"Drop In The Ocean"

Chapter Nine - Where Are You Now?

- Maybe I'd be better on my own
No one ever seems to understand me
It's easier for me to be alone
But there's still a piece of me that feels so empty -

ALEX'S POV

flashback

"That's it, I'm outta here." I had began to walk away, but had felt Marco's grip on my arm. He had pulled me towards him, his eyes begging. He had known I meant leaving Degrassi, for good.
"But...Paige." He had said helplessly, not letting go of me. I had pushed him away, shaking my head wildly.

"I told you Marco, it's over."

It's been four years since that day. I'd moved to an upscale city and became the manager (and owner) of my own grocery store. I was...well, as happy as I could be without Paige. I hadn't stopped thinking of her. I hadn't forgotten our memories.
I lived in an apartment by myself, and I was doing okay. I wasn't dating anyone, and was glad. No one could replace Paige in my heart. I loved her as much as I could, and missed her even more than that. I decided to go back. Visit Degrassi. See my old friends. Maybe accidently run into Paige? That was the main reason. I wanted to see her. I ached to see her.

On my drive to Degrassi, I couldn't help feeling apprehensive. I hadn't set foot there for four years. What if everything had changed completely? What if my friends had all left? As I came into the town, old memories began flooding back. I passed Marco's house. I made a mental note to go back later, to see if he still lived there. I kept driving until I approached the dot. It was still there, and it was open. With a nervous smile, I parked in the parking lot and walked inside. Much to my luck, I saw a familiar face, with pretty red hair to match.

"Ellie!" I practically tackled her in a hug, glad to see someone I knew.
"Alex, how have you been?" She asked me, equally excited. I took a seat at her table, wondering how to answer her question. I decided to tell the truth. It couldn't hurt.
"I've been pretty good. I've got a steady job and everything. Um, I was wondering if you'd happen to know where Paige was." I cut right to the chase. Ellie's face fell. Not good news.

"Um, well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but she's not here anymore. She got out of here on graduation night, and I haven't seen her since. Well, not in person anyway."
"Why'd she leave like that? What do you mean, not in person? Where else could you have seen her?" I was getting hysterical. Paige, I had to find her. I'd been without her too long. The feelings were the same as they had been then, and that had to be a sign. It just had to be.

"She was upset, and got the wrong idea when I was talking to her. She kissed me," Ellie paused, biting her lip. She was afraid I'd beat her up, I could tell. "Then she high-tailed it out of here. It wasn't like that, believe me. I'm straight. But anyway, she's kind of famous now. She's on tv."

"TV? Are you kidding me?" My eyes widened.
"Not kidding at all. She did a stint on some soap opera down in the US, and I guess she's a regular part of the cast now. I've watched it a couple times. She's pretty good." She answered, taking a drink of her coffee. I nodded, trying to let it all sink in.

"She always had a knack for drama. Where is she now?" I had to know.
"She's living in LA right now, I think. Unless her address has changed since she wrote me." Ellie took an envelope out of her purse and I snatched it from her, looking at the address. I copied it down quickly, jumping up from my seat in one swift motion.

"Sorry to leave in a hurry, but I have to go. I need to see her. Thank you so much. I'll come back and I'll get ahold of you somehow, don't worry. I'll -- I'll be back!" I shouted over my shoulder, hastily making my way out of the door. It was time to use all that money I'd been saving up to buy a plane ticket for Los Angeles, California.

- I've been all over the world
I've seen a million different places
But through the crowds and all the faces
I'm still out there looking for you -

A/N: Don't have a heart attack, this chapter jumped forward a little bit. And I've given up trying to write long chapters.