This is kind of a short one. Look at it as a segway chapter. Bear with me, it'll get better I promise! Read and review! Thanks guys.
Chapter 4: Scars are Souvenirs You Never Lose
"Marco, hon, I know you tried, but this is unacceptable. You really think we're going to settle for that?" Paige whined as she observed the contents of the plate and mug before her. Two slices of dry, buttered toast and lukewarm, diluted coffee stared up at her. "Do you not realize the significance of the day? This is the beginning of a whole new era..." Paige continued rambling about the magnitude of the day and how it needed to be started off with a proper breakfast as Marco crossed the kitchen and squatted by Alex's side, who was sitting at the kitchen table.
"Psssst," he whispered, stealing Alex's attention from Paige, "See what I've done here? If you ever want Paige to make you breakfast, make her a bad one. She'll never stand for it." He stood up, stretched his hands over his head, puffed out his chest, and just as Paige finished her rant said "If you need me, I'll be in the living room." Alex watched in bewilderment as he left. Marco? Manipulating people? She never thought she'd see the day.
"Eggs fried, scrambled or sunny-side up?" Paige questioned Alex. "Whichever way you take them, Paige."
Paige scrunched up her nose, unhappy that Alex had turned her kind gesture around. "Fine, scrambled it is."
Alex watched Paige as she flitted about the kitchen, frying pan in one hand, spatula in the other. She thought about what Marco said and concluded that Paige was a very high maintenance girl. But her kind of high maintenance was much different from the most common kind of high maintenance. Most high maintenance people required perfection to satisfy them and would demand it from everyone around them. Paige? She, like others, required perfection to satisfy her, but if something wasn't perfect, she would fix it herself. She never called upon anyone else to do things for her. Alex liked that about her.
After a hearty breakfast spent poking fun at and flirting with one another, Paige and Alex settled on the living room sofa, steaming coffee mugs in hand. Now Paige sat cross-legged facing Alex, who slouched against the back of the couch, legs outstretched and ankles crossed. Marco had gone out to meet his mom for coffee and Ellie was still asleep upstairs. They were as alone as alone could be.
Paige started timidly "So Alex, we promised that we'd talk today. So...tell me everything. From the top."
"From the top? Well, umm, I don't really know where to start."
"Okay well, start from when I was at your apartment and the police busted in all 'Cops' style and dragged Chad out." Alex nodded in recognition and told the entire story, leaving nothing out. She watched the emotions on Paige's face turn from horrified to sympathetic and finally to - what was this look? Guilt? What for?
"Alex," Paige began slowly, still trying to process the tall but true tale she had just heard, "I can't even begin to - I don't know what - I am so so sorry."
Alex set her coffee mug down, and moved closer to Paige. "It's all over. Do you see where I am now? This is exactly where I want to be. In a way, I'm thankful that everything happened the way it did. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, sitting with you, living with you, being with you. This is perfect."
"I know it's better now but, Alex, do you remember what I said to you?" Paige's face displayed a cross between guilt-ridden and horrified. "I told you that you 'had no idea what kind of pressure' I was under."
"Paige, it's okay," Alex said quietly, looking down.
"No, Alex, it's not!" Paige protested. "I was unbelievably selfish! I was complaining about pressure to have grandkids when there you were, about to lose your home. Alex, I feel like the biggest jerk in the world right now, you have no idea. I'm not even worthy of your presence!" Alex could hear the conviction in her voice.
"You can't blame yourself, okay? You didn't know." Alex moved even closer to Paige and wrapped her arms around her. "Whatever happened in the past, is in the past. You're here, I'm here. There's nothing more I could want."
Paige snuggled closer to Alex. Alex's consoling words had relieved her guilt slightly, but the selfish words she said to her would always press on her mind, no matter if Alex had forgotten them or not. She thought about how open Alex had been with her that day. Alex had shared more of her feelings with her in one day than she had in all the time Paige had known her. This was so unlike her. Maybe, just maybe, Paige thought, this change in Alex's life would prove to be more than just a change in location. Maybe she would let all of her inhibitions and pride go and just open up completely to Paige. Paige was excited at the prospect. On the other hand though, the enigmatic Alex was thrilling and frustrating and wild all at the same time. Paige could never decide what she wanted.
Alex reached for the remote that sat on the coffee table, but her efforts were cut short by a restraining hand on her wrist.
"Don't," was all Paige managed to utter before pulling Alex back towards the couch and engaging her in a deep passionate kiss. 'This was the second time Paige had done this today!' Alex thought. Oh, living with Paige would be incredible, she knew. She dug her fingertips into Paige's back slightly, and feeling it arch, pulled her closer, if it was even humanly possible. With locked lips, Paige ran both her hands through the roots of Alex's hair, bringing them to rest on her cheeks. Both girls could feel the electric and chemical currents flowing between them, through their hands, lips - everywhere they came in contact. Paige broke the kiss, inhaling deeply as she did so. Alex sighed.
"Can I watch TV now?"
"Oh, you little...don't even pretend like you didn't like that." The frustration in Paige's voice made Alex smile. Alex leaned in to kiss Paige again when a familiar voice broke the mood.
"Whoa, okay, we need some rules around here," Paige and Alex turned around to see Ellie in her pajamas, "No smooching in my presence. Not even a peck on the lips. Cheek? Okay, I can deal with that. No inappropriate touching, no flirting, no references to any inappropriate touching or flirting in the past. As far as I'm concerned, you two are just unusually good friends and roommates."
Paige rolled her eyes and slumped back against the couch. "Wow, Ellie, you're so open-minded. Not the least bit conservative, eh?" Alex smirked.
"Ughh, I need a hetero around here..." Ellie muttered and trudged into the kitchen to fix a cup of coffee.
The door opened, and Marco appeared. Paige and Alex both sighed. So much for alone time.
"Guys! Hey! Guess what?! Bay Street Video was having a sale and look!" he held up a copy of When Harry Met Sally on DVD, "4 bucks!" His excitement was hilarious, and all three of the girls couldn't help but laugh. "Tonight, okay? Ellie, call Jesse. Paige, call Alex." Alex raised an eyebrow, and Marco caught sight of her "Oh, Alex! Ha! Wow, I already forgot you live here now," he turned his attention back to his original thoughts, "Happy couples, Marco, Harry, Sally and popcorn. What could be better!?"
"I can think of a few things," Ellie mumbled, grabbed the phone and, slipping into the laundry room, called to invite Jesse. Marco took off his coat and scarf, laid them on the counter then busied himself in the kitchen.
Paige and Alex settled back on the couch. Paige grabbed Alex's hand, interlocking their fingers. "Oh no! Watch out! Here comes Ellie!" Alex joked. Paige laughed.
Paige lowered her voice. "We can torment her tonight," she said, lifting her eyebrows twice to make sure Alex caught her drift.
Alex smiled devilishly. "I like the sound of that..."