I've been really really depressed lately. I've been wearing my sweats all day and I haven't brushed my hair in four days. So, as I was sitting here, I said, "The hell with it. I might as well fucking update and stop being such a bitch." And then we got snow, so if things work my way, I'll be off school for the rest of the week. Yay.

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As Paige stuffed her things into her suitcase, Dylan sat on the end of her hospital bed, an envelope in his hands. "Here, Paige. This came from Ellie Nash."

"Oooh," she squealed, snatching the letter from his hands.

"Please, contain you're enthusiasm."

"Damn, Dylan. I'm getting out of the looney bin and you're telling me to stop being excited?"

He laughed. "Okay, I'm going to go take your shit out to the car. I'll be up in ten."

Paige nodded.

She flung herself on the bed, tearing open the envelope. The words that she read crashed into her like a bitter slap in the face.

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Ellie sat on her bed, reading a book and listening to London Calling. Her phone rang, and she hopped up to answer it. "He-llo?" she greeted in a sing-song.

"Elle? It's Paige."

Her stomach dropped into her intestines. "Oh...hey."

"I got your letter and I'm out. Of the nuthouse. So I just wanted to say hi," Paige told me.

"Oh...how are you?" I asked uneasily, setting my book down.

"Okay, I guess. Your notey thing kind of hit me...hard."

Ellie sighed. "Look, Paige, I want to talk to you. Come over, I'll make food. Sean's at work."

"Yeah, okay," she replied quietly.

A click signaled that our talk was over.

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((Changing the POV))

I waited on the couch for Paige. I was wearing a baggy t-shirt that slipped off of one shoulder and a pair of sweats. I knew she wouldn't care. I didn't care either, because I was over her.

Paige knocked on the door and I hopped up to let her in. "Hey," she said quietly, giving me a small smile and a quick hug. She hung her purse on its hook, then sighed and looked at me. I think she was waiting for something.

"Look, Paige, I'm really sorry. For everything. I mean, how I broke it off wasn't exactly civil," I apologized.

She nodded. "Ellie, are you with Sean?"

"Uhm, yeah."

"Oh."

I nodded uneasily. "Yeah..."

"Elle, have you been eating?" Paige asked, still looking at the carpet.

"No."

"It shows. I can see your collarbones even when you're completely relaxed," she said matter-of-factly. "Look, this isn't easy. I think I'm going to go home and save you the trouble of biting your tongue the entire time I'm here. Calling you was a mistake, I can just deal on my own." She stood up and grabbed her bag. "Bye."

As she was walking out the door, I smiled at her and said, "Have a good day, Waigey."

Paige smiled widely, then kept walking.

And in that moment, something changed. I could feel it.

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Oh, 2:30 in the morning updates are always fun. Much love,

Zoe.