A/N: If you hadn't guessed already, this story was inspired by the movie 28 Days. I think it's funny how people love Brad, but hate the other girls. Well this chapter you need to start liking Marcia. And I myself adore Amber & Rosie. You'll be seeing more of them later...

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

"DEFORMOGRAPHY"

\THERE'S SOMETHING COLD AND BLANK
BEHIND HER SMILE
SHE'S STANDING ON AN OVERPASS
IN HER MIRACLE MILE/

Paige awoke suddenly upon hearing something. She sat up in her bed, automatically looking to the open doorway. Someone was standing there, and he was speaking. Mean, rude things were flying out of his mouth. Paige also heard a loud whimpering sound. She stood, walking towards the man. His face twisted into a grin as he pointed at Marcia, who was sitting on the bed by the door.
"Dirty little whore. She's a dirty little whore." He called out, grabbing Marcia by the arm. "Aren't you?" He asked the small girl. She squealed, struggling to get away from the man's grip.

"Don't touch her!" Paige yelled, pulling the man away. Before she knew it, her fist was sailing into the air. It hit his face with a thud and he landed just as loudly onto the floor. Marcia hurried towards her, throwing her arms around Paige and repeatedly thanking her for what she had done.
"He won't leave me alone. I don't know why." Marcia whispered, shivering against Paige's body. Paige frowned, patting the other girl's head.

"It's okay. You're fine. I'll protect you." Paige looked the girl in the eyes as she told her this, and she smiled. She hugged Paige again but instinctively jumped back onto the bed when she heard someone else enter the room. It was Brad. He noticed the man lying in the doorway.

"He tried to attack Marcia." Paige explained quietly, a bit shaken up. She could tell Marcia had a rough life, and felt sorry for her. She seemed sweet and Paige felt that she needed to protect her. The other girls had mentioned seeing Marcia as a little sister, and now Paige was starting to feel that bond as well.

"I heard the commotion from down the hallway. Is everything alright?" Brad asked, stepping over the man and into the room. Paige nodded, still not completely certain that everything was alright. She wanted Alex with her right now. Brad broke into her thoughts with another question. "What do you say you and Marcia come with me to breakfast?" Brad suggested with a smile. When Paige noticed Marcia getting up from the bed eagerly, she decided that it was a good idea. Besides, she was hungry.

The three of them walked into the cafeteria, graciously accepting the fluffy pancakes smothered with butter and syrup. They took their seats and ate in silence, the only sound their forks scraping against their plates. Paige was reminded of Alex, and that time eating pancakes at that nice restaurant. When Paige and Marcia were finished with their food, Brad started talking again.
"You know, it's times like these I really miss my daughter. She and I used to do everything together. She was just like me," He smiled sadly, his voice breaking. "We used to make model airplanes together. There's not one day I don't curse myself for what I caused. Alcohol is the reason she's gone, and that more than anything makes me want to get better. I had to come here because I can't go fucking things up like this anymore. I have a problem and it may be scary, but it's scarier not to do anything about it."

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Paige answered earnestly. Marcia's gaze shifted to Brad, and she looked at him for a moment, her head propped up on her elbows. She reached out her hand, and he took it slowly, running his fingers over hers. Paige knew this was a big deal. When Marcia trusted someone, it was evident, and this was. She didn't touch anyone she didn't trust. A smile found its' way onto Paige's face.

"I don't know if you know this, but I'm nineteen. I know I don't look it, but that's because I'm sick. I've been doing cocaine and heroin for as long as I could remember. My mom got me started on it...anyway, I've been here for awhile. I realized that life is what you make it. All of this addiction stuff is in our brains. We don't really need it, we don't really need anything. All drugs do is fuck up our lives. They're illegal for a reason." Marcia explained, letting go of Brad's hand as she did so.

"I lost my brother because of this, not literally, but in every other way," Paige laughed to herself, sinking feeling in her gut. "He doesn't believe in drugs. Hell, I don't either. But he hasn't spoken to me since he found me doing coke, and that hurts because he's the only real family I have left. I have a girlfriend back home, well sort of, and I was doing this for her. Now I realize I'm doing this for me, and all of the people I love. What I do affects them, and I can't handle bad things happening to the people around me. I'm fortunate enough to not have as much experience on this as you, Brad, but I do get what you guys are feeling." Paige loved the feeling of understanding she got from everyone at the rehabilitation center. Brad and Marcia were her first real friends in a long time, besides Alex.

Paige was quiet the rest of the day, inwardly thinking about...everything. She could slowly recognize this as getting better. She knew why she wanted this to stop. Now all she had to do was make it happen. She spoke a little during group session, but not much. After the session was over, she returned to the front desk, asking the receptionist if she had any mail. She did. Paige hurried into her room with the white envelope. It smelled like Alex. She ripped it open, savoring the scent as she read the words written across the paper. Alex had pretty handwriting.

Paige,
I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is, so don't worry me like that. Unless it really does end up being terrible, then alert me so I can come bust you out. If that girl keeps hitting on you, let me know. I'll have to come down there and kick her ass.
Things around here are boring without you...I can't wait to see you. Do you know when they'll start letting me visit? I miss everything about you. I want you to come home, but I know that this is for the best. Just please don't stop thinking of me.

I'll be with you in your dreams,
Alex

Paige held the piece of paper close to her heart after reading it, closing her eyes. I'll never stop thinking of you, Alex. She ached to feel her touch, to kiss her again. The seperation anxiety was really starting to set in, and it was driving Paige crazy. But Paige had been asking her counselors and she found out that this weekend was a visiting weekend, which meant Alex could come. The weekend was only a day away, and if she got through tomorrow, hopefully Alex would be there.

Paige made her way into the lobby, picking up the pay phone and dialing Alex's number. It took her awhile to discover there was a phone there, because if she had known before, she would have called several times. In fact, she had just found the phone earlier today.
"Hello?" She practically melted when she heard her love's voice at the other end of the phone. She even forgot to speak. "Hello? Anyone there?"
"Hey!" Paige greeted, feeling her own face light up. Somehow she could hear Alex smiling, and that made her smile too.

"How are you calling me? Did you get my letter? I miss you." Alex said all of these things at once, and Paige couldn't help but laugh.

"I discovered the pay phone. I got your letter today. I miss you too. But I was calling to tell you that starting Friday, it's going to be visiting weekend. You can come up and stay in one of the guest rooms, and they'll even let you take me out for a few hours. You'll have to sign all sorts of forms in case you try to kidnap me, but it'll all be fine I'm sure. I want you to come. I need to see you." Paige replied anxiously, trying to imagine how everything would go when Alex came. Of course, everything would be perfect. They couldn't BE anything else.

"Well good. I'm definitely coming. There's something I wanted to tell you, too. I gave up working at the bar. I mean, I own it and I'll still get all the same money, I just don't want to have to be around it all the time. You're in rehab and I know the bar couldn't help any. I have another job now, I'm working construction. I know, super butch job right? The cool thing is, I can pretty much take off whenever I want. So I'll definitely be coming this weekend. I need to go take a shower right now, but I miss you and I can't wait to see you, chicky." Alex's voice settled on the last part.

"I guess I'll see you this weekend!" Paige squeaked out excitedly. "Are you going to hang up the phone?" She asked.

"No, you are." Alex answered defiantly.
"I don't want to. Can't we talk forever? I have a lot of quarters." Paige argued, managing to sound all of five years old while she did so.

"We'll hang up on three. One. Two. Three." Paige listened as Alex hung up. She grinned, hanging up the pay phone. She always won. No doubt about it.

Her girlfriend was going to be visiting soon, and Paige couldn't sleep. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get to sleep. She opened her eyes, hearing a rustling noise. Her gaze fell onto the bunk beds, where Amber and Rosie were definitely not sleeping. A few moans escaped that area and Paige rolled her eyes, making her way out of the room and into the living area. Someone else was bound to be awake. Sure enough, Brad was sprawled out on the couch, watching some cartoon on the television. Paige sat in the recliner and Brad looked at her, recognition on his face.

"Hey, Paige. Can't sleep?" He asked her.
"Yeah. My girlfriend is visiting this weekend. Plus, Rosie and Amber are a little loud sometimes." She tried to keep from laughing as she saw the look Brad gave her.

"You have a girlfriend?" He questioned, obviously surprised. Paige grinned, nodding her head in reply. Brad laughed uncomfortably, his face turning variousshades of red."Okay. And I'm not gonna ask about Rosie and Amber."
"It's better that you don't," Paige said after a moment. "What are you watching, anyway? What kind of adult watches cartoons?"

"For one, this happens to be an ADULT cartoon. It's called Mission Hill, and I love it. So shut up." Brad replied, agigated.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't know there was such thing as an adult cartoon." Paige admitted to him. He sat up, gazing at her in disbelief.

"You don't know what you've been missing, girl!" As he said this, realization started to come over Paige. Brad was gay. There was no way that he wasn't. She smiled to herself. Gay guys were amazing, she knew that much. Maybe she'd introduce Brad to Dylan after she got out of rehab. If Dylan ended up forgiving her.. Slowly, Paige drifted off to sleep in the recliner, dreams of Alex flowing into her head.

\A PILL TO MAKE YOU NUMB
A PILL TO MAKE YOU DUMB
A PILL TO MAKE YOU ANYBODY ELSE...
BUT ALL THE DRUGS IN THIS WORLD
WON'T SAVE HER FROM HERSELF/