Chapter 13
"Yo, can we talk?" Johnny asks, as he approaches the couch.
The person he was looking for is sitting there, surrounded by papers and bandages. No one else seemed to be around but her, thankfully.
Paige had been acting so strange lately. That included the other night when-
"I'm kinda in the middle of something Johnny."
"Yeah, that looks really-what is that?" Johnny inquires, hoping to inspire more conversation with her.
They were so close before. He doubts she found out about what Mike and himself had going on. He doesn't think she'd give him the silent treatment over something like that.
Could she?
"It's nothing for you to worry about Johnny. Or anyone else for that matter."
Johnny feels unwanted suddenly, but he pushes through it to try to talk to his friend anyway.
So, he sits next to her on the couch.
To his surprise she moves away a few inches from him.
"You really wanted to kill yourself?" Johnny blurts out, feeling his eyes become watery.
Why was she so mad at him right now? She's the sister he's never had. Even though he went behind her back in a way to sleep with Mike…they could work through that thought once she finds out.
He just wanted to talk about that night.
"I don't want to talk about it Johnny. I'm busy," Paige interrupts, as she gathers up her paperwork.
"Paige, c'mon. What's up with you? Paige?" Johnny questions, watching her with a frown.
She's quickening her pace now. Not to mention she's continuing to avoid eye contact and space with him.
"I can't work here," she mumbles in a snort in aggravation. "I just can't-"
"I almost saw you die Paige! How do you think I'm supposed to feel? You even asked me to be there-!"Johnny relays. He feels heartbroken. "Now, you transferring out?! Why?"
He thinks back to when he saw the horror at the Solano's house and wanting to take a long hot shower when he got back home. Unfortunately, Paige was there to rush him right back out the house with the promise of Sid's confession as well as capture. He was more than eager to join Paige then.
Thankfully, Charlie and Mike stepped in. If they didn't, Johnny would have witnessed an irreversible horror that night. One that would haunt his dreams for the rest of his life.
"Oh man up Johnny. It wouldn't have been the first time you'd see someone die."
Johnny thought she was joking at first, until he saw the look on her face.
What the hell? Is she-? How could she say that, when she-?
A rush of disappointment and agony flowed through him as he tried to stop himself from saying the unspeakable.
"How about you woman up P and face whatever problems you have instead of trying to-"
But too late.
Everything, including Paige, was pissing him off all at once.
She turns to him slowly, staring at him unblinkingly. The look she's giving Johnny is unreadable to say the least. It makes him feel cold all over.
"Stay out of my way Johnny. Maybe you and Mike can take turns crying on each other's shoulders about it. You've been doing everything else with each other. I'm guessing Carlito wasn't enough for you?"
Johnny freezes and then rises from his seat as he tilts his head to the side.
"Excuse me?"