Movie Night

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own anything connected with Degrassi.

Author's note: After seeing Time Stands Still, I really wanted to write something happy. The story takes place after Islands in the Stream but before Time Stands Still. I hope you like it.

JT walked into the video store, searching for something decent to rent. He was such a total loser. His Friday nights had been reduced to watching movies all by himself. Manny had dumped him. Emma was busy. Even Toby was going out with some of his friends from camp. JT was all alone. He was about to go into a full on pity party when someone collided into him. "Whoa, are you okay?" He asked the beautiful blond standing in front of him. He smiled when he saw who it was. "Hi, Paige."

"Oh, hi JT. Sorry I bumped into you," Paige said, rolling her eyes. Her day just wasn't going to get any better. Hazel ditched her at the last minute to go out with Jimmy. Ashley was going through round 127 with Craig. Even Marco and Dylan couldn't hang with her. They were off doing something together that she was sure she didn't want to know about. And, of course, she still wasn't having anything to do with Spinner. So, her weekend was going to be spent watching movies and stuffing her face with junk food. She really was a loser. A loser who couldn't stop bumping into people. "What are you doing here? Got a hot date tonight?"

JT laughed. "Yeah, right. Give me a break. What about you? Shouldn't you be out with Spinner?"

"Uh, well, we- we broke up. I'm surprised you haven't heard. I would have thought the news would have spread to even the tenth graders by now."

"Well, Toby hadn't heard and I haven't talked to Emma in a while. I'm sorry. That really sucks."

"Yeah, it does. But you know how it is. You and Manny broke up, didn't you?"

"Yeah, we did. Isn't it just great? You get dumped and you're social life turns to crap."

"Hey, I didn't get dumped and my social life isn't crap."

"Oh, so you're not here getting movies to hang out by yourself while all your friends are out having fun?"

"Cute, JT. Real cute. I assume you're doing the same thing?"

"Uh-huh. I suck too."

"Shut up." Paige punched him lightly on the arm, but couldn't help smiling a little.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Will you ever forgive me?"

"Oh, no, never."

JT took the movies from Paige's hands. "What are you watching? Oh, my God. These are stupid."

"Shut up. What movies are you getting?" She glanced at his movies. "Ooh, zombie bloodsuckers. Those look good."

"Hey, it's not like I'm looking to hook up or anything. I'm watching them by myself. So, get off my back."

"Whatever, it doesn't really matter to me."

"Thanks, Paige. You're always so pleasant to be around, you know that?"

"Well, what can I say? That's just who I am."

JT smiled and shook his head. "Oh, my God. You're unbelievable."

"Thanks."

"It wasn't meant as a complement."

"I took it as one." Paige took her videos back. "I guess I'm going to get going. Got a lot of plans for tonight."

She started to walk away when JT stopped her. "Uh, wait a second. You're going to be watching movies by yourself and I'm going to be, too."

"Yeah?"

"Well, we could- you know- watch them together."

"You want us to hang out together?"

"Yeah, it'd be fun. It's not like we're doing anything else. Come on, you know you want. All the cool kids are doing it."

Paige smiled. "You're such a dweeb."

"Do I take that as a yes?"

"Why not? I don't have anything better to do."

"Careful, you're going to make my head swell. Come on, we can watch them at my house. My parents are gone for the night."

"You're not planning on taking advantage of me, are you?"

"Maybe. We get to watch one of my movies first, okay?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope." The two of them joked with each other as they walked to pay for there movies.

Paige and JT were sprawled on the couch in JT's living room with a bowl of popcorn between them. Paige had her eyes closed with her hands covering her face. "Oh, God. I can't believe you like this movie. It's horrible."

"You big sissy. How can you be scared, you're not even watching?"

"Shut up. I told you I didn't want to watch it. I hate these types of movies."

JT turned toward Paige and grabbed her hands, trying the peel them away from her face. "Oh, come on. You know you want to watch."

"JT, stop it!" Paige pushed his hands back and tried unsuccessfully not to giggle as he started to tickle her. "Come on! That tickles!"

"That's the point!" JT said as he moved his hands all over his body. "You scared now? OH!" He had his breath knocked out of him and fell on top of Paige when she kneed him in the stomach.

"You know, I'm not scared right now." Paige grinned up at him, stopping short when she realized exactly how close the two of them were. "I- you're a little heavy right here."

JT's eyes widened and he jumped up. "Whoa, I'm sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to get rid of the attraction he was feeling all of a sudden. "Uh, do you want to watch one of your movies now?"

"Yeah, I think so. I can't take anymore of that crap of yours."

"Funny. You're a funny girl. So, which one are we gonna watch?"

Paige smiled thoughtfully. "We are going to watch The Philadelphia Story."

"What the hell is that?"

"That is a totally classic, totally awesome movie with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It's a love story."

JT made a face. "Oh, God. It sounds awful."

"It's not. I love it."

"Do you make Spinner watch these types of movies?"

"Of course not. Spinner would never sit through a black and white movie. Hazel won't either. That's why I got them on a night I thought I'd be by myself. And I don't want to hear you complain about it either. I sat through your movie."

"Yeah, you sat through it. I bet I make it through yours without covering my eyes."

"Shut up."

Paige glanced at JT as the movie ended. "Well, what'd you think?"

"It was all right, I guess. Not as horrible as I'd think a black and white movie would be, but not really my kind of movie. I don't really like those lovey-dovey movies."

"Really? I would have thought you'd love those."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He glimpsed around the room, looking at the mess they'd made. "Man, I'd better get this trash out of the way before my parents get home."

"I'll help."

"That's okay. I can do it."

"No, it's no big deal." She bent down to pick up their popcorn bowl. "How about you handle the trash and I'll put these things in the dishwasher?"

"You're too good to pick up trash?"

"You know it." JT smiled at her as he bent down to pick up some soda cans. She was really beautiful. It was strange. He'd forgotten how beautiful she was. He'd become so consumed with Manny that he forgot that Paige used to be the only thing he could think about. She used to be the only girl he ever wanted. But now, she was free. And so was he. Of course, she'd probably never have any interest in him. She probably thought-

"JT. You don't seem to be making much progress with trash." Paige came back into the room. "I guess you need me to help you."

"You're going to lower yourself to do that?"

"Don't get used to it." The two of them threw away the rest of the trash.

"Thanks for the help."

"It was no problem. I can be helpful sometimes."

"Yeah, I guess you can."

"Well, I guess I'd better get going."

"Oh, yeah. It's getting kind of late."

"Thanks for having me over. I had a lot of fun."

"Me too. I'm glad you came."

"I'll call my parents for a ride." Paige took out her cell phone and turned away from JT. She felt odd. JT was causing all these feelings in her. She used to think of him as an annoyance and a buddy. But he had really grown up. He wasn't a goofy grade 8 anymore. And she was starting to like being around him. She hung up her phone and sighed. "Oh, man. No one picking up. I'm going to have to walk."

"You can wait here if you want. Until your parents or mine get home."

"I would, but I have to work early tomorrow."

"Oh, right. You're a movie slave now. Maybe I'll stop by and heckle you sometime."

"You do and you'll die. But anyway, I need to get going."

JT jumped up. "I'll walk you."

"You don't have to."

"It's not like I got hot plans for the rest of the night. Now let's go."

Paige took us arm. "Okay, let's go."

JT and Paige stood on her front porch. JT shifted nervously on his feet. "Here we are."

"Yeah. Thanks for walking me home," Paige said, smiling at his nervousness.

"I had fun tonight."

"Me too. Maybe we can do it again sometime."

"Yeah! I mean, that'd be cool." Paige turned and opened her door. "Uh, Paige?"

"Yeah?"

"I- I- meant what I said. I'm glad you came over."

"I'm glad I did, too." JT smiled and leaned closer before he could lose his nerve. He kissed her very lightly on the lips and got the thrill of his life when she didn't pull away.

"I guess I'd better go," he said, opening his eyes and beaming at her.

Paige nodded. "I'll see you Monday."

"Yeah, I'll see you at school." He watched as she went inside the house and then pumped his fists in the air. He jumped off the porch and fell, hopping up quickly and hoping Paige wasn't watching. This had been a good night and he didn't want anything ruining it.

Paige giggled as she watched JT trip off the porch. He was hopelessly awkward. And she really had it bad because she found it adorable. Hazel was never going to believe it. If she told her about it.