #1: Alexz Johnson - Could Be You

Show me,
Who you are
Stop me,
Before I go too far
Cause it hurts,
To hold back,
So hold me or I might crack

Gasoline, you're the match,
I'm not sure if we could handle that,
It might explode,
Could be a mess
I say we take the chance

I'm all mixed up,
Confused,
I don't know what to do,
Cause I'd want to,
I'd love to,
If I knew you'd want me to,

(If you're getting any closer then I'm gunna have to say...)

I know what I feel, and you feel it too
I dream of the first kiss
And who'll make the first move
Who's gunna put their heart on the line
It could be me, it could be you
Tonight

Song #2: Avion - When I Breathe

And I don't want to be the first to call
To show that I still care
'Cause every time we speak I fall apart
You know you've got me there

But time will make it all feel better
Like suave upon a wound you soon won't see
Time will erase the scars I've weathered
But as for now it only hurts when I breathe

And I don't want to be the one you love
'Cause no one else is there
I was never good as runner-up
In races that aren't fair

But time will make it all feel better
Like suave upon a wound you soon won't see
Time will erase the scars I've weathered
But as for now it only hurts

Tarnished as this coin I found
Now how am I going to make it through
In the economy of pain
A flowing currency of grace anew

Song #3: Tuuli - It's Over

You only want me when I'm...
Gone,
It's over, all over, so over
You'll never know
What does it take to make you believe?
How did we ever start?
You deserve a broken heart
Cry me a river we're so through

It's over, all over, so over
You'll never know
What does it take to make you believe?
How did we ever start?
I don't deserve my broken heart
Cry me a river we're so through
Cry me a river we're so through
Cry me a river we're so through
I cried and now I'm over you