Thanks so much for the love Ch. 1 got! I'll try to keep steadily updating as soon as I get the chapters finished, but seeing as I don't want to give you all utter crap, there might be gaps between updates. But the more you review, the happier I feel and more I want to write ^_^
Disclaimer: Hmm, I don't think I did this with capitulo uno, but I must all remind you that while I own three Dresden Dolls CD's, I do not in fact own Degrassi or it's characters.
Paige smoothed the dark blue fabric of her dress over her lap. Tomas sat in the drivers seat of her silver Kia Sorento, eyes on the road. He could sense Paige's nervousness though, and took her left hand with his right.
"Relax, babe. It's just a high school reunion. You said it yourself, your life is great and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Your class mates are going to be nothing but jealous." He smiled crookedly, squeezing her hand reassuringly. Paige smiled back.
"You're right, hun. It's just hard not to be at least a teensy bit nervous. I mean, I havn't seen most of these people in ten years. And I'm sure more than one will bring up the Hollywood Escapade." She sighed. "But, I also have a delicious piece of arm candy to make sure I don't have a total meltdown and/or panic attack."
"You know it." They were at a stoplight and Tomas leaned over to kiss her lightly on the lips.
They were several blocks away from Degrassi when both noticed the how crowded with traffic the streets were. Abnormally crowded. After almost twenty minutes of maneuvering, Tomas drove them close enough so that in the first time in years, Paige could see the front steps of Degrassi Community School, her old amla mater. Well, she would have seen it, that is, if it wasn't covered with people and blocked by vehicles. Paige noticed several news vans, and there was a line of reporters with their camera men hovering around the crowd. They were too far away for her to make out any one, and she couldn't see any familiar faces yet.
"Jeez, I wouldn't have thought that a high school reunion would be such a media circus," Tomas mused, mirroring Paige's own thoughts. It took another ten minutes for the two to finally find a parking spot, almost 2 blocks away from the designated school parking lot. Paige gripped her clutch apprehensively as she and Tomas walked up to the school. Looking up at the large, metal letters that read 'Degrassi Community School', she couldn't help but smile fondly. Until, that is, a thin woman with what could only be described as a blond Ferrah-do, came at her with a microphone. Paige lurched back as the instrument came dangerously close to knocking her in the teeth.
"Um excuse me," Paige said rather annoyed. She tried to push past the woman but a man with a giant camera stood in her path, blocking her way up the steps. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone with bright red hair enter the building, and Paige couldn't help but wonder if it had been Ellie. The two had visited only a few months ago at the DelRossi/Michalchuck wedding, but Paige was still giddy about the prospect of seeing the girl who, despite their differences, had managed to become one of her best friends.
"Ma'am, did you go to school with Miss Nunez?" The reporter asked, waving her mic like a magic wand. Paige gaped at her; did she, a woman old enough to be her mother, just call her ma'am? Then realized what she'd just been asked.
"What? Are you talking about Alex?" Duh, of course she is, Paige reprimanded herself. There were no other Nunez's that she knew of associated with Degrassi. But what Paige was more concerned with was why the hell this news reporter wanted to know about her. Had Alex gotten in trouble? Had she been a part of some national security bank heist that Paige missed on the news?
"How well did you know Alex?" She inquired next. Paige could feel the crowd swelling, the sea of people growing thicker and louder around her. They were all outdoors, yet Paige couldn't taste a single breath of fresh air. Another reporter, a man, materialized in front of her. The woman gave him a dirty look but continued on. They both began bombarding Paige with questions.
"Were you friends?"
"Did she show any signs of what she would become today?"
''How well did she do academically?"
Paige was confused; why were they asking all these weird questions about Alex? Of all people? She opened her mouth but couldn't respond. Tomas was no longer latched to her arm. Everyone was acting so frenzied, it alarmed her. Paige started to feel a familiar clenching rise up in her chest...
"There she is!" Someone exclaimed. All eyes and cameras were removed from Paige and directed to the street. A black SUV had slowly pulled up to the curb. It came dangerously close to the back bumper of one of the news van, causing the larger vehicle to move up and make room for the new comer to park. The silhouettes if two people were visible. Paige squinted, trying to see who the driver and passenger was through the tinted glass.
Both front doors opened at the same time, and Paige first saw who had been sitting in the passengers seat. A petite woman with wavy brown hair wearing a green and white sundress hopped lightly to the curb. She clutched a large beige purse under her arm, and Paige recognized the white pair of Louis Vuitton sandals she wore from last years catalog. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of all the, well they could only be described as paparazzi, but she didn't look overtly surprised. Paige wondered who this woman was. She didn't recognize her, and she certainly hadn't gone to Degrassi with her class.
Then the driver came around the car, visible to everyone. The media clowns got even more excited, their voices rising and cameras flashing. Paige let her mouth drop open, not caring how foolish she must look.
Alex Nunez took the woman by the arm and started walking, no, sauntering, straight through the crowd. These paps must have been well trained, for they parted in front of the two, careful not to actually touch either of them.
The 28 year old Alex looked as good as Paige had ever seen her, if not better. While everyone Paige had spotted, herself definitely included, had opted for more semi-formal wear, Alex was dressed rather casually in jeans, a t-shirt and a damn black hooded sweatshirt, the kind she used to wear back in high school. Paige wondered if her old flame realized this and it was intentional, or if her fashion sense had just reverted. The year after they graduated, Alex had begun dressing slightly more feminine, making her less badass and more sexy. But even if this was the case and Alex was back to sweatshirts and wife beaters, Paige didn't dare try to deny how hot she made the outfit that should be deemed not suitable for wear outside the home. She was almost stunned, quite honestly.
Alexs' eyes swept the crowd behind the dark-lensed sunglasses she wore as she escorted the woman right past the cameras and directly into the school. Paige realized this must be Alex's date. Interesting, Paige thought. The woman was pretty, she concluded, if short, slim and frizzy haired was your type. Which apparently was Alex's, and thinking back, Paige recalled her dating someone who looked a bit similar. Carol? Kara?
"Babe, who was that?"
Paige turned around, jumping slightly as someone placed a hand on her hip. Tomas looked down at her curiously.
"Oh, um," Paige stuttered. "That, er, that was Alex. The darker haired one. I still have no idea what all this is about though." She motioned to the paparazzi, who now all faced the closed doors. Paige couldn't help but smile when she saw who was barring the press from entering the school; Miss Hatzilakos. Her face was far more lined (overseeing a high school was no doubt aging) and her hair starting to gray, but Paige would recognize the principal anywhere. She'd been her science teacher for years, and in charge for nearly half of her junior year and entire senior year. The years that had mattered most to Paige in high school.
"Come on," Paige ordered, taking Tomas by the hand and shoving past the remaining crowd that blocked the entrance. She grinned widely at Miss H, who smiled back and shoved the door forward to let the two inside.
"Paige Michalchuk. It's good to see you," She expressed fondly. "And this is?" Paige could tell Miss H was trying to tell if Tomas had once been a student of hers.
"This is Tomas Russo, my boyfriend," introduced Paige. As Tomas shook her old principal's hand, her eyes scanned the hallway behind Miss H. Most of those who were there yet seemed to have congregated in the gym, the reunions' official meeting place. Paige thought she saw Alex and her date turning the corner, heading in that direction.
"Paige!" Someone screeched from down the opposite hallway. Paige turned.
Hazel Aden darted towards her, enveloping her in an enormous hug. Paige had trouble returning it, with one of her arms pinned against her old best friend's pregnant stomach.
"Hazel! Oh my God, how are you?" Paige questioned. The two parted. Hazel's hair was longer than it was the last time Paige had seen her, trailing to about her waist. She wore a exquisite black dress that still managed to make her look fantastic despite the baby bump.
"I'm great," she beamed. Hazel brandished her left hand in front of Paige, who spied a thin gold band around her ring finger. "Married. Greg should be around here somewhere, with Mason, our son. He's six, almost. And he's going to have a little sister soon, if you can't tell."
"That's great." Paige gushed earnestly. A couple of years back, the blond thought she'd heard something of Hazel's engagement, but the two had already fallen away from each other and it hadn't stuck in her mind.
"And what about you, Paige? Wait, come on, let's sit somewhere first. Have you checked in yet?" Paige shook her head, and Hazel began leading her in the direction of where she remembered to be the gymnasium. A few people were lingering in the halls, chatting amongst themselves. Paige recognized a girl who used to be in her Media Immersion class but whom she had rarely ever held a conversation with. They smiled and waved to each other regardless.
Tomas following close behind, Hazel walked Paige over to a small table that had a man sitting around it, talking animatedly to a couple neither women could recognize distinctly. He had a long list of what must be names, and a thin stack of "hello, my name is" stickers. When the people in front of them moved, Paige saw who the man was and broke out in a smile.
"Mr. Simpson! It's so great to see you!" She darted behind the table between them to give her old favorite teacher a hug.
"Paige Michalchuk," He said, slightly taken aback, but returning her embrace nonetheless. Paige couldn't see many visible differences in Snake, except that his thin hair was even thinner than before, and the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead were more pronounced. "How are you?"
Still smiling, Paige took a step back. "I'm great, sir. You should be pleased to know that I use much of what you taught us in Media Immersion on a daily basis."
He chuckled. "That's great. What do you do, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, not at all. I'm a fashion magazine editor. It's pretty much my dream job," Paige gushed. Turning slightly, she eyed Tomas standing sheepishly next to her. She grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. "And this is my dream honey. Tomas, this is Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson, Tomas. Oh, and I don't think I ever introduced him to you, Hazel. So, uh, yeah, this is Tomas, if you havn't just gathered that." Tomas greeted both of them, trying not to look embarrassed by the sudden spotlight his girlfriend was putting on him.
Hazel then took Paige's arm. "Sorry Mr. S, but I have to steal Paige back. Us girls have to catch up. Do you mind entertaining Tomas here for a little while?" She smiled, giving Mr. Simpson the same expression that she had used in high school to get what she wanted.
"Uh, no problem at all," Snake said, nodding, looking from Tomas to Paige to Hazel with an expression of semi-bewilderment that matched the younger man's.
"You don't mind, do you hun?" Paige asked her boyfriend. He shrugged aloofly.
"Not at all. Go catch up with your friend." He and Mr Simpson shared a look that let the older man register that the two young women had fallen apart after graduation. It was more than common, of course, but most staff and students alike had pegged that the Michalchuk/Aden duo would remain solid. As long as their lipstick shall live and as long as their bag matched their blouse. But this was obviously not the case.
Paige and Hazel walked arm in arm away from the loud chaos that emanated from the gymnasium. The blond was eager to enter the place where she had spent many a morning and afternoon with the Spirit Squad, but she knew she must follow her old BFF. Paige's curiosity about Alex would have to wait.
Hazel began by filling Paige in about about her family and her well-paying job as a lawyer. She had moved to Vancouver for university, and it was in law school that she met Greg, a fellow lawyer. They'd gotten engaged after being together for two years, but didn't even begin making wedding plans until each had their diplomas. Each had made a vow to themselves prior to meeting the other that they would focus on school before dating and relationships. That didn't stop them from falling in love, Hazel explained, and instead of a graduation party she ended up having a baby shower.
As Hazel spoke, Paige's attention drifted a bit. Her focus was drawn to the halls they walked together, like in the old days. The lockers had been repainted; bright blue and gold, every other. Normal high school reminders and flyers from the previous year were taped along the walls, ones that seemed so trivial to the current students no doubt, but fascinated Paige. She wondered what Laugh Club was, or who was now captain of the Spirit Squad. She wished she could return during semester, just as a fly on the wall to observe what had become of her old throne. To see who was now queen bee, who was now by all means Paige. Who was the old Jimmy, the star athlete? Or Ellie, the weird loner? Or Alex, the burn out badass?
Everything was silent, and Paige realized Hazel had just asked her a question. She was looking at the blond expectantly, and eyebrow raised.
"I'm sorry, Haz, I missed that last bit," Paige conceded. Hazel rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"I said, what about you? I havn't talked with Tomas at all really but you two seem happy together. Am I right?" Of course her first question would be about my relationship status, Paige thought blithely. Some things never ceased to be top priority with Hazel.
"You are. Tomas and I have been together for a few months now, and I swear he's as close to perfect as a guy can get. He might even be the one." As Paige spoke, her mind told her that these words were quite possibly true. But her gut nudged her uncomfortably, and Paige also got the hunch that she might be just trying to not let Hazel one-up her in that department. She brushed the latter thoughts away.
"Aw, I'm so happy for you," Hazel gushed. "If or when you two tie the knot, I hope I'm invited to the wedding. I feel terrible for not trying harder to get a hold of you for mine. But I'd lost touch with nearly everyone from Degrassi, even Marco and Ashley. And I think you were out of the country at the time too..."
Paige cringed visibly, and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Ugh, please don't bring that up. Word to the wise, those 15 minutes of fame are so not worth the months of agony that often follow. And that is all I plan on saying during this reunion about that dreadful stint in my life." Hazel nodded, her eyes full of understanding.
"Say no more. Now, moving on." The two had paused in the hallway, near a window looking out over the soccer field. On the opposite edge, the vans of the news crews could still be seen, although there appeared to be fewer of them.
''God, will you just look at all that craziness outside? I can't even believe it." Paige wondered aloud.
"Me neither. And to think, it's all for Alex," Hazel said, shaking her head.
"And that's what I don't get, why I'm so confused!" Paige through her hands in the air. "Why is Alex being treated like some celebrity?"
Hazel looked at her skeptically. "Uh, because she is some celebrity, Paige. Jeez, where have you been?"
"Obviously on another planet because I have no idea what you're talking about. I havn't even so much as heard Alex's name come up in conversation in years. Can you please tell me what I've been missing?"
Hazel continued to stare at Paige, not sure if her old friend was serious or not. After a moment, she opened her purse and pulled out a silver 16 GB I-pod. She turned it on an began flicking through it.
"It found out about them by accident. Greg put a bunch of music on my MP3 player a long time ago and her band is one he really likes. After giving them a listen I became a fan too." Hazel held an earbud out to Paige, who took it and raised it to her ear. "I googled them, and almost stroked out when I saw who the lead singer is."
Paige listened to the song floating out of the tiny ear piece. Smooth guitar riffs melted with the steady beat the drums were producing. Then the vocals joined in. Her eyes widened.
"Are you saying this is Alex's voice?" Paige asked disbelievingly. Hazel smirked and nodded. "Oh my god...she's amazing."
The female vocalist had husky, gentle voice that matched the instrumental perfectly. It was a soft rock song. Not a ballad, but nothing thrashing. The music was full of energy, yet relaxed at the same time. I still couldn't believe this was Alex!
"That's what I said too. Greg flipped when I told him Alex and I went to school together. I think that's why he was such a team player about being dragged here today."
"So is," Paige looked down at the screen for the band's official name. "Scarlett Haze well known?"
Hazel rolled her eyes. "There's paparazzi at the lead singers' silly high school reunion. Yes, Paige, they're well known."
Paige glared at her. "I'm sorry, I've been too busy apparently creating a successful career to keep up with popular media."
"Well, the band's not really popular in the sense that they make pop music and are all over the radio. Actually, a lot of their stuff is way heavier than this and I can barely stand it. So I can't really blame you for not having heard of them. If it hadn't been for Greg, I'd be in the same position as you." Hazel said lightheartedly. "But yeah, for the last year or so, Scarlett Haze has been huge. Here and down in the States. The story is that John Moyer heard them in a club here in Toronto a few years ago while Disturbed was on tour." Hazel wrinkled her nose. "I was turned off a little bit when I heard a band like Disturbed scouted them. But they are kind of metal, I guess, so that's no surprise. Which is why I only like that song and a few others. It's a cover, I think, by some 90's band. The Bleeders or something."
Paige nodded along, but found herself too caught up in the music. The song was a cover. Originally by The Breeders. She recognized it because it was on the CD Dylan would regularly blare during his angry phase. Although, as Paige recalled, The Breeders were as angry as his music got. Yeah, he'd never really been one for pent up angst.
"Anyway, now that you've officially been brought up to speed with information that the rest of the English speaking world has known for ages, lets move on from Alex. Do tell me more about your magazine job. What publication is it?"
Paige slowly returned the I-pod to it's rightful owner and forced her mind back to Hazel and her bombardment of questions. She answered them all as patiently as she could, but as they started walking again, her legs itched to take the familiar path that led to the gymnasium.
She wasn't in doubt of her success. Paige had an amazing job that paid well, one where she was happy and just a few years away from being close to a head hauncho. And while she might not be married with children at 28 like Hazel was, Paige wasn't tied down either. Two of life's pivotal points (finding love and having kids) had already occurred for her. Paige didn't want to be cruel and say her old friend's life had already reached it's climax, but that's kind of how she truly felt. She didn't have that baggage, and was glad for it. And upon leaving her apartment that day, Paige had thought for sure she would be the best off of her class.
Obviously, she now realized, she'd been wrong.
Hehe so whatdya think? Does rocker Alex intrigue you? Please click that tiny box down below...no, not that one. The other one. The one that says 'review'. Yes. There you go. Feedback ALWAYS appreciated :)