"Hey, kid," I greeted as Paige walked in that afternoon.
"What are you doing home?" she asked, tossing her bag on the couch.
"I have to talk to you," I said with a smile.
"Bout what?" she sat beside me.
"Leo got a promotion. And it's in downtown L.A.," I began.
"Would I change schools?" she asked quickly.
"No, no," I reassured her. "I can drive you to school if we decided to do it."
"...Could I change schools?" she said after a pause.
"You want to?" I asked. "You just got into this school."
"I know," she sighed. "I just don't fit in with them very much..."
"What do you mean? Making friends can take time, Paige, you've only been there two weeks."
"They hate me there. They throw things at me and laugh at me," she admitted.
"What?!" I screamed.
"Please don't overreact and tell the principal or anything...Can I just switch schools?" she begged.
"Sure, but I am going to have a word with their parents," I said, picking up the phone.
"Please, don't," she pleaded. I saw the look in her eyes, begging me not to. So, I sat the phone down.
"Fine. But next time," I placed my hand on hers, "tell me if something like this is going on."
She nodded.
"Where are we moving to?" she asked, hopefully.
"Well, we're going to go look at a condo as soon as Leo gets home," I said. "And guess what?"
"What?"
"You'll have your own room," I smiled.
"Yay!" she laughed.
***************
Everything went according to plan. The condo was perfect, and we had Paige registered for the new school over the weekend. Everything seemed be going right for once.
"It's so perfect!" Paige exclaimed as she sat on her brand new bed in her brand new room.
"I think she likes it," Leo joked.
"Maybe just a little," I laughed.
"I LOVE it!" she said excitedly, laying back on the bed.
"Well, we will leave you to your privacy," I said, then closed the door.
We walked along the hardwood floors and settled on the sofa. The sofa, which was the only sense of familiarity in this new place. I cuddled up to Leo on it and looked around.
"It's different," he read my mind aloud.
"It is. But we're different. We aren't alone anymore," I breathed.
"Ha! That's true," he laughed.
I looked up at him.
"I'm sorry. I know this isn't what you wanted," I whispered.
"What do you mean, sweetie?" he asked, stroking my hair.
"It's not exactly the life we ran away to have. Working and raising a teenager," I said.
We sat in silence for a moment as he paused.
"Are you happy?" he finally whispered.
"Yes," I smiled.
He kissed my forehead.
"That's all I ever wanted. You being happy is the life I wanted."
I sat up and kissed him passionately for a few moments, breaking apart briefly to whisper, "I love you, so much."
****************
"How was your first day?" I asked as I walked inside and put my stuff down. Paige began school at Burkley Junior High School today.
"Great," Paige answered with excitement scrawled across her face.
"Well, good. Did you make any friends? Was anybody mean?" I asked, throwing myself beside her on the couch.
"Everybody was nice! I did make friends. Three girls asked me to sit with them at lunch," she informed me as I kicked my shoes off. "Holly, Megan, and Jessica."
"Sounds nice," I smiled.
Paige sat back, then looked like she wanted to ask me something, hesitated, then sat back again.
"Piper?"
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Since my birthday is in a few weeks...I was wondering if I could have a birthday sleepover," she asked.
"Well, I don't see why not," I said with smile.
She gave a great smile and a thankful hug.
"I'm gonna go take a shower," I said. "We can plan later, kay?"
I gazed into the mirror. Where a youthful, rebellious young girl had once shown in the reflection, now a tired not-so-young girl looked back. How did this happen? Since when did this eighteen year old's body become so tired? At what point did I stop being fun and energetic, and turn into responsible and boring? I didn't like it.
I stepped outside to clear my head during work the next day. The first thing I saw was Dan, a guy I worked with, taking a cigarette break.
"Hey, Piper," he greeted, after puffing out a cloud of smoke.
"Hey," I returned.
Silence didn't last long before he held up the pack of Marlboro's.
"Want one?" he offered.
How long had it been since my last cigarette? Months, surely. I didn't care enough to remind myself how hard it had been to quit.
"Sure," I shrugged, slipping one and pressing my lips around it. He lit it for me with a smile. "Thanks."
"You okay? You've seemed kinda tired today," he said, blowing the smoke loosely as he talked.
"Er, I'm fine. Just a little bored of my life," I added with a laugh.
"Happens," he smiled.
I smiled and replaced the cigarette to my mouth and sucked it in. I let the smoke flow through me for a moment before releasing it.
"Listen, there's a party at my buddy's house this Friday," he offered. "In case your bored of life that night."
He handed me an address, gave a smile, and flicked his cigarette before disappearing back inside.
I stuffed the paper in my pocket, knowing I wouldn't be able to go. But who knows?
**************
"I don't understand," Leo said as I told him about the party that night. I'd put it off on purpose.
"What's not to understand?" I said simply, pouring some coffee. "There's a party, and I want to go."
"Uh, maybe because there's now a thirteen year old girl to take care of? Jeez, Piper, you can't go off partying."
"Don't act like that. It's not as if I'm pawning her off on you, or I wanna go be a party girl or something. She's staying with her friend Holly tonight, she's packing right now," I explained.
"There will be other guys there," he remarked.
"I know," I said calmly.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay, honey. I trust you," he said. "Have fun."
He kissed me and hugged me close.
Paige came out with her overnight bag, ready to go.
Leo kissed my forehead, and I left.
"Bye, sweetie. Call me if you need to," I said as Paige got out of the car.
"Bye, Piper. Love you."
"Love you, too," I watched her meet her friends and go inside before I pulled away.
I rechecked my outfit as I arrived at the party. A black tank top under a leather jacket, covered by several strings of black beaded necklaces. The tight black mini skirt was perfect with my knee-high leather boots. Leo would've loved it any other night, but I could tell he hated it on me tonight, without him. I felt bad that he couldn't come with me, but I needed to get out.
"Piper," I heard Dan call as I stepped out of my car.
"Hey, Dan," I said as he greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and an arm around my waist.
I smiled and pulled away subtly.
He introduced me to some people before we went in. It wasn't long before he pulled me to the dance floor.
"Having fun?" he asked over the music.
"Hell yeah!" I said with a smile as he pulled me a little closer. I didn't feel a bit of guilt.
After all, it was dancing. Just harmless dancing...right?
