Okay, first I wanna say I am really really really sorry for the slow updates! I didn't realize school and work was gonna take so much of my time. But dont worry, I have not given up on the story. I still intend to finish it. Updates, will just be a little slow and I am really trying to stay on course for the pace of the story. I dont want to rush it or make it sloppy. I proofed it so there shouldn't be to many errors, but if there are some, just bare with them. Though there shouldn't be anything major.

Also, I would like to give a shout out to a special person who is very close to me, you know who you are and I would just like to tell you you mean the world to me. So, thanks for keeping me on track with myself.

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Chapter 34

"And you know what I hate about summer school?" Hazel said folding up the Dot's menu, "Is it's like school."

"Well, that's sort of the point, hun." Paige replied taking a sip of water.

"One would think that even professors would have some sort of life." Hazel commented.

I chuckled at Hazel never looking up from my menu. It was the first time Hazel, Marco, Paige, and I had all been together since summer started. We had all decided to go see a movie and then get some food for "old times sake."

"Marco? Must you check that phone constantly?" Paige complained as Marco flipped his phone back open.

"Sorry, it's just. Dylan is still looking for a place and I'm excited to see if he's found anything."

"Why didn't you just go with him?" I asked.

"Because I wanted to spend some time with my friends." Marco replied flipping his phone closed.

"Then spend time away from your phone." I joked.

"You know," Paige began, "It's so weird being here again. Old times seem so far away." Paige reminisced.

The table was silent as we all seemed to be thinking about our days in high school. The days where Paige ruled the school. Hazel was her sidekick. Marco was the school queer, and I was girl who no one noticed.

"Alex? Do you know what you want?" Paige asked leaning over and looking at the menu as if what was on mine was different from hers.

"Ummm..." I started looking for something appealing, "I'm thinking just a..."

"Hamburger with onion rings." Paige said plainly rolling her eyes.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes playfully, "No." I laughed, "As a matter of fact I was going to get..." I started scanning the menu for something that looked tastier than a hamburger.

"Alright, are you guys ready to order?" The waitress said walking up the table.

"Ummm...sure." Marco said looking around at the table for any objections. When he saw non he directed his attention back to the menu, "I'll have the BLT."

"Alright...BLT" The waitress said writing it down.

Hazel was the next to butt in, "I'll take the creaser salad. Italian dressing please."

"Okay...creaser salad...Italian dressing."

"I'll have the same." Paige said before the waitress could look up.

"Right, make that two..." The waitress looked up at me to take my order.

"Uhh..." I said trying to stall as I desperately looked for something different from what Paige had predicted I would order. After finding nothing, "I'll have a hamburger with onion rings." I said plainly rolling my eyes. I glanced at Paige who had a smirk on her face.

"Alright." The waitress said writing it down, "And how would you like that cooked?" She asked.

"Uhh, well done" I replied.

"Alright. Will that be all for everyone?" The waitress asked. We all nodded our heads in agreement, "Okay then. Menus please and I'll be back with your food shortly." She said taking the menus from us and walking away.

I guess my mind had wondered off a bit and my eyes seemed to fixed on anything that moved because eyes seemed to follow the waitress' bottom as she walked away. I hadn't even really noticed until my attention was brought back by a whack on my head. I looked back at the table to notice both Marco and Haze giggling at me. Marco had his head down acting as if he had seen nothing. I glanced at Paige who was settling back in her seat, placing back down what looked like dessert menu that was on the table. Her face was calm. She opened up the dessert menu and started to look through it.

When the waitress brought our food I made a point not to look at the waitress in anyway. The food was good and we spent the entire time on random conversation. Afterwards we all pitched in for the bill.

"Should we tip her 3 or 4 dollars?" Hazel asked

"Four." I said instinctively. I always felt a small sympathy for low minimum wage workers. My eye suddenly cough Paige who was eyeing me intensely.

"Or three..." I changed my answer, "I mean, she wasn't that helpful." I said trying to think of the right words to say. Paige let off a small sigh looking in the direction of the waitress who was busy at another table.

"Alright, three it is." Marco said placing the money on the table, "Lets go."

We rode the bus back to our house. Marco and Hazel got off at the their stops and Paige and I were the last. We sat the entire ride back to our house in silence. Paige seemed as if something was bothering her, but I couldn't tell for sure. She was extremely hard to read. She always kept her true feelings behind an unbreakable wall. I decided not to think about it and gazed out the window.

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"It's so nice to be able to come home and not have anything to do." Paige said as she walked through the house door with me on her heels.

"Banting must be pretty stressful." I said just trying say anything meaningful.

"It's not easy." Paige replied sounding a little unsure of herself.

There was a moment of silence before I realized that Paige and I were alone in the house. I had no idea where were the Michalchucks had gone, but they weren't here. I could feel the emptiness in the house and suddenly I could feel the awkwardness of it just being Paige and me. She was standing in the living room look around as if she had never seen it before. She finally turned around to look at me and grinned a little. I smiled back.

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Somehow the door to my bedroom burst open and I was thrust against it by Paige's body weight. Paige's lips pressing against mine. She tasted so sweet. I brought my hand up to her cheek as I softened the kiss. Paige's wait somehow slid me off the door. She somehow knew the exact location of the bed. Paige was now on top of me. As I felt her body weight shift slightly, I took advantage and turned her over. I then leaned in for a kiss but before I could get close enough to her lips.

"Wait." Paige said suddenly and I froze immediately

"Yes." I said feeling a little agitated as I was all excited now.

"What does this mean?" Paige questioned.

I guess I hadn't noticed, but this was obviously the perfect time to talk. I tired to bring myself out of the wonderful moment we had been having. I wasn't quite sure what Paige was asking about.

"What does what mean?" I asked back.

"You know." Paige replied.

Oh, right. I forgot I could read minds. I thought. I tilted my head to the side to try to convey the fact I was confused. Paige rolled her eyes as if she had been expecting me to do that. She started to sit up a little. I hadn't notice I was still on top of her hold her down. I got off her.

"You know," Paige shrugged, "Us."

I felt my heart sink. This was not a conversation I wanted to have, especially right now. I felt better not knowing where we stood. I had no idea what to say. I had no idea what Paige wanted me to say.

"What about us?" I asked deciding to let Paige lead the conversation.

"I mean," Paige started trying to find her words, "Is this going to work this time?"

This was already going bad. I didn't have the slightest clue how I should respond to that. I wanted to say the right thing but at the same time I wanted to be honest.

"I don't know." I said losing myself in thought. I heard Paige let off a sigh as she shook her head in frustration, which made my heart sink even more. I didn't want to lose her again.

"I mean," I started trying to recover but I didn't have a chance to complete my thought before Paige broke in.

"Is this going to end up like last time? Are you just going to walk away?" Paige said standing up and folding her arms across her chest.

"No." I shook my head trying to insure to her, "I am not going to walk away."

Paige relaxed a little, "So then, how is this going to work?" She questioned firmly.

Neverending...I thought to myself as I again struggled for something to say. When I remained silent, Paige spoke for me.

"Are you going to move to Kingston?"

"No." I replied strongly now feeling irritated. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I am there." Paige replied angry.

"And my life is here." I shot back my voice rising, "Everything I have is here."

Paige rolled her eyes in frustration but remained silent. Suddenly, I felt I had something to say.

"Are you going to move back here?" I questioned forcefully.

"No." Paige replied in disbelief.

"Because your life is there." I said calmly.

"So what then?" Paige questioned, "Are you and I going to be long distance?"

"I guess so." I replied angrily.

Paige shook her head, her eyes swelling with tears. Seeing Paige cry should have made me sad, it should have made me want to comfort her, and tell her what she wanted to hear. It didn't.

"Why is it, you just expect me to change my life for you?" I questioned suddenly unaware of what I was even saying.

"What?" Paige questioned looking confused.

"Why do I have to give up my dream?" I questioned again.

"What dream?" Paige asked forcefully, "Living off my parents?"

"You know what, forget it" I said now shaking my head at her.

"No. You know what, I was stupid, " Paige said looking directly at me, "Stupid for thinking you'd changed and for thinking that maybe...just maybe...we could actually work." Paige said holding back her tears. She made her way for the door. She didn't even bother to shut it. I heard the slam of her door down the hall. I was left with nothing but myself and Paige's last words echoing in my head.

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I promise, I will NOT leave the story like this. There will be more! Sadly, I just can't say when. I really would like to have the next chapter up in less than a month, but I can't promise anything. Though, I will work my hardest to write the next chapters as soon as possible. And I would like to just put a thanks out there for everyone who has taken the time to read the 34 chapters of my story. You guys are the greatest! D