I spent a great deal of time thinking about how I wanted this chapter to turn out. Anyway, I decided to go with this. It might not be what you're hoping for but don't worry. I know where I'm going.

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Chapter 13

The following morning I was awoken by Mrs. Michalchuk.

"Come on, dear. It's almost 10:30." She said as she shook me.

"Uhhh..." I said as I rolled over. I was only half awake.

"I have breakfast ready for you and if you don't hurry up it will be lunch." She said. She was laying a stack of clean laundry on my chair.

I stretched out a little before pulling the covers off me and getting up. Downstairs on the countertop was a plate of waffles. Mr. Michalchuk was sitting in the living room doing the cross word in the Sunday paper.

Mrs. Michalchuk was cleaning the counter top.

"Ahh, there you are Alex. Have a good sleep?" She said.

"Yea." I replied. I still wasn't entirely awake.

"Well that's good dear." She smiled, "Now hurry and eat your breakfast or you won't be hungry for lunch."

I ate the waffles. Mrs. Michalchuk always made the best waffles.

"So, Bill." She began.

"Hmm..." Mr. Michalchuk said not looking up from the paper.

"I spoke to Paige early this morning." She said.

I hadn't been listening to their conversation until I heard Paige's name. I was wide awake and paying full attention now. Though, I looked at my waffles trying to pretend I wasn't listening.

"Ah, you two always converse so early in the morning." Mr. Michalchuk said.

"Yes, well. She had things to do. But anyways, Paige was telling me about this great trip that the School of Business does for its students every year. It's to help get them used to the business world. She didn't get into too much detail. Anyway, she said she wanted to go." Mrs. Michalchuk finished. Mr. Michalchuk looked up from his paper removing is bifocals.

"Well, that sounds wonderful Maggie." There was a pause. "How much is this going to cost us?"

"She doesn't know yet. They are trying to do fundraising. Paige has assured me it will be no more than $1000. She said probably less."

"Doesn't Paige have some money saved up for special occasions such as this?" Mr. Michalchuk questioned.

"I asked her about that. She said she already spent it on something else that was very important." Mrs. Michalchuk replied.

"Our girl can burn through money like there is no tomorrow." Mr. Michalchuk said laughing and shaking his head at the thought.

I had hung on every word they were saying. Paige was going on some trip with friends. I tried not to let it bother me, but I couldn't suppress the butterflies fluttering in my stomach thinking about her again. I had been so busy with work and Christmas that some how I managed to remove Paige from my mind over the past month.

"When is it?" Mr. Michalchuk asked.

"Well, they are planning the trip during their holiday break. So Paige won't be coming home for Christmas."

At those words my heart sank. I hadn't even thought about Paige coming home at all. I had almost forgotten Paige was apart of their family too. Things here had been so constant. Paige never came home to visit, so I had never seen her. She had been busy at Banting. She didn't have time see her family or me. Though I'm sure she had wanted too.

"Oh, so we won't be seeing Paige for Christmas?" Mr. Michalchuk said, his voice was soft now.

"I guess not." Mrs. Michalchuk replied. At least both of them were just as upset as I was. "I guess it will just be me, you, Alex, and Dylan this year."

After breakfast I went back up to my room to think. I sat on my bed and looked at my camera. I had almost thought I had gotten over Paige, but maybe not. I wasn't sure now. Despite the fact I still cared about her deeply, she was becoming so distant to me that she was almost nothing more than a mere memory now. No more important than the lost necklace my mother had given me years ago. The butterflies in my stomach were still strong. I hadn't even thought about seeing her. Though, we may not share the same feelings anymore, we now shared the same family. At some point I am going to have to confront her. Though I wanted to see her, I was almost glad she wasn't going to be home. I would even know what to say to her. What would she want to say to me? Would we talk and be friends again or would we just avoid each other for a month. I was suddenly hit with a thought. What if she's not coming home just to avoid seeing me? Would she do that? Would her not wanting to see me be so strong that she would give up precious time with her family? She wouldn't do that. I was quickly beginning to fell bad, but despite the feeling I decided that I'm not going to let Paige influence me. If she isn't coming home because I'm here that's her problem: not mine.

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"So Dylan will be here on Friday." Mrs. Michalchuk said during lunch.

"Oh good." Mr. Michalchuk said gleefully as he ate his roast beef sandwich.

"Now, we are going to have to work out the living arrangements. I was thinking he could stay in Paige's room." Mrs. Michalchuk stated.

"I'm sure he'll be fine with that." Mr. Michalchuk said, "It's not like he really has a choice."

Mrs. Michalchuk nodded at his remark then left the room. Mr. Michalchuk was finishing up his sandwich. He seemed to have noticed I had stopped eating.

"How's the sandwich?" He asked grabbing my attention.

"Oh, it's good." I said.

"Something bugging you?" He asked.

"No, I'm just tired." I lied. "Stress is just getting the best of me. It's a busy time of year. " Why do I babble when I lie?

"Tell me about it." Mr. Michalchuk said, finishing the last bite of his sandwich. He got up and cleaned his plate.

"Well, if you ever need to talk about anything. You know I'm here." He said

I looked at him, "I know."

"You really are a great kid, Alex. Don't let those pesky fears of yours hold you back from greatness." He didn't give me time to reply before he left the room.

I spent the rest of the day pondering what Mr. Michalchuk had said to me. Why did I always let my fears get the best of me? If it hadn't been for fear I probably would be with Paige right now. Maybe even going on that trip with her. Or maybe she wouldn't have gone. We would have just came back home for the holidays. I remembered what it had been like to hold her. To kiss her. Some of the best experiences in my life were with Paige. She really had been someone special too me. How special had I been to her? I pondered these questions and thoughts well into the night. I sat by the window watching the snow fall, just thinking about Paige. She was fresh in my mind now and I found it difficult to remove her. I even thought back to our phone conversation we had about a month ago. I was feeling lonely. I just wanted to hear her voice. I loved her voice. The way she would say things. I could fall asleep listening to her talk. She was really something. I don't know what compelled me. I wasn't even thinking. I just found myself in the kitchen and then in my room. I had the phone in my hand and I was dialing a number that was all to familiar on my fingertips. There was silence and then...

Ring...Ring...Ring...Ring...Ring...Ring...

"Hello?" I heard on the other end. The voice sounded very grogy. I quickly glanced at the clock: 1:32 a.m.

"Hello?" Said the voice again. I heard her inhale. She then let out a sigh.

"H-e-l-l-o?" I heard again. I didn't answer. I couldn't answer. I just kept the phone up to my ear and said nothing. She had stopped talking. I could just hear her breathing. It was soothing. I wasn't sure if she could hear me. After awhile I couldn't hear anything. I wasn't sure if she had hung up. I didn't care though. I closed my eyes and kept the phone up to my ear...just in case.

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I don't have much to comment on for this chapter. I know everyone is getting eager now for Paige to come into the story. Don't worry, I'm pretty clear on where I'm going with it. Anyway, I'm not going to give anything away. You are just going to have to wait for my next updates to see what happens.