A/N: I got bored, so I was like, lets make a fic that's not based off of Ellie's perspective. So I was like, lets do one from...Paige's point of view. w00t! Yeah, so flame it...whatever.. I don't care. Teehee, Ellie's still in it, bitches! Fluffy Marco/Dylan, but it's only mentioned once or twice.

Powerless

I smiled, flipping my hair over my shoulder. "Hon, don't worry. I'm over it," I said cheerfully to Ash, referring to a kickin' party we went to over the weekend. Even though I wasn't feeling cheerful at all, I smiled again, then waved to Ashley, veering into the girls' washroom. "'Morning, Vampire," I muttered, digging in my purse for my new strawberry lipgloss.

"Mmm," Ellie muttered, applying layer after layer of eyeliner.

"Please, contain your enthusiasm," I sneered, rubbing the tip of the lipgloss wand on my lips. "Vamp, you're using up the whole damn stick," I laughed, and it was definitely not with her.

"Fuck off," Ellie mumbled, capping the make-up and dropping it into her open bag. She was getting ready to leave the room, when I grabbed her arm. She winced.

"Ellie--"

"Yeah?" she asked, less than friendly.

"How are you?" I asked, actually caring; actually wanting to hear the truth from her.

Ellie shook her head. "I have to go--"

I stopped her. "Ellie," I repeated, "how are you? Please, I want to know."

"I'm worse than ever," she muttered, wrenching her arm from my firm grip and swinging her bag onto my shoulder. She walked out of the bathroom, letting the door swing shut behind her.

My mouth was hanging slightly open, and my eyes were filled with hurt. I wanted that bitch to get better, I thought. But the little whore went and ruined it for herself.

The next thing I knew, tears pricked my eyes and I was hyper ventilating. The bell rang, signaling ten minutes till homeroom. Ashley entered the bathroom, and I steadied myself against the counter. "Paige...what's wrong?" Suddenly, Ash was by my side, rubbing my back, as I spilled my guts -- how I found Ellie cutting in the bathroom, how she got so pissed off.

Ashley's mouth was agape and she looked hurt. "You knew? You knew?!"

I nodded. "I couldn't tell, hon, I'm sorry." I capped my lipgloss and slipped it into my purse. "I've -- locker. Bye."

I wiped my hand across my forehead, sighing. Dylan smiled at me in the rearview mirror. "Paige, what's wrong?" he asked, squeezing Marco's thigh.

"It's Ell--"

Marco shot me a look.

"It's nothing, I'm fine," I said, trying to force my Glam Gal Paige Michalchuk smile.

Dylan nodded, but Marco's brow was furrowed and he looked confused. "Uh, Dyl, could you drop me and Paige off at the mall? I want to apply for a job at the cinema."

Dylan nodded, then got this puppydog look in his eyes. "Yeah, sure, Marco," he said, smiling and kissing the Italian boy swiftly on the lips.

I opened the car door, sighing. Marco and I walked silently towards the mall entrance, arm in arm. "Paige. What's wrong with Ellie?"

"Nothing," I said, smiling at him. "She just needs that little push in the right direction."

"What are you talking about?" Marco asked, smiling in a confused manner.

"Nothing. I'm getting confused." I kissed him on the cheek, and a reddish tint shot throughout his face.

Ellie walked into school, and it was obvious that no one had walked with her. Immediately people started staring, and I couldn't blame them. Her eyes were bloodshot, red rimmed and swollen; her hair was completely down; she looked like she weighed two pounds; and she had a red handprint on her left cheek. Someone'd had one hellofa weekend. But, her being Ellie Nash, she kept her head down and continued her painfully long walk to her locker.

I smiled at Hazel, swiped the blush brush across her cheekbones, handed it to her, then ran towards the bathroom, where Ellie had unexpectedly gone. I sighed. "Ellie," I called quietly. I saw her pull her boots up onto the toilet seat from under the stall door. "Ellie, please. Talk to me."

She opened her stall door, then looked at me with tears pouring down her face. Ellie walked slowly towards me, looking at her feet.

"Ellie, what happened?"

"I didn't mean to.. I was powerless," she muttered.

"Elle--"

She looked up at me and held my gaze as she pulled down her purple-and-black striped armwarmers. She lifted her arm to my gaze. "Prittie Girl" was carved deeply into her forearm.

I sighed, then looked into her beaten face. "What happened?"

"My mom happened," she whispered. "And then Sean happened," she said, looking down at her arm. "And I can't do this anymore."

I hugged her as tight as I could, and I knew that for a split second, Ellie was greatful for my nosiness. She collapsed into my arms, taking in great breaths of air and sobbing wildly. "Please help me..." she cried.

I pressed on her doorbell, tapping my foot impatiently. "Come on, Elle," I muttered, pressing and holding the button longer.

There was a scuffle inside the house, and then Ellie opened the door. "Oh, hey, Paige," she muttered, keeping her bare arms out of sight. "Um, come on in, I guess..."

"Thanks." I took off my coat and hung it on the hook next to the door. "Nice house..."

Silence.

"I like that painting."

"Thanks."

"Ellie --"

"Yeah?" She answered almost too fast.

"You're bleeding on the floor."

"Yeah."

"Let me help you clean up." I went into the kitchen, a familiar place in Ellie's house. I crossed the room, opening a drawer. I pulled out an already bloodstained rag, and then I wiped up the crimson liquid. "You're beautiful," I said. Shit, did I just say that out loud?

"Uhm..."

"Seriously, Elle, you're gorgeous," I continued as I wiped up the floor. "Arm."
She stuck out her arm, and I started cleaning it. "And you don't deserve this, sweetie."

I smiled at Ellie. "I had fun," I said. And then I kissed her. Hard. On the lips.

Her eyes were wide with surprise, but then it dissipated into longing.

"Movies, on Friday. Be there," I told her, waving and leaving her standing stunned in the doorway.

((A/N: I decided I wanted to cut this short. I don't know if it's a one-shot or if I'll continue.. Anyways, sorry it sucked so much.. Femme slash isn't exactly my expertise. Kissins. -- Zoe))