And Your Story, Morning Glory?

Ellie watched the red numbers counting down. It would be five minutes before the alarm went off, but Ellie refused adamantly to get out of bed before seven a.m.. Rolling onto her back, Ellie picked absently at the scab from Saturday night. She'd held it back for nearly three days, but trying to hold it in was like trying not to breathe. Ellie had been so angry and hateful but only once did she pierce her skin. As the blood welled up and dripped slowly, unspeakable guilt had hit her, and Paige's tear-soaked face and voice of pleading entered Ellie's vision. She'd thrown the compass across the room and screamed.

Electronic beeping filled the silent house, and Ellie rolled over quickly to silence the alarm clock. Walking softly through the house, Ellie saw her mother still asleep - or passed out - on the couch. Ellie picked up the blanket from the ground and covered the woman before going into the bathroom to shower.

Standing beneath the warm water, the top of a few scabs fell away. Thin scars, from when the abuse first started, were outdone by the thicker, raised up scars looking almost like permanent welts. Faint scratch lines from her episode at Paige's still burned under the water, and the deep cut from Saturday night ached. Ellie stood, watching her arm under the water. Having not done it for three days, some wounds had been given the time to heal and her arm looked less like a farm accident.

I think Paige would be proud, Ellie thought with a smile. Why do I care? She sighed. It'd be nice to have someone be proud of me.

The steps of Degrassi Community School were always where the coolest of the cool hung out before the first bell of the day. With amusing predictability, Paige sat amongst them, appearing as a queen among her subjects.

Ellie walked toward the school as the first bell sounded and students slowly made their way inside. Going up the steps to the side of the royal court, Ellie caught Paige's smile and returned a small one of her own.

"Morning, Vampire," Paige called out, waving childishly. Ellie played along, pretending to glare at the teen, while Paige's friends looked shocked.

"Paige, that was kinda mean," Hazel said after Ellie had gone inside.

"So?" Paige said breezily, putting on her bag and walking up the steps.

"Yeah Paige, that was really uncalled for," Jimmy agreed, following the glam gal. "Didn't you hear?"

"Hear what?" Paige said suddenly, stopping dead in her tracks.

"She's seeing Ms Sauve. I heard her mum was an alcoholic." Jimmy shook his head.

"How is that any of your business?" Paige shouted. "If I hear you spreading anything like that around again, I will make it my personal mission to make you pay for it!" Paige yelled before storming off to homeroom. She thrust herself into her chair, fuming to herself.

"Paige, what the hell was that all about?" Ashley asked, sitting beside the furious blonde. "First you insult Ellie, and then you threaten poor Jimmy's life because he defended her?"

"Jimmy was spreading lies about Ellie. Even I wouldn't do that," Paige said, pretending she didn't know what Ash was talking about.

"They're not lies," Ash said quietly.

"I know that, but it's nobody's business but hers," Paige positively growled. "So if one more person talks about her, or what they think they know about her life, I will sure as hell make them pay for it. Got it?"

"I'm her best friend Paige. Not you." Ash stated, offended by Paige's protective stance.

Someone like you, little Miss Pseudo Goth, would never understand. Paige sniffed haughtily as Ms Kwan entered the room.