Wow! I feel SOOOOOO bad! I've completely abandoned this story! I was going to start a new thread to post it from the beginning when I realized that I already had one going! Well I hope that I still have readers interested in this fic because I've posted on Degrassi-Boards and gotten a lot of great reviews :D Again I'm super sorry about neglecting this so much, and so I'm going to post the next 3 chapters! Enjoy!

As soon as we got into the room Paige let go of my arm and closed the door behind us. The ceiling lights were off but there were two lamps that were lit at different ends of the room providing us with enough to see.

Jay: Empty room eh? Get a little excited watching that Princess?

I chuckled a bit and plopped down on the bed. I placed my finger on the cut on my lip and watched Paige as she walked over to the mini-fridge and got out and ice pack and filled it up. I waited for her catty comeback, but she wasn't making any noise other than the ice cubes hitting together.

Jay: You know that's normally where you pop in with some snide remark.
Paige: What the hell is wrong with you? Are you deranged or something?

Paige sealed the ice pack and threw it at my stomach.

Jay: Whoa Princess! Calm down!
Paige: Calm down? Calm down! You want me to calm down! You nearly got yourself killed out there!
Jay: Hmm, do I sense some worry in Princess Michalchuk's tone?
Paige: No! I just don't want to be responsible for anybody's death!
Jay: Now in all fairness, you wouldn't be responsible. Besides, I was winning that fight.
Paige: I would be responsible because the only reason why Spinner punched you in the first place is because I went on a revenge spree!

Paige pushed her hair behind her ears and crossed her arms as she turned to look out the window. I set the ice pack down on the bed and walked over to her.

Jay: Hey-

As soon as I got close to her she rotated more so that I couldn't see the tears that were slowly creeping out of her eyes. I grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around to face me.

Jay: Hey, you listen to me! That was not your fault. It was Spinner's fault for being an insensitive jerk, and my fault for being an egomaniac that can't walk away from a fight! You do not blame yourself! Once you do that you drive yourself crazy.

Paige glanced away from me for a second as she took in a breath. When she moved her eyes back to meet mine another tear slid down her cheek.

Paige: I just don't want to fight anymore… that's all I ever do. Fight for respect, fight for control… fight to feel alive.

I removed my hands from her shoulders and wiped away the tears that were sitting on her cheek.

Jay: I know what you mean. Believe me though; you've got so much more going for you than just fighting. You have friends, family, people who care enough about you to fight… me? I've just got a reputation and friends who aren't real.
Paige: That's not true. You have real friends… they listen to you, and you can talk to them. I only have Haze and Ashley. As for family, I think we're both screwed in that category.

Another tear escaped from Paige's eye and before I could even think about it I had pulled her into a hug. After a while Paige pulled away and slightly smiled at me. She walked over to the bed and sat down in the middle of the left side. I followed along and sat at the foot of the bed, turning back to see Paige.

Paige: It's never a party unless there's a fight right?
Jay: You go to these things more than I do.
Paige: Unfortunately I do… You know half the time I just come because Hazel thinks we need to "make an appearance".
Jay: Well I'm pretty sure you made an appearance tonight.
Paige: Ha… yea, I guess I did.

Princess let out a sigh and fell back onto the bed so that her head was on the pillow.

Paige: You know, everybody is going to be talking about this Monday.

Crap, she was right… I hadn't even thought about those brainless people who spread all the rumors at school. Just the thought of having to deal with all of that made me mimic Queen-bees drop onto the bed.

Jay: I guess I'll just have to get into a couple more fights tonight then… you know, stop people from talking about this one.

I laughed a bit as Paige hit me lightly on the stomach. She moved her hand back to her side and closed her eyes. We both laid there silently for a moment, and when Paige reopened her eyes she turned her head to face me.

Paige: Thank you by the way.
Jay: No problem.

Paige and I stayed where we were, starring at each other once again. God how many times is this gunna happen? She started biting her lip and before I knew it I was moving to get on top of her. She looked a bit worried but at the same time happy. As I shifted I could hear the muffled sounds of a song playing in the other room… it sounded like Sic Transit Gloria by Brand New. Talk about irony. Once I was right above her I just froze for a moment realizing that normally in a situation like this I end up having sex with the girl…

Jay: Is this ok?

(Paige's POV) I thought for a split second and then nodded as I spoke.

Paige: Yea… just um… nothing.
Jay: I've wanted to kiss you since this morning… probably before that and I had just never realized it.
Paige: I know the feeling.

Jay and I stayed exactly where we were both afraid of what would come of a kiss. My heart was pounding faster than a hummingbirds and I starting feeling like I was going to pass out… this is what I want right? At least a version of it… I started opening my mouth to say something that's a mystery even to me, when Jay placed a single finger on my lips. He put his hand on my cheek and started moving it down to my neck. He stopped once he reached the top of my chest and he looked into my eyes once again.

Jay: I'll only take it as far as you want to go.

God he's so sweet… something I never thought I would say about Jay Hogart. I bit my lip once more as I nodded and smiled slightly. I took in another deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. That night with Dean was more than two years ago, but no matter what happened I could never seem to be 100 comfortable with physical situations… It was the same way when I was still together with Spin. Anytime we would be making out and he would try to get further than kissing I would get uneasy and walk out of the room. Still though, there's something different with Jay… I don't feel nervous just because of the situation (though it is a huge part), but I feel terrified that I might let things go further.

Jay: You're so adorable…

I closed my eyes for a moment trying to escape the similarities that kept playing in my mind over and over again. It's just a word… it's just a phrase… Jay started gently moving my hair to my side and shifting his hand from my shoulder down to my fingers which he laced together with his. I'm pretty sure that my hand was shaking because he smirked at me a bit before kissing it. Despite everything that was screaming at me to run as far as I could, it felt right being here with Jay.

Jay: Just relax Paige.

I let out a small laugh that was more of a breath I had forgotten to let out and smiled fretfully at Jay. I shouldn't be worried, Jay said as far as I want… if he were like Dean, then he would have done a lot more than just kiss my hand by now. I let out another laugh, this one real, and smiled once again. No, Jay's not like Dean… he's gentle and kind and everything I thought he wasn't. With that reassurance in mind I spoke for the first time, almost in a whisper.

Paige: When did you retire Princess?

I smiled again as Jay did the same along with put a surprised look on his face.

Jay: Ah, so you do speak.

I laughed again as I rolled my eyes.

Paige: Shut up!
Jay: Consider me shut.

Jay looked down at me one last time as he reached for the hem of my shirt. Once he found it he slowly started tracing his hand up my bare stomach. Dean STOP! He stopped just below my chest and started moving his hand to the clasp of my bra. Just relax. He undid the clasp in a matter of seconds and began moving his hand back to my chest. It's ok Spirit. NO! He's not Dean!

Jay: You're so cute…

You're so adorable… it's all good… just relax… as far as you want… just relax… You're so cute… my friend's room should be quiet… just relax…

Paige: STOP!

I pushed Jay's hand from under my shirt as I screamed. I stood up from the bed and began to run out of the room almost breathless.

Paige: I… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I can… I can't… I have to go.
Jay: Paige! Paige, wait! PAIGE!

I ran out of the room and slammed the door behind me as Jay fell back onto the bed and punched one of the pillows.

Keep the noise low,
She doesn't wanna blow it,
Shaking head to toe
While your left hand does "the show me around."
Quickens your heartbeat,
It beats me straight into the ground.

You don't recover from a night like this.
A victim, still lying in bed, completely motionless.
A hand moves in the dark to a zipper.
Hear a boy bracing tight against sheets
Barely whisper, "This is so messed up."

Upon arrival the guests had all stared.
Dripping wet and clearly depressed,
He'd headed straight for the stairs.
No longer cool, but a boy in a stitch,
Unprepared for a life full of lies and failing relationships.

(Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up.)

He keeps his hands low.
He doesn't wanna blow it.
He's wet from head to toe and
His eyes give her the up and the down.
His stomach turns and he thinks of throwing up.
But the body on the bed beckons forward
and he starts growing up.

The fever, the focus.
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell.
Die young and save yourself.
The tickle, the taste of...
It used to be the reason I breathed, but now it's choking me up.
Die young and save yourself.

She hits the lights.
This doesn't seem quite fair.
Despite everything he learned from his friends,
He doesn't feel so prepared.
She's breathing quiet and smooth.
He's gasping for air.
"This is the first and last time," he says.
She fakes a smile and presses her hips into his.
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides.
He's holding back from telling her
exactly what it really feels like.

He is the lamb, she is the slaughter.
She's moving way too fast and all he wanted was to hold her.
Nothing that tells her is really having an effect.
He whispers that he loves her,
But she's probably only looking for...

(Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up.)

So much more than he could ever give.
A life free of lies and a meaningful relationship.
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides.
He waits for it to end
and for the aching in his guts to subside.

The fever, the focus.
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell.
Die young and save yourself.
The tickle, the taste of...
It used to be the reason I breathed, but now it's choking me up.
Die young and save yourself.

Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up.

The fever, the focus.
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell.
Die young and save yourself.
The tickle, the taste of...
It used to be the reason I breathed, but now it's choking me up.
Die young and save yourself.