Paige sat in Dave's living room in silence and shock. The different feelings mixed up in her head were aching to come out. She couldn't stumble upon the words to comfort Dave as he slowly put his hoodie back on. He got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out two sodas. He walked over to the cabinet and took out too glasses, filled them with ice, and then Pepsi. He walked back over to Paige and handed her a glass while sitting back down. Paige took a short sip and set the glass back down on the coffee table. She looked down at her hands which had been clasped together for quite some time. She slowly started picking at the pink nail polish on her finger nails, only to look up at the sound of Dave's voice, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out or anything. You opened up to me, I opened up to you."

"I'm sorry… about … about your sister," Paige chocked out.

"It's alright. I don't need your apologies. In fact I owe you one," said Dave just as Paige's phone began ringing again.

"It's Dylan, my brother."

"Answer it Paige." She listened to Dave and heard an angry Dylan asking her where she was and what she was doing.

She gave quick responses and said she would be home soon. "You can't hate him forever."

"I don't hate him. I don't hate Spinner. I don't hate Mom. I don't hate you."

"But you hate him….," Dave replied quietly.

"He took everything I knew and put his mark on it. How can you be friends with him?"

"Someone has to be the rapist's friend, right?" he said, but immediately wished to take it back when he saw the look that crept upon Paige's face. "I didn't think he'd ever do something like that. He always got what he wanted, ya know? But he really screwed up this time. And he's going to find that out the hard way."

"Ooh.. What is his best friend going to kick his ass for some girl he doesn't even know?"

"Come on, let's get you home and we'll talk about it on the way," suggested Dave as he got up and walked to the foyer and put on his shoes. Paige followed the young man and did the same. He walked over to his car and opened the passenger's door. He allowed Paige to get in and shut the door gently for her. He then continued to get into the car and start it.

"You're such a gentleman," said Paige smiling. Don't fall for him. Don't fall for him. Don't fall for him. Do not trust him Paige. Don't do it! She screamed to herself.

"You're a sweet girl. You deserve it," Dave said as he pulled down the sun visor to avoid squinting at the road. Once again Paige screamed inside herself. He's just like Dean! Don't trust him! Almost on cue with a little smile, "I just want you to be able to trust me. Cause I mean, I know your secret. There's no turning back."

"I know your secret too," Paige said.

"It's not a secret. Everyone knew at the time, just no one cared. But you've got people to care about you. So in a nut shell, don't do this to yourself. Okay?"

Paige turned her head and looked out the window. She rolled up her sleeve to check on her cuts. They were scabbing nicely she thought to herself. He can't make me stop. He doesn't understand, she thought.

"Hey, you're going to have to give me directions here." Paige did so and before she knew it Dave was pulling in her driveway meeting a running Dylan. He ran out of the house, not bothering to shut the door. He ran up to the car and opened the door asking Paige what she thought she was doing. He grabbed her out of the car and ushered her into the house. Dave reached across and slammed the door, mumbling "asshole." He ripped out of the driveway and went home his head full of thoughts. He questioned if he had to choose between this beautiful girl who entered his life or his best friend.

Inside, Dylan sat Paige down on the couch. She squirmed away from him and walked upstairs, informing him she was going to take a nap. He followed her upstairs and was only satisfied when he realized she wasn't going to sneak off to cut herself.

Paige was surprised at the amount of sleep she did get. She was only awaken by a few night mares and before she knew it, it was time to get ready for school. She slowly sat herself up on the edge of her bed and got up, avoiding standing up too fast and getting dizzy. She walked to the bathroom noticing last night she didn't bother to change her clothes. She quickly brushed her teeth off and slowly removed her clothing and jumped into the shower. She washed her hair, avoiding looking at the scabs on her arms. Paige decided to shave her legs quickly, but her razor was no where to be seen. Figures, they take all the razors out, she thought to herself. She decided to skip that aspect of showering and got out, wrapping herself in a towel. She went back into her room and chose her outfit for the day, jeans and a long sleeved sheer black shirt with a white tank top sticking out of it. She decided the sweat pants look had got to go. She was fine, she told herself. No need to grovel in degradation anymore. Paige noticed her purse lying on the floor. She picked it up and removed the broken mirror. Just once more. It won't happen again after this. Just once more. Paige took the harsh edge of the mirror and slid down her jeans on one side revealing her hip. She made a few small cuts and a deeper one. It's for you Dave. You'll just never know about it, she said in her mind. It's for you. She quickly threw the mirror back in her purse and zippered it close. She let the blood soak up in her jeans and went downstairs. Now she was ready to start her day.

She overlooked the glaring stares of her mom. "Don't plan anything after school." Paige didn't comment as she opened the door, revealing the bright, sunny day. It was not the day for long sleeves.

Spinner and Hazel stood huddled together. Great, just the people I want to see, she thought. She walked past them, but unfortunately they noticed. "Where were you yesterday," yelled out Spinner.

"With a friend."

"Let us be your friends Paige. Please, stop pushing us away. We just want to help you. It's not going to get any better, if you don't…" rambled Hazel.

"Listen, you don't understand. You have no clue what it's like to me be. What it's like to look over your shoulder every minute of your day. You don't understand what it's like to feel guilty when something's your fault. You don't know what it's like to have only one way to release everything. You just don't know. So don't pretend like you do. Don't pretend to, okay?" cut off Paige as she briskly walked away.

"Oh and this friend of yours does?" caught up Spinner.

"More than you."

"Maybe if you'd open up to me, I'd know to. Who is it? Who's your friend? What's her name?"

"HIS name… is Dave."

"I can't believe this. Please, Paige all I am asking is a chance to hear you out, just talk to me! We know what you're doing. We know why you're doing it. We want you to stop. What's so bad in that?"

"You don't know anything," replied Paige coldly. She did not speak to Spinner or Hazel for the remainder of the day. She didn't really speak to anyone. She replied with brief answers to anyone who bothered to ask. She tried hard to ignore the sad stares she got while walking past Hazel or Spin.

She dreaded going home, wondering what her mom had planned for her. I just won't go home. Then what will mommy dearest do then? That thought was interrupted as Paige walked down the Degrassi steps seeing her mom pull up in her car. There was no getting out if it. She opened the door and got in, preparing for the worst. Her mom did not mention anything to her as she drove. After about a five minute drive, a white sign stuck out to Paige. Dr. Hailey Evans, Psychiatrist. "Great, a shrink. A lot of help that will do," Paige mumbled, getting out of the car. The two entered the building and Paige's mom spoke to the receptionist at a tall white counter. I can't believe I am here. I don't belong here. I'm fine, she screamed to herself. Her mom sat down beside her and gave her a sad look. "I hate you," she mumbled. Her mom only looked away.

A few minutes later, a woman in her early 40's, wearing dark blue entered the room. "Is Paige Michalchuck here?" she asked. With a sigh she and her mom rose from their seats. "Sorry, mom. I just need Paige." With that, Paige's mom sat back down. Paige walked over to the woman and she walked her down a hall and into a room. The room was teal and had a green couch beside a desk with a lap top on it. Across from the desk were two seats with big blue cushions. Along the walls where rows and rows of books. Classic, this is a real piece of work, Paige thought to herself. The woman, motioned for her to sit down and she chose to sit on one of the chairs across from the desk. "My name's Dr Evans, Paige," she said sticking out her hand. Paige hesitated, but eventually shook it. "Your mom called in and told me about everything. We decided it would be best to put you in therapy for now. Look, I know you're going to hate this and you're going to hate your mom and you're going to hate me. I know that. I don't expect you to like me. I do expect you to respect me though. Are we at a clear understanding?"

"Yes," replied Paige.

"Good. Now let me tell you how everything is going to work for you. First, we will try one on one sessions with just me and you three times a week, after school for an hour. We'll talk things out, get your emotions in order. If that doesn't work, we go to group sessions on top of everything. If that doesn't work, we'll check out some prescription anti-depressants. And well, we'll go from there…."

"I'm not depressed!!" screamed Paige.

"Okay Paige, calm down. So, let's get started. Why don't you tell me what happened."

"Why?"

"Because I'm here to help."

"You're not going to help me. I don't need some lady who I don't know prying into my personal life."

"I'm not the bad person here."

"You don't understand me. I don't have to be here. There's no need for me to be here. No need. Do you hear me? I'm not suppose to be here! I don't need therapy! I'm fine! Why can't you all just leave me alone?"

"Why so defensive Paige? The way you're acting I'm thinking it was the perfect time for your mom to get you over here. If nothing was wrong, and you didn't need to be here, would you be screaming? What are you hiding Paige?" Paige was shocked at the woman's boldness. How dare she accuse her of such things. "Fine, we'll sit in silence until you'd like to talk." And that was exactly what they did. Paige found small things to amuse herself during the time. Such as picking off the remainder of nail polish from her fingernails and playing with the zipper on her purse. Forty five minutes later, Dr. Evans got up from her desk and opened the door. "Time's up for now, but you'll be back. Be ready this time, Paige. Have a good night."

Paige angrily walked through the hall to find her mom sitting quietly. She got up to hug her daughter, but was alarmed when the she only received harsh words, "I hate you. Why are you torturing me?" Paige ran out the door and down the street leaving a bewildered mom behind. The ring tone of her cell phone began blaring from her purse. She ignored it. There's no way I'm talking to Hazel or Spinner or Dylan or any of them! They can rot for all I care. They don't understand. The ringing stopped, but only to start again a few seconds later. Paige stopped walking down the street lined with trees and went to shut off her phone. She glanced at the ID and saw it was Dave. She had wondered if anyone ever made Dave go to therapy. She laughed at that word. Therapy. What would everyone think if they knew the Queen of Degrassi was in therapy. Paige answered her phone to hear a tired sounding Dave.

"How are you doing?"

"You'll never guess where I just was."

"Where?"

"A freaking therapist. A quack Dave."

"Good."

"Good?"

"Yeah good."

"You don't understand!" yelled an angry Paige into the phone.

"No, Paige it's you that doesn't understand. You need help. And if you're not going to let the people who care about you help, maybe you'll ….."

"Let someone I don't even know help? Yeah that makes sense doesn't it? Look why did you call, I don't even know you either!" Paige said as she cut off Dave's train of thought.

"I care about you. I care about what happens to you, whether you like it or not. Haha, you're right it doesn't make any sense to talk to someone you don't even know about something that happened to you."

"Thank you. See, you understood that, but it still doesn't mean I want to talk to you…"

"Fair enough."

"Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"Did anyone ever make you go there?"

"Where?"

"Therapy."

"No, I told you. No one cared."

"How'd you pull through?"

"I had a friend. One friend who understood me. Granted, he didn't care. But I could talk to him. I know it sounds like an over used line, but talking really does help a person."

"Oh," said Paige quietly.

"Paige?"

"What?"

"Will you let me be that friend?"

"……I guess," answered the part of Paige who knew what she was doing was wrong. That knew what had happened to her was wrong. That knew she wasn't coping. She had fought as hard as she could to keep that part silent. But it was getting stronger. She gasped at what she had said. There's no turning back now.