Reviews:

Melleh1: What would the story be without crap being dished out? Hah. Seriously, yes homophobia is an issue in ALL schools, no matter where. They can't be afraid of homophobia and then not be victims of it. It's unrealistic, and it's something the writers need to show. Well, unfortunately they aren't (as far as I've seen.) There was the crap with Jay and Hazel in Lexicon of Love part 2, but after that it's like "poof" everything's just peachy. Not in my Palex world.

AscaDuin: Thanks for the clarification, and my apologies for my assumption. Seriously. The excitement of people actually saying they like my writing got to my head and I wasn't in "review analyzing mode." I think this chapter has the mix you like. It's out of the timeline, because I'm past the Lexicon of Love section, but it makes references to LoL part 2. There are some quotes from the episode; however they are not in the context of the episode.

Spashluv: I'm glad you think I'm off to a good start. Let's just hope I am capable of continuing the way I am, and possibly improving. After the second chapter is when my train of thought tends to run downhill, but maybe this time's different. Something tells me Palex is my lucky charm. It did, after all, motivate me to write something that got me fans, eh? Thanks for your review, mi amigo.

The T.M.: Yay! You found my humor to the liking then? It's us fans that got to get them writers to wise up! I think we're up to the challenge. It may take time, but…it's worth the wait. In the meantime here's another chapter.

Kia: You loved it? I hope you love this one! What do you like about it?

A/N: The song for this one is How Soon is Now by The Smiths.

Part 3: Resistance

I am the son, I am the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and the heir
Of nothing in particular

One week into Paige and Alex's journey together as a couple, and both of their lockers had been defaced several times. A good outcome was that they gained a following of faculty and student supporters: Ms. Hatzilakos, Mr. Simpson, and a few others for the faculty side.

Marco was as caring and helpful as ever, and Ellie, Craig, Emma, Jimmy, and the rest of the old gang were welcoming Alex into the fold. The former reject was finally beginning to feel welcomed, and she reveled in the new friendships had.

Still it was a chore to get used to: for Alex and her friends. Alex was adjusting to not being the strong one. She decided to drop the tough girl façade and acknowledge her insecurities. Part of being in friendships and relationships was letting people in. She was ready to take that risk and trust others without restraint.

Paige was having a rough time, too. Trust wasn't an issue, but the pressure of all the crap sent her way by peers was getting to her. Immature pranks were played on her by fellow Spirit Squad members. Frogs in the shower and cold water rigged shower heads. Paige was sure that some of the girls had gotten their boyfriends to help with the pranks seeing as most of the girls were stupid bimbos who could hardly take orders. The simpler pranks, like the whipped cream in the gym locker, were completely carried out by the 'dethrone the dyke foundation.'

Paige found herself thinking about giving up more and more lately. Hazel was being supportive, but the blonde felt it wasn't genuine. Maybe her best friend just thought Paige was going through a phase. Whatever the case, Paige hoped she and Hazel could someday make their friendship unconditional.

You shut your mouth
How can you say I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

They sat on the front steps of Degrassi for lunch to get away from the large groups of people. "It's so nice to get some peace," Paige smiled but worry marred her brow. "The girls taped porn to my poms today: said they thought I'd like an early birthday present," she grimaced.

Alex moved closer to hold her comfortingly. When she tried to kiss Paige on the cheek, the blonde turned away. "What's wrong, sweetie?" Alex's eyes brimmed with tears. "They didn't physically hurt you, did they? Is that what this is about? Tell me and I'll go to Ms. Hatzilakos with you."

"No, no, stop!" Paige cut Alex off sharply. "Sorry, it's-it's not that," she stood up and wrung her wrists nervously, her back to Alex. "It's just I've been doing some thinking, you know? And I think we should have some space so we can both think. You can still stay at my house. I'll just make up the guest bed."

"Paige, what is this?" Alex stood and turned Paige to face her. "Just like that, you're giving up? We had the chance to think this over a week ago in that bathroom: remember. And you, you Paige, said we can get through this," she shook her head and bit her lower lip a moment. "Why does it seem to me that we're never both happy at the same time? It's always one of us that feels like dog shit under the tires of an eighteen wheeler truck, and it's the other's job to right the wrong. We can both be strong at the same time for each other: can't we give that a try?"

I am the son, I am the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and the heir
Of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say I go about things the wrong way?

Paige shrugged Alex's hands from her shoulders and took a step back. "My Squad is threatening mutiny, Alex! Everything I've worked for to look good on a university application is going down the drain with each spray painted insult on my locker and with each sharpied taunt on the ass of my Squad uniform skirt," tears began falling down her cheeks and she just couldn't stop but rant on. "Hazel is my only old friend backing me up, and that's only because she thinks I'm going through a phase and need a 'true straight friend' to turn me back around.

"I can't do this anymore! Alex, I'm falling apart: I don't know who I am or what I want…"

"You made it seem last week that I was the only clear thing in your life, and when I was down I reciprocated. I thought we were on the same page here…" Alex's voice shook with emotion. "I can't stay with you at your house with this hanging over our heads. It will be awkward…"

"You can't go back to your mom and Chad! What the hell, Alex? You got a death wish or something? That place…you don't deserve that. No one…especially you…"

"You know, that sounds pretty damned familiar, Paige! It's like déjà vu all over again. You and me on your bed when I first kissed you and you kissed me back. You kissed me back and then threw me away," the brunette was angry now, more than sad. She felt betrayed. "What is this back and forth tennis match we got going on? Ping pong, seesaw, playground swing: you name it, and that's us. What do you feel about me?"

I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

There's a club, if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you

"I feel like you and I could have a happy life together…if the rest of the world felt that we could be happy too," Paige sighed in exasperation. "But the world doesn't want people like us to be happy. There are people who would do anything to see us miserable. I can't be happy when people are destroying me and my stuff every day. How can you, Alex? Can you honestly say you can be happy when people are treating us like this?"

"Well, I don't know Paige. I wasn't exactly happy with Mom and Chad, but I still managed to be happy around you," Alex was almost shouting now, and the two were creating a scene. "I said I couldn't help being better when I'm around you. You said you couldn't help but laugh around me. That's what a relationship is. It's two people, like us, being able to find solace in one another when we're down. When people make us feel like shit, we can make each other feel better."

"I can't, ok? I care about you, and I damn well might love you, but it's not worth this pain. I'd rather force myself to love some guy," Paige gulped hard at what she was saying. She didn't mean it, but what else could she do? This was the only way she could make the two of them both happy. They were being ridiculed for being a couple, so if they split…then it would stop, right? Paige thought so. "I'd rather be with a guy than with someone who gives me a bad rep."

So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home, and you cry
And you want to die

With that, Paige turned and fled down the street, not caring about missing the rest of school. It hurt more than anything to betray Alex like that. I love her. I, Paige Michalchuk, love Alex Nunez. That's why I had to do that. I can't stand to see people put her through misery. She'll get over me…I'll get over her.

Meanwhile, just around the corner, Hazel was walking by with a bag of pompoms. Jay, grinning his idiotic grin, jogged a little to catch up with her, and then fell into step with the cheerleader. "Need help with your poms?"

"What do you want, Jay?" Hazel scowled. This day wasn't going great as it was. Mice had gotten into the Spirit Squad supply closet and chewed through pompoms and spare uniforms. Now she had to go about the messy business of getting funding from the school to replace them. She picked up her pace, only to have Jay match it.

"World peace and some time to talk with my good friend Hazey," his grin became impossibly wider, and then faded when she added insult to injury by saying they weren't friends. "Look, I just want to talk to you about Paige, you know: about how she's gone the gay way?"

"I don't know what there is to talk about that. She's going through a tough phase and I'm sticking with her until she gets through it. Now leave me alone," Jay stopped her from walking by grabbing her arm.

"And I have reason to believe it's not just a phase. Whatever…if you care about her, you'll support the rest of the Squad in dethroning her," his eyes met hers. "They're making her miserable with all those pranks. They might lay off if she's off the squad."

"And since when do you care about her? If this is some trick to try to get my best friend against me, I'm not falling for it."

"This is no trick. She'll get over it eventually and thank you. I'm using this to my advantage to get Alex back, and because I just saw your friend in tears running down the street. She doesn't look too happy with what's going on…cast your vote, and you could make her life better."

"I don't see your logic in this, Jay, but I do think they would lay off her if they got what they wanted," Hazel sighed. "If this bombs, you're getting all the blame." Which is good, because then he'll have his ex against him too, and then Paige could happily stay with Alex…if she really is happy.

Paige sat crying on the floor of her bathroom, back against the door. Her heavy sobs echoed off of the walls. A razor lay untouched next to her, with her hand dangerously near it.

When you say it's gonna happen now
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone

Alex was still at Degrassi, in the same bathroom where she and Paige stood the week before. She leaned against a sink for support because it felt as though her legs could give at any time. Finally her emotions took a turn towards anger. She raised two clenched fists against the mirror and pounded it with all of her might. The shards came down in flashes of red from her slashed hands. One hand gripped a particularly large shard and held it to the other wrist.

I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

A/N: Yeah, sorry for the depressing chapter. Don't worry. I'm no basher. I love Palex, and things will take a turn for the better... If not I might just leave it here...hmmm...

Also, I'm aware that Jay's quotes from Lexicon of Love part 2 didn't match with the episode, but I did that on purpose to fit with the story. I have no idea where this is going. The parts with Paige and the razor and Alex and the mirror were last minute. So I have no idea what will happen next. Just have faith that this story will have a happy ending.