D-Day

Ok. So you've rehearsed the speech. You're wearing your best shirt. An extra half hour was spent on your hair. Teeth clean: check. Floss: check. Gum in case of emergency: check. Compact: check.

Paige stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her pressed blouse and red miniskirt. Putting on her most confident smile, Paige flicked her hair ala sexy movie star. Her face fell in faintly bemused misery.

I am so not ready for this, she thought hopelessly. Biting her nails, Paige lifted her bag and folder and followed her brother out of the house.

Ellie walked up the steps at the front of Degrassi, looking over at Paige among the bubbly teenagers. Paige raised a hand to wave and opened her mouth to speak; Ellie slowed down, transfixed. A student passed her and pushed her arm; Ellie's folder and it's entire contents spilled all over the ground.

Gaping slightly Ellie dropped to the ground, quickly retrieving her fallen books before they were trampled. Paige leapt up to help, passing the books back to the blushing Ellie.

"Are you ok, hun?" Paige asked, handing the pencil case to Ellie.

"I'm fine, just mortally embarrassed," Ellie mumbled. A breeze lifted loose sheets from the ground and swirled them toward Hazel and the other girls. "Oh no," Ellie gulped and jumped up to grab the paper.

Hazel lifted a sheet of folded paper from the ground; the first note Paige and Ellie had passed in class. She read it, eyebrows raised in shock. Ellie snatched the note back, her helplessness clear on her face.

"Ella-belle?" Hazel said, stifling laughter.

"That is none of your business," Ellie said angrily. Her voice was stronger out loud that in her mind. At the sound of raised voices, students stopped walking past and began to gather around the growing animosity.

"Whatever," Hazel laughed outright.

"Leave her alone, Hazel," Paige said from behind the mocking teen.

"Oh Paige," Hazel wiped her eyes.

"What is your problem?" Paige demanded. "Yesterday you're sticking up for her, and today all you can do is laugh!" Paige roughly pushed Hazel's shoulders.

"What is going on here?" Mr Raditch shouted, walking through the circle of intrigued students.

"Nothing," Paige replied. She glared hatefully at Hazel. "Everything is fine." Paige looked around, daring anyone to speak. She couldn't see Ellie anywhere; she gasped. "Oh no," she said to herself. Abandoning her bag and former friends, Paige shoved students out of the way as she ran inside.

High on adrenalin, Paige threw the bathroom door open. "Ellie?" she shouted, looking under the stall doors. The very last cubicle revealed a pair of boots, swiftly pulled up as Paige quickly went to the end of the aisle. "Ellie, I know that's you."

"So what?" Ellie said from behind the door. She leaned against the back of the toilet, bag on her lap.

"Please come out," Paige tried to hide the urgency in her voice.

"Why? So I can embarrass myself some more?"

"So I can see you. So I can see that you're alright," Paige leaned against the opposite wall. "Please Ellie, please open the door. I have to see you."

Slowly the bolt was slid back and door squeaked open. Ellie stood, shoulders slumped, bag clutched like a favourite toy.

An expression of utter relief crossed Paige's face and she hugged Ellie tightly. The faint smell of sweet shampoo filled Paige's nose, and she breathed in Ellie's personal smell. Ellie hesitated before returning the fierce embrace. Gently she stroked Paige's impossibly soft hair, enjoying the warmth and comfort the girl had brought for the last two weeks.

"What's going on, Paige?" Ellie asked quietly.

Paige pulled away but still stood very close to the other girl. "Well, how much did you see?"

Ellie frowned. "I left as soon as I got the note back from Hazel. But that's not what I meant."

"Why did you keep the note in your folder?" Paige asked gently. Ellie blushed.

"I don't know. I just did." She shrugged. "I like your shirt," Ellie said hopefully, looking upwards.

Paige beamed. "Thanks," she nodded. For a moment she just stood and stared at Ellie, face totally preoccupied.

"What?" Ellie said after a moment, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Oh, right," Paige shook herself out of her daze. "Um," Paige smiled at herself and looked away. Just as she opened her mouth to speak someone opened the bathroom door; without thinking Paige dragged Ellie toward her and locked them both in the stall. Paige sat on the lid of the toilet and pulled her feet up, leaving Ellie's visible.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Ms Kwan's voice echoed. She walked slowly down the aisle, and Paige fought to remain totally silent. "Ellie?"

"Yes, Ms Kwan?" Ellie said quietly.

"Did Paige come in here a minute ago?"

Ellie turned and frowned at Paige, who was looking up at Ellie like an animal caught in the headlights. "No."

"Ok, thanks," Ms Kwan sighed and left the bathroom.

Waiting for the bathroom door to close, Ellie turned around. "What is going on? Would you just tell me?"

Paige sighed and stood up, the tiny stall forcing the two to be in almost constant body contact. "I've been thinking a lot, and I've come to a decision." Paige took a deep breath as Ellie hung on her every word. "Your friends are selfish, and I know that you need someone right now. Being the way that you are, is difficult enough and I don't want to complicate things for you but I know that if I get what I want, everything thing will be way complicated but I can't help wanting you." Paige blushed as she met Ellie's startled gaze. They stayed that way for what seemed like a lifetime.

"Oh," Ellie said at last. "Look, even if we defied reality and were happy together you'd feel responsible every time I hurt myself. You'd feel guilty every time I was sad, because you'd make me so happy ninety-nine percent of the time. But there's always going to be a time when all the love and treasure in the world won't be enough."

"I know that, and I don't care! Even if I can't help you when you're sad I know that I can make you happy for at least a little while!" Paige pleaded, taking Ellie's hands. Her eyes filled with tears and Ellie gulped.

"This can't possibly work," she said quietly. "I'd only ever make you miserable."

"That is impossible," Paige replied in a whisper. Gently she planted her lips on Ellie's.