A/n - woOt yay thanks for happy reviews!
They may well get naked and have sex... I haven't really thought about it, I must admit. It's a possibility. But I warn you now, Pellie lovers... this is story does not leap headlong into slash. So enjoy the build-up. I've noticed that real life relationships, especially ones of the lesbian nature, take a bit of time. Sit back, chill, and try not to laugh outloud at my excuse for plot building, ok?
A bag laden with clothes was heavy on Ellie's back. Her mother, in a brief moment of sobriety, allowed Ellie out for the night. Ellie had to have a cold drink to recover from the shock.
Her last class of the day was with the glam gal herself, and Ellie was painfully excited and cautious at the same time. She had no way of knowing whether Paige would follow through on the invite she'd made earlier that week.
Mr Simpson walked into the room with Paige following close behind. The seating plan implemented by Mr Simpson forced Paige to sit across from Ellie, and the blonde cheerleader swanned to her seat casually, flipping long hair over one shoulder as she sat down.
As the teacher began to talk, a piece of paper landed on Ellie's desk. She opened it and found swirly handwriting on the top two lines
Ella-belle, do you still want to come over? I got extra popcorn, and we can even get pizza if you want. Dylan's driving so we can make whatever detour you want - even to the mall! Don't leave class without me, k? - Paige.
Ellie got out a pen and wrote neatly underneath the initial question, smiling at her new nickname.
Yeah, I'd still like to come over. Much as this little field trip is about playing normal, the mall is one step too far. Pizza is a must. - Ellie.
Ellie passed the note discreetly back to Paige. As Paige wrote a reply and handed the paper back, Mr Simpson coughed politely.
"Excuse me, Miss Michalchuk? Am I disturbing your social tendencies, once again?" He asked sarcastically. Paige, for once, was caught off guard.
"Uh, sir, I," Paige stumbled.
"Sir, she was just handing me back a piece of paper I dropped from my folder. Thanks, Paige." Ellie said coolly, taking the paper from Paige and tucking it inside her folder.
"Let's continue, shall we?" Mr Simpson sighed and got on with the lesson. Paige and Ellie giggled to themselves, stifling the laughter until after class. Time dragged hideously slowly, and when the final bell went Paige and Ellie rushed outside.
The two teenage girls started laughing out loud once they'd left the classroom together.
"Thankyou so much for covering for me," Paige gushed as they walked through the emptying school. Ellie shrugged.
"It's fine, really."
"Seriously, Simpson caught me not long ago for passing notes. I think a week of detention is a little extreme. You saved me!" Paige giggled even more. Ellie walked beside Paige, head down, smiling to herself.
Outside the school they met up with Dylan, who gave a friendly hello to the quiet Ellie. They followed him to his car as Paige tried to convince Ellie of a mall side-trip. Ellie could feel the stares of the other students - Paige Michalchuk talking with Ellie Nash was something to gossip about.
"Come on, they make the best pizzas there," Paige pleaded. "Besides, I'm almost out of conditioner, and my hair totally frizzes up without it. Would you deny not only me, but the entire school, the wonder of my glossy, sleek frizz-free hair?" Paige swished her hair again for emphasis. Ellie could barely keep a straight face, and Dylan laughed outright.
"Do you normally make this much fun of yourself?" Ellie asked quietly, looking sideways at the self-mocking teen.
"Of course, hun, but not a lot of people really pick up on it. You're a quick one, Ella-belle," Paige gave her smouldering smirk again as they reached Dylan's car. Climbing inside the small car Paige opted to sit in the back with Ellie.
"So, the mall or not, ladies?" Dylan asked, starting the car. He turned to look from face to face.
"Come on, Ella-belle. Think of my hair." Paige pouted so prettily, and Ellie looked down at her hands, smiling to herself.
"Fine. I'll come to the mall." Ellie shook her head at herself as Paige squealed with delight.
"Awesome! Dylan, to the mall!" Paige declared happily.
"No one can resist her. It's awful." Dylan sighed as he drove through the car park and toward the mall.
Paige was looking at Ellie with an obvious plan in her mind. Ellie caught the familiar hint of 'make-over' in Paige's eye.
"Oh no. No make-over. I am not changing my clothes. This might be playing normal, but that's taking things a little too far, Paige." Ellie said adamantly.
Paige sighed petulantly. "Fine. But can I at least give you some tips?"
"From the opposite end of the fashion spectrum? Maybe some other time, glam gal." Ellie smiled as Paige pouted some more.
After a five minute drive, the mall reared up out of the suburban blocks. Ellie bit her lip, and began picking ay her flaking nail polish. Paige looked over as Dylan searched for a park, and saw Ellie's nervous antics. She lightly rested a hand on top of Ellie's, stopping the home polish remover job. She smiled reassuringly.
"You'll be fine," Paige said quietly. The kindest smile to ever emerge from Paige's lovely face was bestowed upon Ellie.
"Just, don't pretend like you don't know me, ok?" Ellie asked her voice soft and expression vulnerable.
Paige grinned even wider as Dylan pulled into the parking spot smoothly. "Not to worry, hun. We'll go to the hairdresser's and then straight back here. We'll come back for pizza later." Paige nodded and climbed out of the car. Dylan chose to remain in his car, listening to the radio. Ellie followed Paige more than a little anxiously.
Teenagers still with school bags littered the mall, crowding around coffee houses and music shops. They roamed in groups of four or more, unless they were a couple. Bags and food products with popular labels emblazoned upon them were flung around like confetti, and Ellie was dreading walking through it all.
Paige was true to her word; the two walked together to the hairdresser's that was only a few shops along the closest walkway, and Paige never left Ellie's side, always talking to her and looking at her to make sure people knew the score. The frizz-combating conditioner was purchased without incident, and Ellie slunk back into the car with considerable relief.
"There, that wasn't so bad now, was it?" Paige asked, eyebrow raised in her familiar manner. Ellie gave Paige a blank look.
"You girls ready to go on home?"
"Oh Dylan, we haven't got the movies yet!" Paige said, flabbergasted. Dylan laughed as he turned the car around.
"How could I forget? Video store is the last stop for this afternoon. I've got homework." Dylan reminded Paige as they pulled up to the video store.
Ellie followed Paige as the cheerleader picked out the three movies least likely to ever be watched by Ellie Nash: You Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, and Kissing Jessica Stein. Ellie groaned.
"What is with the feel-good vibe?" Ellie asked plaintively as Paige paid for the movies and the climbed back into the car.
"This is about playing normal. These movies are about as normal as you can get! Except maybe Kissing Jessica Stein, but I think it's a funny movie anyway." Paige defended herself.
"Kissing Jessica Stein again? Jeeze, Paige, that's every weekend for a month," Dylan whined as he drove them toward the Michalchuk place.
"How often do I watch the 'Queer as Folk' DVDs with you, brother?" Paige retorted. "The stories are way sweet. Its compelling viewing." Paige smiled eagerly as Ellie nodded, mildly confused.