Title: A Little Push Goes A Long Way
Author: Anne
Rating: T
Genre: General
Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi or the Michalchuks.

Chapter 2: Working It Out

The silence was deafening as Paige and Dylan headed home. It was a tense car ride to say the least. Paige could see the smoke coming out of Dylan's ears and she wasn't looking forward to the conversation they were going to have ten short minutes later once they got home. Paige quietly hummed the Nickelback song Dylan had on and kept humming until they pulled into the driveway.

Paige followed Dylan into the house and they didn't make a sound until Dylan finished unloading his car trunk and entered the house for the last time. By then, she had already settled onto the couch to watch TV.

"What the hell was that???" Dylan exclaimed after slamming the door behind him, "A boyfriend!? You never told me he had a boyfriend!"

The upset voice broke through an old episode of The OC, causing Paige to look up at her brother. "Listen," she shot back almost instantly, "I had no idea about Tim, okay? So calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, Paige."

Without another saying another word, Dylan moved his stuff out of the way, leaving Paige to watch Summer, Marissa and Lindsay have their girls' night out.

Gesturing that he sit on the couch next to her with an apologetic look on her face, Paige broke the ice, speaking over a nice scene between Ryan and Seth. "Dylan, I promise I didn't know that was gonna happen. I didn't even know they were seeing each other until tonight. And I didn't think he'd show up. We were studying."

With a frustrated sigh, Dylan left his stuff at the bottom of the staircase and plopped onto the couch next to Paige. "What am I gonna do now? He's never gonna want to talk to me, Paige! I don't want him to think I'm trying to sabotage his new relationship. I just want him to be happy. I'm starting to think coming home was a bad idea. I can still file the paperwork…"

"No way. You're here now, you're home. No turning back." As Paige finished her sentence and crossed her arms, she received a worried look from Dylan. "Don't worry. I've got a plan."

When Dylan exhaled sharply, his expression relaxed slightly. "So tell me about this wonderful master plan, I'm all ears."

Paige bit her lower lip for a moment before she began her explanation. "Well, it's really quite simple. We'll use a totally neutral place: The Other Team. All you have to do is have Marco see you and he'll come to you. His blood might be boiling and you might get seriously yelled at, but he'll come to you."

Dylan looked skeptical. "Marco might just ignore me. You can't guarantee he'll talk to me. And what if he decides to take Tim along? You can't tell him he can't bring Tim. He's got someone else now. Besides, who goes to a gay club to have a serious conversation about convincing their ex to take them back?"

Leaning against Dylan's shoulder, Paige replied, "You told me once, true love's worth fighting for, no matter what. Where's the fight in you, big brother?"

Dylan squeezed Paige a bit. "I don't think it's my place to fight this time. If Marco's happier with Tim, I don't wanna ruin that for him. I just want him to be happy."

"I still believe you're the one that makes him happy, Dylan, don't you?" Paige asked in a soft, gentle voice after a moment's reflection.

Dylan didn't answer the question. Instead, he said, "I was gonna be there anyway. Some of the guys on the team need help with the ladies. You won't believe how many of those guys bring their straight female best friends and you won't believe how many of them think I'm straight."

Paige smirked. "Anyone with an ounce of common sense and an average gaydar could tell you're not. They probably wish you were straight though…hoping you were hanging out with a gay friend."

Dylan rolled his eyes at Paige who flashed him an amused smile.

Paige went on with a more serious tone. "Seriously, you didn't answer my question."

"It's because you already know the answer."

It was Paige's turn to be rendered speechless.

"I'm gonna go and take my stuff upstairs. Unpack and stuff."

The end of the conversation gave Paige the courage to go through with her plan.

The next day, Paige went to school, ready to set her plan into motion.

"That face – you're up to no good, aren't ya, Princess?"

The bouncy blonde turned around to face Alex, who was at her locker, picking up her books for English class. The gang was going to have a study session during lunch. "What makes you say that, Ma Cherie?"

"I can just tell. So spill it."

As Alex walked alongside her, Paige explained, "I have a good feeling about today…"

"Sounds like a girl trying to get her way again," Alex quipped with a half smile.

"Totally selfless this time, I assure you."

Turning into the hallway leading up to the cafeteria, Ellie joined them, walking next to Paige. "What's she up to this time?" she asked Alex.

"I'm not sure. Why don't you tell us, Paige?"

"The Other Team, tonight. I need a place to unwind where I won't be hit on every five minutes…andIkindaneedMarcotheresoIcanhelpDylangeth imback," Paige blurted out the last part.

Alex's eyes lit up. "I KNEW it! So what's the plan?"

"I just need Ellie to make sure Marco shows up."

"That's easy; just bring Tim along," Ellie commented, "Because apparently they're going out."

Paige groaned as Alex rolled her eyes. "Just go along with this, okay?" the blonde told her friends, "I really want things to work out…"

"Such a noble selfless act, Paige," Alex commented with a slightly teasing tone.

Ellie sighed. "You know Marco's going to hate being totally blindsided."

Paige bit her lower lip and was going to say something else when Alex said, "Relax! We're in. We'll help, but only because I'm so sick of Tim. That kid is SO lame."

Ellie simply nodded as they entered the cafeteria.