Chapter 9

In very quick succession, Paige was awoken by a knock at her door, realized that Alex was spooning her tightly, and then opened her eyes to see her mother's shocked face looking out from around the corner. Not good, not good, she thought, and bounded out of bed, greeting her mother cheerfully and asking how the weather was as she made her way to her closet to pick out her clothing. Alex, meanwhile, coolly swung her feet over the edge of the bed and smiled at Paige's mother. "Good morning, Mrs. Michalchuk."

"Good morning," she said, still looking baffled as to what she'd walked in on. "You must be Alex. Paige has told us so much about you." A glimmer of realization was starting to show in her eyes, though Paige missed it as she was busy wildly fishing through her closet. "Well, I'll let you girls get ready. We need to leave in an hour."

"That was so not good," said Paige as soon as the door closed.

"What?"

"Do you realize how we were sleeping? You were totally spooning me."

"Yeah, I know. I was awake."

"Well, you could have woken me up."

"Nah, you were tired. Besides, it was nice, just holding you while you slept. Soothing. Anyway, we should get ready. Can I raid your closet again?"

Paige stood there, her brow furrowed, as she looked at Alex. It wasn't often that she completely broke out of her sarcastic rut and spoke with sincerity, but Paige could tell she didn't want to be called on it. She pretended to scrutinize her wardrobe, while really just trying to figure out the mystery that was Alex. Finally settling on a few items, she handed them over to Alex for the final decision.

When Alex returned from the shower, she found Paige sitting quietly on the bed. "You ok?" she asked.

"Just trying to prepare myself for this. I should have called Dylan. He came out to me first, and I should have done the same." She sighed. "I'm so not ready for this."

"Please," said Alex, sitting beside her. "You'll do fine."

Paige's mother knocked and announced from the other side of the door that they would be leaving soon. Paige closed her eyes and bit her lip. Alex took her hand.

"You don't have to do this, you know. Not yet."

"No, I should. Word's going to get around soon. They're my parents, anyway. They deserve to know…says the girl who didn't mention that she was dating her TA until he was no longer her TA. The parents, not so happy about that one. This one…this one will be better. Yes." She nodded to herself and squeezed Alex's hand. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Alex followed her to the door where she stopped after placing her hand on the doorknob.

"Now you turn the handle," teased Alex.

Paige smirked. "Another reason for telling my parents? So that in between my room and school, I don't have to pretend we're just friends. Because that's what we have to be for the next hour or however long it takes for me to break the news."

"Um, pretty sure I can handle that."

Paige suddenly moved in and kissed her, barely giving Alex enough time to respond. "Ok, off we go."

The car ride to the restaurant was grueling for Alex, as Paige's parents played the getting-to-know-you game, which was grueling in return for Paige, and unbeknownst to her, also grueling for her mother. Alex did the best she could, realizing that everything she said would later prove to be more important. Your daughter's friends all blend together; your daughter's first girlfriend is more than memorable.

At the restaurant, hugs, kisses, and handshakes were flying all about the room. Alex watched as Paige hugged her brother for an extra long time, whispering the big news into his ear and making his eyes open wide. Dylan offered Alex a handshake, and asked her if she still played euchre, but smiled both kindly and knowingly about things far greater than card games.

Paige was very good sometimes at acting like nothing was going on, and then at others it was painfully obvious that she was either hiding something or needing to say something. She would talk a mile a minute and then suddenly go quiet. Her eyes never rested on Alex's for more than a few seconds. Alex, meanwhile, caught Paige's mother staring at them. She too was only so good at hiding her true feelings, which in this case were confusion and uncertainty. Mr. Michalchuk was oblivious, busy grilling Dylan on his hockey training.

By the time dessert was ordered, Paige was obviously foundering. She managed to sneak in a look of pain and mouthed the word "sorry" to Alex, but she didn't go unnoticed.

"So, Paige," said Dylan, "anything new in your life?"

The table was oddly quiet, and Paige was not happy with all the attention focused on her. "Oh, you know…"

"Found a new significant other yet?"

"Maybe."

"Well?"

Paige's eyes darted back and forth between her parents, finally landing on Alex.

"Alex," she said.

"What?" asked her father, honestly not understanding.

"I think she means she's dating Alex," her mother explained.

Dylan finally laughed. "Oh, Paigey, Paigey, Paige. You never fail to surprise."

"So true," said her father.

There was more awkward silence. Dessert arrived, but no one besides Dylan felt like eating.

"Well," began her mother, clutching her empty glass in her hands, "how long…how long have you been seeing one another?"

"Only a few days."

Her parents did not know what to say. They couldn't ask their daughter most of what was on their minds in front of this new girl. Dylan could though, and happily lapsed into the annoying older brother routine again.

"So what is it about Alex here that made you want to switch teams?"

"Dylan!"

"And are you gay now or just experimenting? Because you're supposed to hold off the experimentation till college."

"I'm not gay. And I'm not experimenting."

"So you've been bi all this time and never cared to share?"

"I'm straight."

"Sweetie, I'm gay and I've never just wanted to date a girl. You've got to do better than that."

"She…she's just…an exception to the rule."

Alex glared at her. She didn't like being call "just" anything. Paige felt trapped.

"I'm so tired of having to justify and explain this to everyone. She's my girlfriend. We are in a relationship."

"And what does that mean? Do you kiss? Make out? Are you having sex, Paige?"

"This is getting out of hand," said her father. "After I pay the bill, we are going home and we will discuss this, you, me and your mother."

"I have work. You're supposed to drop us off at the mall, remember?"

"Fine. But when you come home, we will continue this."

A/N – Sorry for the delay in posting. I've worked on this chapter over and over again, but it never does what I want it to do. At some point, it will be rewritten, but I'm getting tired of not being able to post the rest of the fic, so apologies for now. Suggestions are welcomed. Concrit is too.