A/N: Next chapter, now please review. Way short I know, but I couldn't add more without it feeling bulky.

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi, or the lyrics used in this story. Those are owned by Mr. Marilyn Manson.

"DEFORMOGRAPHY"

\HER HEART SHIVERS IN MY HAND
SHE'S MELTING ON ME LIKE COTTON CANDY
I MAKE THE FACES THAT MAKE YOU CRY
I WANT YOU MORE WHEN YOU'RE AFRAID OF
MY DISEASE, MY DISEASE IS DRAINING ME
ANYMORE, YOU'RE NOT SO "PRETTY PLEASE"
DISEASE, DISEASE IS DRAINING ME/

The cars sped by outside, the usual Los Angeles traffic, as the two girls sat inside the homey restaurant. They were there for breakfast. Alex thought that Paige could use a home cooked meal, and frankly, so could she. It had been awhile since she'd dined out in public. She typically drove through some fast food place on the way home. It was nice to be able to sit down and eat, having people wait on you.

"Do you own the bar?" Paige asked, taking a bit of her delicious pancakes. She savored the taste, especially the warm maple syrup, her favorite part.

"Yes. Oh the irony - my mother died of cirrhosis of the liver, caused by, you guessed it! Drinking! Who would've known I'd take a job infecting others with the very same disease. It's a depressing job. I really do hate it. I'm thinking of closing the place down and going back to school. But it's become like a home to so many people who have nowhere else to go. I'd hate to do that, just throw them out on their own, abandon them. They need me."

"Sounds like someone has a hero complex." Paige retorted, patting the other girl on the shoulder. Sure she did, but that's what she liked about her. They'd been spending time together for a few weeks now, and Paige hadn't touched any drugs whatsoever. She was proud of herself, and incredibly thankful to Alex, who she didn't even know that well yet. There were so many things she didn't know about her yet, so many things she wanted to know. Hell, they lived together now, and she didn't even know her last name!

Alex laughed, realizing that Paige was right.
"Only recently developed."

"Where are you from?" Paige questioned suddenly, wanting desperately to find out more about her friend. Now was the time to ask, right?
"New York, that area. I love the big city. Nowhere else compares. Sometimes though, I wish it were quieter. It would give me more time to think." She frowned, taking a sip of the milk in front of her, chilled in a little glass.

"Well, that's dangerous," The blonde joked, grinning. "But yeah, I'm from Canada. Ontario."
"Oh yeah? What school did you go to? I happened to have a few friends up there, actually." Alex perked up, watching Paige with interest.
"Degrassi."

"It's a small world, chicky." Alex said, smile widening. Her friends had gone there. Big coincidence, eh? Alex didn't think so. It was then she realized Paige was sent to her for some reason. She didn't believe in god, but she did believe in fate, and this was a fine example of it.

"So what about you? Tell me something about you, your life, whatever." Alex continued, taking a bite of toast.
"Well, how much time do you have?" Paige asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"All the time in the world." The brunette chimed in, giving the other girl an encouraging look.

"My parents got divorced, my dad moved over to Europe, and mom was some big-time executive. We were pretty rich all through my childhood, but once I graduated, we lost it all. My mom died. Suicide. She used to be so happy before my father left. I was pretty much on my own for awhile, I just had my brother, who disowned me after I got so heavily into drugs. That's not his thing at all, and he couldn't respect it. I don't blame him. I haven't seen my dad since he left. Good riddance." The blonde spat, hitting the table to emphasize her meaning.

"I'm sorry." Alex apologized, feeling terrible for the girl. She knew what it was like to grow up without a father. What it was like for your mother to die.
"Your childhood must've sucked too, by the way you've talked."

"What childhood? My mom drove my father away when I was young, because of her excessive drinking. She got one abusive boyfriend after the other, she was like an asshole magnet. The boyfriends beat her up, and sometimes me too. They all ended up leaving her, and she finally drank herself to death last year. I've wanted to look for my dad, but I'm afraid. I don't know anything about him, or if he'd even welcome me. He probably hates me." The bartender mumbled, not wanting to think back to her troubled past.

"Are you gay?" Paige asked suddenly, as if it was the most urgent question in the world.

"Yeah. Is it that obvious?"

"Kind of. That's not a bad thing, though." The girl reassured her, smiling.
"Are you?" Alex asked back, as almost a challenge, her eyes glinting.
"I'm not sure," She bit her lip thoughtfully. "Help me find out?"

"I don't think I can do that. Those things never turn out well." Alex was honest. It had happened to her more times than she could count. Girls using her to find out their sexuality, then skipping along on their merry way when they did happen to figure it out.

"Do you like me at all?" Paige asked, being completely frank.
"Yes. Yes, I do."

\HER HAIR HANGS IN SWOLLEN STRINGS
I'M CHOKING ON HER, IT FEELS SO SICKENING
I MAKE THE FACES THAT MAKE YOU CRY
I WANT YOU MORE WHEN YOU'RE AFRAID OF
MY DISEASE, MY DISEASE IS DRAINING ME
ANYMORE YOU'RE NOT SO PRETTY, PLEASE
DISEASE, DISEASE IS DRAINING ME
I WANT YOU MORE WHEN YOU'RE AFRAID OF ME
I WILL BREAK YOU INSIDE OUT
YOU ARE MINE, YOU ARE MINE/