Inside scoop: its Switzerland actually but Paige is known to make that mistake, right? bear with me please.

thank you my amazing beta readers: Jocelyn Torrent and werewolf666vampire :-)

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi or any of it's characters.

Chapter 3

The cab turned in the little courtyard of a thirty floor apartment building before it finally stopped in front of the main entrance. It was a little past midnight and even at this late an hour, there was more than enough activity outside the building.

Paige keenly observed it all. People were standing in little small groups in the courtyard of the apartment building and were busy conversing and smoking. The May weather had lately turned hotter than expected and had probably lured people out of their homes, Paige thought.

It was obvious to Paige that most of the residents of this building were either college or university students; one, because of its close proximity to the campus, and two, because how noisy it was out here. In fact, the building was so close to the Toronto U campus that even without asking Alex, Paige knew, it was where Alex went to school.

Paige looked as Alex paid the cab driver and then walked to her side of the car. She opened Paige's door and then took her position so she could help Paige get out of the car.

"Alex? I think I can manage getting off the car on my own," came out Paige's irritated voice.
As much as she was enjoying Alex's protective behavior, Alex treating her like a child had begun to get on her nerves.

Alex stopped and moved out of her way. "'was only trying to help," she said simply.

"I know, but I told you, I'm fine." Paige said as she got out and closed the cab's door behind her. However, as soon as she saw Alex's long face, she regretted the squabble.

She walked to Alex and grabbed on to her arm as her indirect way of apologizing. "Let's see where you live," Paige said.

Paige remained quiet and let Alex open doors for her until they finally entered Alex's tiny apartment on the seventeenth floor.

Paige critically looked around as she walked in Alex's two-unit apartment. The little lobby was a small square room, barely big enough for two people wanting to stand in it at the same time. On her right was a tiny three-piece washroom; on her left was the tiny kitchen and in front, was the entrance to two tiny bedrooms; one of which belonged to Alex, Paige inferred.

She gazed at Alex to lead the way and as if understanding the look, Alex walked in to one of the rooms.
Paige followed her.

There was a TV near the entrance, with a tiny couch in front of it. Alex turned on the TV and turned to Paige.

"This is my roommate's room. Let's just sit here," Alex suggested.

"What's wrong with your room?"

"Nothing, there's just no TV in that room."

"Okay," Paige replied understanding that it was a good enough reason and took the seat on the couch.

"Do you want to eat something? I got macaroni and cheese." Alex asked, walking to the kitchen.

"No, I think I'm good." Paige replied.

Alex took a Tylenol to prevent the headache that she felt fast approaching. She was tired and she knew that she couldn't sleep while she watched Paige. Dr. Hayes instructions were very clear:
'She had to make sure there were no symptoms of a concussion.'

"Does it hurt?" Alex asked pointing at Paige's forehead as she sat down on the couch next to her.

"Yeah, a little, but it itches a lot."

"Tell me what happened. How'd you get the cut? Who attacked you?" Alex inquired.

The thought that someone had attacked Paige had been disturbing Alex ever since she had heard about it.

"He didn't attack me, Alex, he just wanted to grab and run with my purse. It was my fault that I resisted."

"You tried to fight him?" Alex looked shocked. "Did he have a weapon?"

"Well if you consider a bottle of wine a weapon, then yeah."

"Paige, are you crazy? It could've been worse; you could've gotten really hurt!" Alex was frustrated.

"Did you report this to the cops?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did, Alex. The cops were the ones who brought me to the hospital. I have filed charges, although it was an accident. I don't think he wanted to hurt me. He was probably just looking for some money so he could eat. Besides, nothing was stolen…"

"Yes, there was. He snatched away your freedom. He hurt you enough that you had to get stitches and you might also have a concussion that we won't know about for the next twenty-four hours. Anything could've happened to you, Paige. And no, he wasn't looking for money so he could eat…" Alex was raging.

Paige realized how upsetting and how close to home, all this was for Alex. She saw the fire in Alex's eyes. "Alex, it's okay. I'm fine, okay?" Paige said as she tightly gripped Alex's shoulder; and then she saw Alex slowly relax under her grip.

"Okay," Alex said softly.

"Always knew you had a bit of an activist in you, Alex," Paige smiled, letting go of her arm.

"What were you doing this late out all by yourself?" Alex gazed at her suspiciously as she realized Paige had successfully changed the topic to her. "And what'd you mean you didn't know who to call? Why didn't you call Marco?"

"He's not in Toronto. He was offered an expedition to Africa. Only three students were asked in his class; he was one of them."

"Oh, for how long?"

"Six months."

"And Ellie?"

"She's in Ottawa. She's trying to get an internship there, and no, I haven't been in touch with anyone else since the school ended, in case you're wondering." Paige ashamedly admitted.

"k. So what were you doing out on the streets, alone?"

"See… I was planning on calling you tomorrow and I didn't wanna meet you empty handed," Paige replied honestly.

"You were out looking for a gift for me?" Alex was surprised.

"Alex, I know this would sound silly to you, but there was this very cute necklace and I thought…"

"Stop, Paige. I really don't want to yell at you for the next twenty-four hours and you talking about going to buy 'me' a gift, this late, and risking your life for it, is definitely gonna make me yell, so just don't say anything for now."

Paige saw as Alex's temper reached sky high once again.
It worried Paige to know how angry Alex still was with her but she didn't protest.

They both sat quietly as Alex flipped channels. Alex's roommate had cable, but everybody knew there was never anything good on TV, especially, on a Friday night.

After about half an hour of Alex flipping through the channels, Paige grabbed the remote out of her hands.

"You're like a little mouse that keeps getting electrocuted because he wants out but still doesn't give up." Paige smiled. "There's nothing on TV. You need to find some other way to entertain me."

"I am not here to entertain you. I just have to make sure you don't feel sick for the next…" she turned to look at the alarm clock by the side of her roommate's bed, "…twenty-one hours and eleven minutes." Alex, who was still not completely over the little wrangle they had about an hour ago, uttered coldly.

"You're counting seconds, Alex?" Paige was hurt and it showed on her face.

Alex instantly knew she had said the wrong thing.
She cursed herself in her head, "No, I just... care that you don't get sick."

Paige knew that Alex was repenting in her head, so she let her off the hook.

"Well if you don't entertain me, Alex, I might get sick," she teased. "I see a PS3. Hook that up," Paige demanded, looking at the game console lying on the floor next to the 32-inch flat screen TV.

"Paige, the doctor said you need to take it easy, okay?" Alex tried to reason.

"Please, Alex. I've wanted to play against you ever since it came out."

Alex just raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

"Please, Alex."

'Not the puppy eyes…' Alex rolled her eyes.

"Okay, maybe later," Alex said in defeat.

If there was another time and another person, Paige probably would've argued more about it, but seeing as she was already putting Alex through enough torment, she didn't object.

She gave Alex the remote back, "There, start flipping again, Jerry."

To be continued...
p.s. pls stop me if u see me make a terrible mistake plot-wise, thanks.