"When did this happen?"
"I don't- Oh, my gosh."
"What?" Nick asked, looking at her. She turned to him.
"The frat party."
"Frat party? What frat party?"
"The party you had to stay home for, because you had that huge assignment. I must've hooked-up with her there."
"Oh, man. How wasted were you?"
"Obviously enough for me not to remember."
"Damn. What are you gonna do?"
"You wanna double date?"
"What?"
"Double date. I don't know this girl. It'll be uncomfortable."
"I can't. Sorry."
"Hey guys. What's up?" Alex and Nick turned to see Paige, Michael, and Marco.
"Paige! Michael! You guys wanna double date?"
"Are you that desperate?" Nick whispered.
"Double date?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. Tonight with me and Nick's friend, Jenny."
"My friend!" Nick muttered.
"Sure, if that's OK with you Paige?"
"Yeah." Paige said.
"Marco, Alex! Can I talk to you?"
"Please." Marco said, grateful for getting some information. They walked into Nick's room. "What's going on?"
"My friend's ex-girlfriend hooked-up with Alex at a frat party. Alex just now remembers, because the girl came over to check to see if the date's still on."
"Now what are we gonna do? This is gonna screw up everything." Marco said.
"Screw up what?" Alex said.
"Well, we might as well tell her." Nick said.
"Tell me what?"
"Ever since you two broke up, me and Marco have been trying to hook-up you and Paige."
"I thought you guys were acting weird."
"There's more. At the New Years party, we employed some accomplices."
"Who?"
"Um, Ellie, Craig, Hazel, Dylan, Darcy. Oh and as of yesterday, Jay."
"Jay?"
"Yeah. He said if Paige is what makes you happy, he'd be happy to help get her back for you." Marco said.
"And you didn't tell me!" Alex exclaimed, hitting Nick in the arm.
"Ow. We thought you'd get mad if you knew, in which you are." Nick said.
"I'm not mad you tried to get us back together, I'm mad you didn't let me in on it."
"So you wanna get her back?"
"I didn't say that."
"You implied it." Marco said.
"And why would you kiss her if you didn't want her back?" Nick said.
"Spur of the moment."
"Say what you want, but as we've said for the last two weeks you love her."
"So, what do we do?" Alex asked. The three sat in thought.
"I got it!" Nick said.
"What?" Alex and Marco asked, looking at Nick.
"Make her jealous."
"What?" Alex asked, incredulously.
"Make her jealous. All you have to do is be super flirtatious with Jenny. She'll get so furious. She'll crack."
"Are you sure?" Marco said.
"Of course I'm sure." Nick goes over to his computer bag and opens it. He pulled out two small earplugs and what looked like a molar. "Put this on your tooth." Nick said holding up the tooth. "Put this in your ear." He held up the earplug.
"What am I? One of Charlie's Angels?" Alex said.
"This is the only way I can keep in touch with you constantly from a long distance. Dylan, Marco, and I will be able to hear everything everyone says and you'll be able to hear us, but no one else. Trust me."
"Alright." Alex said with a sigh. She put the earplug in her ear and put the molar over her own. Nick did the same. "Let's do this."
Nick's PoV
"It's 7:30. I should get ready." Alex said. We watched as she headed to her room. "What should I do Admiral Stockdale?" I heard her say in my earphone.
"Wear something enticing to lure in Paige. Sorry, don't mean to make her sound like a fish." I whisper. Marco looked at me. I pointed at my molar. He nodded.
"Alright." I heard Alex say. I walked over to Paige and Michael and sat down.
"You guys ready?" I asked them. I knew Alex could hear every word we said.
"Yeah." Michael said.
"So, this Jenny. She's a friend of yours?" Paige asked. I knew Alex could hear the jealousy in Paige's voice, because she giggled when she asked. I had to try my hardest not to laugh.
"In a way. She's Tommy's ex."
"Tommy's a guy though."
"I guess she's bi." I said, shrugging. I could feel me beginning to smile. Paige leaned back and let out a silent sigh.
"So, you guys are going to The Dot?" Marco asked.
"That's what Alex told us." Michael said. We continued to talk about the date until Alex walked out her room. She wore a white tank (as usual), but over it she wore a button-up shirt, which wasn't even buttoned, but tied up so it was midriff (Check out the episode Secret). She wore jeans as usual, but they were tight enough to define every curve.
"Oh, yes Alex. Very alluring." I whispered sarcastically, as I walked to the kitchen.
"Look at the way Paige is looking at me." she muttered, trying to make sure it wasn't obvious she was talking. I looked at Paige. She did seem to be attracted to Alex, and yet stunned.
"Hmm, brilliantly done Alex." I say, pouring a glass of water.
"You guys ready?" Alex asked. I walk up to her and put Jenny's address in Alex's back pocket. Wow, talk about tight.
"Um, yeah. Let's go." Michael said, grabbing his jacket.
------------------------------
"What's going on?" Dylan asked, as he walked in. That seemed to be one of his favorite questions lately. Once again, we'd yet to inform him.
"We're helping Alex." Marco answered, before kissing Dylan. That still freaked me out.
"Oh, well, where is she?"
"On a date." I answered.
"How are we supposed to help her if she's on a date?"
"With this." I answered, yet again. I took out my earphone and connected it to a speaker, so the three of us could hear what Alex was saying. "Check 1, 2. 1, 2."
"Didn't we already check these when I was getting dressed?" the three of us heard over the speakers.
"Yeah. I was just checking the speakers. Where are Paige and Michael?" I asked.
"Wait, they're on the date, too?" Dylan asked. He asked a lot of questions.
"They're in the backseat, talking. And Dylan, it's a double date."
"OK, are you almost at Jenny's house?" I asked.
"Yup." Alex said.
"Good. Tell me when you get there."
"OK. What's going on?" Dylan said.
"We're helping Alex get Paige back."
"You know she can hear that, right?"
"She already knows." I sat on the couch. Marco and Dylan joined me. I turned on the TV. On the screen was a hockey game.
"Ooh. Who's playing?" Dylan said, as he and I sat forward.
"Dallas Stars vs. Calgary Flames. Who you rootin' for, Dylan?"
"I would vote for Calgary just because they're closer, but I'm votin' for Dallas."
"I'm with you on that one."
"Yo, tell me if Dallas wins."
"Alex, you're supposed to be on your date." I said.
"Don't worry. I am. I just arrived at Jenny's. I'm knocking on the door now." Alex said. We all heard her knock on the door.
"Hey!" we heard Jenny's voice say.
"We're in." I say.
"Hi. Ready to go?" Alex said. I'm glad she was in Liberty and JT's version of Dracula. It helped her acting skills.
"Yeah. Let's go." Jenny said. We knew they were walking to the car and heard the car door open.
Alex's PoV
"You must be Paige and Michael." Jenny said.
"Yeah." Paige said, from the backseat.
"It's nice to meet you."
"Same." Michael said. I knew Paige would be lying if she had answered. I restarted the car and drove us to The Dot. We walked in and found a table. We sat down. I sighed in relief. Thank God, it's warm in here. Unlike outside.
"Hey guys." It was Spinner.
"Hey Spin." Paige said. I personally was as mad at Spinner as Nick was. Well, maybe more. I would've jumped in their fight if Marco and Paige weren't in town. Like I didn't know he slept with Paige after he got back together with Darcy (I shall not reveal my sources). Now he has neither. HA!
I plaster on a grin.
"Hey Spinner." I say, trying to act casual.
"Punch him." I hear Nick immediately say. I would if it was only me and him in this restaurant.
"What would you guys like to drink?" Spinner asked.
"I'll take a water." Paige said. Figures.
"Ice Tea." Michael said.
"Uh, I'll take a lemonade." Jenny said.
"Um, get me a coke. I need caffeine unlike the rest of you." I say.
"OK. I'll be back soon to take your order." Spinner left, leaving us to look at our menus. I wasn't really looking at mine. I was looking at Paige. Luckily, she hadn't noticed. What if Nick and Marco are right? What if I do love her? This'll mess up everything. I guess.
"Alex?" Paige snapped me out of my thoughts.
"What?" I ask.
"What are you getting?" Spinner was back.
"Um, a cheeseburger, no onions." I answer.
"OK." Spinner leaves, yet again.
"Well, we guys are bored." I hear Nick say. "Let's play Truth or Dare."
"OK." Marco said. "Dylan, truth or dare?"
"Truth." I hear Dylan answer.
"OK. Did you have a crush on someone before me and if so, who?"
"Um, yeah. When I was like 13 and Paige was 11, we both had a crush on Nick."
"Oh." Nick said, obviously he hadn't been paying attention. I stifle a laugh. "Wait a minute, what?" he said after a few seconds. I bust out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Paige asks.
"Oh, um, I was thinking of a story Dylan told me." The boys got quiet.
"What did he tell you?"
"Something about when you were 11 and he was 13. He said you both had a crush on Nick at the time."
"Both of you?" Michael said. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. I could tell he was about to laugh.
"Yes. I think we actually got into a physical fight over him. Mom and Dad didn't know why and kept asking. It was before Dylan came out." I giggled, thinking that Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk always knew Dylan was gay. If only my mom knew I was gay. Only my friends, the Michalchuks, Nick's parents, Emma, and Manny (I wouldn't necessarily call them my friends. We're getting there though) knew. Oh, yeah, and Spinner and anyone who used to go to Degrassi my senior year.
"I remember that fight." I heard Dylan say.
"Yo, I'm still stuck on the part where you and Paige had a crush on me. At the same time!" Nick said. I smiled, withholding my laughter.
We had eaten, and surprisingly I paid. Don't know why.
"So, what should we do next?" Michael asked. I didn't know we were going to do something else. I was going to say that, but decided not to.
Nick's PoV
There was a knock on the door. I stood up and opened it. And there stood my band, Tommy, Dan, and Jake.
"I knew I had something to do today!" Nick said.
"Why? What's up?" Dan said.
"I'm helping Alex with something."
"We'll help." Tommy said.
"Are you sure?" I said, worried Tommy would be mad Alex was on a date with his ex.
"Of course. Alex is our friend." Tommy said, walking into the apartment.
"OK."
"Where's Alex?" Jake asked.
"On a date." I answer.
"OK. So, how are you helping?"
"Spy equipment."
"So, what should we do next?" we heard come out the speakers. My eyes widened. We hadn't planned anything else.
"Paige and Michael are on the date?" Jake asked.
"It's a double." I said, going back to the couch.
"How about we see a movie?" came Jenny's voice over the speakers.
"Was that Jenny?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah." I answered.
"That'd be cool." we heard Paige say.
"Whoa, who said that?" I said.
"I heard Paige's voice." Marco said.
"Well, we must be in Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Dylan said.
"Go for it Alex." Tommy said.
"Are you sure?" Alex muttered.
"Yeah." I said. I knew Tommy knew what he was talking about.
"OK." Alex said.
Alex's PoV
We had been sitting in this not-even-scary horror movie for an hour. Every time Jenny got scared she'd bury her head into my shoulder. It was funny. Every once in a while I would look over at Paige. I felt like she was watching me. I turned away when she would look at me.
"Guys, she's watching me." I whisper.
"Put your arm around Jenny." I heard Tommy say.
"No. Uh-uh. I refuse."
"Come on, Alex. Do you wanna make Paige jealous or not?" Nick said.
"I do, but-"
"Just do it. Tommy knows what he's talking about."
"Fine." I say at last. I look at Paige and then put my arm around Jenny. It felt strange. Paige saw this. I know she did. She looks at me and then to Michael.
"I have to go to the washroom." I hear her say.
"If she doesn't come back in three minutes go check on her." Marco says in my ear.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because she spends a minute actually going to the bathroom and two minutes on her make-up." Marco said.
"OK, so we only have two and a half minutes now."
"Exactly." Marco said.
"Hmm, nice observation, Marco." Dylan said. I waited another three minutes.
"I'll be right back." I said. I walked into the bathroom. "Paige? Are you OK?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Why would you ask?"
"Because I know you. This is a total act."
"What?"
"You know you're jealous."
"Jealous? Of you and Jenny? Yeah right."
"In your own words, 'Jealousy is a nasty thing.'"
"You are full of yourself."
"Am I?" I ask, moving closer to her. She backs into the sink. I still have that affect on her. "Tell me you're not jealous."
"I'm not jealous." she says.
"Really?" I kiss her before she can respond. "Say it again."
"I'm no-" I kiss her again, before she can finish her sentence. She kisses me back. I hear a hand smack on the couch and another on the kitchen counter at my apartment. I can tell Nick is leaning toward the speaker.
"Wait, who is Alex kissing?" I hear Jake say.
"Paige." Nick says.
"But she's on a date with Jenny." Dan says.
"Which is why I'm paying more attention to them than I was the movie." I wanna laugh at that, because throughout the movie the guys have been paying pretty close attention to the music and dialogue.
Paige pulls away.
"Um, we should get back to our dates." Paige says. I actually forgot for those few moments I was on a date. With another girl.
"Right." I said, trying to hide my disappointment. She and I walk back into the theater as if nothing happened. I sit back down next to Jenny and put my arm back around her. She leans into me. Man, I can't wait 'til this date is over.
I left the car with Jenny, leaving Michael and Paige alone.
"Alright guys, lead the way." I whisper.
"Take her to her door and kiss her." Tommy says immediately.
"What?" I mutter hysterically.
"You have to kiss. It's the icing on the cake."
"He's right." Dylan says.
"Fine. OK." I continue to walk Jenny to her door. When we reach it, she turns to me and begins to fiddle with her keys. Crap. That's a definite sign that I have to kiss her. Well, according to Hitch.
"Well, that was fun." Jenny said.
"Yeah. We should do it again. Without Paige and Michael." There's silence.
"Kiss her already." I hear Marco say. So I do. It was quick and sweet.
"See you later." I turn and walk back to my car. I really don't want to, because I don't want to face Paige. I get in the car and start the car. I look through the rear view mirror. Paige is looking out the window. Something's definitely wrong and Michael can tell.
Nick PoV
"Yo, we're in the elevator." we hear Alex say.
"OK. We're getting ready now." I say. Dylan carries the speakers to my room and puts them in my closet. My band and I get our instruments and get ready to play. "Animals by Nickelback, second verse, go."
You're beside me on the seat
Got your hand between my knees
And you control how fast we go by just how hard you wanna squeeze
It's hard to steer when you're breathing in my ear
But I got both hands on the wheel while you got both hands on my gears
By now, no doubt that we were heading south
I guess nobody ever taught her not to speak with a full mouth
'Cause this was it, like flicking on a switch
It felt so good I almost drove into the ditch
I'm screamin'
Paige, Michael, and Alex walk in at that moment.
Chorus: So come on baby, get in
No, we're never gonna quit
Ain't nothing wrong with it
Just acting like we're animals
No, no matter where we go
'Cause everybody knows
We're just a couple of animals
Get in, just get in
Check out the trouble we're in
"Hey lovebirds." I say stopping the band. "How was the date?"
"It was fun." Alex said, walking to the couch, sitting by Dylan and Marco.
"Definitely." Paige says, not to enthusiastic.
"Yeah. Um, I think I'm gonna turn in. Paige, can I talk to you?"
"Of course sweetie." She kisses Michael and the rest of us know she does this to tease Alex. We all look at each other and then to Alex. She's still watching them. It seems Paige can get to Alex way better than Alex can get to Paige. The two go into my room and close the door.
Back to Third-Person, Ladies and Gentlemen
"What's up?" Paige asked, closing the door.
"That's funny. I was about to ask you the same thing."
"What are you talking about?"
"You. And Alex. What was up with that?"
"Nothing."
"Really, 'cause it looked like something."
"Look, Michael, there's something I haven't told you. You're friends with Alex, right?"
"She's one of your best friends. Of course I'm friends with her."
"Well, I might have left some details about that out." Paige said, nervously.
"Like what?" Michael asked, worried.
"Like, we dated for a few months in senior year."
"Wait, you're a lesbian?"
"No. I'm not. I like guys I just… liked Alex, too."
"So, you're bi?"
"No… yes. I guess. I mean- I don't know."
"You don't know?" He sighed. "Do you still like her?"
Outside the door stood Dylan, Marco, Alex, and Nick.
"Our plan is working perfectly." Nick said, quietly.
"Won't you feel guilty after this? I mean, if they break-up?" Alex asked. Nick thought about it.
"Hell no." he said. They all walked over to the couch and sat down.
"So, you never told me who won the game."