Chapter Nine

Emma had a taste of what popularity felt like when she sat with Hazel and Paige at the Dot that night. While Manny was flirting with Spinner, Emma was talking to Marco, who arrived at the Dot soon after Paige texted him, about how to approach Raditch with the Rick situation. Cute, popular boys came up to their table and talked to her--talked to her! Not Manny, who between the two of them always got the attention of guys. One of them even bought her a soda.

It all seemed like a blurry, distant dream while Emma was laying on her back, hair sprawled across her green flowered-patterned pillow. Manny was laying next to her, head on Emma's shoulder while she told Emma the sweet things Spinner said. Finally, Manny rolled over and propped herself up on her elbows.

"So, tell me everything that happened with that evil Paige," said Manny.

"Manny, she's not that bad."

"Please, remember that time she used JT?"

"Anyway, she just wants me to think of a way to convince Raditch to get kicked out of school."

Manny stared at her.

"Oh, that was pretty much it, she asked me about myself and if it were awkward that Snake was my stepdad," continued Emma. She knew that Manny wanted to know if Paige said anything about Terri.

"Are you sure that was it?"

"Yeah, Manny. I wouldn't lie to you." It was the first lie she ever told her best friend. Why am I protecting Paige? Who is she to me? Emma held her stare, pleading for Manny to trust her.

Manny nodding. "Okay, I believe you," she said softly. "You were never the bad friend in our relationship anyways." Manny smiled wickedly. "I heard Paige is having an affair with Mr Oleander."

Emma's jaw dropped. "Manny!"

"I, for one, don't blame her. He's something gorgeous."

Emma hit her with a pillow and they started laughing and hitting each other with pillows.

Every boys dream. Two attractive girls in a pillow fight.

Paige was curled up next to Mr Oleander, Matt when they aren't on school grounds, in a late night movie seeing some cheesy romantic comedy. Matt had texted her just as she was leaving the Dot:

miss u. wanna see a movie?

Of course she wanted to see a movie. Especially if it were with him. She ditched Hazel, Jimmy, and Marco and headed towards to cinemas. She nearly got in an accident when she tried to drive and add on a few lashings of mascara at the same time.

While driving, she thought about what she had told Emma, and if she could trust Emma to keep that secret about Terri being dead. Only her, Hazel, Jimmy, and Spinner knew what happened to Terri and they made a pact not to let anyone know. That, and Terri's father didn't want Terri being the subject of gossip and asked them to sign a contract saying not to talk about it. He asked the parents to allow their childern to sign the contract, wanting his daughter to rest in peace and her memory to go untarnished. Paige just had to hope that Emma didn't say anything to that slut Manny.

It was when they were at a diner in the next town over when Matt noticed how stressed Paige was.

"Babe," he said, pushing a stand of her blonde hair behind her ear, "what's up? You seemed stressed out."

Paige half-smiled. "It's nothing, baby, just typical high school drama," she sighed. "That's all."

Matt caressed her cheek with his fingertips. "'Cause I thought it could be something that I was doing to you."

Paige was appalled. Matt? Doing something wrong? Not a chance. "What?"

"You know, having to keep us a secret and having to leave town so we can be together like a proper couple," Matt looked down into his glass. "I can't give you, what those other guys can give you, you know?"

Paige grabbed both of his hands. "Look at me, really. You're amazing. Don't think that just because I can't walk down the hallways holding your hand that you're doing something wrong," she leaned over and kissed him. "You're doing everything right. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Sorry, I just. . . wanna make sure you're happy," claimed Matt bashfully. That crooked smile of his playing at his lips. Paige practically creamed herself. She was turned on by practically everything this guy did.

Well that's the magical charm of an older man.

Although, now Paige thought about it. Maybe there was one thing he could do for him, thinking back to what she said to Emma. About her "stepdaddys connections" well, doesn't Matt, I mean, Mr Oleander have those same connections? Even if he is a student teacher, he's still a teacher, he could say something to Simpson or Raditch about Rick, couldn't he? Matt did want to make her happy, after all, and nothing, at the moment, would make Paige more happy was if Rick was out of Degrassi and out of her life for good.

Their food came and they dug in. Paige, watching her figure, got a grilled chicken caesar salad with low-fat dressing, Matt opted for a burger and fries. While Paige was picking at her salad, she thought of a way to bring up the favor without seeming so immature. Maybe she would just have to wait until the time was right, better not to bring it up so soon, anyways, she thought.

They made small talk here and there, ate, paid for the check, and tipped their waitress much to Paige's dismay. That skank kept looking at her boyfriend, the waitress was lucky to get anything at all from them, but of course, Matt was such a gentleman.

"I was a waiter my first year in college, I know how that can be," he explained.

No excuse, thought Paige. Instead, she arm linked with him and walked out the door.

Matt walked Paige to her car and pulled her close to him. "Paige, if you need anything, let me know." He kissed her forehead. She returned the kiss on his lips. Eventually, they let go of each other and went their seperate ways. Paige got in her car and rested her head on the steering wheel. She felt so stupid because she couldn't ask him to talk to Raditch about Rick. If it were anyone else, she could guilt trip them into it, but Matt, she couldn't ask him for anything.

Maybe because he already gives me everything, maybe I'm falling for him.