Sorry for taking so long. I've been sick so I've been kind of out of it over these past few days. This is my transition chapter into the ending of the story. It's short and it represents passage of time mostly and keeping the pace.

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Chapter 39

The next few weeks went by better than I had expected. Once I had made the effort to remove Paige from my mind, I actually felt good. I was able to get up every morning and move on with my life. I had been spending a lot of time with Jay lately. He had been doing a good job at keeping me cheered up. Jay had even let me meet Vivian. Despite the endless jokes I came up with, I thought she was nice and I liked her. I had even been dropping by my mom's apartment from time to time and to help her out. I knew she struggling to get on her feet.

"I really appreciate this, Lexi." My mother said taking a sip of her cold coffee.

"It's no problem." I replied putting away the bag of groceries, "Besides, I got sick of coming over here and not having any food." I said. I was never really comfortable doing anything nice without a motive.

My mother gave a small half smile.

"So how is everything going?" My mother asked. She was doing her best to start friendly chit chat and stay up to date with my life.

"It's going about as good as can be expected." I replied standing up and stretching out my back.

My mother nodded her head, taking another sip of coffee. I looked around my old apartment. Suddenly the sight of anything familiar seemed to put me into a state of deep thought.

"So you and your friend should come over for dinner sometime." My mother said.

"My friend?" I asked not quite sure what she was talking about.

"You know, what's her name?" My mother looked up for a moment as she tried to retrieve the information from her head, "Paige." She finally said.

"Oh." I replied, breaking eye contact. I started grabbing the paper bags I had brought the groceries in and started folding them up, "Paige and I aren't friends anymore."

"What? Why not?" My mother asked obviously surprised at my answer.

"Sometimes, things don't work out." I said keeping myself busy with the paper bags.

"Did you two have a fight?" She asked. My mother was so nosy.

I suddenly stopped what I was doing and looked up at her, "We just didn't see eye to eye on things."

My mother shrugged. I could tell she didn't understand. I started cleaning up the kitchen.

"I really liked her." My mother muttered under her coffee cup. She was pushing my buttons and she wasn't even trying too. I couldn't get mad at her though, she didn't know. I turned around to look at her.

"Mom," I started, "I gotta go to work. Did you want me to make you some lunch before I go?" I asked.

"That would be lovely." She replied.

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Work was quickly becoming my release from life. I was always so busy helping costumers I didn't have time to think of anything else. I was also getting more and more excited about my trip coming up in less than a week. It was all scheduled. Eve, the other interns and I would be leaving on an evening flight. We will be doing our photo shoot in forests of Kettle Valley, BC. Eve had told me it's suppose to be a nature shoot for pictures that will be used in calendars, magazines, web graphics and other stuff. I wasn't to thrilled to hear I would be going back to be one with nature again, but I was glad to know I had already had experience with the ruggedness of the wilderness.

My brain had been so caught up with thinking about the trip and my future that I didn't even notice I had a customer waiting for me to check them out.

"Sorry-" I said looking up and not expecting who I saw.

"Hey, nice to see you busy working." Paige said jokingly.

"Oh, I'm not...I was just.." I couldn't get my words straight, "I was just distracted." I finally said.

"Distracted?" Paige questioned.

"Over my trip." I said. It was weird to be talking to her again all of sudden.

"Oh...yes." Paige said, "My mom told me. You're doing a photo shoot or something."

"Yea." I nodded. I was feeling awkward and I could tell Paige was feeling the same.

There was a moment of silence.

"Umm..." Paige started, looking at her items she wanted to buy.

"Oh, right." I said quickly ringing up the items. I had forgotten for a second I was at work, "That will be $17.53." I said as Paige handed me the money. I counted out her change.

"There you go." I said handing Paige her change and the items I had put in a plastic bag.

"Thanks." Paige said taking the bag, "So, I'll see you around. Maybe we can grab lunch sometime or something." Paige suggested.

"Umm…yea." I replied quickly, "That sounds great." I felt like an idiot again. I should have said no. I should have said I didn't want to talk to her. But I couldn't deny that my feelings were still there and despite my mean reactions, I could do nothing but be nice. And there also seemed to be even a small chance of fixing our relationship. I wanted to hold on to that hope so badly...even if it was a false hope.

"Alright, we'll do that." Paige smiled as she turned around and walked away.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of weightlessness. I tried to fight it. I should know better than to get myself so hyped over something that will never happen.

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Don't hate me. I know... I know... I know... that is the third chapter to end on a low note! But don't worry, I'm not foreshadowing. I am just expressing Alex's current moods and thoughts. As for the next chapter, it will be my final chapter of this story. I have currently finished writing it and I am in the process of editing it and proofing it. It will probably take me a little longer than normal because I'm sick. I'm hoping I will feel better tomorrow though. I will have the last chapter of this story up in a few days at most. Though knowing me...probably less than that. It's also somewhat of a long chapter. So keep an eye for it!