Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Title: "In Fading Fearless Nights..."

Tunes: Alexisonfire "Adelleda" "Rough Hands", Hopesfall "Cubiz Zirconias Are Forever" "I Can Do This On An Island" "Secondhand Surgery", the song "Paisley" (track 13; Magnetic North; Trustkill, 2007) was listened to on repeat the entire time I wrote the Paige/Alex scene. The chapter title, however is taken from the song "Magnetic North" of the same album.

People: I've done it again. That thing where I forget who this chapter was supposed to go out to. So, if you're reading this and getting pissed then... it's for you!

Author's Note: Can't think of anything to say. Other than Dr. Sex Walrus has updated the killer (pun!) Blood Red Summer and you guys should totally read and review it. Seriously, ditch this stuff in favor of the Battle Royale/Degrassi Crossover-y goodness! Even if you have no clue what a Battle Royale is, that doesn't matter. It's well-written and Palex-undertoned enough for you to overlook that.

"Ellie, baby, you know I love you…"

"Jesse," her eyes burned, she ran the heel of her palm quickly across them; remembering too late that it would smear her makeup. "No. No, you don't. You don't love me, becau-"

"You can't tell me what I feel, Ellie," his hand on her shoulder began to squeeze harder than her spectrum of comfort. She flinched briefly but was otherwise undeterred.

"I don't want to do this anymore."

"I don't want you to do this anymore!"

"Then why do you make me?" her voice broke on the last two syllables. She spun away from him, hot tears searing her cheeks. The scars on her arms itched and she wanted nothing more than to be someplace far, far away.

His hands flexed wildly at his sides; clutching handfuls of the fabric of his pants. He took a step closer. She took one back.

"Ellie, I swear to God-"

"Aw, hey now, Stefanodick."

Jesse's head snapped around so fast his neck cracked. Ellie winced at the sound.

Jay smirked, pointedly ignoring Jesse's livid glare. "I know this kind of shit gets you really wet, but I'm just not feelin' it."

Jesse's face turned a furious red. He opened his mouth to speak but Jay cut him off.

"Now, don't get that thong of yours all twisted," he raised his right hand high, a small wad of bills resting casually between his thumb and forefinger. "I'm here for a good time."

He gestured to Ellie, grinning salaciously when Jesse's jaw clenched tightly.

"Jay…" his voice was a failed attempt at toneless. The warning edge was too prominent.

"Here," Jay tossed the wad at him with an air of dismissal. He strode over to Ellie and gently slung his arm around her waist. "I'll be holding on to her for a few days," he announced to Jesse.

He leaned down and whispered into Ellie's ear, "Is there anything you need to take?"

His face oozed smarmy ostentation but his voice was rich with concern. Ellie shook her head.

Without looking back they both walked out of the building. Jay made sure to slam the door behind them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Her head hurt, her limbs were sore, she was tired and she needed a drink.

Alex ran a hand over her eyelids and rubbed her temples. She stared at the ceiling fan, tried to get lost in its relentless movement. Around and around and around. She frowned, feeling no less tired or frustrated. Paige shifted next to her, the movement causing the sheets Alex had kicked off only moments before to ruffle at her ankles.

The dark haired woman sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The restless feeling had yet to fade and Alex decided at the very least a cigarette would quell her nerves. She sat silently for a moment, listening to the perpetual hum of the fan, the distant sounds of the City, Paige's quiet breathing. She felt soft fingertips brush along her back, trace her spine from between her shoulder blades all the way down.

For a moment she wanted to forget everything that was keeping her awake and fall back into Paige's arms. To hold her, and kiss her, and do all the sorts of things she'd dreamt about for months.

The gentle hand retreated. "What are you doing?" Paige's murmur could have passed as sleepy if Alex didn't know her better. The blonde was just as wide awake as herself.

Alex shrugged and stood. She found her hastily discarded pants in a crumpled heap by the dresser and kneeled down; fishing through the pockets but came up empty. Paige cleared her throat demurely, "My, uh, top drawer on the left."

Alex reached across the length of the dresser and after a few moments of fumbling withdrew a cigarette. She felt Paige's eyes on her the entire time. Several seconds later found her taking her first deep drag of the evening. She looked up slowly, saw the girl on the bed surveying her.

Surveying. Not watching her, not gazing at her. Surveying; observing. As if Alex were some sort of spectacle. A wounded animal. Paige was trying to gauge her next move.

Alex ground her teeth together momentarily, trying to will her thoughts away. When that didn't work she sighed.

Gesturing to the pack she grunted, "You…?"

Paige seemed to understand and nodded.

Alex shoved the lighter into the pack, tossed it, and watched as the paper rectangle soared through the air and into pale, waiting hands. Paige extracted one, lit it, and slipped it into her mouth. It dangled from the corner of her lips as she inhaled. When she exhaled she took the cigarette between two fingers, lowered it from her mouth and blew out slowly. The unrelenting dignity and grace that was exuded by Paige even in the most mundane tasks awed Alex. She felt, at times, that she could watch the blonde for the rest of her life and be content in merely basking in her presence.

At other times, times like these, it made her feel like she was way too deep in something she knew nothing about.

Paige's cloudy eyes shifted to Alex and got clearer. In this light they appeared more green than blue. She sat up, the blanket falling away from her chest and even though it was late at night and the curtains were pulled mostly shut a neon sign from the medical surplus store on the corner illuminated her features. Creamy white skin cast conflicting shades of blues and reds from the ever-glowing RX sign some twenty feet away. The shadows cast by the curves of her body; looking most ominous as large, black streaks beneath her eyes, stretching across her cheeks.

Alex's gaze lingered on Paige's exposed breasts and the blonde followed her line of sight before drawing the sheet up to her chin self consciously.

Alex blinked heavily and ran a hand over her face once more before ash from her cigarette fell onto her bare skin and she was brought back to reality. She unfolded herself and joined Paige on the bed once more; shoulders hunched, facing away, hands clutching the bedclothes desperately. She counted her breathing.

"Alex," her voice was soft but cut through the silence like shattering glass. "Alex, what happened… with Spin it-"

"Can we just… not right now?" Alex swallowed thickly. Her voice was too shaky and it made her nervous. "Please?"

She heard Paige draw a quivering breath and the mattress dipped behind her. She felt a hand brush her back once more, hovering there as if unsure before two arms slipped around her waist. Paige's breasts pressed into her back, the blonde's cheek resting on Alex's shoulder while her fingers linked together over Alex's navel.

"It wasn't-"

"Just… stop, okay?" Alex bolted up and off the bed. She didn't dare look back to see Paige's sad expression. "It's cool, alright? It's… whatever. Business. I get it."

She stepped into her pants and slid them up her body hurriedly, forgoing underwear completely. It took her a few times to get the button but once she did she was darting around the room searching for her shirt. She found it slung over a chair and noted with relief the black bra resting on the floor a few feet away. She felt flushed and feverish as she attempted to dress herself; racing against some great Unknown and pretending she didn't know Paige was staring at her.

"I just remembered. I have a… thing," it was lame, even to her, but she knew that Paige was in no condition to call her on her bullshit tonight and she needed to get out of there. "I was supposed to head over to Sean's and get the rundown."

By this time she had managed to clothe herself and was shrugging her jacket on. She looked over at Paige completely aware of the girl's silence throughout the majority of the exchange. Against her better judgment she swung back over to the bed and leaned in with the intent to give the blonde at least a peck on the lips. Something in her mind jerked and she hesitated a split second from Paige's mouth. And then Alex's lips were pressed chastely to a warm temple.

She walked out of the room with her head bowed to the floor and her eyes squeezed almost all the way shut to keep from looking back.

End Notes: Well, there's your chapter. Now it's time for your end of the deal. 10 reviews, in small bills, unmarked. You know where to leave them. We'll talk again once I get everything.

-Orange